sandbox RPG Archives

AppWizard

January 31, 2026

Is Hytale worth playing? A lifelong Minecraft fan’s perspective

In 2010, a 14-year-old journalist began playing a beta version of Minecraft, which sparked a lasting passion for the game. Minecraft's core gameplay remains popular, supported by a vibrant community that creates mods and custom servers. Hytale, a sandbox RPG that originated from the Hypixel Minecraft server in 2015, has been released as a standalone game after a challenging development process. Hytale features familiar aesthetics from Minecraft but introduces enhancements like a structured beginning and RPG elements. It aims to capture the essence of Minecraft while offering new experiences for players. Hytale is currently in early access and reflects the spirit of innovation in sandbox gaming.

AppWizard

January 27, 2026

Pokemon is coming to Hytale thanks to Minecraft modders PokeFind

The PokeFind team plans to integrate a Pokémon experience into Hytale through community-created mods. They shared a video on X showcasing animated Pokémon models, including characters from the Kanto region like Charizard, Blastoise, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. PokeFind has a history of creating Pokémon experiences in Minecraft and aims to replicate this success in Hytale, although specific technical details are not disclosed. The team has established assets and systems from their previous projects and is focused on releasing content quickly, with plans to expand based on community feedback. No specific release window has been announced, and the Pokémon content is unlikely to be available through official mod platforms due to licensing constraints, requiring players to join designated servers.

Winsage

January 19, 2026

Hytale modder gets Windows 95 OS up and running inside the actual game — other projects include running Minecraft, and Hytale inside itself

Modders have begun showcasing achievements in Hytale, a sandbox RPG that launched into Early Access on January 18, 2026. Engineer Sadat Sahib, known as iamcxv7, successfully ran Windows 95 and Minecraft within Hytale. Running Windows 95 revealed some cumbersome interactions, likely due to using a joypad instead of a mouse and keyboard. A modder also managed to run Doom inside Hytale before its official release. Hytale attracted 2.8 million players on launch day and over 420,000 viewers on Twitch, making it the most-watched game globally. The game was developed by the Hypixel Minecraft team and emphasizes modding capabilities.

AppWizard

January 14, 2026

Hytale surges to the most-watched game on Twitch, attracting over 420,000 viewers with its long-awaited launch

Hytale has officially entered early access after a decade of development challenges. The game's announcement trailer from 2018 has received 62 million views. On launch day, Hytale became the most-watched game on Twitch with over 420,000 viewers. Players are encountering challenges with wildlife, particularly bears. Hytale has secured funding for two years of early access development, and expectations are high for over one million players on launch day. There has been a significant spike in global search interest for Hytale on Google Trends. Initial technical issues have arisen, and the development team is working on a hotfix to address bugs and account verification delays due to high demand.

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Everwind devs are testing their ambitious Minecraft-like RPG on Steam Deck as it “makes sense for everyone to be this available”

Everwind is set to launch in late 2026 as an alternative to Minecraft and alongside Hytale. Players will explore floating islands and navigate the skies in airships. The development team is testing the game on Valve’s Steam Deck and other handheld devices, with early builds showing promising performance. They aim to support both handhelds and desktops, emphasizing the importance of PC handhelds in gaming. The team is also testing on the MSI Claw. The Steam Deck is becoming a benchmark for performance standards in the industry, with developers recognizing the benefits of optimizing for it.

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

Hytale lead says “it’s a damn miracle we were able to salvage” the once-canceled Minecraft-like: “It should have taken years to fix, but within weeks, we got the game into a playable, fun state”

Hytale is undergoing significant transformation to become fully playable, as shared by co-director Simon Collins-Laflamme. Initially, the game was described as "barely playable" with all basic functionalities broken. The development team has made rapid progress, achieving in weeks what typically takes much longer. Following Riot Games' cancellation of Hytale in summer 2025, Collins-Laflamme reacquired the game and plans to release it in early access on January 13, 2026. The development strategy focuses on trusting the team and minimizing distractions. Hytale will feature unique crafting mechanics inspired by Terraria, while Collins-Laflamme acknowledges Minecraft as one of the greatest games.

AppWizard

December 1, 2025

Minecraft lead says “I’m looking forward to Hytale” personally, but tells curious fans “there are many Minecraft-like games, so I doubt it will change much for us”

Hytale, a Minecraft-inspired sandbox RPG, is set to enter early access in January 2026 after nearly a decade of anticipation. Jens 'Jeb' Bergensten, lead designer of Minecraft, has expressed his eagerness to play Hytale. The game is developed by Hypixel Studios, known for its popular Minecraft server, and is not an official extension of the Minecraft universe. Hypixel's marketing strategy has playfully suggested that the game "isn't good" for now, which has increased curiosity and anticipation among fans.

AppWizard

November 30, 2025

You Might Never Play Minecraft Again After January 13

Hytale, a sandbox RPG inspired by Minecraft, is set to enter early access on January 13. The project was initially canceled by Riot Games but was revived through an agreement allowing the original developers to reclaim it. The game will feature powerful creation tools, extensive modding capabilities, and adaptable scripting systems, enabling players to design their own worlds and narratives.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

Hytale will feature a “meaningful tribute” to Minecraft legend Technoblade: “He was a big part of our journey”

Hytale, a sandbox RPG inspired by Minecraft, will include a tribute to Technoblade, a prominent figure in the gaming community who passed away in 2022. The game's lead developer, Collins-Laflamme, received permission from Technoblade's father to create a meaningful tribute and is inviting community suggestions. Technoblade, whose real name was Alexander, had aspirations to join the marketing team at Hypixel in 2015 but was too young at the time. Community responses have been positive, with ideas such as a Technoblade constellation and a unique sword. Additionally, Hytale's developers are setting the game's price at an "aggressively low" level, citing a commitment to quality.

AppWizard

November 22, 2025

Hytale honcho says early access will be $20 because ‘charging more didn’t feel right’: He doesn’t think the game is good yet, but ‘my team and I will push hard to make it good, then great’

Hytale, a sandbox RPG inspired by Minecraft, was previously canceled by Riot Games due to unmet expectations. Under Hypixel founder Simon Collins-Laflamme, the project is being revived with a commitment to accessibility and a competitive price point. Collins-Laflamme has repurchased the game and expanded the development team to 50 members, despite losing four years of development time. The team recently released 16 minutes of new footage, which, while described as "raw and broken," showed promising elements. Early access is expected to be available in the next few days, and special editions will also be offered to support the project.