Shadow of the Erdtree Archives

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

Parries and timed blocks are the future of action games—and they’ve got a place in turn-based RPGs like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, too

Nine Sols is a standout gaming experience of 2023, noted for its stunning art direction, compelling narrative, and finely tuned combat mechanics. It represents a shift within the "soulslike" genre, leaning towards the intricate design seen in Sekiro, which redefined combat expectations by focusing on breaking an enemy's posture rather than just depleting health. The game emphasizes timing and precision in blocking, enhancing player engagement.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

The Best PC Games of 2025 So Far (Spring Edition)

Spring 2025 has seen the release of several notable PC games, including: - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Released on April 24, 2025, by Sandfall Interactive, it sold over 1 million copies in three days and features a blend of French art nouveau aesthetics and JRPG combat mechanics. - Monster Hunter Wilds: Released on February 28, 2025, by Capcom, it introduces full narrative integration and dynamic monster interactions. - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered: Released on April 22, 2025, by Bethesda Game Studios, it attracted over 4 million players shortly after launch and features enhanced visuals and gameplay updates. Other early 2025 releases include: - Blue Prince (April 10, 2025) - Split Fiction (March 6, 2025) - Atomfall (March 27, 2025) - Assassin’s Creed Shadows (March 20, 2025) - Two Point Museum (March 5, 2025) - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (January 23, 2025) - Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (January 22, 2025) - Ninja Gaiden II Black (January 23, 2025) - The Talos Principle: Reawakened (April 10, 2025) Highly anticipated titles for later in 2025 include: - Grand Theft Auto VI (Late 2025) - Doom: The Dark Ages (May 15, 2025) - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (August 28, 2025) - The Outer Worlds 2 (Expected 2025) - Borderlands 4 (September 12, 2025) - Marvel’s Blade (TBA 2025) - Hades II (Full Release later 2025) - Frostpunk 2 (Summer 2025) - Slay the Spire 2 (Early Access Expected 2025) - Anno 117: Pax Romana (Expected 2025) - Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (October 2025) - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Expected 2025) - Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Expected 2025) In 2024, top-rated PC games included: 1. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 2. Metaphor: ReFantazio 3. UFO 50 4. Tekken 8 5. Caves of Qud 6. Animal Well 7. Satisfactory 8. Balatro 9. Thank Goodness You’re Here! 10. The Last of Us Part II Remastered The PC gaming landscape in 2024 was characterized by significant hardware advancements, improved game integration and compatibility, and thriving online communities.

AppWizard

March 13, 2025

Today’s Steam Spring Sale features my absolute favorite game of all time – here’s when the sale starts and all the key info

The Steam Spring Sale 2025 will feature discounts on a variety of games, including confirmed titles such as The Long Dark, Sifu, Ballionaire, Balatro, Witchfire, Helldivers 2, Escape Simulator, The Isle, Earth Defense Force 6, ATLYSS, Unrailed 2: Back on Track, Nine Sols, Outer Wilds, Airborne Empire, Animal Well, and Life Is Strange: Double Exposure. The event will conclude on Thursday, March 20 at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT / 5 PM GMT. Steam typically has its largest sales during the Summer and Winter events.

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

Elden Ring Nightreign release date set for May, will cost $40

The official release date for Elden Ring: Nightreign is set for May 30, 2025. The game will be priced similarly to the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Players can experience gameplay with four distinct Nightfarers: Wylder (a versatile knight), Duchess (a rogue with a swift dash), Recluse (a mage who absorbs FP from enemies), and Guardian (a defensive birdman). Currently, only Doom: The Dark Ages is scheduled for release in May 2025 alongside Nightreign.

AppWizard

February 7, 2025

Balatro 1.1 will include new jokers plus a revamp of a really confusing existing one

LocalThunk, the creator of the poker roguelike Balatro, discussed the upcoming gameplay update version 1.1, which is set to enhance the game in 2025. He was cautious about revealing details to allow for flexibility in development. The update will include a modification to the blue stake, reducing the number of discards by one. Balatro has been recognized with the overall game of the year award for 2024, surpassing other notable titles.

AppWizard

December 28, 2024

Here are DSOGaming’s Games of the Year 2024

The gaming community is anticipating the Game of the Year (GOTY) list as 2024 approaches. Contributors from DSOGaming have shared their top picks: - pirovashMX chose Penny’s Big Breakaway, a platformer inspired by Sega’s 90s classics, featuring fluid movement and a new whip mechanic. - Spencer selected Virtua Fighter 5 REVO, an Open Beta version of a classic fighting game from 2006, praised for its combat mechanics and graphics, with an official release scheduled for January. - Nick McCaskey highlighted Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a JRPG that encouraged multiple playthroughs, alongside a mention of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. - John Papadopoulos picked Silent Hill 2 Remake, commending its atmosphere, narrative, visuals, and satisfying conclusion, despite minor traversal issues.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

Alan Wake 2 set such a high technical bar last year that few games in 2024 came anywhere near, but it wasn’t all abject disappointment

Alan Wake 2 debuted late last year, leading to assumptions of a 2024 release. Dragon's Dogma 2 launched in March but had excessive hardware demands and inconsistent performance. Nixxes Software's port of Horizon Forbidden West showcased effective traditional rendering. In May, Nixxes also released the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, which lacked ray tracing but was well-executed. June saw the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, the first expansion for Elden Ring, which did not include engine updates, causing performance issues for PC gamers. In August, Black Myth: Wukong and Star Wars Outlaws featured ray tracing but faced performance issues. September brought a port of God of War Ragnarök and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, both performing well. The Silent Hill 2 remake encountered glitches and performance issues on PC, while Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 struggled at launch. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl had visual appeal but suffered from performance problems and required patches for stability. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle performed well on lower-end hardware but was glitchy. High-profile titles like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are anticipated for 2025.

AppWizard

December 23, 2024

The 15 best PC games of 2024: From Indy to Kratos, samurai to outlaws, and everything in between

In 2024, the PC gaming landscape thrived due to the resolution of component shortages, the popularity of cloud gaming, and the rise of PC gaming handhelds. A diverse range of games was released, including indie titles and AAA adventures, along with remakes and remasters of classics. The top PC games of 2024 included: 1. Thank Goodness You're Here! 2. Helldivers 2 3. Indiana Jones and The Great Circle 4. Red Dead Redemption 5. Star Wars: Outlaws 6. Balatro 7. Animal Well 8. Fallout: London 9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 10. Dragon Age: The Veilguard 11. Silent Hill 2 12. God of War: Ragnarok 13. Black Myth: Wukong 14. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 15. Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut The gaming rig used featured an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super graphics card, Intel Core i5-13600K CPU, 32 GB DDR5 RAM, and an Asus ROG STRIX Z690-F GAMING WIFI motherboard.

AppWizard

December 23, 2024

Steam Replay is back, giving you a fresh look at what you’ve been playing in 2024

Steam Replay 2024 provides gamers with a personalized overview of their gaming habits over the past year, featuring statistics such as achievements unlocked, total games played, and longest gaming streaks. The year 2024 has seen notable game releases, including Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Helldivers 2, Balatro, and Hades 2, alongside enduring titles like Counter-Strike 2 and Call of Duty. Users can choose to share or keep their gaming statistics private. A significant trend revealed by Steam Replay is that only 15% of total playtime was spent on new releases in 2024, highlighting the continued popularity of classic games like DOTA 2, GTA 5, and PUBG. The Steam Deck's arrival in Australia has influenced gaming habits, with some users reporting a focus on roguelikes and action games. One user noted V Rising as their most-played title, followed by Hades II, and achieved a total of 643 unlocked achievements.

AppWizard

December 22, 2024

Metacritic’s list of top 10 PC games of 2024

2024 saw a significant rise in PC gaming, with major support from Sony and Microsoft. The top 10 PC games recognized by Gamespot’s Metacritic include: 1. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree - An expansion featuring a new area, adversaries, and deeper lore. 2. Tekken 8 - A continuation of the fighting game series with stunning graphics and dynamic gameplay. 3. God of War Ragnarok - A sequel with an engaging story and new mechanics, continuing the legacy of the franchise. 4. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - A sequel with an emotional narrative and polished gameplay, featuring Danny Trejo. 5. Destiny 2: The Final Shape - A milestone in the Destiny saga, enhancing RPG elements and concluding the Light and Darkness Saga. 6. Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition - The PC release of the sequel with stunning visuals and an engaging narrative. 7. Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut - An enhanced PC version of the samurai game with improved graphics and additional content. 8. Silent Hill 2 - A remake that honors the original while enriching its lore. 9. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - A game that celebrates Indiana Jones with cinematic flair and engaging puzzles. 10. Crusader Kings III: Roads to Power - An expansion adding new mechanics and features to the strategy game.