shooters Archives

AppWizard

April 5, 2026

Realistic FPS Gray Zone Warfare bounces back as a transformative, community-led update boosts players by 1000%

The recent update to Gray Zone Warfare, named Spearhead, has generated significant enthusiasm for the tactical first-person shooter developed by Madfinger Games. The update includes a dedicated onboarding zone for newcomers, a comprehensive 110-page Field Manual, and an expansion of the island of Lamang with over 25 new locations and diverse biomes. The game features a restructured terrain and vegetation for enhanced player strategy, reorganized computer-controlled adversaries into seven factions, and a revamped progression system with over 250 replayable tasks. Spearhead introduces eight new weapons, over 380 weapon parts, and more than 150 gear pieces, along with a revamped vendor system and extensive changes to the loot system, doubling the number of distinct loot items. An animation overhaul has improved movement fluidity, and new sprinting options have been added. Audio quality has been enhanced with natural sounds and new enemy voiceovers. The health system has been refined for better combat clarity, and updates to the HUD and tactical map have improved user experience. Player engagement has surged, with active user counts increasing to over 40,000 and a total player count of 160,000. The game is currently available on Steam at a promotional price of £23.44 / .79. Future updates and an updated roadmap will be provided by Madfinger Games.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

This Nightdive-remastered 3DO shooter shows why it took Halo to break PC gaming’s FPS hegemony

In 1993, the 3DO Company released Escape from Monster Manor, a horror-themed FPS inspired by Wolfenstein 3D, which was overshadowed by the popularity of Doom. The 3DO Company later discovered a title in development called PO'ed. Nightdive Studios recently remastered PO'ed, making it available for PC gamers. The game features a chef protagonist on a spacecraft overrun by aliens, with a quirky arsenal including a frying pan and flamethrower. However, it suffers from uninspired environments, lack of in-game music, confusing level design, and imprecise controls. Despite its flaws, PO'ed is considered a notable artifact of early FPS gaming history.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

Best Free PC Games You Should Be Playing in 2026

The costs associated with PC gaming are rising, with new GPUs priced like used cars and AAA games exceeding high prices. However, there are many high-quality free games available. Marvel Rivals is a team-based hero shooter featuring characters from the Marvel universe, offering tactical gameplay and vibrant art. Valorant, developed by Riot Games, blends tactical shooting with character-specific abilities and remains popular five years after its launch, emphasizing team composition and skill. Delta Force has returned as a free-to-play tactical shooter, combining expansive battlefield modes with extraction gameplay, satisfying gunplay, and a robust player base. Wuthering Waves is an open-world action RPG with an anime art style and dynamic combat, allowing players to enjoy the game without spending money despite a gacha system. Dota 2, launched in 2013, remains one of the most played games on Steam, known for its depth, over 120 unique heroes, and a steep learning curve, along with a large esports scene. There are many more free PC games available across platforms like Steam and Epic, with new titles launching regularly and opportunities for players to discover quality games.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

The best tool for playing obscure old PC games now supports the sublime FMV cheese of Crime Patrol 2: Drug Wars and a Lovecraftian adventure one YouTuber scored a ‘terribly low 2/10’

ScummVM has expanded its focus beyond adventure games, allowing classic PC games to be played on various platforms, including modern Windows, Macs, and the Nintendo Wii. Notable lesser-known games include the '90s FMV shooters Crime Patrol and Crime Patrol 2: Drug Wars, which feature questionable acting and storylines about drug busts. Another mentioned title is Necronomicon: The Dawning of Darkness, which was completed in two hours and received a low rating of 2/10 from a YouTuber. ScummVM provides a comprehensive wiki page for acquiring supported games and an FAQ for guidance.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Fill the gaps in your Bethesda collection with Oblivion, Fallout, Doom, and other classics from just $3 each

The Build Your Own Bethesda Bundle from Fanatical offers a selection of games priced at approximately per game, featuring significant titles such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Fallout 3, and The Evil Within. Oblivion is highlighted for its unique charm, varied quests, and engaging NPC interactions, often considered superior to its successor, Skyrim. The bundle includes a variety of Bethesda classics, such as titles from the Fallout series, DOOM, Quake, Dishonored, Wolfenstein, and The Evil Within. The opportunity to purchase only desired titles is emphasized, with the bundle expiring on Tuesday, May 5th.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

The new PC games of April 2026: Pragmata, the next Diablo 4 expansion, and Final Fantasy 14’s big month

In April 2026, the pace of new game releases has slowed compared to March. Notable releases include: - Samson (April 8) - An open-world crime game with a focused narrative. - Mouse: P.I. For Hire (April 16) - A quirky boomer shooter with a 1930s cartoon aesthetic. - Pragmata (April 16) - A Capcom title set in a dystopian future featuring an AI doomsday scenario. - Vampire Crawlers (April 21) - A card game similar to Slay the Spire 2. - Outbound (April 23) - A mobile base-building game focused on exploration and cooperative gameplay. Upcoming events include: - The Triple-I Initiative indie showcase on April 9. - The London Games Festival starting April 13. - The BAFTA Game Awards on April 17. - The Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival on April 24. Steam sales in April are: - March 30 – April 6: House & Home Fest - April 9 – April 13: Hidden Object Fest - April 20 – April 27: Medieval Fest Early access and full releases include: - Temtem: Swarm (April 2) - Transitions to 1.0 with new features. - Road to Vostok (April 7) - A survival FPS entering early access. - Spark in the Dark (April 7) - A hardcore dungeon crawler in early access. - Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era (April 30) - Launching in early access. Major updates include: - Starfield (April 7) - Free Lanes update and new story DLC. - The Expanse: Osiris Reborn (April 22) - First closed beta test. - Final Fantasy 14 (April 28) - Patch 7.5 launching. - Marathon - Updates expected throughout the month. Additional game releases: - April 1: Breath of Fire 4 (Steam) - April 1: Resident Evil (1996) (Steam) - April 2: Darwin's Paradox (Steam) - April 15: Cleaning Up! (Steam) - April 28: He-Man: Dragon Pearl of Destruction (Steam)

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Revisiting the last truly great Call of Duty

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2019 has seen a resurgence in interest due to a sale on Steam. The game is praised for its visual quality, sound design, and gameplay experience, setting high standards for first-person shooters. Its Create-a-Class system encourages strategic gameplay, and the attachment mechanics require meaningful choices, preventing any single weapon configuration from dominating. Despite some flaws, the game retains distinct weapon characteristics. Modern Warfare 2019 is viewed as both a high point for the franchise and a catalyst for challenges, particularly with the introduction of Warzone. The decision to separate Modern Warfare from Warzone has been positively received. Activision's recent discount indicates an effort to rekindle excitement for the game, which continues to be a benchmark for future titles.

AppWizard

April 2, 2026

Here’s your chance to get Marathon for just $1 and score one of my favorite FPS games in recent years for a tiny price

Marathon is an extraction shooter set on Tau Ceti IV, where players engage in quests for various factions while risking the loss of their gear upon death. The game features immersive gunplay and a sci-fi atmosphere, drawing inspiration from titles like Destiny and Halo. Players learn from each death, refining their strategies as they navigate both PvP and PvE elements. The game is not designed for casual gamers, requiring a commitment to mastering its mechanics. It can be acquired for just £1 through the Fanatical Mystery Egg Bundle, which offers a chance to receive a random game, including the possibility of Marathon.

AppWizard

March 31, 2026

Super Meat Boy 3D has no vibe

Shaun Prescott, an Australian editor, discusses his experiences with the action platformer genre, focusing on Super Meat Boy 3D and its predecessors. He recalls how Super Meat Boy reignited his passion for the genre in 2010 after purchasing a secondhand Xbox 360. While Super Meat Boy remains a beloved title, it has become less central to his gaming thoughts, and he found Super Meat Boy Forever disappointing due to its autorunner format. Super Meat Boy 3D features themed levels but lacks a cohesive narrative and has an unappealing color palette. Despite these visual shortcomings, the gameplay mechanics are well-translated from the original game, although some levels are frustrating due to trial-and-error gameplay. Prescott's interest in Super Meat Boy 3D wanes as he progresses, feeling detached from the game's world, though it remains a competent entry for completionists in the action platformer genre.

AppWizard

March 29, 2026

Forgotten FPS sequel Heretic 2 gets a ‘reverse-engineered sourceport’ that fixes bugs, improves the framerate and adds ‘lots of cosmetic improvements’

Classic boomer shooters Heretic and Hexen have been made more accessible for PC gamers by Nightdive Studios. Hexen 2 is available for purchase on Steam, while accessing Heretic 2 requires obtaining a boxed copy. Heretic 2, released in 1998, is a third-person action-adventure game that received positive reviews for its level design and 3D action. MaxEd on GitHub has created a reverse-engineered sourceport called Heretic2R, which enhances the game with features like widescreen support, unlocked framerate, improved map loading times, and cosmetic improvements. To use Heretic2R, players need the original Heretic 2 game data updated to version 1.06. The potential for a future rerelease of Heretic 2 exists, as both it and Hexen 2 were published by different companies now under Microsoft.