simulation game Archives

AppWizard

January 18, 2026

Cutesy Stardew-like life sim with millions of players just hit Steam, but the PC version is a letdown and it’s awful news for Steam Deck

Heartopia, a life simulation game, has gained over five million players on mobile but has struggled to resonate with the Steam audience after its PC release. The game launched on Steam with vague announcements about its availability and received nearly 1,000 reviews shortly after, though feedback has been mixed. Players feel the PC version seems like an afterthought, with issues related to control schemes and the absence of controller support. The development team is engaging with the community but has provided generic responses regarding improvements. Despite these challenges, 69% of Steam reviews are positive, with players appreciating the game's charm, although frustrations about camera controls persist. Heartopia is available for free on Steam.

AppWizard

January 18, 2026

Disney suddenly pulls 14 games from Steam, including a childhood favorite, and the preservationist in me is wincing

More than a dozen Disney-published titles have been removed from sale on Steam, raising concerns about digital preservation. The delisted games include: - Afterlife - Armed and Dangerous - Disney's Cars Radiator Springs Adventures - Disney's Chicken Little Ace in Action - Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure - Disney's Hercules - Disney Pixar Finding Nemo - Disney Pixar Toy Story Mania - Disney Planes - Disney The Princess and The Frog - Disney Winnie the Pooh - Lucidity - Phineas and Ferb: New Inventions - Stunt Island The removal affects both lesser-known licensed games and beloved classics from LucasArts, such as Afterlife, which allows players to build infrastructures of heaven and hell, and other notable titles like Armed and Dangerous and Stunt Island. Players were not given prior notice about the delisting.

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

Disney suddenly pulls 14 games from Steam, including a childhood favorite, and the preservationist in me is wincing

Over a dozen Disney-published titles have been removed from Steam, raising concerns about digital preservation in gaming. Notable delisted games include the 1996 simulation game Afterlife, along with Armed and Dangerous, Lucidity, and Stunt Island. The complete list of removed titles is: - Afterlife - Armed and Dangerous - Disney's Cars Radiator Springs Adventures - Disney's Chicken Little Ace in Action - Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure - Disney's Hercules - Disney Pixar Finding Nemo - Disney Pixar Toy Story Mania - Disney Planes - Disney The Princess and The Frog - Disney Winnie the Pooh - Lucidity - Phineas and Ferb: New Inventions - Stunt Island The absence of prior notice regarding the delisting has frustrated fans and collectors, highlighting the fragility of digital ownership.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Quarantine Zone: The Last Check review

Players assume the role of a zombie plague "doctor" in the first-person simulation game Quarantine Zone: The Last Check, set to release on January 12, 2026, for £17. Developed by Brigada Games and published by Devolver Digital, the game allows players to screen survivors at a military outpost during a zombie apocalypse, ensuring they are free from the zombie virus and other ailments while also checking for hidden explosives. Players examine survivors for signs of infection, using various tools to inspect their bodies, but the repetitive nature of tasks may lead to monotony. Additionally, players manage supplies and upgrade tools, although these tasks lack depth. Occasional minigames provide brief diversions, but the core gameplay focuses on conducting medical exams. The game will be available on platforms like the Steam Deck.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Heartopia (PC) Review

Heartopia is a life-simulation game that blends cozy simulation elements with MMO features, allowing players to cultivate a town and interact with locals. However, the MMO aspects dilute the individuality typically found in cozy games, as multiple players receive the same accolades for completing quests. Gameplay involves repetitive fetch quests to unlock activities like home decoration and fishing, which can feel tedious. The game features a community aspect, but players may find their neighbors' homes replaced or their own home relocated between sessions, undermining familiarity. Character design is uninspired, and the user interface resembles a mobile game, lacking polish. As a free-to-play title, it includes multiple currencies that create confusion, with microtransactions for premium items. Despite these issues, the game offers engaging home-building mechanics and unique hobbies like Birdwatching and Pet Care. Overall, Heartopia struggles to effectively merge MMO elements with cozy simulation, making it a less appealing option compared to established titles like Animal Crossing.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Running Factorio from over 1,000 floppy disks is a masochistically manual process that surely sets a new record for game load times

YouTuber DocJade is running the game Factorio on 1,000 3.5-inch floppy disks instead of a conventional hard drive. He developed a custom file system called Fluster using the RUST programming language, which divides each floppy disk into 512-byte blocks, allowing for a total of 2,880 blocks per disk and approximately 90 GB of storage. Fluster is open-sourced and available on DocJade's GitHub. Factorio's design allows it to load most content before the title screen, making it suitable for this unconventional method.

AppWizard

January 13, 2026

TikTok hit Quarantine Zone finally launched today and made the mistake of giving me a large medical hammer

Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is a newly launched first-person medical simulation game available on Steam. Players take on the role of a doctor using a hammer as a tool, blending humor and challenge in various medical scenarios. The game has gained popularity on TikTok and features absurd gameplay, including unconventional treatments. It is currently offered at a 10% discount for a limited time.

AppWizard

January 11, 2026

One of the Most Popular PC Games of All Time Just Got Steam Deck Verified 7 Years After Release

Satisfactory has achieved Steam Deck Verified status after being categorized as “Playable” for a period. The game has sold 5.5 million copies as of 2024 and reached a peak of 184,171 concurrent users on Steam. It holds a score of 91 on Metacritic and a 97% approval rating on Steam, earning the “Overwhelmingly Positive” designation. Players take on the role of a pioneer on an alien planet, tasked with constructing factories to utilize natural resources, and the game is available for .99 on Steam.

AppWizard

January 7, 2026

Turkiye’s PC games to watch in 2026

A curated watchlist highlights promising Turkish video games set for release in 2026, featuring titles that indicate a 2026 release window on Steam. The main list includes: - Anomaly President by Phew Phew Games: A presidential roguelike action game set for Q1 2026 on PC. - Dead Engine by Chocolate Dungeon Games: A pixel-art, post-apocalyptic survival action-roguelite launching in Early Access on January 22, 2026. - Emberbane by Hamlet Games: A pixel-art action-adventure game scheduled for January 2026. - Eternity’s Echo: Patient Zero by Demonsoft Games: A first-person psychological survival-horror title set for Q1 2026. - Gamer Stop Simulator by Red Axe Games: A simulation game set in Japan, aiming for a higher visual standard, with no specific release date mentioned. - Island Market Simulator by Zentium Studio: Set for Q1 2026, focusing on managing an island-town business. - Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds by Hero Concept: A beat 'em up game set for 2026 release on Steam and consoles. - Papa Needs a Headshot by Phew Phew Games and Vercial Games: An FPS set for Q2 2026 release. - Sagas of Lumin by Elos Games and Arts: An action RPG launching in Q1 2026. - The Enigma Cases by Red Axe Games: A co-op detective mystery game set for 2026. - Who Do Voodoo by Kuixo: A multiplayer social-deduction game targeting Q1 2026 for Early Access. Additionally, several titles are under consideration for a potential 2026 release, including: - Black State by Motion Blur: A single-player action-adventure shooter marked as “To be announced.” - Deckfort Alchemist by Team Machiavelli: A strategic roguelike tower defense game currently marked as “Coming soon.” - A new project from Fubu Games is anticipated following their successful titles in 2025.

AppWizard

December 31, 2025

Edwin’s most anticipated PC games for 2026

An indie strategy simulation game allows players to embody a tribe of primordial hunter-gatherers, focusing on technology and social values. Mars Tactics is a tactical strategy game set on Mars, where players can command either Capital or Labour forces, each with distinct advantages and vulnerabilities. Subnautica 2 has shifted from an undersea survival game to a legal attrition simulator, retaining multiplayer features but changing its focus. The Bustling World is an ambitious RPG offering various roles and vibrant aesthetics, though concerns exist about its social simulation's feasibility. Cicadamata is a first-person shooter with a fast pace and vibrant aesthetic, drawing inspiration from classic titles while offering modern twists.