single-player Archives

AppWizard

August 20, 2025

Halloween game announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC

IllFonic and Gun Interactive are developing a horror game titled Halloween, inspired by the iconic horror franchise. It will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, though a release date has not been announced. The game is set in Haddonfield, Illinois, on Halloween night in 1978, where players can choose to play as either the Boogeyman or a hero protecting innocent families. It features a 1v4 asymmetrical horror gameplay style. An announcement trailer has been released.

AppWizard

August 16, 2025

How crossplay works (or rather, doesn’t) in GTA 5 Enhanced

The inability to play Grand Theft Auto Online with friends across different platforms persists as of 2025. Rockstar Games has released an Enhanced version of Grand Theft Auto 5, which includes improvements to both the single-player and GTA Online. The original version of GTA 5 will continue to be supported, but it will operate separately from the upgraded version, preventing players on different versions from joining the same sessions. A convoluted workaround for cross-platform play exists, requiring a jailbroken PS4, a developer copy of GTA 5, and access to a private server called Los Santos Online. Rockstar has not confirmed whether GTA 6 will feature crossplay capabilities, and given that Red Dead Online lacks this functionality, it is uncertain if GTA 6 will include it.

AppWizard

August 15, 2025

Stellar Blade PC Success is Indicative of Booming South Korean Gaming Industry

In its first three days of release on PC, Stellar Blade sold one million copies, contributing to a total of three million copies sold across PC and console platforms. A sequel is confirmed with a projected launch set for 2027. The game has received positive reviews for its combat mechanics and has benefited from the rising popularity of Korean culture. In 2023, Lies of P also gained acclaim, while Crimson Desert is generating hype despite a delay until 2026. The indie game Dave the Diver showcases the industry's expansion beyond traditional platforms. Additionally, Chinese developers have made significant progress, with Black Myth Wukong selling 20 million copies in its first month and boosting tourism to regions depicted in the game.

BetaBeacon

August 15, 2025

I hid corpses in VR and no one could stop me

Hide the Corpse is a puzzle game where players have to hide the corpse of a man named Gus in various locations within a time limit. The game is family-friendly and involves physics-based gameplay. Players must also hide Gus's belongings and erase any fingerprints they leave behind. The game can be played alone or with friends, providing a unique and entertaining experience reminiscent of older eras of gaming.

BetaBeacon

August 10, 2025

8 forgotten Android classics I still play today

Dead Trigger is a single-player, story-driven first-person zombie shooter game that offers a fairly pure experience without pushing micro-transactions for upgrades. The game was optimized for Tegra chipsets and had stunning graphics for its time. It remains playable despite looking a bit dated and offers bite-sized missions for players.

AppWizard

August 9, 2025

Steam has a sale celebrating small developers, and you can get my favorite post-Balatro deckbuilder for just $2

The Tiny Teams sale on Steam runs until August 14th, featuring games from small development teams, including demos for upcoming indie releases. Notable titles include: - Aces & Adventures: A deckbuilder priced at .99, with 13 fully-voiced campaigns inspired by Norse and Middle Eastern mythology, offering procedurally-generated runs and gameplay that combines special abilities with poker hands. - Pager: A 1-bit simulation exploring corporate ambition, reminiscent of the series Severance. - Phasmophobia: A 4-player online co-op horror game available at a 25% discount, where players act as ghost hunters using various equipment and voice interaction with ghosts. - Ale & Tale Tavern: A cozy co-op game priced under , where players manage a tavern and engage in activities like hunting, cooking, and farming. - The RPG: A humorous game that satirizes genre tropes, featuring glitchy dragon bosses and comedic healing methods. - Erenshor: A single-player RPG designed to evoke the feel of classic MMOs. The sale includes additional discounts and a variety of indie games and demos.

AppWizard

August 8, 2025

I’m so tired of being advertised at, man

The digital landscape is saturated with advertisements, infiltrating various platforms such as e-readers, televisions, and music streaming services. This saturation has led to a focus on advertising over product quality, diverting resources from enhancing user experience to creating compelling promotions. While some alternatives like indie games and physical books still prioritize user satisfaction, they are becoming rarer. The aggressive advertising strategy aims to maximize revenue through volume, raising concerns about sustainability and the impact on consumer attention. The current trajectory suggests a need to reconsider the relationship between advertising and media consumption.

AppWizard

August 8, 2025

Somebody spilled some Minecraft in this hardcore first-person RPG, and I love the result way more than I ever thought possible

The demo of Nox Mortalis initially disappointed the player due to its cryptic nature and frustrating melee combat mechanics, including a reliance on a parry system and the absence of a compass. However, after reviewing the in-game manual, the player discovered that crafting a compass was part of the gameplay experience. The game incorporates resource management, requiring players to gather materials like wood, coal, and metals to craft weapons and unlock treasure chests. The crafting system is intuitive, with recipes unlocking automatically as players collect materials. The demo allows for approximately four hours of gameplay, including exploration of side dungeons and the initial levels of a central megadungeon. The player experienced a satisfying progression, starting with basic crafting and advancing to more powerful weapons. There is concern about whether the developer can maintain the engaging gameplay loop in the full release, which currently has no set date, as feedback from the demo is being gathered. Players can wishlist the game and access the demo on Steam.

AppWizard

August 6, 2025

Ashes of the Singularity 2 announced for PC

Oxide Games and Stardock announced Ashes of the Singularity 2, set for a PC release in 2026. The sequel will introduce human factions into the storyline, featuring the United Earth Forces battling against AI and Post-Humans. It will include a single-player campaign, cooperative and multiplayer modes, and new gameplay mechanics. Stardock CEO Brad Wardell highlighted the community's request for a human faction, which was not feasible in the first game due to technical limitations.

AppWizard

August 5, 2025

Best space flight simulation games, ranked

Several space flight simulation games are set to release or have released recently, appealing to a broad audience. 1. Underspace: - Release date: April 10, 2024 - Platform: PC - Developer: Pastaspace Interactive - Features sandbox gameplay inspired by Freelancer, with ship customization and exploration. 2. Everspace 2: - Release date: April 6, 2023 - Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC - Developer: Rockfish Games - Offers an open-world adventure with a compelling storyline and engaging side missions. 3. Freelancer: - Release date: March 4, 2003 - Platform: PC - Developer: Digital Anvil - Allows players to traverse 48 star systems, engaging in trading, piracy, and bounty hunting. 4. Starfield: - Release date: September 6, 2023 - Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PC - Developer: Bethesda Game Studios - Features customizable spacecraft and immersive dogfights. 5. Star Citizen: - Release date: December 23, 2017 - Platform: PC - Developer: Cloud Imperium Games - Known for its ambitious scope and immersive flight simulation experience. 6. Star Wars: Starfighter 1 & 2: - Release dates: February 21, 2001 / March 11, 2002 - Platforms: Xbox, PS2/3, PC - Developers: LucasArts, Blitz Games, Secret Level - Arcade-style space combat games set in the Star Wars universe. 7. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron series: - Release dates: December 3, 1998 / November 18, 2001 / October 21, 2003 - Platforms: Nintendo 64, PC / GameCube - Developers: LucasArts, Factor 5 - Celebrated for engaging gameplay and tight controls. 8. No Man's Sky: - Release date: August 12, 2016 - Platforms: Xbox One/Series X/S, PS4/5, Nintendo Switch 1/2, PC - Developer: Hello Games - Offers a vast universe for exploration and various activities, including VR support. 9. Star Wars Squadrons: - Release date: October 2, 2020 - Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC - Developer: Motive - Provides a pure flight simulation experience with engaging controls and VR support. 10. Elite: Dangerous: - Release date: April 2, 2015 - Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC - Developer: Frontier Developments - Known for its realism and immersive gameplay, allowing players to take on various roles in a living galaxy.