Slay the Spire Archives

AppWizard

March 31, 2026

The Slay the Spire board game is getting an expansion based on one of the PC game’s most popular mods

Contention Games has launched a Kickstarter campaign for a new expansion of the Slay the Spire board game, titled Downfall, which is inspired by a popular user-created mod. The expansion allows players to play as villains like the Slime Boss, Hexaghost, and Guardian, each with unique player boards, cards, and miniatures. The Kickstarter offers various backing options, starting with the Downfall expansion at a base price, a collector's edition for , and a bundled option with the base game for . The campaign will run until April 8th, and the base game has been available in stores since its release.

AppWizard

March 30, 2026

I love Teamfight Tactics Set 17’s Hades vibes, but I’m going to find it hard to say goodbye to Lore and Legends

Riot Games has announced the next installment of Teamfight Tactics, named Space Gods, which draws inspiration from Hades 2. The previous set, Lore and Legends, is noted for its well-crafted design and strategic depth, making it a favorite among players. The new set will replace the carousel mechanic with selectable god boons and introduce new gameplay mechanics, including Fiora’s guaranteed victories in 1v1 encounters. TFT Set 17 will be available on the PBE on March 31 and launch with Patch 17.1 on April 15, 2026.

AppWizard

March 28, 2026

Were PC gamers right to take against Syndicate’s FPS reboot? Only one man with an ancient disc copy can find out

In the early 2010s, PC strategy and tactics enthusiasts expressed discontent as mainstream publishers, like EA and Take-Two, rebooted classic '90s franchises such as XCOM and Syndicate into first-person shooters, disappointing dedicated fans. These reboots were criticized for straying from the original gameplay experience, which allowed for exploration and strategy, and instead confined players to tight spaces with wave-spawning enemies. Despite the backlash against these reboots, it led to a resurgence of strategy games, exemplified by Mike Diskett's launch of Satellite Reign, a tactical successor to Syndicate that received critical acclaim three years later.

AppWizard

March 28, 2026

In defense of placeholder assets: why generative AI accidentally appears in so many games

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn has acknowledged the use of generative AI in its development, while Pearl Abyss apologized for unintentionally including AI-generated assets in Crimson Desert. Other games like The Alters and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have faced similar issues with AI elements. Developers are increasingly cautious about AI integration, with some, like Arc Raiders, moving away from AI-generated voice actors. When AI-generated art appears, developers often claim these were placeholders, which raises concerns about their inclusion in final products. Josh Sawyer highlighted the importance of distinguishing between temporary and final assets in his project Pentiment. The creative process relies on human vision and artistry, which generative AI cannot replicate. Additionally, the environmental impact of AI technology is a concern due to the energy demands of data centers. Developers' claims of unintended AI assets raise questions about transparency, contrasting with Owlcat's open acknowledgment. Players react negatively to AI-generated artwork, leading to swift apologies from developers, highlighting the tension between AI use and artistic integrity.

AppWizard

March 28, 2026

Borderlands 4’s Mad Ellie expansion plummets into the red as players reject $30 price tag

Anticipation for the first story expansion of Borderlands 4 is high, particularly due to the enjoyable base game experience. The expansion features characters like Ellie and introduces a new playable character, C4SH, a robotic gambler. Players will join forces with Moxxi's daughter and Ellie to confront a cosmic threat in the new region, Whispering Glacier, while seeking an alien monolith and exploring the Vault of the Damned. C4SH has unique abilities that enhance gameplay, including building 'Fortune' stacks and using various action skills. However, the expansion has received 'mostly negative' reviews on Steam, with only 33% of reviewers rating it positively, largely due to its pricing. The expansion is priced at .99 / £26.99, which many players feel is too high for the content offered, especially when compared to other games that provide more substantial gameplay for similar prices. The bundling of the new character with the story content has also contributed to dissatisfaction, as not all players may be interested in both elements. The expansion is available on Steam and included in the Super Deluxe Edition bundle.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

Steam Drops 4 New Free Games Just In Time For the Weekend

The text highlights four free games available on Steam that stand out for their unique gameplay and narratives. 1. Sylva’s Spirit: An isometric hack-and-slash game where players act as a forest protector, utilizing an elemental affinity system to cleanse a sanctuary. It features a deep progression system. 2. Deckbuilder Fantasy: A strategic game combining turn-based combat and cardplay, offering a full narrative experience without paywalls. Players can refine decks and face challenges in a replayable format. 3. Escape Gaia: Departure: A creature-creation game inspired by Starfox, allowing players to explore a universe with seven races and over 50 creatures. Players can create personalized creatures and command a spaceship to rebuild a damaged planet. 4. Find My Key: A first-person horror-maze game set in ancient Greece, where players must find keys to escape the Labyrinth while avoiding the Minotaur. The game offers multiple difficulty levels for varied enjoyment.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

How multiplayer works in Slay the Spire 2

In Slay the Spire 2, co-op gameplay allows one player to host a multiplayer save, with up to three additional players joining as long as they are Steam friends. There are no password-protected lobbies or matchmaking queues. Players must select a save profile with an unlocked character and choose 'Multiplayer' from the main menu. Each player has three profiles, can only host one campaign at a time, and must be present from the beginning of the game. Multiplayer campaigns feature individual inventories, and enemy stats scale with party size. Energy is not shared among players, and loot is distributed individually. Ascension progression in multiplayer is separate from single-player achievements, and players must complete all three acts as a team to earn Ascension levels, which apply to all characters in multiplayer.

AppWizard

March 23, 2026

This week in PC games: a new Hooded Horse city-builder, some PS2-style horror, a school-day RPG and an absolutely tremendous catfish

The atmosphere in gaming is currently lacking excitement due to a lull with no major releases. Notable upcoming games include: - Journey of the Garden Rose: An adventure game featuring a princess battling insects in a low-poly palace. - Frog Holm: A bar-running game that combines cocktail mixing with Tetris mechanics. - No Vacation for an Executioner: An action-horror game with a PS2 style and intricately designed monsters. - Come Again, Chachii?: A game where players help quirky aliens find jobs by deciphering their speech. - Roombattle: A top-down multiplayer game featuring competing vacuums. - Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy: A dungeon-crawling RPG with cheerful characters and perilous elements. - Beast Breaker: A tactical pinball game where players launch a mouse at kaiju. - Nova Roma: An early access city-builder focusing on water management. - Damon and Baby: An action-adventure game featuring a baby and a demon king. - Screamer: A cyberpunk racing game known for its colorful mechanics. - Project Songbird: A game about overcoming writer's block while battling tree monsters. - EverSiege: Untold Ages: An action-strategy game from the creators of Aliens: Dark Descent. Additional activities include capturing images of mushrooms in Rova, constructing a mycelial web in ChloroLink, battling vintage supervillains in Marvel Maximum Collection, searching for a sister in Too Well Hidden, harvesting fuel in Venus in Transit, and transforming clouds into sea creatures in The Wide Open Sky is Running out of Catfish. The Treehouse is working on guides for Crimson Desert, evaluating Slay The Spire 2, assessing hardware, and participating in a preview event.

AppWizard

March 23, 2026

Mega Crit responds to the panic over Slay the Spire 2’s 1st balance pass, saying these changes are ‘the first of many’: ‘No change is necessarily permanent’

Slay the Spire 2 has experienced financial success and positive player feedback, but recent balance changes led to negative reviews on Steam. The controversy centered around the card Prepared, which was changed to Prepare in a beta patch, altering its cost and functionality. Mega Crit acknowledged community concerns and emphasized the importance of player feedback in their patching process. They stated that the beta branch is for testing experimental changes and that adjustments are based on player input, metrics, and design philosophies. The studio remains optimistic about future changes, indicating that nothing is permanent at this stage of development.

AppWizard

March 22, 2026

Steam Deck Users Warned About Playing #1 Selling Steam Game

Steam Deck users are experiencing performance issues with the best-selling game on Steam, Crimson Desert, which is marked as “Unknown” for compatibility with the device. Despite being a top title, its demanding technical requirements create significant challenges for the Steam Deck. Experts recommend waiting for patches before playing, as current performance struggles include difficulty achieving stable 30 FPS, especially in demanding sequences. Developer Pearl Abyss has not communicated plans for future support or optimization for the Steam Deck. The gaming community is encouraged to discuss their experiences regarding the game's performance on this platform.