social simulation Archives

BetaBeacon

January 2, 2026

Best Mobile Games for 2026

- Rockstar Games' Red Dead Redemption was released on mobile in 2025, including the original story campaign and Undead Nightmare expansion, priced at .99 or available through a Netflix subscription. - Subnautica also transitioned to mobile, offering a survival adventure set on an alien oceanic planet, optimized for touch controls and supporting controllers, priced at .99. - Persona 5: The Phantom X delivered a mobile-specific RPG experience with gacha mechanics and turn-based combat, maintaining ties to the original Persona 5 storyline, and offering free-to-play mechanics. - Where Winds Meet is an open-world wuxia title on mobile with demanding hardware requirements, featuring cross-progression support and light monetization. - DREDGE brought its Eldritch fishing simulation to mobile, included in Google Play Pass for subscribers, priced at .99. - Cassette Beasts is a premium turn-based RPG inspired by Pokémon on mobile, offering cassette monster collection and combat, priced at .99. - Destiny: Rising brought the FPS MMO experience to mobile for free, with typical NetEase monetization strategies. - Enter the Gungeon and Exit the Gungeon were released on mobile simultaneously, offering bullet hell and platforming gameplay with touchscreen and controller support. - Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown combined platforming and Metroidvania elements in a 2.5D action-adventure on mobile, offering offline play and full controller support.

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.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Avakin Life hits Steam after 200 million users on mobile

Avakin Life, a social simulation game launched in 2013 by Lockwood Publishing, has over 1.5 million monthly active users and more than 200 million registered players. It has recently debuted on Steam Early Access, allowing players to experience features such as avatar customization, apartment building, real-time events, and multiplayer social hubs. The Steam version supports cross-platform progression, enabling mobile users to link their accounts. The game is available in 14 languages and is free to download. The development team aims to gather community feedback during the Early Access phase to enhance the user experience and maintain feature parity across platforms. A full launch is expected later in the summer of 2025.

AppWizard

November 28, 2024

Ubisoft Montreal Is Currently Working On Minecraft’s Biggest Challenger Which Draws Inspiration From Animal Crossing

Ubisoft is developing a new game called Alterra, which aims to redefine the social simulation genre through voxel creation, inspired by titles like Animal Crossing and Minecraft. The game is being created by Ubisoft's Montreal studio and is anticipated to compete with Minecraft by offering a nuanced approach to world-building and introducing fresh mechanics and social interactions. Alterra's voxel-based design and community-driven elements are expected to meet the growing demand for interactive experiences that encourage creativity and collaboration among players.

AppWizard

November 26, 2024

Ubisoft reportedly developing Animal Crossing-style social sim with Minecraft-like building

Ubisoft Montreal is developing a new social simulation game called Alterra, inspired by Animal Crossing and featuring building mechanics similar to Minecraft. The game has been in development for approximately 18 months and evolved from a previous shelved project. Alterra will allow players to inhabit a home island with NPCs called Matterlings, which resemble Funko Pop figures. Players can build and craft items using resources from various biomes, each with unique Matterling types and materials. Fabien Lhéraud is leading the production, and the game's release is expected to be a few years away. Ubisoft's future release schedule includes delayed titles like Assassin's Creed Shadows and Anno 117: Pax Romana, as well as a new Rayman project and the long-awaited Beyond Good & Evil 2. Ubisoft has also entered the blockchain space with a game featuring NFT figurines.