struggles Archives

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

The 14 most underappreciated games of the last year that you shouldn’t have ignored

Skin Deep: Released on December 5th, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (771); Peak player count: 953. Loco Motive: Released on November 21st, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (659); Peak player count: 336. Straftat: Released on October 24th, 2024; Steam reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (7523); Peak player count: 960; Price: Free on Steam. Penny’s Big Breakaway: Released on February 21st, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (800); Peak player count: 228. Solium Infernum: Released on February 22, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (1,362); Peak player count: 1,108. MechWarrior 5: Clans: Released on October 17th, 2024; Steam reviews: Mostly Positive (4303); Peak player count: 5,548. Xenotilt: Released on November 12th, 2024; Steam reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (594); Peak player count: 81. Anton Blast: Released on December 3rd, 2024; Steam reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (2919); Peak player count: 1,104. The Thaumaturge: Released on March 4th, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (2866); Peak player count: 2,733. Still Wakes the Deep: Released on June 18th, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (5639); Peak player count: 729. Dungeons of Hinterberg: Released on July 18th, 2024; Steam reviews: Very Positive (1597); Peak player count: 486. Drova: Forsaken Kin: Released on October 15th, 2024; Steam reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (6618); Peak player count: 2,717. 1000xRESIST: Released on May 9th, 2024; Steam reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (3471); Peak player count: 278.

AppWizard

May 19, 2025

The Sinking City Remastered PC Performance Analysis

Frogwares has released a remastered edition of The Sinking City for free to existing owners, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and Lumen technology. The remaster retains original settings while adding options for Upscaling and Ray Tracing, supporting NVIDIA DLSS 3 and AMD FSR 3.0. However, the DLSS Frame Generation feature is currently non-functional, and FSR Frame Gen is limited to AMD FSR Upscaling. Performance testing indicates that the game is GPU-bound, requiring at least an NVIDIA RTX 4080 or AMD Radeon RX 9070XT for over 60FPS at 1080p with maximum settings and no Ray Tracing. The AMD Radeon RX 6900XT underperformed compared to the NVIDIA RTX 3080, while the RX 9070XT matched the RX 7900XTX. At 1440p with maximum settings and no Ray Tracing, only the NVIDIA RTX 4090 and RTX 5090 achieved consistent framerates above 60FPS. No GPU provides a smooth experience at native 4K resolution with maximum settings and no Ray Tracing, with the RTX 5090 occasionally dipping below 55FPS. Adjusting in-game settings can significantly enhance performance, with High settings yielding over 83FPS on the RTX 5090. The remaster features higher-quality textures and improved lighting, although traversal stutters from the original version persist.

AppWizard

May 19, 2025

I did Liberation Day tariffs in Victoria 3, and it all went well until the famine in Colorado, the 2 lost wars with Canada, and the president beating a man to death with a stick

An individual used the video game Victoria 3 to explore economic policies related to the U.S. Liberation Day tariffs. They adopted a strategy of extreme protectionism by imposing 100% tariffs, which initially increased cash flow but led to shortages and famine. In an attempt to address these issues, the player invested in maize farms, which drained the treasury and worsened the financial crisis. The protagonist then decided to invade Canada to rally national pride and boost the economy, achieving initial military success but ultimately facing setbacks due to British reinforcements and internal insurrection. The invasion resulted in a costly peace settlement, further destabilizing the economy and government legitimacy. The game ended with a crash, prompting reflections on the complexities of economic policy and governance.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

‘Too many games let their players succeed’ says developer of notoriously tough survival RPG Kenshi, and ‘that’s mind-numbingly boring to me’

Kenshi is an open world survival RPG known for its challenging gameplay, particularly in the early stages. Players navigate a brutal world as ordinary individuals rather than legendary heroes. The game's creator, Natalie Hunt, dislikes the "chosen one" archetype and prefers stories about regular people. Kenshi 2 will be set 1,000 years before the first game, feature a map 50% larger than the original's 870 square kilometers, and introduce many new factions unique to the Kenshi universe. There is no release date for the sequel, but the original game is currently available at a 70% discount on Steam.

Winsage

May 12, 2025

I tried Asus ZenBook A14. Now I can’t imagine using a different Windows laptop

The Asus ZenBook A14 is a lightweight laptop that weighs over 23% less than the MacBook Air and is crafted from a material called Ceraluminum, making it 30% lighter than aluminum and nearly three times stronger. It features a variety of ports, including two USB-C (v4.0) ports, a USB-A port, and an HDMI 2.1 port, offering more connectivity options than the MacBook Air. The keyboard provides satisfying feedback and ample travel, while the Windows Hello authentication system offers convenient security. The laptop has a 14-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and performs well with applications from Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, although it struggles with heavier workloads in Da Vinci Resolve. The ZenBook A14 has a battery life of around eight hours on a single charge.

Winsage

May 11, 2025

5 reasons I use File Pilot to manage my files on Windows

Microsoft's File Explorer for Windows 11 is considered adequate but lacks certain features, leading users to seek alternatives like File Pilot, which is currently in beta and expected to have a paid release later this year. File Pilot allows users to adjust file views with a slider for seamless transitions and enhances usability by enabling real-time customization. It offers advanced file preview capabilities, particularly for images and TXT files, and features a command bar for quick navigation and access to various functions. The split view feature allows users to create multiple customizable panels for better organization. File Pilot is lightweight, with a download size of 1.8MB, and provides rapid performance, making it effective for managing large sets of files.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Save 20% Off Two of the Best PC Games of 2025

Fanatical is offering a 20% average discount on two games released in 2025. 1. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is discounted by 22%, with its price dropping from .99 to .79. The game allows players to explore a sandbox world set in 14th century Bohemia, with 100% completion taking around 125 hours, though many players spend over 150 hours. 2. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available for .99 after an 18% discount from its retail price of .99. The game features a turn-based combat system and has received the highest user rating on Metacritic. It explores themes of mortality and grief and has been praised for its narrative and emotional depth.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Starbreeze reclaims Payday 3 publishing rights from Plaion, says it will ‘significantly accelerate our content development roadmap’

Starbreeze Studios has secured the publishing rights to Payday 3 from Plaion, aiming to enhance content development for the game, which has faced challenges since its September 2023 launch. This acquisition establishes a long-term collaboration between Starbreeze and Plaion for future Payday franchise projects. Despite setbacks, including leadership changes, Payday 3 has struggled to maintain a player base, while Payday 2 remains popular. Starbreeze's involvement may lead to expedited updates and improvements for Payday 3, and the company is exploring broader strategic opportunities for the franchise.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

What’s The Best Alternative To Shazam For Android Users?

Shazam was launched in the UK in 2002 as a service where users could call a number to identify songs for a fee. Acquired by Apple in 2018, it remains available for Android users and integrates with various music platforms while being free to use. Shazam struggles with identifying earworms. SoundHound, Shazam's main competitor, has around 100 million users and can identify songs quickly, providing detailed information and lyrics. It allows users to hum or sing songs for identification, though this feature is not always accurate. SoundHound's free version includes ads, while SoundHound Infinity offers an ad-free experience for .99. Musixmatch is another alternative that identifies songs and focuses on lyrics, allowing users to create "lyrics cards" and offering a translation feature. It requires the actual song for identification. The Google app also provides quick song identification, including for hummed or sung versions, but gives candid feedback on user performance.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

GTA 6’s preposterously-gorgeous second trailer has me thinking ‘no-one does it like Rockstar’ isn’t just a compliment, but an omen

The trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 has been released, showcasing impressive graphics and attention to detail. The game is set for release in 2026 and is expected to be one of the most successful video games in history. Rockstar Games is in a strong position, with GTA Online generating significant revenue, allowing for a lengthy development period. Despite challenges in the gaming industry, including layoffs and the struggles of several studios, major projects like GTA 6 and others from prominent developers are underway. The development of Red Dead Redemption 2 faced issues related to crunch periods, but Rockstar has committed to improving working conditions.