survival games Archives

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Everwind devs are testing their ambitious Minecraft-like RPG on Steam Deck as it “makes sense for everyone to be this available”

Everwind is set to launch in late 2026 as an alternative to Minecraft and alongside Hytale. Players will explore floating islands and navigate the skies in airships. The development team is testing the game on Valve’s Steam Deck and other handheld devices, with early builds showing promising performance. They aim to support both handhelds and desktops, emphasizing the importance of PC handhelds in gaming. The team is also testing on the MSI Claw. The Steam Deck is becoming a benchmark for performance standards in the industry, with developers recognizing the benefits of optimizing for it.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

Designing a more magical survival game: a first look at Witchspire

Witchspire is a co-op open-world survival game developed by the Swedish team Envar, targeting Early Access in 2026. Players assume the roles of witches or wizards who reactivate an ancient monument, the Witchspire, and embark on a quest to return home. The game features an expansive environment with floating islands and diverse biomes, utilizing witchcraft as a gameplay mechanic. Players can build structures through astral projection, gather resources with magical tools, and use collectible familiars for combat and crafting. The game emphasizes a non-punitive progression system, allowing players to explore various biomes and engage in combat with spells and upgradeable gear. The world includes "corruption events" with darker elements, and the narrative unfolds through exploration of ruins and dungeons. Witchspire marks Envar's shift from outsourcing to developing original IPs, with plans to self-publish the game.

AppWizard

December 31, 2025

Why Modern PC Games Are CPU-Bound Again

Modern PC gaming faces a challenge where gamers experience underutilized GPUs at around 60% capacity, leading to faltering frame rates despite investing in high-end graphics cards. This issue arises not from CPU inadequacy but from gaming demands evolving faster than how games utilize CPU power. Players upgrading to more powerful GPUs like the RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XT report minimal frame rate improvements, particularly at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, with CPU cores being pushed to their limits while GPU usage declines. This trend is evident across various game genres, and even DirectX 12, which offers improved multithreading, struggles to scale effectively beyond six to eight cores. Developers recognize these CPU limitations but find it challenging to address them. Modern games simulate numerous elements continuously, rely on real-time asset streaming, and face difficulties in distributing workloads effectively across CPU cores. Additionally, console hardware influences game design, often leading to CPU-bound scenarios on high-end PCs. Performance varies between Intel and AMD CPUs depending on game design, with some games demonstrating effective CPU scaling while others do not. CPU bottlenecks are expected to persist as GPU advancements outpace CPU improvements, emphasizing the need for gamers to consider CPU capabilities alongside GPU upgrades.

AppWizard

December 19, 2025

The best deals in the 2025 Steam Winter Sale

The Steam Winter Sale features a selection of games at all-time low prices, including newly released titles from 2025 and recommended favorites. The sale includes discounts on various genres, with guides available for RPGs, FPS games, strategy games, and survival games. Notable games and their prices during the sale include: - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 - .99 (-50%) - Balatro - .74 (-15%) - Baldur's Gate 3 - .99 (-25%) - Elden Ring - .99 (-35%) - Valheim - .99 (-50%) - Death Stranding: Director's Cut - .99 (-60%) - Disco Elysium - .99 (-90%) - Into the Breach - .49 (-70%) - Divinity: Original Sin 2 - .99 (-75%) - Dishonored 2 - .99 (-80%) - Metal Gear Solid 5: Definitive Experience - .99 A Steam sale calendar is available for tracking upcoming sales.

AppWizard

December 15, 2025

Arc Raiders leans more heavily into survival games in new Cold Snap update, with frostbite being a new threat to your loot

Embark Studios has released a winter-themed update for Arc Raiders called Cold Snap, introducing a new challenge: frostbite, which affects players in snow-covered environments. Four of the game's five maps—Dam Battlegrounds, Blue Gate, Buried City, and Spaceport—have been transformed with heavy snowfall, requiring players to manage their exposure to the cold to avoid health depletion from frostbite. Players can stock up on medical supplies or seek shelter to mitigate this effect. The update features two limited-time reward tracks: the Flickering Flames Event, where players earn Merits to unlock rewards like gear and cosmetics, and the Candleberry Banquet Project, which involves looting event-specific items to reveal scenes and earn additional rewards. Additionally, the Cold Snap update introduces the first Expedition Project, allowing players to reset their accounts for a fresh start, earning temporary buffs and permanent unlocks. A new Raider Deck with an ice hockey theme will be available starting December 26, offering various rewards without an expiration date. The update will be available on December 16.

AppWizard

December 7, 2025

PUBG creator says he “100% expected” negative reactions to his new survival game, but its Steam reviews are improving fast

A 20-second teaser for Prologue, the debut title from Brendan Greene's studio, was showcased at the 2019 Game Awards. The game recently launched in early access, generating excitement from Greene, who noted its unique design allows for millions of different map seeds, making each exploration distinct. Prologue does not include quest markers, NPCs, or enemies, focusing instead on survival against the wilderness. Upon launch, it received a 'Mixed' user score on Steam, with some players dissatisfied with its perceived emptiness. Greene anticipated such reviews, emphasizing that the game encourages players to craft their own adventures. Prologue features three game modes and extensive replayability, but lacks traditional survival game elements. Greene acknowledged the trend of early access being misused by some studios and expressed his commitment to engaging with the community for feedback. Players have achieved notable survival feats within the game, such as surviving for 18 or 19 days and creating self-imposed challenges. Greene also mentioned community activities, like weekly challenges based on game seeds.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

“Joke’s on you,” says No Man’s Sky lead as rival survival game confirms it’s replacing an eerily familiar cosmetic

Developer Starry Studio has introduced significant updates to the survival game Once Human, including a new class system, a PvP-centric Raid Zone, and a crossover with Palworld. A new decorative item in the game’s loot crates, specifically an exercise bike, has sparked controversy due to its similarities to the Base Teleport Module from No Man's Sky. Hello Games' Sean Murray responded humorously to the criticism, while Starry Studio confirmed it would remove the contentious item. The Thunder Overload cosmetic lineup features outfits and a weapon skin that transforms the SKS into a mechanical dragon. Earlier this year, Once Human was also accused of borrowing design elements from Rainbow Six Siege. Starry Studio has pledged to replace the disputed asset and review their art and design policies, emphasizing the importance of originality and community feedback.

AppWizard

November 29, 2025

Oozing fiery, retropunk goodness, this survival game’s new trailer is so cool I’m not even mad about its delay

Into the Fire's early access launch has been delayed to 2026, previously set for 2025. Players will take on the role of a retropunk firefighter in Dante's Archipelago, managing temperature and water supplies while rescuing survivors from volcanic eruptions. The game features a sanctuary called The Hub for recuperation and tool crafting, with an arsenal that includes an axe, foam grenades, and water-dousing shotguns. A notable vehicle in the game is a propeller-driven sledge. The new trailer reveals supernatural elements such as fire jellyfish and ghostly apparitions. Closed playtests will be available to members of the game's Discord community.

AppWizard

November 23, 2025

Dune Awakening gives franchise fans and MMO skeptics a chance to try it for free with a generous new trial

Dune Awakening is a survival MMO set in the Dune universe, featuring a vast multiplayer environment and social dynamics. Developer Funcom is offering regular free trials, with the latest trial allowing players to explore the game for up to ten hours until November 27. The game emphasizes character progression and survival mechanics, focusing on sunlight and water management. Players can find water sources, craft items, and purify blood for drinking water. The game includes PvP combat and dedicated PvE areas, with a focus on establishing secure bases. Dune Awakening has a steady player base, achieving peak daily counts in the thousands. The game is currently available at a 25% discount until December 1, priced at .49 / £31.49.

AppWizard

November 17, 2025

PUBG creator’s unforgiving survival game just got a new early access roadmap, and it’s looking stacked

Go Wayback's Prologue is a minimalist survival game focusing on resource scarcity and unpredictable weather, rather than traditional foes. Players navigate a procedurally generated map with the goal of reaching a weather station. The game has undergone significant refinement in the past nine months and is preparing for early access. A roadmap for future updates includes improved pathing, expanded construction options, and new game modes. Prologue is part of PlayerUnknown Productions' Project Artemis, a three-game initiative aimed at creating expansive, planet-sized worlds.