themes Archives

AppWizard

August 18, 2026

The new Rusty Lake game is a grim, sinister tale of family, destiny, and cooking: I fed a man porridge filled with dead bugs and he told me it tasted good

Rusty Lake's "Servant of the Lake" is a point-and-click puzzle adventure game that explores themes of familial obligation and tradition in a rural setting. The gameplay is linear, with predetermined paths and an emphasis on uncovering secrets rather than making significant choices. The game has received positive feedback, achieving an "overwhelmingly positive" rating on Steam with over 4,500 reviews and a peak of 28,000 concurrent users on its launch day. Rusty Lake co-founder Robin Ras expressed satisfaction with the game's success, which mirrors that of their previous title, "The Past Within." The game is currently available on Steam at a discounted price until August 27, and a free demo is also offered. The studio is planning future projects, including another game titled "Falling Apart."

AppWizard

August 17, 2026

The Sinking City 2 review

Players can expect a survival horror game with Lovecraftian themes set in the 1920s, developed and published by Frogwares, scheduled for release on August 18. The game is priced at £41.35 and is designed for single-player gameplay, focusing on an immersive narrative. It has been reviewed on a setup with Windows 11, an Intel Core i9 processor, 32GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card. Steam Deck compatibility is unknown.

AppWizard

August 17, 2026

Mortal Shell 2 review: A monumental heavy metal sequel with the spirit of a ’90s PC game

Mortal Shell 2 features a tavern called The One Legged Wolf, where patrons gather amidst a chaotic environment, enjoying music from a lute-player. The game blends modern dark fantasy with humor and classic PC gaming elements, enhancing its predecessor's gameplay and lore. Players control the Harbinger, who can inhabit eight different Shells, each with unique abilities and skill trees. Combat mechanics have evolved to allow for a more aggressive playstyle without a stamina bar, offering various damage mitigation methods. The game includes an easy mode, the Slayer Seal, and a secret hard mode for different player preferences. Level design pays homage to classic gaming, with intricate dungeons and hidden passages. Despite some bugs and a focus on specific Shells, the game is praised for its creativity and engaging experience.

AppWizard

August 17, 2026

5 Best Video Games Like Quake

In 2021, interest in the first-person shooter "Quake" from the '90s surged, leading to discussions about similar games. "Doom II," released in 1994, featured larger levels, new enemies, and enhanced multiplayer options, becoming one of the best PC games of the '90s. "Heretic," also from 1994, allowed players to control Corvus, an elven warrior, and included multiplayer combat, with innovations like an inventory system and secondary fire options. "Duke Nukem 3D," released in 1996, introduced a humorous protagonist and featured cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, becoming a nostalgic classic. "Turok 2: Seeds of Evil," the 1998 sequel to "Turok: Dinosaur Hunter," included multiplayer modes and showcased advanced graphics and level design, remastered in 2017. "Unreal Tournament," launched in 1999, emphasized multiplayer combat in an arena shooter format, marking a significant moment for Epic Games and showcasing impressive visuals and performance.

AppWizard

August 16, 2026

Is the ‘Minecraft’ sequel filming in Utah? Here’s what we know.

Warner Bros. Pictures is producing "A Minecraft Movie," inspired by the popular video game Minecraft, which has sold over 200 million copies globally. The film features a wolf character named Dennis in the Overworld and aims to capture the game's aesthetic while exploring themes of exploration, friendship, and imagination. The studio is committed to authenticity and preserving the essence of Minecraft in the adaptation.

AppWizard

August 16, 2026

Here Are 40 Minutes of Gameplay From Tides of Annihilation

YouTube’s ‘TapTap: Discover Great Games’ has released a 40-minute gameplay video for the upcoming title, Tides of Annihilation, showcasing a demo from Gamescom 2026. The game features a third-person adventure with a spectral knight dual-fighting system, allowing players to craft combos in high-speed battles set in a modern-day London with a medieval twist. Players will face over 30 unique bosses, many inspired by the Knights of the Round Table, and explore Gwendolyn’s origin through a narrative of revenge, reunion, and redemption. Tides of Annihilation will support Path Tracing on PC and NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation, with hopes for AMD FSR 4.0 and Intel XeSS 2.0 support. The release date is currently undisclosed.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

Netflix closes Oxenfree developer Night School, just a month after praising its new game as one of the company’s ‘most successful cloud game debuts’

Netflix has announced the closure of Night School Studios and its Helsinki-based Moonloot studio shortly after the launch of its latest title, Unhinged. Night School Studios, acquired in 2021, was known for its storytelling in games like Oxenfree and Afterparty. The closure follows the dissolution of Team Blue, indicating a strategic pivot for Netflix in its gaming operations. Additionally, Netflix is seeking a new Director of Generative AI for Games, offering a salary of up to 0,000, reflecting a trend towards integrating AI technologies in gaming. The company is also implementing broader cuts within its gaming division to streamline operations.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

Non-linear ghost story adventure game Remaining Grace announced for PC

ambedo studios, led by Quintin Pan, is developing a non-linear ghost story adventure game titled Remaining Grace, set to release on PC and Mac via Steam. The game explores themes of chosen family and human connections through the narrative of Grace Tao and spans three distinct time periods. Players will experience the story through a diverse cast, unraveling the mystery of Grace's death and her relationships with various characters, including her immigrant parents and childhood friends. The game features a unique pencil sketch art style and is set in an alternate-history version of North America called Turtle Island, where colonization never occurred. A trailer and screenshots for the game have been released.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition Gets Shadow Drop on Modern Consoles and PC

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North has been re-released on modern consoles and PC, remastered by Aspyr. It is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC, priced at .99 until August 25th, after which it will increase to .99. The remaster features 60fps, bug fixes, and quality of life improvements, including enemy lock-on and character hot swapping. Originally launched in November 2011, the game received mixed reviews, with IGN rating it 7/10. It includes an online co-op feature and a narrative that runs parallel to the events of the books and films. War in the North was the first in the franchise to receive an M for Mature rating. Aspyr hinted at the possibility of more Lord of the Rings re-releases in the future, though specific titles have not been disclosed.

BetaBeacon

August 11, 2026

A Space for the Unbound Brings Its Emotional Adventure to Android

A Space for the Unbound is now available on Android devices through the Google Play Store. Players can download the game for free and play the first chapter before unlocking the full experience for US.99. The game follows high school sweethearts Atma and Raya in a small Indonesian town during the late '90s, exploring themes of memory, identity, and emotional connection. The game's strong sense of place in rural Indonesia and its narrative-driven gameplay make it a standout indie release.