time travel Archives

Tech Optimizer

November 7, 2025

PostgreSQL 13’s Sunset: Why Database Pros Must Upgrade Before the Lights Go Out

Organizations using PostgreSQL 13 must upgrade before its end-of-life on November 13, 2025, as this will result in the cessation of security patches, bug fixes, and official support. Continuing to use an unsupported version exposes systems to vulnerabilities, which can lead to data breaches and compliance challenges. The last minor release for PostgreSQL 13 was 13.21 in May 2025. Upgrading to newer versions, such as PostgreSQL 16 or 17, offers performance improvements and enhanced features. Strategies for upgrading include using tools like pg_upgrade, pg_dump/pg_restore, and logical replication to minimize downtime. Compatibility issues may arise due to deprecated functions in PostgreSQL 13, necessitating code reviews. Managed services like those from Percona can provide support beyond EOL. The costs of not upgrading can be significant, with potential downtime from security breaches often exceeding migration expenses.

AppWizard

September 3, 2025

Cronos: The New Dawn review

Cronos: The New Dawn is a survival horror game developed and published by Bloober Team, set to release on September 5, 2025, for £49.99. The game is set in the Nowa Huta district of Kraków, featuring a narrative that combines time travel and zombies, referred to as Orphans. Players navigate a desolate landscape following a zombie outbreak, with gameplay involving resource management and combat against the Orphans. The game includes auto-saves, which can lead to frustrating cycles of death and respawn, and combat mechanics that vary in difficulty. The environment is visually striking, with puzzles that involve time manipulation. Despite some engaging elements, the game struggles to deliver a truly terrifying experience.

AppWizard

July 23, 2025

Multiplayer roguelike action game Out of Time announced for PC

San Mateo-based developer Manticoer Games is set to launch the multiplayer roguelike action game Out of Time this fall on the Epic Games Store for .99. Pre-orders are available, including "The Temporal Disaster Pack," which features three mounts, three hero emotes, and four avatars. The game combines elements of roguelike, real-time multiplayer, and MMO raids, set in a universe where time has fractured. Players can access a variety of gear and weapon combinations, with over 190 million options available. The game features a chaotic world filled with various enemies and allows players to customize their loadouts without traditional class systems. The narrative centers around an event called The Shattering, which merges different eras into a battleground.

AppWizard

July 17, 2025

The Drifter review

Powerhoof's upcoming title, The Drifter, is set for release on July 18, 2025. It features point-and-click mechanics and a narrative rooted in urban noir. The game presents a world inspired by traditional noir settings, with locations that contribute to an evolving narrative. Players engage with puzzles that require lateral thinking, using an intuitive user interface. The visual artistry enhances the storytelling, while the narrative explores themes of regret and the desire to forget. The protagonist, Carter, experiences a journey focused on erasure rather than redemption. The supporting cast includes characters with varying degrees of complexity, though some inconsistencies affect narrative cohesion.

AppWizard

June 22, 2025

Pathologic 3’s time travel system will let players ‘explore the unknown boldly and without fearing permanent ruin’ and that makes me way more inclined to play it

Pathologic 2 is a challenging immersive sim from Ice-Pick Lodge that has a dedicated following but may not cater to players seeking a more balanced experience. The upcoming Pathologic 3 will redefine the player experience by starting at the point of failure and allowing players to backtrack through time to correct past mistakes. The narrative follows protagonist Dankovsky, who faces dire consequences for his actions, and players will have two key mechanics: "Amalgam," which enables time jumps to alter past events, and the "Mind Map," which visually represents decision interconnections for strategic planning. These mechanics are integral to the gameplay, with specific locations and endings accessible only through particular causal combinations, promoting exploration and creativity without forcing players into fail states.

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

Weekend PC Game Deals: Showcase specials, Timeloop freebies, Resident Evils, and more

The Epic Games Store is offering the games Deathloop and Ogu and the Secret Forest for free until June 12. Deathloop is a first-person shooter where players must eliminate eight targets within a time loop, while Ogu and the Secret Forest is a 2D adventure featuring hand-drawn characters and puzzles. The Steam store is giving away Borderlands 2 for free until June 8 at 10 AM PT. The Humble Choice bundle has introduced eight new games, including Warhammer 40K: Boltgun and Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered, available until July 1. The Humble Store is also offering an IGN Live bundle with various games for a limited two-week period. Additionally, significant discounts are available from franchises like 2K, Capcom, and Techland, and the GOG store is featuring DRM-free specials, including classic Atari titles.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

I pride myself on keeping up with Steam’s under-the-radar gems, but April was packed with enough new games to keep me busy for the rest of 2025

In April 2025, over 100 games launched, with notable titles including Blue Prince and Clair Obscur, the latter receiving significant attention. Clair Obscur was released on April 22nd and has a 94% rating from 39 reviews. Maliki: Poison Of The Past, inspired by a French comic, was released on April 20th. Mythical Concept Starnaut, a narrative-driven game, was released on April 28th with a 97% rating from 45 reviews. Bionic Bay, a stylish platformer, was released on April 17th and has a 90% rating from 264 reviews. Asura The Striker, released on April 23rd, has a 93% rating from 49 reviews. Traveler's Refrain, an action RPG, was released on April 11th with a 92% rating from 26 reviews. Voidborn, a low-fi shooter, was released on April 7th with a 90% rating from 262 reviews. I, Robot, a reimagining of an arcade classic, was released on April 17th and has a 95% rating from 20 reviews. Lab Rat, a dystopian comedy, was released on April 15th with a 97% rating from 188 reviews. Peppered: An Existential Platformer, released on April 7th, has a 95% rating from 266 reviews. Repose, a workplace horror game, was released on April 14th and has a 90% rating from 74 reviews.

AppWizard

April 23, 2025

Old Skies review

Wadjet Eye Games will release the adventure game Old Skies on April 23, 2024. The game is set in a futuristic New York City in the 2060s and follows Fia Quinn, a ChronoZen agent who guides wealthy tourists through time manipulation. Fia is chronolocked, remaining unchanged by the timeline's fluctuations, which contrasts with her clients' evolving lives. The gameplay features accessible puzzles that encourage logical thinking, including a scenario where Fia must create a life-saving drug from non-existent ingredients. The game departs from Wadjet Eye's traditional pixel art style, using bold colors and comic book-inspired designs. It features a jazzy score by Thomas Regin and explores themes of love, loss, and human emotion. Fia's character development highlights her struggle for agency in her role, with her experiences portrayed through Sally Beaumont's performance.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

You probably don’t remember Remember Me, but its one brilliantly unforgettable idea lives on

Developer Don't Nod is primarily known for its Life is Strange series, while its debut game, Remember Me, received a lukewarm reception and disappointing sales, leading to financial difficulties for the studio. The game features protagonist Nilin, who possesses judo skills and engages in limited martial arts combat, but much of the gameplay involves traversing the city rather than combat. Neo-Paris is visually striking, showcasing artistic design, but lacks coherent world-building and a logical foundation for its narrative. The story revolves around memory manipulation, with Nilin able to alter the memories of key characters, a mechanic that illustrates how pivotal moments shape identities. Despite its shortcomings, some concepts from Remember Me were later refined and successfully integrated into Life is Strange.

BetaBeacon

December 9, 2024

Top 20 best retro games on Android

- Crazy Taxi Classic is an iconic arcade retro game now available on smartphones where players can be a law-abiding driver or a reckless madman to earn extra tips. - Another World is a 30-year-old game where players control a scientist who ends up on another planet after an experiment gone wrong. - Tomb of the Mask is a Pac-Man inspired endless-runner game where players guide a tomb raider through a vertical labyrinth collecting stars, pellets, and coins. - Dragon Quest I is a classic JRPG game where players take control of the chosen one on a quest to slay the Dragonlord and save the princess of Alefgard Kingdom.