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AppWizard

December 28, 2024

Amid a tidal wave of new games in 2024, these 10 must-play deep cuts are cheap and will run on almost anything

Many gamers are facing a growing backlog of titles as they enter the new year. Instead of returning to popular games like The Witcher 3 or Persona 5, players are encouraged to explore quirky indie games that offer depth and creativity, are budget-friendly, and suitable for short gaming sessions. Eight standout indie games from the past year and two late entries from 2023 include: 1. Felvidek: Set in the Slovak highlands, featuring a disgraced protagonist investigating supernatural occurrences with a priest, utilizing sepia-toned visuals and retro turn-based combat. 2. Skald: Against the Black Priory: A DOS RPG-inspired game with pixel art and a rich soundtrack, offering modern hardcore CRPG mechanics. 3. Dread Delusion: A low-fi RPG with immersive world-building and exploration, captivating players since early access. 4. Anger Foot: An arcade FPS priced at , combining fast-paced action and humor, reminiscent of "Hotline Miami." 5. Judero: An action-adventure game with a druid protagonist in a whimsical claymation world, featuring surreal dialogues. 6. Mouthwashing: A claustrophobic narrative set on a marooned spaceship, known for its nonlinear storytelling and haunting atmosphere. 7. Straftat: A 1v1 FPS that combines classic map design with humor, serving as a contrast to live service games. 8. The Black Parade: An unofficial expansion for Thief Gold, featuring ten expansive missions that highlight immersive sim design. These indie titles offer a refreshing alternative to mainstream gaming, allowing players to enjoy unique narratives and innovative gameplay.

AppWizard

December 28, 2024

Here are DSOGaming’s Games of the Year 2024

The gaming community is anticipating the Game of the Year (GOTY) list as 2024 approaches. Contributors from DSOGaming have shared their top picks: - pirovashMX chose Penny’s Big Breakaway, a platformer inspired by Sega’s 90s classics, featuring fluid movement and a new whip mechanic. - Spencer selected Virtua Fighter 5 REVO, an Open Beta version of a classic fighting game from 2006, praised for its combat mechanics and graphics, with an official release scheduled for January. - Nick McCaskey highlighted Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a JRPG that encouraged multiple playthroughs, alongside a mention of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. - John Papadopoulos picked Silent Hill 2 Remake, commending its atmosphere, narrative, visuals, and satisfying conclusion, despite minor traversal issues.

AppWizard

December 28, 2024

Weekend PC Game Deals: Even more winter sales and daily freebies

The Epic Games Store is offering a free copy of Hot Wheels Unleashed, a racing game developed by Milestone, which features drifting mechanics and a customizable track builder. The giveaway ends at 8 AM PT on December 28. The Steam Winter Sale is ongoing, providing substantial discounts on thousands of titles. The GOG store is also running a winter sale, offering a free copy of The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav along with other discounted games.

BetaBeacon

December 28, 2024

Android Circuit: Galaxy S25 Special Edition Details, The Future Of Foldables, 2024’s Best Mobile Games

- Samsung is preparing to unveil the Galaxy S25 lineup at an event in early 2025, including a highly anticipated Special Edition model with a limited production run of three million units. - Despite hopes for foldable smartphones, adoption rates have not met initial expectations, with candybar phones still dominating the market. - Mediatek has launched the Dimensity 8400 processor with 8 regular cores, challenging Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets and offering consumers more choice in the smartphone market. - Minireview's list of the top mobile games of 2024 includes a diverse selection of titles for gaming enthusiasts. - Smartphone trends in 2025 are expected to focus on improved battery life, with companies investing in silicon batteries to offer larger capacities in more compact devices.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is so authentically Indiana Jones it should probably be called Henry Jones Jr. and the Great Circle

The PC Gamer team highlighted "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" as a standout game in their 2024 Game of the Year Awards. Voice actor Troy Baker portrays Indiana Jones, initially raising skepticism due to his previous iconic roles. Early trailers presented the game as simplistic, but players found a rich exploration experience, featuring locations like The Vatican and authentic character interactions. A notable scene involves a humorous confrontation with antagonist Emmerich Voss. The game employs first-person gameplay for immersion, allowing tactile engagement with the environment. Its slower pacing fosters a deeper connection to the world and characters, reminiscent of classic RPGs. MachineGames successfully captures the essence of Indiana Jones, creating a nostalgic yet fresh experience. There is anticipation for future adventures in the series, emphasizing storytelling and character development over mere spectacle.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

Alan Wake 2 set such a high technical bar last year that few games in 2024 came anywhere near, but it wasn’t all abject disappointment

Alan Wake 2 debuted late last year, leading to assumptions of a 2024 release. Dragon's Dogma 2 launched in March but had excessive hardware demands and inconsistent performance. Nixxes Software's port of Horizon Forbidden West showcased effective traditional rendering. In May, Nixxes also released the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, which lacked ray tracing but was well-executed. June saw the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, the first expansion for Elden Ring, which did not include engine updates, causing performance issues for PC gamers. In August, Black Myth: Wukong and Star Wars Outlaws featured ray tracing but faced performance issues. September brought a port of God of War Ragnarök and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, both performing well. The Silent Hill 2 remake encountered glitches and performance issues on PC, while Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 struggled at launch. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl had visual appeal but suffered from performance problems and required patches for stability. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle performed well on lower-end hardware but was glitchy. High-profile titles like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are anticipated for 2025.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

Best PC Game of 2024 — Best New PC Games This Year

PC gaming in 2024 featured a variety of innovative titles, with Hades 2 winning the Best PC Game of 2024. Hades 2, which entered early access in May, follows Melinoë, the Princess of the Underworld, as she attempts to thwart Chronos, the Titan of Time. The game introduces new mechanics, including a Magick Bar and a sprint ability, and offers multiple exploration paths. It can be completed in under 20 hours, but completionists may invest nearly 60 hours. Other notable nominations for Best PC Games of 2024 include: - I Am Your Beast: Released in September, this fast-paced action game features 25 levels designed for quick play sessions, appealing to speedrunners. - UFO 50: A collection of 50 distinct games that pays homage to retro console games, showcasing a variety of genres. - Frostpunk 2: A city-builder set three decades after the original, allowing players to manage complex societal issues and construct larger cities. It won the Best Gameplay award at the Gamescom Awards 2024.

Winsage

December 27, 2024

How to create your own bootable Windows 11 SSD for the Steam Deck

The Steam Deck operates on Linux, which limits access to certain games and services that require Windows, such as PC Game Pass titles and multiplayer games with anti-cheat software. Users can integrate Windows 11 into their Steam Deck by creating a portable version on a USB-C SSD. Recommended SSD options include the Crucial X6 2 TB SSD or a Genki SavePoint SSD enclosure for M.2 2230-size SSDs. To download Windows 11, users should visit Microsoft's website and select the appropriate ISO file. Creating a bootable drive involves using Rufus to set up the SSD with Windows 11. After downloading Valve's official drivers for the Steam Deck, users can boot into Windows by connecting the SSD and selecting it from the drive selector screen. Adjustments may be needed for display settings, and installing the Steam Deck drivers is recommended for optimal functionality. Once set up, users can access a wider range of PC gaming experiences, including the Xbox app for PC Game Pass titles.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

Siliconera’s PC Game of the Year 2024

The PC has become a supportive environment for indie games, as seen in the finalists for this year’s PC Game of the Year. The game 1000xResist is noted for its compelling storytelling. Crow Country, created by SFB Games, is a tribute to PS1 survival horror games while offering a unique narrative. The winner of the 2024 Siliconera PC Game of the Year is Balatro, which has gained recognition and is compared to timeless classics like Tetris.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Is Coming To PC On January 30th – Latest Updates

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was released on PlayStation 5 on October 20, 2023. It is set to launch on PC platforms on January 30, 2025, available through Steam and the Epic Games Store. The PC version will be developed by Nixxes Software and will include all updates and enhancements from the PS5 edition, such as new suits, a New Game+ mode, increased difficulty levels, new styles for the Symbiote suit, options to modify the time of day, and additional post-story challenges. The game was part of Sony's strategy to bring more PlayStation exclusives to PC. Pre-order bonuses included early access to specific suits and gadgets, and various editions were available at launch, including a Standard Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, and Collector’s Edition.