turn-based Archives

Tech Optimizer

February 11, 2026

If you’re struggling to play tactics sim Menace, it could be because your antivirus is randomly deleting files

Menace, a turn-based tactics game, has launched in early access with notable updates. Players are advised to whitelist the 'GameAssembly.dll' and 'Menace.exe' files due to some antivirus programs incorrectly classifying the former as malware. The first update introduces new adversaries, including pirate veteran scavengers and a pirate heavy machinegun truck. Enhancements include an optimized splash screen for ultra-wide monitors and significant balancing changes, such as a new heat mechanic for laser and plasma rifles and the addition of motion scanners to pirate EMP units.

AppWizard

February 10, 2026

Newly Released Tactical RPG Is an Instant Hit on PC (And It Could Be a Game of the Year Contender)

Mewgenics, a tactical cat RPG created by Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, launched on Steam on February 12th and quickly attracted over 58,900 concurrent players. The game has received overwhelmingly positive initial reviews, achieving a Metacritic score of 89, making it the highest-rated game of the year so far. Players engage in building a cat army and face strategic decisions through a tactical breeding system. The main campaign offers over 200 hours of gameplay with a roguelite progression system. Mewgenics is currently available exclusively on Steam for PC and Steam Deck, priced at .99 with a 10% introductory discount until February 24th.

AppWizard

February 1, 2026

Trust Me, I Nailed It is a turn-based strategy game where you make sick video edits of a really rubbish hero

Trust Me, I Nailed It is a turn-based strategy game that allows players to create video edits transforming a warrior into a legendary monster slayer. The game features a fictional software called World Movie Weaver, reminiscent of Windows Movie Maker, where players manage enemy attack patterns on a grid-based battlefield. Players can orchestrate movements, execute attacks, and block damage using clips, with modifiers allowing for teleportation and invulnerability. The narrative unfolds through emails and posts on the Mana Scroll Network, enhancing player engagement. The game will be available for free on February 6th.

AppWizard

January 31, 2026

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for February 2 to 6

Next week, several new titles will be released for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC: - DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined Digital Deluxe Edition by SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. priced at .99, and DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined priced at .99, both releasing on February 4, optimized for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere. - MY HERO ACADEMIA: All’s Justice – Ultimate Edition, Deluxe Edition, and standard edition, all by Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., with prices ranging from .99 to .99, releasing on February 5, optimized for Xbox Series X|S. - Carmageddon: Rogue Shift by 34BigThings, priced at .99, releasing on February 6, optimized for Xbox Series X|S. - Hidden Cats in Christmas by Silesia Games Sp. z o.o., releasing on February 4, optimized for Xbox Play Anywhere. - Lovish by DANGEN Entertainment, priced at .99 (on sale for .99), releasing on February 4. - New Yankee: Through the History Mirror Collector's Edition by Ocean Media, releasing on February 4. - Tiny Biomes by Eastasiasoft Limited, releasing on February 4, optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere, and handheld optimized. - Dragon Spira by KEMCO, priced at .99 (on sale for .99), releasing on February 5, optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, and Xbox Play Anywhere. - Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass by Electric Airship, releasing on February 5, optimized for Xbox Series X|S and Smart Delivery. - MENACE (Game Preview) by Hooded Horse, releasing on February 5. - Sora – Winds of the Jungle by EpiXR Games, priced at .99, releasing on February 5, optimized for Xbox Series X|S. - Car Cops by QubicGames S.A., releasing on February 6, optimized for Xbox Play Anywhere and handheld optimized. - Dark Quest: Remastered by Brain Seal Ltd, releasing on February 6. - Un.Key by Rebelião Studio, releasing on February 6, optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere, and handheld optimized.

AppWizard

January 30, 2026

This weekend is your last chance to grab eight great Steam Deck games for just $14.99

You have three days left to access this month’s Humble Choice offerings, which include games valued at .99 for a price of .99. Each game is either Steam Deck Verified or Playable. The lineup features Sonic Frontiers, Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, Hunt: Showdown 1896, Etrian Odyssey II HD, Nice Day for Fishing, Metal Slug Tactics, Settlement Survival, and Wizard of Legend 2. The subscription costs .99 a month, providing eight games each month, with the option to cancel anytime while keeping the games. This month’s selection will be replaced on February 3. Additionally, subscribers receive a one-month subscription to IGN Plus and can participate in the playtest for Handmancers.

AppWizard

January 30, 2026

GeForce NOW Brings GeForce RTX Gaming to Linux PCs

The native GeForce NOW app for Linux PCs is now available in beta, supporting Ubuntu 24.04 and later, allowing users to stream games with GeForce RTX capabilities directly from the cloud. The app introduces ten new games, including The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut and The Bard’s Tale Trilogy. It offers high-performance gaming with resolutions up to 5K and 120 fps or 1080p at 360 fps. The app is optimized for PCs and notebooks, providing a native experience similar to the existing GeForce NOW app for Windows and macOS. New game releases include Cairn, The Midnight Walkers, Prototype, Prototype 2, Warhammer 40,000: SPACE MARINE 2, Half Sword, Vampires: Bloodlord Rising, and Total War: Three Kingdoms.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Maybe I should just buy Factorio? I’d like Arknights: Endfield a lot more if it would stop trying to be Genshin Impact and just let me build

The anime gacha game market is becoming increasingly similar, with Genshin Impact as a dominant influence. New titles often struggle to differentiate themselves, leading to a saturation of open-world action RPGs with collectible anime characters. Arknights: Endfield introduces a unique factory-building mechanic, allowing players to mine materials and manage conveyor belt systems, which sets it apart from typical gacha games. Honkai: Star Rail is noted for its turn-based gameplay and humor, while other titles like Zenless Zone Zero and Genshin Impact feature vibrant character designs but face challenges with monetization strategies that can detract from gameplay enjoyment. Despite the innovations in Endfield, it still caters to the Genshin Impact audience, highlighting a desire for more engaging gameplay without the complexities of traditional action RPGs.

AppWizard

January 27, 2026

This week in PC games: is Highguard a nothingburger? Plus, Winnie the Cthulhooh, Code Vein 2 and a plant-based RTS

- John Highguard: A sci-fantasy raid shooter developed by former creators of Apex Legends and Titanfall. - Winnie’s Hole: An early access title that transforms Winnie the Pooh into a cosmic horror roguelite. - Echoes Of Elysium: An early access game featuring six-player co-op in a procedural clockwork world. - Earth Must Die: A point-and-click sci-fi comedy from the creators of The Swindle and Lair of the Clockwork God. - The Spirit Lift: A roguelite deckbuilder set in a haunted hotel. - Roots Devour: A game where players control a malevolent tree deciding the fate of humans. - DON’T LET THEM IN: A horror game where players are supermarket clerks dealing with cautious customers. - Lanesplit: A first-person biking simulator with a cinematic style. - Ghost Keeper: An early access title where players manage a house full of ghosts. - Nova Antarctica: A post-apocalyptic game set in Antarctica focused on mysterious signals. - The Midnight Walkers: An early access extraction shooter set in a megamall with a poison gas mechanic. - Calyx: An RTS game featuring a military force against plant life. - Feastopia: A city-builder roguelite where players feed an infant god to avoid becoming part of the menu. - Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator: A sequel that escalates the absurdity of its predecessor. - Cairn: A climbing adventure game with narrative depth. - I Hate This Place: A survival crafting horror game inspired by comic books. - Don’t Stop, Girlypop: An arena shooter with Y2K aesthetics. - Code Vein 2: The latest entry in the anime Soulslike genre featuring time travel mechanics. - Half Sword: An early access physics-based medieval combat game. - Front Mission 3: A remake of the classic turn-based mech game.

AppWizard

January 21, 2026

Mewgenics will have 280 Steam achievements at launch, in case you were wondering how huge the Binding of Isaac successor is going to be

Mewgenics, a game focused on breeding eccentric cats and engaging them in turn-based combat, is set to launch on February 11 on Steam. Co-creator Edmund McMillen announced that the game will feature 280 achievements. This number is significant in the gaming community, suggesting a variety of challenges for players. McMillen's previous game, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, has 641 achievements over its 11-year lifespan, indicating a potential for extensive gameplay in Mewgenics as well.

AppWizard

January 20, 2026

Kingdom Loop Has Been Announced For PC & Consoles

Indie game developer RootGame, in collaboration with publisher Ultimate Games, has announced Kingdom Loop, a strategic roguelike set to launch on PC and consoles. Players will control eight unique heroes with distinct abilities and navigate an endless loop around the Grail Temple, adapting strategies as enemies become stronger. The game features deckbuilding and kingdom management, dynamic turn-based combat, and over 200 unique tiles for replayability. Kingdom Loop is inspired by Loop Hero and combines turn-based strategy and JRPG elements. A formal launch date has not been announced, but a trailer and additional information are available.