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After Expedition 33's success, Split Fiction's Josef Fares warns publishers not to "only do" double-A
AppWizard
January 13, 2026

After Expedition 33’s success, Split Fiction’s Josef Fares warns publishers not to “only do” double-A

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has received critical acclaim and commercial success, winning Game of the Year at the previous year’s Game Awards. Josef Fares, founder of Hazelight Studios, warns the triple-A gaming sector against merely replicating trends from Expedition 33's success, emphasizing the need for innovation rather than imitation. He highlights the importance of diversity in gaming, asserting that both triple-A and double-A titles have their place in the industry. Fares points out that while high-budget games face pressure to avoid risks, innovation is still possible, citing examples from studios like Naughty Dog, Rockstar, and Nintendo. He also mentions that other major studios, such as Capcom, are exploring unconventional ideas.
This week in PC games: Hytale, Quarantine Zone, a weird Batman sim, and a fresh batch of RPGs and shooters
AppWizard
January 12, 2026

This week in PC games: Hytale, Quarantine Zone, a weird Batman sim, and a fresh batch of RPGs and shooters

The Maw can manifest in various forms, including a blinking cursor or unreturned messages. New PC game releases include: - Big Hops: A 3D platformer featuring a frog with jumping and tongue skills. - Confidential Killings: A detective game that could use a more imaginative name. - Quarantine Zone: The Last Check: Players act as a border guard during a zombie apocalypse, exploring moral dilemmas. - Hytale: A sandbox building RPG now in early access, developed by Hypixel Studios. - Hank: Drowning on Dry Land: A whimsical narrative game featuring a drunken, time-traveling character. - Cassette Boy: An action RPG puzzler with retro visuals and themes of object permanence. - Streetdog BMX: A game with children performing stunts on bicycles across colorful maps. - The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon: The thirteenth installment in an RPG series. - Tabulo: A roguelite chess game. - Craftlings: A blend of Lemmings and colony-building elements. - The Fortress: A first-person turn-based dungeon-crawling RPG. - NEUROXUS: A fast-paced mech shooter with a neon aesthetic. - Moving Simulator: A game reflecting the moving experience. - Lunar Ascendant: Players become the first mayor of the Moon, navigating social media and factions. James and Julian will attend preview events, while Mark and Ollie are excited about Hytale's launch. A review for Pathologic 3 is being crafted.
Five new Steam games you probably missed (January 12, 2026)
AppWizard
January 12, 2026

Five new Steam games you probably missed (January 12, 2026)

Steam releases approximately a dozen new games daily, creating a challenging environment for gamers to find hidden gems. - Oddcore - Release: January 7 - Developer: Oddcorp - Features: A wave-based sci-fi shoot 'em up with customizable mechs and a nostalgic '90s aesthetic. - Dungeon Antiqua 2 - Release: January 8 - Developers: Shiromofu Factory - Features: A sequel to an 8-bit JRPG dungeon crawler with top-down exploration and turn-based combat. - Dreadmyst - Release: January 10 - Developer: dreadmyst.com - Features: A free fantasy MMO with no monetization, offering isometric gameplay and four character classes. - Blood Money: Lethal Eden - Release: January 10 - Developer: Jade Flame - Features: An FMV thriller about a catfishing scheme, receiving positive early reviews.
Divinity: Original Sin 2's brilliant armor system is one of a kind in RPGs, and I'm bummed we'll apparently never see it again
AppWizard
January 11, 2026

Divinity: Original Sin 2’s brilliant armor system is one of a kind in RPGs, and I’m bummed we’ll apparently never see it again

Today marks a moment of reflection as I grapple with the loss of a cherished friend—one whose legacy is now being unfairly tarnished. The unique armor system crafted by Larian Studios for Divinity: Original Sin 2 will not be carried forward, and the criticism from my colleagues has been relentless. Notably, PCG guides writer Rory Norris boldly labeled it "broken" in large, eye-catching letters on our front page. In a recent meeting, Morgan Park, a fellow news writer, expressed his disdain for the armor system in a rather colorful manner, leaving me feeling both bewildered and defensive. D:OS2's armor system introduces a combat rhythm that is refreshingly distinct. Each character and enemy possesses both physical and magic armor bars, displayed prominently above their health. Physical armor absorbs damage from weapons and related abilities, while magic armor serves as a shield against spells and elemental effects. Crowd control effects become fully effective only after the corresponding armor has been stripped away. For instance, the warrior's charge attack, Battering Ram, merely deals damage while the enemy's physical armor is intact, but guarantees a knockdown once that armor is gone. This design choice ensures that every character contributes to both offense and crowd management. Players are encouraged to abandon traditional roles; the absence of a classic tank or healer is liberating. Each character must fulfill multiple roles—tank, DPS, and controller—while build variations arise from weapon choices, armor, and skill trees. This dynamic creates an aggressive form of turn-based tactics, where players race to dismantle enemy defenses and secure priority targets before they can retaliate. While Original Sin 2's system is not without its flaws, they are no more pronounced than the typical shortcomings found in random chance-based alternatives. One critique pertains to party composition; players are often encouraged to specialize in either elemental or physical damage, which can lead to challenges in the endgame for mixed-damage parties. However, there exists a wealth of character build variety within each category, and D:OS2 does not impose stricter limitations on viable character builds than any other RPG, especially at lower difficulty levels.
There's a new Xbox and PC gaming showcase in town that puts games first, while saying no to paid placements — here's where, when, and how to watch it
AppWizard
January 8, 2026

There’s a new Xbox and PC gaming showcase in town that puts games first, while saying no to paid placements — here’s where, when, and how to watch it

The New Game Plus Showcase is scheduled to air on January 8, 2026, at 1:00 PM PT | 4:00 PM ET | 10:00 PM CET | 9:00 PM GMT. It will feature 45 upcoming titles for Xbox and PC and will be accessible on platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, X, TikTok, and Instagram. Notable games include: - Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy - Crimson Desert - The Blood of Dawnwalker - The Expanse: Osiris Reborn - Shadow of the Road - Atomic Heart 2 - The Cube - Dinoblade - Towerborne - Grounded 2 The showcase was established on December 29, 2025, by a group of content creators and aims to present new games without paid placements.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
January 4, 2026

30 hidden gems from 2025 to grab before the Steam Winter Sale ends

The PC gaming landscape in 2025 features a diverse array of new titles, many receiving critical acclaim. A selection of 15 standout games has been curated based on specific criteria: they were released or re-released in 2025, received little to no prior coverage, have around 95% positive user ratings, offer offbeat yet accessible gameplay, are discounted by a minimum of 30%, and include one game per genre. 1. Project Silverfish - Price: £17.50 (30% off); Developer: Siris Pendrake; A non-linear shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world with lizard-people and multi-faction battles. 2. Contract Rush DX - Price: £11.72 (30% off); Developer: Figburn & Melon; A platformer blending elements of Mega Man and Contra with vector animation and humor, allowing players to tackle levels in any order. 3. Godpoke - Price: £10.05 (40% off); Developer: LimboLane; An adventure where players mend quarrelsome gods using a dialogue-stealing mechanic to solve puzzles. 4. Missile Command Delta - Price: £11.72 (30% off); Developer: 13AM Games, Mighty Yell; A tactical hex-based strategy game with a teen drama narrative and point-and-click puzzles. 5. Shooty Shooty Robot Invasion - Price: £5.10 (40% off); Developer: Bubby Darkstar; A humorous FPS where players navigate a beach while dealing with quirky robot foes. 6. Maliki: Poison Of The Past - Price: £15 (40% off); Developer: Blue Banshee; A JRPG-inspired title featuring time travel and turn-based combat based on a webcomic. 7. Desecrators - Price: £7 (30% off); Developer: Woodhound; A roguelike shooter with procedurally generated levels and online co-op support. 8. Wyrmhall - Price: £2.55 (70% off); Developer: Leafy Games; A game where players manage an artifact-cleaning stall in an interdimensional nexus. 9. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo - Price: £11.72 (30% off); Developer: Pocket Trap; An adventure game featuring dungeon-crawling and puzzle-solving mechanics inspired by classic Zelda games. 10. Lingo 2 - Price: £5.95 (30% off); Developer: Brenton Wildes; A word puzzle adventure set in a minimalist block labyrinth. 11. Skogdal - Price: £8.37 (50% off); Developer: Erlend Kirkeboe, Kay Arne Kirkeboe; A deck-building game set in a quirky, 90s Norway with humor and strategic gameplay. 12. Schism - Price: £6.50 (35% off); Developer: Fami; A low-fi action roguelike with a punk aesthetic and intense combat. 13. My Little Puppy - Price: £14.69 (30% off); Developer: Dreamotion Inc.; An emotional adventure following a corgi's journey through the afterlife. 14. Decade - Price: £5.95 (30% off); Developer: Last Piscean; A narrative-driven game exploring time travel consequences in a post-apocalyptic world. 15. Kiloton - Price: £2.14 (50% off); Developer: Jack Morehart; A minimalist strategy game simulating geopolitical tensions with quick decision-making.
Best Mobile Games for 2026
BetaBeacon
January 2, 2026

Best Mobile Games for 2026

- Rockstar Games' Red Dead Redemption was released on mobile in 2025, including the original story campaign and Undead Nightmare expansion, priced at .99 or available through a Netflix subscription. - Subnautica also transitioned to mobile, offering a survival adventure set on an alien oceanic planet, optimized for touch controls and supporting controllers, priced at .99. - Persona 5: The Phantom X delivered a mobile-specific RPG experience with gacha mechanics and turn-based combat, maintaining ties to the original Persona 5 storyline, and offering free-to-play mechanics. - Where Winds Meet is an open-world wuxia title on mobile with demanding hardware requirements, featuring cross-progression support and light monetization. - DREDGE brought its Eldritch fishing simulation to mobile, included in Google Play Pass for subscribers, priced at .99. - Cassette Beasts is a premium turn-based RPG inspired by Pokémon on mobile, offering cassette monster collection and combat, priced at .99. - Destiny: Rising brought the FPS MMO experience to mobile for free, with typical NetEase monetization strategies. - Enter the Gungeon and Exit the Gungeon were released on mobile simultaneously, offering bullet hell and platforming gameplay with touchscreen and controller support. - Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown combined platforming and Metroidvania elements in a 2.5D action-adventure on mobile, offering offline play and full controller support.
Edwin's most anticipated PC games for 2026
AppWizard
December 31, 2025

Edwin’s most anticipated PC games for 2026

An indie strategy simulation game allows players to embody a tribe of primordial hunter-gatherers, focusing on technology and social values. Mars Tactics is a tactical strategy game set on Mars, where players can command either Capital or Labour forces, each with distinct advantages and vulnerabilities. Subnautica 2 has shifted from an undersea survival game to a legal attrition simulator, retaining multiplayer features but changing its focus. The Bustling World is an ambitious RPG offering various roles and vibrant aesthetics, though concerns exist about its social simulation's feasibility. Cicadamata is a first-person shooter with a fast pace and vibrant aesthetic, drawing inspiration from classic titles while offering modern twists.
Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader developer announces its own launcher, but players are already "opting out"
AppWizard
December 30, 2025

Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader developer announces its own launcher, but players are already “opting out”

Owlcat Games is developing its own game launcher to serve as a central hub for players, aiming to improve cross-promotion of its titles. Market research indicated that many Pathfinder 2 players were unaware of Rogue Trader. The decision has received mixed reactions, with concerns about the crowded landscape of game launchers and their functionality. Owlcat plans to roll out the launcher gradually, ensuring no mandatory registration or data collection from users. Players in the alpha test for Warhammer 40k Dark Heresy will be the first to use the launcher, which will provide access to all of Owlcat's games and links to social media and announcements. The launcher will allow users to buy, install, or launch games regardless of the original distribution method, but players can bypass it if accessing games through Steam.
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