underground Archives

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

This week in PC games: Marathon, Slay The Spire 2, a promising Disco-like RPG and a monastic garden mystery

This week features a variety of new PC game releases, including: - The Abbess' Garden: A life simulation game set in the 17th century where players restore a botanical sanctuary. - Sad God: A game where players navigate a shaft filled with threats to reach the surface before lava engulfs them. - The Legend of Khiimori: An open-world courier game set in 13th-century Mongolia, now in early access. - Esoteric Ebb: A single-player CRPG where players investigate an explosion at a teashop during an election. - Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered: A remaster of the classic title focusing on narrative and choice. - Humanica: A city-building game where players can edit the landscape of their prehistoric city. - Luxman Moonlit Market: A night market simulation game with a unique art style. - Scott Pilgrim EX: A side-scrolling brawler based on the Canadian comic book series. - Slay the Spire 2: The sequel to the roguelite deckbuilder, now in early access. - Card Cultivation: A game combining elements of Cultist Simulator with Chinese mythology. - Planet of Lana II: A puzzle-platformer where players save a cyborg world alongside a kid and their pet. - Age of Barbarians Chronicles: An action game with a sword-and-sorcery theme. - Here Comes The Swarm: An early access survival RTS where players fend off gigabeetles. - Marathon: Bungie's reboot of the classic FPS set in a rich lore universe. - Ratcheter DX: An adventure game challenging players to escape a sunken ice base. - Mr. Peregrino: A game set in the 19th century where players manage food supplies while escorting pilgrims. - Over The Top: WW1: A game where players experience the frontlines of World War I. - Aethus: A game where players investigate a lost science expedition on a desert world. - Post-Apocalyptic Technician: Players repair Stroggs as an underground technician. - Frog Abundance: An exploration game centered around frogs in various time periods. Team members at RPS express interest in different titles, with Ollie favoring Marathon, James interested in Planet of Lana, Mark leaning towards automotive adventures, and Julian considering writing about Slay the Spire 2.

AppWizard

February 28, 2026

5 Best Video Games Like Terraria

"Terraria" fans have several similar gaming options. 1. Minecraft: Launched in 2011, it features procedurally generated worlds made of cubes, allowing players to gather resources, craft items, and engage in both cooperative and competitive play. It is the best-selling video game in history. 2. Starbound: Released in 2016, this sci-fi game allows players to explore various planets, terraform environments, and craft items while establishing settlements. It features procedurally generated worlds and character customization. 3. Forager: Released in 2019, this game emphasizes crafting over combat in a top-down perspective, allowing players to mine, farm, fish, and cook while exploring and developing their base. 4. Valheim: A fantasy survival game that gained popularity in 2021, where players act as fallen Viking warriors in an afterlife, combining survival elements with home maintenance and featuring a dynamic day-night cycle. 5. Core Keeper: An early access fantasy sandbox game where players explore a procedurally generated underground world, dig tunnels, and craft gear. It supports solo or cooperative play with up to seven friends.

AppWizard

February 28, 2026

Pokémon Pokopia reveals DJ Rotom, cooking mechanic, and Minecraft-like structures

The Pokémon Company announced Pokémon Pokopia, a life simulation game set to launch on March 5, 2026, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. The game features gameplay elements similar to Minecraft and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, including survival mechanics, a hunger system, and cooking with the Greedent Chef Dente. Players will encounter new Pokémon, including Raikou, and can participate in online multiplayer sessions with teams of four, engaging in base-building and exploring dungeons. The game also introduces a new Rotom form that plays music and includes Prop Hunt-like modes.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Helldivers 2’s siege of Cyberstan is the greatest galactic campaign the game has seen so far

The recent update for Helldivers 2, titled Machinery of Oppression, features an offensive on the Automaton stronghold of Cyberstan, introducing new gameplay elements such as the Bastion Tank and colossal Vox Engines. Players face challenges from Cyborg enemies and must navigate the heightened difficulty of Cyberstan, which is considered the most challenging phase of the game to date. The game's narrative involves players acting as the Empire while trying to thwart the Automaton's plans to use the 'Star of Peace' weapon. The campaign is directed by a mastermind named Joel, who enhances player engagement through a responsive order system. As of now, the lives tally stands at 97,272,293 out of 410,000,000, with over 300 million divers having perished in the current assault. Players can earn additional lives through 'Strategic Imperatives' and engage in community-driven events that shape the game's narrative. Helldivers 2 has shown significant growth and continues to attract players two years post-launch.

BetaBeacon

February 16, 2026

5 Android Game Features Players Didn’t Know They Needed

- Android's adaptive haptics provide layered, context-sensitive feedback in games. - Play Asset Delivery and progressive loading systems allow players to start interacting before the full file finishes installing. - Google Play Games cloud sync automatically backs up achievements, saved data, and progression levels. - Many Android games now have offline functionality and smart data optimization to reduce bandwidth usage. - Game Mode APIs allow developers to adjust performance based on system temperature and battery levels. - Android supports more granular notification channels for games to improve user engagement. - Usability-driven retention is crucial for the growth of mobile gaming revenue.

AppWizard

February 16, 2026

This week’s new PC games are a treasure trove of the scary, eerie and occult, plus a charming Star Trek game

A diverse array of new PC game releases includes: - Book Smugglers: A point-and-click adventure set in 19th century Tsarist Lithuania focused on forbidden literature. - Stormbridge: A combination of tower defense and city-building elements. - Dobbel Dungeon: A turn-based tactics game using dice rolls in an ogre-battling setting. - Astrobotanica: An early access puzzle and survival game featuring an extraterrestrial botanist on prehistoric Earth. - Alien Morgue: A game where players conduct autopsies on extraterrestrial beings. - Under The Island: A top-down dungeon puzzler with six distinct biomes. - Ritual Party: A multiplayer experience blending humor and horror. - Placid Plastic Deck: A Quiet Quest: A card-battler with a suspicious premise. - Beyond The Doors: A surveillance simulation involving mysterious requests. - Roach Post: A roguelite puzzler using cockroaches to assemble postage stamps. - Forgotlings: An action-adventure game set in a world of sentient objects. - Blank: A platforming experience in a cavernous origami world. - Kill The Witch: An early access 2D action platformer featuring a witch with a baseball bat. - The Killing Stone: A cursed board game set in the Arctic. - Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown: A strategy management game based on the TV series. - FUR Squadron Phoenix: A space simulation game with vibrant gameplay mechanics. - PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse: A mystery horror novel about ghastly fishwomen. - Demon Tides: A platformer inspired by the N64-to-Gamecube era. - Styx: Blades Of Greed: An open-world goblin stealth game. - Love Eternal: An introspective horror platformer. - Key Fairy: A hand-drawn, pacifist bullet-hell game. - Nightsoil: A game exploring turd collection in an emotive context. - Ys X: Proud Nordics: An updated entry in the Ys series with bumpslash combat mechanics. - Horripilant: An incremental dungeon clicker with grotesque creatures.

Tech Optimizer

February 16, 2026

Phishing Lures Spread XWorm Remote Access Trojan

A cyber-espionage campaign is utilizing the XWorm Remote Access Trojan (RAT) to infiltrate systems via phishing emails and a Microsoft Office vulnerability (CVE-2018-0802). XWorm, first detected in 2022, allows attackers remote control over infected computers for surveillance and data theft. The campaign uses business-oriented phishing emails with malicious Excel attachments that exploit the vulnerability to execute a fileless attack. The malware connects to a command-and-control server, encrypting communications and transmitting system details. XWorm features a plugin architecture with over 50 modules for various malicious activities, including credential theft and DDoS attacks. Security experts highlight the ongoing risk of legacy software vulnerabilities and recommend patching outdated components.

AppWizard

January 31, 2026

New Free Steam Horror Game Releases to a 100% User Review Score

Terminal Lucidity is a free horror puzzle game on Steam with a perfect user review score, although this may be inflated due to its recent release and limited reviews. Developed by Happy Accident Studios, it features intricate puzzles that elicit mixed reactions from players. The game casts players as a technician maintaining supercomputers underground, requiring them to decipher terminal languages to uncover hidden truths. User feedback is positive, with players enjoying the problem-solving aspects, though the game lacks a save feature, leading to varied completion times. Compatibility with the Steam Deck is currently unknown.

Tech Optimizer

January 28, 2026

Top Android Antivirus Apps for 2026: Reviews and Key Features

Android users face increasing cyber threats as we approach 2026, with AI-driven malware and ransomware becoming more prevalent. The antivirus market has evolved to include advanced features like real-time threat intelligence and integrated privacy tools. Norton Mobile Security is noted for its machine learning-powered malware detection, VPN, app advisor, and dark web monitoring, achieving a 99.9% detection rate. TotalAV offers user-friendly antivirus scanning and system optimization, with features like real-time phishing protection and cloud-based scanning. Aura Antivirus combines antivirus with identity theft protection and family safety features, excelling in AI-driven behavioral analysis. Bitdefender Mobile Security is recognized for its lightweight design, anti-theft features, and effective web protection. McAfee Mobile Security provides secure Wi-Fi scanning and IoT integration, with high user satisfaction reported. Norton leads in predictive analytics, while TotalAV includes a VPN for remote workers. Aura offers family-oriented tools and compliance-friendly features, incorporating blockchain technology for secure identity verification. Bitdefender is efficient in battery usage and has a high detection rate. McAfee supports multi-device protection and has strong customer support. Norton’s dark web monitoring helps prevent identity theft, and TotalAV blocks trackers and ads. Aura links antivirus protection to financial security with credit monitoring. Bitdefender automates threat responses and has a strong anti-ransomware module. McAfee scans for vulnerabilities in smart devices and provides threat intelligence feeds. Future developments may include quantum-resistant encryption. TotalAV is praised for its user interface, while Aura encourages user feedback for improvements. Bitdefender uses machine learning to reduce false positives, and McAfee employs predictive modeling for personalized security. Organizations must evaluate antivirus solutions based on integration with existing security frameworks, cost, and performance impact. Emerging trends include biometric authentication and deeper hardware-level security protections.

AppWizard

January 19, 2026

Arc Raiders’ huge success gives Embark the “opportunity to do bigger things” and cook up a more “ambitious” roadmap

12.4 million copies of Arc Raiders have been sold. The success has provided Embark Studios with new resources and opportunities to expand and enhance the game. The studio is reevaluating its roadmap to cater to a diverse player base, including casual PvE players and competitive PvP players. Plans for multiple map updates throughout the year are in place, which may include revamps of existing areas and new maps. There is interest in enhancing the trading system, particularly the NPC trading system. The possibility of transforming the underground colony of Speranza into a more interactive hub has been discussed. Future developments may introduce new circumstances and threats to deepen gameplay and player interaction.