Alright, Mate, Who Knew Lara Croft and Walter White Had a Kid? A Peek Into Eurogamer's Wild Playlists

AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·

Alright, Mate, Who Knew Lara Croft and Walter White Had a Kid? A Peek Into Eurogamer's Wild Playlists

Dive into the Eurogamer team's wild playtime, from a visually stunning cyberpunk indie with a slow story to the bizarre digital parenting of Lara Croft and Walter White in a Mii simulator, all while questioning the allure of the grind for a rare fish in Old School RuneScape.

Right then, digital adventurers, ever wonder what the folks behind the gaming news are actually *playing* when they're not busy herding pixels? Me too, mate. It's like peering into alternate realities, seeing what digital spells have got others utterly hooked. Our pals over at Eurogamer recently dropped their 'What We've Been Playing' feature, penned by Robert Purchese (cheers for the intel, Robert!), and fair dinkum, it's a right old mix. From pixel-art marvels to the mind-numbing (but oh-so-satisfying?) grind of an old favourite, there's some proper wizardry going on. Let's lift the lid, shall we?

First up, Victoria’s been absolutely spellbound by **Replaced** on Xbox Series X. And honestly, who can blame her? Sad Cat Studios has apparently pulled off some serious visual sorcery, blending 2D pixel art with 3D rendering to create Phoenix City – a cyberpunk dystopia that sounds like it just popped out of a retro-futuristic dream. Stunning, gorgeous, melancholic synth tunes… sounds like my kind of accidental portal. The only catch? Victoria reckons the story's a bit of a slow burner, and the main character, Reach, moves like he’s trying to walk through treacle. Ten hours for a full playthrough? Maybe it’s designed to make you savour every meticulously crafted pixel. Still, for a debut game, that's a bloody incredible achievement, visuals and audio leading the charge.

Then there's Bertie, swanning about in Paris, seeing games he mostly can't blab about thanks to those pesky embargo spells. But he did manage to sneak in some playtime with **Heave Ho 2** and **Dark Scrolls**. *Heave Ho 2* sounds like chaotic genius – a co-op party game where you're flinging your silly-faced, two-armed characters around, complete with a fart button for a propulsion boost. Honestly, if that's not peak gaming, I don't know what is. And now with online multiplayer, you won't even need to bribe your mates with biscuits to get them round. *Dark Scrolls*, meanwhile, apparently has the best name Bertie's heard in ages (a good name is half the battle, right?). It’s a fast, challenging side-scrolling action platformer with roguelike bits, reminiscent of *Ghosts 'n Goblins*. Sounds like a classic spell, re-cast with a modern twist. Both are 'coming soon', so keep your scrying orbs peeled.

Connor's desktop PC has apparently gone full digital ghost, leaving him with a PS5 and a work laptop. And what does a wizard in such a predicament do? Reinstall **Old School RuneScape**, of course, to catch sharks. Not just any sharks, mind you, but *big* sharks, because he’s on a 1 in 5000 drop-rate quest for a taxidermied trophy for his in-game house. That's the kind of dedication that makes me wonder if gamers are actually just alchemists, turning time into digital trinkets. It’s for healing items, sure, but really, it's for the 'collection log' – the ultimate digital tick-list. The allure of the grind, eh? A powerful, almost hypnotic, magic.

But the real gem, the one that made me spit out my potion, comes from Kelsey. She’s still on **Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream** on the Switch 2 (which, *psst*, is still technically a rumour in *my* reality, but let's not break the fourth wall too hard). Her own Mii is pining for Professor Layton, who's got his digital eye on Hatsune Miku. Absolutely bonkers. But the kicker? "Meanwhile, Lara Croft and Breaking Bad's Walter White have just had their first child." I mean, bloody hell. The algorithmic implications alone! Kelsey swiftly 'booted' the digital offspring, which just adds to the chaotic brilliance. When she’s not playing digital cupid for celebrity Miis, she’s back in the Lands Between, on another New Game Plus run of **Elden Ring**. Trying new builds, always chasing that elusive fresh experience in a game she's already plumbed the depths of. The endless cycle of discovery, even in familiar territory.

Chris T is winding back the clock with **Pokémon Leaf Green** on the Switch 2, discovering the joy of old puzzles and dungeons. He even found a secret rhythm for jackpots in the Game Corner casino to snag an early, overpowered Dratini. It's wild how these old spells, 30 years on, still pack such a punch, making us reconsider things like the much-maligned HMs. Sometimes, the old ways are the best ways, eh?

And finally, Mat J. Keeping it brief, as ever. **Deadlock**, PC: "Trophy Collector is now a 1600 soul item. This is the best game ever made." Short, sweet, and full of conviction. A true testament to the power of a single in-game item, or perhaps, the concise enthusiasm of a seasoned gamer.

So there you have it. A veritable kaleidoscope of gaming tastes and digital obsessions. It's a grand reminder that whether you're chasing pixelated sharks, breeding bizarre celebrity offspring, or just enjoying a brilliantly named roguelike, the gaming world is full of unexpected delights. What about you, mate? What digital rabbit holes have you been tumbling down lately?

*Original article by Robert Purchese, Eurogamer. Read the full piece here

Tags: Web3GamingCulture, IndieGames, RetroGaming, GamingCommunity, Playtime

Original article: Eurogamer