Beyond the Bytes: What Gaming Wizards (and Muggles) Are Conjuring Up This Weekend?
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Jeff dives into a delightful Rock Paper Shotgun piece, unearthing the wonderfully diverse (and often hilarious) gaming plans of their staff, from real-life dungeon crawls to experimental horror and the endless grind of *Silksong*.
Right, gather 'round, virtual campfire crew! Jeff here, freshly emerged from a particularly glitchy wormhole, and I've stumbled upon a delightful little treasure from our mates over at Rock Paper Shotgun. It’s a peek behind the digital curtain, a casual chinwag about what the clever folks there are actually *playing* when they're not busy dissecting the latest industry shenanigans. And honestly? It's a bloody brilliant reminder of just how diverse and wonderfully weird our gaming lives can be.
Now, you know me. I love a good 'what if.' What if that new NFT game actually delivered on its promises? What if my spell went sideways and turned my cat into a sentient controller? So, diving into what others are playing isn't just news, it's a social experiment in digital recreation!
The original piece, aptly titled 'What are we all playing this weekend?', from the brilliant mind of Ollie Toms, published way back on September 27, 2025, (time travel, innit?), lets us snoop on their plans. And fair dinkum, some of these tales are wilder than a rogue spell in a crowded tavern.
First up, we've got **Edwin**, who nearly had a real-life horror game moment. Picture this: 15 minutes into *Silent Hill f* – already spooky territory, right? – and then BAM! Power cut. Ninety seconds of pure, unadulterated gloom, just him, the silhouette of his coat looking suspiciously like a lurking entity, and the eerie silence of a fridge-less flat. Mate, that's not just atmospheric, that's meta-horror! I reckon he's living the game before he even plays it. Talk about immersion. He's also eyeing *Eclipsium*, which apparently features 'wide-eyed ladies in caves.' Sounds like a proper descent into experimental madness, doesn't it? Good on him for digging into the genuinely unsettling corners of gaming.
Then there's **Nic**. Ah, Nic. The digital enigma. 'Nic drifts, timeless, in the ether,' the article declares. My brain immediately conjures images of Nic as a sentient game AI, perhaps a rogue NPC who's achieved consciousness and decided the mortal realm of weekend gaming plans is beneath them. Or maybe they’re just chilling in a perfectly optimised metaverse, where game time is irrelevant. Either way, Nic, you're a legend.
But the real-life quest of the weekend award absolutely has to go to **Jeremy**. Forget grinding for rare loot, Jeremy's battling real-world bosses – spiders! – in a 'small cellar, which resembles a dungeon crawler from 1981.' He’s in the throes of setting up a new house (after eight months of pain, no less), so his next three weekends are a blur of boxes, paint, and arachnid encounters. He wants a sticker for his cellar door: 'Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord.' Bloody brilliant! This is the kind of human story behind the corporate announcements and slick game trailers that I live for. Who needs a triple-A RPG when you've got real-world property battles? It’s a testament to how the spirit of gaming permeates even the most mundane (or terrifying, if you hate spiders) of tasks.
Next, we bump into **Ollie** and **James**, both locked in the eternal dance with *Silksong*. Oh, *Silksong*. The mythical beast, the Elden Ring of indie platformers, forever just out of reach, yet always demanding more. Ollie admits he's *still* 'Silksong-ing' because work demands it – sounds like a fun job, eh? – but he's finally stretching his digital wings towards old favourites like *Satisfactory*. And speaking of *Satisfactory*, he mentions things are 'getting pretty shoddy as we rush towards this last hurdle. Spaghetti everywhere.' That’s a delightful, honest peek into game development (or any large project, really) – the beautiful chaos, the messy reality behind the polished product. He's also dabbling in *Endless Legend 2*, praising its UI, which, let's be honest, is an often-overlooked hero in strategy games.
James, meanwhile, echoes the *Silksong* sentiment: 'I can't have much more of Silksong left to do, surely. No, wait, there's loads. My god. Loads.' It perfectly captures the endless wonder, or perhaps mild despair, of a truly expansive game that just keeps on giving. Or taking, depending on your perspective and patience levels.
Finally, we have **Mark**, who's diving deeper into *No, I'm not a Human*. The title alone is intriguing, hinting at a narrative or psychological bent that I'm all about exploring. He found its 'eerie atmos intriguing' – another win for unique, atmospheric experiences. Beyond that, it's sim racing for Mark, with *Assetto Corsa EVO* and *Raceroom* getting big updates with new 'rides and other doodads.' This is where I tip my hat to developers who keep their established games fresh and engaging with genuine content, rather than just slapping a 'revolutionary' sticker on a minor patch. And a bit of *BeamNG Drive* for some open-ended vehicular mayhem? Sounds like a bloke who knows how to properly unwind.
What a spread, eh? From existential horror and experimental narratives to real-life dungeon crawls and the endless pursuit of perfection in simulation, it’s a vibrant tapestry of digital (and physical!) adventures. It really underscores that 'gaming' isn't just one thing, or one genre, or one platform. It's an attitude, a way of approaching challenges, and a shared experience, even if that experience is battling cellar spiders.
So, what about you, my fellow digital adventurers? What wild sagas are you embarking on this weekend? Are you chasing dragons, building empires, or perhaps just trying to get that stubborn paint off the skirting board? Let us know!
A huge hat tip and thank you to Ollie Toms and the brilliant crew at Rock Paper Shotgun for sparking this delightful conversation, originally published on September 27, 2025. You can find their original musings right here
Tags: GamingCulture, WeekendGaming, IndieGames, PlayerStories, GameAnalysis
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun