From Zombie Kicks to Cozy Cribs: What Gaming Pros Are *Actually* Playing (and Why It Matters)
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Jeff dives into Eurogamer's 'What we've been playing' feature, analyzing the diverse gaming habits of industry pros—from cozy decorating to zombie drop-kicking—to uncover the underlying 'why' behind their choices and what it reveals about current gaming trends and player satisfaction.
Right, so, you ever get that feeling when you accidentally blow a hole through reality and find yourself peeking into someone else's digital life? That's kinda how I feel when I dive into a 'what we've been playing' column. It’s not just about *what* games are grabbing the attention of those in the know, but *why* they’re sinking their precious gaming hours into them. And trust me, mate, that 'why' is always the good stuff.
This week, I’ve been sifting through the digital tea leaves of Eurogamer’s latest 'What we've been playing - whispers, webs, houses and beasts' feature (originally published September 20, 2025, by Robert Purchese) – and fair dinkum, it’s a cracking mixed bag. We’ve got everything from serene home decorating to head-kicking zombies, and each pick offers a little nugget of insight into what makes us, as gamers, tick.
First up, Kelsey found herself utterly charmed by **Whisper of the House** on PC. Now, if you’re like me, your ears perk up anytime you hear 'like Unpacking but with more customisation.' That game was a revelation in zen tidiness, wasn't it? But Kelsey's point about *Whisper of the House* letting you actually *design* the spaces, not just unpack into them, scratches a proper itch. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Are we seeing the next evolution of the 'cozy game' genre? Less about the narrative of unpacking someone else's life, and more about the simple, satisfying joy of building and shaping your own digital domicile. It’s a subtle shift, but a powerful one for player agency. More power to the virtual interior designers, I reckon!
Then there’s Tom O, who wrestled his **Steam Deck** into submission to get **Geforce Now** running. Bloody hell, days of wasted free-time just to get the tech to play ball? Sounds like a wizard trying to attune a new artifact! But his takeaway, that cloud streaming is 'exceedingly good' and indistinguishable from local play with a solid connection, is a massive win. This isn't just about playing *Control* on the go – though, let's be real, that's already pretty neat. This is about chipping away at the barriers to entry for high-fidelity gaming. Portable power and stream-anywhere tech? It means more people, more places, can jump into the action. Now, if only the 'solid internet connection' spell was a bit easier to cast everywhere, eh?
Marie took a delightful detour, swinging through **Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered** on PS5. What’s interesting here isn't just that it’s Spidey (who doesn't love web-slinging?), but that she played the *sequel* first. It’s a brilliant reminder that a well-crafted game can pull you back, even after you’ve seen the 'next big thing.' It speaks to the enduring quality of a solid superhero story and engaging gameplay loop. Sometimes, going back to the source is like finding a forgotten spellbook – still packed with magic, even if you’ve already mastered a few advanced incantations.
Ed, on the other hand, made a welcome escape from the 'horrors of Silksong' (a sentiment many of us can relate to, waiting anxiously for that one!) by diving back into **Fire Emblem: Three Houses** on Switch, choosing the Blue Lions this time. Ah, the sheer addictive joy of 'numbers going up'! That's the secret sauce of so many RPGs, isn't it? The constant progression, the likeable characters, the 'magical school vibes.' It’s a perfect example of how a great game can offer endless replayability through different choices, drawing you back into its warm embrace like a familiar, comforting spell. Good on ya, Ed, for finding your happy place.
Ian brought the glorious, chaotic fun with **Dying Light: The Beast** on PC, specifically the art of 'drop-kicking zombies in the head.' This, mate, is pure, unadulterated gaming bliss. It's the equivalent of finding a ridiculous, overpowered spell that just makes you cackle with glee. No benefit to progression, just pure, mindless satisfaction and comedy gold as a zombie goes rag-dolling off a cliff. It’s a brilliant reminder that not every gaming session needs to be a deep narrative journey or a competitive esports grind. Sometimes, you just need to turn your brain off and enjoy the simple, kinetic joy of punt-kicking the undead. It’s gaming comfort food, and sometimes, that’s exactly what the digital wizard ordered.
Now, Will dropped a bit of a bombshell, arguing for a critical re-evaluation of **Battlefield 2042** on PC. Remember the launch state? 'Weakest Battlefield' was a pretty common chant. But Will's been finding genuine fun in its latest update, praising the 'clear learnings' from its muted response. This is where my gently skeptical, yet cautiously optimistic, wizard hat really comes out. Is it a true redemption arc, or just a case of a game finally reaching the potential it *should* have had at launch? It’s a common tale in modern gaming: rocky starts, developer commitment, and eventual (sometimes) turnarounds. It speaks to the power of ongoing development, but also raises questions about game launches being more like 'early access' these days. Still, if it means more maps, better guns, and those classic '360-degree vehicular chaos' moments, then perhaps some initial bad spells can indeed be undone.
Chris, bless his heart, hit us with the classic game journo tease: 'Stuff I can't talk about which is annoying sorry.' Oh, the suspense! It’s like a wizard hinting at a new, powerful spell but refusing to reveal the incantation. *Ghost of Yotei* sounds intriguing, but that’s all we get! Thankfully, he *could* rave about **Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket**, admitting he’s running a counter-meta Alolan Exeggutor deck before being hilariously 'rugby tackled by Bertie.' This is the human story, right? Even the pros, with their embargoed secrets, get hooked on surprisingly deep, casual games. It’s the universal appeal of finding joy in the unexpected corners of the gaming multiverse.
And speaking of Bertie, he’s absolutely smitten with **Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor**, reigniting his love for the **Vampire Survivor** formula. This is innovation, mate! Taking a proven, addictive loop and applying it to a beloved universe. The 'play first, learn later' philosophy of roguelikes is a potent one, isn't it? It strips away the hand-holding, drops you straight into the action, and lets discovery be part of the magic. It’s immediate, it’s engaging, and it proves that sometimes, iterating on a brilliant idea is just as impactful as conjuring something entirely new.
What these varied playing habits tell me is that the gaming world is as wonderfully chaotic and diverse as ever. From intricate crafting to pure, unadulterated zombie-kicking, from cloud streaming wonders to revisiting beloved classics – there’s something for everyone. And the 'why' behind it all? It’s often surprisingly simple: the joy of discovery, the satisfaction of progression, the comfort of familiarity, or just the sheer, unadulterated fun. Keep exploring, keep questioning, and keep playing, mate. The digital realms are vast, and there's always a new spell to learn.
*Original article: 'What we've been playing - whispers, webs, houses and beasts' by Robert Purchese, Eurogamer.net*
Tags: Gaming Trends, Player Experience, Indie Games, Game Re-evaluation, Cloud Gaming
Original article: Eurogamer