The Weekend Warp: From Lost Toothbrushes to Factorio's Gravity Well, What RPS Is Playing
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Dive into the wonderfully chaotic gaming weekend of the Rock Paper Shotgun crew, where lost electric toothbrush chargers lead to deep dives into *Pathologic 3*, new obsessions with *Factorio*, nostalgic Game Boy rediscoveries, and plenty of modern blockbusters, all while Julian Benson reminds us that the best gaming plans often go delightfully awry.
Alright, listen up, you glorious digital tinkers and fellow reality-warpers! You know that feeling when you’re rummaging through a pile of stuff, convinced you’ve lost something absolutely vital, only to stumble upon a hidden gem? Or maybe, just maybe, a half-eaten bag of Percy Pigs that quickly escalates your *actual* dental needs?
Well, that's exactly the kind of wonderfully chaotic energy Julian Benson, the Editorial Director over at Rock Paper Shotgun, kicked off his latest 'What are we all playing this weekend?' feature with. And fair dinkum, it sets the perfect tone for a peek into the wild, varied gaming lives of their crew.
Julian's saga of the missing electric toothbrush charger, lost somewhere in the cosmic void of removal boxes (even those marked 'Eldritch summoning reagents' – a person of culture, I see!), is a delightful metaphor for the unexpected twists and turns our gaming weekends often take. We start with a plan, then suddenly we’re 200 hours deep into something else entirely, or rediscovering ancient relics from our gaming past.
It's a journey, innit? This particular adventure, originally published on January 24, 2026, and penned by Julian Benson for Rock Paper Shotgun (you can find the full, glorious original at <a href=" target="_blank">rockpapershotgun.com</a>), gives us a proper gander at what the RPS gang was brewing up.
And bloody hell, it's a fascinating mix of the deep, the strategic, the nostalgic, and the just plain addictive. First up, we've got **Edwin**, who sounds like he's having an absolute blast... or perhaps a complete mental breakdown, delving into the grim, intricate world of *Pathologic 3*.
Misdiagnosing patients, pockets full of plague mold, and succumbing to apathy? Sounds like a typical Tuesday for some of us, but Edwin's using it to ponder the game's portrayal of medicine and symptoms. That’s the kind of deep dive I reckon we need more of – gaming as a lens for philosophical inquiry.
Beyond that existential dread, he's eyeing up *Turnbound*, a neat fantasy autobattler, and *Mio: Memories In Orbit*, a new metroidvania. Always good to see a wizard sampling a full potion cabinet of genres, eh? Then there's **James**, with a healthy dose of gamer pragmatism.
He's probably, finally, giving *Hytale* a whirl. Now, *Hytale* has been whispered about for ages, often pegged as a potential 'Minecraft killer' or at least a modernised alternative. James, a seasoned *Minecraft* veteran (who isn't, really?)
, notes that familiarity can blind you to a game's flaws. He's cautiously optimistic, viewing *Hytale* as mere 'scaffolding' for its future architecture. A fair point, mate.
We've seen plenty of grand promises in gaming, and it's always wise to approach new contenders with a healthy dose of 'show me the goods' skepticism, especially when dealing with such weighty predecessors. And of course, he’s probably trying to monkey-wrench it onto his Steam Deck, because what else are those glorious handhelds for? **Callum**, bless his factory-optimising soul, is caught in a familiar trap.
While chipping away at guides for a 'top secret, hush hush game' (spill the beans, Callum, my digital ears are itching!), he's fallen head over heels for *Factorio*. He swore blind he'd never get lost in the sauce of conveyor belt optimisation, but alas, the factory must grow.
Two hundred hours? Those are rookie numbers… for a *Factorio* player. But seriously, that's the genuine magic of gaming, isn't it?
Discovering a genre you never thought you'd love, only to find yourself completely submerged. He’s also getting prepped for *Arknights: Endfield*, which brings us nicely to… **Ollie**. Was there ever any doubt Ollie would get sucked into *Arknights: Endfield*?
Apparently not! Having previously been ensnared by *Genshin* and *Honkai: Star Rail*, this new entry – with added factory game mechanics, no less – never stood a chance. It’s a compelling blend, though: the gacha appeal with strategic factory building.
It's like combining a finely tuned spell-casting rhythm with the meticulous construction of an arcane workshop. A chaotic delight, no doubt. Alongside his factory adventures, he’s keeping busy with the usual rotating shenanigans of *Trackmania*, *Arc Raiders*, and *Mass Effect 3 multiplayer*.
A wizard of many talents, this one. **Mark** remains, as always, a 'box of mysteries'. One weekend he might be cruising virtual highways in *American Truck Simulator*, the next he’s plotting dynastic schemes in *Crusader Kings 3*, or perhaps finally making strong progress on a *Yakuza 3* re-run.
It’s a wonderful reminder that not every gamer fits neatly into a single archetype. Our digital tastes can be as varied as the spells in a forgotten grimoire, shifting with mood and whim. And then we hit peak nostalgia with **Jeremy**.
My heart truly sang when he revealed he'd rescued all his old Game Boys and cartridges from his parents’ house, complete with 20-year-old saves still intact! Talk about digital archaeology. He then throws down a gauntlet: *Batman: Return of the Joker*, released way back in 1992 for the OG Game Boy.
He reckons it’s just as hard as the 'grueling' modern game he’s tackling for work. See? The classics never truly fade.
They just wait patiently, like slumbering dragons, ready to challenge us anew. It's a beautiful nod to gaming history and the enduring power of a tough-as-nails retro challenge. Finally, Julian circles back to his own weekend exploits.
While testing management games on his Steam Deck – marveling at how these complex UIs even function on a small device – he ran into the age-old problem: tiny text and squeezed interfaces. It's a common affliction for us older wizards, I tell ya! The irony?
He booted up *Oxygen Not Included* to test it, only to immediately forget the testing part and just start a whole new run on his desktop. That’s the true spirit of the gamer, isn't it? The best laid plans of play often go awry, derailed by the sheer gravitational pull of a truly good game.
So there you have it, mate. A fascinating glimpse into the digital lives of the Rock Paper Shotgun crew. From lost chargers and ancient Game Boys to ever-growing factories and plague-ridden towns, it’s a vibrant tapestry of what makes our gaming weekends so wonderfully unpredictable.
It’s a reminder that whether we’re exploring new digital frontiers or revisiting cherished classics, the joy is often in the journey, the unexpected detour, or the accidental discovery. What about you, eh? What glorious chaos are you brewing up this weekend?
Spill the beans!
Tags: gaming culture, indie games, strategy games, retro gaming, gaming community
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun