Weekend Wizardry: Peeking into the Playlists of Gaming's Finest (and a Two-Year-Old's Jelly Preferences)
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Join Jeff as he dives into the eclectic, often chaotic, weekend gaming plans of Rock Paper Shotgun's team, uncovering everything from brutal boss hunts and germ-infested colony sims to horror game reviews and *Fallout* binges.
Right, so another weekend's upon us, and if you're anything like me – a digital wizard who occasionally fumbles a teleportation spell and ends up in a parallel dimension where all loot is common rarity – you're probably already conjuring up your gaming plans. For some, it’s a meticulously planned raid; for others, it's a desperate scramble to finish that one side quest before the kids demand to know what a booger tastes like. (Seriously, don't ask the parents that one, mate. Trust me, it never goes down well.)
I've been tinkering with the latest dispatches from the gaming frontline – specifically, what a few of the brilliant minds over at Rock Paper Shotgun are planning for their precious off-hours. And bloody hell, it's a wilder mix than a goblin's potion cabinet. From dodging spectral skin suits to wrangling germ-infested toilet water (yes, really), it's a fair dinkum showcase of the glorious, chaotic spectrum of modern gaming.
First up, Jeremy More, who sounds like he's still locked in a titanic struggle with *Nioh 3*. Now, if you’ve ever dipped a toe into the *Nioh* universe, you’ll know it’s less of a game and more of a spiritual journey through pain and precise parrying. Jeremy's already penned a review – presumably between bouts of screaming at a particularly oversized yokai – and now he's back in the trenches, filling out a boss list. Talk about dedication, eh? It's a bit like a seasoned alchemist, having perfected the elixir, then immediately going back to cataloguing every single ingredient and their precise magical properties. You’d think finishing a review would be the end of it, a triumphant fist-pump before collapsing onto a comfy sofa with something decidedly less soul-crushing. But no, the siren song of completionism, or perhaps just the sheer, brutal joy of *Nioh’s* combat, pulls him back in. It’s a testament to games that demand so much, yet give back that sweet, sweet satisfaction of overcoming truly gargantuan odds. Or maybe he just really likes writing lists. Who am I to judge?
Then we've got Ollie, who's currently wrestling with the age-old conundrum of competitive online play: 'Am I actually good, or am I just fighting aim assist?' He's in *Highguard*, feeling a bit sour about the conduits (which, if you ask me, is exactly how I feel when my spell goes rogue and targets my own familiar). It's a classic live-service game tale, isn't it? That push-pull of loving the core gameplay loop, but getting utterly fed up with the meta, the balance changes, or the feeling that something's just… off. You stick with it because there's a new hero, new 'stuffs' (great word, 'stuffs,' perfectly encapsulates the endless drip-feed of content), on the horizon. It’s the digital equivalent of knowing a dungeon's riddled with traps, but you keep going because you *know* there's a legendary sword just around the next corner.
But here's where Ollie pivots, and frankly, my curiosity-o-meter shot up like a rocket-powered ferret. He's also fired up *Oxygen Not Included* for the first time in *years*. Now, *that's* a dive. This isn't your casual Sunday stroll through a fantasy realm; this is intricate, punishing colony management where the atmosphere itself is trying to kill you. And his current quest? De-germifying duplicants’ accumulated toilet water. Bloody hell. That's the kind of high-stakes, gross-out micromanagement that only a true digital sorcerer of systems can love. It speaks volumes about the enduring appeal of complex simulation games – the joy of cracking a fiendish ecological puzzle, even if that puzzle is literally full of digital poo. It's a stark reminder that gaming isn't always about slaying dragons; sometimes it's about purifying sewage, and that, my friends, is a different kind of heroism entirely.
James, meanwhile, is knee-deep in *Deep Rock Galactic*'s Season 6 update. And let me tell you, if you've never played *DRG*, you're missing out on some of the finest co-op chaos ever mined. Laser-firing rocket boosters to steal giant chunks of resin and chase fleeing xeno-bugs into bone-hidey holes? Sounds like a Tuesday to me! James confesses he was perhaps a tad quick to judge those caught by a lurking Pit Jaw, initially thinking them 'big dumb idiot children.' Been there, mate. We've all scoffed at someone else's digital demise, only to fall victim to the exact same incredibly stealthy, incredibly chompy trap mere moments later. It’s the gaming karma equivalent of gloating about a perfect spell, only for it to backfire spectacularly and turn you into a newt. *DRG* consistently delivers on the 'more of a good thing' philosophy, making seasonal updates feel like genuine additions rather than just a re-skin of last season's monster.
Edwin, bless his cotton socks, is voluntarily diving headfirst into a game where he's chased through forests by 'squirming suits of human skin.' Sounds like a perfectly normal weekend activity, right? He was *supposed* to be taking a break from horror game reviews. Ah, the best-laid plans of wizards and reviewers, eh? The call of the squirming skin suit was clearly too strong. It reminds us that some games aren't about fun in the traditional sense, but about the thrill of terror, the exquisite discomfort, the sheer novelty of something utterly grotesque. It's like finding a cursed relic – you know it's probably going to give you nightmares, but you just *have* to pick it up and see what it does. And for good measure, he's also 'thinking about BOOKS.' A classic reviewer's plight: even when you're supposed to be relaxing, your brain is still churning, processing narratives, thinking about the next big story, whether it's on a screen or a page. The grind never truly stops.
Next up, Mark is finally tackling *Fallout* series two. All episodes out of the vault, ready for a good old binge. His verdict on the first series was 'fairly lukewarm,' which is a refreshingly honest take in an age of hyper-enthusiasm. It’s a brave soul who dares to have a nuanced opinion on beloved IP adaptations, especially ones as deeply ingrained in gaming culture as *Fallout*. We've all seen game adaptations crash and burn, and when one actually lands, it feels like a minor miracle. Mark’s approach – 'I can grip a controller and swear loudly at the screen while Ella Punells and Walton Gogginses' – perfectly captures the spirit of playing *and* watching, blurring the lines between interactive and passive entertainment. It’s a curious phenomenon, isn't it, how our relationship with games extends beyond the controller to the screen? It's like a side-quest where the reward is simply experiencing more of a world you adore, even if you’re not the one making the choices.
And then there's Callum Young. Callum, our enigmatic colleague, provided *no information* whatsoever. He merely 'stared at us with his seven eyes and purred before coughing up a hairball.' Now, I don't know about you, but that sounds like he's either playing the most intensely immersive VR game known to humankind, or he's secretly a powerful eldritch being using his off-time to observe humanity's quaint gaming habits. Given the digital wizard vibe I've got going, I'm leaning towards the latter. Or perhaps he's just playing a cat simulator. Who knows? Some mysteries are best left unsolved, mate.
Finally, we loop back to Julian Benson himself, the captain of this particular vessel of weekend gaming insights. When he’s not pretending to be Father Christmas on his holidays (a side gig I can only assume involves a lot of improvised toy-making and avoiding milk and cookies), he’s diving into *Menace*. Only two operations deep, he's keen to see how his characters develop and, crucially, to finally face the 'menacing alien threat' of the title. It’s that slow burn, isn’t it? The tantalizing promise of impending doom, the careful crafting of a team, the anticipation of unlocking new skills. It’s the very essence of many great tactical games – building your arsenal, honing your strategies, preparing for the inevitable showdown. It speaks to the joy of narrative progression and the satisfaction of building something from the ground up, whether it’s a character build or a compelling storyline.
So there you have it, mate. A peek into the glorious, messy, and utterly diverse gaming habits of some folks who spend their days thinking about games. From high-octane boss battles to microscopic toilet water purification, from terrifying skin suits to tactical alien threats, it’s a powerful reminder that our digital playgrounds are vast and varied. Each choice reflects a different craving: challenge, relaxation, intellectual stimulation, or just the sheer desire to see what weird new thing a game can throw at you.
What does it all mean? It means gaming isn't a monolith. It’s a chaotic, beautiful ecosystem where everyone finds their niche, their challenge, their moment of digital magic. It’s about the stories we create, the skills we hone, and yes, sometimes, the aim assist we curse. So, what’s *your* weekend brew looking like? Reckon you’ll be purifying water, dodging Pit Jaws, or just swearing loudly at Ella Purnellses and Walton Gogginses? Whatever it is, happy gaming, you magnificent digital adventurers!
Original Article: 'What are we all playing this weekend?' by Julian Benson for Rock Paper Shotgun. Published on Feb. 7, 2026. Available at
Tags: Gaming Culture, Weekend Gaming, Game Analysis, Player Stories, Industry Insights
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun