Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (14th December)

Image: ChucklefishWe’re back with a fresh look at our weekend gaming plans in the latest edition of What Are You Playing!

Before we dive into things, however, let’s recap this past week. Mr. Video Games himself, Geoff Keighley, was gracing our screens once again at The Game Awards, and while it was far from a Switch-fest, we did get a look at a new Sonic Racing title, Hideki Kamiya’s Okami sequel and a weird new spin on Pac-Man.

But it wasn’t all awards! We got a fresh helping of ‘Switch 2’ rumours with new 3D prints, updated intellectual property notices and a blurry image from a Satisfye trailer. Nintendo formally took ownership of Monolith Soft in its entirety and stuck some more Tetris on NSO. Oh, and The Pokémon Company announced a 2027 collaboration with Wallace and Gromit studio, Aardman. No that’s some cracking cheese!

On top of all that, we also found time to review Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, Victory Heat Rally, The Thing: Remastered and more.

Phew! Time for a spot of gaming, we think. What are we all up to this weekend?

Jim Norman, Staff Writer
I am so close to the end of Loco Motive that I can almost smell it (gross). I’d really like to get that wrapped up this weekend before hopefully diving into a bit of Splatoon 3: Side Order before the year’s up, BUT I have friends coming to stay so I’d be surprised if I play much more than a few rounds of Golf on Nintendo Switch Sports.

And yes, Marvel Rivals couldn’t have come at a worse time. I have Switch games to play, Moon Knight! Please stop threatening my sleeping hours with all this talk of Khonshu’s might!

Gavin Lane, Editor
I’ve still got some Lorelei and the Laser Eyes to enjoy, but can confirm it’s jumped straight into my GOTY list – what a game! Elsewhere I’d love to try out Arco this weekend, although I’ve heard the Switch version isn’t the most stable. Some research needed there, then.

Otherwise, it’s still Nine Sols and Tales of Kenzera: ZAU for me. Have a good one, folks.

Alex Olney, Senior Video Producer
You’re not going to believe this, but I think this could well be a Switch-free weekend for me. I know, I know.

The fact is that I recently received Armored Core VI for my birthday, and I’ve not yet had a chance to sink my teeth into it. That, coupled with enjoying the likes of Marvel Rivals with Felix, Jim, Craig, and Aaron from the wider Hookshot staff means I probably won’t have any time at all for anything Switch-related until the week following.

Well, there is Antonblast coming, so that could shake things up a bit.

Kate Gray, Contributor
For some reason, this weekend, I find myself playing three extremely AAA games: Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Red Dead Redemption 2. It’s been quite weird going between all of them — RDR2 has you picking up cigarettes and brandy as healing items, Indy beats up fascists with shovels, and I just hit the romance part of Veilguard, which would be more interesting if it wasn’t this strange, super-chaste side story about holding hands or whatever. Where’s the Dragon Age smut?!

Out of the three, I’m enjoying Indy the most. Is it slavishly devoted to the movies? Yes. But is that kinda cool? Also yes.

I’m also pondering if I should get a game for the Christmas break. I’m going to force myself not to do any work, on a 3-week trip with family. It might be time for Fields of Mistria, at last!!!!

Gonçalo Lopes, Contributor

Really loving how Stray does world-building by its environment. I’m finding Neon Blood really interesting but the arrival of my physical copy of Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics might derail all other weekend plans. Arcade Archives: Viper Phase 1 was a nice surprise along with the incredible Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, which should keep me busy well into the holidays. Still, no excuse to skip my Fitness Boxing 3 daily exercises, mind.

My game of the week is a return to an overlooked racing gem from eight months ago. After wrapping up with Senna on Netflix, I jumped straight into my career save on New Star GP where I have developed a bitter rivalry with fellow pilot “Nigel Mawson”. It was all fun and games until Nigel sneaked into our pit area and repainted my F1 car livery with bright pink and purple, forcing me to race in Brasilia in such a palette atrocity. Still a few GP races to wrap up the season but I can assure you I will using Nigel’s car as “brake assist” in every corner I spot him.

(… and did I mention there is a world 9 in Abathor!? Will this game ever end?)

Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor
I’m deep into Nine Sols at this point and absolutely loving it. The extremely satisfying sword clang whenever you time your parry just right is such a dopamine hit. I haven’t reached any of the truly hard bosses just yet, but I am so ready to have my butt handed to me.

I’d like to get back to Trails through Daybreak so I can be ready for the sequel, but I’ve also got 15 hours in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake and I want to finish that. Thank goodness the holidays are almost here! Please, don’t buy any more games, Alana.

That’s what we have planned for the weekend, but what about you? Let us know in the following poll which games you’re planning on booting up over the next couple of days.