Which Games Will Everyone Be Playing This Weekend?

The October week before the scare

On Thursday, before All Hallows' Eve, the writer was returning from work. A storm had passed earlier in the week, leaving the evening unusually crisp and clear. He walked between terrace houses, felt the eyes of work-from-homers, turned the key in the door to the communal hallway, and climbed the creaky stairs. His footsteps stayed light as he passed the flat of a neighbour described as rude, and his thoughts were on the risotto waiting in the fridge.

The Thursday scare

The writer unlocked his front door and started up the internal staircase to the kitchen without turning on the lights. Out of the dark, something jumped down the stairs and hit him in the stomach. He switched on the lights and saw a small brown thing with a long tail bolting back up the staircase. A mouse. In the house. The fright almost put him off his risotto, and the piece uses the moment to pivot into the weekend plans of the rest of the team.

The team's weekend plans

Seven team members carry the article through the weekend. Ollie has settled into a comfy rhythm with the latest Trackmania campaign and a bit of Factorio, both played with his brother. When he has time to himself, he is interested in trying Queen's Domain, having heard good things.

Jeremy continues to chip away at a Castlevania walkthrough, a task he describes as chipping away at his soul. He frames this as a transactional bargain of dealing with Dracula during Halloween. As he answers the door for trick-or-treaters, he may join an annual tradition: watching an old game playthrough on YouTube while handing out sweets. The game he is thinking of is Nosferatu, a 1994 Super Nintendo Entertainment System game. The text notes that it is not related to Castlevania, but it does feature a bold character who goes to beat up Dracula and all of his minions with nothing but his feet and fists.

James had earlier attempts at Mortal Shell 2 thwarted this week, in chronological order, by work, social obligations, brownie making, Deep Rock Galactic, and more brownie making. His response is simple: we go again.

Edwin is helping with a house move this weekend, so he doubts he will have much time for what he calls foolish computer entertainments. He still wants to crack on with Queen's Domain and try Danchi Days, a sorrowful comedy about trying to revive a summer festival in a 2000s-era Japanese neighbourhood.

Callum becomes the running joke after the mouse sighting. He has been making squeaking noises in meetings, prompting the article to ask whether he planted the mouse, or was the mouse. It then insists that this is not a coincidence, adding that there is no such thing as coincidence when it comes to mice.

Mark wants to finish Virtue and a Sledgehammer, having started it the other night. He really liked The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, one of the previous games from Spanish studio Deconstructeam. So far, Virtue and a Sledgehammer is hitting just as hard in emotional beats, but in a way that feels more haunting than charming. He says he will see where he lands on it by the end.

Julian has two practical goals and one game-related mood. He will search his flat for mouse hidey holes and finish the DIY he started last weekend, with alcove bookcases and a painted living room in his future. He says he just has to manifest it, while invoking touch wood, crossed fingers, and a sacrifice to Bob the Builder.

Julian is also dipping his toes into Titanium Court. He likes it but does not yet love it. He finds it witty, praises its excellent presentation, and says it is keeping him at arm's length. He wants to be drawn into its world rather than kept at a distance, and thinks it may need more time. He also mentions that he will be trying hard not to sweep the moon.

Where the week stands now

At the close of the article, the timeline is at the weekend threshold. The mouse has been seen and has bolted back up the staircase; it has not been caught in the text. The risotto scare is over, the Halloween plans are underway, and the team is split between gaming, house moves, trick-or-treaters, brownies, DIY, and one suspicious squeak. The piece closes by asking readers what they are playing this weekend.