16th May
Hi everyone, welcome back to our usual spot where we chat about the games we’ve been getting into. This week, Victoria nearly nodded off during an important, child-led gaming episode; Bertie sounds a little like an annoyed older relative; Chris has more to say about Mixtape; and Connor is playing a game that isn’t RuneScape—go figure.
So, what have you been playing this week?
And here’s another question: can you remember what you were playing last week? No pressure at all—the What We’ve Been Playing archive has you covered.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Switch 2
On Saturday, my daughter was up long before I was. Rather than calling me to wake up, she decided to jump into her very first Zelda game. When I finally got up and understood what was going on, I couldn’t help but grin. I’d been looking forward to this for ages. She picked up on my excitement and suggested we cuddle up and play side by side. We got comfy in bed with our teas to hand, then set off exploring Echoes of Wisdom’s Suthorn Ruins—her first Zelda dungeon, and honestly, I was so proud.
With her driving and me cheering her on, she worked her way through different corridors, collected the right doors, and eventually faced the dungeon boss, Seismic Talus. Things started to feel shaky, and my daughter began rapidly flicking through her echoes in a hurry. She summoned Rope, but it just didn’t have the strength. Next came Darknut—still far too sluggish! After trying what felt like every option available (at one stage, a bed showed up in the arena, and of course it did absolutely nothing in combat), she managed to grind down Seismic Talus.
“Want to make some pancakes to celebrate?” I asked. “Yes please, mummy,” my daughter replied, slightly breathless, with her Joy-Con thumbs marked from the Joy of it all and pure triumph on her face. It was absolutely deserved—she’d cleared her first Zelda dungeon.
-Victoria
Saros, Heroes of Might & Magic: The Olden Era, Slay the Spire 2
I often get irritated by the opening runs in roguelites, especially because it can feel like they’re built to make you lose—so you’ll loop back through the progression again. If I start digging into that, I could go on forever. Let’s just say Saros gave me that exact feeling, and we’ll leave it there.
I’m slowly settling into Saros, and I still haven’t beaten the first boss. So far, I’m really enjoying the overall approach—the playful mix of fantasy and sci-fi is right up my street—and I love the wild variety of weaponry, especially the guns with alternate, adaptable firing options. I’m also a fan of games that let me dash about and throw in heavy punches. Those small moments matter.
On top of that, the smooth 60 FPS performance and quick movement help everything feel better. They might sound like minor technical details, but they genuinely make the gameplay more enjoyable.
Meanwhile, I’ve been having fun with Heroes of Might & Magic: The Olden Era alongside my partner—we’re playing it in hotseat multiplayer mode. Yes, we’re going with the classic, nostalgic approach we used to rely on before online play became the norm: you know, where one person takes a turn, then the other. She’s got huge nostalgia for it; HOMM 3 was practically a cultural touchstone for her while growing up in Bulgaria, where it’s hugely popular. I don’t have that same attachment. It’s feeling a bit on the slow side for me, but I still love how this familiar experience has been brought into the present without losing what made it click in the first place.
And finally, with Slay the Spire 2, there’s not much I can add, other than that my climb toward Ascension 10 using The Regent is still ongoing. I’m currently on Ascension 4 (though I haven’t played in a little while).
-Bertie
Mixtape, PC & Steam Deck
I wanted to share a few thoughts about Mixtape, since it’s been on my mind—and honestly, there’s only so much I can subject you to about TCG Pocket (though my Zoroark ex deck is a joy!).
To start with, let’s talk about its pacing. Aside from slightly echoing Return of the King in its endings, Mixtape runs with impressive efficiency. Whenever there’s a chance to develop a character, land a joke, or pull off something clever, it doesn’t waste the opening—regardless of whether it ends up meaningfully important to the bigger picture.
Also, the whole discussion about how it “could have been a movie”—and honestly, come on—is missing what makes it fun to engage with. This industry has argued for years about what it might be like to be inside a movie, and then a studio basically does exactly that, and the people who bought into the idea end up rolling their eyes!
But the truth is, it’s brilliant. Mixtape smoothly blurs that line by treating each scene’s changing mechanics as a pleasant surprise. Every beat is either a sharp little remark or a quick visual moment—something that supports the narrative rather than sitting apart from it. It’s genuinely part of the story. Wondering why you should play it is like asking why you’d bother seasoning a meal. It is the dish.
-Taps
Directive 8020, PS5
Wake up! I’m not playing RuneScape this week! Well, I am, but nothing particularly worth mentioning happened during the past week that would justify another update here. Instead, I’ve been spending my time with Directive 8020, and I’m honestly having a great time.
Now, I’m not quite the same kind of reviewer that Matt, Dom, or Chris are. My own weakness, I think, is that I have a soft spot for games that aren’t exactly outstanding. Directive 8020 may not be my favourite release of the year so far, but it’s still thoroughly entertaining—more like enjoying a cheesy film than anything else.
-Connor