7th March
Hi there, and welcome back to our ongoing column where we talk about the games we’ve been diving into. This week, Bertie coaxes his partner into trying Vampire Survivors—only to watch himself get outmatched as she steals the spotlight. Mat and Victoria settle into Resident Evil Requiem and soak up its grim, detailed world. Kelsey jumps into some “borrowing” as a gnome, and Chris somehow selects the wrong Pokémon game.
So, what have you been playing?
If you’d like something else to read—or you want to revisit earlier posts—there’s a large What We’ve Been Playing archive waiting for you.
Co-op Vampire Survivors and Overwatch
How long has Vampire Survivors had a local co-op mode? You don’t have to answer; I already knew. Still, let’s pretend I didn’t—because my surprise was real when, last Sunday, I was hunting for something to play with my partner on Switch 2 (after Mario Kart World) and there it was: Vampire Survivors. I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about it, if I’m honest. It’s not exactly an easy pitch. But a couple of hours and a handful of completely unintended power upgrades later, she was fully hooked. A few days afterward, I stopped by her desk and found her back in the game again—I’ve never been more captivated.
I’ve also been spending time with Overwatch, though I’m sorry to say I feel like I’m slipping. Two weeks ago, I had plenty of momentum, but now I’m stuck in a rut, and a bit of irritation is starting to creep in. The excitement seems to be wearing off, my dopamine hits are getting smaller, and it doesn’t help that I’m apparently determined to test every character on the roster. Every time I swap characters, my flow breaks—like I’ve suddenly become a stranded seal all over again. I remind myself that it’s all useful learning and that every match teaches me something. Still, I catch myself sighing and muttering. Keep a sunny outlook, Bertie—keep a sunny outlook.
-Bertie
Resident Evil Requiem, PS5
Resident Evil Requiem practically begs to be replayed. Even though I’m experiencing it for the first time, I can already picture all the ways I’ll eventually slip through the dim corridors of the Rhodes Hill Care Centre—each run with a different approach. I’ve been careful with my ammo and tried to avoid encounters wherever possible, and even in the brief moments where my headshots actually land, it’s obvious I’ve been missing out on some genuinely fun interactions. Certain zombies shift their routes depending on who else is around. There’s also a maid who would probably keep cleaning in the same room—until I cleared out the people from the operating room near her, and she started wandering off, complaining about the mess. I’m playing the whole game doing memorable, thrilling things, while still worrying that I’ve overlooked someone else’s best moments.
Reloading the Requiem might include one of the finest repeating animations in any game. I love how much time it takes to guide even a single bullet into the chamber. It adds so much personality to an otherwise ordinary object, as though the effort behind it can only be sustained through patience and precision. It’s a bit like coaxing an upset dog into letting go of something by smearing cheese on their nose.
-Mat J
Burglin’ Gnomes Demo, PC
With so many fantastic games popping up lately, there’s still one free demo I keep returning to: Burglin’ Gnomes. It’s my latest Peal, and it’s one of those co-op games I couldn’t stop playing in 2025.
Burglin’ Gnomes keeps things simple with its gameplay loop. You and your crew of flexible gnomes rely on your sticky hands to strip an unsuspecting victim of their belongings, maybe take them out in the process, and possibly trigger an explosion or two along the way. If the High Gnome approves of how you handle his odd objectives, you then use materials from your stolen haul to craft tools that make the next job a little easier—or significantly more chaotic.
Even though it’s just a demo with a single level, my friends and I have found plenty to do for hours. There are lots of hidden little surprises worth uncovering. Three gnomes can also pull off a near-perfect gnome slingshot (though you might end up losing your arms in the process), and gnomes are honestly pretty unreliable with kitchen knives. You could lose your legs too. And if you jump high enough to slam into the ceiling… then, well, you’ll have to say goodbye to your tiny gnome life. Overall, Burglin’ Gnomes delivers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments even with only the demo, and I genuinely can’t wait to see what the full version brings.
-Kelsey R
Resident Evil Requiem, PS5
I’ve been playing Resident Evil Requiem whenever my heartbeat allows, and I’m, of course, enjoying all the shocks and scrapes it’s delivered so far. But—hold on. I’m not looking to talk about those right now. Instead, I want to spotlight a moment (or maybe a feature?) right at the start of the game that made me smile way too much.
When a nervous Grace first makes her way through Wrenwood, rain is coming down hard. You can hear droplets splattering everywhere, especially through the PS5’s DualSense—at least, you can until you step beneath a shop awning, and the sound cuts out from the controller. I know I probably shouldn’t be that shocked by these kinds of details this far into the console’s lifespan, but I couldn’t help it. I stepped back outside from under the awning, and right away my DualSense started clicking and drumming again, as Grace was soaked by rain once more.
I was so impressed that I called my husband over to show him, and had Grace do a bit of an in-game Hokey Cokey routine—out into the downpour and back again. It’s always the small stuff.
-Victoria
Pokémon White 2, DS (but on my 3DS)
This has been a strange week for me—of all weeks, and from all the Pokémon games I could be playing ( since I should really be indulging in Pokopia – ) I went back to Pokémon White 2. Somehow, it clicked now. Maybe it’s because I don’t have to play White at the moment, and that’s what suddenly sparked my interest. I’ve owned the game for quite a while after spending a small fortune on it second-hand, but so far I’ve only made it through the first hour.
These sequels highlight a gap in what I knew about the mainline Pokémon games. Like a lot of people, I—based on sales numbers, and I’m sure you guessed it—I dismissed them as a reworked version of earlier games during my teenage years. But wow! From the very start, it’s obvious this is a true classic. It’s genuinely gorgeous: distinctly autumnal, and flawlessly crafted in terms of atmosphere. You don’t realize you’re standing in the golden era until it’s already passed.
-Taps