The editorial team is gearing up for a varied weekend of gaming across multiple platforms and genres. As autumn settles in and the weather turns cooler, the staff are splitting their time between new discoveries, long-running projects, and portable gaming adventures.
Exploring new and unusual titles
Edwin is diving into a demo for Ablahshikar, a turn-based ship-salvaging game that combines ASCII art with deliberately ornate and archaic writing. The developers describe the experience with deliberately flowery language that matches the game's aesthetic, creating an unusual atmosphere for a salvage-focused gameplay loop. The recommendation came from a former team member now working as a Steam curator, suggesting the title has caught attention in indie circles for its distinctive presentation and tone.
Jeremy is testing an upcoming game centred on exploration across a large area, with combat encounters and food consumption as core mechanics. The vague description suggests the title may be a well-known franchise, with hints that regular followers of the team's recent work-in-progress updates would recognise it immediately. The specifics remain under wraps, likely due to embargo restrictions common with pre-release coverage.
Returning to established favourites
Mark is continuing work on an unnamed mystery title he has been gradually progressing through. Beyond that project, he plans to revisit The Witcher 3 to experience its recently updated graphics and performance improvements. Before diving in, he needs to verify that no leftover modifications from a previous installation remain—specifically a mod that had altered character proportions in unusual ways—to avoid technical conflicts with the freshly patched version. He also intends to return to Star Wars: Galactic Racer now that its multiplayer podracing mode has opened to a broader audience.
Portable and experimental gaming
Ollie faces an unusual situation this weekend: his primary PC setup is currently non-functional, so he has been routing his monitors and peripherals through a laptop as a temporary solution. This weekend, however, he is travelling and has packed multiple devices for maximum flexibility. His travel kit includes the laptop, a Steam Deck, a Steam Frame, and a Steam Controller—a collection that reflects genuine uncertainty about what he wants to play or how he prefers to play it rather than any sponsorship arrangement. The variety of hardware suggests he is keeping his options open depending on mood and circumstance.
James, learning of another team member who owns a Steam Frame, has been inspired to finally attempt a Titanfall 2 VR mod he has had bookmarked for some time. His recent reduction in review commitments has freed up enough schedule to dedicate time to the experimental modification.
Tile-placement and routine gaming
Julian plans to spend significant time testing whether a fan and dehumidifier combination that successfully dried two loads of washing—including heavy towels—overnight was a genuine breakthrough or a one-time success. If that household project does not consume the entire weekend, he intends to play Dorfromantik, a tile-placement game he has been considering for a while. A recent conversation with the developers behind Volatiles about the game's tile-placement mechanics proved persuasive enough to push him toward a purchase.
Callum, meanwhile, is marking his one-year anniversary at the publication by departing for the sewers to "make good on a pact," suggesting either a gaming reference or a humorous farewell announcement that the team is wishing him well on.
The weekend ahead reflects the breadth of gaming available across platforms, from experimental indie demos and VR modifications to established RPG updates and puzzle games, with several team members juggling multiple projects simultaneously.
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