7th March

Hello and welcome back to our regular feature where we write a little about the games we've been playing. This week, Bertie coaxes his partner into playing Vampire Survivors, and then loses her to it; Mat and Victoria play Resi Requiem, both delighting at different tiny details in the gruesome game; Kelsey does some armed robbery as a gnome; and Chris plays the wrong Pokémon game.

What have you been playing?

If you're looking for something else to read, or a reminder of what you once wrote, there's a whole What We've Been Playing archive to delve into.

Co-op Vampire Survivors and Overwatch

How long has Vampire Survivors had a local co-op mode? Don't answer that; of course I knew it was there. But let's pretend I didn't so you can imagine my surprise when, on Sunday last, I was searching for a game to play with my partner on Switch 2 (after playing Mario Kart World) and there Vampire Survivors was. I didn't know how she'd take the game to be honest. It's not an easy sell. But two-hours and some accidental power-evolutions later and she was in. I walked past her working area a couple of days later and she was glued to the game again - I've never felt more in love.

I've also been dabbling in Overwatch but I'm sorry to report I seem to be getting worse. I had such momentum two weeks ago but now I'm plateauing and some frustration is creeping in. I think what's actually happening is the novelty is wearing off, so my dopamine hits are fading, and it doesn't help that I seem intent on playing as every character on the roster. Inevitably when switching characters, momentum drops, because I'm a newly beached seal again. I have to remind myself it's all cumulatively useful knowledge and that every time I play, I learn. But sometimes I sigh and swear instead. Positive mental attitude, Bertie, positive mental attitude.

-Bertie

Resident Evil Requiem, PS5

Resident Evil Requiem wants to be played again. Even while I'm playing it for the first time, I'm imagining what it'll be like to crouch-step low through the partially lit corridors of the Rhodes Hill Care Centre in radically different ways. I've been austere with my ammo and avoided conflict where I can, and from the limited head-clicking I've done I can see I've clearly missed fun interactions. Some zombies have changed their pathing depending on who else is left around; there's a maid who'll probably stay cleaning up in one room, but because I've taken out everyone in the operating theatre beside her, she's decided to roam around complaining about all the mess. I'm spending the entire game doing cool things and still worrying I've missed other people's favourite bits.

Grace reloading the Requiem might be one of the best pieces of recurring animation in any game. I love how long it takes to put even a single bullet into the chamber. It gives so much personality to an otherwise normal object, as if the power behind it is only capable of being maintained through care and focus. Like getting an angry dog to drop something by smearing cheese on their nose.

-Mat J

Burglin' Gnomes Demo, PC

Despite all the great games coming out lately, there's one free demo that I keep returning to, and that's Burglin' Gnomes. It's my new Peal, which is one co-op game I simply couldn't put down in 2025.

Burglin' Gnomes features a simple gameplay loop: you and your group of highly-malleable gnomes must use your sticky hands to rob an innocent man blind, possibly kill him while you're at it, and maybe cause an explosion or two in the process. If the High Gnome is then pleased with your efforts to complete his bizarre tasks, you use materials from all of your stolen goods to craft items that'll make the next robbery that bit easier. Or that bit more chaotic.

For what is just a demo with a single level, me and my friends have been able to entertain ourselves for hours. There's dozens of hidden interactions that are great fun to discover; three gnomes make the perfect gnome slingshot (but you may lose your arms in the process), and gnomes are definitely not to be trusted with kitchen knives. You will lose your legs in the process. And if you jump too high and happen to hit a ceiling... Well, bid farewell to your little gnome life. All in all, Burglin' Gnomes leads to some hilarious scenarios in just its demo alone, and I really can't wait to see what the full release entails.

-Kelsey R

Resident Evil Requiem, PS5

I have been playing Resident Evil Requiem any time my heartrate allows, and am of course loving all the thrills and spills it has provided so far. But! I don't want to talk about those right now. Rather, I want to draw attention to a moment (or feature?) right at the start of the game which made me beam a probably unreasonable amount.

When a very nervous Grace first makes her way through Wrenwood, it is pouring down. You can hear the rain splashing all around, especially through the PS5's DualSense; at least, you can until you step under a shop awning and the noise from the controller stops. I realise I shouldn't be surprised by this sort of thing at this point in the console's life, but I couldn't help it. I stepped back out from under the awning and immediately, my DualSense began to emit a loud pitter patter as Grace was once again soaked by rain.

I was so impressed I called my husband down to show him, making Grace do a sort of in-game Hokey Cokey dance in and out of the deluge. It's the simple things.

-Victoria

Pokémon White 2, DS (but on my 3DS)

This week of all weeks, and of all the Pokémon games to play - for I should really be playing Pokopia - I went back to Pokémon White 2. For some reason. Maybe it's because I don't need to play White that suddenly I wanted to. I've had the game for ages, after spending a small fortune on it second-hand, but I've only managed to noodle through the first hour.

These sequels are the gap in my knowledge in all of the main series Pokémon games. Like a lot of people, judging by sales, I foolishly, teenagerly dismissed them as a not-worth-it re-treading of prior games. But cor! Even from the start you know it's an all-timer. Utterly gorgeous, autumnal, immaculately vibed. You don't know you're in the good old days until they're over.

-Taps