Weekend's Hottest Games REVEALED! Which Will You Conquer?

Another weekend, another chance to dive into some fantastic games! It's become a bit of a tradition here, and I'm always excited to share what's caught my eye. Last week's recommendations seemed to resonate particularly well, which is always encouraging. We're just happy to provide a little insight into what we're playing and thinking about beyond the usual review cycle.

Weekend's Hottest Games REVEALED! Which Will You C...

But before we get to this week's picks, let's quickly recap some of the biggest headlines that grabbed our attention: the rather shocking "retirement" of Phil Spencer and the subsequent Microsoft Gaming leadership shakeup (that one definitely raised eyebrows!), the surprising appreciation for a Virtual Boy Switch package (go figure!), PlayStation shutting down Bluepoint Games which is a bit sad, the arrival of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch (talk about nostalgia!), the exciting reveal of 4-player co-op in Slay the Spire 2, and Nier: Automata hitting the 10 million mark – accompanied by a cryptic "To Be Continued" tease. Busy week, to say the least!

Okay, so what should you be playing this weekend? Well, with *Resident Evil Requiem* (aka *Resident Evil 9*) looming large on the horizon, my recommendation is to revisit *Resident Evil 2 (2019)*. Yeah, I know, sequels usually call for playing the *previous* installment, but *RE7* and *8* are a bit…different. While they're definitely part of the canon, Ethan Winters' story feels somewhat self-contained. I think getting reacquainted with Leon and the chaotic streets of Raccoon City is a much better way to prepare for what *Requiem* has in store. It's a fantastic remake, anyway, so it's hardly a chore.

And speaking of *Resident Evil*, don't sleep on our Super Replay playthrough of *Resident Evil Outbreak*! This often-overlooked PS2 gem from 2004 (2003 in Japan) introduces Alyssa Ashcroft, who, get this, is the mother of Grace Ashcroft – one of the protagonists in *Resident Evil Requiem*. Talk about a deep cut! You can catch the first episode right here, and trust me, it's a fun ride down memory lane.

Finally, I've been completely sucked into *Arkheron*. I recently had a couple of hours to preview it, and I walked away wanting more. I know, battle royales aren't always my cup of tea, but this one is different. It's a PvP isometric action game with a dark fantasy setting, think *Diablo* meets *Valorant*. 15 trios duke it out, looting dungeons and battling creatures. It's intense, surprisingly tactical, and the constant search for better weapons keeps things fresh. I can't wait to see how this one develops.