Outer Wilds
Image: Annapurna Interactive

The weekend has rolled around once again so it's time to put those gaming plans into effect.

Before we dive into all that though, let's take a look at some of the highlights from this week in Nintendo. The big news this time around was, of course, The Game Awards, which saw a whole bunch of titles announced for Switch as well as wins for Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Wonder and Pikmin 4. Nintendo also seized the opportunity and dropped three new titles into the NSO + Expansion Pack N64 library — lucky us!

We have also had showcases in the shape of Day of the Devs and Wholesome Snack, both of which revealed a bunch of pretty titles that will be coming our way in the future and an all-new trailer for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's upcoming DLC, The Indigo Disk.

On top of all of that, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate celebrated its fifth (!!) anniversary, so we got together to chat about our favourite character reveal trailers, and have a natter about where the series goes next.

But now it's time for some weekend gaming. Below, a group of our writers have shared what they are up to in Console Land, why not take to the comments and let us know your plans?

Jim Norman, Staff Writer

I have been on a bit of a wrap-up streak recently and have managed to actually beat a handful of half-finished games from 2023 that have been staring, longingly at me for the past few months. Previously, I had just covered Metroid Prime Remastered up with a nice rug, stuck a plant pot in front of Sonic Superstars and hung a picture in the way of Chants of Sennaar, but now I've actually managed to tick them off. I've never been in this position before. What comes next?

Truth be told, I am thinking that it will be Outer Wilds. Having been told for years "you have to play this game, but I can't tell you anything about it and don't you dare Google it," I am kind of intrigued to see what it is all about. I have also been back on the Baldur's Gate 3 grind this week having taken a break a little while back. I'm around the 20-hour mark, but I think I have cleared something like 0.1% of the game? Spending 19.5 hours in the character creator will do that to you, I suppose...

Gonçalo Lopes, Contributor

Asterix & Obelix Slap them All! 2 continues to provide endless barrages of Roman soldiers to pummel while Arcade Archives: Pole Position II is a stark reminder of how much better I used to be at these games. My physical editions of both Radiant Silvergun and Alien: Isolation are finally in my hands creating the perfect weekend excuse to play them some more. And, despite the technical disappointments, I hope to continue making progress on Batman: Arkham Knight too.

Game of the Week is none other than my all-time favourite (non-wrestling) N64 game. Jet Force Gemini was not something I was expecting to drop on NSO but then again neither was GoldenEye 007. It is nice to see Rare being properly represented on the service. So… Blast Corps when?

Liam Doolan, News Reporter

The Game Awards has got me reflecting on the video games of 2023, so this weekend I'm going to make some time for games I think deserve a little more attention from myself. So I'll probably begin with some Super Mario Bros. Wonder (after it took out the best family game) and then move on to Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (which received the award for the best action/adventure game).

One other thing that's caught a lot of Nintendo fans by surprise this week is a special fifth anniversary event for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. I'll be jumping into that and I'm looking forward to the new spirits and amiibo when they arrive early next year. Oh, and I'm looking forward to shredding it up this weekend in 1080° Snowboarding as well.

Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor

There were one or two non-Switch things that dropped during The Game Awards 2023 that I'll be checking out, but otherwise, this weekend plans to be a little light on gaming — particularly "new" gaming.

I'm still addicted to Dave The Diver, and the lure of some DLC coming next week basically means it's all I'll be playing for the rest of the year. Ooops...? What a shame it's so darn good. And my Grandia II playthrough continues and a steady pace. I'm at the end of the year burnout stage — too much to play, do, sort out, etc. So I think some coffee and a good book will actually be on the docket.

There are our plans, but what about you? Drop the game that you will be maining in the poll below and then take to the comments to let us know what else you have on the cards.

What are you playing this weekend (9th/10th December)? (213 votes)

  1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)10%
  2. Super Mario RPG (Switch)5%
  3. Outer Wilds (Switch eShop)4%
  4. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince (Switch)3%
  5. Fortnite (Switch eShop)3%
  6. Persona 5 Royal (Switch)2%
  7. Pikmin 4 (Switch)2%
  8. Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch)2%
  9. Star Ocean: The Second Story R (Switch)2%
  10. 1080° Snowboarding (N64)2%
  11. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Switch)2%
  12. Suika Game (Switch eShop)1%
  13. Splatoon 3 (Switch)1%
  14. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)1%
  15. Batman Arkham Trilogy (Switch)1%
  16. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Switch)  0.9%
  17. COCOON (Switch eShop)  0.9%
  18. Rune Factory 3 Special (Switch)  0.9%
  19. NieR:Automata The End of YoRHa Edition (Switch)  0.9%
  20. Persona 5 Tactica (Switch)  0.9%
  21. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (Switch)  0.9%
  22. Sonic Superstars (Switch)  0.9%
  23. The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero (Switch)  0.9%
  24. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Switch eShop)  0.9%
  25. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)  0.9%
  26. Sonic Frontiers (Switch)  0.9%
  27. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (Switch)  0.9%
  28. Octopath Traveler II (Switch)  0.9%
  29. Hogwarts Legacy (Switch)  0.9%
  30. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Switch)  0.9%
  31. Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (Switch eShop)  0.9%
  32. Metroid Prime Remastered (Switch)  0.9%
  33. TEVI (Switch eShop)  0.9%
  34. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch)  0.9%
  35. Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (Switch)  0.5%
  36. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (Switch)  0.5%
  37. Pikmin 1+2 (Switch)  0.5%
  38. Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen (Switch)  0.5%
  39. Borderlands: The Handsome Collection (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  40. Sam & Max Save the World (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  41. SteamWorld Build (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  42. Jet Force Gemini (N64)  0.5%
  43. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (Switch)  0.5%
  44. Faircroft's Antiques: Home for Christmas Collector's Edition (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  45. A Highland Song (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  46. Starlink: Battle for Atlas (Switch)  0.5%
  47. TRIANGLE STRATEGY (Switch)  0.5%
  48. No Man's Sky (Switch)  0.5%
  49. Radiant Silvergun (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  50. Wandersong (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  51. NEO: The World Ends With You (Switch)  0.5%
  52. Tunic (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  53. Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)  0.5%
  54. Disgaea 1 Complete (Switch)  0.5%
  55. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  56. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)  0.5%
  57. Pokémon Scarlet & Violet - The Teal Mask (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  58. SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  59. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Switch)  0.5%
  60. Persona 4 Golden (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  61. Touhou: New World (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  62. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)  0.5%
  63. Disney Speedstorm (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  64. ANNO: Mutationem (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  65. Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster (Switch)  0.5%
  66. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition (Switch)  0.5%
  67. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  68. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition (Switch)  0.5%
  69. Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)  0.5%
  70. Fae Farm (Switch)  0.5%
  71. Final Fantasy IV (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  72. Pokémon Diamond & Pearl (DS)  0.5%
  73. Garou: Mark of the Wolves (Neo Geo)  0.5%
  74. Dragon Quest Builders 2 (Switch)  0.5%
  75. Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair (Switch)  0.5%
  76. Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster (Switch)  0.5%
  77. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot + A New Power Awakens Set (Switch)  0.5%
  78. The Last Campfire (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  79. Bayonetta 3 (Switch)  0.5%
  80. Portal: Companion Collection (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  81. BOXBOXBOY! (3DS eShop)  0.5%
  82. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon (Switch)  0.5%
  83. Persona 3 Portable (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  84. Star Ocean: First Departure R (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  85. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  86. Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (Switch)  0.5%
  87. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (Switch)  0.5%
  88. Grow: Song of the Evertree (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  89. Last Encounter (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  90. Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & The Secret Fairy (Switch)  0.5%
  91. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (Switch)  0.5%
  92. Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD Remaster (Switch)  0.5%
  93. A Little To The Left (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  94. Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World (GBA)  0.5%
  95. The Messenger (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  96. Smurfs 2 - The Prisoner of the Green Stone (Switch)  0.5%
  97. Terranigma (SNES)  0.5%
  98. GOLF (NES)  0.5%
  99. Zombie Army 4: Dead War (Switch)  0.5%
  100. Disney Dreamlight Valley (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  101. Dave The Diver (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  102. Digimon World: Next Order (Switch)  0.5%
  103. Subnautica (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  104. Cris Tales (Switch)  0.5%
  105. Oninaki (Switch)  0.5%
  106. Brotato (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  107. The Hong Kong Massacre (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  108. Kirby Super Star Ultra (DS)  0.5%
  109. Red Dead Redemption (Switch)  0.5%
  110. Teravit (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  111. Persona 5 Strikers (Switch)  0.5%
  112. The House in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants Edition (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  113. Resident Evil 2 (GCN)  0.5%
  114. DOOM (Switch)  0.5%
  115. Sea of Stars (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  116. Vampire Survivors (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  117. Atelier Rorona: The Alchemists of Arland DX (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  118. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (Switch eShop)  0.5%
  119. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles (Switch)  0.5%