Rusty Witcher Skills, Gears Marathons and a Very Quiet Butler: What the Team Is Playing

It is that time of the week again, when the team steps away from deadlines and talks about what has actually been on their screens. This round is a pleasingly mixed bag, running from monster hunting to cover shooting to some decidedly domestic scares.

Bertie has been heading back into the world of The Witcher, and by their own admission the muscle memory is not what it used to be. Signs, dodges and potion timing have all gone a little hazy, which makes for a humbling return to a series that once felt second nature. The feature's title quote, a fond nod to one of gaming's great cities, suggests the setting is doing plenty to pull them back in regardless.

Dom, meanwhile, has been working through the Gears of War series. Chainsaw bayonets, chest-high walls and thick-necked heroes make for a reliably satisfying loop, and it sounds like the sort of long-haul playthrough that eats up an evening without anyone noticing.

Kelsey has landed on a horror game that, rather amusingly, feels just like home. Familiar surroundings can make for the most effective unease, and the game apparently leans into that in a way that hits close to the bone. Whether that is a recommendation or a warning is left for readers to decide.

Finally, Chris has been playing a butler, and by all accounts doing an incredible job of it. The catch is that nobody in the game seems to acknowledge their efforts. Anyone who has ever poured tea or opened a door in a game to total indifference will sympathise.

As always, the appeal of this regular feature is its lack of polish. These are not reviews or recommendations carved in stone, just honest notes on what held attention, what frustrated, and what stuck around in the head after the console was switched off. If the week's picks have you eyeing your own backlog, that is exactly the point.