Persona 5 Royal
Image: Atlus

The weekend is here once again, folks, so it's time to recap some of our biggest news items of the week before we settle down for some good ol' fashioned comfort gaming.

First up, of course, we reviewed the rather excellent Disney Illusion Island for the Switch and gave it a resounding score of 9/10. Be sure to check the link below to check out our full thoughts.

Elsewhere, it was revealed on Twitter that parents in Japan have found a rather novel way of keeping their children in line using Pikmin - has anyone tried this yet?

We also got some vague confirmation as to why we never got a sequel to Sonic Mania, while Netflix shared its first proper trailer for the lovely-looking new animated series, Castlevania: Nocturne.

Felix Sanchez, Video Producer

This weekend I’ll be continuing my play-through of Persona 5 Royal. I’ve slept on this game way too long and I can definitely see why people praise this game so much: the music, characters, voice acting, and gameplay are just some of the very finest in all of gaming! I’m also almost done with Rhythm Heaven Megamix on my 3DS, and I think this weekend would be a grand time to wrap the game up. Such a silly little game that I’ve really taken a liken to. Nintendo, please release a Rhythm Heaven game on Switch!

Ollie Reynolds, Staff Writer

I'm still plugging away at Xenoblade Chronicles 3 on the Switch, of course, which is a slow process at the moment, but hopefully, I'll be able to knock out a few hours this weekend.

Over on the PS5, I'm actually currently playing through Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered. I genuinely love the Call of Duty campaigns, and it really doesn't get much better than that fourth entry, does it?

Alex Olney, Senior Video Producer

To needlessly conflate two idioms, I've got a date with a Steam Deck, and the only cure is more Master System games. This might be the weekend I finally put a 25+ year-long thorn in my side and finally complete Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance in all its overcomplicated glory.

Assuming that I do complete it, I'll probably keep digging away at the excellent Pikmin 4. An absolute corker of a game.

Gonçalo Lopes, Contributor

The Tech Priests have uncovered a couple of new blessings for WH40K Boltgun namely all weapons/infinite ammo enchantments making the game a great way to relax and purge everything for the Emperor. Nintendo 64 wrestling with WCW/nWo Revenge is back on the menu as I once again showcase the wonderful work of AKI Corporation. Also replaying the Ace Combat games on PSP for some reason...Why still no Ace Combat on Switch, Namco? I also received a ton of physical Switch games this week but will not have time to play any of them – wrapping up my new music album takes absolute priority.

Game of the week is obviously Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons. No way I was gonna skip a new entry on this age-old favourite franchise and so far it has been great fun!

Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor

My gaming time has been few and far between over the past few weeks what with travel and holiday, but I'm still chipping away at Pikmin 4, which is just utterly delightful. I didn't realise how much I'd missed these little critters.

In the meantime, I'm slightly scared that I'll come back from a brand-new used games store this weekend with some goodies. The shelves are bursting and I'm not sure we've got any more room, but we'll see if any retro RPGs or fun special editions can twist my arm... have a good one, folks!


Inspired by any of our choices? Drop the game that you are going to be mainlining this weekend into the following poll and then take to the comments to let us know if you have anything else on the cards.

What are you playing this weekend (29th/30th July)? (303 votes)

  1. Pikmin 4 (Switch)17%
  2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)17%
  3. Persona 5 Royal (Switch)5%
  4. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Switch)3%
  5. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (GBC)3%
  6. Disney Illusion Island (Switch)2%
  7. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)2%
  8. Octopath Traveler II (Switch)2%
  9. Master Detective Archives: Rain Code (Switch)2%
  10. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (GBC)1%
  11. Splatoon 3 (Switch)1%
  12. Persona 3 Portable (Switch eShop)1%
  13. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Switch eShop)1%
  14. Fire Emblem Engage (Switch)1%
  15. Inscryption (Switch eShop)1%
  16. Subnautica (Switch eShop)1%
  17. Octopath Traveler (Switch)1%
  18. Persona 4 Golden (Switch eShop)1%
  19. Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes - Definitive Edition (Switch eShop)1%
  20. Luigi's Mansion 3 (Switch)1%
  21. Pokémon Legends: Arceus (Switch)1%
  22. Metroid Dread (Switch)1%
  23. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Switch)1%
  24. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (Switch)1%
  25. Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (Switch eShop)1%
  26. Death's Door (Switch eShop)1%
  27. Starlink: Battle for Atlas (Switch)  0%
  28. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (3DS eShop)  0%
  29. Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (3DS)  0%
  30. Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection (Switch eShop)  0%
  31. Gravity Circuit (Switch eShop)  0%
  32. Super Paper Mario (Wii)  0%
  33. Yooka-Laylee (Switch eShop)  0%
  34. Sonic Frontiers (Switch)  0%
  35. Jets'n'Guns 2 (Switch eShop)  0%
  36. Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition (Switch eShop)  0%
  37. Ember Knights (Switch eShop)  0%
  38. Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (DS)  0%
  39. Trinity Trigger (Switch)  0%
  40. Chrono Trigger (DS)  0%
  41. Front Mission 1st: Remake (Switch eShop)  0%
  42. Melty Blood: Type Lumina (Switch eShop)  0%
  43. Geometry Wars Galaxies (DS)  0%
  44. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)  0%
  45. Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration (Switch)  0%
  46. Detective Pikachu (3DS)  0%
  47. Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling (Switch eShop)  0%
  48. Mortal Kombat 11 (Switch)  0%
  49. The Pathless (Switch)  0%
  50. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie (Switch)  0%
  51. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot + A New Power Awakens Set (Switch)  0%
  52. Mario Party Superstars (Switch)  0%
  53. Super Metroid (SNES)  0%
  54. Fire Emblem (GBA)  0%
  55. Heroes of Might and Magic II (GBC)  0%
  56. Wylde Flowers (Switch eShop)  0%
  57. Jump Rope Challenge (Switch eShop)  0%
  58. Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout (Switch)  0%
  59. Fortnite (Switch eShop)  0%
  60. Secret of Evermore (SNES)  0%
  61. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA)  0%
  62. Curse of the Sea Rats (Switch)  0%
  63. Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)  0%
  64. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (3DS)  0%
  65. Katamari Damacy REROLL (Switch eShop)  0%
  66. Metroid Prime Remastered (Switch)  0%
  67. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Switch eShop)  0%
  68. Theatrhythm Final Bar Line (Switch)  0%
  69. Zero Wing (MD)  0%
  70. Tetris Effect: Connected (Switch eShop)  0%
  71. Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key (Switch)  0%
  72. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)  0%
  73. NieR:Automata The End of YoRHa Edition (Switch)  0%
  74. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch (Switch)  0%
  75. Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition (Switch)  0%
  76. Disney Speedstorm (Switch eShop)  0%
  77. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition (Switch)  0%
  78. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (Switch eShop)  0%
  79. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (3DS eShop)  0%
  80. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass (Switch eShop)  0%
  81. Bayonetta 3 (Switch)  0%
  82. The Legend Of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV (Switch)  0%
  83. Tetris 99 (Switch eShop)  0%
  84. Nintendo Switch Sports (Switch)  0%
  85. The Sinking City (Switch eShop)  0%
  86. Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (Switch)  0%
  87. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)  0%
  88. Resident Evil 6 (Switch eShop)  0%
  89. TRIANGLE STRATEGY (Switch)  0%
  90. Mega Man 11 (Switch)  0%
  91. Kissed by the Baddest Bidder (Switch eShop)  0%
  92. Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (Switch)  0%
  93. Untitled Goose Game (Switch eShop)  0%
  94. Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (TG-16)  0%
  95. Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver (DS)  0%
  96. Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation (DS)  0%
  97. Back to the Future: The Game (Wii)  0%
  98. Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D (3DS)  0%
  99. Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons (Switch)  0%
  100. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (Switch)  0%
  101. ElecHead (Switch eShop)  0%
  102. Bastion (Switch eShop)  0%
  103. Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (Switch)  0%
  104. Sid Meier's Civilization VI (Switch)  0%
  105. Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Switch eShop)  0%
  106. Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U)  0%
  107. Buddy Simulator 1984 (Switch eShop)  0%
  108. Around the World with Hello Kitty and Friends (3DS)  0%
  109. NBA 2K23 (Switch)  0%
  110. Spider-Man 2 (GCN)  0%
  111. Link's Crossbow Training (Wii)  0%
  112. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (Switch)  0%
  113. Okami HD (Switch eShop)  0%
  114. Shin Megami Tensei IV (3DS)  0%
  115. No Man's Sky (Switch)  0%
  116. Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (Switch)  0%
  117. BioShock: The Collection (Switch)  0%
  118. AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative (Switch)  0%
  119. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)  0%
  120. The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero (Switch)  0%
  121. Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection (Switch)  0%
  122. Hades (Switch eShop)  0%
  123. Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (Switch)  0%
  124. TAD - The Lost Explorer - Craziest and Madness Edition (Switch eShop)  0%
  125. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (Switch)  0%
  126. Chaos;Head Noah / Chaos;Child Double Pack (Switch)  0%
  127. Dead or Alive Xtreme 3: Scarlet (Switch)  0%
  128. Shin Megami Tensei V (Switch)  0%
  129. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles (Switch)  0%