Image credit: National Gallery of Art Washington DC / Rock Paper Shotgun

Saturdays are for realising that there are ASMR playlists for Frictional's Amnesia games. ASMR playlists, for games that make use of subliminal crackling noises to suggest mounting delirium, and Shepard tones to create the impression that a life-saving generator is always just about to run out of fuel.

What on earth is wrong with you people? And why can't I stop listening to the Rebirth one? What is it about the sound of a thousand ghoul talons raking a blackboard that goes so well with a bowl of Shreddies? It is too late for me, I fear. Here's what the rest of the team are up to.

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James
I'm still liking co-op roguelike shooter Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core. There was a patch this week that speeds up the boon-granting process, which I hadn't considered an egregious source of interruptions, but it has effectively shortened the four-way dwarf debates whenever it's time to upgrade.

Callum
*agonisingly protracted, yet somehow soothing noise of failing machinery*

Julian
I am determined to spend all of Saturday out of the house. Though, whether that will be spent in a dark theatre or an air-conditioned cinema is yet to be seen. However, come Sunday, I demand some more time with Cyberpunk. I shall finish this game. I shall!

Mark
My Red Dead playthrough's still shooting its way through the Mexican civil war alongside the likes of grizzled gunslinger Landon Ricketts. Perhaps Johnny boy will finally find the pesky duo of Bill Williamson and Javier Escuella this weekend.

Ollie
I'm playing the wonderful, delightful game of "catsitting for my friends' Persian cat for the next week". She's gorgeous, tiny, toothless, and extremely food-motivated. Obligatory photo.

Dion
*escalating wailing on the very edge of audibility that confers a feeling of mysterious inner peace*

Jeremy
I'll be with the missus in Turkey for the next week, enjoying our first extended rest in a long while after all of the stress of buying a house and setting it up over the last year, so gaming will be at a minimum, though I may bring my Steam Deck and finally wrap up my Final Fantasy XII level 99 save file. I will also be reading lots of books instead, including a copy of Outgunned Adventure, the neat-as-heck Italian tabletop RPG that lets you recreate pulp adventures in the same vein as Indiana Jones and The Mummy. (Yes, I am one of those nerds who reads TTRPG rulebooks for fun on holiday)

Edwin
Aside from nodding along to "Amnesia: The Bunker - Search & Catch", I'll be doing very little game-related activity this weekend. I'm off to a summer solstice meet-up with my partner in the woods. There will be dancing and salad. Hopefully no Shepard tones.

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And you, reader dear, what are you playing this weekend...?