Best Video Games to Play This Weekend

The festive chaos has finally subsided, leaving us in that rare, tranquil window where the release calendar is light and our personal backlogs finally get the attention they deserve. With the industry still waking up from its winter slumber, the team is diving into everything from modern expansions to GameCube classics. Here is what we’re digging into this weekend.

Before we jump into our recommendations, catch up on the most significant headlines and features from the past week:

Weekend Recommendations: The Games You Should Play

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – From The Ashes Expansion

By Kyle Hilliard

Though I’ve long considered myself a fan of the Avatar universe, I struggled to connect with Frontiers of Pandora at launch. The rigid first-person perspective felt limiting for a world defined by its scale. However, the Fire and Ash era drew me back in, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the DLC allows players to jump straight into the new content. This skips the early-game grind while still providing a satisfying progression curve as you rebuild your arsenal.

The real game-changer, however, is the recent inclusion of a third-person mode. Watching your Na’vi gracefully navigate the bioluminescent canopy adds a layer of immersion that was previously missing. While it hasn’t quite redefined my view of 2023’s gaming landscape, it’s a stellar expansion for those who want to linger in James Cameron’s world a little longer.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

By Eric Van Allen

Nintendo finally delivered a heavy hitter to the Switch Online GameCube library this week. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is a legendary entry in the tactical RPG genre, previously gatekept by astronomical second-hand prices. As the franchise’s first foray into 3D, it successfully translated the series’ signature grid-based strategy to a more modern production style.

Revisiting Ike’s journey as a mercenary leader feels just as compelling today as it did decades ago. Between the introduction of the Laguz shape-shifters and the memorable cast including Soren and Titania, this is a “classic” for a reason. Whether you’re a series veteran or a newcomer curious about the franchise’s evolution, this is a must-play historical artifact.

Fear Effect

By Kyle Hilliard

If you missed the recent ports of this PlayStation 1 cult classic, now is the time to correct that. Fear Effect emerged during the height of the “Resident Evil clone” era, but it brought a style all its own. Part cyberpunk noir, part supernatural thriller, it utilized a unique cel-shaded aesthetic and dynamic pre-rendered backgrounds that made it look far more expensive than its peers.

The gameplay is a bizarre time capsule of the year 2000—complete with dual-wielding shooting and a “fear” meter instead of a traditional health bar. It’s gritty, slightly campy, and incredibly ambitious. For those who crave the “tank control” era of survival horror but want something with a bit more edge, Fear Effect remains a fascinating curiosity.

Metroid Prime Remastered

By Wesley LeBlanc

After wrapping up the emotional rollercoaster of Death Stranding 2, I decided to tackle a titan from my backlog: Metroid Prime Remastered. The visual overhaul is undeniably stunning, proving that the original art direction was decades ahead of its time. However, as a first-time player, I’m finding the experience to be a bit of a double-edged sword.

The atmosphere is unparalleled, but the 2002 design philosophy can be punishing. The lack of modern quality-of-life features, like auto-saving or more intuitive menu navigation, leads to some genuinely frustrating moments—especially when a death results in losing nearly an hour of progress. Despite these hurdles, the sense of discovery and isolation on Tallon IV is brilliant. It’s an essential experience, even if the “retro” friction occasionally rubs the wrong way.