February has transformed into an unexpected titan for blockbuster releases in recent years. With the launch of Resident Evil Requiem and the debut of the Nintendo Switch Virtual Boy peripheral looming, the gaming community is buzzing with anticipation. We’ve been fortunate enough to spend significant time with both, and you can find our detailed impressions below. Beyond the headlines, we’ve curated a selection of titles currently occupying our screens that we believe deserve a spot on your weekend itinerary.
As we head into the weekend, here is a quick look at the most significant stories and features from the past week:
- The Definitive Oral History of Fallout
- Review: The Grand Return of Dragon Quest VII Reimagined
- Overwatch 2 Reverts to Roots While Adding Five New Heroes
- Hands-On: The Virtual Boy Library Finds a Surprising Home on Switch 2
- Performance Report: Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata on Switch 2
- Mewgenics: Our Ongoing Review of the Feline Chaos
Featured Recommendations for the Weekend
Nioh 3
By Marcus Stewart
Team Ninja’s latest evolution of the Soulslike genre is finally here, and as I noted in my review-in-progress, the experience is nothing short of exhilarating. For those intimidated by the series’ history, Nioh 3 serves as an ideal gateway; its time-traveling narrative stands independently from its predecessors. More importantly, the shift to an open-world structure—a first for the franchise—grants players the agency to sharpen their skills and explore at their own pace. The game excels at rewarding curiosity, and the new, high-velocity Ninja combat style offers a fantastic counterpoint to the traditional, stoic Samurai stance. This might be Team Ninja’s most refined work to date.
Deadlock
By Alex Van Aken
With the recent addition of six new heroes, including the necromancer Graves and the hunter Venator, Deadlock continues to dominate our office conversations. Valve is masterfully synthesizing their expertise from Team Fortress and DOTA 2 to create a competitive hybrid that feels both fresh and familiar. The art direction, featuring an eerie, supernatural reimagining of Manhattan, provides a stunning backdrop for its deep mechanical layers. While still in a restricted playtest phase, the game is rapidly shaping up to be a landmark title in the hero shooter space.
Cairn
By Matt Miller
If you are searching for something truly avant-garde, Cairn is an essential experience. This mountain-climbing simulator utilizes a unique “marionette” control scheme, requiring players to individually manage limbs to scale daunting peaks. While the physical gameplay is gripping, the narrative is what truly lingers, offering a poignant look at obsession and the cost of isolation. It is a rare, meditative surprise that stands out in the early 2026 landscape. For a deeper dive into its mechanics, check out our full review.
Highguard
By Matt Miller
Despite a turbulent debut, the developers at Wildlight have been remarkably responsive to player feedback. In just over a week, they’ve implemented critical system overhauls and are already launching Season 2 today, which introduces the newest playable Warden. Highguard demands patience; the initial learning curve for its “raid” structure is steep, but once the rhythm of the movement and shooting clicks, it becomes incredibly rewarding. It’s a testament to the fact that first impressions aren’t everything; there is immense potential beneath the surface here.
Fortnite Festival
By Kyle Hilliard
I recently picked up a Riffmaster Wireless Guitar on sale, desperately seeking to recapture the magic of Rock Band. While I harbor significant frustration with modern gaming’s reliance on FOMO and rotating storefronts, the actual gameplay of Fortnite Festival combined with a physical controller is undeniably fun. The daily rotation of tracks has kept things surprisingly fresh. Today’s setlist—featuring Chappell Roan, Fall Out Boy, and Coheed & Cambria’s “Welcome Home”—finally hit the sweet spot for my personal tastes. Despite my gripes with the platform’s ecosystem, the mechanical satisfaction of hitting notes on a plastic fretboard is as addictive as it ever was.
