What are you playing this weekend?

The weekend is finally here which means it's time to put the long week behind us and dive into something fun, like video games.

As usual, there are other things to do this weekend, like get the landscaping rock out of my flowerbeds (wish me luck, because there's tons of it!) and some of us are busy with the family or taking care of things we can't get accomplished during the week.

That doesn't mean we won't have time for a bit of fun, though, so here's what we're playing this weekend.

Alex Donaldson, Assistant Editor - Nier Replicant, Forza Horizon 4

Most of my weekend will, to be honest, once again be spent playing a top-secret game that I'm reviewing and you'll be able to hear about soon. Look out for that in a few days! However, I also plan to jump back into Nier Replicant's remaster, which I reviewed this week, to tidy up some stray trophies.

I'm also on a bit of a racing game kick - so I plan to put a bit of time back into Forza Horizon 4. And my Final Fantasy 7 100% play-through from a few weeks ago - which I'm doing to prepare myself for the Intergrade PS5 version of the remake - continues, albeit at a very slow pace.

Dorrani Williams, Video Producer – Horizon Zero Dawn

Just in case anyone cares, my session on League of Legends went absolutely horrible last weekend but I'm getting better.

Anyways, it's bow gang this weekend because I plan to revisit Horizon Zero Dawn since it's free as part of Playstation's PlayAtHome program. Aloy is a badass with a bow and arrow so I look forward to slapping the shite out of some mechanical dinosaurs.

James Billcliffe, Guides Editor – Resident Evil Village Gameplay Demo

As May 7th creeps closer, we’re all in the Resident Evil waiting room, and I cannot wait to sneak around BIG MOMMA’S HOUSE. That’s why this weekend I’ll be seizing the opportunity to play the bizarrely limited-time demo.

Much more action-oriented than the previous Maiden demo, this is the first chance we’ve had to step back into the shoes of Ethan Winters since the heart-stopping horror of Resident Evil 7, and I’m really interested to see how the RE: Engine handles more mobile enemies, wide-open spaces, and get a sense of the visuals in something closer to the finished product.

Roll on Sunday night!

I don't know why, but there's been something in my mood this week that's making me really want to play visual novels. It's tempting to blame this on the news that The Great Ace Attorney games will finally be seeing a worldwide release this summer, but to be honest, I started my hankering a couple of days before that. (Though I am obviously beyond psyched by the announcement—who doesn't want to solve outlandish crimes with a dumb beautiful Sherlock Holmes knock-off?)

I completely own up to my terrible habit of starting more games than I could ever possibly finish, and I've already got a few of this type on the go at the moment. For the past little while I've been slowly but enthusiastically making my way through Vampire The Masquerade: Shadows of New York, Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, and HuniePop 2: Double Date. And if that's not enough cumbersomely sub-titled, dialogue-heavy goodness to scratch this itch, there's the ever-present temptation to take another run or two through Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp.

So, do I zero in and try to finish one of them? Pick away at all of them for a few hours each, and end the weekend glutted on content but with no more closure than when I started? Or lean into my worst habits instead, and pick up some other Ace Attorney games to fuel my anticipation? My emotional turmoil at this decision is matched only by my intense investment in the characters and plots of all these visual novels.

Sherif Saed, Staff Writer - Naraka: Bladepoint beta, Chivalry 2 closed beta

The stars have aligned for me to play not one, but two multiplayer melee action games this weekend. First, I am looking forward to trying out Naraka: Bladepoint on Steam.

If you’ve been following our indie feature last year, you may already be familiar with its name. Naraka: Bladepoint is a battle royale action game with particularly fluid movement and melee-centric action. The game has been in development for years, but outside of limited, invite-only events, it hasn’t been publically playable at that scale.

This changes this weekend, with the beta kicking off on Steam. Anyone can sign up through Steam to get an invite, and you’ll be able to play all weekend until 7pm UK on Monday.

I am particularly looking forward to seeing how much of the game’s movement mechanics, whether it’s the grappling hook or parkour abilities, will come into play during combat. I am also curious to see how many cowards will simply keep their distance and use ranged weapons exclusively.

The Chivalry 2 closed beta is also part of the plan.

I have somehow never caught any of the previous Chivalry 2 tests, but I got my key and I’m very much looking forward to finally playing it for the first time this weekend. I have always been a fan of Torn Banner’s games, even that time the studio’s best work went largely unnoticed.

Needless to say, Chivalry 2 looks like a brutal return to the genre Torn Banner helped recreate, and I am here for it. But the first-person melee genre has evolved and changed so much since the first Chivalry. I am anxious to see how much the game leans into the methodical, tactical approach to melee combat and how much of it will be generating chaos.

The Battlefield fan in me is very excited about Chivalry 2’s big scale, 64-player battles. Just imagine 64 players swinging swords, poking with polearms, and picking off targets at range with bows all in a single game.

I also want to see if it can be played in third-person. I have seen people do it, but I want to know if it’s going to be a viable way to play it as a sort of For Honor analogue.

Stephany Nunneley, News Editor - The Lord of the Rings Online

Just when I think I'm done with it for a while, it sucks me back in. Why? Because the 14th-anniversary event is going on this weekend.

I cannot believe I have played this game for 14 years. That's longer than some people's relationships. Granted, my particular relationship with the game has been rocky sometimes (the convoluted Legendary Weapon system, lazy Hobbits, and a few quirks) but I always end up venturing back to Middle-earth to get my Tolkein fix.

As you all know, I am a huge Lord of the Rings nerd (The Elder Scrolls comes in at a close second), and this game is a great way to experience sights, sounds, and stories based on the books.

This weekend while the anniversary event is going on, I plan on participating in the scavenger hunt going on, picking up a new horse, grabbing some cosmetics to dress up in, and earning a pet cat to take with me on my adventures. Like I need another cat, but this one is virtual, so there is no need to feed it or deal with a litter box.

Plus, I have started a new character (number eight!) and she is a Guardian who is all about getting up in an orc's face and bashing its nose with a shield. I am having so much fun playing her. Usually, I prefer ranged characters (even my D&D characters are ranged) and my main in the game is a Hunter. I love playing Morrethiel, but it is a nice change of pace playing a tank.

Now that I roped two friends into giving the game another chance, I also have folks to play with on a more regular basis. Because of this, I have gotten really into crafting weapons for my Captain friend and making some nice jewelry for my Burgler pal. The crafting in the game is rather fun and isn't much of a chore unless you choose the cooking profession.

If you like MMOs, Tolkien, and want to see a lovely world with super cool water effects, you should give the game a try. It is free-to-play, so there are some restrictions to content and features, but it's worth giving a shot.

So, those are our gaming plans for the weekend. We would love to know what you're currently playing, or plan to play over the weekend.