What We Played – Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Xenoblade Chronicles X & Atelier Yumia

It’s the time of the week where we’re starting to hit cruise control, readying ourselves for two days of chilling out, time with family, and hopefully, one or two video games. But first we have to tell you what we’ve been playing this week, and I have to say I’m feeling a renewed love for gaming at the start of 2025. Monster Hunter Wilds has probably helped with that, though friends and family alike already feel that they’ve squeezed nearly everything out of the launch build, and are now impatiently waiting for more.

I’ve played a bunch of my Dreamcast favourites on the Retroid Pocket 5, as well as continuing with my run through Yakuza: Like a Dragon which I’m really enjoying. Other than that, I’ve been playing Wanderstop for review, and I loved returning to Xenoblade Chronicles X in its Definitive Edition.

Tuffcub has been playing Destiny 2, Helldivers 2, and “Generically Dull RPG With Too Much Talking #23787, aka Dragon Age: Veilguard”. Also Split Fiction which he says, “Is just fab.”

Meanwhile Gamoc has spent the week playing Atomfall for review, AC Shadows for some guide work, plus some Phasmophobia and Earth Defence Force 5 with his sister.

Aran has played a bit more Witcher 3, starting the Hearts of Stone DLC. He’s also played Football Manager 24, telling us, “I gave up the FC Brea save as that was too impossible. Now I’m at SC Bastia and overachieving with them. Expected mid-table but currently flying in the promotion places.”

Jim is still working his way through Mafia III, though he thinks he’s on the home stretch now. He said, “I’ve had a good time with it but it definitely suffers from that open world bloat that’s become prevalent in a lot of games. Story missions are gated behind open-world activities to the point where – 25 hours in – I’m eager to wrap things up and move onto my next game.”

Ade was on our Assassin’s Creed: Shadows review, which he thoroughly enjoyed! Also, Split Fiction, “it’s fantastic!” and watching his partner play Two Point Museum, which “looks loads of fun!”

Joining us from the States, Miguel played Atelier Yumia, Zenless Zone Zero, Girls Frontline 2 EXILIUM, and the Demon Tides demo!

Steve is thankfully on the mend, and he’s been able to get some gaming time in along the way. He told us, “My recovery has not been accompanied by Nintendo titles as I had thought it would, with Avowed instead providing a surprisingly chilled out RPG experience. Combat is a little dull but the world is cool to explore. I’ve also spent some family time playing through Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga which is more bloated and unnecessarily expanded than my gallbladder was when I went to A&E… but a lot more fun than that experience.” Glowing praise indeed!

Finally, Tef has also dipped a toe in with Atomfall’s opening hours and is looking forward to more, but the game that’s really starting to gets its hooks into him is 33 Immortals with its large scale action-RPG raid battle vibes. He’s even roping me in to start playing it with him.

But enough about us, what about you? What have you played?