Weekend Gaming Plans: What’s on Your Playlist This Christmas 2024?

Christmas is steadfastly approaching, and we’re feeling quite joyful and bright, so it’s time for yet another edition of What Are You Playing!

This week on Nintendo Life, we all questioned our sanity as we examined our Nintendo Switch Year in Review. A new Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket expansion had us returning to the packs, we browsed through the top games you should certainly grab in Europe’s latest eShop sale, and more ‘Switch 2’ rumors surfaced to entertain us.

Now, before we all dive into our roast potatoes, let’s see what everyone is up to this festive weekend.

Ollie Reynolds, Team Writer

I don’t want to diminish the incredible feat CD Projekt Red and Saber Interactive achieved in bringing The Witcher III to the Nintendo Switch, but when I recently started it for a new playthrough, I simply couldn’t handle the graphics. It was impressive back in 2019, but not anymore. So, I’m enjoying it on my Series X instead! Ah, much better…

I’m also playing through The Thing: Remastered on the PS5, which is a great, albeit slightly rough take on the John Carpenter classic. Nightdive, as always, did a fantastic job enhancing the performance and visuals here.

What, no Switch..? Well, yes, I’m playing something for review, but more on that later!

Jim Norman, Team Writer

I’m hopeful that this weekend will see me sinking a few more hours into Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, possibly playing a few more matches of Marvel Rivals with my friends and completing one or two additional islands in Mario & Luigi: Brothership. However, I’m headed back to my parents’ home for the holidays, so all of that will be put on hold in favor of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo Switch Sports, and explaining the rules of Mario Party for the hundredth time.

Ah, Christmas is almost here. Have a wonderful one, everyone!

Gavin Lane, Editor

So many games I’m excited to dive into. Unicorn Overlord is the big one, along with Nine Sols, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, and Loco Motive waiting in the wings. I picked up Braid: Anniversary Edition on sale a few weeks ago, plus the delightful puzzle game Railbound for just ninety-nine cents.

I’m also keen to revisit some more Yakuza and check out Arco. I hear the latter has some issues on Switch, but a 30% discount lured me in. Have a great week, everyone!

Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor

After finishing Nine Sols, I’m in a bit of a gaming slump! I really should return to Trails through Dawn, and I ought to start 1000xRESIST, but what have I actually done instead? Jumped around between Balatro, Tetris DX on NSO, and Bust A Move 4 on PlayStation.

However, I just found out that Arco is on sale, and now I’m contemplating making my backlog even longer before 2025 rolls around. Let’s just say it’s a bit of a Christmas present to myself.

Have a safe and joyful holiday season, everyone!

Kate Grey, Contributor

This weekend I’m on a PLANE once again. I’ll be taking my Switch, my Steam Deck, and my iPad, which means I’ll have a fantastic variety of options, but I definitely feel like I should probably play Brothership, which I apparently pre-ordered a while back and still haven’t gotten around to playing.

Honestly, though, I’ll probably play a lot of Hello Kitty Island Adventure and maybe a few games I’m picking up in the Steam sale (Fields of Mistria, Void Stranger, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes). Or maybe I’ll just focus on my backlog. Spoiler alert: it’s never my backlog…

Gonçalo Lopes, Contributor

‘Twas the evening before Christmas and throughout the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse… except for me unpacking all my mini retro arcades, consoles, and computers to display beneath the giant LCD television in the living room. It’s the time for cozy retro gaming, and to ensure entertainment for both host and guests of all ages who will visit my humble abode this holiday season, I have reassembled all my minis not merely as decorations but because I plan to fully enjoy the upcoming weeks revisiting classics on my SNES, Mega Drive, and PC Engine minis. I suspect the most recent addition to the collection will be particularly appreciated by those of a certain age: The Spectrum continues to stand out for those of us who find it set up beside the A500 Mini.

My game of the week is still New Star GP, now competing in the 1990’s seasonal championship. I also…