A quick look at what to play this weekend on Nintendo Switch
Welcome back to another Gaming Backlog article. It’s been a few weeks since the last one, and that mostly comes down to one thing: Pokémon Pokopia completely taking over my time.
Life gets busy, and that’s exactly why this series exists. These backlog check-ins are here to keep you grounded in what’s happening across Nintendo while helping you find something that actually fits into your weekend, whether that’s a new release or something you’ve been meaning to revisit.
While Pokopia has been dominating my playtime, things haven’t exactly slowed down elsewhere. Over on Gr3atScotty, I’ve been deep into a shiny hunt for Charmander in Pokémon FireRed, sitting at around 5,000 encounters and counting. If you’ve stopped by the stream recently, you already know the grind has been very real.
But that’s only half the story.
Recently, I’ve also jumped back into Pokémon Legends: Z-A with a completely different goal in mind. Instead of hunting to progress a Shiny Badge Quest, I’m building toward something: a competitively viable team for Pokémon Champions. That means tracking down a shiny Charmander with a Modest nature to take advantage of Mega Charizard Y’s Drought ability, because a sun team feels like the kind of chaos I want to experiment with right now.
I’ve never been especially strong in competitive Pokémon, and there’s a reason I’ve always gravitated more toward shiny hunting than battling. Still, Champions feels like a different kind of entry point, one that might finally make competitive play click for me, or at the very least, give me a reason to try.
I’m also starting to prep for upcoming events I’m hoping to participate in, like Maydar, a Poké Radar-focused shiny hunting competition. If you’re planning on jumping in, the time to prepare is now. While the event hasn’t been officially announced yet, it typically lands in May, which gives you a short window to get ready. Stocking up on items like Quick Balls and Super Repels in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl now can make a real difference when the event begins, especially if your playtime is limited.
Of course, not everyone’s weekend is going to revolve around Pokémon.
If you’re looking for something completely different, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream just landed on Nintendo Switch, and it’s shaping up to be one of those easy-to-lose-hours-in experiences. If it captures even a fraction of what made the original Tomodachi Life so memorable, there’s a good chance this ends up being one of the more charming wildcard picks you can add to your backlog right now.
The best way to think about Tomodachi Life is this: take your Miis, turn them into something like digital pets with personality, similar to Tamagotchis, and let the game’s randomness do the rest. It thrives on unexpected interactions and offbeat humor, which makes it a great fit for a more relaxed, low-pressure weekend session.
Whether you’re grinding toward something in Pokémon, experimenting with a new team in Champions, or just looking for something lighter like Tomodachi Life, the goal this weekend is simple: find something that fits the time you actually have.
Ready to Pick Your Weekend Game?
If you’re planning to pick something up this weekend, grabbing some Nintendo eShop credit is an easy way to stay flexible without committing to a single game upfront.
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So what’s on your backlog this weekend?
About the Author
Scott (Scotty) Greenhalgh is the founder and owner of Input Lag, an independent Nintendo-focused publication. Scotty brings a player-first perspective informed by years of hands-on experience with Nintendo games to his reviews, rankings, and editorial coverage. His writing focuses on how games feel to play, their long-term value, and the impact Nintendo’s creative and business decisions have on players.
Outside of Input Lag, he also creates Pokémon-focused content online under the name Gr3atScotty.
