Make your limited gaming time count
Welcome back to the Gaming Backlog, a short series that acknowledges how busy the week can get and recognizes that, realistically, many of us only have limited time to game on the weekends. Part of the goal of this series is to help answer a simple question we ask all the time: what should I play this weekend? I approach that question through my own experience, sharing what I’m playing this weekend and what I spent time with over the past week. I also aim to recap some of the biggest highlights from the week, so you can stay up to date with what’s happening in the world of Nintendo.
A Busy Week, A Little Time to Play
Last week, I shared a few tips for gaming when time is limited, and I put those ideas into practice over the past several days, especially by letting my hobby fit within a busy routine and keeping my sessions low pressure. It was, once again, a packed week full of projects, but keeping those principles in mind helped me stay productive while still carving out small windows to relax with the games I’ve been enjoying.
Shiny Hunting, Maydar, and Weekend Prep
Games like Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen have been a big part of that. Finding Rudania the Shiny Charmander a few weeks ago was a huge highlight for me, and I’ve been excited to continue progressing through the Shiny Badge Quest in Kanto. This week, I fully EV trained my Charmander and am just about ready to challenge Brock and earn my first Gym Badge in LeafGreen.
Now that it is officially May, I want to remind Pokémon shiny hunting fans that Maydar is just around the corner, a Poké Radar-focused event held in games like Pokémon Diamond, Pokémon Pearl, Pokémon Platinum, Pokémon X, Pokémon Y, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, and Pokémon Shining Pearl. While there hasn’t been an official announcement yet, current rumors suggest it will take place toward the end of the month. If you’re planning to participate, now is a good time to prepare by stocking up on Repels and Quick Balls. It might even be worth challenging the Elite Four or farming trainers like Socialite Reina for some extra cash.
But that’s enough about Pokémon for now.
Weekend Picks: Termina and the Force
I also want to wish a happy birthday to one of my favorite games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. Originally released in Japan on April 27, 2000, Majora’s Mask has truly stood the test of time, pun intended. It’s more than just a Zelda game; it’s an experience, and it’s currently available through the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online library. If you can, do yourself a favor and spend a few days in Termina this weekend, because weekends are short, and sometimes it would be nice to rewind time just to make the most of them.
Majora’s Mask also feels like the perfect kind of game to revisit during a short weekend, because the entire experience is built around the pressure of limited time. Each character in Termina operates on a schedule, every day carries a little more weight, and every reset gives you another chance to understand the world a little better. Majora’s Mask is strange, stressful, melancholy, and beautiful in a way few Zelda games are, which makes it especially rewarding when you only have a few focused hours to give it.
Another nostalgic pick you may enjoy this weekend is a Star Wars game, especially with May the Fourth coming up. The Nintendo Switch has plenty of solid Star Wars options, including Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection, but today I want to recommend an action role-playing adventure that is currently on sale: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. KOTOR II is another one of those experiences where the decisions you make can meaningfully shape the world around you. Whether you use your powers for good or for evil is entirely up to you. Originally released in 2004, Knights of the Old Republic II remains one of the best Star Wars games I’ve ever played, and I highly recommend it for Star Wars Day.
Knights of the Old Republic II stands out among Star Wars games because it challenges players to consider what their choices cost. You witness how power changes people, for better or worse, and the game gives those decisions more weight than a simple good-versus-evil meter. It remains a thoughtful and memorable RPG that gives you plenty to chew on long after you put the controller down.
Overall, the games we choose to play over the weekend should feel worth it. Whether you are EV training in Kanto, preparing for a Poké Radar hunt, spending a few haunting days in Termina, or choosing your path through the Force, I hope you find something that fits the time and energy you have. The weekend may be short, but the right game can still make it feel meaningful.
So now I want to turn the question over to you: what are you planning to play 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.
Purchasing through these links supports The Input Lag at no additional cost to you.
