The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition
I've once again got myself into a cycle of doing stuff like buying homes, decorating homes, moving belongings around, etc — spent another two hours on it today, not doing much of anything else. Time to go do some actual quests or something, methinks!
Hot Wheels Unleashed
Why play one of the 600+ games I’ve bought for my Steam Deck or 3DS when I could have a go at a random racing game on Amazon Luna? (Well, I do pay for Luna (as part of Prime) and bought the Luna controller but barely use it since I got my Deck, so maybe it’s not that ridiculous. But I did buy two new racing games on Steam recently, so why not start them instead?! Next time I fancy racing, I guess I will.)
Upstairs
Speedran the entire game again to get the two achievements I missed first time through.
Sunday, 22 March 2026
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Video Games
Upstairs
Short (I completed it in 1¾ hours, and I look at everything and explore every dialogue tree; though somehow I didn't collect two achievements, so there must be options I missed) point-and-click adventure game that was just released by an independent dev. It's a lot of fun, with good puzzles (logical but you don't feel like everything's just handed to you) and a number of gags that made me laugh. Technically the story is horror, and rather dark at that, but the pixel art and humorous tone nonetheless make it feel close to the style of classic LucasArts games... though they'd surely never have done anything this bloody. Definitely worth a look on Steam or Itch.io if it seems your kind of thing.
Short (I completed it in 1¾ hours, and I look at everything and explore every dialogue tree; though somehow I didn't collect two achievements, so there must be options I missed) point-and-click adventure game that was just released by an independent dev. It's a lot of fun, with good puzzles (logical but you don't feel like everything's just handed to you) and a number of gags that made me laugh. Technically the story is horror, and rather dark at that, but the pixel art and humorous tone nonetheless make it feel close to the style of classic LucasArts games... though they'd surely never have done anything this bloody. Definitely worth a look on Steam or Itch.io if it seems your kind of thing.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Six new additions this week, and all nice straightforward ones that just make numbers go up.
Number of titles in collection: 3,673 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 966 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,707 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 515 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 8,818 [up 8]
Number of films: 4,720 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 487 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 10,132 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,293 [up 9]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Six new additions this week, and all nice straightforward ones that just make numbers go up.
Number of titles in collection: 3,673 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 966 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,707 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 515 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 8,818 [up 8]
Number of films: 4,720 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 487 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 10,132 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,293 [up 9]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 20 March 2026
Fiction
Redwall by Brian Jacques
Book Three, Chapters 1–3
Had a couple of days' interruption and all told it's taken me over a week to get back into it, having been progressing pretty consistently before (I read it on 8 of the 9 days before said interruption). Kinda ridiculous that my ability to read books is so dependent on habit and momentum, but there it is. Actually, I think I'm the same with TV and games and probably everything else. Not sure what that might say about me...
Book Three, Chapters 1–3
Had a couple of days' interruption and all told it's taken me over a week to get back into it, having been progressing pretty consistently before (I read it on 8 of the 9 days before said interruption). Kinda ridiculous that my ability to read books is so dependent on habit and momentum, but there it is. Actually, I think I'm the same with TV and games and probably everything else. Not sure what that might say about me...
Thursday, 19 March 2026
TV
Peaky Blinders
6x01 Black Day
So, I only got round to series 5 because series 6 was imminent and now, four years later, I'm only getting round to series 6 because the followup movie is imminent (well, it's already in cinemas, but it's on Netflix from tomorrow). What will make me watch the movie?! Hopefully that it's a new release and so counts towards my 100 Films Challenge (I had kind of intended to watch series 6 this week and finish with the movie at the weekend. Obviously, that didn't happen). For now, though, I shall focus fully on the final season — which, as it happens, picks up four years after the last series. Neat.
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer or Netflix.]
6x01 Black Day
So, I only got round to series 5 because series 6 was imminent and now, four years later, I'm only getting round to series 6 because the followup movie is imminent (well, it's already in cinemas, but it's on Netflix from tomorrow). What will make me watch the movie?! Hopefully that it's a new release and so counts towards my 100 Films Challenge (I had kind of intended to watch series 6 this week and finish with the movie at the weekend. Obviously, that didn't happen). For now, though, I shall focus fully on the final season — which, as it happens, picks up four years after the last series. Neat.
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer or Netflix.]
Video Games
Monument Valley
Forgotten Shores
Stopped parcelling it out and just finished the last four levels. While the base game was neat, it got repetitive. After that experience, I expected Forgotten Shores to just add more levels — but no, it does clever stuff with the mechanics, becoming more surprising and often more challenging in the process. In other words, it finally delivered what I'd hoped for from the original game. Hurrah!
Forgotten Shores
Stopped parcelling it out and just finished the last four levels. While the base game was neat, it got repetitive. After that experience, I expected Forgotten Shores to just add more levels — but no, it does clever stuff with the mechanics, becoming more surprising and often more challenging in the process. In other words, it finally delivered what I'd hoped for from the original game. Hurrah!
Wednesday, 18 March 2026
TV
Critical Role
Leveling Up The Soldier Table | Lvl 3 to Lvl 4
I missed that this video was released before episode 10 (I assumed it was after episode 11, when the Soldiers table wrapped up their arc). Well, I can't go back in time and watch it at the appropriate point, so here will have to do.
[Watch it free on YouTube, or for subscribers on Beacon.]
Leveling Up The Soldier Table | Lvl 3 to Lvl 4
I missed that this video was released before episode 10 (I assumed it was after episode 11, when the Soldiers table wrapped up their arc). Well, I can't go back in time and watch it at the appropriate point, so here will have to do.
[Watch it free on YouTube, or for subscribers on Beacon.]
Video Games
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition
I acquired my second plot of land to build a house yesterday, and today set about building and decorating it... and did just that (which also includes pinging around the map to pick up and buy supplies — it takes a lot of raw materials to build these places) for an hour and three-quarters!
I've avoided games like Stardew Valley because I didn't see the appeal of farming and crafting and all that in a game, but look at me in Skyrim! Though it's less that I enjoy it, more that I want the end result. It does feel kinda like a waste of time to have spent one long play session on it. Same when I finish construction or buy a vacant house and then have to think about filling it with 'trophies' (i.e. weapons and armour I've looted/crafted that look good). If there was a way you could dump stuff in a location and auto-decorate, I'd definitely prefer that.
I acquired my second plot of land to build a house yesterday, and today set about building and decorating it... and did just that (which also includes pinging around the map to pick up and buy supplies — it takes a lot of raw materials to build these places) for an hour and three-quarters!
I've avoided games like Stardew Valley because I didn't see the appeal of farming and crafting and all that in a game, but look at me in Skyrim! Though it's less that I enjoy it, more that I want the end result. It does feel kinda like a waste of time to have spent one long play session on it. Same when I finish construction or buy a vacant house and then have to think about filling it with 'trophies' (i.e. weapons and armour I've looted/crafted that look good). If there was a way you could dump stuff in a location and auto-decorate, I'd definitely prefer that.
Articles
Crimson Desert review: The Forza Horizon of action RPGs
by Mollie Taylor (from PC Gamer)
Even though I'm 'back into' gaming now, I don't pay a whole lot of attention to new releases — I've got a couple of decades of stuff to catch up on, and a 600-game backlog (and several hundred more wishlisted) because of it — but there's so much hype around this one, I had to at least get some idea of whether it's going to live up to expectations or not.
Based on this, I think the jury's out — and might be for some time: the game's so huge and packed with variety, it's going to be a while before people see enough of it to form final opinions, I think. Which is fine by me — if it's good, maybe I'll buy it on sale in three or four or five years.
by Mollie Taylor (from PC Gamer)
Even though I'm 'back into' gaming now, I don't pay a whole lot of attention to new releases — I've got a couple of decades of stuff to catch up on, and a 600-game backlog (and several hundred more wishlisted) because of it — but there's so much hype around this one, I had to at least get some idea of whether it's going to live up to expectations or not.
Based on this, I think the jury's out — and might be for some time: the game's so huge and packed with variety, it's going to be a while before people see enough of it to form final opinions, I think. Which is fine by me — if it's good, maybe I'll buy it on sale in three or four or five years.
Tuesday, 17 March 2026
Video Games
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition
I didn't exactly intend to take a week and a day off from Skyrim, but life got in the way. It was probably good to have a bit of a pause, though. That said, I almost didn't even load it because I still wasn't totally sure what I wanted to do; but then I made some decisions, did a quest (one that I found particularly enjoyable, to boot), and made some good progress. The hour-and-a-half I played for flew by! Well, when doesn't it?
My backlog of 600+ games thinks I should find more time to play other stuff as well, though.
I didn't exactly intend to take a week and a day off from Skyrim, but life got in the way. It was probably good to have a bit of a pause, though. That said, I almost didn't even load it because I still wasn't totally sure what I wanted to do; but then I made some decisions, did a quest (one that I found particularly enjoyable, to boot), and made some good progress. The hour-and-a-half I played for flew by! Well, when doesn't it?
My backlog of 600+ games thinks I should find more time to play other stuff as well, though.
Monday, 16 March 2026
TV
The 98th Annual Academy Awards
aka the Oscars... the remainder of them, anyway. It was an above-average (but maybe not exceptional) ceremony this year. Some of the gags and skits landed; others really didn't. Winners felt well-deserved, although there were no big surprises. Same with the speeches, which were generally good but I don't know if many really stood out. In terms of truly memorable moments, perhaps the first female Best Cinematography winner, and the tribute to Rob Reiner.
[Watch a selection of Oscars-related programmes and films on ITVX.]
Black Doves
1x05 The Cost of It All
1x06 In the Bleak Midwinter [season finale]
Richard Osman's House of Games
9x74 Week 15: Thursday
9x75 Week 15: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
7x08 Wildfire
7x09 The Kiss
aka the Oscars... the remainder of them, anyway. It was an above-average (but maybe not exceptional) ceremony this year. Some of the gags and skits landed; others really didn't. Winners felt well-deserved, although there were no big surprises. Same with the speeches, which were generally good but I don't know if many really stood out. In terms of truly memorable moments, perhaps the first female Best Cinematography winner, and the tribute to Rob Reiner.
[Watch a selection of Oscars-related programmes and films on ITVX.]
Black Doves
1x05 The Cost of It All
1x06 In the Bleak Midwinter [season finale]
Richard Osman's House of Games
9x74 Week 15: Thursday
9x75 Week 15: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
7x08 Wildfire
7x09 The Kiss
Sunday, 15 March 2026
TV
The 98th Annual Academy Awards
aka the Oscars... well, the build-up and the start of them, because the ceremony will continue well into the early hours of tomorrow UK-time.
[Watch a selection of Oscars-related programmes and films on ITVX.]
Black Doves
1x04 Go Bang Time
aka the Oscars... well, the build-up and the start of them, because the ceremony will continue well into the early hours of tomorrow UK-time.
[Watch a selection of Oscars-related programmes and films on ITVX.]
Black Doves
1x04 Go Bang Time
Saturday, 14 March 2026
TV
Black Doves
1x01 To Love Then
1x02 A Little Black Dove
1x03 The Coming Night
How I Met Your Mother
1x16 Cupcake [2nd watch]
Poker Face
2x05 Hometown Hero
Richard Osman's House of Games
9x71 Week 15: Monday
9x72 Week 15: Tuesday
9x73 Week 15: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
1x01 To Love Then
1x02 A Little Black Dove
1x03 The Coming Night
How I Met Your Mother
1x16 Cupcake [2nd watch]
Poker Face
2x05 Hometown Hero
Richard Osman's House of Games
9x71 Week 15: Monday
9x72 Week 15: Tuesday
9x73 Week 15: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Most of the stuff from Rarewaves I mentioned last week turned up this week (though only towards the end). It included a couple of DVD-to-BD upgrades and a couple of BD-to-4K upgrades, which would have slightly masked the total of new acquisitions anyway... but then the Doctor Who Season 21 Blu-ray turned up and threw the whole thing for a loop.
I've mentioned before that The Collection (as the classic Doctor Who Blu-ray range is called) had passed a tipping point in terms of upgrading DVDs. Early titles didn't necessarily replace all DVDs they 'should' have, due to moved special features or stories being in cross-era box sets. But as the range pushes well into its second half, more and more of those are finally being ticked off too. In the end, this single set replaces six previous ones, including two of those chunky mutli-era box sets. Plus, I noticed one story that had been upgraded by a previous season but I'd not removed.
All in all, despite having added 8 titles to my collection this week, the numbers go like this...
Number of titles in collection: 3,667 [down 2]
Of which DVDs: 966 [down 8]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,701 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 513 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 8,810 [down 1]
Number of films: 4,714 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 487 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 10,132 [down 31]
Number of short films: 1,284 [up 2]
A rare week where every stat changes, too!
See you for something more normal next week, faithful reader.
Most of the stuff from Rarewaves I mentioned last week turned up this week (though only towards the end). It included a couple of DVD-to-BD upgrades and a couple of BD-to-4K upgrades, which would have slightly masked the total of new acquisitions anyway... but then the Doctor Who Season 21 Blu-ray turned up and threw the whole thing for a loop.
I've mentioned before that The Collection (as the classic Doctor Who Blu-ray range is called) had passed a tipping point in terms of upgrading DVDs. Early titles didn't necessarily replace all DVDs they 'should' have, due to moved special features or stories being in cross-era box sets. But as the range pushes well into its second half, more and more of those are finally being ticked off too. In the end, this single set replaces six previous ones, including two of those chunky mutli-era box sets. Plus, I noticed one story that had been upgraded by a previous season but I'd not removed.
All in all, despite having added 8 titles to my collection this week, the numbers go like this...
Number of titles in collection: 3,667 [down 2]
Of which DVDs: 966 [down 8]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,701 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 513 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 8,810 [down 1]
Number of films: 4,714 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 487 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 10,132 [down 31]
Number of short films: 1,284 [up 2]
A rare week where every stat changes, too!
See you for something more normal next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 13 March 2026
TV
Critical Role
4x10 Blood for Blood [remainder]
I mean, I say "remainder" — this session was split in two across this episode and the next (I don't think it was officially confirmed that it was one session, but it seems pretty clear based on edited inserts for the break and ending, and the fact there was no Cooldown for this episode).
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, or for subscribers on Beacon or Twitch.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
9x68 Week 14: Wednesday
9x69 Week 14: Thursday
9x70 Week 14: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
4x10 Blood for Blood [remainder]
I mean, I say "remainder" — this session was split in two across this episode and the next (I don't think it was officially confirmed that it was one session, but it seems pretty clear based on edited inserts for the break and ending, and the fact there was no Cooldown for this episode).
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, or for subscribers on Beacon or Twitch.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
9x68 Week 14: Wednesday
9x69 Week 14: Thursday
9x70 Week 14: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
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