This Week’s Gaming Roundup: Big Walk Is Pure Friend Goals, Neon Abyss 2 Glows Up Hard, and Splatoon Raiders Left Us Wanting More

The Weekly Gaming Dispatch Is Back — Episode 559! 🎮🔥

Alright, fellow gamers and otaku — it’s Sunday, and you know what that means. The Now Gaming weekly column is dropping its 559th edition, straight from the desks of Automaton’s battle-hardened writers. This week’s lineup is a certified mixed bag of emotions, and honestly? We’re here for all of it. Let’s break down what got played, what slapped, and what left the crew feeling a little hollow inside.

Big Walk — Every Moment Is a Priceless Memory With Your Friends 🥹✨

Let’s start with the emotional gut-punch of the week: Big Walk. According to the writer who spent time with this one, the experience is nothing short of a love letter to friendship and shared moments. We’re talking about the kind of game that makes you look over at your friend mid-session and just feel something without saying a word.

If you’re the type of player who treasures co-op experiences over pure mechanical complexity, Big Walk is speaking directly to your soul. The vibe is irreplaceable, the memories you make with friends are the entire point — and honestly, that’s a design philosophy we desperately need more of in 2026.

FOMO Alert 🚨: If you’ve been sleeping on this one, your friends are probably already making memories without you. Don’t be the guy who missed it.

Neon Abyss 2 — The Glow-Up Is REAL 💥🌀

Next up: Neon Abyss 2, and the verdict from the column is that this game has come an insanely long way since its early builds. The writer notes it’s “barely recognizable” compared to its initial state — and that’s a massive compliment in the roguelite space where early access titles often stagnate.

For fans of the original Neon Abyss, this sequel is shaping up to be exactly the kind of evolution that justifies a follow-up. The improvements are tangible, the direction feels sharper, and the overall package is looking increasingly like a must-play roguelite for the season.

If you wrote this one off early — it might be time to take another look. Seriously.

Splatoon Raiders — Cool Concept, But the Part-Timer Warriors Are Left Hungry 🦑😤

And now for the honest take nobody asked for but everybody needs: Splatoon Raiders. The column’s self-described “part-timer warrior” writer came away feeling that this one was somewhat underwhelming — a little light on content, a little short on the satisfaction factor that Splatoon fans have come to expect.

Look, Splatoon as a franchise carries massive expectations. When a spin-off or new entry doesn’t fully deliver that signature chaotic energy, it stings. The concept isn’t without merit — but for hardcore fans, it sounds like Raiders might leave you craving more than it’s currently serving up.

Final Verdict — This Week’s Gaming Scorecard 📊

Where to Buy & Pre-order

If any of this week’s gaming coverage got your collector instincts firing — whether it’s figures, merchandise, soundtracks, or Blu-rays tied to these franchises — Solaris Japan and CDJapan are your two most trusted portals for authentic Japanese goods shipped worldwide. No bootlegs, no nonsense — just the real deal straight from Japan. 🇯🇵