From Popes to Pixels: the Week in Geek, Games & Grace

The Week In Geek Recap

Watch the Video | Listen to the Podcast

Missed the livestream? Grab a mana potion and relive every headline, hot-take, and holy-adjacent hijink Nerd Pastor Nate dropped in Episode 5.11.

1. What We’re Watching, Playing & Reading

• Movies

  • Sinners – Ryan Coogler’s Gothic vampire flick (“absolute masterpiece,” though Nate still wants a director’s cut).

  • Thunderbolts* – Marvel’s redemption arc that made him unexpectedly teary.

• Games

  • The Hundred Line – A Danganronpa-style odyssey Nate now treats like a daily devotional.

  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – “Runs like trash on Steam Deck, but the STORY!”

• Books & Manga

  • Catch-up sessions with Jujutsu Kaisen, the cozy fantasy Assistant to the Villain, and The Book of Alchemy (a contemplative spin on Morning Pages).

Community shout-outs flew in for Crime Scene Cleaner, Paleo Pines, and Metaphor: ReFantazio before chat careened into our first headline…

---

2. Headlines That Hit Different

🧑‍🎨 Cardinals Study Hollywood to Elect a Gamer Pope
Real-life Cardinals reportedly watched Ralph Fiennes’ thriller Conclave for tips on papal procedure—then chose Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV. Rumor says he starts each day with Wordle and a slice of deep-dish. Catholic meme-lords had a field day.

🚗 GTA VI Delayed (Again)
Rockstar slid launch to 26 May 2026, citing healthier work culture. The game may still be the first $100 blockbuster and rake in $3 billion on day one—if we survive the backlog till then.

🖌️ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Sells a Million in Three Days
Even French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted “GG.” We’ll see if its Metacritic crown lasts longer than Baldur’s Gate 3.

---

3. How’s Humble?

May’s Humble Choice bundle supports Red Nose Day (bonus thank-you vid from Weird Al and Tony Hale). Highlights include Amnesia: The Bunker, Shadow Gambit, the gorgeous pixel-vania Ultros, and more—backlog bragging rights plus charity feels.

---

4. RNGesus Delivers

This week’s algorithmic blessing: a little future cosplayer spots My Hero Academia’s Todoroki action figure—birthmark and all—and beams like she’s found her twin.

---

5. Anime Christians Should Absolutely Watch

YouTuber Nic-With-No-K unlocked a debate with his “Best Anime for Christians” list (Spy x Family, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Frieren, etc.). Nate applauded—and added ten more:

1. Violet Evergarden – Post-war super-soldier learns pastoral care through letter writing.

2. Tokyo Revengers – Time-travel plus a gang-sized dose of grace.

3. Gurren Lagann – Discipleship on mecha steroids: “Believe in the me that believes in you.”

4. Ranking of Kings – Little King Bojji turns disability into divine strength.

5. Trigun / Trigun Stampede – Pacifism, redemption, and really big guns.

6. Puella Magi Madoka Magica – The cost of covenant in a genre-shattering magical-girl drama.

7. Chainsaw Man – Fear gives demons power—cue spiritual-warfare sermon.

8. My Dress-Up Darling – Theology of hobbies: love what you love, unashamed.

9. Erased – A Christ-like time-traveler rewrites childhood trauma.

10. Bocchi the Rock! – Social anxiety healed through community jam sessions.

Sixty-plus nerdy-sermon deep dives await on the Checkpoint YouTube channel if you need more.

---

6. Upcoming Releases on Nate’s Radar

• Midnight Walk – Clay-crafted dark-fantasy adventure from the Lost in Random devs.

• Drop Duchy – Roguelite kingdom-builder that plays like block-Tetris meets RTS.

• Doloc Town – Cozy post-apocalyptic farming sim with dangerously cute pixel art.

---

7. Meme of the Week

Catholic dad-joke energy at maximum—and yes, Nate posted it himself before chat could beat him to it.

---

8. Last Word

“God loves you. We love you. You matter.” – Nerd Pastor Nate

Catch the next TWIG live—unless the Vatican Wi-Fi collapses, a hurricane hits, or Nate’s Steam Deck finally melts. Until then, keep your swords sheathed, your Crunchyroll queue full, and your game library humble-bundled.