As we spend more time in the comfort of our own homes, we find ways to stay sane. The same goes for us in GadgetMatch, where we’re all still working at home and trying to get ourselves entertained with games to play, shows to watch, and music to listen to. Here’s what’s Now Playing at GadgetMatch!

Games to play

NBA 2K20 2000s Roster

Rodneil: I consumed a lot of NBA basketball in the 2000s and I am inexplicably fond of the teams and players that played in that decade. To get my 2000s NBA fix, I’ve been using user-created rosters on NBA 2K20. I even made an entire Twitter thread about the teams I missed and have since played each on in a few exhibition games.

7 Deadly Sins: Grand Cross

Rodneil: I wanted to check this out as soon as it came out but life got in the way. I found my way back to the game as I reviewed some midrange smartphones in the past couple of weeks. It’s mostly another way to experience the first season of the animé. It’s a fantastic, truly made for mobile, JRPG that’s pretty fun to play.

Shows to binge-watch

The World of the Married

MJ: There’s a reason why The World of the Married took over social media by storm. It’s not your typical Mexican telenovelas about infidelity and betrayal where there are ridiculous situations that don’t just happen in real life. This K-Drama tackled the painful loss of a marriage, abuse in different forms, divorce, cheating, and the struggles of a broken family. Every episode might leave you fuming, triggered, or heartbroken. Watch with caution!

Hospital Playlist

Vincenz: This isn’t your typical medical K-Drama. Hospital Playlist is about five doctors whose friendship dates back to medical school, centering around their music band. Reminiscing their youthful days, they formed their band once more, practicing songs they used to play. It’s an uplifting rollercoaster ride of emotions to keep you company in your mundane life.

Gameboys

Vincenz: It’s all about how a professional gamer’s first defeat after battling a “noob” which led to another loss after a rematch. In an unexpected turn, one friend request and video call changed everything — both players caught feelings. Although this isn’t based on a BL manga, this is still a better take for a BL series produced in the Philippines for the first time.

Fire Force

Rodneil: I like fire, but I wasn’t expecting much when I started watching Fire Force. It didn’t get the same level of hype as its contemporaries like Kimetsu No Yaiba (Demon Slayer) and Dr. STONE, but I thoroughly enjoyed this show. The first three episodes, I think, is a masterclass in character introduction, world-building, and establishing motivations. The rest of the episodes is just one fun, fiery ride.

Yu Yu Hakusho/ Ghost Files/ Ghost Fighter

Rodneil: This was a fan favorite animé growing up and was almost part of the stuff kids talked about at school. It’s a classic shounen animé that a lot of Filipinos grew up with. Look for it to quickly rise in Netflix’s Top 10 trending list.

White Lines

Shivam: If you’ve seen and liked Narcos, this show is made for you. Portraying Ibiza, the show starts like a thriller where the protagonist is trying to find the killer of her brother. But, with the island’s showbiz and craziness, be ready to see the unexpected. While we’re all missing travel, this show perfectly highlights the dark secrets of the world’s party island.

Movies to see

Mission Impossible: Fallout

Rodneil: I missed this when it arrived at cinemas so I was delighted to see it on Netflix. I just really like spy action movies. It’s the same old formula for Mission Impossible movies, but at a time when everything feels new and nothing feels normal, this was the good old, same old I needed.

The Big Short

Shivam: The movie perfectly summarizes the 2008 financial crisis and how it brewed. Finance is usually complicated to understand, but thanks to a mix of humor and panic, the most complex concepts are easy to understand and digest. It’s a perfect package that’ll teach you something new without boring or dragging you along.

Albums/Songs/Podcasts to listen to

Lifetime by Ben&Ben

Kenrick: What does it feel like to love someone unrequitedly? This song by Ben&Ben imagines all that longing to be loved in return. The beats are as addictive as the visuals portraying a love that is no more. Perhaps, there is more to love with this new Ben&Ben single, aside from the fact that it is inspired by a comment from one of their fans. It’s mellow, melodramatic, and delivers the right line for a reminiscing moment.

Zombie by DAY6

Vincenz: In this pandemic, it’s hard to not think about how our life runs on a daily basis. Just like a zombie, you’re not alive nor dead. You’ve been walking endlessly, circling around without the thought of progression — like how I feel my life is repetitive and part of an inescapable routine. Luckily, songs such as this, and people I value the most make me forget such thoughts once in a while. If you can’t feel the song in Korean, there’s also an English version here.

Eight by IU (feat. Suga)

Vincenz: If you’ve been following K-Pop for years, you’d know how close IU was with the late Jonghyun and Sulli. Although this wasn’t mentioned, the music video depicted how IU departs from her original location through a plane and meets them halfway through the orange sky — Sulli in white and Jonghyun as the lizard turned dragon (as he liked Charmander a lot). The light-hearted song that talks about youth will suddenly turn into a tear-jerking emotional song. You’ll feel it more when you read the translated lyrics every time you play it.

Girls by NATURE

Vincenz: NATURE is one of K-Pop’s most underrated girl groups. Though this isn’t their past concept, they completely transformed and revealed their mysterious and eerie vibe with ‘Girls’. The Korean title ‘어린애’ (eorinae) might be a contradiction as it means ‘child’ but it goes well with how they paired a catchy and eargasmic song with dark and gory visuals. The official music video is less horrifying — just in case you want that version. Overall, this is a song that needs more attention from the crowd.

Dance with Somebody by The Midnight

Vincenz: Between the ongoing pandemic and racial inequality, the real world sucks right now. We all just miss (and hope for) those times when we can just dance with anybody. Off their upcoming album Monsters, The Midnight’s new retrowave single echoes a nostalgia for both times long gone and for a normal that we might never see again. If you don’t love it for its nostalgia, you’ll love it for its wicked saxophone solos!

MORE and MORE by TWICE

Rodneil: It’s my favorite girl group’s comeback after nine long months (unusual for TWICE) and it’s another chapter in their evolving sound. “More and More” is an EDM summer dance track but you need to go beyond the title track. The album is home to some of their best songs — I particularly enjoyed “Firework” and “Make Me Go.” For their usual bright vibe, there’s “Sweet Summer Day.”

Fanfare by TWICE

Rodneil: This Japanese single was supposed to launch right alongside the 2020 Olympics. Unfortunately, we’re dealing with a global health crisis that forced multiple events to either postpone or cancel. If that thought is bringing you down, then give “Fanfare” a listen or two for that instant shot of happiness.

NBA Redraftables 2008 by The Ringer

Rodneil: No live sports means plenty of time to look back at things from the past. The Ringer started with the 1996 draft and made their way to 2008 which featured one of my favorite players ever — Javale McGee (kidding! I really mean Derrick Rose). It’s a fun ‘What If’ listen for NBA fans.

Now Playing is the GadgetMatch team’s favorite games, movies, TV shows, and more each month. If you’re curious to know what we’re into at the moment, this is what you should check out. So grab your popcorn, get some drinks, and enjoy what’s now playing!