Hook
A recent article on Eurogamer.net, titled "What we've been playing - 'I'll never see those oaty treats in the mess the same way again'," has drawn attention for its unique title. This headline, coupled with the content of other articles in the same series, raises questions about the broader context and influences shaping the discussions around games and personal experiences. Specifically, the inclusion of lyrics from ABBA's well-known song, "The Winner Takes It All," within the provided data prompts an examination of potential thematic links.
Context
The data includes two sources referencing ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All" lyrics. Article 1, found on Genius.com, provides the full lyrics and notes the song's chart performance in Sweden. Article 2, from Streetdirectory.com, also lists the song title and appears to be a collection of song lyrics, though its summary is less detailed.
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In parallel, Article 3 and Article 4 are part of a series on Eurogamer.net titled "What we've been playing." Article 3, published January 24, 2026, features the quote, "She didn't say anything, but I saw that she saw" and mentions "Old School RuneScape." Article 4 is a landing page for this series, showcasing various article titles and their publication dates in January 2026. One of these titles, also dated January 24, 2026, is "What we've been playing - 'I'll never see those oaty treats in the mess the same way again'," which is the primary subject of this analysis.
Evidence
The most direct evidence connecting ABBA's song to the "What we've been playing" series is the presence of "The Winner Takes It All" lyrics in unrelated online content.

Article 1 (Genius.com): Contains the full lyrics of "The Winner Takes It All," detailing themes of loss, victory, and emotional outcomes in relationships. It notes the song peaked at #2 in Sweden.
Article 2 (Streetdirectory.com): Lists "The Winner Takes It All" alongside other ABBA songs.
Article 3 (Eurogamer.net): Part of the "What we've been playing" series, featuring a quote about observation and a mention of "Old School RuneScape."
Article 4 (Eurogamer.net): This page lists several articles from the "What we've been playing" series, including the one with the "oaty treats" title and the one with the "She didn't say anything" quote.
Thematic Resonance: Competition and Personal Experience
The lyrics of "The Winner Takes It All" describe the aftermath of a relationship ending, where one person prevails and the other experiences loss. This central theme of a winner and a loser, and the emotional toll it takes, could potentially resonate with competitive aspects of gaming.
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The song's chorus, "The winner takes it all / The loser standing small / Beside the victory / That's her destiny," speaks to definitive outcomes.
Lines like "I was in your arms, thinkin' I belonged there / I figured it made sense building me a fence / Building me a home, thinking I'd be strong there" can be interpreted as aspirations and subsequent disappointment, elements that players might experience in challenging game scenarios.
Contextual Overlap: Gaming and Emotional Narratives
The "What we've been playing" series on Eurogamer.net appears to be a collection of personal accounts and reflections on gaming experiences. Article 3, for instance, shares an anecdote about playing "Old School RuneScape" and an interaction with another person on a treadmill. This suggests the series often blends in-game activities with real-world observations and feelings.
The quote "She didn't say anything, but I saw that she saw" from Article 3 implies a nuanced social interaction.
The title from Article 4, "I'll never see those oaty treats in the mess the same way again," hints at a specific, perhaps peculiar, personal memory tied to a gaming session. Could such a specific memory be linked to a sense of triumph or defeat within a game?
Expert Analysis
Without direct commentary from the authors of the Eurogamer.net articles or ABBA, any connection between the song lyrics and the gaming experiences remains a matter of inference.
Song lyric websites like Genius.com are primarily sources for textual content and chart data. They do not typically offer analysis linking song lyrics to unrelated media or cultural phenomena.
The "What we've been playing" series, by its nature, focuses on individual player experiences. The choice of a headline, even if referencing external material, is often subjective and driven by the writer's personal associations or desired tone.
Conclusion
The data establishes the existence of ABBA's song "The Winner Takes It All" and its lyrics in online databases. It also confirms the existence of a series on Eurogamer.net titled "What we've been playing," featuring articles with unique, often personal, observational headlines.
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Finding: Lyrics to ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All" are publicly available.
Finding: A series of articles titled "What we've been playing" was published on Eurogamer.net in January 2026, including one with the headline "I'll never see those oaty treats in the mess the same way again."
Unknown: There is no direct evidence within the provided data that explicitly states or demonstrates a deliberate connection between ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All" lyrics and the content or headlines of the "What we've been playing" articles.
Implication: The presence of the song lyrics in unrelated online contexts means they are accessible. However, their inclusion or thematic mirroring within the gaming articles is not substantiated by the given information.
Sources
ABBA – The Winner Takes It All Lyrics:
Source: Genius.com
Context: Provides full song lyrics and chart information.
Link: https://genius.com/Abba-the-winner-takes-it-all-lyrics
The Winner Takes It All Lyrics by Abba:
Source: Streetdirectory.com
Context: Lists song titles, including "The Winner Takes It All."
Link: https://www.streetdirectory.com/lyricadvisor/song/ccjc/thewinnertakesitall/
What we've been playing - "She didn't say anything, but I saw that she saw":
Source: Eurogamer.net
Context: An article within the "What we've been playing" series discussing gaming and personal observations.
What we've been playing (Series Landing Page):
Source: Eurogamer.net
Context: A collection of articles under the "What we've been playing" series, showcasing article titles and dates.
Link: https://www.eurogamer.net/topics/what-weve-been-playing