Fuck 2025.
Oh wait, I meant about video games.
Okay.
Fuck 2025. Actually I played some good games. Rather than trying to do a Best Of or whatever, I'm just going to write about a few games I though were significant to me.
Destiny 2 | PS5/Windows/Stadia
Didn't really play at all this year. Edge of Fate just didn't inspire me. I did just buy it over Black Friday, mainly for Renegades, but haven't started it yet. Hoping year 12 can be a return to form. Did let me play other games though.
Warframe | PS5/Switch/Linux/Windows
Really been enjoying Warframe. It's got a lot of grind in a lot of different ways, but I sprinkle in a little plot and it evens out. I haven't found a group in it like I have with Destiny, but randos being mostly muted is nice. Runs on Linux with zero problems, (one of the few games I've found so far thus,) and the Switch too somehow. It is also now crosssave. If you need a big, grindy, free shooter, I recommend it.
The developer, Digital Extremes seems like a good place too.
Disney's Island of Illusion | Switch | COMPLETE
I think I mentioned this one last year too? If I didn't or you don't remember, it's like “My First Metroidvania,” and I mean that in a good way. Like, if you were trying to expose a kid to the genre, this would be great to play with them. The writing is good and often funny, it looks good, the controls are perfect, (precise, with the levels having just enough leeway,) there is no combat if you don't want to expose your child to that, and the checkpoint system allows progress if anyone can reach it. So if you're playing with the kid, you can make it and bring them along. There's also infinite health as an option.
Best thing Disney's put out in a bit.
Well, they came out with a roguelite mode with Scrooge as a vendor that's surprisingly fun. I don't like roguelites and I finished it. They had a free weekend on the Switch with it right when I needed something lighthearted, so it was perfect.
Psychonauts 2 | PS5/PC | 100% Complete
I think this might be my Game of the Year [that I played it.] Its the best thing Double Fine has made. Raz (or “Pootie” as his family calls him,) is as likeable and flawed as before, the other kids were less annoying, and I did not guess the ending. Well, I got all but the twist, but still. Double Fine also continues their expertise at making rather ugly characters when still attractive when animated. Maliglua, (the antagonist,) in particular got an “oh no, she's hot,” though I wouldn't say that looking at the key art.
Anyway, the game has some rather neat set pieces, it controls like you think you remember 1 did, (I went back and tried to play the PS2 port to PS4 and it did not age well,) and the story was good. Trying to do the right thing and fucking up spectacularly, attempts at redemption, a solid spy thriller without the sex, etc. Raz, Cruller, and [REDACTED]'s storylines in particular were resonant, with [REDACTED2] being a particular shitheel to tie things all together.
F.I.S.T. – Forged in Shadow Torch | PS5
A neat Metroidvania/Search Action¹ with pretty intricate action and a cool Chinese/cyberpunk aesthetic. I got this on sale around when Silksong came out. I knew I didn't have the patience or skill for that one, but the bug (not Hornet) has still bitten me, so I tried this one. The animal people models are a touch on the uncanny side, but the plot does the Wuxia⁵ beats very well, with the eponymous metal fist acting as the main character's inner power. The character models are a touch uncanny, but that doesn't matter for most of the game.
I really recommend if you want a Metroidvania that isn't as hard as Silksong.
Minute of Island | Switch | 100% Complete
This is an interesting one. I put it on my wishlist because of the video on the eShop, and bought it when it was on sale. It's in a similar vein to the other Metroidvanias listed, but it has no combat, only puzzles and dialog. Trying to stave off a fungal apocalypse, Mo goes on an adventure restoring the engines to operation. It's pretty bluntly about grief, but the melancholic story was enjoyable while I played.
Pokémon Scarlet | Switch
I got the bug to play Pokémon again for a while, and for all it's faults, SV is a really interesting take on the formula. I enjoy exploring PokéSpain and my queer little trainer is fun too. Didn't play for very long, but it will always be there.
Figment | PS5 | Complete
A fun, sing-songy isometric action title about a dad's spirit of adventure coming out of retirement after an accident. It's all in their head. The combat and puzzles are solid, if not mind blowing, the characters are fun, and the musical numbers add to the experience. The boss attacks timed with their songs is fun, if distracting from listening to the song. The incidental voice acting is incredibly British sounding.
Only knock I can give it is finishing a puzzle before doing an extra step locked me out of getting a Platinum trophy. While fun, I don't see myself redoing most of the game for two trophies. I did buy Figment II over the holiday though.
Deliver Us the Moon | PS5 | Complete
An adventure game with no other living characters visible. Earth WALL-Ed itself and the whole planet is turning into a desert. Only thing saving it is mining H3 on the Moon and wirelessly transmitting the energy to earth. Until it stops. You're the one picked to man the last possible space flight to figure out what the fuck happened and hopefully restart the engine.
Good story with some great set pieces. Would be awesome in VR if that's a thing. Worth checking out if you like adventure games, dystopias, and/or near future space sci fi. I bought the sequel, Deliver Us Mars, but haven't played it yet.
Eiyuden Chronicles: Rising | PS5 | Complete
A 2D search action that's more action than search. It's a prequel to Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes, which is a spiritual successor to Suikoden. Based off of the Chinese story The Water Bandits, it's another example of Wuxia in video games. Combat is solid, story is too. It does make me want to play Hundred Heroes, but I haven't bothered buying it yet. I got this because it was cheap, wasn't a pain to set up like running Suikoden on an emulator, and I had just read The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang, which is also based off of The Water Bandits. Good book.
Helldivers 2 | PS5
A fun game. The Halo ODST pack got me back into it. Even paid for it. But holy shit, I cannot take the Nazi pastiche. That alone is bad enough, but those who take it as straight/sincere, (i.e. Nazis,) are unbearable. Needed the 40GB and deleted it again.
Notable Mentions
Pac-Man World Re-Pac
Surprisingly good. Got it from PS+. It rips off the best of 3D platformers and does so surprisingly well. Mario's hop, bop, stomp, and Metal mode. Sonic's spin dash. Spyro's vibes. All works very well. I don't know if it was originally like that, or if they did it in the “repac,” but it's good.
Story and dialog is nails on a chalkboard though.
Kitsune Tales
Super Mario Bros. 3 but with queer foxgirls? Okay!
Creator is good too.
MiHoYo et al
I really enjoyed Honkai Star Rail, but I really don't enjoy union busting. MiHoYo scabbed over the striking union English VAs. So I stopped playing their products.
Ah well.
Super Mario RPG remake
I got it on a really good sale, (for Nintendo AA games,) and it's solid. The new models aren't quite as memorable as Square's sprites, but it runs smooth as hell and apparently there are a few QoL upgrades too.
Hori Nintendo Switch Split Pad
After my Binbok controller's ZR broke and they wouldn't sell me parts, I decided that I needed a new controller. While these are missing a lot, the size and comfort of the grips is really nice. I also got them on sale, so the dollar per feature isn't as bad. Hopefully they don't develop drift too soon. That's what's nice about the Binbok's, they have hall effect joysticks.
¹ I learned recently that “Search Action” is a calque² from the Japanese name for the genre. 探索アクション³ or tansaku, means search, and is usually paired with whatever “action” is in Japanese. Hence “search action.” Sounds less dumb with context.
² Similar to a Loan Word, a claque is a name for a thing literally translated from another language.
³ I'm getting this from Reddit, so it could very well be wrong.⁴
⁴ Yes, I like nested footnotes.
⁵ Wuxia, 武俠, literally “Martial Hero” is a genre of story about a hero that rights wrongs. Many, many marital arts movies fit this genre.
