Favorites of 2025
image: the sailers as characters from Final Fantasy Type-0
How we intend to approach the New Year
It's been a hell of a year (derogatory). Everyone I know has been having a rough go of it this year. But! There's some wins! There's some joy! I started working out more consistently (so have several of the sailers; we're entering our collective gym era). I'm also more excited about my teaching and my dissertation than I've been in years! So, ya know, some good is possible! A better world is possible! But, it won't be easy. Okay, enough doom and gloom, let's talk about some fun stuff.
Games of 2025
Legend of Zelda - Windwaker
This is probably the best Zelda game for me. Like, Link's Awakening and Link to the Past will always mean a lot to me, but they really can't hold a candle to this one. The art style is so expressive and fun and it's got a solid balance of powerful story beats and goofy moments. It's really incredible. I feel spoiled because this Link is so goofy and expressive and we may never see that again, which is a god damn shame.
Final Fantasy Tactics
This is one of the best-written games I've ever played. Like, I get the hype now. I'd like to go and check out literally everything else Matsuno has ever written for because it's that good.
- Also, Final Fantasy Tactics games are BUILT DIFFERENT. For example: the way that unarmed damage is calculated is based partially on Bravery in FFT and Ramza's Bravery changes frequently based on different story choices and can be increased with one of his moves, so his damage by the end was unreal. That wild build crafting is insane. I love it. BTW, I completed this game maybe a month before the remake was announced, so, you're welcome.
Absolum
Honestly, this game was so much fucking fun. Like, story is whatever, but the art style and mechanical play is so much fucking fun that I don't care. And the characters are so cool. Nonbinary robot person? HELL YES. Mint talked about it before and honestly, go read that
Prince of Persia - Lost Crown
An outstanding Metroidvania. Like, I tried playing Silksong after I beat this and I was like "this just ain't hitting." This game has so much good QoL and moves in a much more fun interesting way from the very jump that I can't help but love it. Also, literally everyone in this game can get it, my GOD.
Alba - A Wildlife Adventure
This is a super cute little game where you're a little girl visiting her grandparents. Granpda gives you his old phone and you take pictures of the wildlife. It's a super cute little conservationist game, def worth checking out.
Spyro the Dragon
I'm putting this here because when I was a kid, I couldn't beat it for some reason and so to finally do that makes me so happy. It is definitely something that unlocks a nostalgic old joy in me.
Repo This game is so much fun, I think just about every time we've played, we have all ended up in tears at one point or another. We never get that far, but we still have so much fun. Absolute banger of a homie game.
Books
The Stonewall Reader
I think this book is exceptionally important from a queer history perspective. A lot of different perspectives in there and it gives me a great deal of joy reading it. Like, I just want more queer history.
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
I don't know how to describe this book exactly, other than saying it is one of the best books that I have ever read. Deeply moving overall and had several moments that were so powerfully written that I basically had to step away for a bit.
Underground Railroad
Also just a really good read. Terrifying and unflinching look at slavery. I would like to know how much of this is based on reality because some of it is very intense but also like, American chattel slavery was incredibly fucked up! They did some heinous fucking shit! Also, this feels like a modern version of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself. Like, a version written in the modern era. It's got a few elements which just kind of feel familiar if you've read that book.
Comic Medievalism - Laughing at the Middle Ages
- shout out to this because it has had a huge effect (positive) on my dissertation. There's a lot to be said about it but it's an academic book, so like, are you really that interested?
Movies
My Dinner With Andre
I had a feeling I would like this movie. I remember seeing that one clip that ran around on tiktok for a while way back and it hit me. Then I watched it and it really just struck me. Probably an all-timer for me.
Sinners
This is one of the best movies that I have ever seen. I saw it twice in theaters, which is two more than I see most movies these days.
Robin & Marian
This is a 70s flick about an aging Robin Hood returning from the holy land and King Richard's wars. It's overall really cool. It does a few things which I think the vast majority of Robin Hood films aren't courageous or bold enough to and that rules. Ultimately, it's a rekindling of the romance between Robin and Marian at the same time that it is a meditation on legacy and aging. Little rough being a 70s Connery flick, but worth a watch, imo.
War of the Worlds (homie movie)
This movie is fucking terrible BUT, if you watch it with friends, you're most likely to have a good time because it's so weird and stupid.
Weapons
I have been thinking of this movie since we watched it. I really need to watch it again. Barbarian was not a fluke, this white boy's got some sauce. Hope he continues to crush it.
Death of a Unicorn
Okay, but it literally is what it says on the tin. And it was supremely cool for that. I also dig the decision to go sort of old school with the interpretation of unicorns. Making them these giant, Clydesdale-ass horses with beards and sharp teeth was so cool. Also, you could put Jenna Ortega in almost anything and I'd watch it.
Superman
It was super cool to a superhero movie that's just unashamed of being that and doing it with a fair amount of heart and honesty. I had a good ass time, which is wild cause I don't normally fw Superman. It's so earnest and heartfelt, it's hard not to love. Also, Mr. Terrific is actually the GOAT in this movie, no question.
Honorable mentions - these guys are good, but not quite favorites
The Day the Earth Blew Up - A Looney Tunes Movie
- Generally a good time. Just silly bullshit
- Very well animated
- NO STUNT CASTING
House on Haunted Hill 1958
- Vincent Price was the coolest man ever.
Remembering Gene Wilder
- Just a sweet movie about Gene Wilder, learned a lot about him and how dope a dude he was
Dishonored
- I had a good ass time with it. See why it was so popular in its day
Beacon Pines
- super cute and a great art style to go with it. Sort of an interesting twisty, turny plot and I loved it for that.
Aeruta
- If you wanted Recettear, this is probably the closest you'll get. I'm not done with it, but it's a fun ride so far
Until Dawn (homie movie)
- Again, not a good movie, but a largely forgettable one, overall. It's worth considering as a comedy and watching with friends, otherwise, big skip. But we had fun with it.
I do wanna mention Lost Soul Aside and Dispatch not because either of them were good, but because they were fun activities with friends. Some people loved these games, the latter much more so than the former. As with the most recent Knives Out, I was unimpressed. Such is life. That's it from me this year, I think. Catch ya in 2026.
hey, if ya like what I post, you can toss a few buck here. I don't like shaking the change jar, but it's hard out here, y'all.