Video Games and What We’re Thankful For: 2025

Flora Merigold

I have made no secret that 2025 has been an incredibly difficult year for me emotionally, which has eaten the lion’s share of gaming time out of my life. Though, despite those struggles, I have still been graced with some of the best games in recent memory. I think the obvious beginning point is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – a game that skyrocketed into my top 10, instantly cementing itself as an all-timer for every possible reason, as I’ve explored in my article about the game. But I also think about games I haven’t written or podcasted about, like Split Fiction, which I’ve spent nearly 20 hours with my good friend Shy working through on weekend hangouts, not that the game itself has changed me per se, but the way it has facilitated my friendship is something I’m grateful for. There’s also vain attempts that I’ve made to 100% backlog games like Slay the Princess (I’m only ONE achievement away, but that gallery, man, it’s annoying to complete), but have kept me occupied for many hours.

I also tend to forget that absolute bangers like Elden Ring: Nightreign came out this year – it just feels like a lifetime ago to me. and Roger is another standout that I still need to write about at length; I should be guesting on my friend Matt Storm’s podcast regarding the game quite soon, just need to precisify my thoughts. And I’m not gonna pretend like I didn’t day-one DDinosaurs with Double D’s and Date Everything, though I need to budget time to play them – just, what a year. Oh, and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii was an absurd but instant-classic entry into my favorite series. There are some unfortunately uncomfortable parts of my gaming year like Disney Villians Cursed Cafe, which I played with my ex, but even still, I can’t think of a single game I played this year that fundamentally disappointed me. I’m tempted to say 2025 is maybe the best year we’ve had for gaming in…several? But give me another month to work through the backlog – I doubt it’ll disappoint.

Silksong sucks ass, though, and I will not apologize for that (correct) opinion.

Andy Webb

I’ve had my fill of gushing about TTRPGs lately and how they’ve mostly consumed my gaming habits. But this year has been a slight return to form for me. The hermit finally coming back into the sunlight. Or more accurately, sitting behind the screen in the gamer dungeon (my office). Without diving deep on the subject here but perhaps in writing somewhere on Epilogue in the future, it’s like the plug in the drain was pulled and the water overflowing from the tub is finally below the fill line. Many thanks to Expedition 33, Megabonk, Deadlock, and Arc Raiders. I found myself playing games with purpose again, and have meandered my way back toward a fulfillment lost in recent years.

There is something deeply striking that, as I grow older, I have less the need to explain and more the longing to feel. Whether in isolation or shared. The quiet contemplation after turning the last page of a good book, or uproarious applause after a moving orchestra. A return to the realm, if you’ll permit a final analogy, in which within I am finding color again as though for the first time and without I continue to seek perspective. I doubled the number of games I played last year, and in the reflection granted by introspection as we often do this holiday season, I have implicitly reminded myself of something my heart remembers fondly.

Ben Vollmer

In a world that has begun to feel oh-so-cold and creatively challenged due to emerging forms of AI and dangerous echo chambers, I’m so thankful for games that have brought new, exciting, and interesting ideas to the forefront of my brain all year. I should probably start with my newfound obsession with roguelike deckbuilders – namely Balatro and Slay the Spire – both of which I have hundreds of hours in. The former in particular was exactly the kind of wind-down I needed during the throes of my dissertation work. The deeper I get into both, the more I uncover. It helped remind me of why I love learning so much. 

This is another year I’m thankful for indie titles as well, which seem to be exercising the most creative concepts (and perhaps that was always the case). This year alone, I’ve played dozens of games that sparked my imagination – from Iron Lung, to Blue Prince, all the way to Citizen Sleeper 2. All games I think disproportionately about given their size and ambition. It’s just a year where I find myself particularly appreciative of a little creativity. Never stop brainstorming, and happy holidays! 

StreamingFalcon

I often get emotional when I reflect deeply on things I really enjoy. I’m very appreciative for all I have, for the people in my life, and for where I see myself going in the future. Things aren’t always easy, especially now, but I know that I am very fortunate to be in a position to be able to look at things through a lens of gratitude and optimism.

Something I’ve really been thankful for this year is being able to rediscover my love of video games as a place of comfort, relaxation, and pure joy. I think this might come as a surprise to hear from me, but for a while, I found myself having trouble just playing games for the fun of playing games. I was in a rut, not a lot of games were really grabbing my interest, and I felt a bit disconnected from something that has always been a huge part of my life. This year, playing games like Blue Prince, Persona 5 Royal, and Dragon Quest I (remake), has really reminded me why video games are important to me, and will always be a wonderful and welcome part of my happiness.

I’m also thankful for Silksong, because it blows the original Hollow Knight out of the water.

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