Phrasemaker

Phrasemaker’s Best of 2025: Movies, TV Shows, Music, Games, and Books

Branden Zavaleta
25–38 minutes

Beautifully, Phrasemaker has blossomed into a bustling online publication with thirty team members. It only started this year, and now we have members in New Zealand, India, Australia, the U.S., and those are just the most common ones (we even have someone writing in Nairobi!). Me, personally, I’m very happy about it. If we can get a hundred people together next year, even better (write with us…).

But enough advertising. Here we’ve put together the highlights of the year. It’s an impressive list. Thousand-page Polish sci-fi is brushing shoulders with Brad Pitt. Dennis is connecting Bugonia to Fellini’s 8 1/2 while Grace is giddy about Dispatch‘s cute dog, Beef. This list is an event in itself, and having read through it all, it’s given me a whole bunch of new stuff to be excited for in 2026.

P.S. You can use this list to skip ahead:

Table of Contents

Best Movies of 2025

This years cream of the cinema crop is filled with horror. Horror and romance. Even a few horror-romances (like Hamnet…). Surprisingly though, no One Battle After Another or Avatar: Fire and Ash (or Eddington…). I guess we’re trendsetters like that (phrasemakers even…).

Bring Her Back

Reviewed by Celine Grant

It’s not surprising that Australian twin filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back ended up on my watch list. As lauded as it was, I didn’t consider their previous and debut feature film, Talk to Me, to be revolutionary, but it was ripe with potential.

Bring Her Back is a perfect example of bettering your craft. In it, two siblings (Billy Barratt and Sora Wong) are sent to live with their foster mother (Sally Hawkins), whose bubbly demeanor conceals a sinister secret. We’ve reached a juncture in the “elevated” horror landscape where grief is often the central thesis of a film. So much so that it’s become a bit of a running joke, with some critics going as far as to label any movie that touches the topic as derivative and uninspired.

But to me that’s akin to complaining about the existence of too many love songs. Grief is maddening, unshakeable, and at times it can be downright dangerous. Bring Her Back utilizes every horror convention at its disposal to convey that feeling. At the doctor’s office I can put on a brave face when the needles come out, and the room doesn’t start spinning at the sight of blood, but Bring Her Back is the first film to elicit a visceral response from me. And that full-body inundation of dread and despair is exactly what grief is.

Celine’s Most Anticipated Movie of 2026: The Odyssey

Bugonia

Reviewed by Dennis Moiseyev

Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone have solidified themselves as the modern-day Scorsese and De Niro cinematic power duo when it comes to weird, unconventional, and highly original filmmaking. While I was a big fan of Poor Things and had The Killing of a Sacred Deer down as my favorite of Lanthimos’s entire filmography, Bugonia somehow managed to impress me far more this year and now stands as my all-time favorite from Lanthimos. The cinematography is as impactful as you expect, but elevated even better with the booming soundtrack by Jerskin Fendrix, which makes even the most nonchalant moments here over-the-top cinematic. 

There are black-and-white visuals here that are like a cross between sci-fi horror and Fellini’s 8 ½, and the twists and turns all the way up to the ending scene are so shocking. Bugonia has one of the best final acts of the year. The final sequence is also laced with so much commentary on top of what you already received from Plemons’ and Emma Stone’s characters that makes it all the more brilliant. It’s one of those scripts that lets the performances shine through dialogue and doesn’t come along too often (and hopefully wins an Oscar). Jesse Plemons also gives his best, most tragic, and unhinged performance yet (yes, even when I’ve seenI’m Thinking of Ending Things).

Most Anticipated: Digger

Companion

Reviewed by Cameron Waldrop

Jack Quaid has been on an absolute tear with his roles recently, just this year saw the unique action flick Novocaine and his enjoyable (small) appearance in Heads of State. However, his (and my general) best film of 2025 definitely belongs to Companion. It’s a relationship movie that serves as an amazing allegory for dating. I’m not going to get into the plot as it’s something everyone should go into blind, even if some of the movie’s marketing REALLY wants to ruin it for you. I’d say the whole underlying theme of the movie is that perfection isn’t really possible in dating, and that you should always be careful of those who might have some sort of control over you. Also, Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) was fantastic in the film, and she hasn’t gotten nearly enough recognition for it.

Cameron’s Most Anticipated of 2026: Project Hail Mary.

F1

Reviewed by Shodi Madian

Joseph Kosinski’s F1 was released in June 2025, and when I first saw it, I immediately knew this would be in my top 3 movies of the year, even though there’s still half a year to go. Every aspect of this movie is top notch, the plot, camerawork, sound effects, action, and especially the suspense.

F1 succeeds in bringing to life how adrenaline-pumping it is to drive a beast of a machine in high-stakes competition. Yes, there are one or two ‘impossible’ moments, but that hyperbole is what makes a great movie even more dramatic, and in a good way. Even with a pretty predictable story outcome, the non-stop action and suspense really got me hooked. I was cheering and gasping, and not just me, others in the cinema did too, just like watching a real race. I loved it.

Shodi’s Most Anticipated Movie of 2026: Avengers: Doomsday

Frankenstein

Reviewed by Anthony Fichtner

When I look back at all of the films that I watched this year, Frankenstein is the one that stands out the most. Not only did Guillermo del Toro spectacularly retell this classic tale, but the stellar set design alone makes this film worth the watch. On top of that, the cast is remarkable. Oscar Isaac is theatrical in his portrayal as Doctor Frankenstein, and Jakob Elordi is down right stunning as The Creature. Broken up into two parts, Frankenstein, although not perfectly faithful to the novel, is able to keep the same themes that are even more relevant today. I was so nervous for this film to come out as I desperately wanted it to be good, and Del Toro did not disappoint.

For more, here is my full review of Frankenstein.

Hamnet

Reviewed by Shantelle Santos

I’ve been struggling to find the words to describe how this movie made me feel. I sat in the cinema completely and utterly heartbroken, yet left with a sense of hope and awe at what I watched. But the feeling alone is more than enough to make this my top movie of the year.

Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s book of the same name, Hamnet, we are taken into the fictional world of William and Agnes Shakespeare, the tragic loss of their son Hamnet, and how it influences the writing of the famous play, Hamlet.

Jessie Buckley’s raw and honest performance makes her a shoe in to win the Oscar, with Jacobi Jupe no doubt receiving the same type of attention and accolades with his aching performance of Hamnet. Hamnet is as poetic as Shakespeare’s own prose, a beautiful and devastating tragedy of love and grief. Definitely a film that’s being added to my Letterboxd Top 4.

Shantelle’s Most Anticipated Movie of 2026: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Reviewed by Tarun Sayal

The Final Reckoning sadly brings an end to a two-decade-old film franchise starring Tom Cruise. Inarguably, the final iteration gives an awesome ending to Mission: Impossible, even if it falls just a little short of Dead Reckoning. The night before the release, I saw a bunch of early reviews calling the movie dull. One even said it was the worst in the franchise. So I walked into the theater with low expectations. But the whole time I kept thinking, when does the dull part start?

Yes, it’s long, but it never feels slow. I was in the theater for over three hours, yet it never felt like that. From the moment it started, I was fully engaged, got stunning visuals, real emotional moments, and satisfying callbacks that longtime M:I fans will appreciate. When the credits rolled, I felt nothing but respect for the filmmakers and the entire team, not just for this movie but for the whole journey since 1996.

Overall, it may not beat Mission: Impossible Fallout for me, but it will stay just as memorable. It does exactly what it needs to do. It wraps up the franchise in a spectacular way without going over the top with action like the Fast and Furious movies.

Sentimental Value

Reviewed by Pia Ocvirk

Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value is a complex, personal story of family, home, and healing. Trier crafts it almost as just a slice of life, realistic and raw in a way that feels simultaneously universal and hyperspecific. His direction is confident and it’s quite obvious just how well he works with his actors because not only does this cast deliver my favourite performances of the year, but performances that will be talked about as we settle into the awards season.

Undeniable skill and quality shining through in every scene. The film’s final sequence, which ties into one that we’ve seen laid out earlier in the film, is filmmaking at its most satisfying and further proof of just how meticulously crafted this film is.

My full review of Sentimental Value.

Sinners

Reviewed by Renee Aguila

Now, who could forget Sinners? The clever juxtaposition of music and horror was unforgettable. Watching this movie was an experience in itself. It doesn’t use sound as just atmosphere, but as a driving narrative force that heightens tension and emotion in a lot of ways. Sinners disturbed me because of how each scene seems carefully constructed, allowing silence and sound to dance together and build the dread this movie has, rather than relying on shock factor.

At the same time, the movie carefully navigates around the intermingling of many cultures in the 1900s, grounding its horror in a specific historical and social context that adds depth rather than spectacle. It also plays a huge part in shaping each of the characters’ fears and moral conflicts. With that, Sinners has become a huge movie that thoughtfully uses horror and music to explore identity, tension, and discomfort. 

Renee’s Most Anticipated Movie of 2026: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Best Music of 2025

Not a lot of musicians made the Phrasemaker charts this year. Makes it easy for you to listen to them, doesn’t it? All three solo artists and… nine Korean pop stars.

Baby by Dijon

Reviewed by Celine Grant

Dijon’s Baby is an album for the lover boys and the family men. It’s a record about domesticity that’s anything but docile. With his sophomore album, the 33-year-old has curated a sprawling soundscape teeming with 80’s pop influences.

More than a treat for the ears, the production on Baby is downright gluttonous. It’s a true manifestation of maximalism, and my favorite tracks exemplify this. Dijon never shies away from truly going “for it.” His unabashed sincerity permeates every track and adds a layer of depth and dynamism to an already multifaceted body of work. It’s a level of honesty and rawness that can be off-putting upon first listen but finds a way to rope you back in and keep you hooked. 

Read Celine’s full review here.
Celine’s Most Anticipated Album of 2026: Joshua Burnside’s It’s Not Going to be Okay

Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams

Reviewed by Renee Aguila

As a long-time Paramore fan, I’ve been closely following the solo album ventures of frontwoman Hayley Williams since the release of Petals for Armor and then Flowers for Vases / Descansos. I was pleasantly surprised when Ego Death of a Bachelorette Party first dropped, not as an album, but as 17 individual singles self-published by Williams herself. It’s a return to the tangibility of music, making it a personal experience for listeners who have curated a variety of playlists in their own way to listen to all the songs. 

A standout to me was ‘Ice in My OJ’ with its raw energy, synth-pop vibes. When listening to other tracks, I was taken aback by the different directions each song would go, such as the vulnerability in ‘Negative Self-Talk’ and the nostalgia of ‘Dream Girl in Shibuya,’ especially having gone to Japan for the first time in late 2024. ‘Parachute’ is a track that’s become my current favorite with its guitars and lyrical intensity. Overall, this album feels messy in the most intentional way, and there’s no pressure to consume it in one sitting. And I think that’s the best way to enjoy and appreciate it. In its lyrical discomfort, contradiction, and self-reflection.

Renee’s Most Anticipated Album of 2026: The Mountain by Gorillaz

Tether by Annahstasia

Reviewed by Branden Zavaleta

My album of the year was almost Geese’s Getting Killed. It has a couple songs on it that I’ve been listening to, singing, and getting caught in my head nonstop. Great, amazing songs that make a good case for the album alone. Those are the popular ones, ‘Taxes’ and ‘Au Pays Du Cocaine’, but I couldn’t remember the other songs off the album, so I put it on. Listening to it as an album, I realised that not only do I not like some of the songs, I kind of hate a few too. ‘Trinidad’ is a little catchy, a little obnoxious. It doesn’t mesh with the yearning, modern-Bob Dylan style that I love in the rest of it.

So that’s second place. Tether isn’t on Rolling Stone’s top 100, so I like it better as a recommendation anyway. It’s gorgeous, blindingly, hypnotically beautiful. Listen to ‘Silk and Velvet’. Close your eyes, let it envelop you. Transcendent. Makes your eyes water. ‘Be Kind‘ and ‘Believer‘ are just as good, put the whole album together and it’s a masterpiece.

This Is For by TWICE

Reviewed by Shodi Madian

My appreciation and love for Twice goes beyond normal, but this year is much more special. 2025 marks the 10-year anniversary for Twice, and they couldn’t have made this year better with “This is For.” Not only great to listen to, it’s also a symbol of their compassion, teamwork, and adaptability, an example of a perfect group as a whole. Ten years and still making top charts is unusual in the K-Pop market, but Twice shows what they can do. You go, ladies!

Best TV Shows of 2025

Tons of TV came through the tube this year. Aliens and Amadeus and two shows featuring Mr Scorsese. Throw in a Mussolini, a murderbot, and a chair company and that’s more than anyone can watch. Thankfully… that’s what this list is for.

Big Boys Season 3

Reviewed by Celine Grant

Big Boys, Jack Rooke’s little comedy that could, came to a gut-wrenching conclusion this year. Big Boys and even bigger feelings. The farewell season goes out of its way to tackle all the ugly and dark bits of depression yet still manages to end on a hopeful note. The British coming-of-age sitcom follows a fictionalized version of creator Jack Rooke (Dylan Llewellyn) as he navigates college (or “uni,” as the Brits would say), grapples with grief, and seeks to explore his sexuality alongside his best mate, Danny (Jon Pointing), the epitome of a bro (or “lad,” once again as the Brits would say). The pair’s unlikely friendship is a source of boundless laughter and just as much heartbreak. Like the previous seasons, Big Boys balances humor and heart with ease. The final installment opts for more surrealist scenes. And by doing this, the show does what was previously thought to be impossible. It gets better.

Celine’s Most Anticipated TV Show of 2026:Industry Season 4

Dexter Resurrection

Reviewed by Cameron Waldrop

After the events of New Blood, I had kind of expected that to be the full end of the series, and I’m glad it wasn’t. We were shown a Dexter who had retreated and hidden, but Resurrection once again takes Dexter to a big city, where he does what he does best. Resurrection doesn’t just give Dexter a new playground to explore. Viewers also get an update on beloved characters still in Miami. This new start/season offers an impressive cast (Peter Dinklage, Uma Thurman, Eric Stonestreet) that gives Dexter more of a challenge than we’ve seen in many previous seasons. This was a fantastic season of TV and a continued example of rebooting an older show done right.

The Lowdown

Reviewed by Anthony Fichtner

A show that I could not stop talking about after I watched it, The Lowdown is not only the best show of 2025, but it is one of my favorite shows that I’ve watched in a while. Ethan Hawke plays the main role Lee Ray Bon, who is a self-proclaimed “truthstorian” and journalist. Lee finds himself in the middle of a hillbilly conspiracy when the brother of governor candidate Donald Washburn (Kyle MacLachlan) mysteriously dies. Feeling guilty for writing a piece that ran the family through the dirt, Lee works to solve this mysterious death. On top of that, this show handles some serious societal issues like the plight of Native Americans in Oklahoma as well as the dangers of trying to do the right thing.

For more, here is my full review of The Lowdown.

Stranger Things Season 5

Reviewed by Dennis Moiseyev

My most anticipated show in 2025, the final season of Stranger Things more than met my expectations. The writing, creature action, twists, visuals, chemistry, and fun nods to other films and literature blew me away. Season 5 puts all the other major sci-fi horror IP shows this year like Alien: Earth, It: Welcome to Derry, and The Last of Us Season 2 to shame. The Duffer Brothers have created an incredible opus of sci-fi television. The story developments they have planned for the final chapter with Vecna, Will, the Upside Down, and the rest of the cast are bonkers and well-written. If you love Lovecraftian horror as well as very Stephen King-influenced stories, Stranger Things blows every other series out of the water. It’s neck and neck with Netflix’s Dark for me.

Holly Wheeler and Derek Turnbow are fantastic additions to the cast and quickly became new favorites. The interactions- from funny, to pure dread and terror, to incredibly emotional ones- are superbly written. There’s a major moment involving Will in the penultimate episode where he reveals a major truth about himself that moved me and will go down among the best monologues in TV history. The lore and worldbuilding are mind-blowing this season. Mike’s younger sister, Holly, gets an Alice in Wonderland-themed side plot with notes of Red Riding Hood. There’s so much inspiration shining through this season. Stranger Things 5 blurs the lines of TV and cinema.

Dennis’ Most Anticipated TV Show of 2026: The Boys S5

Yellowjackets Season 3

Reviewed by Grace Black

Yellowjackets Season 3 is, without a doubt, my TV show of the year. I had been eagerly awaiting to see what kind of twisted direction the story would follow next, and which secrets may be uncovered. I must admit, though, I was a little hesitant after knowing my favorite character had met her fate in Season 2, at least in the present/adult timeline. Poor Natalie. Let’s just say that despite fears that her presence as a character may be missing in the continuation of the story, I was not disappointed in the slightest. In fact, she got plenty of screentime in the flashback timeline, as teenage Nat was under the spotlight in her role within the community this season. Seeing her in the past again kind of just loops back around and makes everything feel both more ‘complete’ as a story, as well as bittersweet, if I’m honest. Y’know, considering her adult life, struggles, and fate…

This season took a huge step forward in answering questions viewers have been desperate to find out. We got to see Nat break away from the world they had built to cope, and how she ultimately plays a huge part (along with some help from Misty and Van, of course) in what seems to be how everyone will be saved. Meanwhile, adult Shauna appears to be losing more and more of herself, leaning back into the darkness of how ‘alive’ and ‘free’ she felt back in the wilderness, part of her mindset still lingering in the wicked, cult-like ways they used for survival. And most importantly…three seasons later from when the show first kicked off, we finally got a reveal on who ‘Pit Girl’ was. It was an incredibly satisfying moment, looping back to the opening scene of the show that set those grim, uneasy feelings and survival/cult clash themes up for the entire series. Despite the satisfaction, it left me feeling empty inside, my gut absolutely twisting. Even though she was never a major character until this season despite being there the whole time, it hit hard. Yellowjackets just manages to create such an impact with these pivotal moments that they stick with you as a viewer. Finally, we end on a cliffhanger that sets up the plot for Season 4, with Natalie making contact with the outside world. Is rescue finally about to come?

All around, a phenomenal season that continued the amazing psychological horror and emotional shock Yellowjackets is so well known for. I absolutely can not wait to see how both the past and present storylines wrap up in the final season (Season 4), which is currently expected for late 2026 or early 2027.

Best Games of 2025

What makes a game the best? For Tarun, it’s presentation. For Grace, the characters. For Cameron? I’m not sure. He plays his cards close to the chest. Trophies, maybe. For Shodi and Harry, it’s the sport of it. And for Gonçalo? A little bit of couch co-op.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Reviewed by Tarun Sayal

The list is incomplete without this year’s The Game Awards winner, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It’s an RPG title made by a smaller studio, and it really highlights how much money larger studios tend to waste.

What really pulled me in, though, was the presentation. The visuals, art direction, and world design are stunning. You explore the world using an overworld map, which I love seeing in modern RPGs. 

Every region is a joy to explore, and the character work, from the animations to the voice performances, stands among some of the best this medium has ever seen. Overall, it is an absolutely incredible title from start to finish and is worth every RPG fan’s time.

Dispatch

Reviewed by Grace Black

Dispatch may be fun in terms of gameplay, managing a team of ex-villain-now-superheroes, and sending them out to respond to alerts. However, where it truly shines is the storytelling. The game has a very calming vibe to it, making it the perfect thing to play when you want to sit back, relax, and unwind.

And on top of that? The cast of characters is phenomenal. Players take on the role of protagonist Robert Robertson, who goes from one of the most infamous hidden identity superheroes to a normal ‘nobody’ working at dispatch. However, along the way, it becomes clear that Roberts’ incredibly genuine approach to life and how deeply human and relatable he is, is a superpower in its own. He single-handedly manages to take on not the A team, not the B team, the C team, or even the D team. He takes on the Z team and manages to give them a fresh start. It’s an incredibly satisfying sentiment to see play out in-game.

The other characters are an absolute joy, as well, and are brought to life through the incredibly talented voice acting of the Critical Role cast, as well as some well-known content creators in the gaming space. From Invisigirl, ‘Visi’, who can go from disobeying direct orders and throwing sarcasm over her shoulder to puffing on her inhaler or endearing ADHD rambles, to Sonar, a literal finance bro bat-man who has alternating forms and some very…interesting voicelines, or even Flambae, who is like a much angrier, less tolerable version of Human Torch. Seriously, the guy is an absolute ass. But there’s no way I can bring myself to hate any of them because even the ‘asshole’ characters are entirely lovable.

There are heaps of humorous dialogue between the team members and Robert, and plenty of wholesome, heartfelt scenes to uncover – (Yes, I’m looking at you Water Boy!). If you’re looking for a choice-based narrative first with some simplistic yet fun strategic gameplay elements, Dispatch absolutely knocks it out of the park in every way. Oh, and there’s even an adorable doggo. His name is Beef. I love Beef. You will love Beef. We all love Beef.

Read Grace’s full review here.

Grace’s most anticipated games of 2026: Solasta II Early Access, and Agefield High: Rock the School.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Reviewed by Cameron Waldrop

I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t click with the first game and just couldn’t get into it at all. So, I was taking a risk when I picked up KCD2, despite all the good things I had heard about it, but I was blown away.

I couldn’t put it down, and it was all I played for the countless hours the first playthrough took. I even went so far in that playthrough to get all the trophies and end up with platinum, which wasn’t quite an easy feat. Two trophies offer a story-encompassing challenge to never eat meat or directly kill an animal. Combat, character models, traversal, and skill mini-games all create one of the most enjoyable open-world RPGs of the year.

Most Anticipated: Code Vein 2

Lost Records: Bloom and Rage

Reviewed by Grace Black

Very few games have truly made me feel the same way as the emotional rollercoaster that is Life is Strange. Well, when I learned that the original creators of the first two LiS titles were behind a new series called Lost Records, I absolutely jumped at the game. And I’m so glad that I did. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage completely recreates that special feeling found in Life is Strange. I smiled, laughed, gasped, and wept my way through the story. It creates a very fond nostalgia, both in aesthetics and storytelling. The narrative takes place across two alternating timeframes set when the characters are young, dumb teenagers getting into trouble in the 90s, and then reconnecting as grown adults, looking back on those days

The aesthetics are stunning, the soundtrack is brilliant, and the cast is great – each individual holding their own quirks and style. There’s Nora, the skate punk rockstar wannabe, Autumn, her much more grounded and down-to-earth bestie, and Kat, a tough (but secretly sweet) homeschooled girl who has a strained relationship with her family. You play as Swann, an anxious and awkward film nerd who finds her place in this crowd of misfits...right before she is set to move out of town with her family at the end of summer. This creates this lingering feeling of acknowledgement and sadness as you progress through the game, for Swann has finally found a place to fit in, only to be ripped away. It remains in your brain through every little moment and cutscene, but never enough to dampen those feelings of joy. Simply enough to make you remember as Swann, to really absorb and enjoy every little moment that occurs. I can’t quite describe it, but there was something about this tragic timing of the narrative that had me absolutely hanging on to every word, laugh, and tear shed by the Bloom & Rage crew.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a beautiful, bittersweet story about friendship, music, and leaving what you know behind. It touches on loneliness, change, grief, finding a sense of belonging/community, and the general bumps in the road of growing up. By the end of the story, I was reminded to take nothing for granted. To hold on to lovely memories, because sometimes they are all you have left. To treasure time spent with friends and loved ones. It’s an incredibly touching tale with a cast that feels very human, very goofy, and even cringe in the absolutely best ‘oh god, was that me as a teen?’ way. I cannot recommend this game enough, especially to the crowd who enjoyed the LiS franchise, narrative-heavy choice-based games, or simply a beautiful, interactive, emotional experience that will linger with you long after the credits have rolled. I am one hundred percent on board with the ‘Lost Records’ franchise for the future, and will be ecstatic to follow along and see if any more new entries, sequels, or DLC content are planned for the future.
More of Grace’s most anticipated games of 2026: Stupid Never Dies, and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis.

Marvel Rivals

Reviewed by Shodi Madian

This booming NetEase game was launched in late 2024, but it’s still the top contender for the best game this year. Aside from it being great because of Marvel, obviously, NetEase really succeeded in creating beautiful visuals, top-notch gameplay, wide hero pool, and constant balancing updates. The constantly changing metas from Season 1 through Season 5 show that the devs are actively monitoring the gameplay. For me, Marvel Rivals is still the best game in 2025. However, there’s just one missing aspect that could shorten the game’s lifespan: fixed role queue. They should add this mode if they want to keep the playerbase high.

Shodi’s Most Anticipated Game of 2026: GTA VI.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Reviewed by Harry Fritsch

Lizardcube once again keeps the spirit of retro Sega alive with this high-octane return to the classic Shinobi series. Art of Vengeance captures the same energetic magic of the original games while making everything feel so satisfyingly modern.

Combat is layered yet accessible, the level designs are varied, and the art style oozes charm in every detail. This game sets a new standard for retro revivals moving forward and is truly the return of the ninja master.

The Outer Worlds 2

Reviewed by Anthony Fichtner

For my pick for best videogame, I wanted to go outside the ordinary. I could easily pick Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades II, or even Arc Raiders. However, I wanted to choose a game that didn’t get much spotlight this year that it definitely deserved.

Even though I recommend playing The Outer Worlds first, you do not need to as the two stories are not related. In this one, you play in the fictional star system Arcadia that has been overtaken by greedy corporations and overbearing armies. You play as an Earth Directorate agent that is navigating their way through a rift event that puts the entire system in danger of being destroyed. If you are into sci-fi, westerns, and in-depth RPGs where every decision matters, I highly advise you give The Outer Worlds 2 a try.

Sunderfolk

Reviewed by Gonçalo Santos

The first game developed by Mike Morhaime’s Dreamhaven studio, Sunderfolk is one of the best titles I’ve played this year, a reminder that phones are excellent for videogames— just not the way Blizzard thought—, and an unfortunate example of the fact that great games don’t always do well. With a simple but charming narrative, a steady difficulty climb, and a rewarding progression, Sunderfolk kept me and my friends entertained for quite a few sessions, both on a packed couch and on a Discord call.
It has now become my go-to recommendation for couch co-op games alongside Hazelight’s masterpieces, and has me yearning for more titles that use mobile phones as controllers, taking the logistic nightmares out of LAN parties. I can’t wait to see what Secret Door develops next.

Gonçalo’s Most Anticipated Game for 2026: CONTROL Resonant

Best Books of 2025

And to cap off the list, a couple hardcovers. None of them are your usual suspects; a thousand pages of “black physics” in frozen Poland, a rustbelt gothic photo book, and some sort of third thing that might be a mix of both?

Ice by Jacek Dukaj

Reviewed by Vincent Halles

My best book of 2025 is Ice by Jacek Dukaj, first published in 2007 and finally translated into English in 2025. Set in an alternate twentieth century frozen mid-history by a mysterious physical phenomenon, the novel imagines a world where matter, politics, and even logic itself have literally frozen. The First World War never took place, and Eastern European politics exist in a kind of permanent stasis.

It is a dense, cerebral, and uncompromising read that explores the deep link between climate and politics, which is quite rare. I found myself feeling physically cold in the same way Dune once made me thirsty. Frostpunk fans, this is definitely your fix.

My most anticipated for 2026:The Forest on the Edge of Time by Jasmin Kirkbride (Another climate driven fiction!)

Epitaph by Brendon Burton

Reviewed by Branden Zavaleta

I didn’t read many books this year, not even photobooks. I did find new photographers that I love, and Brendon Burton is one of them. His book, Epitaph, is a collection of his rural documentary photography. Burton is a fashion photographer too, and he brings a gothic, painterly eye to the scenery. Very Andrew Wyeth. His collection includes more than a couple photos that are genuinely breathtaking and magic to look at. It inspired me to interview him, which you can find here. 

Most Anticipated: Yeh Bali by Lucas Leo Catalano

Strange Houses by Uketsu

Reviewed by Renee Aguila

This year marked the first step away from the “Young Adult” and “Romantasy” genres. I finally caught up on books I never had time to read, most of them falling squarely into those familiar categories. While browsing on the “booktok,” feed though, I stumbled upon a carousel post of unsettling images from Strange Houses by Uketsu. The post teased floor plans that dared viewers to spot literally strange features, pulling me down an unexpected rabbit hole into the Mystery and Thriller genres.

Strange Houses is the second entry in Uketsu’s books. I started reading Strange Pictures, and I truly enjoyed piecing together all the clues, going back to previous pages, writing down notes, and spending so much time feeling like a detective of this story. This second book is what I believe popularized Uketsu as an author worldwide. Playing both an architect and detective made the reading experience a bit more disorienting than the first book, leaving me with more questions than answers. Yet, I guess that confusion is part of its charm. The unease lingers long after you close the book. There’s the sense that something still doesn’t add up, and makes Strange Houses one of my most memorable reads this year. 

Renee’s Most Anticipated Book of 2026: Strange Buildings by Uketsu

So there it is, over five thousand words on the best of 2025. Congradulations. Wait until you see the one we write next time. Happy new year.

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