2025 Recap

I have been remiss in my regular posting around here, but <gestures at a world gone mad>, which is something I hope to change in 2026. This year I recommitted myself to reading books and playing video games. I've kept up a rough log of my reading on goodreads—a "meh" service at best—and acquiring a Steam Deck has been one of the best decisions I've made for my personal gaming time. It really has been nice to have access to the wide, diverse, and inspirational pool of indie game titles. I've read roughly 52 books this year--and bits and pieces of several more for research purposes. I've played 16 video games this year; 15 of them indies on the Steam Deck.

Here's the highlights:

Video Games

Full list. If you're in a hurry, here's the TL;DR—

Honorable Mentions: Road to Empress I, Citizen Sleeper.

A-levels: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Expedition 33, Expelled!, Murders on the Yangtze River.

S-levels: Blue Prince, The Seance of Blake Manor, Scarlet Hollow, The Roottrees are Dead.

Books

Full list. If you're in a hurry, here's the TL;DR—

Fiction: Murderbot (naturally), The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, The Night Circus, Starling House.
Nonfiction: Peter Sarris' Justinian, Johnathan Katz' Gangsters of Capitalism, William Dalrymple's The Anarchy.
TTRPGs: Triangle Agency, Daggerheart.

KPop

No separate post for this one, but a TL;DR—

Album of the Year: JENNIE, Ruby.
EP of the Year: MEOVV, My Eyes Open VVide.
Rookie of the Year: AllDay Project.
Soloist of the Year: JENNIE (honorable mention: G-Dragon).
Honorable Mentions: NMIXX Blue Valentine/Spinnin' on It, Itzy Girls Will Be Girls/Tunnel Vision, Lisa Fuck Up The World/Born Again, G-Dragon Home Sweet Home, Karina Up, XG Gala/Howling, Babymonster We Go Up, izna Mamma Mia.