How are we just a few days away from Christmas? It really doesn’t feel like December or that a new year is just around the corner. I feel like we are still in the early parts of Summer with loads of time left of the year!
It’s truly been a year of highs and lows. Good times and bad times, various side quests thrown in along the way, but here we are. I can’t deny that this has been a tough year and full of surprises, but it has also been a year of growth, both personally and as a creator.
For my last post for 2025, I wanted to take a look back at the year and talk about some of my favourite standout games, my favourite posts and just use this as a more relaxed post to recap some highlights from the past twelve months.
First up, I want to start with some quick fire top three lists. These are some of my standout games, favourite demos, soundtracks, games I’ve had on repeat and a few more. There’s really so much I could cover in this post, but I had to do my best to keep it short but sweet in ways.
Now, let’s jump in!
Stand Out Games of 2025
These are a selection of the many games I’ve checked out throughout the year that I’ve just loved for varying reasons. Be it the theme of the game, the narrative, the characters or just the overall experience. I do wish I could have chosen many more, but here are six of my standout games from the past twelve months.
- Wanderstop
- Fading Serenades
- A Pizza Delivery
- Tiny Bookshop
- Discounty
- Catto’s Post Office
- Spilled
Game Demos of 2025
While on the topic of standout games, there were three demos that really had my attention. I didn’t explore too many demos this year, in fact I wish I played more, although these are three that stood out to me the most.
- Starsand Island
- On-Together
- inKONBINI
Top Upcoming 2026 Releases
We all know that 2026 is going to be a year jam packed full of awesome new games. Some that we know of, some we are still waiting to see revealed. As of now, these are some of the games I can’t wait to check out!
- Starsand Island
- Witchbrook
- Pokémon Pokopia
- Forza Horizon 6
- Mario Tennis Fever
- Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
- Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave
- Paralives
Games on Repeat in 2025
My favourite go to games that I’ve played throughout this year. Those that allowed me to escape real life and just relax for a little bit. Of course, another play through of Final Fantasy XV was in order, and this time I checked it out on Steam Deck.
- Infinity Nikki
- Go-Go Town
- Fortnite
- Pokémon Legends Z-A
- Mario Kart World
- Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout DX
- Bonus Game: Final Fantasy XV
Unexpected Favourites
I tried to step out of my comfort zone when it came to gaming in 2025. There were a number of games that caught my attention, which I would normally have passed on. That, alongside some games that truly took me by surprise that I just really enjoyed more than I expected. Of course, I had to shorten the list to just a small handful of games in the end but trust me, there were so many more!
- Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade
- Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping
- Spirit of the North 2
- Lushfoil
Backlog Replay
It goes without saying that this year saw my backlog grow substantially, and I truly wish I had more time to dive into and revisit some of the many games I want to play. There were so many I want to try and play in the new year however, I shortlisted it to just four, that I’m going to attempt!
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2
- Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Content Recap
This is my second full year since I returned to creating content, and it’s honestly been so much fun and just a blast overall. I’ve been lucky and grateful to have dived into so many different games and work with some wonderful teams during the past twelve months.
I’ve been slowly working on some content ideas for next year, and I’m excited to share those over the next twelve months and beyond.
I’m incredibly thankful and appreciate everyone who I’ve worked with, but also those who have taken the time to check out and read my content. It means so much to me. More than I’ll ever be able to truly put into words. I can certainly say I’ve grown as a creator and a writer, and I’m excited for what 2026 holds!
Looking into the New Year
I talked a little bit about future plans for content over on my Patreon recently, and more so for my roughly outlined ideas for the first few months. There’s a fair few large cosy-esque releases dropping in the first few months too, so there’s plenty to cover. In fact, there truly is so much to cover and that I want to cover, but I can assure you the same cosy and wholesome content will continue to roll out over time.
However, I’m excited to try and work through some older games that I own and document my journey with those, both on here and via my social media. I really do have so many games to check out that I really don’t know where to start! Stay tuned for more on this in the new year!
Have a Wonderful Festive Time!
While this is my last post for 2025, I’ll be taking a short break between now and the new year. Thank you again to everyone who has supported me and checked out my content throughout the year! As I mentioned earlier in this post, it means so much to me, it really does!
I’ll still be posting my adventures and side quests over on Bluesky so do feel free to pop over and say hi!
With that being said, thank you all for your ongoing support. I hope you all have a wonderful festive season and a Happy New Year!
See you all in 2026,
Krista
leekscosycorner 