2025 reflection

December 31, 2025 Reading time: 4 minutes

2025 could've been better in a lot of ways, but it still had its moments. I'm pushing myself to write a 2025 reflection even though I really don't feel like doing it. But for the purposes of documenting and having something to look back to, here we go.

Art

I think I got a bit burnt out from consistently drawing last year that I barely drew this year. I just needed a break from that process to feel excited about it again. I still got some artworks done though! I find a lot of comfort in going back to Elden Ring and making art of that world.

I've also been reviving some decades-old personal projects. The nostalgia feels good. It also makes me feel grounded to myself to work on something that's mine and mine alone. It's quite an interesting exercise building completely original scenes, but now with the new art knowledge I've gained through my year+ of making Elden Ring fanart. The great thing about doing fanart of Elden Ring is that every piece in a way is a study. Study of some really strong designs.

I'm not sure how I'll post the art I'm making for my original stuff. It definitely won't be under this alias though, even if I do post it. It feels good regardless, just to create something.

Gaming

I had just posted summaries of the games I finished this year. It isn't a lot, but I'm glad I got to finish a few games I've wanted to play for a while.

I'm still working through the original Elden Ring PC playthrough I started last year. Almost done the DLC. Elden Ring still feels like home to me, so I'll probably always have a playthrough going for it!

Nightreign released this year but I haven't played much of it. I can't really make good progress on it play it solo, and I don't really want to play with strangers. Also been too lazy to organize something with people I know. Maybe I'll come back to it in 2026!

Shows

• Severance Season 2
• House of the Dragons 
• Black Mirror Season 7
• The Pitt
• All Her Fault

Miscellaneous

• Traveled to China this year, which is definitely a highlight.
• House sat for a friend for almost 3 weeks and almost didn't interact with anyone IRL, leveraging all my introvert powers.
• Was pleasantly surprised by friends from the ER community reaching out to wish me happy holidays and offering to send postcards.
  • I didn't make new postcards this year, but still have some different designs I printed last year to send out.
• Got a new gaming laptop so that I can game even when I'm not around my gaming PC tower.
• I still did not install my music-making software, no music was made in 2025.
• It's been one of the more emotionally turbulent years I've had in a long long time. But there is personal growth that came from that.

Looking forward

• I'm starting to feel the motivation to draw again, so hopefully I'll get to do more of that next year.
• Hoping to play more games that I've wanted to play for a while.
• Will I finally make new music in 2026? TBD!

Katana Zero experience

December 31, 2025 Reading time: 2 minutes

I've been checking off a number of shorter, older games I've had my eyes on for a while. I remember many years ago, Katana Zero came on top of many "top indie games of the year" lists. Very well-deserved! I went into it knowing nothing.

• This game is a great example of respecting that the player is smart enough to piece together what is happening without hand-holding.
  • I was so confused at first by what they meant by "Press X to plan", then followed by a replay of that level after completion.
  • But it didn't take long for me to understand that it was a way to explain the main character's precognition skills.
• Simple and satisfying game mechanics. I don't have to remember too many controls/moves.
  • Really liking the 1-hit kills, deflecting bullets, and the bullet time mechanics.
• I really liked the EDM soundtrack
• Trippy AF story that really made me think even when not playing the game.
  • The withdrawal symptoms of Chronos really sounds like one of my worst existential nightmares.
  • Any kind of experience that alters the sense of time is at least a little frightening.
  • To feel time come to a standstill, especially during moments of suffering, is like hell.
• I hope a sequel gets made, even though there's been no new content for many years now.
• It took me about 5 hours to finish the main game.

Dust - An Elysian Tail experience

December 31, 2025 Reading time: ~1 minute

Another game that I've wanted to play for a long while now. Funny enough, I discovered this game through a Youtube video talking about how a small budget game by a small teach far surpasses the train wreck that is Might No. 9. This game was largely created by one person. The art style really has that indie vibe to it. I always find those types of games really inspiring! If I wasn't so unmotivated, I'd love to make a game solo.

• Charming art style - might not be what most people consider super "polished", but I think that adds to the indie and personal feel!
  • Makes it feel "handmade," even though that's a strange way to describe a video game.
• Beautiful music and voice acting.
• Charming characters and story.
• I really liked the vibe of the game. It gives a feeling of wonder and awe.
• Really fun combat mechanic.
  • Pretty easy to beat the bosses first try, it's very possible to button mash through it (and I don't mean this in a bad way.)
  • One of the spinning moves really reminds me of Levi from Attack on Titan.
• Took about 12hrs to get through the main game and some quests.

Dead cells experience

December 31, 2025 Reading time: ~1 minute

I've wanted to play this game for years after seeing its great ratings and raving reviews from co-workers. I've made it to BC2. I still have long ways to go in terms of game completion, but enough for me to form my opinion on it.

• The combat is so clean, fast paced, and addictive.
• The variety is great, which is important for a rogue-like game.
• I had to push myself to try styles other than Brutality to experience the other play stiles.
  • I still default to brutality because I enjoy the fast-paced button mashing play style.
  • Shockingly, I actually got to BC2 using the Survival style, which is the style I'm least used to.
• This game has great replay value, I can see myself coming back to it on an ongoing basis just to play a run here and there.
• This game rewards you with i-frames and dodging into the attacks - Elden Ring has trained me well for this.
• It starts to get really difficult at BC2, which is why I haven't made much progress on it.
• I try to avoid the Forgotten Sepulcher when possible. Sudden death from the lack of light stresses me out too much.
• Derelict Distillery is the other biome I avoid because I am terrible at dodging those barrels.

Yakuza - Lost Judgement and Kaito Files experience

December 31, 2025 Reading time: ~1 minute

I actually finished this game back in July, but didn't get to writing a summary about it:

• As usual, the Yakuza franchise really takes a lot of care in their writing. You can tell that it's not an afterthought.
• I like the morally grey aspect of the entire plot, and there's no absolute right or wrong regardless of who you side with.
• The plot was more relatable in Lost Judgement compared to Judgement. The topic of bullying is something that's quite universal, unfortunately.
• Parts of the ending scenes definitely made me tear up.
• I really didn't like that group of bullies at the start, but they were alright in the end.
• I also played Kaito files, which is a great story in of itself.
• Shirakaba seemed very sus at the beginning, but he also turned out alright.
• I chose to fight him in the end because we gotta fight for what we want, right?

Split Fiction experience

April 13, 2025 Reading time: 2 minutes

I finished this game with my friend back in March. The timing is great in that we finished It Takes Two not too long ago. I once again did not look too much into the game before going in, and was once again delighted by all the surprises it had in store. It took about 18 hours to complete the game, a bit longer than  It Takes Two.

• The story was a much more relatable to me than It Takes Two, a very timely story as well.
• There was a mix of familiar mechanics and new ones.
• We both agreed that this was harder than It Takes Two.
• Notable moments:
  • Roundtable Hold in Split Fiction!
  • FromSoft vibes in the entirety of The Hollow level.
  • Dying so many times from driving that it was hilarious.
  • Playing as cute pigs only to become sausages at the end.
  • I'm glad there was no real PVP in this. Only working together as a team towards a common goal.
  • Dancing wearing flower hats like the crazy celebrants at Windmill Village in Elden Ring.
  • The side story about the dying sun left an impression on me, my kind of mindfucking space plot.
  • The side story for passing a bomb between players was truly a test of good collaboration and communication.
  • The last level was trippy AF with the split screens!