My catalogue wrapped

As 2025 comes to an end, it's time to look back at the new reviews I added in my catalogue, and see what stood out the most!

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Overview

In 2025, I added 132 reviews, including 2 favorites ⭐, 19 loved 😍, and 46 liked 😀. Here are the top emotions I felt this year:

92 Video games

Including 1 favorite ⭐, 10 loved 😍, and 27 liked 😀. And mostly felt frustrated, bored, challenged.

⭐ favorite game, felt captivated, challenged, inspired; « Impressive how much the developers accomplished with so little — visceral combat, gripping atmosphere, and silent diplomacy. » ⭐ 😍 loved this game, felt breathtaked, comforted, puzzled; « Ultra-cute puzzle game, simple enough to be comforting, but thoughtful enough to stay engaging. The craft is impeccable—graphics, lighting, music, accessibility, fonts—there’s always a new detail to admire. The eco-feminist subtext is welcome, but often heavy-handed and a bit clumsy... Also, I really wished the journal let you reread your clues. » 😍 😍 loved this game, felt amused, challenged, comforted; « I expected it to be ultra-clunky and totally rushed, that’s partly true, but I wasn’t prepared for how much love, detail, ideas, and effort went into this game. Beyond the technical feat of juggling two consoles, the gameplay is genuinely hilarious—chaos, cooperation, and party-game vibes. » 😍 😍 loved this game, felt comforted, puzzled, satisfied; « A minimalist, cozy, polished, and comforting city-builder. Deep enough for a solid two hours of fun, and short enough to end before the content runs thin. » 😍 😍 loved this game, felt amused, challenged, inspired; « Short but incredibly satisfying in co-op. Polished controls, UI, and visuals clash perfectly with the game's general chaos! » 😍 😍 loved this game, felt challenged, frustrated, inspired; « Definitely not my genre, but I admire the purity of the vision. And I’m proud of Erika for finally shipping it. » 😍 😍 loved this game, felt comforted, relaxed, satisfied; « Clean-up sim with a cozy ambiance, warm art, smooth controls, lot of quality of life, zero game padding... With its short length and adorable loddles, the game had me hooked until I’d platinumed it! » 😍 😍 loved this game, felt amused, challenged, nostalgic; « Platinumed a co-op randomized run. Sharing it with my friend helped fill the original game’s lack of depth (see my 2012 review) and the randomizer helped me embrace its clunky esoteric charm. » 😍 😍 loved this game, felt amused, challenged, frustrated; « Stunning visuals and crisp gameplay, but riddled with cheaters. Still, happy to be back playing with my friend. » 😍 😍 loved this game, felt captivated, puzzled, satisfied; « After several missteps, the series reaches its peak. Gorgeous visuals, organic mechanics, and endless content. » 😍 😍 loved this game, felt addicted, empowered, puzzled; « Spent way too many hours on this since 2016... the 4X genre in its purest form. Easy to learn, hard to master. » 😍 😀 liked this game, felt captivated, puzzled, skeptical; « I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the art direction, and the minimalist yet engaging gameplay loop. But the story, despite a late attempt to ramp up the stakes, loses momentum and then ends abruptly. Also too short for its full price. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt bored, challenged, inspired; « The gameplay is crisp, the atmosphere is spot-on, and I genuinely got hooked. Unfortunately, despite its short runtime, there’s still time to grow bored of the limited enemy and arena variety—and the late-game difficulty mostly boils down to throwing more enemies. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt amused, nostalgic; « The seasonal gimmick adds a visual freshness, with vibrant animations and colors, that elevate the dense flow of ideas, dungeon, enemies, items, and traversal. Not everything has aged perfectly, and the hardware holds back, but it’s undeniably fun! » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt amused, cringe; « Definitely fun in co-op, with some gorgeous, well-designed levels, and an impressive autosave system. But the enemy AI is a disaster, bugs pile up, cutscenes are painfully cringe, and it’s hard to ignore that the game is much easier as a mindless run-and-gun TPS... » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt addicted, amused, frustrated; « It’s purely Risk of Rain x Vampire Survivors, but in 3D... addictive, satisfying, and laced with absurd humor. Unfortunately, the progression curve is slower than most games in the genre, to the point of being frustrating. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt challenged, frustrated, inspired; « Fixes bugs, improves the UI, and balances the difficulty without altering the original experience — letting modern players enjoy the best of LoZ gameplay and atmosphere! » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt addicted, comforted, frustrated; « Best on emulator with proper resolution, frame rate, and x3 speed (though the UI remains sluggish). The game nails the childhood adventure vibe: bright, colourful, with streamlined gameplay and iconic roaster... making it ideal for younger players and nostalgic fans. Still missing key QoL tho (like autosave), and the Pokémon GO–style capture never won me over. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt bored, contemplative, relaxed; « Great if you grabbed it on sale or in a bundle: a magical first 30 minutes where random block-stacking yields a cute, satisfying portrait. After that, the content thins quickly and UX frustrations pile up. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt inspired, satisfied; « A minimalist, punchy spin on tower defense, inspired by Kingdom... but will I ever play it again? » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt comforted, frustrated, puzzled; « A lo-fi forgiving tower defense with polished controls, UI, and visuals. But it's plagued by the genre’s usual flaws: little player expression and a quick slide into trial-and-error based on level knowledge and fixed strategies. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt amused, challenged, frustrated; « Overcooked but racing themed: Chaotic fun, elegant tutorials, a driving soundtrack. But grabbing the item you want is clunky, especially when another player is already targeting it. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt addicted, amused, challenged; « Not essential if you already own both originals, but the two-in-one package is convenient, and some useful new menus. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt addicted, frustrated, inspired; « I enjoyed the content density, warm visuals, end-game generosity, and childlike adventure feeling. More accessible than the originals, even if most additions feel gimmicky. But it suffers from a generally slow pace (movements, animations, UI, etc), and frustrating level designs / game systems, clearly aimed at padding playtime... » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt addicted, bored, satisfied; « For just 3€, this is one of the most accessible and downtime-free incremental games, short and addictive enough to end before boredom sets in. Yet, like most of the genre, it offers little room for player expression. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt amused, challenged, frustrated; « A brilliant blend of fun and challenge, with nice UI and clever ideas. But repetitive early sections and some bugs can be frustrating. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt comforted, satisfied; « A cute, cozy, and minimalist take on Pokémon-like games. Short enough to avoid feeling repetitive (platinumed in 2 hours). » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt amused, inspired, puzzled; « Cute mobile point-and-click with a unique atmosphere and mostly fair puzzles. Very short, but you'll need multiple runs to platinum it! » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt challenged, frustrated, inspired; « If you overlook the dev’s passion for upskirt panties, it’s an interesting take on Sekiro gameplay, a tight boss rush that seriously tests your skills. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt amused, frustrated, inspired; « Buggy, edgy, and overly reliant on recycled enemies — but the gameplay is impressively better than the original, and the free friend pass is an absolute game-changer for co-op players. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt bored, inspired; « Not for everyone—slow pace, shallow combat, and content runs thin fast. Yet the atmosphere, UI, and the unapologetically vision... It really inspired me. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt captivated, inspired, puzzled; « Not for everyone, and I need to revisit it with more focus—but it's full of clever UI ideas and mystery. Clearly a hidden gem. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt challenged, contemplative, frustrated; « A survival staple, but it lacks quality of life and constant loading breaks immersion. Still, the added solo mode (a great tutorial) and regular updates have greatly improved it. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt amused, captivated; « It's fun. But, technically and immersion-wise, it pales next to FC2; visually and content-wise, next to FC4. Michael Mando can't carry an overdone story alone, and everything loses steam around the second island... » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt frustrated, inspired, puzzled; « The game suffers from chaotic development (some parts feel rushed), and being built around multiplayer (hands puzzles everywhere) while inviting friends is buggy and clunky... But playing in co-op helped me push through the flaws and incredible atmosphere, stunning environments, and unique esoteric vibe that still fascinates a dedicated community 20 years later. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt overstimulated, satisfied; « An edgy but fun take on Vampire Survivors. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt amused, challenged, inspired; « Buggy, but three hours of great fun with friends. » 😀 😀 liked this game, felt amused, captivated, challenged; « Same flavor as Path of Exile, but in a prettier, more accessible, and polished package. I only played the beta, but it could become a loved depending on endgame updates (still clunky for now). » 😀

5 Board games

Including 1 favorite ⭐, 1 loved 😍, and 2 liked 😀. And mostly felt challenged, puzzled, mind-blown.

⭐ favorite board game, felt challenged, puzzled, mind-blown; « The intro missions drag a bit, but every new mechanic introduced in later missions are game-changing. Overall an excellent co-op puzzler, with short but intense sessions. » ⭐ 😍 loved this board game, felt amused, challenged, mind-blown; « A rules-light filler, with quick games and beautiful illustrations, that rewards opportunistic coalitions, ruthless backstabs, and big late-game swings. » 😍 😀 liked this board game, felt captivated, frustrated; « First-ever play, 5 players. Beautiful production and art; truly asymmetric factions that beg to be explored. But setup drags, and without a veteran the first game is rough, as objectives and rules aren’t always clear. So promising… if I can get it back to the table! » 😀 😀 liked this board game, felt amused, challenged; « An original twist on Go Fish: balance between attacking others or securing points, with just the right touch of luck. Not deep, but a fun, accessible party game. » 😀

15 Movies

Including 4 loved 😍, and 6 liked 😀. And mostly felt amused, nostalgic, bored.

😍 loved this movie, felt amused, comforted, nostalgic; « Hilarious, fresh, uplifting, and genuinely charming. It also turned out to be really unique, with its diverse cast, and a story that’s all about the joy of music, not about heroes or villains. » 😍 😍 loved this movie, felt amused, melancholic, moved; « The Oedipal love triangle bored me, but who cares? The Murray-Schwartzman chemistry, the british absurdity of the US prep school, and the subtext on our need to romanticise life... everything was genuinely moving. » 😍 😍 loved this movie, felt amused, nostalgic, overstimulated; « A generous parade of actors and gags reminiscent of a 1950s comic book. While the metaphor for the violent absurdity of Trump-era capitalism is clear, Anderson also explores the vanity of our legacy desire. » 😍 😍 loved this movie, felt amused, captivated, nostalgic; « The one I remembered best from childhood—for good reasons! Not only the animation, character design, and backgrounds reach their peak, but the film is also more nuanced: its peaceful opening and unhinged gags pop against genuinely tense scenes. » 😍 😀 liked this movie, felt confused, melancholic, moved; « The characters’ quirky extremes only highlight the ordinariness of their struggles—adult disillusionment, family dysfunction, mental health. But the sheer number of them (and their sameness?) kept me from truly caring about each one. » 😀 😀 liked this movie, felt amused, nostalgic, relaxed; « The animation, background, suspense, and budget are clearly a step behind the previous film. Yet it’s an easy watch, its over-the-top English caricatures are hilarious, and you’ll have a good time overall! » 😀 😀 liked this movie, felt amused, nostalgic, satisfied; « A more conventional plot than the previous one, and the pacing still wobbles, but the Goscinny/Astier blend works better, and the 3D animation / gags still hit the mark! » 😀 😀 liked this movie, felt amused, nostalgic, satisfied; « Textbook Alexandre Astier's humor, but for a younger audience. The animation is really charming, and the gags come fast and steady... But maybe it lack a touch of madness or depth? » 😀 😀 liked this movie, felt captivated, empowered, puzzled; « Smarter than I expected, with tense negociations, and silent dynamics. The historical inaccuracies fuel a gripping underdog drama, leaving the political reading to the viewer. » 😀 😀 liked this movie, felt amused, comforted, satisfied; « Deliriously unhinged, its caricatured heroes and set-pieces mix parody with sincere homage. Also the meta-story was nicely adapted onto the screen. » 😀

3 Shows

Including and 3 liked 😀. And mostly felt amused.

😀 liked this show, felt amused, nostalgic, satisfied; « Could’ve been beautiful if the environments weren’t empty and side characters static. Obelix is disappointingly dumbed down, driving every plot twist. Still, this miniseries overflows with gags, wordplay, and generosity... it’s bound to make anyone smile! » 😀 😀 liked this show, felt amused, worried; « Better than the 1970 movie, and way better than the racist/sexist M*A*S*H. » 😀 😀 liked this show, felt captivated, sassy; « Without ever slipping into voyeurism, the series captures both the humanity of its protagonists and the sanctity of their role—often in conflict. Sadly, political characters and their intrigues aren’t written with the same depth. » 😀

17 Albums

Including 4 loved 😍, and 8 liked 😀. And mostly felt comforted, sassy, nostalgic.

😍 loved this album, felt comforted, melancholic, sassy; « Warm, catchy, and captures young-adult love’s naivety and disillusionment mix. But sadly, it landed too late to be the summer soundtrack. » 😍 😍 loved this album, felt comforted, nostalgic, satisfied; « Like a warm hug of textures, drifting between ambient and pop. Relaxing and extremely approachable. A train journey through the Japanese countryside. » 😍 😍 loved this album, felt comforted, melancholic, relaxed; « Between chamber jazz and warm ambient, sincere enough to include missed notes and the wind sounds, Laurie had me daydreaming of forest walks during my workdays... » 😍 😍 loved this album, felt melancholic, nostalgic, relaxed; « More folk-leaning and introspective, Men I Trust’s most personal album to me. Feels like a road trip down a summer highway. » 😍 😀 liked this album, felt comforted, sassy, nostalgic; « Smooth, nostalgic, warm instrumental jazz... and always with a groovy flute or a horn, to never fades into anonymous background music. » 😀 😀 liked this album, felt comforted, inspired, satisfied; « Very pleasant as background listening, with a few punchier highlights. Sven made long winter workdays feel like forest walks... » 😀 😀 liked this album, felt relaxed, saucy, skeptical; « Elegant, sensual, and well produced—a coherent album despite a wild freedom between tracks and many guest features. Yet I feel I’m missing part of the picture... perhaps a play with codes I don’t know, or nostalgia for a genre I never lived. » 😀 😀 liked this album, felt relaxed, sassy; « The various vocal features add richness to this bite-sized summer EP. » 😀 😀 liked this album, felt comforted, contemplative; « Despite a certain monotony that doesn't fully honor Rei Harakami's diversity, this album remains a pleasant soundtrack, floating yet warm. » 😀 😀 liked this album, felt comforted, sassy; « It feels like a warm summer-night restaurant live set. The groove is smooth and comforting, yet never fades into the background. » 😀 😀 liked this album, felt amused, challenged, overstimulated; « The original album lacked boldness; this reissue overflows with it. Uneven track list, but real gems especially among the new ones. An experimental release, as needed from an artist who’s already mastered their field. » 😀 😀 liked this album, felt satisfied, saucy; « A return to classic MIT dream-pop, packed with groovy singles; strong, but maybe not the best timing for me? » 😀