Things I enjoyed - 2025 edition
Full lists: Anime, manga, games/visual novels, tokusatsu/doramas
Some thoughts under the cut!
Apocalypse Hotel - Anime (12 episodes, 23 minutes)
A surprise sleeper hit about finding hope and happiness in the direst of times. Incredibly silly and fun, but also extremely sad and will bring you to tears. It's a story that tells you that, even when everything is lost, it's the small things in life that make it turn out all right.
Ginga Tetsudou no Yoru - Movie (1 hour 48 minutes)
A magical experience, with a sad twist that somehow I didn't expect. The movie is very clearly set on making you think about very complicated topics and ideas, without giving you any clear answer about any of them. The art is also very cute, deceitfully so for how dark it gets.
Medalist - Anime (13 episodes, 23 minutes)
A story where its entire premise is that it's never too late to start doing what you want to do. Beautiful character moments, the cast is extremely endearing and they make you want to root for them from the very beginning. Do check out the still ongoing manga as well, especially because the artwork in it has an amazing use of its linework to express dynamism and movement that is completely lost in the clean and polished artstyle of the anime. Also, BOW AND ARROW is such an insane banger of a song, easily one of my favorite OPs of this year.
Zelda no Densetsu: Twilight Princess - Manga (58 chapters, 11 volumes)
You'd think that a manga adaptation of a video game wouldn't be particularly good, but somehow Twilight Princess defies all expectations. This manga retroactively makes its source feel like a cheap movie license game with how it expands on its characters and plot points. The art is insanely gorgeous as well in how it brings this iteration of Hyrule to life.
Cardcaptor Sakura - Manga (50 chapters, 12 volumes)
What a cute and endearing story. You might say the lack of proper conflict could hurt its plot, but the moment to moment and the characters are so great it's just plain fun. Cardcaptor Sakura is such a comfortable read overall. There is a sequel, Clear Card, which is also very good, but to me doesn't reach the same heights as the original. I will say though, the finale in Clear Card is absolutely insane. Oh, and there's also the Tetris game made by Arika, the ones behind the Tetris The Grand Master series, very fun and unique take on the Tetris premise that I also strongly recommend.
Yu☆Gi☆Oh! - Manga (343 chapters, 38 volumes)
Have you ever played a card game with your life on the line? Yu-Gi-Oh! starts (and stays) silly, but through the sheer power of really well written characters it manages to deliver an amazing story filled with very strong scenes and interactions among its cast. The dynamic between Yugi and Yami, and how it slowly develops throughout the story and its climax during the final arc is just so, so good. It is also a story where you can very clearly see the author grow as an artist and storyteller during its publication, considering it was his first and only long publication. Rest in peace Kazuki Takahashi.
Since November - Visual novel (1 hour)
With how short this one is, it's difficult to say anything about it without spoiling it. If I had to sum it up in one word, I'd say Since November is bold. Its presentation is very intense and memorable, both the music and the artwork, and for as short as it is, the themes it deals with are very deep and you'll probably be ruminating about it for a long while after you're done reading it. Keith also released another VN last month, 3 Days to Live, which I also strongly recommend. It is very different from Since November, with a much lighter tone in general, but extremely relatable in many levels.
Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers - Video game (100 hours)
Compared to previous expansions, the MSQ in Shadowbringers was a completely different beast. I was screaming at the screen already when I was just watching the trailer. The reframing of the events of the story so far was so good, and had me questioning for the entire expansion whether we were actually the good guys or not. Emet-Selch is such a great and charismatic villain, strongly helped by his constant presence throughout the story.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Video game (100 hours)
It's not very often that I get so captivated by a piece like this. I struggle to this day with finding a single element of this game that I could say I don't like or needs more polish. I still can't believe how cohesive every single part of it is, all of them contributing to the amazing story and its message. I cry every time I listen to Where We Belong. If there's one single piece of media to take the crown in 2025, let it be Xenoblade Chronicles 3 without a doubt.
Kamen Rider Gavv - Tokusatsu (50 episodes, 23 minutes)
For a show about eating sweets, it gets very dark and grim so quickly when you realize the bad guys are making candy out of actual human beings. Extremely endearing main cast, I was very positively surprised with the dynamic with the 4th main character, I didn't think they would fit with the rest but I was definitely proven wrong. The dynamic between the two main riders is also very, very good. Too bad one of them is trapped in the torment nexus for basically the entire series.
Avataro Sentai Donbrothers - Tokusatsu (50 episodes, 23 minutes)
This show is completely insane and unpredictable, but still somehow manages to deliver an amazing story mostly carried by its cast. I can't begin to comprehend how they managed to make it feel cohesive with how absurd the premise of each episode is, at times it feels like it's almost parodying itself but also taking it 100% seriously at the same time. Just pure unadulterated chaos.
I Saw The TV Glow - Movie (1 hour, 40 minutes)
I don't keep lists for other media, but I feel like I had to include this one. Kind of a slow start and predictable premise, but brilliant execution overall and incredible conclusion. This movie is one of those stories that could change you forever, if that's the final push you needed.
Honorary mentions:
Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu - Anime (12 episodes, 23 mins)
Zenshuu. - Anime (12 episodes, 24 minutes)
NANA - Manga (84 chapters, 21 volumes; on hiatus since 2009)
The Fifth Element - Movie (2 hours, 6 minutes)
3 Days to Live - Visual novel (1 hour)
