lots going on here

11. Metaphor: ReFantazio - Nocturne remains my favorite Atlus game, but all of the little quality of life advancements over the years combined with an original world culminates in arguably their best work.

10. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Preordered this based on the previews and ho boy is it a beautiful gem. Not much to add except to echo the chorus of praise.

9. Avowed - Really enjoyed this as someone who thinks that Outer Worlds is underrated. Always a pleasure to be back in Eora, but I think the writing is often one or two steps from being great instead of just good. Some of the most fluid movement and combat in the genre.

8. The Last of Us Part II Remastered - New game plus run of a game I love. Deeply painful how terribly the show adapted this material and failed to convey its themes and characters. Game is still great, though.

7. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Remake) - Another disappointment. Dreadful amount of backtracking, even with the changes. It started to click towards the end, but I think the crazy skill ceiling people talk about is only necessary for challenge runs and the end of the Pit of 100 Trials.

6. Monster Hunter Wilds - Biggest disappointment so far this year. I started playing it again for Title Update 2, but there's a real sense that I'm trying to like it instead of simply enjoying it. Maybe I'll get hooked for the DLC.

5. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - The third best Indiana Jones movie after Last Crusade and Raiders. I expected it to be trash when it was revealed, but this game is a real blast.

4. Dragon Age: Origins - Fun replay inspired by the somewhat recent release of Vanguard. Much like ME1, it's incredible how much world building Bioware packed into the first entry. The combat system felt far more bare bones than I remembered, but I think playing Pathfinder has ruined me.

3. Nine Sols - Up there with Hollow Knight as one of the best 2D soulslikes. Exploration isn't as strong as other metroidvanias, but the combat shines with a hall of fame roster of bosses. Surprisingly good story, too!

2. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Fun little game that feels more like a DLC than a standalone. Always a pleasure to spend time with Miles.

Starting a thread to all the games I've beaten this year inspired by a video games reporter (sadly I forgot which one!).

1. Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed - Wonderful coda to the series and large enough to be its own game. A little overstuffed, but that's what you get with Xenoblade.

White Lotus Season 3

One of my recent pretentious music brags is seeing Black Cat promoting Chappelle Roan back in early 2023, checking out some of her singles, then quickly tapping out. Stayed a hater ever since.

As time goes on I really think that this is stealthily one of the best albums from the 2010s. Both furious and heartbreaking while being endlessly repeatable.