Micro Dispatch 📡

Most people do some kind of “year in review” posts. I thought I'd start something a little different. Here's a list of the best experiences I came across in 2025. I hope other people pick this up and do their own “Best of 2025” posts as well.

Best movie I’ve watched in 2025: King of Kings

Brought my kids to watch this movie, but ended up thoroughly enjoying this myself. It's a great retelling of the story of Jesus, based off a story or book that Charles Dickens wrote for his kids. The twist in this movie is that, it is portrayed in such a way where a kid walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice.

Best new video game I've played in 2025: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

This game has somewhat ruined the traditional turn based JRPG genre for me. It revolutionizes the genre so much, modernized it, that I have a hard time going back to the traditional JRPG experience. I've actually tried to play the older Final Fantasy games and found them to be boring. It's totally unfair of me to judge old games this way, but this just shows how much Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has changed my expectations of games going forward.

Also, in my gaming blog I hinted at this being Game of the Year material, and it is. It received multiple awards from various video game awards ceremonies this year. Truly one of the best video games to have come out in a long time.

Best new rock song I’ve listened to in 2025: “We’re All Gonna Die” by NOTHING MORE

Could listen to this song all day. It is dark but meaningful. The song's vibes and melody reminds me of songs from My Chemical Romance and Escape the Fate. The best part of this song is the line “Hello, darkness, my old friend” during the bridge, an obvious nod to the “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel.

Best new anime I’ve watched in 2025: Kaiju No. 8

This was a recommendation from my brother in law and wow am I so happy he recommended it. It is funny and action packed with a great plot line. I've very much enjoyed watching this with my kids. My eldest son became such a fan, that for Christmas, he actually asked Santa for a Kaiju. No. 8 book.

Best new TV show I’ve watched in 2025: Physical Asia

Did not think I would like this show, but I was intrigued enough to watch it because Manny Pacquiao was in it. Pacquaio's inclusion was actually “meh”, but this show turned out to be really entertaining and thrilling at times. It was fun to root for a team and their athletes. Even though in the end, it seemed like it favored a specific team, I think it was still a good watch. It was good enough that my kids actually enjoyed watching it with me and the wife. The best thing about this show though, is how it influences me to try to be more fit and healthy. Any show that does that and is also entertaining, is a good one in my opinion.

Best book I’ve read in 2025: The Strength of the Few by James Islington

This is book 2 of the Hierarchy Series, from the author of The Licanuis Trilogy which I very much enjoyed. So technically, I didn't finish reading this book yet, because it only came out last November. But I've been waiting for this book to come out, since I finished reading The Will of the Many back in late 2024. That book ended so dramatically that I was left flabbergasted and itching to read the next one. I had to wait a year for this second book to come out and it doesn't disappoint! Looking forward to finishing this in 2026.

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