2025 is deep in the year-graveyard, so we are ringing in 2026 with a look back at the last 365 days.
Disappointment of the Year: Once Upon a Katamari
Yes, my disappointment of the year is the long-awaited continuation of a franchise that first gained popularity in the Gamecube era, floundered after a couple of sequels, found refuge on portable systems, last saw a new title in the 2010s, had a few soft remakes/releases here and there, and now returns in the year of our Galactic Federation 2025 with our heroes performing some light time traveling. And, as is ever the statement on my disappointment of the year (I can’t believe I keep saying this well after I made a whole article about ‘em), this accolade does not mean the game is bad, simply that it is disappointing. And the disappointment here? They implemented mandatory collectathon elements in a game that already had clear goals! You make your Katamari big! You make your Katamari quickly! Gate progress behind those goals! Don’t make me revisit levels to roll up arbitrarily hidden crowns! Do you understand the Zen of Katamari at all!? Bah! It is like the curators of this franchise are implementing trendy features we moved past a decade ago, and never were a good fit for this style of game in the first place. I am sure glad that didn’t happen anywhere else this year.
Compilation of the Year: Lunar Remastered Collection
This was once again an amazing year for fighting game compilations. Capcom released Capcom Fighting Collection 2, which finally granted us a modern option for the SNK vs series, Project Justice, and Power Stone(s) (and, to a lesser extent, Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein). We also got our first Mortal Kombat Kompilation since the Playstation 3 with Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection. That would be a perfect piece of software if it included the Nintendo 64 version of Mortal Kombat Trilogy (it was the best one, you maniacs!). But “great fighting game” compilations seem to come along every year, while an era-defining JRPG apparently only gets rereleased every decade or so. Lunar is back! With improved graphics! And less Working Designs stink! And we played it a lot on Even Worse Streams! So way to go, Lunar Remastered Collection, you brough the dreams of the Sega CD back to the future.
Game I was most waiting for to arrive on consoles: UFO 50
Last year, I literally said “Now we just have to wait for UFO 50!” And here it is! I will admit that I have barely worked through seven games on this 50-part monstrosity, but I have enjoyed what I played. Mostly. That block pushing nonsense can go die in a teddy bear fire. But that’s the point! There is so much variety here, you will find something you like! Now my only issue is that this is on the same system that already contains 50,000 other games…
Sadness of the Year: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
I have been waiting twenty years for a Garou: Mark of the Wolves sequel. I am a fighting game nerd. I am not just a “plays Street Fighter” kind of person, I am a “has opinions on Aquapazza: Aquaplus Dream Match” guy. Do you know what it takes for me to not buy a fighting game? Well, apparently the answer is “include a rapist”, because I have not purchased Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves because of my own morals. And I barely have ethics! I mostly boycott stuff I already don’t care about! But Fatal Fury is on the list now, and I am none too happy about that.
DLC of the Year: Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
The best DLC of the year is the one that reminds you how much you enjoyed the base game… three years ago. Dang. I talked about this at length in its own article, but I want to see more DLC for games that are still generally contemporary, but have maybe fallen off the radar in the intervening years. I am an old man! I want to see old games revisited! And while I know asking for the biggest hits of the WiiU to return is a long shot (oh, hello, Xenoblade Chronicles X), something within the Switch’s lifespan seems reasonable. And here we are! Kirby and the Forgotten Land saw a bonus campaign this year, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder is supposed to get a revisit next year. Everything is coming up Goggle Bob!
System of the Year (Derogatory): Nintendo Switch 2
I am not going to get into the ol’ politics with this post (or at least until the end of it), but it is worth stating that the current state of the world is doing something to my brain. This time last year, we did not even know the name of the Nintendo Switch 2, left alone its various stats or gimmicks. Then it was formally announced in the Spring, released in the Summer, was slightly difficult to find for a month or two, and now is readily available at department stores for our cherished loved ones this holiday season. And it feels… normal? Again, this system in no way existed this time last year, and now I can just play Cyberpunk 2077 on a portable system like it ain’t no thang. And that feels weird! Like the world changed while you weren’t even looking. So Nintendo Switch 2 is the system of the year, but only because this year has let the unimaginable become normalized rapidly.
Genre That Could Stand to Space Some Things Out: Kart Racing
Even going back to the 90’s, the joke has always been that a new videogame system leads to technology being demonstrated through racing games. But could we maybe get a break on racing games? Mario Kart 8 was first released in 2014. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed was released in 2012. Kirby Air Ride was released in 2003. 22 years! All of these franchises had not seen a true sequel in at least a decade! And then we got all three of ‘em back and better than ever inside of six months! You could have spaced that out a little, guys! I do not denote SpongeBob or Susie making their karting debut if I just spent a thousand hours with Toadette! I’m karted out! We will revisit this issue in 2026.
Game of the year: Donkey Kong Bananza
These articles are always in a conversation with previous “Year in Review” writings… mainly because I have to flip back and forth to confirm I am keeping my formatting consistent. Regardless! Last year I all but apologized for choosing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth as my game of the year. I am a predictable nerd! And maybe a weeb! Am I just going to pick the latest Square Enix, Sega, or Nintendo release for the rest of time?
And the answer is yes, apparently.
No apologies this year! Donkey Kong Bananza felt like my favorite when I was first playing it back in July, and nothing came close to that high for the rest of the year. Yes, it is basically a new Mario game, and… do I need more than that? Well, the smashing certainly helps. In fact, the sheer volume of destruction may have led me to the moment I knew this would be the best of 2025: Somewhere around the third or fourth strata, I realized that you did not ever need to “hold back”, and there was never going to be a time when you were significantly punished for demolishing too much dirt. Once I recognized one of the key philosophies of Donkey Kong Bananza was “just go ape”, I was hooked. And the extra, rogue-like DLC? I would have likely been happier with new levels, but the “infinite loop” of earning emerald bananas certainly gives me a reason to come and play again after having gained the regular nanners.
So, yeah, it’s Donkey Kong Bananza. Thanks again, Nintendo! Looking forward to whatever you make for my game of the year next year!
Games I’m sure are great, but I haven’t played: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue Prince, Hades 2, Ghost of Yōtei, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Silent Hill: f
What are the odds I will play literally any of those games? Well, I had Overwatch on the list until it stopped being a thing. And I just noted how much I enjoy games with gorillas! So Ghost of Yōtei probably doesn’t have a chance.
Gogglebob.com Introspection 2025
Look, this is the meme about the little OSHA guy shouting, “It’s the fascism, boss!” I had big plans for Gogglebob.com and Gogglebob.com adjacent endeavors in the Fall of 2024, but, having lived through 2016-2020, I knew my productivity was toast due to real-world issues that kicked in on November 5. So I’m in a weird place where I have a significant to-do list for both my recreation and work time, but it is difficult to actually complete any given project due to distractions that may or may not involve nationwide protests. It’s rough! So if there are a few deadlines missed here and there across 2025 or 2026, it is because I want to produce more, but the flesh is weak and pasty. But! I was considering taking January off to actually play some of these games I like, but then I played games in December, and I must write about them, and… It’s an endless cycle. Like, literally endless. I could not stop this site if I wanted to! I simply must find the time to play and talk about Lufia 2! It will happen one day!
If that sounds like I am somehow down on my output, I apologize (to my own website?). It is the world around us that is difficult right now, and that difficulty does impact how much I can talk about Pokémon. That said, here are some articles from 2025 (that were not already linked) that make me feel warm inside:
- SBC #44 Mii Swordfighter & Super Smash Bros. Remix
- FGC #688 Ninja Gaiden
- FGC #699 Persona 5 Royal
- FGC #700.2 Final Fantasy 3
- FGC #714 Total Carnage
- FGC #716 Carpathian Night Starring Bela Lugosi
- Marvel Zombies (2025 Miniseries)
- Manapiece Theatre 09: Castoffs of Mana
- EWS Presents: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Classic II: Dominique’s Curse
- Tony Hawkathon 08: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4: Part 3 + Razor Freestyle Scooter
- EWS: Plok!
Oh no, I just realized how much I like my own essays. Oh no, now I feel like I have to live up to something in 2026. Oh no! Why do I do this to myself!?
Eh, probably because I enjoy it.
So let’s keep that Katamari rollin’…
What’s next? Random ROB has chosen… Unbeatable! Please look forward to that and the rest of 2026!