The mystique of laptops has not abated since the pandemic. Portable PCs are still finding niches in today’s market. Whether you need an on-the-go office machine or a plug-and-play gaming rig, there is a laptop out there for you. This year is no different. As the year closes, it’s time to show some love to our Favorite Laptops of 2025.

ROG Zephyrus G14

As a gaming laptop, the ROG Zephyrus G14 brandishes a lot of the industry’s most powerful hardware. Shining with only a little more accoutrements as a MacBook, this notebook is sleek but a force to be reckoned with under its aluminum chassis.

We described the Zephyrus G14 as a laptop’s equivalent of “quiet luxury”; it doesn’t stand out, but anyone who knows the brand will give you a silent nod of approval. As part of the premium luxury segment, it does have a pretty high price tag, but that’s about the only thing that stops this laptop from being an immediate buy. Everything else is perfect.

Apple M5 MacBook Pro

Before the year ended, Apple dropped a surprising bombshell for its fans. The M5 MacBook Pro brings out a more powerful processor for Apple’s notebook segment. A premium alternative to the M4 MacBook Air, the notebook is “Pro but without the overkill.”

Obviously, it’s not for everyone. But, to those who need an additional jolt of power, the M5 MacBook Pro delivers everything you need and more.

Lenovo Yoga 7i Aura Edition

If you’ve dabbled in notebooks over the past decade, you should recognize Lenovo’s Yoga lineup. The 2-in-1 notebook popularized foldables before foldables were even a thing. With a 360-degree hinge, users can fold the notebook back into a tablet and vice versa.

The Lenovo Yoga 7i Aura Edition is the perfection of this technology, infused with today’s hardware. It’s not a perfect laptop or a perfect tablet, but if you need both, this notebook saves you the hassle of shopping for two separate devices. It’s a great deal.

ASUS Gaming V16

A robust gaming rig might be one of the most expensive things you can spend on today, especially because of rising RAM prices. Thankfully, being a gamer doesn’t have to be just as pricey. The new ASUS Gaming series brings decent gaming performance for a fraction of the price.

The ASUS Gaming V16 is your gateway drug to portable gaming. Starting at only PhP 59,995, the notebook offers users a taste of what the gaming world can do. It has a decent Intel Core 5 chipset and an RTX 40 series GPU. Plus, with a 63Whr battery, it’s built for grinding.

Apple M4 MacBook Air

If the MacBook Pro is too much power for you, this year’s M4 MacBook Air might fit your needs more. Though it doesn’t have Apple’s latest chipset, it’s still a decent all-around notebook for everyday use.

Because it doesn’t have the most robust hardware, the new MacBook Air is a master of portability. Even if it came out in the first quarter of this year, we were quick to call it one of the best laptops of 2025. As the year winds down, we’re still not taking away that distinction.

Lenovo Legion Go S

In the strictest sense of the word, the Legion Go S technically is not a laptop. Hear us out, though: Being a Windows-powered device, the handheld gaming device can act like a notebook in a pinch. Most importantly, it deserves some love as a computer, too.

For those who were expecting more traditional laptop fare, here’s a refresher: The Legion Go S is a portable gaming device that’s shaped like a Nintendo Switch. One version comes with Windows and can do much of what a laptop can do. Though it doesn’t have a standard keyboard, the power lurking underneath earns it a spot on this list.

ASUS Zenbook A14

There’s only so many ways you can differentiate a laptop from another, while keeping its essence as a notebook intact. In the case of the Zenbook A14, beauty takes center stage. Yes, it looks like any run-of-the-mill notebook, but it will still feel like one of the most premium devices you’ve ever touched.

The notebook sports ASUS’s iconic Ceraluminum which gives the Zenbook A14 a smooth, tactile finish that feels great to lug around. Plus, it weighs only 899 grams, making it handy for portability. If that’s not enough, the PhP 65,996 price tag is so affordable for its quality.

The overall state of entertainment and streaming (see: Netflix bids to acquire Warner Bros.) isn’t exactly looking peachy. That said, there’s still no shortage of shows and movies to keep us hooked to all of our screens. Here’s what the GadgetMatch Team watched in 2025!

Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc

Rodneil: This is the most I’ve enjoyed Chainsaw Man yet.

If I had to sum it up in two words, I’d return to my first thought when I stepped out of the cinema. It’s beautifully cruel.

This is for fans who crave good animation, appreciate when a story shows instead of tells, and really, for anyone who’s ever had a young crush only for it to ultimately fall by the wayside.

Plus, of course, there’s some bombastic action in there too. 

KPOP Demon Hunters 

Rodneil: What hasn’t already been said about KPOP Demon Hunters? No one – not even Netflix or Sony Animation – expected it to blow up the way it did. 

I, too, thought it was going to be a cringefest. But two things had me looking forward to it – I like animated features and members of my ult girl group TWICE were tapped to sing one of the tracks. 

In a nutshell, it has the magic of 2000s-2010s Pixar with a decidedly K-Culture coating. Animation & Art Style feels fresh, the songs are absolute bangers, and the run time doesn’t wear out its welcome. 

KPOP Demon Hunters is the undisputed cultural phenomenon breakout of 2025. Bar none.

Sinners

Rodneil: Sinners is a movie that’s hard to make sense of in the immediate minutes after seeing the whole thing. It’s tagged as a horror flick but it’s so much more than that. 

The film is incredibly layered, tackling racism and supernatural vampire lore among other things. I also had the privilege of seeing this on an IMAX screen and saw how director Ryan Coogler played with the aspect ratio to deliver certain scenes in a more poignant manner. 

Sinners is an extremely measured story. Everything from the setting, the music, and the supernatural elements involved feel intentional. They all serve to force us to confront the cultural appropriation still going on today. 

All of these deeply layered themes and invitations for deep self-inquisition are served on a film that’s beautifully scored and shot. 

It’s treat to the ears, eyes, and a challenge to the mind.

Plus, there’s Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld. I’d watch anything with those two in it. 

My Hero Academia: The Final Season

Rodneil: As of writing, it’s been a little over a week since the last episode of the final season aired. I’ve been busy and on the move since and thus have yet to fully process everything. What I’ll admit is that the last episode, like many of its episodes this season and its entire run  as a whole made me tear up.

My Hero Academia is one of the few anime that felt like mine. I watched it not because of anyone else’s influence but because it was something that genuinely caught my eye. And while there are many heroes and heroes-in-training to root for and be a fan of, I naturally gravitated to the protagonist- Izuku “Deku” Midoriya. He perfectly embodies the theme of the show in that being a hero is not because of ranking or powers — its your actions and how your are of service to and inspire others to take action in times of crisis or when someone is in need that defines heroism.

I feel bittersweet that this anime has ended. While everyone gravitated to the likes of Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen, I stuck with the series because out of everything that released past 2010 — it spoke to me the most. I don’t have enough words to fully express what the show meant to me but it’s something that I’ll revisit every now and again, that’s for sure.

When Life Gives You Tangerines

Vincenz: One of IU’s biggest hits in the K-Drama industry was Hotel Del Luna back in 2019. After six years, she went all out again. This time, with Park Bo-gum and Kim Seon-ho as his two male leads. But it’s not just about them, really.

Slice-of-Life dramas are usually slow-paced and emotional. But an hour’s worth of episode barely felt like it. The longer I watch, the more I crave for it.

I didn’t expect that I will cry buckets in every episode. That’s not to say it’s limited to just that. It’s a full rollercoaster ride of emotions – I cried A LOT, but also, laughed, sulked, and even got mad in every scene possible. Life lessons not forgotten.

Much like how the title got translated to the Chinese proverb “苦盡柑來遇見你” / “After the bitterness comes sweetness”, the drama purely embraces that.

It may be a bold claim but, WLGYT isn’t just one of the best K-Dramas of 2025. It is honestly one of the BEST in the entirety of K-Drama history.

Bon Appétit, Your Majesty

Vincenz: Much like stanning IU since 2009, I grew up watching and loving SNSD / Girls’ Generation a lot. This is far from YoonA’s first acting stint, but it still felt refreshing to see her not as an idol member, but a full-fledged actress.

Her chemistry with the super rookie actor Lee Chae-min is just one (and finally, he got that break he deserved since his debut). However, those that stood out are undoubtedly the hilarious scenes. More so, how it leaves viewers not just drooling, but the utmost curiosity in how the fusion of traditional and modern Korean, Western, and even Chinese cuisine were all possible.

And it’s not just her versatility in acting, the way she actually learned how to cook in a chef’s way speaks volumes for the drama itself.—

Weak Hero: Class 02

Vincenz: I waited exactly two years and sevent months for the sequel of Weak Hero: Class 01 – only to devour it in less than 24 hours.

After that almost three-year drought, it fired up the questions that remained unanswered since the first season. Weak Hero: Class 02 gets bolder with more action-packed scenes not limited to just Si-eun, but a whole gang of protagonists, antagonists, and even the involvement of several institutions in one.

Much like watching the drama since S01, watching S02 is as unstoppable as ever. Once you go in, there’s no way out. And the spoiler? There are still mysteries unsolved. Class 03, how long will I wait for you?

Predator: Killer of Killers

Levi: The sixth installment of the Predator franchise was one of the first movies I watched after having re-subscribed to Disney+.

It’s a gripping anthology film that is packed with lots of action while taking viewers to different eras throughout time. I understand why it’s an animated take instead of live action, given how gruesome and intense the fight scenes were.

The three protagonist warriors were all given the chance to shine, and the need to team up towards the end added to the thrill. All the while, it highlighted the strengths and vulnerabilities of different Predator warriors too and plugged rightfully into the grander scheme of things.

Weapons

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

Levi: I had no expectations whatsoever when I watched the premiere for this movie. It turned out to be one of this year’s horror/mystery/thriller masterpieces.

It’s well-woven, with the sudden and perplexing central conflict setting viewers up and getting them hooked from start to finish.

The movie was presented in a non-linear approach through different perspectives from several characters all linked together. Each part’s end had a cliffhanger or loose ends that all the more set up the climactic finale.

From a technical standpoint, the camera work gets you tense, from simple panning, framing, and blurring too. You’re just glued, waiting for the puzzle to be solved.

Caramello

Levi: When I was hospitalized, I tried to squeeze the most out of an eventually expensive bill. That included binge-watching everything possible on Netflix on the room’s TV.

Caramello was one of the trending movies at the time and boy did it get me in tears throughout.

The story is very realistic and relatable, and the movie draws appeal from this, along with twists and turns along the way.

You will just be left worried and continuously thinking about the fate of the protagonist chef, Pedro, as he tries to carve out a name for himself while dealing with something unexpected.

There was nothing fairytale-y nor idealistic about everything that transpired, and that’s what really got viewers captivated and moved.

Superman

Luigi: This year, James Gunn took the dying Snyderverse, reshaped everything, and strapped a jetpack onto what’s left. If Superman is any indication of what Gunn is doing, we can safely say that the DC Universe is in good hands.

Not an origin story, Superman hearkens back to a simpler time when superhero adventures were just fun. Though the film still has a handful of topical messages, it just wants to give audiences a roaring good time. There’s just so much to love: a light-hearted Superman, a head-strong Lois Lane, the quippy Mister Terrific, and the hard-to-love Guy Gardner.

It’s so endlessly fun that I’ve already watched it thrice. And for the first time in a long while, I’m actually hyped to see what comes next in a superhero universe. 

Peacemaker (Season 2)

Luigi: Staying with DC, Peacemaker is an entirely different beast but echoes much of the same fun that Superman had. In this R-rated series, John Cena plays Peacemaker, a naive superhero who just wants to have fun with his friends.

The first season, which is a bit more toned down, had Peacemaker deal with his racist father. This time, there’s some multiverse madness where the superhero finds an alternate world where he’s much more popular and successful. Obviously, there’s a twist, but it would be a shame to spoil it here.

What also sets it apart is that it can stand alone without Superman. It’s an enthralling series that doesn’t need to tease the future or do needless callbacks to the past.

One Battle After Another

Luigi: I didn’t think much about One Battle After Another at first. Coming into the cinema, I just knew that it was a Paul Thomas Anderson film, so it’s bound to be good. Oh my goodness, it was more than good.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays a retired militant activist who just wants to live a quiet life with his daughter. However, when an old enemy goes back on the hunt for him and his daughter, things take a turn for the worst. His quiet life turns into a rescue mission to save his daughter from the harshness of his past.

As dramatic as the synopsis sounds, One Battle After Another is actually one of the funniest movies I’ve seen this year, filled with incredibly timed quips and antics. It’s both one of the most dramatic comedies and the funniest dramas you’ll ever see.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Luigi: I don’t think this series can do any wrong. For the third outing, Rian Johnson is back with a mystery that you will enjoy gnawing on for almost three hours.

When a priest in a small town is murdered and a fellow priest is the prime suspect, Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc becomes the only one who can solve the impossible murder. As always, Craig is supported by an impressive cast of big names including Josh Brolin, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, and Cailee Spaeny. 

Unlike the previous two, Wake Up Dead Man is a bit more sparse with the social commentary. In its stead, the third Knives Out movie has a straight-up murder mystery. Rian Johnson just knows how to write them to keep you on your toes.

Predator: Badlands

Luigi: Predator: Badlands is NOT what you’d expect from a Predator movie. Whereas most reboots today rehash the formulas that made their originals popular, the new movie dares to do something different by turning the creature feature into… a coming-of-age family adventure?

Dek, the least ferocious of his Yautje tribe, chooses to go to another planet to hunt an impossible beast and prove his strength to his tribe. However, his hunt becomes more than he can chew, especially when the Alien franchise’s Weyland-Yutani show up to also hunt for the same beast.

It’s not a horror or a thriller like the original series, but it surprisingly works. What it lacks in bloody violence is replaced with a hero’s journey that just makes sense. It’s a nice, refreshing take on the old monster.

Bring Her Back

JP: I’m drawn to films that work in layers. Where a compelling narrative carries an undercurrent of metaphors used to explore deeper themes. While Bring Her Back isn’t overly cerebral, it effectively uses horror mechanics as an emotional vehicle, carrying the audience forward with every visceral scene. It uses fear not for shock value but to build tension and unease, mirroring real-world discomfort and uncertainties. 

Rooted in themes of loss and desperation, it trusts emotion over explanation, allowing the audience to understand through feeling rather than being told. That kind of restraint is rarely executed well, which is why the film stood out to me among others I’ve watched in 2025.

Bring Her Back is one of those films that stay with you long after the credits have rolled.

Final Destination: Bloodlines

JP: There’s something refreshing about horror that doesn’t overthink itself. 

Final Destination: Bloodlines has been received far more warmly than its detractors might suggest, especially by audiences who understand what the franchise has always been about. Much of the criticism seems to hinge on believability, which feels like a misplaced expectation for the genre.

I know it doesn’t offer much depth, but that’s what the franchise has always been about. Campy thrills, wildly unbelievable accidents, and familiar character tropes that make you root for their survival. In that sense, Final Destination: Bloodlines understood the franchise’s appeal perfectly, and executed it well. It stuck to their formula rather than reinventing and botching it.

As a horror fan, I found it to be a genuinely fun ride and a long-overdue return for the franchise. I guess the wait was worth it.

Levi: Just to add, if you saw this as someone who’s well-versed with how things go in Final Destination films, you’d still appreciate it because the filmmakers were playful with the elements in Bloodlines.

The backyard barbeque scene stood out for me with its unpredictability as you didn’t know what would lead to the father’s demise. It turned out to be a lawn mower and not the glass shard and rake.

The overall chase with death trying to go after everyone saved from The Sky View led to an enjoyable experience without dull parts.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle

MJ: I didn’t expect Demon Slayer to become part of my life the way it did. At the time, I was dating a doctor who was also a die-hard anime fan, and loving him meant committing to a two-week marathon of all five seasons of Kimetsu no Yaiba right before the Infinity Castle movie premiered. What began as an act of devotion slowly turned into genuine obsession.

Infinity Castle marks the first chapter of a trilogy adapting the manga’s Sunrise Arc, where the Hashiras and the Demon Slayer Corps face their final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King. By the time I reached this film, I was already deeply invested and emotionally tethered to the characters.

Demon Slayer stayed with me long after the credits rolled. Its music became part of my training playlists, scoring my runs and workouts, while its animation raised my already high standards for visual storytelling. 

Wicked: For Good

MJ: I first watched Wicked because someone I loved wanted me to. Back then, we saw ourselves in Glinda and Elphaba, two people bound by affection, ambition, and a friendship that changed them forever. I only saw the first part during that chapter of my life, when everything still felt shared.

A year later, I watched Wicked: For Good alone, and the timing felt devastatingly poetic. Without him beside me, the story unfolded differently. Elphaba and Glinda’s journey became less about magic and spectacle and more about parting ways, choosing growth, and honoring love even when it no longer fits.

It was a reminder that some people shape who you become, even if they are not meant to stay. Watching it on my own made me appreciate how love leaves echoes, and how some relationships end not in bitterness, but in gratitude for having mattered at all.

Physical: Asia

MJ: Watching Physical: Asia felt less like entertainment and more like witnessing a multi-nation sporting event unfold in real time. As an athlete, I found myself cheering as if it were the Olympics, rooting not only for my own country but for competitors across the Asia-Pacific region whose stories slowly became just as compelling.

The show introduced me to athletes I deeply admired, including Mongolian Bokh wrestler Orkhonbayar Bayarsaikhan, judoka Adiyasuren Amarsaikhan, and volleyball player Khandsuren Gantogtokh. Their grit, pride, and emotional vulnerability reminded me why sports have always felt universal to me.

While I had reservations about how some challenges leaned in favor of Korean CrossFitters and former Physical: 100 participants, I still appreciated how athletes from other countries showed up and gave everything they had, even when the odds were clearly stacked against them. It reinforced something I already knew but needed to be reminded of. Pride and emotion are powerful fuels for athletes, and I saw myself in that fire.

Running Point

MJ: Basketball was never my sport. Growing up, I struggled with it, and the cultural obsession around it in the Philippines often felt overwhelming. While others lived and breathed basketball, I found my place in tennis, track and field, and volleyball, where my strengths actually showed.

Netflix’s Running Point entered my life at the exact moment I needed it. As someone who recently began co-running a sports agency, the show offered unexpected insight into team leadership and the politics that shape the sports industry. What surprised me most was how deeply I related to Isla Gordon, played by Kate Hudson.

Isla is a reformed party girl forced to prove herself as a capable businesswoman after unexpectedly taking over her family’s professional basketball team. Her journey mirrored my own more closely than I anticipated. I was once a party boy, and I was suddenly put in charge of a sports event team.

Running Point was light, funny, and deeply validating. It gave me perspective and lessons I didn’t know I needed, all while reminding me that growth often begins when life hands you responsibility before you feel ready.

2025 has been a banger year in terms of quality and variety of games that have been launched. There’s literally too many to mention so here’s a list of Favorite Games of 2025 from the GadgetMatch team!

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 

Rodneil: If the 9 trophies it bagged from The Game Awards 2025 wasn’t enough to convince you that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a must-play, I don’t know what will.  

The game will lure you in with its stunning visuals, grab you with its inciting incident, keep you focused during combat, endear you to its characters, and deliver gut-wrenching and awe-inspiring moments that will make you yearn for more. 

Thankfully, it’s a 30–50-hour campaign with late game content that could double if you’re the completionist type. 

Also, this scene:

Ghost of Yotei 

Rodneil: Ghost of Yotei builds on the gameplay and visuals established by Ghost of Tsushima. It’s an extension, refinement, and a bit of a remixed experience of Jin Sakkai’s tale. Except this time, you walk the path of vengeance with Atsu.

The game leaves you with something sharper than spectacle. Where Tsushima gave you the weight of history, Yotei carves its mark with intimacy. Revenge doesn’t need armies or nations to matter—it just needs a blade and a target.

That’s why Ghost of Yotei stands on its own. It may lack the grandeur of its predecessor, but it’s more cohesive, more personal, and more daring in how it tells its story. Atsu’s journey isn’t about how the world remembers her; it’s about how far vengeance will take her—and how much of herself she’ll lose along the way.

NBA 2K26

Rodneil: Consider this a sneak but NBA 2K is consistently my top played game year after year. You can say it’s my form of therapy – my way to relax and decongest. 

Sure, the microtransactions still aren’t great and there’s always a missing historic player here and there. However, NBA 2K26 feels the most refined since the pandemic. The core gameplay feels fantastic and game modes like MyNBA, while largely unchanged, continue to deliver the kind of basketball video game simulation that I crave. 

So, yeah. This one’s part of the list. It’s ‘favorite’ after all and not necessarily ‘best’.

SHINOBI: Art of vengeance 

Rodneil: SHINOBI: Art of vengeance is one of the premiere side-scrolling action games in 2025. It scratched my “Zero in Megaman X4” itch and then some. 

The art style is phenomenal. If you’re into that hand-drawn vibe, then this game is right up your alley. The gameplay also presents plenty of challenges and replayability. Even after clearing some stages, you’ll find yourself wanting to go back to make sure you get all the collectibles. 

Overall, it’s just a downright good time. And it’s especially enjoyable on a gaming handheld. 

Digimon Story: Time Stranger

Rodneil: Playing Digimon Story Time Stranger feels like reliving a summer memory — the excitement of discovery, the satisfaction of raising Digimon, and the pull of wanting to see what comes next.

It isn’t trying to reinvent anything, and that’s part of its charm. Instead, it offers a polished, nostalgia-driven JRPG that rewards the time you sink into it. The story pulls you in even without a standout cast. The monster-collecting systems are rich and addictive. And the combat strikes a balance between old-school comfort and modern convenience.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Luigi: Silksong was the holy grail of Metroidvania fans like me for years. Imagine our collective surprise when the mythical title was finally announced (and launched only a few weeks after the announcement). Silksong is real, and it’s here.

Silksong continues the saga started by the original Hollow Knight. Initially conceptualized as a second playable character for the first game, Hornet grew into her own game, filled with new enemies, abilities, and a much larger map. It retains the same formula that made the first great: tough fights but rewarding difficulty. There’s nothing more satisfying than figuring out how a boss here works and finally beating them after a hard fight.

Despite how huge it is, it only costs around US$ 20. At its core, it’s a true indie darling, and it still has free DLC coming!

Hades II

Luigi: In 2020, I played the first Hades. During a tenuous time like the pandemic, it was a huge lifesaver that helped me keep my sanity. Five years later, Hades 2 is here, and it’s just as epic.

A newly awakened Chronos has held Hades and his family captive. It’s up to Melinoë, Hades’s daughter, to rescue them from their prison. Much like the first one, the sequel has players go on runs to carve a little deeper into the Underworld. 

Besides new weapons and tools to help go further, each run also unlocks new stories and relationships with other characters. It makes the game much more endearing, because you actually care for the characters and how they interact with Melinoë. Whether it’s a long marathon or just a run before bed, Hades II is the perfect game for a cozy time.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Luigi: The original Death Stranding is a polarizing title, earning persistent japes of being just a glorified Uber simulator. Regardless of what you think of the first game, the sequel is much grander but has a tighter story. 

Sam Porter Bridges is back to connect the entirety of Mexico and Australia. Familiar faces and new ones help (and hinder) Sam’s quest. And… that’s basically it. Recapping the story of Death Stranding 2 takes more than an essay. It’s just that epic.

Besides looking like an art film on steroids, Death Stranding 2 also features cozy gameplay where you can just sit back and deliver goods across Australia in between the bombastic setpieces. It’s definitely an experience worth playing.

Two Point Museum

Luigi: I always find management games relaxing. It’s nice to unwind and help build a museum from the ground up. It also helps if the game has the quirky humor to break the monotony of just management.

Two Point Museum is simple, then. Build a series of museums with differing themes. Every single exhibit is wacky, which adds to the flavor: literally frozen cavemen, actual ghosts, fish shaped like sushi. It has the same irreverent themes of the whole Two Point franchise. 

And yet, it still has its challenges. For example, sometimes certain fish hate being paired with others, so it’s like a jigsaw puzzle of finding the best way to lay out your entire museum. 

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII

Luigi: To be clear, Civilization VII didn’t launch in the most complete way. Even now, the game is still getting updates that tweak entire mechanics. Still, I can’t deny that I had fun trying out the seventh strategy game in the series. I recently got back into it, and I’m still having a blast for a run or two.

Civilization VII redefines the mechanics of the franchise by introducing eras that can drastically change how you take your chosen leader through the test of time. And as always, there’s so many ways to win: scientific, economic, cultural, and military. It suits all playstyles.

If you didn’t like Civilization VII on launch, Firaxis is thankfully making it so much better and more enjoyable. It’s time to take one more turn.

Donkey Kong Bananza

Luigi: In Super Mario Odyssey, players are dropped into fresh maps where there’s a set path and a few creative ways to get there. In contrast, Donkey Kong Bananza drops players intoa sandbox filled with beautiful sandcastles and tells them “go crazy.” 

Making use of the Switch 2’s new hardware, Donkey Kong’s first 3D platformer in the modern age is a beautiful game with so many picturesque maps. What sets it apart from other platformers is the ability to destroy everything. Featuring destructible terrain, Donkey Kong Bananza wants you to have fun destroying all the pretty maps it built.

At first, I thought I was going to tire of this mechanic quickly, but every map has its own quirks that every level still feels like the first time.

R.E.P.O.

JP: R.E.P.O. is widely loved for its chaotic, funny co-op moments brought by a perfect mix of scary and goofy design. The strongest element for me, though, is sound design. Every audio cue feels satisfying.

The game’s systems thrive on repetition, with escalating threats and clear rules for how monsters behave and how they can be dealt with. That loop feels engaging, especially as the difficulty ramps up. The physics-driven interactions add another layer of enjoyment, often creating chaotic, genuinely funny moments when played in a full six-player lobby.

That said, I also enjoy playing R.E.P.O. solo, especially when friends are in the mood for other games, even though it can be quite challenging. My only real wish is for a roguelike-style progression system, where failed runs still contribute to long-term progress instead of a complete reset. 

R.E.P.O. is clever in maintaining its simplicity, leans into its strengths, and listens to community feedback. Despite my one wish, it’s a game I keep coming back to, whether with a full lobby or on my own.