Yearly Wrap-Up: Video Games

Hello, dear readers! ICYMI, welcome to the series of newsletters for December, as part of my end-of-the-year wrap-up. I know not everyone is into looking at the past year and reflecting upon it, but I eat that shit up. It’s one of my favorite rituals, spending part of December reflecting on my past year and then preparing my intentions for the year to come. So, the months of Deecmber and January will be more newsletter-heavy than usual (3-4 posts each, over the usual 1-2). I appreciate everyone giving me that space to reflect on the year in a way I love.

For this year, the wrap-ups you can expect are:

• Freelancing Wrap-Up: the first year

• Video Game Wrap-Up: this one!

• Reading Wrap-Up: next one!

• Yearly Wrap-Up: last one!

So, let’s dive into stats, reflections, sap and more in the today’s yearly wrap-up: the year of playing not only cozy games for the first time, but also playing another game that completely changed my brain chemistry.

What Video Games Mean to Me

I can’t remember exactly when I started playing video games, but it wasn’t until my late teens/early college time. It was something that my younger brother (almost a decade younger than me) got into and then I got into because of him, which quickly turned into one of my main hobbies before transforming into one of my greatest loves. I play via the PS (consoles forever) and one of the most expensive purchases I saved up and made myself was the PS5 last year.

For me, gaming is not only a fantastic way to relax, but it inspires me with great storytelling, memoriable characters, incredible worlds and wonderful interactions. It’s a way to experience things otherwise impossible. It’s an escape. It’s been an introduction to an amazing community and friends I wouldn’t have otherwise; a bonding experience between some of my closest friends and my partner.

Some of my favorite games (Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Horizon: Zero Dawn, and now, Expedition 33) have changed me so fundamentally that they’ve made me reconsider myself as a creative and challenged me to do better. Video games have challenged me, affirmed me, inspired me and changed me. I am so, so grateful for them and so happy how much time I’ve spent this year getting to play them.

So, let’s take a look at what I played and some rapid fire thoughts, since I played a whopping twenty-one different games this year!

Games Played Plus Mini Reviews

My favorite type of video game are open-world RPGs. I will never be happier than if I have a massive map, a customizable character, a million side quests to ignore the main quest with complete, a queernorm world, a heartbreaking plot, memorable side characters and a spicy romance to inspire my fanfiction.

This year, I got to play some games that hit exactly that.

• Dragon Age: Veilguard: I ended up finishing Veilguard at the start of the year. Despite knowing this game was not what it could have been (and wishing we could have played a game created that the devs fully wanted WHILE they were actually supported, neither which fully happened), having a LOT of opinions about the lackluster romances, and being the queen of the “I Hate Electronic Arts (EA) Club”, I did really enjoy this game. Getting to be back in the world of DA was a balm to my soul. I loved all of our new companions. I ended up writing a 60K (unfinished, I know, I’m sorry) LucanisXRook fanfic. I would play in this world forever if EA would stop fucking it up.

• Helldivers II: Helldivers was fun! This was a game that I played with my partner and his best friend, often streaming it, and being very bad at it. But it was a great time when I didn’t want to think too much and just wanted to shoot things. I also got way too invested in collecting samples. 💀

• Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: This was my first time making some actual progress with Oblivion thanks to the remaster! I enjoyed it quite a bit (Skyrim is forever one of the games that changed my life and cemented me as a gamer) but it did overwhelm me with how many quests would pop up without me accepting them. (I got really spoiled by how quests and acts work in BG3, which I love). Never beat it, but that’s okay; will prolly go back to it at some point.

• Clair Obscur Expedition 33: THIS GAME. I am (lowkey) writing this newsletter so I can talk about THIS GAME. Clair Obscur has changed my life. It is one of my top games of all time. A story hasn’t captivated me and blown my mind this much since HZD. I am OBSESSED with the characters. The writing? Exquisite. The concept? Refreshingly new. The combat? Fucking difficult (lol). I have gotten no less than seven people to play this game and it is my mission to get every single person to play it. I cried multiple times. I will preorder a grocery list if Sandfall puts it out. OBSESSED. Hands down the best game I played this year, no question.

• Assassin’s Creed: Shadows: Okay so I haven’t beat this yet (ope) but I really, really enjoyed this! Exploring Japan has been incredible and it’s been fun to explore both play styles by switching protagonists (though the assassin play style will forever be my favorite). I also love how we just keep getting new targets. Every time I thought I was getting close to the end, I was shown how untrue that was LOL. Also, the environment?? I think it’s one of the most gorgeous games I’ve ever played. It literally had me missing weather and seasonal patterns that I wasn’t in while I was playing it because it was so stunning and so realistic. Plus, YOU CAN PET ALL THE CATS AND DOGS.

• Borderlands 3: Decided to replay a bit to prepare for four, but didn’t get very far because they didn’t have an easy mode and I was getting my ass kicked (I played 2 and 3 with my partner previously and apparently can’t beat it without him). But it was still so fun!

• Borderlands 4: I had a good time with the fourth installment of this wacky series. It’s my favorite series to play when I’m looking for absurded humor and can fully embrace the loot goblin I truly am. So that was excellent, as always. But it definitely felt like an in-between game to Borderlands 5 and I wish it stood a bit better independently.

• BG3: One of my favorite games of all time!! My partner and I are replaying it on his Twitch streams on Friday nights (7pm CST) since he’s never beat it officially, only ever reaching Act III. So it’s been so fun to play again, even if this is my fifth playthrough (I told you I really love this game LOL). Then, once we beat this run, we’re going to do an unhinged modded evil run, which I’ve never been brave enough to do. So definitely come and watch that happen sometime in 2026!

• Apex Legends: This is a game that we love to hate and hate to love (we being my partner, his bestie and me). We played a little bit to see some one the changes after taking a few years hiatus and while it’s fun, we’re okay to let it sit unplayed for a while LOL.

• The Outer Worlds: Replayed so I could play the sequel! Which…

• The Outer Worlds II: This is so fun! I haven’t beat it yet (I’m currently playing it now) but I’m enjoyed it immensely. Sometimes it gets a little intense in the sense that the comedy feels a little less like comedy and a little like a stolen memo from our current timeline. 💀 But it’s been so fun and I’m glad I’ve gotten to play it. Plus, ship pets!

Yet, on top of my standard bread and butter, I also got into a genre I never thought I would: cozy games! It’s never really seemed my vibe, but I was watching my partner play Stardew right after I quit my job and before I started freelancing full-time, so in the month between, I figured, “Eh why not, let’s just try out Stardew.”

And then the obsessed with cozy games began and show no signs of stopping now. It truly is a genre I really, really love and I’m so grateful I get to play!

• Stardew Valley: the cozy game that started the obsession of the genre. I’m not sure what it is about this style of game that has me go full AuDHD-level obsessed with it, but my goodness does this style of a game have me in a chokehold. I can’t get enough of these farming life sims. They are SO fun.

• Coral Island: I loved Stardew so much, but wow did this game completely take over my life this spring/summer. It was SO fun. I absolutely loved the art style, the diversity, the romances (!!), the fun events. I even got my bestie to play it at the same time and we were constantly talking strats and making our own spreadsheets to track everything LOL. Will definitely be playing again.

• Palia: Rounding out my top three cozy games has been Palia. It’s also so fun, I love the graphics, but what sets it apart and makes it truly incredible for me is the decoration you can do! Getting to decorate my house was something that I had way too much fun doing. Plus, Hadari omgggggggg. 🫦

• Lone Star Planet: This is a game I did have fun playing, but I have a lot of opinions on how they could’ve improved a lot of the game mechanics. Which made me really sad since this felt really promising (especially with the space element to refresh the genre a bit).

• Potion Permit: Cute game, with a slightly different angle that was fun! Felt a little short but I enjoyed it.

• Paleo Pines: I think I’ll enjoy this game more once some of the future updates come out. I made a lot of progress and I LOVE the dinosaurs, but it felt like there wasn’t a lot of forward momentum or things to mix it up compared to games like Coral Island or Palia. Definitely one I’m looking forward to updates!

• Sugerdew Island: This one was okay! It was really cute and I loved the nature focus. Also felt short.

• Tales of the Shire: As an LOTR-obsessed nerd, I was so excited for this game (even if the graphics felt…not really my vibe, from early looks). I waited a bit after some initial less-than-great reception, but I’m really glad I picked it up! I’ve enjoyed it a lot (again, the decoration aspect has been SO fun) and definitely plan to platinum it at some point!

• Deiland: Only game I regret buying. It seemed like it wanted to join the cozy game genre, but it felt like it was lacking a lot in terms of things to do, explanation, etc. Barely even put in 10 hours before I decided it’s not for me, which is so unlike me!

• Cozy Grove: Alongside Outer Worlds II, I’m also playing Cozy Grove right now! It’s really fun and I’m enjoying it immensely. At first, I was pretty frustrated at the time lock element (i.e., new content to progess won’t unlock until the next day after you’ve hit a certain point each day) but I’ve finally progressed enough that I feel like I can play for a few hours each night and still find things to do. I LOVE the art style and the quirky story. Definitely excited to continue playing it.

This was so fun. I love talking about video games, but don’t often feel like I have a lot of places to do that, since my socials are so focused on my books and my business. So thank you all for humoring me and allowing me this space. I’d love to hear what games you’ve played, loved or are looking forward to!

Until next,
Nicole 🖤

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