At the end of each year on this blog, I write posts covering things mostly related to movies, like best films of the year, or films I am looking forward to next year. But what about the other things I like? I like many other things, not just movies, but by year’s end, I may not have enough content to do a Top 5 list, so I don’t usually do them. But on the way back home from town this week, I thought; ‘what if I did a list, but instead of seperate lists for books, games, music, and so on, why not just a list, where I highlight the top spot for each category (and possibly a close runner up or two)?’
This way, I’ll be able to still talk about the other things over the year that I have enjoyed, wihout worrying about making up more content with other things. Well, that’s what I am going to try and do now. Of course, I am not going to cover movies, as I have written three end of year posts covering that category. For this list, I am going to choose other categories. Some which will make simple sense, and other I might make-up on the fly. Anyway, let’s just get down to business, with a list covering My other Favourite things that I Enjoyed/Discovered over the course of 2025; Enjoy!
Best Video Game: Hotel Architect – I have always enjoyed games where you are required to build and manage something. Classics from my past include Rollercoaster Tycoon, Dungeon Keeper 2, and Prison Architect. Well this year, I discovered Hotel Architect, and I haven’t stopped loving it. Still technically in development, but with frequent updates; Hotel Architect is a game where you build a hotel, and then manage hotel. A pretty simple idea, but with plenty of challenges, and a lot of room for personal creativity.
Worthy Runner-Up: Donkey Kong Bananza – An astounding game which should have been the launch title for the Switch 2. So much fun, lots of destruction, but a really sweet narrative, which pairs up two unlikely heroes, in a bond which you don’t want to see split up!
Best Board/Card Game: Whirly Derby – A seriously fun party game, with elements of set collection, chance, and pressing your luck. It’s pretty simple too, as it involves choosing a number of marbles to send around a pan, in the hope of gaining prizes, which help earn end game points!
Best TV Show: Malpractice – A really addictive and engrossing TV show, about a conspiracy hidden deep within a medical trust, which is awoken after an incident involving a mental health patient. I was consumed by this show’s premise, and terrific story telling. It’s like the medical version of Line of Duty, as serious investigations take place, which cause further unforseen twists to occur!
Best Song: The Gates Of Time (The Dark Side of the Moon) – I have discovered a lot of new music over the course of the year, including several cool new bands, but ever since I heard this piece, it just won’t leave my head…and for the right reasons too. It’s an incredibly powerful piece in sound alone, with a very catchy chorus, and nice variations in pace, from slow and melodic, to heavy and fast!
Best Band: Beyond the Black – I have discovered several great new bands this year, like Hammerfall, and Delain, but my third discovery is easily my favourite, and the one I am most excited to discover more from. I have always considered Xandria to be the best Symphonic Metal band, but now I think that Beyond the Black are a worthy contender to that title. Their music can vary, but the pieces I listen to most, are just incredible, and make me want to discover more and more!
Worthy Runner Up: Hammerfall – Hammerfall were the band that set me off looking for more bands, rather than just listening to my favourites over and over again. I now have three of their albums, and an ever growing collection of their music on my Spotify account!
Best Book: The Lighthouse (Alex Bell) – My latest read from Stripes Publishing‘s magnificent Red Eye series, takes readers on a journey to a mysterious Lighthouse, with deadly secrets entombed inside, which makes a habbit of making people disappear. Frequently mysterious, very chilling, and often violent; it’s a really enjoyable book for fans of things that go bump in the night!
Special Mention: Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Whilst Malpractice was my favourite new show that I watched this year, it wasn’t my number 1 favourite. Back in June I decided to re-watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and it’s been awesome! I have been a fan of the series for many years, but there many episodes that I never watched. So I hopped back in, and have loved every minute of it. It’s one of the Greatest TV Shows ever for good reason, and even now, with so many new and exciting shows to choose from, I would much rather watch another episode of Buffy. Plus, it does mean I get to listen to that awesome intro time and time again (I mean seriously, what was the last show to make an intro as EPIC as this?)!
If you’re wondering why I have used a Question Mark as this posts title image…well I couldn’t figure out what would be a good randomish image to use, so I just went with the Question Mark.
Things I Like 
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