Gaming in 2025 – Reflecting on an Eventful Year

Reflecting on my experiences in 2024, it was a 12 months of many firsts. Attending main online game conventions, seeing online game concert events for the very first time, and rising as a author have been main steps ahead for me.

Now that 2025 has concluded and a brand new 12 months graces us, I want to replicate as soon as extra on the highs and lows of gaming for yours actually.

New York Video Game Awards 2025

Attending a significant awards present was one thing not on my bingo card for 2025. But when my man Lord Cognito was going to current one of many awards, I needed to make it occur.

Comparing this to the 2024 Video Game Awards, it was a stark distinction in the very best methods potential. Games that I didn’t count on to get consideration, like Mouthwashing, received nominated for awards. Even in the event that they didn’t win, seeing my private highlights of 2024, like Sonic X Shadow Generations, get nominated for awards made me glad.

The largest spotlight of the occasion was seeing everybody collectively rejoice Sam Lake. As an off-the-cuff fan of his work on initiatives like CONTROL and Alan Wake II, I felt moved seeing the uncooked respect, honor, and celebration for Sam’s affect on the online game business.

Striking the Earth – Shovel Knight NYC Concert

As a online game music fan, Shovel Knight: Steel Thy Concert was certainly one of my highlights of 2025. It took iconic tracks from Shovel Knight and its expansions, remodeling them right into a implausible rock live performance.

Iconic tracks, similar to Strike the Earth, and The Bon Fire, have been wonderful to see carried out reside with new instrumentation. Talking to the wonderful crew at Yacht Club Games‬ when the live performance concluded was one other spotlight. They genuinely love their followers and are earnest folks.

Expressing how I beloved Shovel Knight and its significance. Seeing indie video games garner the identical degree of musical respect that Sonic and Final Fantasy received was superior. In the long run, when Mina the Hollower is a smash hit, I look ahead to that recreation’s rating getting the identical remedy.

A New Venture – Attending PAX East 2025

After planning with my buddy Eugene Schaffmeir, a seasoned author right here at Lords of Gaming and identified for his wonderful on-site protection, I used to be in a position to journey to Boston and attend my very first PAX East.

Lords of Gaming has protection of previous PAX East occasions, so the 2 of us teaming as much as cowl video games like The Gex Collection, Fresh Tracks, Mycopunk, Dune: Awakening, and a lot extra was a whole lot of enjoyable at PAX East 2025. My private spotlight from PAX East was overlaying the Marvelous/XSEED Booth.

There, I lined two main Switch 2 launch titles, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma and Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar. Being a newcomer to the farming sim style, these titles have been outdoors of my wheelhouse. I loved my time with all of them the identical.

Reflecting on my efforts in overlaying PAX East, I seen my progress in tackling a number of previews. With Gene’s steering, I grew to become a greater author by way of this expertise.

What a Switch! – Nintendo Experience NYC Event

Growing up, I at all times loved studying Game Informer and watching YouTube creators go hands-on with upcoming consoles and expertise. It received me hyped and excited for experiences I might finally expertise after they got here to market.

So when Nintendo chosen me out of a lottery to go hands-on with the Nintendo Switch 2 in NYC, I jumped on the probability. Rather a lot was nonetheless unknown about Nintendo’s upcoming console. Sure, trailers and a Nintendo Direct highlighted its bigger measurement, improved Joy-Cons, and a few of the Year One line-up.

It’s an entire different factor going hands-on with the console. Holding the system, taking part in Mario Kart World in each TV & Handheld Mode, and experiencing six different titles was a enjoyable expertise.

Getting a glimpse of video games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, speaking to third-party builders on how they introduced their video games to Switch 2, and concluding the expertise with your complete cause I wished a Switch 2 by taking part in Donkey Kong Bananza.

A childhood dream was fulfilled, and after experiencing the Switch 2 in particular person, I knew what I needed to do.

Nintendo Switch 2 Console Launch & LogNet Coverage

I took it upon myself, after my hands-on with the console, to spearhead LogNet’s protection on the system. Knowing that it wouldn’t solely be me shopping for a console, we divided and conquered numerous articles and recreation evaluations.

Working alongside the wonderful crew of writers at Lords of Gaming (Don Otaku, Digital, and Subagels) and seasoned veterans (Mahmood Ghaffar and Lord Cognito) to cowl such a significant launch was an enormous endeavor.

Reviewing the console itself, two of its elective controllers, and overlaying the SEGA launch-line up on Switch 2 are issues I’m additionally happy with conducting.

Alongside my very own initiatives, the Mario Kart World group overview was a ton of enjoyable. Highlighted by the Iron Lords’ personal group evaluations, this can create a strong critique of a game with multiple viewpoints.

Retro Adventures – Long Island Video Game Expo 2025

Kicking off the trifecta of main gaming occasions is the Long Island Gaming Expo. This 12 months’s focus was on celebrating the Nintendo Entertainment System, very similar to final 12 months’s celebration was a deep love for the SEGA Dreamcast. Being in a position to see iconic elements of the console, like ROB the Robot and the Power Glove, was cool. However, the largest shock was seeing the homebrew group displaying off their output on the NES.

Indie initiatives like Orebody: Binder’s Tale and Shera & the 40 Thieves, amongst many others, playable on native NES {hardware}, have been spectacular to see in particular person.

But greater than having fun with the video games themselves, spending time with Cognito and Petey whereas having fun with the sights and sounds of gaming’s historical past is at all times a deal with when attending the Long Island Video Game Expo.

One of the funniest moments was seeing Cog’s reaction to Samba de Amigo. Lord Petey and I have been nicely conscious of Sonic Team’s Dreamcast music recreation, however Cog wasn’t, so his commentary, as I used to be badly taking part in one of many songs, was hysterical.

Ending our journey there by taking part in the upcoming Toxic Crusaders capped off what was a implausible expertise.

From Kaiju’s to Burgers – Anime Expo NYC 2025

Anime Expo NYC 2025 was a fruitful 12 months for me, as I lined thrilling upcoming anime-themed video games and extra. While not practically as many video games in comparison with Anime NYC 2024, taking part in Kaiju No. 8: The Game and Blue Protocol: Star Resonance impressed me. Kaiju No. 8: The Game particularly received me desirous about watching anime once more in earnest.

It was a significant reprieve from private life stresses, as life has a means of testing you in surprising methods. Having that at some point to flee from all of it was immensely wanted.

Biggest Event Yet – NYC Comic Con 2025

As private life issues settled down, it was time for Lords of Gaming’s largest Comic-Con but. Tackling this solo, I lined a large record of thrilling upcoming video video games.

From Capcom’s PRAGMATA to TT Games’ Legacy of the Dark Knight, each expertise impressed on some degree. Alongside overlaying upcoming video games for LogNet, I loved different thrilling experiences.

Visiting the Avatar: The Last Airbender sales space, taking photos on the Smiling Friends pop-up, and speaking with fellow attendees cemented NYC Comic-Con 2025 as a powerful end-of-year expertise.

Going to the City – End of Year NYC Visit

Before the 12 months concluded, I visited NYC forward of New Year’s Eve. Starting from visiting the Nintendo Store, seeing holiday-themed decorations everywhere in the space. With Donkey Kong Bananza being my private GOTY, I received a DK mug.

I additionally visited the Microsoft Store and loved my time there. Many are vital of Microsoft Gaming’s actions all through 2025, however the groups that run the Xbox facet of issues genuinely love the model. I felt that was on full show on the Microsoft Store.

A Green X – Microsoft Store Highlights

I handled myself to a Halo 2 shirt on my means out, alongside testing out the Xbox Rog Ally X. Save for the texture of the hand-held, I don’t fairly echo the excessive reward others have for the system. Seeing Forza Horizon 5 operating nicely after longer-than-expected load instances was good.

The model’s historical past was additionally celebrated, as the unique Xbox prototype and the legacy consoles have been on show. The spotlight was seeing the Duke Controller, having the Xbox boot display taking part in on the controller itself.

A shock was seeing a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Stranger Things collaboration occurring as of this writing. As you may see with the pictures beneath, the Microsoft Store crew actually nailed the vibe and tone of the present’s period.

Other highlights included seeing new figures on the Tamashii Nations NYC Store, looking by way of Bookoff’s number of video games, and having fun with some beautiful NYC pizza.

Video Gaming in 2025

Reflecting on every part that occurred in 2025, my experiences made me a stronger particular person. A number of years in the past, I by no means would’ve anticipated to cowl a console launch or attend a number of main expos highlighting upcoming recreation releases.

And doing all that, with main private life challenges that I wanted to beat, is one thing I’m happy with myself for, wanting again on every part.

2026 is a 12 months of nice potential and uncertainty. Pricing for a pastime I really like has skyrocketed and can proceed to take action as real-life elements hinder entry for myself and lots of others. But that gained’t cease me from having fun with a pastime I really like and rising as a author on this area.

From excellent recreation releases throughout all platforms, enjoyable experiences that everybody may get pleasure from, and a lot to look ahead to within the new 12 months, let’s kick 2026 with a bang and preserve rocking!