Every few years, a title comes along that feels like it was crafted with a singular, unwavering vision. This samurai epic is a stunning love letter to cinema that earns every single frame. It quickly became my favorite of the year, not just for its emotional weight, but for its sheer technical elegance.

The End of Loading

From a gamedev standpoint, the most mind-blowing achievement here is the data streaming. The loading speeds are blazing fast, even on PC. On a modern NVMe drive, fast travel feels almost instantaneous—it’s a masterclass in asset management and decompression. Traditionally, open-world games suffer from “pop-in” or long transition screens to clear the buffer, but Sucker Punch managed to optimize their proprietary engine to a degree that makes the hardware feel invisible. This isn’t just a convenience; it changes how you interact with the island, encouraging frequent exploration without the “loading tax” that usually hampers large-scale RPGs.

The use of particle effects and wind simulation is another area of technical brilliance. Instead of static environments, the island is in constant motion. Every pampas grass blade, every falling leaf, and every drop of blood follows the physics of the world. The decision to use the “Guiding Wind” as the primary navigation tool is a strokes of UX genius. It removes the need for a cluttered HUD or a distracting mini-map, keeping the player’s eyes firmly on the beautiful art direction.

Cinema Choices

Visually, the project is a triumph of color theory. Each region has a distinct palette—from the fiery reds of a maple forest to the serene purples of a flower-filled field. While I only played around with the photo mode and the “Kurosawa Mode” briefly, I can acknowledge they are superb. The Kurosawa Mode, specifically, isn’t just a black-and-white filter; it adjusts the contrast, film grain, and even the audio quality to mimic the 1950s cinematic aesthetic. It’s a bold artistic choice that demonstrates a deep respect for the source material.

The combat gameplay is a perfect blend of simplicity and depth. It’s addictive, built around stances that must be switched in real-time to counter specific enemy archetypes. The “clash” of steel feels weighty and responsive, providing a visceral satisfaction that many action games struggle to capture.

Honor and Sacrifice

At its heart, the narrative tells a compelling story of Jin Sakai, a man forced to choose between the rigid code of his ancestors and the “dishonorable” tactics needed to repel a Mongol invasion. Unlike many open-world experiences where the plot can feel disjointed, Jin’s journey remains gripping from start to finish. The supporting cast is equally strong, with side quests that feel like meaningful chapters rather than mere filler.

The project is a rare 10/10 for me. It takes the familiar open-world formula and polishes it to a mirror sheen, delivering a mechanical and emotional experience that stays with you long after the credits roll. It’s a testament to what happens when technical optimization and artistic vision are perfectly aligned.

In a genre dominated by dragons and chosen ones, this title stands out by offering something much rarer: historical authenticity. You aren’t a hero; you are Henry, the son of a blacksmith, and at the start, you can barely hold a sword, let alone read. From a gamedev perspective, the commitment to this “zero-to-hero” simulation is a bold design choice that dictates every other system in the experience.

Simulation of Ancient

The technical foundation, built on a heavily modified version of CryEngine, is both a blessing and a curse. Visually, the engine’s strength in rendering dense vegetation and realistic lighting is on full display. The forests feel like real Bohemian woodlands, with light filtering through the canopy in a way that feels procedurally natural rather than hand-placed. However, the trade-off is evident in the hardware demands and the occasional physics “jank” that occurs when complex AI schedules collide with a highly detailed environment.

The AI system is particularly ambitious. Every NPC has a 24-hour routine, which isn’t just cosmetic. If a merchant isn’t at their stall, they are likely eating or sleeping. This creates a living world but introduces massive edge cases for quest triggers—a classic dev headache where systemic freedom competes with narrative stability.

Systems

As a developer, I am naturally drawn to deep, interlocking systems. I spent a lot of time analyzing how the developers handled the alchemy and maintenance mechanics. The alchemy system is incredibly innovative, requiring the player to physically interact with the bellows, distillers, and ingredients in real-time. It’s a masterclass in diegetic UI design. Ironically, despite my love for appreciation for well-crafted systems, I found myself barely touching the actual crafting system. In any game, in fact. I acknowledged the brilliance of the implementation, but the sheer friction of the simulation—while thematic—meant I often preferred to find or buy my gear rather than engage with the labor-intensive crafting loop myself.

The save system, tied to the “Saviour Schnapps” item, is another polarizing design decision. It forces the player to live with their mistakes, which heightens the tension of every encounter. From a design standpoint, it’s a interesting way to prevent “save scumming”.

A Tale of Two Halves

The narrative starts with a personal quest for vengeance that masterfully anchors you in the larger political machinations of the Holy Roman Empire. The voice acting is grounded and human, which complements the gritty aesthetic. However, the experience stumbles as it nears the finish line. The final chapters feel somewhat convoluted and rushed, losing the intimate focus that made the early hours so compelling. The transition from a personal journey to a large-scale military conflict exposes some of the engine’s limitations in handling massive crowds.

Despite these rough edges and the late-game narrative hurdles, the project remains a masterpiece for those who value immersion. It is a demanding, beautiful, and ultimately rewarding journey through a history that feels alive, proving that sometimes, the most innovative thing you can do is stick to the truth.

Every year, I try to compile a list of games, books, and movies I experienced. For the complete list, check the Ratings. Here we go (sorted by rating, then alphabetically)!

NOTE: I believe this list is the one that is mostly incomplete. I will probably make additions to it, time to time.

1. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (10★★★★★★★★★★): A timeless exploration of rebellion, freedom, and madness, with Nicholson delivering an unforgettable performance. A film that captures both hope and despair in one breath.
2. Game Night (9★★★★★★★★★): A chaotic, clever, and hilarious rollercoaster where every twist lands perfectly. Surprisingly sharp and self-aware for a comedy.
3. Leaving Las Vegas (9★★★★★★★★★): Raw, heartbreaking, and utterly devastating. Cage and Shue lay their souls bare in this tragic descent into addiction.
4. Past Lives (9★★★★★★★★★): A delicate, melancholic meditation on love, fate, and missed chances. Quietly profound and achingly human.
5. The Invisible Guest (9★★★★★★★★★): Our first movie entirely in Spanish since we moved to Peru. Twists and tension done right, keeping you guessing until the very end. A sleek, tightly-woven thriller.
6. The Thing (1982) (9★★★★★★★★★): Paranoia, horror, and practical effects at their peak. Carpenter’s chilling masterpiece.
7. The Whale (9★★★★★★★★★): A gut-wrenching portrait of redemption and regret, anchored by Fraser’s vulnerable and transformative performance.
8. Tropic Thunder (9★★★★★★★★★): Hollywood satire dialed up to 11, skewering industry egos and excess with wild, unfiltered humor. Somehow both ridiculous and incisive.
9. All The President's Men (8★★★★★★★★): Journalism’s finest hour on film, unraveling a scandal with a relentless pursuit of truth.
10. Bernie (8★★★★★★★★): Dark humor meets small-town crime with charm. Jack Black shines in one of his most nuanced performances.
11. Dune: Part Two (8★★★★★★★★): A sci-fi epic of stunning scope and spectacle. Villeneuve balances grandiosity with intimate character moments.
12. High and Low (8★★★★★★★★): A Akira Kurosawa masterful moral thriller of ransom and class, showing the fine line between privilege and desperation.
13. Palm Springs (8★★★★★★★★): Groundhog Day meets millennial cynicism with a heart. A time-loop comedy that’s surprisingly existential. Better than I expected.
14. Poor Things (8★★★★★★★★): Surreal, inventive, and delightfully strange. Stone’s performance is fearless, and the world is bizarrely beautiful.
15. Popstar Never Stop Never Stopping (8★★★★★★★★): Satirical absurdity in perfect harmony, mercilessly mocking the music industry while delivering bangers.
16. Seven Samurai (8★★★★★★★★): Kurosawa’s blueprint for action epics, combining heart, strategy, and heroism.
17. Silence (8★★★★★★★★): A quiet descent into faith and suffering. Scorsese’s understated masterpiece asks hard questions with haunting beauty.
18. A Most Violent Year (7★★★★★★★): Crime and integrity clash in a snow-covered 1980s New York. A slow-burning, tension-filled character study.
19. Anatomy of a Fall (7★★★★★★★): A courtroom drama that dissects more than just a case. A slow-burn character study wrapped in ambiguity.
20. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (7★★★★★★★): Stay classy, comedy fans. A ridiculous, quotable romp that never takes itself seriously.
21. Colossus: The Forbin Project (7★★★★★★★): AI paranoia before it was cool. A chilling look at humanity’s hubris in the face of technology.
22. Donnie Darko (7★★★★★★★): Disturbing, puzzling, and oh so cult-worthy. A time-twisting tale of teenage angst and existential dread.
23. Metropolis (7★★★★★★★): The foundation of sci-fi cinema, a vision still ahead of its time. Note that today, only heavily edited versions of it exist.
24. Take Shelter (7★★★★★★★): A slow-burn descent into anxiety and uncertainty.
25. This Is the End (7★★★★★★★): Self-aware apocalypse, dripping with absurdity, with celebrities roast themselves while the world burns.
26. Upstream Color (7★★★★★★★): A hypnotic puzzle only the boldest try to solve.
27. The Zone of Interest (7★★★★★★★): The horror lies in its mundane perspective. Oscar worthy of either “international movie” or “best picture”, but not both.
28. Civil War (7★★★★★★★): A tense and unsettling exploration of a fractured, grim and plausible America.
29. Primal Fear (7★★★★★★★): A gripping legal thriller with a twist that lingers. Norton’s breakout performance steals the show.
30. Killers of the Flower Moon (6★★★★★★): A tragic epic that loses its sharp edge. Brilliant performances can’t quite save the bloated runtime.
31. The Thing (2011) (6★★★★★★): Decent. A shadow of its predecessor’s brilliance.
32. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (5★★★★★): Tom Cruise runs; the thrill fades. 85% what they talk is one-liners.
33. Mr. Nobody (5★★★★★): The concept is interesting, but the movie in boring.
34. Waking Life (4★★★★): Interesting visuals drags.

Documentaries

1. RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop (8★★★★★★★★): Super nostalgic documentary about the creation of the first movie.
2. Period. End of Sentence (8★★★★★★★★): A powerful, concise look at the fight for menstrual taboos.
3. Nai Nai (7★★★★★★★): A tender and simple portrayal of family bonds across generations.
4. The Last Repair Shop (7★★★★★★★): A heartfelt tribute to unsung heroes keeping music alive, one instrument at a time.

Animations

1. Nimona (9★★★★★★★★★): Bold, vibrant, and full of rebellious energy. A dazzling blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and self-acceptance.
2. Elemental (5★★★★★): I did not like even the visuals, over-saturated.

TV Shows

1. Arcane S1 (10★★★★★★★★★★): A stunning explosion of art, lore, and character depth.
2. Shogun (10★★★★★★★★★★): A masterclass in historical drama, rich and ruthless.
3. Arcane S2 (8★★★★★★★★): Continue to be stylish, but abuse of numerous character timelines with looong playoffs. In several episodes, you end up without knowing what you’ve just watched.
4. House of the Dragon S2 (7★★★★★★★): Dragons characters are cool, but the humans ones are most lame.
5. Severance S1 (7★★★★★★★): Clever, eerie, and just a bit too enigmatic.
6. 3 Body Problem S1 (6★★★★★★): Sci-fi that starts strong, then it becomes less than Lost or Heroes final seasons.

Every year, I try to compile a list of games, books, and movies I experienced. For the complete list, check the Ratings. Here we go (sorted by rating, then alphabetically)!

Finished

1. Outer Wilds (10★★★★★★★★★★): A masterstroke of exploration and existential wonder. Rewards curiosity. Now it’s time for the expansion.
2. Deathloop (9★★★★★★★★★): One of the best games this year. The protagonists stand out, though some bosses feel over-the-top. Their personalities are quirky but take some getting used to. The game can be surprisingly easy.
3. Beyond: Two Souls (8★★★★★★★★): Starting this story-driven game with my wife. The acting is outstanding. The story holds up until the final chapters, where it falters a bit. A solid narrative experience.
4. Carrion (8★★★★★★★★): Channeling John Carpenter’s The Thing, it’s a blast to play as the monstrous entity.
5. Dredge (8★★★★★★★★): A dark, Lovecraftian fishing adventure where you sell catches and upgrade your boat while uncovering eerie secrets.
6. Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy (8★★★★★★★★): Hilarious character interactions carry the game, though the combat and exploration mechanics can feel disjointed and overly complex at times.
7. RoboCop: Rogue City (8★★★★★★★★): Nostalgia factor to the roof. While not groundbreaking, it’s a competent tribute.
8. Storyteller (8★★★★★★★★): A clever puzzle game that lets you weave tales, rewarding creativity with delightful twists.
9. There Is No Game (8★★★★★★★★): Completely out of the box, old style adventure game.
10. Escape Academy (7★★★★★★★): Escape room as video game. All puzzles very doable. Played with my wife.
11. Human Resource Machine (7★★★★★★★): I’ve played this programming game ages ago in the phone. But the touchscreen is not the ideal tool to write programs. The mouse/keyboard in the PC version allowed me to finish the last couple of levels that I’ve never did back them.
12. Just Cause 4 (7★★★★★★★): I’ve tried this game before, but it was crashing on Linux. This time, worked flawless (from the tech perspective). The game play, like the Just Cause 3 (8★★★★★★★★), is fun but repetitive, due to the size of the map. The story is useless.
13. The Case of the Golden Idol (7★★★★★★★): An indie puzzle/detective game with unique mechanics reminiscent of Return of the Obra Dinn (9★★★★★★★★★). Now I need to finish the expansions.
14. TOEM (7★★★★★★★): A cozy photo adventure wrapped in charm.
15. Weird West (7★★★★★★★): A dark, immersive blend of action RPG and western, filled with strange and unsettling twists. It stands out for its atmosphere and storytelling, but the story itself takes time to settle down.
16. Biomutant (6★★★★★★): Oh, man. I really wanted to like it, but the map is too big, the story is starts nice but lose steam in chapter 2 and the narrator is annoying as hell. The game play is not that fun: the combat is too generic.
17. Pikuniku (6★★★★★★): A lighthearted game with a welcoming vibe, suitable for younger audiences.
18. Turmoil (5★★★★★): A simple oil-drilling sim that starts strong but runs dry quickly. Played due to the oil theme (I’ve worked in an oil company for years)

Currently Playing

1. Card Shark (8★★★★★★★★): A clever, daring game of wit and deceit. Masterful storytelling paired with sleight-of-hand mechanics keeps you hooked.
2. Ghost Trick (8★★★★★★★★): A fresh take on puzzle-solving with a quirky Japanese humor.
3. Inscryption (8★★★★★★★★): Starts as a clever card game, but quickly spirals into a narrative masterpiece with layers of meta-storytelling. It’s a wild ride through different genres.
4. Paradigm (8★★★★★★★★): old style adventure game with an amazing, but not for everyone, humor.
5. Paradise Killer (8★★★★★★★★): CRAZY! Do not let the visuals fool you. Amazing. Loving this amazing true detective game where, as far as I know, you can draw any conclusion you want.
6. Stray (8★★★★★★★★): Beautifully crafted, like most Annapurna games. Playing as a cat is delightful, despite being more of a dog person.
7. The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos (8★★★★★★★★): Didn’t see it coming, a genuinely funny classic turn-based RPG with top-notch humor.
8. Death's Door (7★★★★★★★): A charming yet challenging journey through a world of souls and secrets. Sharp combat and quiet melancholy blend perfectly.
9. Desktop Dungeons (7★★★★★★★): I’ve played a demo web version of it ages ago, and I liked so much that I’ve even bought Dungeons of Dredmor by mistake. I’ve never remembered the name of the one I liked, but recently they created a remaster and gave the original for free. Very clever and hard.
10. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remaster (7★★★★★★★): High-speed thrills with a nostalgic edge, but the polish only goes so far.
11. Overland (7★★★★★★★): A puzzle game with a post-apocalyptic theme.
12. The Outer Worlds (7★★★★★★★): Playing a lot due to the fact I’m recently following its creator, Tim Cain, channel.
13. Tunic (7★★★★★★★): In the very early stages. I do not like games that too vague stories. But this one seems to have a reason.
14. Very Little Nightmares (6★★★★★★): Atmospheric dread and fun scaled down.

Not finished yet (for one reason or another)

Many projects barely begun. Installed to test, but mostly in limbo—WIP or collecting dust. Unfinished tales of exploration and hesitation.

1. Black Mesa (8★★★★★★★★): The official/unofficial Half-Life 1 remake. Superb! Curious to see what the fuss was about HF1 after finishing Half-Life 2 (8★★★★★★★★) last year.
2. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (8★★★★★★★★): Holy moly! Got it from my brother on my birthday, had only a couple of minutes to play, but it’s already shaping up to be a favorite.
3. Gris (8★★★★★★★★): Beautiful first level.
4. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun (8★★★★★★★★): Liked the thinking in this game. Definitely one I’ll try to complete sooner than later.
5. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (7★★★★★★★): liked the first title, Deus Ex: Human Revolution (8★★★★★★★★), but this one is a far inferior game. The story is not nice and the gameplay is not fun so far.
6. Dyson Sphere Program (6★★★★★★): Got an old version to give it a try. It’s a lot of things at once.
7. Slipways (6★★★★★★): Strategy-heavy, almost like playing chess. Not quite my style.
8. Industria (6★★★★★★): Short Half-Life-esque with nice visuals.

Continuous playing

I play them eventually. Most of them, are strategy games. Nothing new from last year’s list, except:

1. Crusader Kings 3 (8★★★★★★★★): Time sucker, like many Paradox titles.
2. while True: learn() (8★★★★★★★★): Logic programming puzzles. Amazingly fun and challenging for a programmer. The special bonuses for optimized solutions request multiple plays for each scenario.
3. Baba Is You (7★★★★★★★): Played some levels, up to the second or third “world.” SUPER clever.
4. Horizon Chase Turbo (7★★★★★★★): A love letter to classic arcade racers. Pure, nostalgic fun, though it occasionally lacks depth.

Next games on my radar

Finally, here is a list of games that I already have in my collection that I plan to play in the next months. It’s a bit ridiculous to talk about the next game, considering the amount of unfinished ones, but the catalog is so vast that I can afford to play ahead.

1. Doki Doki Literature Club: Out of the ordinary for your taste, but the reviews piqued your interest.
2. Ghost of a Tale (7★★★★★★★): Followed the development process for quite some time because it was made using Unity. Looks charming and intriguing.
3. Heavy Rain: Anticipating another story-driven experience to enjoy with your wife.
4. Hitman: Hoping to take a more relaxed approach this time after a perfectionist run of Contracts.
5. Prey Mooncrash: I’m a fan of time travel/time loop ideas. I bought it, but days later I got Deathloop (9★★★★★★★★★) (following game from the same company) for free.
6. We Are There Together: Bought to play with my wife, but not included in Play Together on Steam. Considering convincing another soul to play with me
7. XCOM 2 (6★★★★★★): Time to dive into this much-praised strategy game.

Every year, I try to compile a list of games, books, and movies I experienced. For the complete list, check the Ratings. Here we go (sorted by rating, then alphabetically)!

I’ve maintained the habit of reading, mostly through audiobooks during my daily dog walks, for several years. It adds a layer of engagement to my routine, turning a no-brainer task into an opportunity for thought. Without it, I’d feel like I’m merely walking without purpose.

Here’s a list of books from this year, a selection not exhaustive but those that linger in my memory. As I often forget to update my GoodReads records or write about them on this blog, these are the ones that come to mind. I’ll edit this post if I recall additional entries.

Fiction

1. Kill Decision (8★★★★★★★★): Daniel Suarez fiction books that might turn into non-fiction history books. This one warns about the usage and risks of autonomous flying drones for war.
2. Klara and the Sun (8★★★★★★★★): Klara, a child companion android, was finally sold to a child, but humans are not as reliable as robots.
3. Metal Like Blood in the Dark (8★★★★★★★★): Short story about two robot siblings in the first contact with the real world. Hugo Award nominee.
4. Proof by Induction (8★★★★★★★★): Short story about a scientist trying to prove a theory started by his father. Hugo Award nominee.
5. Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse (7★★★★★★★): Good short story about a couple running away from zombies to give birth to a child. Hugo Award nominee.
6. Little Free Library (7★★★★★★★): Short story about a mysterious figure start to borrow books from one’s personal public library. Hugo Award nominee. Read it for free.
7. Sharp Objects (7★★★★★★★): Dark, twisted, and gripping. A psychological thriller where every page cuts a little deeper.
8. The Sin of America (6★★★★★★): Another nice short story. Hugo Award nominee.

Non Fiction

1. Four Thousand Weeks (9★★★★★★★★★): A refreshing reminder that time management is about acceptance, not control. Philosophical yet practical, it challenges productivity obsessions.
2. 2k to 10k (8★★★★★★★★): Insightful, actionable advice for writers seeking efficiency and joy. A concise toolkit for unleashing your creative flow.
3. Antifragile (8★★★★★★★★): A bold exploration of systems that thrive on chaos. Taleb’s insights challenge you to embrace volatility rather than fear it.
4. Obvious Adams (8★★★★★★★★): Simple wisdom on the power of clarity and common sense. Timeless advice for cutting through complexity.
5. Prisoners of Geography (8★★★★★★★★): Geography shapes destiny, and Marshall maps it out brilliantly. A geopolitical crash course that makes borders more than just lines.
6. Skin in the Game (8★★★★★★★★): A sharp critique of accountability, where risk and reward must align. Taleb pulls no punches in his call for skin-deep integrity.
7. The Black Swan (8★★★★★★★★): Somewhat similar to the excellent Outliers (8★★★★★★★★) from Malcolm Gladwell, it explores the power of one-time events, people and technologies and the nature of the unpredictability.
8. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (7★★★★★★★): Pragmatic and data-driven, offering solutions rather than just warnings. A solid roadmap, though occasionally too tech-focused.
9. Quiet (6★★★★★★): Thought-provoking but occasionally repetitive. A strong case for the quiet strengths society overlooks.