The USA’s Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is about to host the annual Oscar Awards. These are the movies that I watched and can comment on.

1. The Secret Agent (8★★★★★★★★): Longer than needed, yet with a thrilling ending.
2. Weapons (7★★★★★★★): Uneven by design.
3. Sinners (7★★★★★★★): Ryan Coogler + Michael B. Jordan movie that blends blues, horror, and history.
4. One Battle After Another (7★★★★★★★): may be one of this year’s Oscar favorites, but despite the acclaim it left me oddly unmoved, with strong craft overshadowed by a story that never fully resonated.
5. The Devil Is Busy (7★★★★★★★): The routine of a abortion clinic.

Documentaries

1. The Devil Is Busy (7★★★★★★★): A short documentary about a abortion clinic.

Animations

1. The Girl Who Cried Pearls (8★★★★★★★★): This short film is a mastery in stop motion animation; very touching.
2. KPop Demon Hunters (8★★★★★★★★): Gleefully maximalist. Combines idol culture and demon-slaying with more wit and heart than it has any right to.
3. The Girl Who Cried Pearls (8★★★★★★★★): Beautiful short animation.

Sequels often face the “sophomore slump,” but this sequel manages to dodge that trap by doubling down on everything that made its predecessor a cult classic. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II delivers on the original’s promises with newfound polish and ambition, making it easily my best experience of the year so far, as expected.

Kuttenberg Is the New Novigrad

From a technical standpoint, the leap in environmental density is staggering. The standout achievement is the city of Kuttenberg. Rendering a dense, medieval urban environment in CryEngine is a massive challenge. Unlike the small villages of the first game, this is a sprawling city with multi-story buildings, crowded marketplaces, and intricate alleyways. The developers had to significantly optimize their draw-call management and level-of-detail (LOD) systems to keep the frame rate stable while maintaining the gritty, lived-in aesthetic. The lighting system, particularly the way it handles interior shadows and cobblestone reflections, is a significant step up from the first title.

From Blacksmith to Ninja

As a developer, I’m always interested in the balance of progression systems. In this experience, the curve is somewhat front-loaded. By the time I moved to the second map and reached Kuttenberg, I was already a “super ninja.” This was largely because I took the first map very seriously, completing most of the side quests and engaging in every skirmish I could find. This provided enough opportunities to evolve Henry’s stats to a point where the quests in the second half of the game became a bit of a breeze.

While it feels rewarding to see Henry’s growth, from a design perspective, it highlights the difficulty of scaling content for a player who explores every corner. The combat, while refined and less “janky” than the original, can’t quite keep up with a fully leveled Henry, resulting in a power fantasy that contrasts sharply with the desperate survival of the early hours.

The Recurring Narrative Pacing Issue

On one hand, the amnesia setup is a clever narrative shortcut that sidesteps the “power creep” problem entirely. By stripping Henry back to a blank slate—forgetting combat techniques, alchemy recipes, and even basic survival skills—the developers justify the early-game fragility without having to invent a contrived injury or gear loss. It’s a diegetic reset button that feels surprisingly organic within the story’s opening chaos. That said, the trope wears thin quickly. The game hand-waves Henry forgetting everything—including how to hold a sword properly—while conveniently allowing him to remember key characters and plot-relevant details. It’s a functional solution to a difficult design problem, but one that lacks the elegance of the first game’s slower, more believable progression from village nobody to seasoned fighter. In trying to have it both ways, the amnesia framing occasionally feels less like storytelling and more like a designer’s duct tape.

Unfortunately, some of the old ghosts still haunt the machine. Just like the first entry, the sequel struggles with its final chapters. The story, which builds so much momentum in its middle act, feels rushed and confusing as it reaches its climax. From a narrative design standpoint, it’s a bit disappointing to see the same pacing issues repeat themselves. A more focused third act could have easily pushed this into a perfect 10/10 territory. It seems the team prioritized the systemic complexity and world-building over a tightly woven conclusion.

Despite the narrative stumbles at the finish line, the moment-to-moment gameplay is unparalleled. The world is denser, the quests are more varied, and the sense of being part of 15th-century history is stronger than ever.

A New Standard for Immersion

This title offers a level of immersive simulation that is hard to beat. It respects the player’s intelligence and rewards patience, even when its complex systems push back. If you loved the original, this is an essential experience. If you were put off by the previous entry’s rough edges, the added polish here might finally be enough to win you over. It’s a bold, ambitious, and deeply rewarding sequel that proves Warhorse Studios are masters of their craft, even if they still haven’t quite nailed the landing.

For many, the dream of receiving a letter from a magical school is a cornerstone of childhood. I should preface this by saying that I am not a fan of the books or the universe—quite the opposite, in fact. Despite my lack of personal connection to the source material, I can objectively say that this experience is a masterclass in world-building and high-budget adaptation. It finally gives this franchise the high-budget, open-world treatment it has long deserved.

Technical Execution

From a developer’s perspective, the implementation within Unreal Engine 4 is fascinating. The scale of the castle is staggering, and the way the developers handled the interior/exterior transitions is a significant technical feat. To maintain the sense of a seamless, sprawling structure, the team had to employ clever level-streaming techniques. You can wander from the highest astronomy tower down to the lake without a loading screen, which is no small task given the sheer density of unique assets and high-resolution textures packed into every hallway.

The lighting work is particularly noteworthy. The way the light spills through the stained-glass windows or reflects off the suits of armor in the corridors creates a palpable sense of history. Every corner of the castle feels like it has a story to tell, filled with magical curiosities and moving portraits that bring the environment to life in a way that feels “alive” rather than just decorated.

Design Decisions and Exploration

Exploration is where the project truly shines. Flying on a broomstick over the Scottish Highlands is an absolute joy, providing a sense of scale and freedom that is mechanically very well executed. The control scheme for the broom feels intuitive, and the transition between ground and air is smooth—a trade-off in design that prioritized player freedom over strict physical realism.

The combat system is another surprise. Instead of a simple “shooter” mechanic, it encourages you to chain spells together in creative combos. From a design standpoint, the cooldown management and spell-switching systems keep the encounters dynamic. It’s surprisingly robust, rewarding players for experimenting with different magical interactions.

Room for Improvement: The Open World Trade-off

While the castle is a masterpiece of environmental design, the world beyond its walls exposes some common open-world trade-offs. The “hamlets” scattered throughout the map lack the unique personality and asset density of the main hub. From a production standpoint, it’s understandable—building a world of this scale requires a balance between hand-crafted detail and procedural filler—but the contrast is noticeable.

Additionally, the main narrative about Ancient Magic is serviceable, but it doesn’t always feel as personal or urgent as it should. Some of the side activities, like the repetitive Merlin Trials, feel like classic “busy work” intended to extend the playtime rather than enrich the world.

Despite my personal indifference toward the lore, the final product is a triumph. It’s a polished, beautiful, and genuinely well-executed experience that sets a new bar for how to adapt a beloved fictional world into a video game. It proves that even if you don’t care for the universe, good design and technical prowess can still make for a compelling experience.

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. Anora (9★★★★★★★★★): My pick for the best movie of the year. The actress shows drama, comedy and sexuality.
2. Conclave (8★★★★★★★★): Superb performances. Tense with a plot twist.
3. I'm Still Here (8★★★★★★★★): The Brazilian movie about dictatorship from 70s. In other words: modern as ever.
4. Im not a Robot (8★★★★★★★★): Amazing short movie about the consequences of a CAPTCHA.
5. Prisoners (8★★★★★★★★): A dark and haunting exploration of morality and justice, with powerhouse performances and a gripping narrative
6. Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back (8★★★★★★★★): The only movie from the saga that I did not have a VHS to watch 1000 times. It’s really good, even for today’s standards.
7. The Brutalist (8★★★★★★★★): A visually stunning drama. An intersection of architecture, history, and personal resilience. Brody is Oscar-worthy.
8. The Day the Earth Stood Still (8★★★★★★★★): Cold War sci-fi at its most elegant. A film that trusts its message enough not to shout it.
9. The Princess Bride (8★★★★★★★★): I was told time after time that is goofy but memorable movie. I cannot agree more.
10. The Skin I Live In (8★★★★★★★★): Almodovar delivers one plot twist after another.
11. What We Do in the Shadows (8★★★★★★★★): A group of vampire friends with humor and absurdity in the best Monty Python style. I always like Taika Waititi’s directing and acting style.
12. A Quiet Place Day One (7★★★★★★★): The origins story.
13. After Hours (7★★★★★★★): One of the earlier Martin Scorsese movies, it’s a darkly comedic odyssey of unpredictability of a single chaotic night.
14. Dredd (7★★★★★★★): Lean, mean, and criminally underrated. Karl Urban never lifts the helmet and never needs to. The platonic ideal of a B-movie that knows exactly what it is.
15. F1: The Movie (7★★★★★★★): Quite enjoyable, capturing the a bit of the essence of the sport.
16. Full Metal Jacket (7★★★★★★★): I’m definitively not a fan of Kubrick style.
17. Identity (7★★★★★★★): A psychological thriller filled with plot twists.
18. Scarface (7★★★★★★★): Excess, ambition, and violence in pure De Palma style. Iconic, but its length and melodrama can test patience.
19. The Apprentice (7★★★★★★★): If you already dislike Donald, it will just reinforce your vision. If you like him, it’s time to change sides.
20. The Substance (7★★★★★★★): Its visuals insist on sensations: desire, disgust, wants. It’s a mix of social criticism and B-movie horror.
21. Thief 1981 (7★★★★★★★): A gritty heist drama with existential undertones
22. Wicked (7★★★★★★★): Ariana Grande is really well. All the rest, passable.
23. Déjà Vu (6★★★★★★): The premise of seeing the past “in real time” is interesting. Once you get past that, it gets silly.
24. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (6★★★★★★): Sharp, self-aware neo-noir with crackling dialogue. Underrated at the time, still a fun ride.
25. You Were Never Really Here (6★★★★★★): The film itself is more mood than movie.
26. Emilia Pérez (5★★★★★): 13 nominations? It’s a boring movie, the songs are bad and forgettable (not to mention the ASMR presence). Unfortunately, it was caught in pointless controversies.
27. Ghost In The Shell (2017) (5★★★★★): Scarlett’s version is substantially more confusing and less engaging than the original animation. Only worth it if you’re marathoning both.
28. Mountainhead (5★★★★★): Ambitious ideas buried under murky execution.
29. The Day the Earth Stood Still 2010 (5★★★★★): A fraction from the original.
30. Crimes of Future 1958 (4★★★★): Cronenberg’s embryonic vision, interesting only as an artifact.

Documentaries

1. Incident (7★★★★★★★): A tense, meticulously assembled account that lets footage speak louder than commentary. Unsettling in the best documentary tradition.
2. The Elephant Whisperers (7★★★★★★★): Quietly beautiful. It says more about humanity than wildlife.
3. I am Ready Warden (7★★★★★★★): Sobering and humane, but struggles to find a fresh angle on familiar ground.
4. The Only Girl in the Orchestra (5★★★★★): You leave admiring the film, not the subject.

Animations

1. Robot Dreams (10★★★★★★★★★★): Beautiful, interesting, and moving.
2. Wander to Wonder (9★★★★★★★★★): great short stop motion animation.
3. Ghost In The Shell (8★★★★★★★★): Visual and thought-provoking spectacle. But it’s not easy to understand everything it proposes. A classic I had already watched in 2009.
4. In the Shadow of the Cypress (8★★★★★★★★): post-traumatic stress disorder

TV Shows

1. Adolescence (10★★★★★★★★★★): Four single-take episodes that hit like a gut punch. Devastating, precise, and impossible to shake.
2. The Last of Us (S1) (9★★★★★★★★★): Faithful where it matters, inventive where it dares. Episode 3 alone justifies the whole season.
3. 24 (S1) (8★★★★★★★★): Real-time tension that still holds up. Jack Bauer’s first day remains a masterclass in procedural propulsion.
4. Murderbot (S1) (7★★★★★★★): A lovably anxious killing machine just wants to watch TV shows. Charming adaptation that nails the voice if not always the pace.
5. Senna (2024) (7★★★★★★★): A series that is neither a documentary nor a work of fiction. And it’s average at both. Entire plots of no importance.
6. Severance (S2) (6★★★★★★): The mystery deepens but the momentum stalls. Gorgeous and maddening in equal measure — not always intentionally.
7. The Last of Us (S2) (6★★★★★★): Ambitious but overstretched. Loses the intimate focus that made S1 special, trading earned emotion for sprawling setup.

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. Ghost of Tsushima (10★★★★★★★★★★): A love letter to samurai cinema that earns every frame. Stunning, emotional, and mechanically sublime — one of the finest open worlds ever crafted.
2. Kingdom Come Deliverance: Brutally authentic medieval RPG where you’re nobody and have to earn everything. Janky in places, unforgettable as a whole.
3. Is This Game Trying To Kill Me (8★★★★★★★★): A clever meta puzzle where the game-within-the-game bleeds into your cabin in creepy, inventive ways. Short (as a complement).
4. Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye (8★★★★★★★★): Darker and more oppressive than the base game — almost uncomfortably so. A bold detour that rewards patience with genuine dread.
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. Exit 8 (7★★★★★★★): A liminal horror loop built on observation and unease. Ingeniously simple premise that punishes distraction — and boredom.
8. Mouthwashing (7★★★★★★★): Psychological horror at finest. Since I’m not particularly fan of horror, the short length is very welcome.
9. The Operator (7★★★★★★★): A tense dispatch puzzle with moral weight lurking beneath each call. Quiet and unsettling in the best way.
10. The Outer Worlds (7★★★★★★★): Playing a lot due the fact I’m recently folowing it’s creator, Tim Cain, channel.
11. The Still Wakes the Deep (7★★★★★★★): Claustrophobic Scottish horror on a collapsing oil rig. Atmosphere thick enough to drown in, even if the gameplay is thin.
12. Dying Light (6★★★★★★): Parkour zombies done well. The gameplay is tense; the story is not.
13. Overtime Anomaly (6★★★★★★): A competent anomaly-hunter that does its job without overstaying its welcome.
14. Trash Goblin (5★★★★★): Charming little hoarding sim with a cozy loop.

Currently Playing

1. Doki Doki Literature Club: Out of the ordinary for your taste, but the reviews piqued your interest.
2. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (6★★★★★★):
3. Card Shark (8★★★★★★★★): A clever, daring game of wit and deceit. Masterful storytelling paired with sleight-of-hand mechanics keeps you hooked.
4. Ghost Trick (8★★★★★★★★): A fresh take on puzzle-solving with a quirky Japanese humor.
5. 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.
6. Paradigm (8★★★★★★★★): old style adventure game with a amazing, but not for everyone, humor.
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 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. Tunic (7★★★★★★★): In the very early stages. I do not like games that too vague stories. But this one seems to have a reason.
13. Very Little Nightmares (6★★★★★★): Atmospheric dread and fun scaled down.
14. Ghost of a Tale (7★★★★★★★): Followed the development process for quite some time because it was made using Unity. Looks charming and intriguing.
15. XCOM 2 (6★★★★★★): Time to dive into this much-praised strategy game.

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. 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.
2. Gris (8★★★★★★★★): Beautiful first level.
3. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun (8★★★★★★★★): Liked the thinking in this game. Definitely one I’ll try to complete sooner than later.
4. 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.

Continuous playing

I play them eventually. Most of them, are strategy games. Nothing new from last years 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. Its a bit ridiculous to talk about next game, considering the amount of unfinished ones, but the catalogue is so vast that I can afford to play ahead.

1. Heavy Rain: Anticipating another story-driven experience to enjoy with your wife.
2. Hitman: Hoping to take a more relaxed approach this time after a perfectionist run of Contracts.
3. 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.
4. 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