jae kaplan

of the year (2025)

holy fuck how is it the end of the year already. ough. anyway here's some things I liked this year in no particular order.

games

all games include links to Steam or itch.io where relevant

UNBEATABLE (2025)

this came out literally like a week ago and it has given me a Disease. I can't stop thinking about it. it's such a personal, deeply human, imperfect work that is bursting at the seams with trying to Do Something Fucking Awesome and it succeeds. it is one of the most stylish and intentional games I have ever played. I need to make art or I will die.

please play UNBEATABLE

of the Devil (2025)

yuri cyberpunk ace attorney. great game for women who are missing something essential that makes you human. episode 2 comes out in like a week so now's a great time to get into it

WACCA (2019)

I have nothing to say about WACCA that I haven't already said multiple times on this blog before.

maimai DX (2019)

it's absolutely crazy to me that you can officially play maimai DX in the US now. I honestly didn't think that would ever happen but here we are. it's a pretty dang good rhythm game that I think might honestly be a good gateway into arcade rhythm games. check it out at your local Round1 or other arcade (there's a location list on their site)

Final Fantasy XIV Online (2013 sort of)

after I got laid off from discord last month one of my friends jokingly said that I should try Final Fantasy XIV now with an extended free trial up to level 70 with no play time restrictions and I said yeah ok.

I just started Stormblood. /playtime shows 204 hours. I am enjoying my time.

DELTARUNE (2025 and also some other years but the parts i played were 2025)

it's DELTARUNE! chapters 3 & 4 were bangers but I still don't think anything will ever match the experience of downloading an unlabeled exe file that toby posted, being like "yeah if i get a virus from toby i think that's on me", and then opening it up and it's DELTARUNE. crazy stuff

Unfair Flips (2025)

another banger from HEATHER FLOWERS. you flip a coin. that's the game. eggbug forever

SILENT HILL f (2025)

i still haven't finished this because i keep getting scared

movies

this one contains links to my letterboxd reviews. I stopped giving things star ratings this year because I caught myself in movies preemptively thinking about what rating I would give something and realized shit needed to change. I still haven't seen Wake Up Dead Man and I reserve the right to change this list once I do.

Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (2025)

I got to see this with a director Q&A as part of "Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie the Tour" with like 10 of my friends and it was fucking awesome.

Bugonia (2025)

yorgos you crazy bastard

KPop Demon Hunters (2025)

infinitely better than I would have expected a movie called "KPop Demon Hunters" to be. as an animation sicko I had a lot of fun with this.

One Battle After Another (2025)

man! what a film! was lucky enough to see it at one of the four theaters in the world screening in VistaVision (Coolidge Corner Theater my beloved). incredible performances throughout, one of the best car chases I've ever seen in a movie. didn't know PTA had game like that.

Eephus (2024)

I could make an argument for Eephus being my favorite movie of the year. I've watched it a few times already. it's delightful, it goes down easy, it's the ultimate Dudes Hanging Out movie. I really really think you should watch Eephus. the more I think about Eephus the more I realize I should add it to my letterboxd top 4 so I'm gonna go do that now.

Friendship (2025)

big year for Tim Robinson between this and Chair Company (which is incredible). really fun theater experience

COLORFUL STAGE! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing (2025)

I've played Project Sekai: Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku off and on since the global release in 2021 so this was a big deal for me. this movie is hilariously unapproachable for anyone who isn't already Deeply Invested in these characters so I really can not generally recommend it. but if you are invested in these characters then check it out! it's good!

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2025)

banger. so glad this got released and didn't languish forever.

music

this has already gotten long. this one's just bullet points i don't have time to write blurbs for everything. just trust me. links to purchase or stream where available.

miscellaneous

2026

i need a job man i'm so fucking bored

#of the year