2025: My Year in Gaming (A Series of Mini-Reviews)

29 Dec, 2025

Pulled from the R#d%t archives. Lightly revised.

Hey Patient Gamers,

back again after another year of gaming. Having made a similar post last year (and the year before), I’ve once again put together a series of mini-reviews for the patientgaming titles I played this year. Also, I just really like writing about video games.

While 2024 lacked a clear overarching theme, this year’s was fairly obvious: Warhammer 40K and RTS. The first quarter of the year’s gaming was spent on various 40K titles which I thoroughly enjoyed, and those in turn brought me closer to the RTS as well as Turn-based strategy genres.

Before I get to the mini-reviews, here's a complete list of all titles I played (sorted by date played and/or completed). Note: I've only included games I played at least over 1h. Unfinished/abandoned games are marked with "n/a".

Top Ten

10. Satellite Reign (2015) - 7.5/10

A spiritual successor to 1993’s Syndicate, this cyberpunk real-time tactics game was a coincidental find and utter shot in the dark that ended up being a very memorable and addictive gaming experience.

In Satellite Reign you control a squad of agents as they take down a mega- corporation across a sprawling cyberpunk open world. You’ll hack terminals, interfere with security cams, break into secure facilities and occasionally need to fight your way back out when things don’t go according to plan. In fact, some of the most fun in this game involves the desperate firefight when things go disastrously south - spending ages watching guard routes and planning which terminals to hack and which escape routes to use, only for your agent to fail a zipline check and fall into the line of sight of the enemy and get gunned down. Suddenly the alarms are droning and reinforcements are on their way and your squad struggles to administer first aid among the battlefield as they shoot their way out of the complex, overriding security terminals under fire and then finally rushing into the city and disappearing into the crowd.

Criticism: sound effects for this game are sparse (there’s only one type of gunfire sound effect and it gets tiring real quick), and the difficulty is obnoxiously punishing at times, especially since some mechanics like sprinting are fairly useless since you run out of stamina in 0.1 seconds.

9. Shogun Showdown (2024) - 7.5/10

This fun little samurai-themed pixel-style turn-based deckbuilding roguelike (that’s a mouthful) is just plain adorable and fun. You play as one of several unlockable characters on their journey across a feudal Japan, with each step getting closer to the titular Shogun. The mechanics are simple enough, but offer a surprising amount of tactical depth. Gameplay is turn-based, with each action on the 2D landscape (including moving and turning around) consuming 1 turn, though exceptions do exist. Thus, choosing when to move and when to wait for the opponents to come closer to you, is key in advancing forward. Move too much and you’ll realise you’ve cornered yourself on the edge of the map and can’t escape the next attack. You’ll start with 3 playable tiles, and in roguelike fashion, unlock and collect random ones as you play, thus granting a wider variety of attacks. As with waiting, finishing off opponents also comes with tactical decision you’ll need to consider. Oftentimes, killing the opponent in front of you might suddenly enable the enemy behind it to fire an arrow, and now you’ve no longer got a meat shield to block it. All these things must be taken into account when playing the game and are what make it so addicting and fun.

Criticism: Too short, big learning curve.

7. Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II - Anniversary Edition (2009) - 7.5/10

While originally deemed a fairly polarizing sequel to its classic sci-fantasy RTS predecessor, Dawn of War II has won the hearts of many fans over the years, myself included. Despite lacking some quintessential characteristics of a RTS, the game succeeds at blending a challenging -real-time tactical game with RPG squad mechanics, allowing you to customize your heroes and tailor them to your playstyle. The atmosphere for the game is spot-on, and really excels at reflecting that dreadful WH40K hopelessness. On top of that, it has a compelling campaign.

Criticism: while it does mix genres fairly well, it doesn't succeed entirely. It's not quite an RTS and not quite an RPG, and the combination makes for a subpar experience for both genres. It just doesn't quite match up to Dawn of War I.

8. Age of Mythology: Retold (2002) - 8/10

From the same people that brought us the AoE series, this fantasy RTS re-introduces players into an epic world of gods, monsters, and beasts, allowing you to call upon your favorite deities or unleash mythological creatures upon your opponents as you conquer and control the map. Where AoE takes you on a more history-based ride, AoM takes you on a mythical pegasus horse ride across the ancient world. The art direction is lovely and settlements look surprisingly cute and cozy, that I sometimes enjoy playing the game simply as a city sim. Music is engaging and fitting, audio design on point, and creature design is beautiful. Nothing is more satisfying than marching an army of minotaurs into enemy territories and watching them wreck havoc. Like its predecessor, there are reasons this game has an active player base 25 years later. I've heard the campaign is excellent, though I have yet to try it - something I plan on doing next year!

Criticism: none I can think of.

6. Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak (2016) - 8/10

This ground-based vehicle sci-fi RTS acts as a prequel to the beloved 90's classic Homeworld series. Unlike the original titles, Deserts of Kharak will see players command various ground-based vehicles across beautiful landscapes of sand reminiscent of something out of Frank Herbert's Dune. The game is just incredibly beautiful and smooth, with some stellar official soundtrack to compliment gameplay, and some particularly great voice-acting delivered through the campaign. While I tend to skip campaigns and go straight for skirmish, the world-building and lore of Homeworld combined with the engaging story and challenging gameplay made the campaign hard to ignore. I particularly enjoyed the terrain-based strategy aspect, where the sand dunes play a pivotal role in your strategies, often using them as cover to block enemy line of site.

Criticism: the AI is not very great or challenging, often not employing abilities they should, or retreating when it would make more sense to press forward.

5. Warhammer 40K: Gladius (2018) - 8.5/10

This turn-based 4X game scratches a 40K itch I didn't know I had. If you're looking for a fun turn- based war simulator where you get to march your favourite Grimdark factions into battle, then this is the game for you. In this strategy game, you take command of one of several playable factions as you attempt to secure your victory on the war-ridden planet of Gladius Prime, where ancient artefacts lie dormant, awaiting to be claimed. Its other game mechanics may not be thoroughly polished, but the game does combat exceptionally well, and waging war is fun and engaging, especially with so many factions to choose from. One neat detail I love is how accurate the models are to the tabletop figures.

Criticism: pricing is a HUGE issue. Let's just say that you best get this title AND it's whopping 17 DLCs (soon-to-be 18 next year) during a sale unless you want to bankrupt yourself. The game (developed by Proxy) was clearly made to make as much money as possible, locking fan-favorite factions and all the best units behind overpriced DLCs.

4. Sid Meier’s Civilization IV (2005) - 8.5/10

This turn-based strategy classic is particularly nostalgic for me - it may have even been one of my first video games. Having gotten into Civ VI a few years prior, I was curious if the older titles still hold up and was very satisfied to find that they do. I certainly can understand the player base that vehemently insists this was peak Civ, because it certainly feels that way. There are so many things going on, so many mechanics to keep track of, so many different ways to steer yourself in the direction you want your civilization to evolve. And to top things off, the AI is vastly more competent than later instalments in the series. Coming across an aggressive and expansive civilization actually makes you worry for your settlements, and watching them conquer those around you knowing you very well could be next, often puts you in a situation where you’ll need to prioritize safety and security over art and culture like you originally planned. It’s this grand game that leaves you feeling really satisfied and the game is chock-full of neat little details that make the world feel so alive. My favourite cute detail: units will speak in their native language!

Criticism: it’s complexity is a blessing and a curse and I can certainly forgive players for being intimidated and confused, especially seeing how the tutorial only explains the basics and not much more.

3. Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth 2 (2006) - 8.5/10

This high fantasy RTS title caught me completely by surprise and I immediately fell in love. In BfME2, players wage war as either the forces of darkness or light, amassing armies and recruiting familiar heroes (resembling the film adaptations) in an attempt to either save the world or conquer it. The mechanics are simple yet engaging, but the highlight to me lies in the incredible level of attention to animation detail. Among many examples - each individual figure in the squad will raise their weapon and yell in triumph when hero units pass by, and unlike classic RTS unit production buildings simply spawning in front of the building itself when trained, BfME2 actually shows a relevant unit training other units, and when the units are finished producing, they will actually march out of the building they were trained in. The building for the gondorian archers is an archery range with a captain shouting out instructions to 2 archers who shoot arrows at targets, the orc pit features a single orc stirring the pit and using his stick to force out the orcs ready for battle, the troll cage actually features the trolls in question being poked and prodded, enraging them before the cage opens up and they get let loose upon the world. It's this level of detail that makes the game so charming and enjoyable. Not to mention the modding scene is alive and well, with two mods worthy of mention: Edain Mod and Age of The Ring, which both overhaul the game in drastic ways. For those wanting to stay more true to the original, Ecthellion’s Patch Switcher is the way to go.

Criticism: the game is Abandonware, and despite fan patches keeping it alive, it just does not run that great even on (or maybe especially on) modern systems.

2. Knights of the Old Republic (2003) - 9/10

A true classic hailing from the BioWare’s Golden Age (back when they did proper RPGs), KOTOR1 is a gem I always come back to. While I was never a huge fan of the Star Wars franchise, I do thoroughly enjoy the world and its lore, and having a game that explores the period before the mainstream timeline was fun to navigate through. What makes this 2003 RPG so memorable? Among many things, it certainly feels the most compact of any game I’ve played. The story (while slightly cliche and straightforward) is just exceptionally well-written, as are the characters you meet along the journey. Combat is engaging yet challenging especially at higher levels. It reminds me somewhat of Morrowind’s combat system in the sense that until you improve your character, you will have an infuriating amount of misses and failed attack rolls in the early game, before becoming an unstoppable power force of a Jedi (or Sith). It is also one of the few RPGs that allow you to fully commit to an evil path and it is exceptionally fun to do so.

Criticism: the dark side RPG choices are somewhat comical, and certain QoL features are certainly missing (ability to respec), and without modern patches and mods, the game suffers from a variety of vexing glitches. Sometimes even the patches don’t work for some reason or other. While on the topic of modding, it is absolutely horrendous to mod (need to install mods in a particular order and if you mess up that order, you must begin from the very start of the process all over again on a clean install).

1. Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader (2023) - 9/10

Owlcat’s Rogue Trader isometric cRPG takes place in the bleak and grimdark 40K universe. In this story-rich roleplaying game, you take on the titular role of a newly appointed Rogue Trader as they explore the uncharted Imperial backwaters of the Koronus Expanse. On your journey, you’ll recruit allies from a multitude of factions as you hunt down heretic cultists and uncover the secrets your ancestor left behind. This game is just absolutely breathtaking in its scope. Rogue Trader is a massive cRPG that allows for so much freedom, it is at times overwhelming. What stands out most to me is the reactivity of the world and the inherent complexity that this involves. This is one of the few RPGs I’ve played where choice matters and decisions are not always simply a flavor setting. Just as an example, each companion you recruit has their own unique “path” you can push them on through dialogue, which shapes their personality and decisions in-game, changing their personal ending slides. Despite only finishing it this year, I've already replayed it at least 3 times (one for each moral path) - it truly is an rpg worth playing.

Criticism: as much as I love this game, it is very typical Owlcat jank, i.e: the game is buggy as fuck (ymmv). Even almost 2 years later after release, some glaring (though not game breaking) issues have still not gotten fixed (ui disappearing mid-combat, which requires quicksave-load to fix, for example). The story-pacing is also somewhat odd and inconsistent, as is the difficulty scaling. The game is also fairly overwhelming. There's just so much going on. And because of that, it can also be a bit of a slog at times.

Honorable Mentions

(including games I didn’t finish but immensely enjoyed and will eventually finish)

Balatro (2024)

This genius of a game was originally in my Top Five last year but had to delete it as it was not a patientgame at the time. I debated adding it to this year's list but I barely played it this year, so it didn't feel right. It is, however, absolutely amazing and a genuine 10/10. Highly recommend.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire (2020)

I mention this game every year. Truly one of the best rpgs I’ve played and one which I permanently have installed despite its 50gb hard drive space. I always come back to it.

Rogue Waters (2024)

This intrigued me and I did spend a good deal playing through it, though I abandoned it fairly quickly after. It has potential.

Backlog Elimination 2026

The following are on my radar for Backlog elimination:

• Halo Wars: Definitive Edition (2017) - started this one late this year and it looks quite promising.
• Star Wars - Empire at War: Gold Pack (2006) - played around with this and was impressed, can imagine coming back to this
• Pillars of Eternity (2015) - perhaps 2026 will be the year I finally play Pillars 1, after I've tried 3 years in a row to get into it.... I did get much further this year, after all.
• Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew (2023) - I love pirate games and this unique stealth strategy game looks right up my alley

Well, there you have it. My 2025 in review. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed reading this write-up and ideally have found one or two games which strike your fancy.

Cheers and till next year,

Morrowindnostalgia

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