// GCR _OTYs

2024 has come and gone, and with it, a flurry of great entertainment! Over the past couple of weeks, the GCR crew has been assembling our list of the best Blanks Of The Year. The GCR_OTYs.

So without further ado, here are our favourite things of the year.

// Video Games

2R: Astro Bot

This is simply video game wonder in its purest state. You’ve heard everyone talk about it. You don’t need me to tell you it’s good. Go play it. Buy a PS5. It’s worth it.

Parker: Helldivers 2

Admittedly, I didn’t get around to a ton of games this year, but my favourite of the handful I did play was Helldivers 2. I’m not usually the target demographic for a shooter, but one of the game’s biggest strengths (and where my interest initially came from) is its focus on cooperative gameplay—the success of your mission relies on you and your team’s ability to work together to spread Managed Democracy across the universe.

NotAnAccountant: Balatro

All art is iteration. Balatro in every sense of its being is an iteration. It takes elements of poker, solitaire, and the addictive sense of “one more run” to concoct a game that’s just perfect. It is simplicity and intoxication distilled into one un-put-down-able package. This must have been what playing Tetris when it released felt like. 

Honourable mention: Helldivers 2

LadyFeathers:  

1. Metaphor: ReFantazio

Easily my GOTY. From the soundtrack, the art direction, the themes, the character interactions (including the follower’s “social links”), the music, it was the complete package. I ended up platinuming the game (which involved me having to play it again) because I loved it that much. If you love JRPGs, you need to play this one. It is a certified banger. 

2. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 

This was originally my GOTY. I didn’t think anything was going to be able to beat it as it had everything I wanted in a JRPG, including being able to travel with your whole party and have social link like interactions with them. The combat from the first game is also improved on with synergy skills (which was introduced in Intergrade). Ultimately Metaphor did end up beating it, but it still deserves top honours as FF7R2 is still a great game. I have already done an extensive review of this game, which you can check out here! 

3. Persona 3 Reload

Persona 3 Reload is another great game from Atlus. While it is a remake of the original, I had only played the Portable version before…and recently too. But I dropped off of it not because the game was bad or anything, but other games got in the way. That worked out for me in the end because the ending hit me so hard playing Reload. P3R is painfully relatable in terms of its subject matter as it deals with death. There are certainly some moments that will likely not only make you cry but also give you some perspective on life as well. It also has a great soundtrack and beautiful art design – especially the menu! Definitely deserves to be on the list. 

4. Fields of Mistria 

Cozy farming sims have been one of my favourite genres since I was younger, starting with Harvest Moon (which is now Story of Seasons) and Rune Factory. If you’re a fan of any farming sim though, I cannot recommend Fields of Mistria enough. It is in early access but I’ve enjoyed my time with it nonetheless. The pixel art style is so good and the character portraits give me major Sailor Moon art style vibes. I love interacting with the people in town (especially when you go to the tavern on Fridays!) and I’ve yet to get any repeat dialogue which is great. It also recently just got its first major update, and has more in store in the future. Cannot recommend this game enough if you’re a lover of the farming sim genre.  

5. Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut 

Look, I know this game originally came out last year. But I only started playing it this week and I’m playing the Pristine Cut, which came out this year. So I can put it on my list. And I’m making the rules anyway!  Anyway, psychological horror is one of my favourite genres for anything, and this certainly scratches that itch. I have completed one playthrough fully and managed to get three different endings just from that single run. I look forward to seeing everything this game has and will continue to do runs until the game has nothing more for me. It is a visual novel, so if you’re not crazy about those, maybe you won’t enjoy it, but I’d still say give it a chance as the story, art, voice actors, and even the music make it worth it. 

6. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom  

I absolutely adored Echoes of Wisdom. I loved the return of the chibi-toy-like art style that Link’s Awakening had, and it was perfect for Zelda’s first game as the protagonist. The game did have some faults (the menu for all the copies really being the major one for me) but I honestly was able to overlook them because it was just such a cozy and fun game. I loved all the different ways you could solve puzzles – like using a combination of tables, boxes and beds to climb up high. Or when I was at the volcano, using clouds to get around (and later learning I could have used a different combo which would have made it a lot easier to get around versus nearly dying a lot). There was no right way to solve things, just whatever way your brain could think up. I hope this isn’t the last of having Zelda as the main character. This game proved she can handle her own.  

7. Mouthwashing  

I don’t want to say too much about this game because it’s best to go in as blind as possible, but it deserves to be on the list. It’s a short game, only running about 2 hours or so but one that’s worth your time. It has a very old-school game design feel to it, which really adds to the game.  

8. MiSide 

Another game best to go in blind. I didn’t even know about it until I saw it on a Steam sale, but just based on the reviews it sounded like it was up my alley. And oh boy it certainly was. Much like Mouthwashing, I don’t want to give too much away about it, but you’re in for a ride if you ever check it out.  

// Live Action Movies

2R: Nosferatu

As the resident Egg-head who was a little disappointed after The Northman, it is my delight to announce that we’re back, baby! Nosferatu is dripping with thick, horny, atmosphere. 

Parker: Dune: Part Two

If we’re ever going to see a legendary trilogy in the same vein as The Lord of the Rings, Denis Villenueve’s going to be the one to do it. Dune: Part Two is one of the few blockbusters in the last few years that reminds me how satisfyingly epic these $200-300 million dollar films should really be—Dune 2 is an unreal display of movie magic.

Honourable Mention(s): Challengers, Saturday Night

NotAnAccountant: All We Imagine As Light

A beautiful film about the issues of three hospital-working women in Mumbai that captivated me with its simplicity and its message. A real shame that it was neither India’s nor France’s entry to the Best International Film category at the Oscars, but do yourself a favour and check it out. Check out my more extended thoughts on the film here: [Link to review].

Honourable mention: A Real Pain

LadyFeathers: 

1. Nosferatu  

This one’s a no brainer. Of course Nosferatu is my live action movie of the year. I love vampires and gothic horror. And Nosferatu has both. It’s also great to see a comeback of legitimately terrifying vampires—not all vampires have to be sexy. Think of the monster fuckers please???  

That being said, the movie is beautifully shot. Even in the darkest of moments, you can still see everything on the screen (unless it was intended for you not to see everything, like in moments where Count Orlok is purposefully hidden from both the viewer and the character). It created some truly ethereal moments, including the scene where Nicholas Hoult’s character, Thomas Hutter, is going to meet with Count Orlok (played by Bill Skarsgård) at his castle in Transylvania and the carriage stops for him in the forest. The shot of Thomas walking down the road has stayed with me since then. I also really loved the moments where they only used the shadow of Count Orlok in, for example, the curtains, instead of him being there. Made it more eerie and unsettling.  

The cast also was fantastic. Lily-Rose Depp was phenomenal as Ellen Hutter. The possession scenes were so, so well done and legitimately frightening at times. I’ve seen many people say they would have never known Bill Skarsgård was playing Count Orlok had it not been announced because of how he looked as Count Orlok. I could still see some of his features through the make-up, but he transcends as an actor when he plays characters like this. He was perfect for this role.  

I hope because of Nosferatu, we see a resurgence of the gothic horror genre. Based on how much Nosferatu has made so far, it seems like there’s an audience for it outside just fans of gothic horror.  

2. Longlegs 

I saw Longlegs in the theatre twice. When I saw it the first time, I came out of the theatre very confused as to why this movie was being marketed as “the scariest movie of the decade”. I can’t say that my second watch made it scarier for me, but I had a better appreciation for it because while I didn’t find it scary, I still found it unsettling as if something was constantly lurking. Despite that, I still love this movie. The introduction was like nothing I had seen before and the choice to conceal Nicholas Cage as Longlegs until the right moment worked in the movie’s favour. The score was also fantastic and really helped create the feeling of uneasiness. Like with most things I watch, if you haven’t seen this yet, it is best to go into this movie knowing as little as possible. But if you’re a horror fan, you should watch this one. 

3. Conclave 

I had wanted to see Conclave in theatres, but I unfortunately wasn’t able to. It worked out in my favour though because I got to watch it in the comfort of my own room and yell out tortellini at one point because I really like tortellini and they were making it. But you’re not here for my pasta takes, so let’s get back on track. This movie was a banger. One of my fellow GCR writers saw it before me and described it as feeling like a horror movie even though it’s not. While watching it, I got the same vibe. It does feel like a horror movie at times, but you’re not waiting for something to come out of the shadows. I also found it rather sincere in its topics of faith and belief. I also wasn’t expecting the ending we got but the ending really made me love the movie even more. 

Also that cello riff?? I can still hear it in my head now. I also loved how it was a consistent piece in the movie too. Whenever anything would happen, you’d hear that specific piece of music play. I’ve been listening to the score while writing this and I can hear it in several of the songs.  

I don’t want to say much else about Conclave other than go watch it. Plus if you want to read a better write up about Conclave, fellow GCR writer NotAnAccountant has done so already here

4. Smile 2 

The Smile movies are movies I can only watch once because of how unsettling they are. Smile 2 is no different. I found this one not only more unsettling but more graphic too. The second one also has a different theme, focusing more on the downfalls of being famous, specifically mental health and addiction. I also walked away from this movie feeling like this one had a less than happy message regarding its theme. If you prefer “happy” endings in your horror movies, this one will not be for you. Outside of its theme, Smile 2’s lead Naomi Scott is so, so good. As is the music. I hopped onto Spotify after the movie to see if the songs were on there and sure enough, they were. They were added to my playlist instantly.  

I don’t really like to mention spoilers in these, but I’m going to make an exception for this one because there is a specific scene I want to talk about because it is one that stood out to me the most. While Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) is spiralling fast, she keeps seeing things in her penthouse. One thing leads to another and she sees her whole crew of backup dancers, smiling unsettlingly at her. As she tries to get away from them, they continue to creep closer to her, but it’s their movements that stand out as they’re choreographed dance moves. With every backpedal, they creep ever forward towards her, smiling with each move.  

If you like horror movies, you owe it to yourself to watch this one.  

5. Wicked 

I’m a big lover of musicals and while I never had the opportunity to see Wicked before, I knew I needed to at least see the movie as I’ve heard so many of the songs before. I was not disappointed. Wicked managed to do what a lot of movie musicals fail to do – it felt like a musical theatre production. It also didn’t shy away from its roots, which seems to be more of a trend lately with movie musicals, in an attempt to trick the audience. I don’t think that’s necessary though, and Wicked proves that. Both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were phenomenal and had such great chemistry. I did find some of the colours a bit lacking in the movie—it certainly was a bit more washed out than I had hoped it would be but it was at least better than the trailers made it out to be. I also felt like where the movie ended, it truly felt like the end of Act 1. I’ve seen other movies before where another part is expected but you feel left wanting more. I certainly want more, but I left feeling satisfied and excited for Part 2.  

6. I Saw The TV Glow 

I’m actually sad I can’t really talk about this one because, like so many things on my lists, you should go into this one blind. I will say though that this one of the few pieces of media I consumed in 2024 that took me back to things I watched when I was younger, as I Saw The TV Glow feels very inspired by TV shows from the early ‘90s, like Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Charmed. There has been a lot of discourse about I Saw The TV Glow, as a lot of people couldn’t understand it, but I hope if you have seen any discourse, it doesn’t discourage you from watching it. Pay attention to not only what’s happening in the foreground but also the background and allow yourself to feel a little uncomfortable and confused. By the end of the movie, you’ll understand why. 

7. Caddo Lake 

I watched this one on a whim; one of our fellow GCR writers actually mentioned it in the Discord server we share with our friends. He hadn’t even watched it himself yet, but left a message that said “best to go into this one blind”. If you haven’t noticed by this point, that’s my favourite genre for anything. So yes, this one too I cannot speak too much about as it’s best to go in blind. All I will say is I enjoyed the hell out of it and am glad I took a chance on it.  

8. Strange Darling 

I’m sure you’re sick of hearing me say you need to go into this blind but too bad because I’m going to say it again—you need to go into this one blind. And it’s not just me who thinks this either, even critics agree it’s best to go blind. I also wasn’t too crazy about the movie at the start, but just stick with it if you find yourself feeling the same way. It’s worth it, I promise.  

// Animated Movies

2R: Look Back

A tragic story born of cuttingly raw human experiences. Fujimoto does it again.

The storytelling, personality and quality of the animation, and score make this an easy pick for best animated movie of 2024. It’ll stick with you.

NotAnAccountant: Flow

A beautiful dialogue-less movie that explores themes of loss and survival through great animation and lovely music. Flow is a wholesome, loving breath of fresh air that made me run the gamut of emotions. The animation art style is absolutely breathtaking and the lack of dialogue allows the audience to ascribe many meanings to some of the more abstract elements in the latter part of the film. For more of my thoughts, read my review here.

Honourable mention: The Wild Robot

Parker: The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot was one of this year’s most pleasant surprises for me. It has absolutely stunning animation and art direction, but its core themes of acceptance and love surprised and moved me just as much as the film’s visuals.

Honourable Mention: Flow

Lady Feathers:

1. Look Back  

This is easily my animated film of the year. I’m still so disappointed I couldn’t see it in theatres but I watched it when it dropped on Amazon Prime. I’m an artist myself and I found myself so moved by the movie, being remind of not only why I draw, but also all the highs and lows of being an artist: the feeling of joy first time someone compliments your work, the feeling of inadequacy discovering another artist who is better than you, making you question why you’re even drawing in the first place, the feeling of pride when you finish something truly for yourself. I had read the manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto before I watched the movie, so I knew the story, but seeing those scenes so beautifully animated just hit differently, especially the scene where Fujino runs home in the rain, ecstatically, after learning Kyomoto was a massive fan of hers. I cannot recommend this movie enough, especially if you’re a creative person in any capacity. I feel like this movie, and many of the others on my list, are so important, especially with the rise of genAI. Art isn’t something that can be generated with a few keywords—it’s something that comes from the very soul and has the capacity to touch so many. Look Back fits this to a T as it does come from the soul and has touched so many. I hope you give it a chance.  

2. Flow 

This movie had been on my radar for a while now and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to watch it finally. It’s such a beautiful film, with its emotions conveyed through actions and expression as there’s no dialogue  since it’s a movie featuring only animals. Because there’s no dialogue, I found myself making up my own dialogue in my head, but I don’t think this is something you necessarily need to do at all. It was just something I found fun in doing. The sound design is also so good, I loved listening to the water and the sounds the animals made. The story isn’t groundbreaking but the fact that it was told without narration or dialogue is what makes it groundbreaking. You can understand what’s going on in the heads of the characters without a word ever being said.  

3. The Wild Robot 

Between this movie, Flow and Look Back, it was hard to figure out where to place these three because they’re some of the strongest animated movies we’ve gotten this year. I was fortunate to have seen The Wild Robot in IMAX and I wish I had gone a second time. It was just so, so beautiful. There were some scenes (like the butterfly scene at the beginning) that nearly brought me to tears from the sheer beauty of what I was seeing. It made me cry for other reasons too. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see this movie yet, please do. You will not be disappointed. It just so happens, The Wild Robot is being re-released into theatres on January 17^th, so if you missed out, you can see it then! If you’re reading this far into the future though, well, watch it anyway but at home.

4. Spy x Family Code: White  

This movie is just a lot of fun. It’s not exactly an award-winning movie but not all movies have to be. It’s silly, it’s cute and it’s cozy. It’s also great since it’s an original storyline, meaning you don’t have to have watched the series to know what’s going on. To be fair though, the premise of Spy x Family isn’t exactly all that difficult to grasp anyway. They also give you the rundown at the start so you’re not completely lost. If you’re a fan of the series already though, I recommend checking it out!  

5. Inside Out 2 

Inside Out 2 is probably one of Pixar’s strongest films in the last few years and probably couldn’t have come out at a better time, considering how anxiety is a problem a lot of young kids seem to face now. Personally, even though I’m an adult, Anxiety’s presence in the movie was very relatable, especially in the scene towards the end. It was such a great representation for how anxiety feels. I don’t really need to talk about the animation as Pixar doesn’t really disappoint when it comes to that. It feels like a great movie for someone entering their early teens, unsure of themselves and the world. 

// Live Action Shows

2R: Fallout

Fallout completely nails what the games are known for, from tone to visuals. Where this excels beyond just nailing those things is in telling a new story in the universe. It’s not just a retelling in a new medium. Fallout feels right at home alongside the series’ strongest entries. 

NotAnAccountant: Shogun

Shogun’s commitment to its core, its deliberately controlled pacing along with tour de force performances make it hard to look past for my favourite live action show of the year. Hiroyuki Sanada is in his element while Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano and Moeka Hoshi do excellent jobs in their own roles. Cosmo Jarvis was given the incredibly difficult role of acting in English in a show where everything else is in Japanese, and succeeded in playing the brutish figure that is intentionally framed as a bull in a china shop. I tip my hat to the creative team for sticking to their principle of making this show mostly in Japanese. Excellent opening theme as well. 

Honourable mention: Presumed Innocent

Parker: The Penguin

After years of tired, uninspired Marvel spin-off streaming shows, The Penguin is such a fresh breath of air. Much like The Batman, it’s reminiscent of films and television we’ve seen before, but Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Oz Cobb is spectacular, Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone is just as good if not better than Farrell, and it has some of TV’s best art direction and cinematography this year.

LadyFeathers: 

I’ll be honest, I didn’t watch too many live action tv shows this year so uh, I’ll leave this one to my friends (I was too busy getting caught up on live action shows from previous years I hadn’t watched yet). I’ve got stuff for next year though, I promise.

// Animated Shows

2R: Arcane

What can be said, it’s art. Arcane raises the bar for animation, not just in television, but across the board.

Honourable mention: Dandadan

NotAnAccountant: X-Men ‘97

Projects like these often run the chance of being nostalgia bait relying on style over substance. X-Men ‘97 produced 10 excellent episodes that captured what made the original series so special while making sure that it was very much a product of the present. The themes of this show covering discrimination, internal conflicts, relationships, sacrifice, existentialism, and many more, are what make this show stand head and shoulders above other excellent animated shows that were released this year. This is a show that makes me cheer and cry while making me believe we can truly have stories for everyone despite what we may feel about the state of the world. In its own way, this show gives me hope. X-Men ‘97 was without a shadow of a doubt my favourite thing of the year.

Honourable mention: Batman: Caped Crusader

Parker: X-Men ‘97

I grew up watching the Fox Kids Marvel series — Spider-Man, and obviously, X-Men: The Animated Series. I was always going to have some appreciation for Marvel’s X-Men revival, X-Men ‘97, but I’ll tell you: Marvel Studios’ first crack at the X-Men is fantastic. Everything about this show — the writing, the animation — makes it clear that this show was made with immense respect to what came before it. While the show speeds through story arcs at breakneck speed, X-Men ‘97 makes you feel every emotion as its main characters face unimaginable adversity. Balancing all its core characters, all with their own meaningful arcs and development, is an incredible feat and I couldn’t be more excited to see this group of X-Men characters I’ve grown to love my entire life develop even further.

Honourable Mention(s): Arcane, Batman: Caped Crusader

LadyFeathers: 

1. Jentry Chau vs the Underworld 

This is likely a surprise seeing this show as my #1 animated show of the year but honestly, it’s well deserved. There isn’t a single thing with Jentry Chau I didn’t love; the characters are great, the art style is unique and very colorful (some episodes had some great dynamic lighting), the plot had me quite literally mesmerized at times (especially in the last three episodes), and the music slaps so hard. I haven’t even mentioned the opening, which I never skipped once. I’ve seen folks online say Jentry Chau’s opening highlights the importance of a good intro that’s not just a title screen, as it makes the show more memorable and I agree. There’s been this shift for a while where many western animated shows just get a title drop versus a full animated intro. The resurgence of a proper intro has been a welcomed one as it does make the show more memorable. Jentry Chau’s intro always got me pumped for whatever was coming next.  

This was another thing on my list that felt inspired by Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but with its own spin  as it focuses primarily on Chinese mythology (with some hints of a little something more). I really hope more people give Jentry Chau a chance as they’ve left some threads open that could be explored should Netflix give this a second season. And I want a second season. We need more Ed, thank you.  

2. DanDaDan 

I got interested in this anime as I had heard it was a horror anime. Anime doesn’t have a lot of options when it comes to horror so I usually end up checking them out just for that alone. I didn’t expect DanDaDan to be so much more than that: it’s a comedy, it’s a Shonen, it’s a shoujo, it’s a sci-fi, and it’s also a horror. And it all works together. It’s also so well animated. Some of those scenes when Okarun runs are next level with just how dynamic the movement is. I also love the moments where the style becomes so basic and chibi in its more comedic moments (some of the expressions from DanDaDan have permanently entered my drawing repertoire). The reason I placed DanDaDan so high on my list though is because of Episode 7. This is an anime that’s about a boy (Okarun) losing his balls and he and Momo (the other main character) are working together to get it back. It sounds hilariously bonkers. But then you watch Episode 7 and get hit with something so profound and beautifully tragic. I ended up watching the dub and the sub for this episode because I wanted to experience it twice. There are some aspects of DanDaDan that do make me a little uncomfortable at times but I still highly recommend this anime.  

3. Arcane Season 2 

Do I even have to justify why this show is on my list? I mean, look at it. The fact that Fortiche brought what essentially looks like an oil painting to life still amazes me.  The only reason it’s not as high on my list is because I found the first season hit better thematically than the second season. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed every act and the wait between them was fun, especially seeing how the fandom began analyzing things like the opening for hidden messages (of which there were plenty). I do wish we got more but I’m still satisfied by the end. I look forward to whatever comes next from both Fortiche and Riot!

4. X-Men ‘97

I’m not the biggest Marvel fan but I’ve always had a soft spot for the X-Men. I didn’t start watching X-Men ‘97 when it dropped, but one of my fellow GCR writers encouraged me to check it out (he’s usually the one who encourages me to check things out and his recommendations are nearly spot on). I’m glad I did not only because of the fantastic animation style (thanks to Studio Mir) but also the themes the show explores and how it explores them. I’m very excited to see what comes next.  

5. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End 

Okay so here’s the thing. I only started watching the entirety of Frieren in 2024. So I’m including the entirety of Frieren in this blurb, not just the Tournament Arc. I absolutely love this show. I kept hearing people saying nothing happened in Frieren and I don’t understand why because so much does. If you’re looking for the level of what you’d get in a shonen, I guess you don’t necessarily get that always (you do so more in the Tournament Arc) but this anime is so much more than its fights. Frieren feels more like a fantasy slice of life at times, as it has so many quiet moments. It’s those moments though that are the most powerful. Frieren is an elf who has lived so long, she saw time as meaningless to her since what’s 10 years for someone who has lived centuries. It’s not until she meets Himmel and her adventuring party, and ultimately what happens to all humans, she begins to understand the importance of just appreciating the small moments in life because you can never get back the time you’ve lost once it’s gone. It’s a unique perspective as you never really see this in a lot of fantasy works, where the weight of time matters differently to races/species. It’s one of Frieren’s strengths and why I cannot recommend Frieren enough. 

6. Dungeon Meshi 

I had heard this show described as basically Dungeons and Dragons the anime, but with a twist where the adventuring party ate the monsters they killed. Since I loved D&D, I knew this was going to be one I was going to check out. I’m so happy I did. At the start it feels so much like a cozy fantasy cooking anime. I constantly looked forward to the food they would eat every week. The thing that really hooked me more than anything though was the dark tones that slowly made themselves apparent. I love when things come across as one thing but then the rug gets pulled out from under you, exposing something more sinister and darker.  

The other thing that makes Dungeon Meshi stand out is its worldbuilding. Everything has a place in the ecosystem—a good example is how they explain how these creatures called Treasure Bugs (that literally look like treasure) are found in mimics (which look like treasure chests). Another example is the Living Armour, featured in an earlier episode. Instead of the armour being enchanted, it’s a small colony that lives within the armour, which is the reason the armour can move.  

This is another anime I’ve read the manga for and I cannot wait to not only see the rest animated but also explore some of the darker themes and concepts in the back half of the manga.  

7. Oshi no Ko Season 2 

There are a few things in this season that really stood out to me. Firstly, the one thing I talk about a lot with my animated reviews, is its animation style. They took some creative liberties this season, including sequences in every episode that was animated differently than the rest of the show.  Some were very rough and painterly versus the typical cel-shaded style, others were abstract and colorful yet also rough in its execution. I found myself fascinated with the direction they took with scenes in every episode, looking forward to whatever new style they were going to try next. The second thing that really stood out to me is how much this felt like a theatre production. Season 2 covers the Theatre Arc from the manga, as many of the characters introduced in Season 1 are playing parts in the production. Each episode makes you feel like you’re an audience member, watching these performers on stage (although you get the bonus perk of getting their internal monologues since this is still an anime). I have read the manga for Oshi no Ko so I know what to expect now but I’m still looking forward to seeing it animated, especially as the darker and sinister side of Oshi no Ko becomes more and more apparent.  

8. The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3 

Season 3 of TLOVM made some changes from the first campaign, and honestly, I found the changes worked for the show. They’ve set the stage differently in the show than how mechanics work in a game of D&D (like how resurrection magic is harder to come by) so it makes sense for some of the events to happen a bit differently. The other changes the show made make sense when you factor in Ashley Johnson’s character, Pike, being more present in the party and more particularly, in Scanlan’s life. Ashley Johnson was filming Blindspot while Campaign 1 was ongoing so her being more present met that certain pivotal moments that happened in the campaign wouldn’t make sense here. I ultimately view the show as an alternate timeline or as I saw someone say, it’s like retelling a legend where details will change with every retelling. I cannot wait to see what Season 4 brings, including whatever changes they make next! 

9. Orb:  On The Movements of Earth 

This was an anime I started on a whim. I had watched one of Gigguk’s review videos and he mentioned it was best to go into this anime without knowing anything. That was enough to get me to check it out. And I’m glad I did. This is another show that feels very relevant in the current climate of the world. It reinforces the importance of the scientific method, of seeking out answers to things we may even have established answers for and the importance of seeking those answers out despite facing persecution. It also circumvents expectations in a way I’d rather not say because it’s best to discover what I mean on your own. I really do recommend this anime though. It’s got some truly beautiful moments. It is a little graphic, and it’ll make sense once you know a little more about the show (particularly the era it takes place in).  

// Manga

2R: Chainsaw Man

Like all good things, Chainsaw Man rips and tears until it is done. In classic Fujimoto style, CSM carries a lot of emotion weight on the back of the most unhinged shit you’ve ever seen. After what I thought was a bit of a lull in the second arc, I think they’ve brought it back recently. 

LadyFeathers: 

1. MAD by Yuusuke Ootori 

You’ll notice this category is severely lacking in comparison to some of the others and it’s not because I haven’t been reading a lot of manga – quite the opposite. There just hasn’t been much that actually dropped this year that I’ve been interested in reading. MAD was one I found on a whim – I was looking for manga that was released this year (for this article actually) and this one was one of the recommendations. I’m glad I took a chance on it. It’s got such a unique art style, I saw someone compare it to a combination of Tatsuki Fujimoto and Gege Akutami’s art styles and I would have to agree. I don’t want to go into too much detail about it since I think it is best to go in blind, but it is set in a post-apocalyptic world and it deals with some pretty heavy subject matter at times. If you’ve read Fire Punch by Tatsuki Fujimoto, MAD is an excellent read for you. One of the most recent chapters actually had not a single line of dialogue and it was phenomenal

// Mobile Games

2R: Balatro

Balatro is simply a marvel. One dude made this thing, and it took the gaming world by storm this year. If you play it you will become addicted.

Honourable mention: This is where I would put my Queen’s Blood: Mobile. IF I HAD ONE.

NotAnAccountant: Balatro

The best thing for your life is that Balatro will kill your battery, forcing you to do something productive with your day. The devs really thought of everything.

Parker: Balatro

I’ve had Balatro for a day and a half, and if anything happened to it, I’d kill everyone in this room and then myself.

LadyFeathers: 

1. Pokemon TCG Pocket 

I’ve played so many different versions of Pokemon’s trading card game (including the physical version) but TCG Pocket feels like a fresh edition to the existing games. I don’t really bother with the versus battles but I have done the solo ones and the format they’ve used for pocket feels perfect for a mobile game. They’re short, a great way to pass the time. Honestly the real reason why I play this game is for the cards themselves. I love the art so much and it’s cool when you get those special cards, you get an inside look at the environment, drawing on inspiration from the cards that are sectioned off but if you were to combine them together, they complete a larger image. If you love Pokemon, you can’t really go wrong with this game. There is monetization, like with most mobile games, but it is very easy to play without spending a cent, as you do get two free pulls a day.  I can’t personally attest to that though since I do pay for the Premium Pass to get that extra pack a day (and some other perks).  

2. AFK Journey 

I know this game came out in December of 2023 but I only started playing it within the last couple of months, so I’m putting it on my list. And I really should lower its place on my list due to the heavily marketed monetized aspect of the game (nothing like getting frequent pop-ups for items you have to purchase with real money), but I didn’t for a few reasons. Even though the monetized aspects are very in your face, they have a daily campaign where you can get heroes for free. They also give you enough opportunities to get gems and invitations to pull for heroes in the game itself (whether it’s during exploration in the world, quests or events). This doesn’t feel like a game where you *have to* use real money to get ahead in the game. The art style for both the world and the characters is also so good. The art style is actually the reason I started playing and have stayed. I also like the fact that you don’t have to level up individual characters either. I have my set team and whenever I level them up, the rest of the characters I own are also at that level. It works the same way for equipment too (depending on the hero type, the equipment applies to all heroes of that type). Definitely recommend giving this one a try if you’re into mobile games!  

3. Zenless Zone Zero 

I started playing ZZZ the day it came out and fell in love with it. The combat and the art style are what really drew me to the game. The combat has a mechanic where, when you switch between characters at the right moment (and the game tells you when), your character enters the fight by immediately attacking the enemy. It ends up creating cool combos and makes combat feel more fluid as the characters are immediately engaged with the enemy versus just switching in and having to press the attack button to engage. I also really love the characters in ZZZ, especially the non-human ones. I admittedly haven’t been playing much lately, not because I’ve lost interest but I’ve been playing other games, but I do plan on diving back in soon as I’ve heard the game has made some changes, specifically to how missions were carried out (which was done through a tv/monitor like system). I was okay with this method but I’ve since learned people weren’t a big fan of this. It’s great to know though that miHoYo are receptive to feedback, and I look forward to seeing what this change means!  

4. Wuthering Waves 

I’ll admit I wasn’t going to add this to my list because I went to go play it a couple weeks ago, my save was gone. I was so mad I deleted the app. I did do some research though and it seems like this was not only a bug, the app likely threw me into the wrong server. I reinstalled it and sure enough, my save was there, so the game is now back on my list. I haven’t played too much of it but the combat impressed me. It has similar vibes to ZZZ, in that when you change between characters, the character that enters the fray attacks the enemy as they’re switched in. It just really adds to the combat, making combat feel more fast paced and snappy. You become more strategic with your switch ins, as you watch for the right moment to switch in the character. Like most of the games on this list though, this is a gacha game, so if you’re not a fan of gachas, this won’t be for you. I’m not up to speed regarding how they handle free gems yet so I’m not sure how the game works for someone who prefers to play these as a f2p (free to play) player. If it’s anything like the Hoyoverse games though, you should be able to get by.  

// Thank You!

That’s all we’ve got! Thank you so much to anyone who visited our site last year and read what we were writing. We’ve had so much fun with GCR so far, and have plans to make it even bigger and better in 2025.

We hope you’ll stick around!