There’s a lot to be grateful for, and although it’s Thanksgiving here in the States, it’s a great time for everyone to sit back and reflect on 2025 before the year ends. Layoffs still plague the industry, and it would be unwise to assume as is well; however, there is a lot to acknowledge and celebrate, too. So, what are you most grateful for in gaming this year?
I have a handful of people, games, and things I want to express my appreciation for. Firstly, game developers. All game developers, especially those that word hard against all costs. These developers bear the burden of designing, coding, and executing works of art, such as Claire Obscure: Expedition 33, Hades II, Blue Prince, and more. These developers deserve a stable job, and while I may have little power over the layoff problem, this is why I always try to buy games within my means and support the devs. According to Gaming Layoffs, there have been approximately 3,500 jobs lost this year so far–the latest from Supermassive games. Remember, without these devs, there would be no games, and we live in a day and age where we have an enormous selection of video games releasing constantly.
I am also grateful for two amazing products released this year: the Switch 2 and the Analogue 3d. At first, I wasn’t sure the Switch 2 was worth the day one purchase, but its performance and sleek (but similar) design won me over quickly. With the release of Donkey Kong Bananza and soon-to-release Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, I eagerly await what other IP Nintendo has in store for us. I also foresee more third-party titles for the Switch 2, making it my ultimate go-to console. On the flip side, I finally received my Analogue 3d, a modernized console to play N64 titles. I appreciate companies like Analogue that focus on crafting devices that allow us to revisit old video games, further supporting game preservation in their own way.
Limited Run makes my list of top things I’m grateful for in the video game industry. While I’ve been always been a fan, my visit to their physical store in NC to celebrate their 10th anniversary really showed me the company’s passion and devotion to all things physical. From the company President to the retail employees, each person sported overflowing enthusiasm in what they do and what they stand for. I witnessed quality, integrity, and detail behind every game, collector’s edition, and book. Moreover, I experienced pure joy meeting other fans, who shared their experienced with Limited Run. The best part of all is that my respect for physical media amplified, not just for Limited Run, but for any company who also cherishes them. So, shout out to other physical publishers like Serenity Forge, PM Studios, Lost in Cult, iam8bit, and Super Rare Games.
This year was filled with top-tier games, and there are two in particular that I’m very grateful for: Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson and Silent Hill f. Fretless is a product of indie dev team, Ritual Studios. I met these awesome folk at PAX conferences and had the honor of interviewing them. They created a fantastic RPG with adorable pixel-art graphics and head-banging music. Their dedication to releasing a quality game was inspiring, and I’m grateful to see their growth over the years and play the final product. Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson was pure joy to play.
Oddly, enough, survival horror title, Silent Hill f was pure joy to play as well. The reason I’m particularly grateful for this title is because of how much it drew me into the franchise. I was a latecomer to horror, and the Silent Hill 2 remake left a good impression on me. While I can see why Silent Hill 2 is a fan favorite, I have a profound appreciation for theme of finding beauty in terror in Silent Hill f. I appreciate Konami reaching into their own culture and giving us a Japanese inspired story. While I am not of Japanese descent, I am a first-generation Chinese American…and a female to boot. So, Hinako’s struggles resonated with me deeply. Lastly, I appreciate the layered storytelling, which had me picking up the controller once more to seek answers in New Game Plus. Silent Hill f is the first game ever I even bothered with New Game Plus.
There’s so much to be grateful for! If gaming is your hobby, share something you are grateful for in 2025. Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
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Source: Gaming Layoffs
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