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2025 Has Been a Long Year, but Not One Without Some Useful Takeaways
- Luis "AndresPlays" Aviles
- 4 days ago
- 9 min read
At the start of 2025, I started a podcast called Little Victories, with the sole purpose of interviewing game developers about their experiences working on games. Initially galvanized by an interview I had in 2024 with Roosa Jokiaho, who worked as a Cinematic Artist on Forspoken, this conversation led me to reach a logical but equally important conclusion. Every one of us likes to be listened to, to be engaged in deep conversation about what we have learned from our work, and to share it with others to positively impact them.
Taking the plunge, I sent a direct message to Alex Kanaris-Sotiriou, creator of Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island, who I had briefly interacted with on social media and eventually became my first guest. As soon as he accepted, I knew the ball was rolling. There is always a nerve-racking feeling to create a tangible, real idea from a nebulous concept in our minds, but also a feeling of excitement that accompanies it. Looking back, it feels like everything that I had been working towards as a gaming journalist was finally taking on a purpose.
After commissioning a graphic identity from a close friend of mine and having a talented piano player musicalize the introduction to the tune of The Legend of Zelda when opening a chest, the stage was set. Set in a friendly, conversational tone, every interview revolves around a set of questions that I was intrigued by playing these developers’ brilliant games: the elevating music, subdued narrative beats, big gameplay elements. What took me by surprise was the life lessons that sprouted from these chats. I wanted to take the time to ponder the seven lessons that I have learned while chatting with all of these brilliant developers who took the time to answer my questions diligently and reflect upon their work.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
Alex Kanaris-Sotiriou is a veteran of the gaming industry, having formerly worked at Sony Cambridge with the likes of Killzone and Ghosthunter. In 2017, Alex jumped ship from Sony and created his own independent studio, Polygon Treehouse. A multitalented creative director, Alex created Roki in 2020 and subsequently Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island in late 2024. In my interview with him talking about the intricacies of Mythwrecked, there were abundant morsels of wisdom. It all essentially boiled down to working smarter, not harder.
Mythwrecked is an isometric collect-a-thon set on an uncharted island in the Greek peninsula. As Alex, a British backpacker, you are tasked with helping the Greek gods — who have seemingly lost their memories — to regain them and remember who they are. Embodying a brilliant message to not overwork oneself, there are many forward-thinking design choices that make this lesson shine. As Alex mentions in our interview, the representation of the Greek gods at the time they were created was all about personifying the preoccupations people had at the time: Poseidon is worried about climate change, Ares is a trigger-happy manchild, and Hermes is riddled with anxiety.
In life and in game development, sometimes we overcomplicate how we go about things without even thinking of the simple route. While I am sure this laissez-faire approach does not work in everyone’s case, Alex’s conversation is full of incredible reminders to take the clever route when starting a new project. Not everything needs to be as complex as we first envision it in our minds.
Image Credits: Whitethorn Games
Be More Vulnerable
Harold Halibut is a video game about a janitor by the name of Harold who does not quite fit into the world he was born into. Living in an underwater spaceship stranded on a far-off planet, where everyone appears to be happy with their place in life, our protagonist seems anything but. In Harold Halibut, seasoned narrative designer and writer Danny Wadeson deftly pours his heart out via a series of uniquely transcendental conversations. Society is a harsh place, but through this charming sci-fi adventure, we are reminded of how important it is to be vulnerable.
Finding a friend in Weeoo, an alien fish who becomes friends with Harold, they embark on the ride of a lifetime. Uniting two lifeforms to help their predicament with a honed sense of humor and wit, the literally handcrafted set pieces evoke a holistic sense of wonder that hammers home the lesson that I am glad to have learned that day. Harold Halibut was the first game that I ever reviewed and gave a 10 out of 10 thanks to its multidisciplinary showcase of creatives to deliver one of the most heartfelt stories in the modern era of gaming.
There are moments in our day-to-day lives that we can become arrogant, maybe even aggressive, to the people who we frequent. Whether it is attributed to unresolved personal issues, constant friction at work, or simply having a bad day, staying in touch with our emotions is of utmost importance. Being more vulnerable is not just to talk openly about what we feel but to take responsibility when actions we have committed have hurt others. Finding our place in the world is not selfish, but so is making sure our emotional journey uplifts others. After all, no one lives in a vacuum.
Celebrate Diversity
Life Is Strange: Double Exposure finally brings back Max Caulfield, a beloved protagonist since she was first introduced in the iconic first entry in the series. Along the way, many other new characters during her tenure as an Artist in Residence at Caledon University cozy up to our now older Max. Some of them are on the LGBTQ+ spectrum and are quite realistically represented, with no one feeling like a token character for the developers at Deck Nine Games to take a victory lap. In my conversation with Staff Writer Aysha U. Farah, she attributes this to a basic reason: they hired gay and trans writers.
While the Life Is Strange franchise has always celebrated diversity, such as with Max and Chloe alluding to having a lesbian relationship by the end of Life Is Strange if the player so chooses to do so, Double Exposure elevates that status. Bisexual, gay, and trans characters are all in Max’s sphere, allowing for her to explore her sexuality and satisfy her curiosity. Max engages in thoughtful conversations with people from all kinds of backgrounds, and these diversified topics let the player learn more about other people’s ways of living respectfully.
Diversity makes us stronger not only because it makes us learn about the many walks of life out there, but also because we learn about others’ struggles to find their identity in the process. Being comfortable in one’s own skin is something that we should all strive for, and for the rest of us to support each other in the process.
Image Credits: Square Enix
Find Inspiration
It is easy to fall into a slump considering how repetitive our lives can become. This is where art comes into play to save us from ourselves. Promise Mascot Agency is a wacky take on an ex-yakuza's exile from the Japanese mafia, with the only way to be accepted back into the fold being by rebuilding the eponymous mascot agency back to its feet. Wrangling real-life mascots akin to Chiitan, this ridiculous premise that balances political issues with personal stakes is an endlessly funny and cathartic experience. Carrying it all in the background is the soundtrack by Alpha Chrome Yayo and Ryo Koike, two abundantly talented composers that mix Tokyo City Pop and older Japanese arrangements to spectacular success.
In a sincere conversation with Alpha Chrome Yayo, I was able to ask how he was capable of creating these songs and staying constantly inspired, especially while working on such a comprehensive album. In his friendly answer, he goes on to express how you need to keep moving not to get stuck in a rut. Sometimes literally, at others figuratively. Finding inspiration is a key element to create, be it by listening to a new song, playing an obscure indie game, or watching a long-forgotten movie.
There are gray days that we cannot wait to be over. While not as drastic as changing jobs or moving across the country, giving new media a try can thoroughly change your perspective. Inspiration might prove elusive, but it’s at least a step in the right direction.
Image credits: Kaizen Game Works
Smell the Roses
As I write this at the end of the year, I am still grappling with the fact that 2025 is over, and time waits for no one. What did I accomplish? Was it enough? Will I ever stop burning the roof of my mouth with a hot slice of pizza? These questions plague my thoughts often, but there was one video game that was a breath of fresh air: Wanderstop. Arguably carrying one of the most important, yet simple, messages of our times: take the time to smell the roses.
Wanderstop, described as a video game “about change and tea,” tells the story of Alta, a renowned warrior in a fictional fantasy land who has pushed herself over the edge. Unable to wield her sword due to physical and mental exhaustion, she finds a tea shop called Wanderstop after collapsing in her search for answers. With the help of Boro, the gentle giant that manages said shop, she learns to brew tea, reminisce about her life, and slow down, as much as it pains her to do nothing.
Talking with Jenny Windom, the Communications Director of Ivy Road Games, she confesses that while it was reaffirming to see so many people connecting with Wanderstop, it also revealed an ugly truth: that a lot of us are suffering from burnout and need a break. So this is what I tell you, dear reader: take that day off, learn to say no to new tasks before you are done with the ones you are working on, and focus more on your loved ones. They will thank you.
We all deserve a break, now and then.
Believe in Your Work
Quartet is a retro turn-based JRPG that tells the story of eight characters in a troubled world engulfed in war. You have probably heard this premise before, but trust me when I say it has not been presented like this. Made by the studio Something Classic, Quartet shines thanks to its commitment to authenticity in its grounded narrative and creatively composed soundtrack. Evoking the highs of Final Fantasy VI and similar to Octopath Traveler in its character approach, you would think that this video game, seven years in the making, was always as confident as the final product. But as my conversation with composer Tyler Mire proved, finding Quartet’s voice was not easy — until it was.
Character sprites, arcs, and personalities took time to develop. From their origin stories to how they would interact with each other, their backgrounds ended up informing the player and the world around them. This makes Quartet a highly enjoyable adventure not only due to the stakes raised with every new development, but also because of how different personalities clash and gel as they go along. Tyler mentions Quartet found its essence by iteration and extended conversations with its tight-knit development team. Ultimately, what they found would connect with players — and it did — was believing in their creation and delivering a special adventure worthy of being among the greats.
Image Credits: Something Classic Games LLC
Ask for Help
The subtitle speaks for itself. Asking for help is not easy. It never is. This is heart-wrenchingly portrayed in LUTO, a first-person horror game. Dealing with topics of generational trauma, depression, and suicide, LUTO, or grief in Spanish, is a story that, while harkening back to Kojima’s P.T., creates its own story with a distinct audiovisual background. Protagonist Sam is reliving his everyday life, unable to break the loop when it seems he was simply packing to leave the house.
Creative Director Borja Corvo confided in me the ins and outs of the development process, hoping players would be moved by the narrative to ask for help if they ever felt similarly to what was shown on screen. The power of storytelling is not only to make you empathize with the character’s plight but also to hopefully spur you into action when needed. As LUTO progresses, you can see that the protagonist must defy the voice in his head to be free from the shackles of his mind. And just like him, sometimes we must ask for help to break away from toxic patterns that have followed us during our lifetime.
Image Credits: Broken Bird Games
Learning from each one of these video game developers — who I am sure took more than a little courage to dedicate their lives to such creative endeavors — was a delight. If you are reading this, thank you for taking the time to speak with me. To the ones who reached the end of this piece, I invite you to share any life lesson that a game this year, or any year, has left a mark on you. Because after all, being moved by a work of art is nothing short of a little victory.
The concept of Little Victories is not simply to banally celebrate every win without acknowledging the effort that was put behind it, but to actually recognize that every day, without fail, we wake up and we choose life. A gesture of kindness, sharing a meal with a loved one, a long-winded conversation where you lost track of time — there are many examples I can think of that should be celebrated. Life is difficult as it is, so we must not make it harder by being obstinate.
There is nothing wrong with celebrating a small win. I, in fact, encourage it. And, as the lessons that I learned by chatting with each of these luminaries can attest to show, they are worthy of praise. Thanks for reading.