Craig Donaldson’s 5 favourite issues of 2025

It is exhausting to imagine it is already that point of 12 months once more, however with New Yr’s simply days away and the 12 months winding down, I’ve naturally been reflecting on a few of my favourite issues from the previous 12 months. 2025 introduced so many nice exhibits, video games, and tech releases that narrowing my record to simply 5 wasn’t straightforward.

Past the time I spent with household and buddies — loads of which made this 12 months memorable — these are the 5 issues that actually stood out, had a constructive affect on me, and persistently put a smile on my face. From video games and exhibits to new gadgets and even my favourite sports activities workforce making historical past, listed here are my 5 favourite issues of 2025.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

My Recreation of the Yr

When Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was introduced in early 2024, I used to be completely thrilled. I performed the primary Kingdom Come: Deliverance when it launched in 2018 and liked each minute of it. It shortly grew to become my favourite RPG of all time — sorry Skyrim — because of its partaking fight system and immersive open world. So naturally, when the sequel was lastly launched this previous February, I dove in and performed it nonstop.

In case you’re unfamiliar, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a sensible medieval RPG set in 1403 Bohemia, in what’s now the Czech Republic. You play as Henry, a blacksmith from the city of Skalitz, and observe his journey as he seeks to avenge his mother and father. With out moving into spoilers, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 picks up instantly after the primary sport and vastly expands on it. The scope is bigger in each approach, with enhancements to the graphics, fight system, storytelling, and the open world itself. I really like open-world video games, and as a fan of historical past and medieval occasions, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 exceeded all the pieces I hoped for in an RPG. I’ve already spent 100 hours on it this 12 months, and it is my private sport of the 12 months.

Andor

One of the best Star Wars present ever made

Credit score: Disney

If there’s one factor my family and friends find out about me, it is that I really like Star Wars. I grew up in the course of the prequel trilogy, so the franchise has all the time been a giant a part of my life. When Disney acquired Lucasfilm, I used to be excited in regards to the new movies. Whereas the sequel trilogy had its moments, Rogue One immediately grew to become my favourite because of its grit and its nods to the unique trilogy. So when the primary season of Andor premiered in 2022, I used to be hooked instantly — it follows Cassian Andor, one in all Rogue One’s central characters, and his journey to becoming a member of the Revolt.

This previous April, Andor season two lastly premiered, and Disney+ dropped three episodes each week. For 4 weeks straight, it felt like getting a brand new Star Wars film each Tuesday, and I watched every batch with buddies. With out moving into spoilers, season two leads immediately into the opening of Rogue One, and watching these threads come collectively — how the characters and occasions line up — was fascinating, emotional, and genuinely a number of the finest Star Wars storytelling ever placed on display.

If you have not seen Andor but, do your self a favor and test it out. Sure, it is Star Wars, nevertheless it’s additionally probably the most grounded the franchise has ever been.

Nintendo Swap 2

The Swap 2 is extra highly effective and gratifying than the unique

After years of rumors a few successor to the unique Nintendo Swap, 2025 lastly delivered it: the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo revealed the console in January, showcased it in additional element in April, and launched it in June. As an enormous fan of the unique Swap, I rushed to choose one up — not simply to play Mario Kart World nonstop with buddies, however to revisit The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom with much better graphics and a easy 60FPS body charge.

Whereas I liked the unique Swap, its efficiency and visible limitations held me again from enjoying it extra typically. The Swap 2 fixes that in a giant approach with its extra highly effective Nvidia Tegra processor and a stunning 7.9-inch 1080p show, which makes the outdated 6.2-inch 720p display on the Swap 1 look historic compared. After six months with the Swap 2, it is simply been one of many highlights of my 12 months because of how a lot enjoyable it’s to play and one in all my favourite methods to unwind after a busy, annoying day.

iPhone 17 Professional Max

This was my improve 12 months, and I am very pleased with my selection

I do know a brand new iPhone comes out yearly, so the iPhone 17 Pro Max won’t appear particularly thrilling to everybody. However since this was my improve 12 months, and I moved up from an iPhone 14 Professional, it is exhausting to not be excited. That is my first time utilizing a Professional Max mannequin, and though I used to be initially frightened the 6.9-inch display would really feel approach too huge in comparison with my outdated 6.1-inch show, I adjusted a lot sooner than anticipated. The additional display actual property has been unbelievable for studying and watching movies.

One of many largest highlights of the iPhone 17 Professional/Professional Max is the redesigned chassis: a brand new unibody aluminum construct and a big rectangular digital camera bump, a noticeable change from the iPhone 16 Professional and all earlier Professional fashions. I actually like the brand new look, and I selected the deep blue mannequin, paired with a dbrand Ghost case to verify I do not dent the factor accidentally and to maintain that blue seen.

The iPhone 17 Professional Max additionally brings some wonderful upgrades, together with the blisteringly quick A19 Professional chipset and a triple 48-megapixel rear digital camera system, which I’ve used to take some gorgeous photographs, a lot of which I’ve proven off right here on Pocket-lint as characteristic photographs for tales.

The Toronto Blue Jays

A historic common season and postseason

All my life, I have been a fan of baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays, and this 12 months has been one of the vital memorable for me as a fan of each the game and the workforce. On the finish of the 2024 season, the Blue Jays completed final within the AL East with a 74-88 file, a disappointing final result on the time. However in 2025, the Jays bounced again in a approach I by no means might have imagined, ending the season 95-68, and changing into American League East champions.

Their postseason run was nothing wanting historic and an absolute pleasure to look at evening after evening in October. They crushed the New York Yankees (Daaa Yankees Lose) within the American League Division Sequence after which beat the Seattle Mariners in a nail-biting Recreation 7 to clinch the American League Championship Sequence. There have been standout performances throughout the roster, together with All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Trey Yesavage, George Springer, Ernie Clement, and lots of extra.

The Blue Jays reached the World Sequence for the primary time since their 1993 championship run. Though they in the end misplaced to the LA Dodgers in a really shut Recreation 7, it was nonetheless an unimaginable season — one which left me extra proud than dissatisfied. Watching them virtually each evening for six months was an absolute blast, and attending to see a number of video games in individual this 12 months made it much more particular. These are recollections I am going to cherish for a very long time, and I can not wait to go to the ballpark in 2026.