The USA’s Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is about to host the annual Oscar Awards. These are the movies that I watched and can comment on.

1. Anora (9★★★★★★★★★): My pick for the best movie of the year. The actress shows drama, comedy and sexuality.
2. Conclave (8★★★★★★★★): Superb performances. Tense with a plot twist.
3. Dune: Part Two (8★★★★★★★★): A sci-fi epic of stunning scope and spectacle. Villeneuve balances grandiosity with intimate character moments.
4. I'm Still Here (8★★★★★★★★): The Brazilian movie about dictatorship from 70s. In other words: modern as ever.
5. The Brutalist (8★★★★★★★★): A visually stunning drama. An intersection of architecture, history, and personal resilience. Brody is Oscar-worthy.
6. The Substance (7★★★★★★★): Its visuals insist on sensations: desire, disgust, wants. It’s a mix of social criticism and B-movie horror.
7. Emilia Pérez (5★★★★★): 13 nominations? It’s a boring movie, the songs are bad and forgettable (not to mention the ASMR presence). Unfortunately, it was caught in pointless controversies.

Documentaries

1. Incident (7★★★★★★★): A tense, meticulously assembled account that lets footage speak louder than commentary. Unsettling in the best documentary tradition.
2. I am Ready Warden (7★★★★★★★): Sobering and humane, but struggles to find a fresh angle on familiar ground.
3. The Only Girl in the Orchestra (5★★★★★): You leave admiring the film, not the subject.

Animations

1. Wander to Wonder (9★★★★★★★★★): great short stop motion animation.
2. In the Shadow of the Cypress (8★★★★★★★★): post-traumatic stress disorder

Every year, I try to compile a list of games, books, and movies I experienced. For the complete list, check the Ratings. Here we go (sorted by rating, then alphabetically)!

NOTE: I believe this list is the one that is mostly incomplete. I will probably make additions to it, time to time.

1. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (10★★★★★★★★★★): A timeless exploration of rebellion, freedom, and madness, with Nicholson delivering an unforgettable performance. A film that captures both hope and despair in one breath.
2. Game Night (9★★★★★★★★★): A chaotic, clever, and hilarious rollercoaster where every twist lands perfectly. Surprisingly sharp and self-aware for a comedy.
3. Leaving Las Vegas (9★★★★★★★★★): Raw, heartbreaking, and utterly devastating. Cage and Shue lay their souls bare in this tragic descent into addiction.
4. Past Lives (9★★★★★★★★★): A delicate, melancholic meditation on love, fate, and missed chances. Quietly profound and achingly human.
5. The Invisible Guest (9★★★★★★★★★): Our first movie entirely in Spanish since we moved to Peru. Twists and tension done right, keeping you guessing until the very end. A sleek, tightly-woven thriller.
6. The Thing (1982) (9★★★★★★★★★): Paranoia, horror, and practical effects at their peak. Carpenter’s chilling masterpiece.
7. The Whale (9★★★★★★★★★): A gut-wrenching portrait of redemption and regret, anchored by Fraser’s vulnerable and transformative performance.
8. Tropic Thunder (9★★★★★★★★★): Hollywood satire dialed up to 11, skewering industry egos and excess with wild, unfiltered humor. Somehow both ridiculous and incisive.
9. All The President's Men (8★★★★★★★★): Journalism’s finest hour on film, unraveling a scandal with a relentless pursuit of truth.
10. Bernie (8★★★★★★★★): Dark humor meets small-town crime with charm. Jack Black shines in one of his most nuanced performances.
11. Dune: Part Two (8★★★★★★★★): A sci-fi epic of stunning scope and spectacle. Villeneuve balances grandiosity with intimate character moments.
12. High and Low (8★★★★★★★★): A Akira Kurosawa masterful moral thriller of ransom and class, showing the fine line between privilege and desperation.
13. Palm Springs (8★★★★★★★★): Groundhog Day meets millennial cynicism with a heart. A time-loop comedy that’s surprisingly existential. Better than I expected.
14. Poor Things (8★★★★★★★★): Surreal, inventive, and delightfully strange. Stone’s performance is fearless, and the world is bizarrely beautiful.
15. Popstar Never Stop Never Stopping (8★★★★★★★★): Satirical absurdity in perfect harmony, mercilessly mocking the music industry while delivering bangers.
16. Seven Samurai (8★★★★★★★★): Kurosawa’s blueprint for action epics, combining heart, strategy, and heroism.
17. Silence (8★★★★★★★★): A quiet descent into faith and suffering. Scorsese’s understated masterpiece asks hard questions with haunting beauty.
18. A Most Violent Year (7★★★★★★★): Crime and integrity clash in a snow-covered 1980s New York. A slow-burning, tension-filled character study.
19. Anatomy of a Fall (7★★★★★★★): A courtroom drama that dissects more than just a case. A slow-burn character study wrapped in ambiguity.
20. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (7★★★★★★★): Stay classy, comedy fans. A ridiculous, quotable romp that never takes itself seriously.
21. Colossus: The Forbin Project (7★★★★★★★): AI paranoia before it was cool. A chilling look at humanity’s hubris in the face of technology.
22. Donnie Darko (7★★★★★★★): Disturbing, puzzling, and oh so cult-worthy. A time-twisting tale of teenage angst and existential dread.
23. Metropolis (7★★★★★★★): The foundation of sci-fi cinema, a vision still ahead of its time. Note that today, only heavily edited versions of it exist.
24. Take Shelter (7★★★★★★★): A slow-burn descent into anxiety and uncertainty.
25. This Is the End (7★★★★★★★): Self-aware apocalypse, dripping with absurdity, with celebrities roast themselves while the world burns.
26. Upstream Color (7★★★★★★★): A hypnotic puzzle only the boldest try to solve.
27. The Zone of Interest (7★★★★★★★): The horror lies in its mundane perspective. Oscar worthy of either “international movie” or “best picture”, but not both.
28. Civil War (7★★★★★★★): A tense and unsettling exploration of a fractured, grim and plausible America.
29. Primal Fear (7★★★★★★★): A gripping legal thriller with a twist that lingers. Norton’s breakout performance steals the show.
30. Killers of the Flower Moon (6★★★★★★): A tragic epic that loses its sharp edge. Brilliant performances can’t quite save the bloated runtime.
31. The Thing (2011) (6★★★★★★): Decent. A shadow of its predecessor’s brilliance.
32. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (5★★★★★): Tom Cruise runs; the thrill fades. 85% what they talk is one-liners.
33. Mr. Nobody (5★★★★★): The concept is interesting, but the movie in boring.
34. Waking Life (4★★★★): Interesting visuals drags.

Documentaries

1. RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop (8★★★★★★★★): Super nostalgic documentary about the creation of the first movie.
2. Period. End of Sentence (8★★★★★★★★): A powerful, concise look at the fight for menstrual taboos.
3. Nai Nai (7★★★★★★★): A tender and simple portrayal of family bonds across generations.
4. The Last Repair Shop (7★★★★★★★): A heartfelt tribute to unsung heroes keeping music alive, one instrument at a time.

Animations

1. Nimona (9★★★★★★★★★): Bold, vibrant, and full of rebellious energy. A dazzling blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and self-acceptance.
2. Elemental (5★★★★★): I did not like even the visuals, over-saturated.

TV Shows

1. Arcane S1 (10★★★★★★★★★★): A stunning explosion of art, lore, and character depth.
2. Shogun (10★★★★★★★★★★): A masterclass in historical drama, rich and ruthless.
3. Arcane S2 (8★★★★★★★★): Continue to be stylish, but abuse of numerous character timelines with looong playoffs. In several episodes, you end up without knowing what you’ve just watched.
4. House of the Dragon S2 (7★★★★★★★): Dragons characters are cool, but the humans ones are most lame.
5. Severance S1 (7★★★★★★★): Clever, eerie, and just a bit too enigmatic.
6. 3 Body Problem S1 (6★★★★★★): Sci-fi that starts strong, then it becomes less than Lost or Heroes final seasons.

Every year, I try to compile a list of games, books, and movies I experienced. For the complete list, check the Ratings. Here we go (sorted by rating, then alphabetically)!

Finished

1. Outer Wilds (10★★★★★★★★★★): A masterstroke of exploration and existential wonder. Rewards curiosity. Now it’s time for the expansion.
2. Deathloop (9★★★★★★★★★): One of the best games this year. The protagonists stand out, though some bosses feel over-the-top. Their personalities are quirky but take some getting used to. The game can be surprisingly easy.
3. Beyond: Two Souls (8★★★★★★★★): Starting this story-driven game with my wife. The acting is outstanding. The story holds up until the final chapters, where it falters a bit. A solid narrative experience.
4. Carrion (8★★★★★★★★): Channeling John Carpenter’s The Thing, it’s a blast to play as the monstrous entity.
5. Dredge (8★★★★★★★★): A dark, Lovecraftian fishing adventure where you sell catches and upgrade your boat while uncovering eerie secrets.
6. Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy (8★★★★★★★★): Hilarious character interactions carry the game, though the combat and exploration mechanics can feel disjointed and overly complex at times.
7. RoboCop: Rogue City (8★★★★★★★★): Nostalgia factor to the roof. While not groundbreaking, it’s a competent tribute.
8. Storyteller (8★★★★★★★★): A clever puzzle game that lets you weave tales, rewarding creativity with delightful twists.
9. There Is No Game (8★★★★★★★★): Completely out of the box, old style adventure game.
10. Escape Academy (7★★★★★★★): Escape room as video game. All puzzles very doable. Played with my wife.
11. Human Resource Machine (7★★★★★★★): I’ve played this programming game ages ago in the phone. But the touchscreen is not the ideal tool to write programs. The mouse/keyboard in the PC version allowed me to finish the last couple of levels that I’ve never did back them.
12. Just Cause 4 (7★★★★★★★): I’ve tried this game before, but it was crashing on Linux. This time, worked flawless (from the tech perspective). The game play, like the Just Cause 3 (8★★★★★★★★), is fun but repetitive, due to the size of the map. The story is useless.
13. The Case of the Golden Idol (7★★★★★★★): An indie puzzle/detective game with unique mechanics reminiscent of Return of the Obra Dinn (9★★★★★★★★★). Now I need to finish the expansions.
14. TOEM (7★★★★★★★): A cozy photo adventure wrapped in charm.
15. Weird West (7★★★★★★★): A dark, immersive blend of action RPG and western, filled with strange and unsettling twists. It stands out for its atmosphere and storytelling, but the story itself takes time to settle down.
16. Biomutant (6★★★★★★): Oh, man. I really wanted to like it, but the map is too big, the story is starts nice but lose steam in chapter 2 and the narrator is annoying as hell. The game play is not that fun: the combat is too generic.
17. Pikuniku (6★★★★★★): A lighthearted game with a welcoming vibe, suitable for younger audiences.
18. Turmoil (5★★★★★): A simple oil-drilling sim that starts strong but runs dry quickly. Played due to the oil theme (I’ve worked in an oil company for years)

Currently Playing

1. Card Shark (8★★★★★★★★): A clever, daring game of wit and deceit. Masterful storytelling paired with sleight-of-hand mechanics keeps you hooked.
2. Ghost Trick (8★★★★★★★★): A fresh take on puzzle-solving with a quirky Japanese humor.
3. Inscryption (8★★★★★★★★): Starts as a clever card game, but quickly spirals into a narrative masterpiece with layers of meta-storytelling. It’s a wild ride through different genres.
4. Paradigm (8★★★★★★★★): old style adventure game with an amazing, but not for everyone, humor.
5. Paradise Killer (8★★★★★★★★): CRAZY! Do not let the visuals fool you. Amazing. Loving this amazing true detective game where, as far as I know, you can draw any conclusion you want.
6. Stray (8★★★★★★★★): Beautifully crafted, like most Annapurna games. Playing as a cat is delightful, despite being more of a dog person.
7. The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos (8★★★★★★★★): Didn’t see it coming, a genuinely funny classic turn-based RPG with top-notch humor.
8. Death's Door (7★★★★★★★): A charming yet challenging journey through a world of souls and secrets. Sharp combat and quiet melancholy blend perfectly.
9. Desktop Dungeons (7★★★★★★★): I’ve played a demo web version of it ages ago, and I liked so much that I’ve even bought Dungeons of Dredmor by mistake. I’ve never remembered the name of the one I liked, but recently they created a remaster and gave the original for free. Very clever and hard.
10. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remaster (7★★★★★★★): High-speed thrills with a nostalgic edge, but the polish only goes so far.
11. Overland (7★★★★★★★): A puzzle game with a post-apocalyptic theme.
12. The Outer Worlds (7★★★★★★★): Playing a lot due to the fact I’m recently following its creator, Tim Cain, channel.
13. Tunic (7★★★★★★★): In the very early stages. I do not like games that too vague stories. But this one seems to have a reason.
14. Very Little Nightmares (6★★★★★★): Atmospheric dread and fun scaled down.

Not finished yet (for one reason or another)

Many projects barely begun. Installed to test, but mostly in limbo—WIP or collecting dust. Unfinished tales of exploration and hesitation.

1. Black Mesa (8★★★★★★★★): The official/unofficial Half-Life 1 remake. Superb! Curious to see what the fuss was about HF1 after finishing Half-Life 2 (8★★★★★★★★) last year.
2. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (8★★★★★★★★): Holy moly! Got it from my brother on my birthday, had only a couple of minutes to play, but it’s already shaping up to be a favorite.
3. Gris (8★★★★★★★★): Beautiful first level.
4. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun (8★★★★★★★★): Liked the thinking in this game. Definitely one I’ll try to complete sooner than later.
5. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (7★★★★★★★): liked the first title, Deus Ex: Human Revolution (8★★★★★★★★), but this one is a far inferior game. The story is not nice and the gameplay is not fun so far.
6. Dyson Sphere Program (6★★★★★★): Got an old version to give it a try. It’s a lot of things at once.
7. Slipways (6★★★★★★): Strategy-heavy, almost like playing chess. Not quite my style.
8. Industria (6★★★★★★): Short Half-Life-esque with nice visuals.

Continuous playing

I play them eventually. Most of them, are strategy games. Nothing new from last year’s list, except:

1. Crusader Kings 3 (8★★★★★★★★): Time sucker, like many Paradox titles.
2. while True: learn() (8★★★★★★★★): Logic programming puzzles. Amazingly fun and challenging for a programmer. The special bonuses for optimized solutions request multiple plays for each scenario.
3. Baba Is You (7★★★★★★★): Played some levels, up to the second or third “world.” SUPER clever.
4. Horizon Chase Turbo (7★★★★★★★): A love letter to classic arcade racers. Pure, nostalgic fun, though it occasionally lacks depth.

Next games on my radar

Finally, here is a list of games that I already have in my collection that I plan to play in the next months. It’s a bit ridiculous to talk about the next game, considering the amount of unfinished ones, but the catalog is so vast that I can afford to play ahead.

1. Doki Doki Literature Club: Out of the ordinary for your taste, but the reviews piqued your interest.
2. Ghost of a Tale (7★★★★★★★): Followed the development process for quite some time because it was made using Unity. Looks charming and intriguing.
3. Heavy Rain: Anticipating another story-driven experience to enjoy with your wife.
4. Hitman: Hoping to take a more relaxed approach this time after a perfectionist run of Contracts.
5. Prey Mooncrash: I’m a fan of time travel/time loop ideas. I bought it, but days later I got Deathloop (9★★★★★★★★★) (following game from the same company) for free.
6. We Are There Together: Bought to play with my wife, but not included in Play Together on Steam. Considering convincing another soul to play with me
7. XCOM 2 (6★★★★★★): Time to dive into this much-praised strategy game.

Every year, I try to compile a list of games, books, and movies I experienced. For the complete list, check the Ratings. Here we go (sorted by rating, then alphabetically)!

I’ve maintained the habit of reading, mostly through audiobooks during my daily dog walks, for several years. It adds a layer of engagement to my routine, turning a no-brainer task into an opportunity for thought. Without it, I’d feel like I’m merely walking without purpose.

Here’s a list of books from this year, a selection not exhaustive but those that linger in my memory. As I often forget to update my GoodReads records or write about them on this blog, these are the ones that come to mind. I’ll edit this post if I recall additional entries.

Fiction

1. Kill Decision (8★★★★★★★★): Daniel Suarez fiction books that might turn into non-fiction history books. This one warns about the usage and risks of autonomous flying drones for war.
2. Klara and the Sun (8★★★★★★★★): Klara, a child companion android, was finally sold to a child, but humans are not as reliable as robots.
3. Metal Like Blood in the Dark (8★★★★★★★★): Short story about two robot siblings in the first contact with the real world. Hugo Award nominee.
4. Proof by Induction (8★★★★★★★★): Short story about a scientist trying to prove a theory started by his father. Hugo Award nominee.
5. Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse (7★★★★★★★): Good short story about a couple running away from zombies to give birth to a child. Hugo Award nominee.
6. Little Free Library (7★★★★★★★): Short story about a mysterious figure start to borrow books from one’s personal public library. Hugo Award nominee. Read it for free.
7. Sharp Objects (7★★★★★★★): Dark, twisted, and gripping. A psychological thriller where every page cuts a little deeper.
8. The Sin of America (6★★★★★★): Another nice short story. Hugo Award nominee.

Non Fiction

1. Four Thousand Weeks (9★★★★★★★★★): A refreshing reminder that time management is about acceptance, not control. Philosophical yet practical, it challenges productivity obsessions.
2. 2k to 10k (8★★★★★★★★): Insightful, actionable advice for writers seeking efficiency and joy. A concise toolkit for unleashing your creative flow.
3. Antifragile (8★★★★★★★★): A bold exploration of systems that thrive on chaos. Taleb’s insights challenge you to embrace volatility rather than fear it.
4. Obvious Adams (8★★★★★★★★): Simple wisdom on the power of clarity and common sense. Timeless advice for cutting through complexity.
5. Prisoners of Geography (8★★★★★★★★): Geography shapes destiny, and Marshall maps it out brilliantly. A geopolitical crash course that makes borders more than just lines.
6. Skin in the Game (8★★★★★★★★): A sharp critique of accountability, where risk and reward must align. Taleb pulls no punches in his call for skin-deep integrity.
7. The Black Swan (8★★★★★★★★): Somewhat similar to the excellent Outliers (8★★★★★★★★) from Malcolm Gladwell, it explores the power of one-time events, people and technologies and the nature of the unpredictability.
8. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (7★★★★★★★): Pragmatic and data-driven, offering solutions rather than just warnings. A solid roadmap, though occasionally too tech-focused.
9. Quiet (6★★★★★★): Thought-provoking but occasionally repetitive. A strong case for the quiet strengths society overlooks.

In the ever-evolving landscape of video games, it’s rare to find a title that genuinely pushes the envelope. Arkane Studios’ Deathloop does just that, offering a fresh take on the first-person shooter genre that will leave players questioning their perception of time, choice, and consequence. Set on the enigmatic island of Blackreef, it throws players into a mind-bending temporal conundrum. As Colt, an assassin trapped in a never-ending day, you’re tasked with breaking the loop by eliminating eight targets before the clock strikes midnight.

Temporal Architecture

Deathloop’s most striking innovation lies in its masterful implementation of the time loop mechanic. From a systems design perspective, Arkane has woven it into every aspect of the game, creating a playground where time itself becomes your most valuable resource and deadliest enemy. The loop isn’t just a gimmick; it’s the core around which the entire game revolves.

The genius of this system is how it transforms failure into a tool for progress. Each cycle through Blackreef’s repeating day offers new opportunities to gather information, upgrade abilities, and inch closer to your ultimate goal. Death isn’t a setback but a chance to approach problems with new knowledge and enhanced capabilities. This “knowledge as power” progression system is a brilliant way to handle the roguelite influence without the frustration often associated with the genre.

Streamlining the Immersive Sim

Perhaps most importantly, Deathloop takes the immersive sim genre—of which Arkane is a master—and streamlines it for a broader audience without sacrificing depth. The game strikes a delicate balance between accessibility and complexity, offering multiple approaches to every objective while ensuring that players are never overwhelmed by options.

This is evident in the level design, which is a maze of interconnected paths and hidden secrets. Each district can be approached in myriad ways, rewarding both stealthy players and those who prefer a more direct approach. The freedom to tackle objectives in any order adds another layer of strategy to the loop, as players must decide how best to use their limited time each day. It respects the player’s intelligence, trusting them to unravel its mysteries through experimentation and observation.

Visual Identity and Narrative Framing

Arkane’s signature art direction shines brightly, painting Blackreef in a bold, retro-futuristic aesthetic that blends 1960s mod style with sci-fi elements. The island is a visual feast, with each district sporting its own distinct personality. From a production standpoint, the asset reuse across different times of day is managed with incredible efficiency, changing the “feel” of a location through lighting and NPC placement rather than entirely new geometry.

The voice acting is a highlight, particularly the dynamic between Colt and Julianna. Their banter crackles with humor, tension, and genuine emotion. However, this strength also highlights a missed opportunity with the rest of the cast. While each Visionary has a distinct personality, the lack of direct interaction or cinematics during pivotal confrontations leaves them feeling somewhat distant. The absence of traditional cutscenes is a bold choice, but it sometimes denies players the chance to fully appreciate these characters in the moment.

Ups and Downs

Despite its many strengths, Deathloop isn’t without its flaws. Some abilities, particularly Karnesis, feel overpowered in the late game, allowing players to breeze through encounters. From a balancing perspective, once you have a fully kitted-out Colt, the AI (which is intentionally somewhat “dumb” to fit the pulp action vibe) can’t always keep up.

Lastly, while all the maps are beautifully crafted, some areas like Fristad Rock feel underutilized for much of the game. It’s a shame to see such well-designed spaces not get as much “loop-time” as others.

In conclusion, Deathloop is a bold, innovative game that pushes the boundaries of what we expect from first-person shooters and immersive sims. While it has its flaws, the overall experience is one that will stick with you long after you’ve broken the loop. For fans of Arkane’s previous work or anyone looking for a fresh take on the genre, it’s must-play.