2025 feels like the year that doesn’t want to end. From the Umamusume craze sweeping the world including our very own Selangor Turf Club, to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s nine-award sweep at The Game Awards earlier this month, and even Stranger Things finally wrapping up with its fifth and final season, it seems like 2025 is determined to cram as much as possible into its final days before we officially bid it adieu.
While we’re not about to attempt the Sisyphean task of summing up everything that happened in the last twelve months, we’ve put together a humble list of some personal favourites. Compiled across THE MAGIC RAIN’s diverse team of writers and creators, here’s our top favourite media and pop culture moments of 2025.
1. Umamusume: Pretty Derby
The game that single-handedly managed to revitalise public interest in horse racing and advance initiatives for the welfare of retired racehorses, all while taking home the award for Best Mobile Game? It’s none other than Umamusume: Pretty Derby.
Since its global release, the game has been making headlines, defying expectations by turning something that sounds unconventional on paper into an “umazing” experience through an addictive core gameplay loop combined with a charming cast of characters, each inspired by their equally charming real-life counterparts.
Ultimately, it managed to prove that a well-executed idea, no matter how bizarre, can captivate veterans of the franchise, attract new players and most importantly, make a positive impact on the world beyond the screen, redefining what a mobile game can achieve. — Ivan
2. Silent Hill f
If you’ve never played a Silent Hill game before in your life, Silent Hill f is where you want to begin. Anchored by incredible writing from cult horror author Ryukishi07, best known for his cult horror visual novel Higurashi When They Cry, this newest entry presents a narrative that takes full advantage of the Silent Hill format to explore a young woman’s trauma to a deeply disturbing extent.
Whether through viscera-heavy cutscenes, heart-wrenching vocal and acting performances, or the many lore notes that build out the world and its characters, Silent Hill f will easily exceed and raise your expectations for every game from this franchise moving forward. — Nathalie
3. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
It is not easy to revitalize a long established genre. but Sandfall Interactive has achieved exactly that in the turn-based role-playing game genre with its debut game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It came as no surprise that the game swept at The Game Awards considering the game was not only innovative, but also told a compelling story with an even more enthralling cast of characters. Truly a must-play for video game lovers regardless of what genre you usually like. — Aqasha
4. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Nothing welcomes one of gaming’s biggest releases like the Steam crash of September 4, 2025 when the highly anticipated sequel Hollow Knight: Silksong came out. Team Cherry pulls together an amazing new world for our protagonist Hornet to explore—with rich lore and crisp, detailed art. Despite having a completely different playstyle to the original Hollow Knight and more Soulslike lean in combat, Hollow Knight: Silksong threaded its way into the hearts of many gamers. — Drake Cos
5. BALL x PIT
Fundamentally, Kenny Sun has designed a brick-breaking game. Not unlike the brick-breaking games you’re familiar with, BALL x PIT involves shooting balls at blocks and dealing bounce damage until you clear the entire field. What makes this one different from its predecessors is everything that comes after. This ball-fusing, base-building, bullet hell survival roguelite reimagines the genre in its most addictive form, featuring a fast-paced gameplay loop and endless combo experimentation that will give playing with your balls a whole new meaning. — Nathalie
6. The Chef’s Shift
Developed by Indonesian studio Panitia GameDev, The Chef’s Shift is a typing game meets restaurant management sim that harkens back to the restaurant management sims of my childhood — from Diner Dash to Penguin Diner — down to the bold, cartoonish art style and fast-paced, chaotic management gameplay. The Chef’s Shift borrows a lot from its predecessors mechanically, while managing to put its own spin on things through its typing mechanic and a narrative with more plot twists than your grandmother’s Hong Kong dramas. — Nathalie
7. ARC Raiders
Officially announced in 2021, Embark Studios has finally made their mark with ARC Raiders this year. The PvPvE extraction shooter game has taken the gaming community by storm with its intricately well thought-out game system, finding the perfect balance to satisfy the various demographics of gamers from PvPvE lovers to loot goblins to goal-getter shooters and more. Along with interesting CPU enemy designs and exceptional world building that results in absolute immersion, ARC Raiders has slowly but surely become one of the biggest multiplayer games in 2025, with an outstandingly tight-knit community surrounding it. — Seth
8. Tom Morello and Beartooth “Everything Burns” In Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy XIV always serves bangers no matter where you go. From the locale music to the dungeons and boss fights, the music always slaps. For Dawntrail, Soken and the Primals really went all out to deliver a variety of different genres and styles for us to enjoy raiding with in the Arcadion raids. However, the last one really takes the cake with “Everything Burns”, because if you told me Tom Morello and Beartooth collaborated to do the theme for the final boss of the raid tier, I would have called bluff on that one. Now I stand here corrected and headbanging while fighting the final raid boss. Honestly, this was such a hype song to raid to that it makes you wanna lose so that you can listen to it more times! — TJ
9. Zenless Zone Zero
This year, Zenless Zone Zero introduced the new region of Waifei Peninsula that immersed players in an aesthetically pleasing locale inspired by the streets and alleys of Hong Kong, while establishing a lovable cast of characters who added a comedic touch to the tense atmosphere of the storyline, keeping it lighthearted and entertaining. As the icing on the cake, the generosity of the anniversary rewards handed out by the development team, combined with a multitude of limited in-game events, made players feel like children in a candy shop, reflecting the respectable effort taken to keep the community engaged.— Ivan
10. Tiny Bookshop
Tiny Bookshop was a surprising delight for me. This unassuming narrative about leaving city life behind and running a bookshop on wheels didn’t seem like much at first, but this love letter to literature quickly won me over with its gentle charm and surprisingly in-depth management gameplay. Avid readers will especially love the book recommendation mini game that draws from a collection of real-life books and comics, from Attack On Titan to Sherlock Holmes. If you’re looking to pick up something a little more relaxing, definitely add this to your list. — Nathalie
11. Afterlove EP
Grief is a universal melody, one with a hook that follows you everywhere. It is persistent and haunting, and demands to be felt until the very last note. Pikselnesia’s highly anticipated second title is a tender narrative about love, told through the lens of a young musician haunted by loss. Featuring compelling characters and truthful writing, complemented by art and music from Soyatu and L’Alphalpha, Afterlove EP is a touching exploration of what happens after tragedy and a beautiful tribute to the studio’s late founder and the creator of Coffee Talk, Mohammad Fahmi. — Nathalie
12. Consume Me
Consume Me is one of the strangest life simulators I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. Darkly humourous and delightfully over-the-top, this semi-autobiographical game features an addictive gameplay loop and quirky writing that doesn’t detract at all from its message about disordered eating and the pitfalls of perfectionism. There are moments in the game that are tough to watch, but in the way that it’s tough to watch coming-of-age movies without cringing because it comes too close to the truth. It was also deservingly nominated under the Games For Impact category at The Game Awards this year. — Nathalie
13. My Hero Academia (Final Season)
I’m heavily biased, but I think My Hero Academia is the single greatest piece of superhero fiction in the entire universe. Horikoshi Kohei’s best-selling manga series finally comes to its conclusion in all forms with the eighth and final season of its anime adaptation. Although Studio Bones has shown dubious fluctuations in animation quality over the years, there’s no doubt that this season is their victory lap. With every episode rated 9 and above on IMDB, and Horikoshi playing an active role in production for the first time, this final season is a well-deserved ending to a ten-year run. — Nathalie
14. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Chainsaw Man came back with a BOOM after an exemplary first season. The story picks up immediately after The Katana Man arc and the long-awaited appearance of Reze did not disappoint CSM fans at all. With absolutely breathtaking animation from Studio MAPPA and sound design that can instantly dictate your heart rate, this anime movie exploded through everyone’s expectations. With the standard of quality set by MAPPA, the adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s biggest creation (as of today) seems to be only getting better and better. With the next arc being one of the most anticipated arcs by manga readers worldwide, CSM anime fans have never been in a better place to look forward to the future! — Seth
15. Gachiakuta (Season 1)
With a name that directly translates to “Legit Trash,” this anime managed to prove that despite its seemingly unflattering title, it has far more to offer beneath the surface. Our protagonist, Rudo, has a strong conviction aligning with the saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This ideology, emphasised from the very beginning, forms the core of the series, driving both his own journey and the journey of his compatriots.
As Rudo’s journey unfolds, he realises that his personal goals become entangled with the conflicting objectives of the Cleaners, who he owes for saving his life, and with this premise, the plot gradually deepens into an increasingly intricate and growing web of overarching mysteries to keep audiences intrigued. Alongside its funky visuals and unique worldbuilding, the series undoubtedly establishes itself as a hidden gem in the making, one of those rare treasures audiences will eagerly seek out as its story continues to unfold. — Ivan
16. To Be Hero X
If I were to describe the anime in one word, it would be “phenomenal”. If I were to describe the anime in one sentence, it would be “China is cooking”. It is hard to justify watching a 3D animated series but the anime beautifully blends 3D and 2D animation in ways that unexpectedly plays into its core story themes, thus making it a must-watch anime of the year. Though some would argue that there are pacing issues, the anime did well in telling the story it wants to tell. — Aqasha
17. DAN DA DAN (Season 2)
After the first season struck a homerun, DAN DA DAN returns in even stronger form for its second season. Science Saru continues to balance a faithful adaptation of the already-brilliant source material, while taking enough creative liberties to make each episode a feast for the eyes. Their continued tradition of experimenting with different styles for each arc shines through again in this season, making this one of the most artistically interesting pieces of animation from this year. — Nathalie
18. The Summer Hikaru Died (Season 1)
We live in a timeline where the same company that developed Umamusume also animated one of the best psychological horror anime of the year, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Cygames Pictures’ adaptation of The Summer Hikaru Died takes full advantage of its medium by experimenting with mixed media animation, not only improving on the original manga but also presenting a gut-wrenching story about queer oppression dressed up as a supernatural horror story. As a bonus, Vaundy performs a truly unsettling opening track that hasn’t left my playlist for the whole year. — Nathalie
19. Takopi’s Original Sin
Takopi’s Original Sin was one of the most thematically heavy form of media to come out in 2025. The anime entangled viewers with gut-wrenching scenes and emotional heartaches that often left the community speechless. The cycle of devastation and despair that characters went through was animated impeccably well in just six episodes. Amid the infinitely dark plot of the show, it teaches us that understanding perspectives and practicing empathy is crucial towards achieving any form of harmony with others in life. Overall, the bittersweet ending of the anime perfectly solidifies Takopi’s Original Sin as one of the most impactful ONAs to come out in recent times. — Seth
20. My Dress Up Darling (Season 2)
My Dress Up Darling is one of the rare instances where the second season is better than the first. CloverWorks amped up their meme game with hilarious interpretations of the source material, leaving us with plenty of Marin reaction GIFs to store away for a rainy day, all while striking at the series’ core message about self-love and self-expression. Although the second season already feels like twelve episodes too short, with a third season yet to be announced, positive reactions to this season leaves us all hopeful for more. — Nathalie
21. Severance (Season 2)
Severence has truly set a new standard for what a TV show can be. Its writing, set design, filmography and everything else a better cinephile could list out is several levels above anything we’ve seen before.Severence Season 2 is more of what made Season 1 great: the mystery, drama and conspiracies goes further beyond.
Personally, I am most impressed at how they are willing to keep the pace slower than most shows and let it stew even in Season 2, when many shows feel the need to top what came before. Even when the show is slower paced, what little high impact action sequences we get this season are absolutely incredible. — Amos
22. Predator: Badlands
With the fall of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the sole reason you would want a fun outing to the cinemas, not many movies offer a satisfying and fun adventure that is both engaging and action packed. Director Dan Trachtenberg confirms himself as an exceptional captain of this ship which is constantly finding new areas to explore without abandoning what has made the property so successful, delivering a wonderfully engaging film that honors what has come before while forging a new path ahead for the franchise.
Featuring the “stranger in a strange land” premise, it turns the usual antagonist into a likeable protagonist, punctuated by engaging sequences that also has deeper thematic elements of chosen family, culture and identity. The unique music score compliments the eye catching visuals that are uniquely alien but still feel grounded and tactile in a way that keeps audiences invested in the surroundings of the movie. I am thoroughly invested in the next chapter of this franchise. — CM Char
23. Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man
One of my top movies for 2025, Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Men presents an overall arching narrative that is almost as intriguing as the murder mystery itself, so much so that I feel that is the formula that has made the series so successful. Stellar cast and acting aside, references and easter eggs are made to all the great authors and books of locked room murders, in a purposeful but playful homage, surely meant to mislead and divert the audience. On top of a razor sharp and tightly written script, I loved the incredible cinematography work that focused on beautiful lighting and creative angles to add to the brooding atmosphere and general tension of the film, making it a visual treat. Watch this and regret nothing. — CM Char
24. Superman
James Gunn’s Superman comes at a time when superhero movie fatigue has never been higher, which makes the addition of this movie to our top list a notable one. Led by the phenomenally casted David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, and Rachel Brosnahan, the movie presents one of the most accurate interpretations of Superman as a character that we’ve seen in awhile, while also setting up the wider DC cinematic universe that Gunn has in store in the coming years. Sure, you can’t run away from the occasionally cheesiness in Gunn’s writing and direction, but I’d happily take my Superman with a side of cheese. — Nathalie
25. John Cena Retires
The new age wrestling superman (previously held by The Rock and before that, Hulk Hogan) and meme king, John Cena finally retires after a never been done before year long farewell world tour that culminated in a heartbreaking, retirement match. Being the legit greatest of all time (suck on an egg Ric Flair), he holds the unprecedented record of being the only 17 time world heavyweight champion the industry has ever seen.
On top of his natural charisma and in ring ability, John Cena also holds the record of delivering the most wishes for the Make A Wish Foundation and has done thousands of media appearances for the WWE. My match of the year is John Cena vs AJ Styles, where both of them ran back a greatest hits version featuring the signature moves of all their fiercest feuds, paying homage to the fans and cementing their legacy as the top stars in the business.
John Cena, who is now pursuing his professional acting career, is a great human being and that alone is worthy enough of him being the GOAT in the wrestling industry. Thank you for everything! — CM Char
Got your own favourites to add to the list? Leave us a comment below!
