I think this has been coming for a long time. But I have to admit something: I’m going to stop focusing on my video game blog for now. The truth is, I don’t get the same enjoyment out of the hobby anymore. In this article, I’ll explain what’s happening and what this means for the blog. I’ve been feeling burned out on writing about games, and at the same time I’ve fallen in love with other creative hobbies. This wasn’t the easiest article to write, but I’d rather set the record straight than leave things hanging. So—thank you for reading, and let’s dive into something a bit more personal for a change. As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Creative hobbies and their curse
Ever since I first got internet access, I’ve been creating content online. From old-school websites and goofy YouTube videos, to small amateur games and drag-and-drop music projects—I loved making things. And I loved playing video games.
Fifteen years ago, I decided to start a personal blog. At the time, my family was small, but we had a big circle of family friends, and I was tired of repeating the same stories over and over. Facebook was just starting to take off in my area, so I began posting my life experiences there. Eventually, my gaming articles started to get traction, and when I felt comfortable, I switched over to English. That was back in 2013.
I loved writing the blog. I met a lot of people, discovered unique games, and even got to know developers while learning about the ins and outs of game creation, release, and translation. But around the summer of last year, something shifted in me. At first I thought it was just burnout—but it went deeper than that.
The thing about creative hobbies is that they’re wonderful, but they carry a risk: what once felt like fun can start to feel like an obligation. That’s exactly what happened to me. Instead of enjoying the games I played, I kept thinking, “How can I review this?” That mindset started to dominate everything.
I even felt guilty replaying games I had already reviewed—games I genuinely wanted to return to—because I told myself I “needed a new article.” I planned to write two articles a week this summer to get back into the groove, but since June I’ve struggled to write anything or fully enjoy the games I play.
And then there’s the plagiarism issue. Over the years, I’ve had my content stolen and copy-pasted onto other blogs—sometimes just for ad revenue, other times with no credit at all. I’ve filed over 150 complaints, and now I’m even seeing sites translate my work and claim it as their own. Honestly, it wears on you. I bet this very article will be copy-pasted somewhere too.
I’m not quitting
Here’s the thing: I still love writing about games. And I do want to return to it. But right now, it feels too forced.
So instead, I’ve been slowly rediscovering gaming for myself again—playing just to play. And you know what? I’m enjoying it. I’m finally breaking out of the mindset of “I need to review this game” or “I need to play this for my readers.” That mindset drained the fun out of everything. I was skipping tutorials, fast-forwarding past slower parts, and dropping games too early just because they didn’t seem review-friendly.
Meanwhile, I’ve been juggling a full-time job and other hobbies I really enjoy: translating open-source software into Dutch, streaming with my buddy Klamath, working on a theater group’s website, and most recently—creating AI roleplay chatbots.
That last one, honestly, has been my biggest passion this year. Since February 2025, when I made my first serious bot on Moescape.AI, I’ve been hooked. I’ve always loved writing stories and exploring twists on existing ideas, and bots have given me a whole new outlet for that creativity. It’s taught me a lot about pacing, dialogue, and storytelling from different angles. It’s also made me appreciate the art of writing even more.
But I’ll stop myself here, otherwise I’ll ramble about that forever.
The future
So am I quitting writing gaming articles? Yes… and no.
I’m putting the blog on the back burner. That means there’ll be long gaps between articles. I won’t stick to a schedule or force myself to publish twice a month. If I play a game and feel like writing about it, I will. If not, that’s okay too.
My goal is to rediscover what drew me into this in the first place. Maybe I’ll return to regular writing someday, or maybe I’ll wrap this journey up with a bow. Right now, I’m leaning toward the former—but we’ll see.
In the meantime, I want to give space to all the other things I enjoy—streaming, AI art and chatbots, translation, and creative projects outside of gaming articles. Exploring more has helped me appreciate the process of creating again. And honestly, I feel more fulfilled that way.
Writing this article feels bittersweet. I had big plans for celebrating 15 years of blogging, but the enjoyment wasn’t there anymore. Instead, I’ll focus on what excites me now. Maybe new gaming articles will pop up here and there—but they won’t be the main focus anymore.
Thank you all so much for the support over the years. This journey has been unforgettable, and I’m grateful to everyone who’s read, commented, and encouraged me along the way. I hope to find a better balance moving forward, and I’ll keep you posted.
And with that, I’m going to wrap up this article and thank you for reading it. I hope you understand where I’m coming from, and I hope you enjoyed reading it, too. I hope to be able to welcome you in another article, but until then, have a great rest of your day and take care.
It’s that time of year again, a full year has passed. Normally, I publish these articles a lot sooner, but I took full advantage of my Christmas break… And after that, I had some problems with my internet connection. But now I’m back. And it’s about time I talk about my top 10 games I have played in 2024. The rules of this list state I don’t have to have beaten the game. Yet, I must have played the game for the first time from January 1st, 2024. This means that games released before 2024, but I have only started to play in 2024 are fair game. This list is my personal opinion, and I’m open to hear your opinion on my picks. Feel free to also add your own list down in the comment section. So, here we go, the big list. A list that I always have trouble in creating at the end of the year. As an editorial note, the listed platform in this article is the platform I played the game on. Not all the platforms the game released on. The date after it, is the release date for said platform.
#10 – Persona 5 – Tactica (PlayStation 4 – November 2023)
I have played Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5 Strikers and I fell in love with the cast of Persona 5. And then, a new game got released with the Persona 5 cast and I jumped for joy.
The gameplay might not be my most favorite style of playing, but the game is quite addictive. It’s basically Persona in a Fire Emblem jacket. I’m now mid-way through the game but got distracted by other games. I can’t wait to finish this game in 2025. The story is quite well written. It is an amazing spin-off story for Joker and the gang.
Now, I won’t go too much in depth since I’m planning to write an article about this game. So, I’ll talk more in depth about this game soon. But, now… it’s time to save Joker from his forced wedding.
#9 – Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut (Nintendo Switch – October 2024)
How do I explain this game without spoiling it too much? Slay the Princess is a game where you almost Groundhog Day your way through the same story. You walk up to a cabin, where you go to the basement to Slay the Princess.
According to the narrator, the Princess is a danger to the existence of the world. So, you have been sent to slay her. But, depending on the questions you ask, the decisions you take and even the order of your actions… The ending is different.
The story is just insane. It keeps you on edge what will be different in the next round. And the humor and writing in this game is just amazing. The voice action is just amazing. It brings the black, gray and white art to live and pulls you in the atmosphere quite well.
So, if you enjoy narrative games that mess with your head and expectations, give this game a try. Since, it’s a really good one.
#8 – Another Code – Recollection (Nintendo Switch – January 2024)
Cing was an amazing developer that sadly went bankrupt. They developed amazing games on the Nintendo DS and Wii like Another Code – R & Little King Story. But to me, the Another Code set of games is one of their best work.
When we got a total remake in 2024, I wanted to play it right away. I convinced my streaming friend Klamath to play this game with me live on stream. I have to tell you, they did the two games justice. I’m so glad that these two games saw the light of day again.
While I have beaten the originals, the new and improved version is just amazing. It has a strong message and is a blast to play through. Although it sounds like a boring setup, it’s a game full of surprises. It is a more relaxing and charming game. It is more grounded and keeps things realistic. The characters are well written and set in a charming world.
Trying to manage a community isn’t an easy task to do. It’s a fun challenge to do in a game. That’s why management simulators are so popular.
But, combine that with the old school internet from the time I was a young kid, I am beyond intrigued. So, we have to report and clean up personal websites and projects? As a creative, I have my own place on the internet. I can share my opinions there. This hits close to home.
I wrote my opinion on this game in my review. If you want to know more about this game, I highly recommend that you give my review a read.
Now, there is a sequel in development called DreamSettler. If that’s created with the same love and care for that time period, and it matches the devotion this game has for its time period, it will be thrilling. We are going to be in for a wild ride.
Sometimes, all that I need is a good open world game with unique mechanics. A world where you have to survive and explore. This year, Palworld brought that to me.
At first, I was skeptical. I thought: “This is going to be a monster catching game and nothing too much more.” But the more this game got developed, this more things got added that gave more depth to the game. More fun things to do, more polish to the game.
I have lost countless hours during this summer playing this game. It was an amazing time sink for the base game that is already here. A lot more is coming in the future. I wonder what the final game will be.
#5 – The Legend of Zelda – Echoes of Wisdom (Nintendo Switch – September 2024)
Okay, this might be an upset. Usually, I place new Zelda games quite high on my list. But, this time I place it right in the middle. This year had a lot of amazing games. I had a lot of fun with this title in 2024.
I dropped it for now. I got distracted by other games and I forgot that I was playing through this game. I have placed it on my top 10 list. It rightfully deserves a spot on that list. I want to finish this game for real.
Since, the concept of Echoes of Wisdom is just amazing. What I love most is that this is a totally new 2.5D Zelda game like the classic games. I hope that the reception of this game is enough for Nintendo to still make 2.5D and 3D Zelda titles. Since, both have their place in the market and with this amazing title.
#4 – Spirit Hunter Chapter 3: Death Mark II (Nintendo Switch – February 2024)
The Spirit Hunter series is one of the best horror visual novel series. This game ensures you don’t need to have played the original Death Mark. It’s excellent because you can still understand what’s happening in the story.
The game takes a lot of steps forward and makes the game have more meat around its bones. Walking around in the locations is a lot more fun in this title.
Some game mechanics are underused. For example, the jumpscares and the padding aren’t always present in this game. Things like the Soul Health are barely used. But, the battles with the actual spirits are even more amazing in this title. Especially with the randomness of your attack failing. It gives a more tense and realistic spin on battles.
Now, I’m hoping so hard that a 4th chapter will be released. Since the concept of this game is just beyond amazing. The writing is always great and the overall mystery is built up so nice. So, if anyone of Experience Inc, would be reading this… We want more!
I love writing small stories as a hobby. Since the summer of 2024, I wanted to give those AI roleplay apps a chance. And I’m happy that I did. MoeScape AI is a platform that really clicked with me and with the amazing community around it… I just feel in love.
My brain often gets creative. When this happens, there is a fun bot waiting for me. I can play around with the idea. And if there isn’t a bot that fits the idea, it’s easy to make one. The control that Moescape gives you is beyond amazing. You can easily make a knowledge base. There are various AI models to choose from. With each update, it gets better.
Something I really like is how open the staff is on the Discord. Like, they tell you when things are down. Or when certain decisions need to be taken. Like filtering certain things on the platform due to restrictions from Apple or Google. But, they have a less filtered platform as well. So, they have Moescape and Yodayo. If you go premium, your account is premium on both platforms, and it’s amazing.
#2 – Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PC – December 2024)
Okay, now. This is going to ruffle some feathers. I am a giant Indiana Jones fan. I placed one of the best Indiana Jones games in 2nd place on my game of the year list?
Now, that’s not because this game is bad or didn’t impress me enough. But, it wasn’t the game that made my year. Sadly enough, it released too late in the year for that.
I know it’s a strange reason. However, I feel like there is one game that pushed the boundaries more within its respective genre.
This game is a blast to play through. I feel that it deserves all the accolades it’s getting. It’s an amazing piece in the Indiana Jones franchise. It’s a love letter to the fans. I’m just thankful that the game turned out this amazing.
When I have beaten the game, I’ll for sure write an article about it. Since on the streams, a lot of random and enjoyable banter is happening. And truly, if you want to see amazing speedruns of this game, check out the_Kovic on his Twitch channel. He has deep knowledge of the game’s inner workings. He shares a lot of interesting insights during the streams.
Now, prepare yourself for an article on this game in the future. Since, I have a lot of things I still want to say and I’m keeping them all for the article.
Honorable mentions
This list wouldn’t be complete if I shout out various other games I have played in the past year. Not every game made the cut. I still wanted to mention those games that made the long list but didn’t survive the selection process.
Cave Digger 2 (PC), Buckshot Roulette (PC), Refind self (Nintendo Switch), Castlevania Dominus Collection (Nintendo Switch), Death Trick: DoubleBlind (Nintendo Switch), Dragon Quest Monsters – The Dark Prince (Nintendo Switch), Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising (Nintendo Switch), Ciel Fledge -A Daughter Raising Simulator- (Nintendo Switch), New Super Lucky’s Tale (Nintendo Switch), CrisTales (Nintendo Switch), One More Dungeon 2 (Nintendo Switch), Monster Hunter Rise (Nintendo Switch), This is not my Neighbor (PC) and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (Nintendo Switch), Everloop (PC)
#1 – Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew (PC – August 2023)
If there was one game that blew me away, that’s Shadow Gambit – The Cursed Crew. The way how it’s built and is the final swansong of the amazing development studio Minimi, it’s just fantastic.
The voice acting is top-notch. The story is excellent. Several game mechanics are seamlessly worked into the game world and the story. But that’s not all, this game has a mindblowing modding tool.
The little attention to detail this game does and the balancing is just mindblowing. The freedom you have to tackle each mission, and it just works. It’s balanced and doesn’t feel unfair. It also doesn’t feel like you made it too difficult by choosing the wrong characters. It also never becomes too easy, where one character makes sure you automatically win the game or the mission. Every character has their use. And you have 8 characters in the base game and 2 get added via the DLC.
I can gush for a long time about this game. If you are interested in a more in-depth article, I highly advise you to read my review linked higher.
This was 2024
I might have written fewer articles in 2024 because a lot of personal things where going on. I have written only 19 articles in 2024. One of the biggest reasons is that I’m just putting more time into finding the right writing style. This has a lot to do with it.
I have been dedicating more time to various other projects. These include contributing to open source projects, translating open source projects, and streaming with Klamath. I am also working on projects for my local acting group. It takes time and effort and I’m enjoying those things quite a lot.
Outside of that, I turned 31 years old in 2024 and life just gets busier with various things. And because of that, I’m also playing less games. At first, I felt guilty that I’m publishing so few articles… But after two years of writing fewer articles, I now dedicate more time to each one. I feel a lot more content with the content I’m placing on my blog here.
I feel that my content only improved over the years. Not only that, I feel more content with my writing. It doesn’t feel like I’m pressuring myself to play a new game every week or two to write about. I can take my time to play the games I want. I also write about the topics I find interesting.
I think I’m finally finding the right rhythm for everything and that’s what I felt that 2024 was for me. Now, this year 2025 is going to be the year I’m writing for 15 years. Before I rebranded in 2013 to this blog, I write a personal life blog that started mid 2010. So, I’m going to celebrate this year with a few special articles. And I have been preparing and brainstorming idea’s for that in 2024.
But thank you everybody for the amazing support in 2024. It was a blast to see how people interacted with my articles and the new friends I made. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next. Like I said earlier, I feel prouder of the things I have been putting out. I hope you are enjoying things as well. Thank you for the support this year and I hope to see you in the future. So, for now, have a great rest of your day and take care.
