It has been one other tumultuous 12 months — is there actually every other variety? Though 2023 has been a landmark 12 months for unbelievable online game releases throughout all platforms, the state of the gaming trade itself — with post-pandemic layoff bulletins from massive firms approaching a seemingly each day foundation lately — is sobering. Wanting outdoors the realm of interactive leisure, a lot of the worldwide information is not any higher; the truth is, it is usually far worse.
With all of the financial and humanitarian crises across the globe, we attempt our greatest right here at Nintendo Life to inject a bit positivity into your feed. The each day doom scroll may recommend that there is not a lot magnificence on this planet proper now, however we’re sure that is not the case, and the realms of media — interactive or in any other case — have been crammed with wonders to assist course of the realities of a world that, at instances, feels impossibly fractured.
Clearly, we’re all dwelling the Nintendo Life round these components however, from time to time, we pattern different issues. So, for those who’ll allow the indulgence over the festive break, we thought it might be good to share a few of the non-Nintendo media we have loved in 2023. Motion pictures, books, music, podcasts, artwork of any variety — beneath you will discover only a handful of tonics that made us smile (and sometimes cry) all through 2023.
Jazz Emu, Star Trek, Excellent Consoles (Gavin Lane, Editor)
The ultimate season of Star Trek: Picard delivered a potent nostalgia punch, but additionally weaved new forged members and themes all through in a method that felt much less contrived than earlier seasons. In traditional Trek mode, it wanted a few rounds to seek out its ft — and apparently to convey its star round to the concept of reuniting all the TNG household. It was a triumph, and tears have been shed when the doorways to hanger bay 12 opened.
This 12 months I additionally stumbled upon the infectious oeuvre of 1 Jazz Emu after listening to Archie Henderson on RHLSTP. A musical comedy act that explores conditions in some way each common but additionally hyper-specific (particularly to socially anxious Brits), the songs are lyrically hilarious but it surely’s the awesomeness of the tunes that preserve me coming again. A number of instances all year long, I’ve thrown on Nonetheless Ready (above) and my temper will immediately enhance. Different glorious tracks embody: an unreasonably catchy quantity a couple of robotic who travels by way of spacetime to repair the world’s ills utilizing its biggest instrument: funk; a rip-off e mail odyssey; a monitor charting the awkwardness of discovering your prepare seat occupied; the invention of fingerful gloves; and a takedown of the English language’s insane pronunciation. I may hyperlink a dozen extra. I ended up shopping for a number of albums.
Elsewhere, I additionally loved The Supply (a ten-part miniseries with Miles Teller and Juno Temple charting the making of The Godfather), I discovered Indiana Jones and the Dial of Future surprisingly affecting, and the very best movie I noticed was A Woman Walks Dwelling Alone at Night time… from 2014. Lastly, Simon Parkin and his My Excellent Console podcast have been distinctive firm within the automobile.
The Boy and the Heron, Reservation Canine, Gabrielle Zevin (Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor)
My largest love after video video games is films, and whereas I nonetheless have tons to see earlier than I choose my 2023 favorite, I’ve to sing the praises of Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron. This may be my new favorite Studio Ghibli movie. It is an unbelievable mix of surrealism, magical realism, and the reflections of a artistic trying again on his profession and the long run. That is all I will say about it. It is stunning. Ignoring 2023 releases, the very best movie I noticed in 2023 is undoubtedly Aftersun, which is now firmly in my top-5 films of all time. Simply fantastically tender and devastating.
2023 can also be the 12 months I moved in with my accomplice — which suggests we have been watching lots of TV. I would like to complete Succession (I do know, I do know), however I did lastly watch The Bear, which — oh my goodness — blew me away. I’ve by no means cried at a Taylor Swift tune till this present. If , . However a lesser-known present additionally fully stole my coronary heart: Reservation Canine. What begins as an off-beat comedy blossoms into a wonderful present about group and household. It is unmissable and simply retains getting higher.
I’ve learn a good few books this 12 months, too — I am a greater reader in the summertime, although, as a result of there’s one thing about studying outdoors that I really like. However, on the subject of video video games, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is my favorite of 2023’s pile. It makes use of recreation improvement as a method to body empathy, humanity, and relationships. Are you able to inform I like media that makes me cry?
The actual spotlight of 2023 for me, although? Shifting in with my accomplice. He’s the very best human.
Video Palace, Flanagan, Blink-182 (Ollie Reynolds, Employees Author)
It ought to come as no shock that my 12 months has been largely crammed with horror. I take my canine out for walks twice a day, so I usually take heed to music and podcasts. One such podcast that tickled my fancy was a fictional sequence from Shudder referred to as Video Palace (2018). Break up into ten components (with a couple of bonus episodes thrown in for good measure), it tells the story of a person referred to as Mark Cambria who stumbles throughout a white video tape which, upon viewing, causes him begin uttering bizarre chants in his sleep. The sequence charts his investigation and its subsequent influence on Mark and his family members. It is creepy stuff, I extremely advocate it.
The esteemed Mike Flanagan additionally returned this 12 months together with his closing Netflix challenge, The Fall of the Home of Usher. Primarily based loosely on tales from Edgar Allan Poe, it charts the downfall of the Usher household as they cope with weird deaths, the ever-watchful eye of a mysterious lady referred to as Verna, and the persistent U.S Lawyer Auguste Dupin. The sequence does not fairly attain the identical heights as Midnight Mass (which I deem to be one of many best TV exhibits ever created), but it surely’s a step above each The Midnight Membership and The Haunting of Bly Manor.
Lastly, 2023 has marked the triumphant comeback of Blink-182 with their new album, One Extra Time… As quickly as I heard the lead single, I knew we have been in for one thing really particular, however the album itself ranks as one in every of my private favourites from the band’s again catalogue. It is full of absolute bangers, and I frankly by no means thought this present day would come after Delonge buggered off for the second time.
Physician Who, Spider-Verse, Dune (Jim Norman, Employees Author)
I’d be betraying my very soul if I did not begin off by singing the praises of Physician Who. I’ve by no means missed an episode. Ever. And whereas I’ve all the time tried to see the positives and really loved lots of what Flux threw our method, nothing has made me happier this 12 months than the three sixtieth anniversary specials (and I assume the Christmas particular too, although that hasn’t aired on the time of writing). Tennant and Tate have been unbelievable. Davies was unbelievable. Gatwa was unbelievable. We’re SO again!
I will fly previous a couple of different movies and TV exhibits that stole my coronary heart this 12 months with a quick thought so this does not final eternally. Throughout the Spider-Verse: sure, sure, YES. The Creator: spaaaace. Loki S2: possibly the very best MCU challenge, ever? Theatre Camp: my coronary heart is full. Rye Lane: my coronary heart is fuller. The Final of Us: I’ve by no means been in a lot emotional ache.
Over to one thing a bit extra papery, I lastly acquired round to studying Madeline Miller’s Circe which was great, and Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half was all types of nice. I additionally went on vacation and skim Dune, so you’ll be able to anticipate me to be unbearable come fifteenth March. Oh, and amongst waves of comics, I managed to seize a replica of Miller and Mazzucchelli’s Daredevil: Born Once more which has been on my checklist for ages and it didn’t disappoint.
We’re positive you have been having fun with some non-Nintendo, non-interactive delights this 12 months, too, so be at liberty to share them within the feedback.
And for those who caught up with one thing this 12 months that is really from earlier years, no sweat. As you see, our private backlogs prolong properly past all of the Swap video games we have piled up! There is no such factor as late to the celebration.
