Goodbye 2024

Well then. Twenty-twenty-five, at last we meet. Fireworks, presents, final exams… But first, a time for me to reflect upon the year past. Buckle up, get some tea, this is a long one.

2024 was a year like no other, which seems to be part of the course ever since 2020. Much happened in the world beyond, though I neither care nor want to list everything here. It was a big enough year for me personally. Having finally finished high school, I set out on the path to higher education - and in fact lucked into precisely the field and university I wanted. I also re-discovered the love for reading - and found more games to play in the process. And, as a relatively recent yet noticeable and welcome change, I at last began re-evaluating how I approach the digital side of life. I can’t even put everything here - it would be an understatement to call this the best year of my life in a while. The best yet? Who knows. What matters is ensuring it doesn’t become the best ever. :)

Education

Higher! Better! Faster! Oh-god-exams-in-a-week! This year saw me move out of the cosy nest of my school and into the equally exciting and dreadful world of university. After not having to prepare for anything and generally living with a somewhat relaxed approach to formal education, a place where you can quite literally be expelled for failing was one hell of a cold shower. I can’t deny that it did wonders for my productivity, but it remains to be seen at what cost. Rest assured, I’m still getting my concerningly long sleep, as hobbies were sacrificed instead. :')

I’ll skip elaborating on the choice of university. I knew which one I wanted to go to since September, and to the horror of my parents - and amusement of my peers - it wasn’t the one I was planning on for the previous many years. I didn’t have a Plan B or C, as it was unlikely I wouldn’t be admitted somewhere internally.

Despite knowing I wanted to pursue a degree in “CS” for a while, it was hard to settle on what exactly that entails in practise. Computer Science is an enormous field with wildly different specialisations. Though most of us code, a “web dev” and a “data scientist” are unlikely to use the same tools or have the same skills. In the end, for me it boiled down to a choice between Software Engineering (SE), Information Security (InfoSec) and what I will refer to as Theoretical Computer Science (TCS) to differentiate.

I knew I’d be most happy in SE - I love “coding” and working with computers while avoiding “algorithms” and other “mathematical” parts of the field. I’do do decent in InfoSec as I had relevant experience in competitions and olympiads. TCS would be a recipe for misery, with far too much math and several mostly academic disciplines, which annoy me as someone who heavily prefers things with a practical purpose. As such, when submitting my application, I naturally placed TCS at the top, followed by InfoSec, and didn’t put SE anywhere at all. Yeah.

Why? I suppose it was idealism with some overconfidence sprinkled in. You see, while some programmers struggle with impostor syndrome, I know that I am already perfect and could definitely dive into a codebase or create something new. More seriously, I do believe that the difficulty of learning “programming” is overblown, and didn’t think I needed an education focused on what I’m already decent at. Instead, I sought to improve on my weaker points - math. I know that without an incentive I wouldn’t learn it, and you never know when it might come in handy. That traditional CS is sometimes slightly more valued in job searching was also a factor, as was the fact that an education focused on fundamentals is one more likely to be useful long term. Besides, we have a course on compilers - how cool is that?! For the record, not trying to downplay the value of SE or InfoSec, both great degrees.

At the start of the academic year, I believe it was our dean who suggested spending the first semester how we’d want to spend all the rest. For how simple that advise was, it is precisely it that kept me from going very easy on myself or cheating on exams. I have not cheated in any meaningful capacity, and in fact failed an exam for it. I wish this was a weak flex, but you’d be surprised how much some “CS students” dread CS. While the Cool Kids™ were out partying and using ChatGPT, I was studying the blade Scheme Programming Language and Ivan IV’s correspondence. The Tsar had a lot to say about functional programming, by the way. It’s hard not to be slightly bitter about the way things work, but you know what, that’s what I signed up for. Striving to beat “freeloaders” in life is a good motivating factor.

The reason for dedicating such effort to studying is not some imagined virtuous superiority to my peers, but rather (like with much else), fear. You see, I messed up during the pandemic-induced online studying and never managed to truly recover. I couldn’t become an engineer because I neglected physics, I had to needlessly struggle because I didn’t pay attention in math. I know first hand the dangers of incurring academic debt and falling behind. Never again.

Things experienced

Reviews. This is what this site was originally about, yet I find my skills in this regard lacking. What to say but the same “It was great, why would I play a game that wasn’t” and “This book had a plot and I enjoyed it”? Nonetheless, it feels appropriate to look back at what I went through this year. Below is a list of some of the games & books I experienced menu-to-credits, front-to-back, in 2024. I wrote down a short “review” for each. I hope this helps me avoid being like that Emerson guy below. (I really liked the quote and wanted to insert it)

“I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.”

Let’s see what’s on this thing

Stardew Valley

I was convinced this was a typo on Steam Replay’s side, but nope, started January. My confusion might stem from how much I played Stardew for a game that’s new to me, let alone one in an unfamiliar genre. Most of the playtime was in spring, which tells you everything you need to know about how miraculous it is that I’m in university.

I don’t know why SDV captivated me so much. I am not one for farming, “cute” or “cozy” games, and I feel more comfortable in either a linear journey with hand-holding or a total sandbox - this game is awkwardly in the middle. For all intents and purposes, I should not have enjoyed it as much as I did. And yet I did. Perhaps precisely because it’s a middle ground and offers both freedom to do your own thing and a progression of “story”. Will keep an eye on the “life sim” genre in the future, as well as wait for the right time to get back into this particular time-sink, perhaps with mods added in. The two-week Minecraft phase now has a farming-themed friend.

OneShot

I finally booted up OneShot in February after sustained nagging from an acquaintance (hi Nick!) over quite a while. It was a bit ironic playing it through a virtual machine, as the Linux support is dodgy and the World Machine Edition wasn’t out yet.

It’s a short indie with a 4th wall gimmick and a story that’s neat but (subjectively) not “mind blowing”. Yet it simply has a vibe that radiates throughout, making it a warm, even if short, memory. As an interesting observation, I guarantee you are bound to occasionally run into someone spotting a Niko profile image on the internet.

The Talos Principle II

Line-of-sight puzzles, text and audio logs. I did not expected The Talos Principle to become one of my favourite videogame series, period. Yet I can’t not love it for the warmly optimistic view of humanity it takes - even if neither game features “humans”. In a world of doom and gloom, The Talos Principle II shines with by taking a stand - you know, people are pretty awesome. Though the sequel’s vibrant cast break the sense of solitude (as the theme and story demand), the memorable moments of reading quotes from ancient texts, real or otherwise, on old-fashioned terminals are still here, now with breathtaking views in the background. And, of course, so are tons of extremely clever puzzles - and ways to cheese some of them. This time, there was more variety in puzzle mechanics, which I found welcome.

Road to Elysium was memorable because, among other things, I finally decided to take my time with a puzzle and see it to the end instead of rushing, even if it takes a while. I played it over a whole month, but finished all 3 storylines 100%. The DLC was definitely a very welcome addition.

A Space for the Unbound

You know, it’s somewhat funny. One day I claim indies with “… as metaphor for mental health” as a trope are a tired concept, and the next I’m playing - and praising - this. This was a lovely game, to be honest. Absolutely gorgeous art style with an interesting take on 3D navigation in a 2D space to back it up and an intriguing story with a couple moments where everything suddenly falls into place mean I’ll remember it for a while. My 3rd favourite “End of the world, sort of” story? :P

Hollow Knight

I tried, okay? It pains me that I could not truly enjoy HK, and feel a little emmbarassed every time I mention that to my friends, many of whom did. I don’t want to blame the game or genre for my apparent inability to love the tough-yet-fair combat, the sense of being lost, and the non-linearity of not just the absent story, but the progression itself. Because that’s part of what makes Hollow Knight great! I suppose this was an exercise in accepting that not every “good” game is a one I will enjoy. Nonetheless, waiting for Silksong. If it’ll ever release…

Lacuna and Between Horizons

Had to group these two together. The 2D solve-a-murder-oh-god-it-gets-worse games by DigiTales Interactive were a surprise hit for me. The concept of picking an answer out of countless options and only getting OneShot™ at it was very interesting, and the stress of not knowing whether you were right until after some time made it doubly so. Alas, I am still grappling with FOMO in regards to getting The Good Ending and found myself looking up a couple answers, which was all the worse because I only did that to check the conclusions I already came to - and it turned out I had perfect (Stellar?!) performance every a single time! I didn’t even need it, ugh… hopefully I won’t spoil myself like this in the coming year, and will instead trust my absolutely perfect sleuthing instincts.

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Duluxe

I’ll admit it, I’m a “privateer”. Or, rather, was one before I got my own money and moved to Linux where paying Gabe Newell is simply more convenient than messing with bottles of wine. I’d like to think I ended up paying for everything I acquired through… alternative means. At the very least, that’s what I want lawyers to think. Whatever the case, this summer sale I suddenly remembered really enjoying The Stanley Parable: UD when it released, and ruled my memory of it was distant enough to try again.

This was a joy to go through. Though some of the jokes didn’t land as well because I vaguely remembered them, the themes of corporate greed and squeezing any idea dry instead of letting go hit even more.

Firewatch

Another case of putting off a game because I already know the ending, Firewatch was saved by a 95% sale meaning I got it for less than a hot dog at my university’s cafeteria. I thought watching a YouTube essay a few years ago meant I knew everything. Boy, was I wrong. Firewatch was a pleasant way to spend an evening, with its famous art-style (how often do you see a fire lookout tower wallpaper?), interesting (though eventually tiring) gameplay of navigating the world with a map, and a story that isn’t, in fact, ruined by the ending - having played and learned context, I actually found it fitting. I think a quote from a certain series perfectly encapsulates why I was wrong about writing off Firewatch:

“The ending isn’t any more important than any of the moments leading up to it.”

  • Kan Gao, “To the Moon”

The Witness

Closing the trio of “I know how it goes, yet here we are” is a weird pretension by Jonahton Blow that looks like a puzzle. Jokes aside, while I do think I would’ve gotten more out of The Witness had I not known the twist™, I do think it’s an enjoyable game to just turn everything off and sit with your thoughts to. Haven’t actually finished it yet, as university got in the way and couldn’t find time to pick it up (despite doing many other things since, yes). Will definitely return to it at some point, as I want to figure out all the puzzles I came across but didn’t get.

Satisfactory

Factory building. Factories. Impo- wait no, that’s a different kind of factory. For years, I looked at the factory building genre with longing. They sound so fun - building your own complicated base and in a way solving optimisation and logistic puzzles! The problem, of course, is that building said bases usually takes lots of time, which I sadly didn’t have before - and don’t have now, either. Nevertheless, I figured it can’t be that bad, and jumped into Satisfactory after the v1.0 release. It was… fun! Really fun! I loved trying to optimise energy and build my own sick idea of infrastructure, and the first-person nature meant the game was both pleasant to look at and had mostly familiar - or easily learned - controls. As with The Witness, I had to stop playing to not fall behind academically before even reaching coal production. But ONE DAY I WILL RETURN TO YOUR SIDE.

Just a To the Moon Series Beach Episode

Speaking of Impostor Factories, the first half of the conclusion to a video-game series beloved by me was released in September. Of course, I immediately neglected the exam that was 3 days away for the occasion and played it there and then. What a game. I can’t call it a good stand-alone entry, instead it feels like a very long epilogue. But I also can’t call it underwhelming. On the contrary, it left me speechless, and though many of the answers to looming questions were “expected”, that didn’t make them any less impactful. For reasons I mentioned above, I’m not “recommending” JaTtMSBE here. Instead, I’m recommending the whole To the Moon series. Each game is equally amazing, and we are even getting the third final game one day™.

I must be in a simulation by the way, because I scored 20/20 on the exam.

Digital Minimalism

If you were around me in the past two months, this is your que to exclaim “Aha! So that’s why the sudden switch to hating technology!”

Over the past year, I’ve become increasingly concerned with my, and everyone else’s, usage of technology. Having always sneered at the “phonebad” crowd, I am now the one ringing the alarm. This book isn’t a cause, it’s an effect of how I feel. Even if much of the advise doesn’t fit my situation (good luck leaving your smart-phone at home as a CS student), I think reading it gave me the energy to pick on a fight - that I probably can’t yet win. But I will eventually! Just you watch me become a hermit distinguished gentleman who needs no internets!

How the Steel was Forged

After reading some Bulgakov, I really needed a break from… whatever it was. Capitalism? Bourgeoisie? Though I wouldn’t categorise myself as a “socialist”, let alone a “communist”, I firmly have a favourite side in the 1917 revolution. And mr. “owning a 7-room apartment is fine because I’m a doctor” just isn’t that.

I often heard this book mentioned as a prime example of what is sometimes called “socialist realism”, and it did not disappoint. It was a slightly hard read at times, particularly toward the end, but that is for the better. “We ought to read the kind of books that wound and stab us”, right?

“…И он, Сергей, убивает для того, чтобы приблизить день, когда на земле убивать друг друга не будут.”

  • Николай Островский, “Как закалялась сталь”

To Kill a Mockingbird

I read this book as a kid, and though I didn’t remembered much, I did remember that it was part of how I almost ended up pursuing Law as a degree. On a re-read in original language, it’s really a Great book. I don’t think I can put it into words, it’s simply Great with a capital G. I highly recommend it to everyone.

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”

  • Harper Lee, “To Kill a Mockingbird”

GRIS

You thought A Space for the Unbound was gonna be the last? Nope, more magical-game-about-being-sad. Gris is.. I’m gonna say it. It’s a A Bird Story-like. Or a Journey-like. Abirdjournia. Yes, I like the sound of that. Gris is an abirdjournia, which, if you are familiar with either Journey or A Bird Story (a huge stretch), means that it’s a game so dedicated to show-don’t-tell and so deep into the layers of metaphor you start to second guess if it’s actually a metaphor or just pretty-looking and sounding nonsense. Though to be fair, in this case I got what the game was going for. And it is indeed pretty and good-sounding.

KLETKA

KLETKA is a co-op survival game that’s somewhat similar to Lethal Company. You and a group of friends descend down an infinite soviet housing block full of anomalies in an elevator that wants to devour you. It’s extremely fun and funny, and I can’t wait to see what the updates bring. But this isn’t why it’s here. It’s here because it’s the latest way me and my close friends have been passing the time, and that’s what makes it special. :)

Honourable mentions

I couldn’t hope to list everything, especially as I try to actually release this post by 2025. Here are some of the things I simply didn’t have time to write about (or I couldn’t find enough to write about). If I find the energy, might expand on some of these in an edit.

Books:

Games:

What comes next

I don’t know, really. But it’s time for a resolution. People say it’s a bad idea, they say resolutions never work, but I never made one and hey, it’s my life and this sounds fun! I suppose 3 nice goals to strive for in 2025 are these:

Sounds manageable, right? Though this list is heavily biased by what was already on my mind, I find all 3 to be good ideas and not too ambitious to wake up on January the 1st and wonder “what was I thinking?!”.

End

I guess this wraps it up. There was originally much more in this post, even a hall of shame for things I wasted money on, but I decided to keep it short. Going into 2025, in some strange version of Dunning–Kruger effect, I feel like I simultaneously know more and less about what I want from life and what I find interesting. Perhaps that’s called growing up. Perhaps I’ll find all the answers in the coming months.

Genuinely excited for the next year. So many plans, so many ideas, so so SO MUCH! What surprises me is how fast and yet slow time flies. Hour-to-hour, there’s more time on my hands than ever before. Yet I look at the calendar and wow, I could’ve sworn it was still November!

See you in another (countdown to 2026 here), eh?