Top Picks of 2025 in Gaming

Hey gamers! Welcome to Installer No. 110, your ultimate guide to the coolest and quirkiest gear in the gaming universe. If you’re new here, welcome aboard! Happy holidays! You can also catch up on all the previous editions at the Installer homepage.

This week, I’ve been diving into the world of mall Santas, flexible software, and phone bans, while pondering how I barely recognize any of the tracks in DJ Earworm’s annual mashup. I’m eagerly awaiting the return of Ugmonk’s Layflat notebooks, finally setting up my Switch 2 Camera for some festive gaming, and trying my hardest not to finish last in my fantasy football league. I’ve been using MCP to create some bizarre note-taking workflows in Craft and even memorizing Justin Bieber’s rap verse in “Drummer Boy” after seeing someone nail it on TikTok.

I’ve also compiled a massive list of our favorite finds from this year. Whether it’s books to read, shows to binge, apps to explore, or games to play, this guide has you covered for the holiday season and beyond. Let’s jump right in!

As always, the best part of Installer is hearing from you. What are you currently watching, reading, playing, or listening to? I want to know everything: installer@theverge.com. And if you think someone else would enjoy Installer, feel free to share it with them!

**My Favorite Stuff of 2025**

This year, we published 45 issues of Installer, which is quite a haul! You might have missed some gems along the way, and honestly, I probably did too. But after a year filled with reading, watching, listening, and downloading, I’m excited to share my top 10 favorite new (or at least new to me) things from 2025, in no particular order:

* **Enshittification**: Cory Doctorow’s book was a wild ride, mixing fun with a healthy dose of rage. It offers a satisfying perspective on the world, making you feel like you’re not alone in your frustrations.

* **Sony WH-1000XM6**: I picked up these headphones along with a pair of AirPods Pro 3 this year, and while I enjoy both, the Sonys are a step above. They’re comfortable for all-day wear, sound fantastic, and their noise cancellation is out of this world. Not ashamed to admit I wore them a lot while juggling a screaming newborn!

* **Nintendo Switch 2**: As much as I love my headphones, this is my gadget of the year. After years of wishing for a better, faster Switch, I finally got it. Life in Mario Kart World is still a blast!

* **Claude Code**: While there’s a lot of mediocre AI out there, large language models can indeed write functional code for simple projects. I’ve been retraining my brain to tackle small problems by creating one-off apps and browser extensions, and it’s been a game-changer.

* **Antinote**: For all my note-taking needs, I often require a quick scratchpad for math or jotting down ideas. This Mac app serves as a scratchpad, calculator, timer, and list-maker all in one. I use it countless times a day!

* **The Studio**: Take my TV recommendations with a grain of salt, as I’ve fallen behind on many great shows. However, I devoured this inventive and hilarious series, which had me laughing like few others do.

* **Amazon Echo Dot Max**: I’ve never been a smart speaker person, but after moving into a new house this fall, I decided to set up some smart lights and a new speaker. It turns out, having a responsive, good-sounding music and timer machine is pretty awesome!

* **Philips Hue Essentials**: Smart lights can be pricey, but they’re fantastic. I’ve set mine up to transform my once-bright and cold house into a cozy haven. Plus, I love being able to dim the lights without getting out of bed.

* **Good Hang**: It takes a lot for a new podcast to make it into my rotation, especially celebrity interviews. Yet, I’ve listened to every episode of these Amy Poehler chats. The Martin Short episode is a must-listen!

* **Puzzmo**: I’ve been on the hunt for better ways to spend my phone time, and I recommend swapping social media scrolling for a few minutes of puzzle games. From Really Bad Chess to Pile-Up Poker, Puzzmo is now one of my daily go-to apps.

**Screen Share**

He might not love me saying this, but Jason Kottke is a bit of a legend in the Installer community. He’s been curating and writing about the internet for ages and has an uncanny knack for discovering unexpected gems. It’s no surprise he’s been on my screen share list from the start.

For our final issue of the year, Jason agreed to share his homescreen with us, which I’m taking as a sign that he’s not too mad at me for constantly borrowing links from him. Here’s a peek at his setup, along with some details about the apps he uses:

The phone: iPhone 17 Pro. Not orange. I’ve stuck with iPhones for years; I like my routine. Liquid Glass, though? Not a fan.

The wallpaper: A photo I snapped of a sandbar during a vacation in Mexico a few years back. I usually switch it up every few months, but I keep coming back to this one.

The apps: Pedometer, Apple Sports, Apple Notes, Tesla, Calendar, Passwords, App Store, Photos, Amazon, AllTrails, Kottke.org, Camera, Weather, Clock, Feedbin, Google Maps, Strava, Swarm, Gmail, Settings, Phone, Messages, Safari.

Welcome to my normcore homescreen. I don’t spend much time evaluating new apps. I probably have more stock Apple apps on my homescreen than most: Notes, Weather, Camera, Photos, Sports (for football), Calendar, Passwords, Phone, Messages, Settings, and Clock. They work for me, and I like to keep things simple. The odd one out is probably Swarm; I’ve been using it since Foursquare launched, and it’s a handy database of places I’ve visited.

I moved all my social apps to other screens to use them less, but I still find myself swiping over to them because they’re like tiny casinos for my brain and my job. Not the best situation sometimes!

I also asked Jason to share a few things he’s into right now. Here’s what he sent back:

* Ken Burns and his team are incredible at what they do. I’ve been watching The American Revolution on PBS, and it’s so captivating. I often find myself thinking, “Oh no, I wanted to sleep before 1 AM!”

* Opus 4.5 and Claude Code are pretty magical. It’s impressive what they can accomplish with minimal guidance. A true game-changer.

* I’m trying to get serious about saving links and notes, so I’ve been experimenting with Raindrop. Input is smooth, but I haven’t had much chance to pull stuff out yet. Gotta plant the seeds before you can harvest.

**Crowdsourced**

Now it’s your turn: Here’s what the Installer community loved this year. Huge thanks to everyone who reached out via email, text, DMs, or even carrier pigeons! I read every single message, though I admit I’m not always great at responding. Please know that even if I don’t reply, I truly appreciate it and wish I could respond more often.

As always, you can reach me at installer@theverge.com or message me on Signal — @davidpierce.11 — with your recommendations for anything and everything. I want to hear all about your holiday gifts and experiences! Now, without further ado:

* “The Keychron Q1 HE keyboard that I’m currently typing on. It’s heavy, feels great to type on, customizable, and looks slick in black, cream, and a single red Escape key.” — Anders

* “Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I got back into reading this summer and devoured all three of his novels. I only found out after finishing that it’s being adapted into a movie next year!” — Michael

* “Home Assistant Green. I was hesitant at first, but it’s amazing. I have several sensors connected via Zigbee, and I love the automation. I only buy new things that integrate with Home Assistant. Highly recommend!” — Andris

* “In April 2024, I became a father and started obsessively taking photos on my iPhone. Tired of the same look, I bought a used Fujifilm X100V in May 2025. I love being that dad with a camera, and the photos are fantastic!” — Zayd

* “My favorite tech discovery this year is vibe coding! I’m a marketer with basic development skills, but thanks to Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude, I’ve created working web apps, from my personal site to an NFT minting page. If you have an idea, talk it out with Gemini; you’ll be amazed at what you can create!” — Rémi

* “Loving the new-to-me Apple Vision Pro. Work and entertainment are fantastic in it. I couldn’t justify the MSRP, but at under $2,000 in the used market, it’s a steal. Wish I’d gotten one last year!” — Tony

* “For me, it’s TRMNL. It’s a well-designed device supported by a great software platform. It allows me to tinker while also using ready-made plugins without hassle.” — Estof

* “I started leasing a Riddara EV pickup, and I absolutely love it. The coolest feature is reverse charging, which I haven’t used yet, but it’s nice to know I can top off my other EVs. It’s super fast, going from 0-60 in 4.5 seconds! Such a fun ride!” — Abdulla

* “Christopher Ruocchio’s Sun Eater series wrapped up in 2025, and it’s the best sci-fi space opera I’ve ever read. If you enjoy strong prose and deep character development, dive in!” — Jon

* “Mine would have to be Android handhelds like the AYN Odin 2 Portal. Think of it as an ARM-based Steam Deck. It runs Android, emulation, and Steam games, plus it has WiFi 7 and an OLED screen. The battery life is way better than x86 handhelds.” — Alric

* “The book Apple in China by Patrick McGee was my favorite read of the year. It highlights Apple’s massive impact on Chinese tech manufacturing since the late ’90s. So much to unpack in this masterfully told story.” — Cary

* “AirPods Pro and the Dungeons and Daddies podcast! I’ve spent many late nights with headphones in, enjoying this D&D podcast about four dads searching for their kids. Turns out, professional actors playing D&D is the best!” — Matt

* “My favorite new discovery this year was the HP-1xC calculators. Launched in the early ’80s, they cover financial, scientific, and programming calculations. They’re programmable, versatile, and built to last. The HP-12C is still being sold today!” — William

* “Mymind. It’s brilliant, fast, intuitive, elegant, and incredibly useful.” — Nicos

* “The Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff. It’s a bloody and brutal vampire story set in an eternal winter, with surprisingly Catholic lore and a queer main character. The protagonist tells his life story at the prompting of his enemy, which led me to a vampire binge this spring and summer.” — Hannes

* “I picked up a Selphy Photo Printer in late November to create a ‘Movie Wall’ I’ve wanted for ages. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, we only watch holiday movies and TV, and I wanted a fun way to visualize our choices to avoid the dreaded ‘What are we watching?’ conversation.” — Taylor

**Signing Off**

One last time, thank you! Thank you to everyone who sends in recommendations; Installer wouldn’t exist without you. Every week, I worry it might be the week no one shares, and every week I’m grateful to be proven wrong. Thank you to everyone who clicks the links — I hear from creators and developers thrilled that Installer readers are checking out their work, and it makes me happy to shine a light on great things. Thank you for the Group Project ideas; I want to do even more of those next year. And even thanks to those who subscribe but never open an email; the numbers still go up!

There’s so much vying for your time and attention, and I hope to be a source of content that’s truly worth it. I have plenty of ideas for how to improve next year, but remember, none of it works without you. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season, some well-deserved rest, and a fantastic start to 2026.

See you next year!