Best of 2025: Books, Games & Theater
Our panelists have wide and varied interests, and in 2025 they found some wonderful reads, plays, and nights at the theater.
Read on for the Great Pop Culture Debate panelists’ picks for the best books, video games, and theatrical shows of the year. Did we forget your favorite? Add it in the comments below.
Check out our OTHER Best of 2025 listicles by clicking here.
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GAMES
Donkey Kong Bananza (Switch 2)
Nintendo launching its much-anticipated Switch 2 without a new Mario game was, frankly, bold. But it made more sense when the company released Donkey Kong Bananza shortly after console launch. Bananza is the best non-Mario Mario game I’ve ever played, which makes sense since it was created by the team behind the Switch’s excellent Super Mario Odyssey. This open-world smash-em-up is packed with things to do, from puzzles to missions to boss battles to Easter eggs to previous entries in the DK series. On that note, I don’t think any Nintendo franchise has successfully evolved more continuously than Donkey Kong. It’s good to see the big ape get another shot at stardom 40-plus years after his debut. — ERIC REZSNYAK
Mario Kart World (Switch 2)
Mario Kart World takes everything familiar about the franchise and opens it up in smart, playful ways. The expanded tracks and environments make each race feel bigger without losing the chaos that makes Mario Kart so fun. New mechanics add just enough strategy to keep veterans engaged while still being approachable for newcomers. It’s as competitive or as casual as you want it to be, which is part of the magic. And it wouldn’t be a Mario Kart game without major replayability. Who doesn’t want new tracks to lose friendship over? — ANDREA GUERRERO
Octopath Traveler 0 (PC, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox S|X)
Coming in right at the end of the year, Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler 0 reinvigorates its young 2D/3D RPG series by flipping its familiar format, and in turn making the mechanics significantly more accessible. The previous games in the series — which I enjoyed! — were rigid and virtually identical in structure. Eight protagonists were scattered across the world, each with their own specific class (Warrior, Cleric, Thief, etc.). You could choose whichever one you like, and pick up the ones you wanted in whatever order you wanted (or not pick them up at all). The prequel 0 changes all that. There’s one protagonist, which you can customize (to a degree) and swap between classes as you progress. There are 30+ additional characters you can recruit, each with their own unique skills and specialties. The deep personal stories are sacrificed for more character variety and flexibility, but by focusing the narrative around the villain’s stories, the game also feels more cohesive. I was dubious about the town-building side quest but I ultimately enjoy it. A great jumping on point for new players. — ERIC REZSNYAK
Tiny Bookshop (Steam, Switch, Switch 2)
Ever wanted to run away from city life, move to a seaside town, and open a mobile bookshop? Now you can! Tiny Bookshop is a lovely little addition to the cozy game genre. Decorate your shop on wheels, visit different areas of the town, and recommend books to customers based on their preferences. The storyline and its objectives keep you coming back for more sales, along with getting to know the different odd characters of this quirky town. You’ll even pick up a few book recommendations for yourself along the way. — ANDREA GUERRERO
BOOKS
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood (Front & Center Books)
Elphie is compelling because it dives deeper into Elphaba’s evolution, filling in the emotional and political gaps that Wicked only hinted at. Instead of retelling her life, it zooms into a tighter window of her story — a period where she’s navigating moral gray zones, underground resistance work, and the growing realization that Oz’s injustices aren’t abstract but personal. The plot follows her as she moves through the hidden corners of the Emerald City and the borderlands, meeting disenfranchised communities, confronting the Wizard’s surveillance state, and grappling with her own urge to intervene versus disappear. We see her idealism harden into action, her relationships strain under the weight of secrecy, and her power becoming both a tool and a burden.
Critics highlight this sharper focus as a strength: The New York Times praised it as “Maguire at his most intimate and incisive, offering a portrait of Elphaba that feels less mythical and more human without losing its magic.” Publishers Weekly called the plot “a tense, beautifully layered exploration of resistance, identity, and becoming — a story only Maguire could tell.” — JAKE PITOCHELLI
THEATER
Heathers: The Musical (Off-Broadway)
The revival of Heathers: The Musical is currently running Off-Broadway. This show has its own mythology and a huge fan base. This show will take you to the “candy store” and it’s something we’ve all been waiting for. Heathers’ score is so fantastic and this cast really eats up — excuse me — licks up every moment. Fuck me gently with a chainsaw, this revival is fantastic! — KEVIN DILLON
Jinkx Monsoon in Oh, Mary (Broadway)
We covered Cole Escola’s breakout theatrical smash Oh, Mary in our Best of 2024 picks — so, you know, we sometimes know what we’re talking about. The show continues to pack houses and has had a series of rock-star leads since Escola stepped away from the role of a deranged Mary Todd Lincoln. None of them have garnered as much buzz as Jinkx Monsoon, two-time winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race and at this point a bona fide Broadway box-office draw. Monsoon has now sold out runs in Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors, and Oh, Mary, and was a primary selling point for the Pirates of Penzance revival earlier in 2025. She is killing it, and was absolute perfection in this role, a magnificent showcase for her chaotic, soaring zaniness and undeniable star power. Mark my words: Monsoon will lead either a new show or revival and will have a Tony within 3 years. — ERIC REZSNYAK
John Proctor is the Villain (Broadway)
John Proctor is the villain of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible -- simply put. This play centers around a classroom, their reading The Crucible, and a real-life entanglement with the way women are/are not trusted when they tell their truths. Kimberly Belflower’s play uses pop culture and other elements to examine feminism and identity in really beautiful ways. We were truly blessed with great new plays in 2025, and this was one of them. — KEVIN DILLON
Purpose (Broadway)
The play took home the Pulitzer and Tony Award for Best Play. Playwright Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins centers his play on the Jenkins family -- a family whose patriarch was part of the Civil Rights Movement. The play tackles legacy, black excellence, along with the pressures all of that brings. Jacobs-Jenkins leverages an incredible wit and humor to balance the familial drama. This was a masterpiece. — KEVIN DILLON
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