Another year older and a new one just begun. A lot of things happened in popculture last year. See what better. gaming thought about 2024:

Kacper Bańbura

• • Game: Balatro - A concept that seems simple, yet has so many layers that it pulled me in for hours on end.
  • Movie: Deadpool & Wolverine - I went to see this movie without any expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised. It's light entertainment but brings a fresh breeze to superhero films.
  • Series: The Office PL, Season 4 - The Polish version of The Office consistently delivers, cleverly poking fun at current trends and Polish quirks.
  • Book: The King (Król) - Although the book is a few years old, it's an excellent gangster story set in the interwar period.
  • Discovery of 2024: Spending time outside the city - I’ve never felt such relief and satisfaction from leaving the city for a few days, with limited internet and social media access.

Marcin Kosman

• Game: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - The continuation of the remake of my all-time favorite game. There's so much content that I still haven't gotten the platinum trophy. But I will.
• Movie: Deadpool & Wolverine - The definition of entertaining cinema. A ray of hope for the MCU, plagued by flops and crises.
• Series: Arcane - I’m still baffled at how such animation quality was achieved. Plus, it tells a gripping story beautifully.
• Book: Everything You Can Imagine: Peter Jackson and His Middle-earth - No other book consumed as much of my time in 2024. Perhaps because I published the Polish edition myself!
• Discovery of 2024: Airfryer - Yep, I’ve reached that age.

Kuba Wójcik

• • Game: Balatro - The only game this year that I spent so much time on across various platforms. A must-play for roguelike and card game enthusiasts, offering endless fun.
  • Movie: Kung Fu Panda 4 - As a father of two daughters, I’ve caught up on many animated films, and Kung Fu Panda is one of my favorites. The fourth installment maintains very high quality.
  • Series: Fallout - Adapting games for the screen hasn’t always worked, but Fallout perfectly appeals to both fans of the game and those unfamiliar with its world.
  • Book: Percy Jackson and the Olympians series - My reading year was dominated by children's books, and Percy Jackson is one of my favorites. It combines Harry Potter vibes with modernized Greek myths.
  • Discovery of 2024: Netflix Games - Despite being a longtime opponent of mobile gaming, Netflix’s gaming subscription, a Bluetooth gamepad, and offline play in Dead Cells completely changed my mind.

Karolina Bąkowska

• • Game: The Mortuary Assistant - Better late than never. 2024 was my year of horror and "observation duty" games. Mostly on streams, because I'm too scared. Don’t play before a trip to Japan.
  • Movie: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - I expected to be disappointed but got a super fun and great sequel. Rest in power, Bob.
  • Series: From - Watched it since 2022, before it was trendy. The first sci-fi horror in a long time that truly captivated me.
  • Book: The Wanderer (Wędrówka) - Reading this title felt like a journey itself since the reader chooses the order of chapters.
  • Discovery of 2024: CaseOh - A comfort creator and fantastic times with Dress to Impress. A well-deserved TGA for streamer of the year, as he’s the only one not faking emotions for a younger audience.

Maciek Sosnowski

• • Game: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - Based on the trailers, I expected a 7/10 at best. What a surprise! The game has flaws, but for once, I don’t just feel like Indiana—I am Indiana.
  • Movie: Challengers - The music! But I can’t forget Megalopolis—I haven’t seen a film cross the "so bad it’s good" boundary so wonderfully in a long time.
  • Series: Domina - A strong year with TThe Curse, The Penguin, Caped Crusader, Culinary Class War, Arcane, Fallout, but none of them stood out as much as this hard-to-access gem. Though canceled years ago, nothing amuses me more than the Julio-Claudian dynasty and Kasia Smutniak.
  • Book: Agla (both volumes) - My bold claim: "Aside from Dukaj’s high-concept works, this is the best thing to happen in Polish fantasy since Sapkowski." And beautiful HoMM3 references.
  • Discovery of 2024: The Rest is History podcast - Supposedly the second most popular in the world. As a Roman history enthusiast, I’ve read Tom Holland (the historian, not the actor) for years. Once I learned he had a podcast, I couldn’t stop listening.

Kuba Smolak

• • Game: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl - Despite technical flaws, I was once again immersed in the unique atmosphere of the Zone.
  • Movie: A Real Pain - My choice is driven by local patriotism.
  • Series: Baby Reindeer - Perhaps better shows aired this year, but I’ll remember this quirky one for a long time.
  • Book: Crossroads of Crows (Rozdroże kruków) - Always good to read about Gerwant.
  • Discovery of 2024: Gamescom - I visited Cologne for the first time, ticking off participation in an event from my gaming bucket list.

Gabriel Siemiątkowski

• • Game: Helldivers 2 - My top choice alongside Indiana Jones. Chronic lack of skill? I just blame "bad tactics"—a very diplomatic excuse.
  • Movie: Dune: Part Two - Watched during a marathon, came back at 4 a.m.—and I’d do it again. (Didn’t even eat the caramel popcorn!)
  • Series: Shrinking (Season 2) - The second season is like your mom’s friend’s overachieving kid: better grades, more interesting, and occasionally annoying—but ultimately lovable.
  • Book: Murakami T: The T-Shirts I Love - A fascinating peek into Murakami’s head—this time via his wardrobe. Perfect for a long afternoon. (Bonus: pair the reading with the whisky chapter recipe!)
  • Discovery of 2024: Murdle - Perfect for flights when you can’t sleep on. Better than podcasts. “Solving” the mystery of the fork crime on the football field keeps me hooked.

Patryk Sałacki

• • Game: Animal Well - Didn’t play many new releases, but Animal Well reminded me why I love games. Incredibly creative puzzles that left me thinking, “That was amazing!” after each one.
  • Movie: Monkey Man - Dev Patel’s directorial debut, which I believe proudly stands alongside action movie classics. A fresh take on the genre, avoiding clichés like military, gangsters, or assassins.
  • Series: Arcane - Making a beautiful animation is one thing. Creating a good adaptation is another. But building hype and delivering a satisfying finale? That’s the real challenge. More stories from this universe, please—but with better music.
  • Book: Rituales by Alvaro Ortiz - Not a book, but a comic from 2023—still worth it! Few write such natural, relaxed dialogues. A small volume that perfectly captures the vibe of everyday musings with your best friend.
  • Discovery of 2024: GeForce Now - I was skeptical about cloud gaming but finally gave it a shot. Playing my favorite titles anywhere, regardless of hardware, is a fantastic experience.

Kajetan Węsierski

• • Game: Astro Bot - I was hooked. From the first announcement, I knew this game was for me, and during 20 hours of fun, I didn’t feel bored even once—a rarity!
  • Movie: Deadpool & Wolverine - Silly, absurd, maybe even cringe—but I have a soft spot for Ryan Reynolds. There’s no other franchise like Deadpool that gives me such mental relaxation.
  • Series: Culinary Class War - Maciej and Gabriel recommended it, so I knew it had to be good. But I didn’t expect it to be this good! Now I follow nearly every main participant on Instagram.
  • Book: Never Finished by David Goggins - A strong dose of motivation on many levels. While it sometimes borders on “toxic productivity,” Goggins is undeniably inspiring.
  • Discovery of 2024: SodaStream - Less money spent, less plastic wasted, and adjustable carbonation levels. I didn’t know I needed it, but now I can’t imagine happiness without it.