Top Fives – Page 2

Top 5 Slasher Film Villains

Published on October 11, 2025July 2, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

It’s Monday the 13th. OoooOOoooo! Happy Spooky Season, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. We’re continuing our Halloween coverage with slash films. Grease your chainsaws. Sharpen your machetes. It’s time to discuss the five best slasher film villains of all time. All time!

5) Art the Clown (Terrifier Franchise)

Art the Clown is a demented killer clown mime who kills people on Halloween nights. He carries a multitude of crude weapons and mutilates his victims in gruesome ways. Art the Clown’s manner of killing–which includes lots of kills and gore–cause his movies to verge on torture porn (popularized by the Saw franchise), but the Terrifier films maintain their slasher film status because of Art the Clown at their center.

Art the Clown has appeared in three movies and two shorts, and in a short time span, he’s become a horror icon. He’s easily the best slasher villain of the past decade. Given enough time, Art the Clown could climb this list, but I’m not so sure. The names above him are horror mainstays. Still, Art the Clown and the movies that feature him are more hardcore than most slasher killers throughout the years. He causes a glorious mess with every kill.

4) Candyman (Candyman Franchise)

Candyman, or Daniel Robitaille, is as much an urban legend or myth as he is a slasher villain. This is only one way he stands out. He’s tragic backstory goes beyond slasher movie tropes. Rooted in themes of racial violence and injustice, Candyman’s origin adds a layer of empathy, making his vengeful actions terrifying and, in an odd way, justified. His phrase, “Be my victim,” adds to the sense of dread and serves as a reminder of buried societal traumas.

The Candyman series had me scared to say his name five times. The first Candyman film remains the best. Tony Todd (rest in peace) gave Candyman a sense of purpose and grace that separated him from any slasher villain of his era. The second film went deeper into Candyman’s lore, while the fourth movie, produced by Jordan Peele, brought back the iconic killer while honoring the Black culture within the story. I love the Candyman series. Its villain just misses out on our top three, but the top three are horror movie royalty.

3) Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street Franchise)

Freddy Krueger’s ability to invade dreams sets him apart from other slasher movie villains. He transforms the safe haven of sleep into a terrifying killing ground. With his burned face, razor-sharp blades, and sinister laugh, Freddy taps into primal fears. He is the boogie man under the bed, in the bed, above the bed, hiding in the closet, and so much more. But Freddy isn’t all horror. He adds enough dark humor and charisma to make him repulsive and magnetic.

There’s no escape from Freddy. He follows victims into their most vulnerable state. Created by Wes Craven, Freddy Krueger will haunt the audience’s dreams long after his movies end. I’m haunted by the children’s song that serves as Freddy’s preamble. One, two, Freddy’s coming for you. Three, four, better lock your door. Five, six, grab your crucifix. Seven, Eight, gonna stay up late. Nine, ten, never sleep again. Try singing that right before you go to bed. You may just stay up an extra hour or two or five.

2) Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th Franchise)

At the end of the first Friday the 13th movie, and after his mother died, Jason rose from the depths of Camp Crystal Lake to become the franchise’s new villain. He machetes his way through the camp and into the audience’s hearts with his bloody kills. Jason is a killing artist. He became more flamboyant through the years. He’s been killed and reanimated more times than a comic book hero, which actually matches his demeanor of an unstoppable zombie-like killer.

Interestingly, Jason is the more sympathetic character in his big crossover movie with Freddy Krueger, despite Jason being an unfeeling killing machine in his solo movies. Few slasher villains are more prolific than Jason. We can only think of one other slasher villain who tops his kill count and takes the number one spot as the true face of evil.

1) Michael Myers (Halloween Franchise)

Black Christmas may have come first, but Halloween’s Michael Myers is the first name and face people think of when they think of a slasher villain. There’s something about a bleached William Shatner mask. Michael Myers completes the slasher villain big three of Michael, Jason, and Freddy. Michael Myers doesn’t claim our haunting number one spot because he’s physically imposing. He’s the shape of evil. He’s the one who began killing when he was a child and never stopped.

John Carpenter’s 1978 Halloween didn’t create the slasher subgenre. The genre bloomed in the wake of Michael Myers’ butcher knife. This horrifying classic had a simple premise. A silent serial killer stalks a quiet town. After decades of movies (and more on the way, we’re sure), Michael Myers petrifies audiences. Michael’s theme music is the stuff of legend. As soon as I wrote this post’s title, it played in my head. Not going to lie, I played the song. Pure movie magic.

That’s our list of the top five slasher film villains. Did we get the list right? Who would you add or take away? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, we hope you’re having a great day.

5 Great Video Game Dances

Published on October 6, 2025June 25, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

Today marks the beginning of Dance Week, so we’ll kick off this dance off with five great video game dances. Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. I didn’t know Dance Week existed, but I’m here for it. Video games have featured so many dances. There are even entire games, like Dance, Dance Revolution and Just Dance, that are about dancing. Some of those video games could make this list, but I prefer dances from video games that don’t feature dancing, so we may get more than one dance from a role-playing game. Let’s get to the list.

Honorable Mention: The Sheppard Shuffle (Mass Effect Series)

We begin this list with one honorable mention, the Sheppard Shuffle. This dance isn’t exactly good, let alone great, but it is iconic. The Mass Effect series is an all-time great Sci-Fi video game series, and the game’s protagonist, Sheppard, is at the game’s center, but it’s not for their dancing ability. Sheppard’s dance move (they only have one), the Sheppard Shuffle, is so half-baked that the Citadel DLC makes fun of it. Still, the Sheppard Shuffle is seared into my brain.

5) Celebrate Chaos (Sonic: The Hedgehog Series)

Sonic: The Hedgehog was always the “cool” video game mascot. Shortly after his release, he developed a dance, a simple two-step with some flair, every time he obtained an objective. Over the years, Sonic became more brooding. Goofiness was no longer “cool,” but no matter what phase the blue ball of lightning has taken, he finds a way to incorporate that little two-step dance.

4) Waltz for the Moon (Final Fantasy VIII)

Ah! I love the Waltz for the Moon from Final Fantasy VIII. This iconic scene is what got me hyped for FFVIII. It featured in almost every teaser or trailer for the game. This dance did a great job introducing the main characters, and it’s gorgeous. Even after several video game generations, the graphics hold up well. The fireworks peaking through the moon roof take my breath away. On a personal note, my favorite track from Mannheim Steamroller’s 1984 Christmas album is “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella,” and whenever I hear that song, Waltz for the Moon dances in my head.

3) Poison Dance (Fortnite)

We could’ve included any number of dances from Fortnite–I swear this battle royale doubles as a dancing game–but we landed on the Poison Dance. Originally, this dance was featured in the sitcom Scrubs. Fortnite pays homage to this dance by including it as an emote. You get extra points if you use the Poison Dance emote while playing with a Poison Ivy skin in Fortnite. That girl is poison. On second thought, a Poison Ivy skin may be too on the nose.

2) Crash Dance (Crash Bandicoot Series)

Similar to Sonic: The Hedgehog, Crash Bandicoot was the mascot (for a time) for the cooler and newer gaming system (PlayStation), so of course, he was going to incorporate a special dance every time he finished an objective. But Crash has never taken himself too seriously. Throughout the Crash Bandicoot series, he pelvic thrusts, shuffles until his back is to the player, and then coyly turns and smiles. He’s even gotten his teammates to join in the fun.

1) Friday Night (Yakuza 0)

Any song from Yakuza 0’s disco minigame prompts Kiryu to do his hilarious entry on the stage before recycling through the same move again and again during his dance, but “Friday Night” is by far this minigame’s best song. “Friday Night” is the one song I jam out to while trying to complete this challenging disco minigame. Seriously! Yakuza 0’s disco minigame is so difficult, I feel like I learned the dance in real life. Now, watch me break a hip.

Happy Dance Week, Geekly Gang! We hope you enjoyed this list of five great video game dances. What are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Top 5 Tabletop Games from 1997

Published on September 8, 2025September 12, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

1997 was another stellar year for tabletop games. There were so many games to choose from that we have an honorable mention for the first time in a couple of yearly lists. Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. We’re back with another Top 5 Tabletop Games throughout the years; today’s list is the top five board games of 1997. We’ll talk about 1997’s board game list soon, but let’s review the ground rules for which games make these lists before we begin.

1: Cultural relevance plays as much of a factor as overall quality. A game might make a list that doesn’t hold up to others of its type, but you must admit the game is everywhere.

2: Only one game from a franchise makes the list. This will become more of an issue the closer we get to games with expansions.

3: Longevity plays a role, too. A game doesn’t have to fly off the shelves today, but it had to have some widespread appeal for a decent time.

**Honorable Mention: Mississippi Queen (1997)**

Yep. 1997’s winner of the Spiel des Jahres (German Game of the Year) just misses our list. Mississippi Queen puts gamers in the role of a paddlewheeler captain in a race down the Mississippi River in 1871. Mississippi Queen won numerous awards, not just the Spiel, and it’s a stellar game, but the other games that made this list have had longer staying power. Still, Mississippi Queen is a satisfying racing game.

**5: Tigris and Euphrates (1997)**

The incomparable Reiner Knizia makes another one of these lists with Tigris and Euphrates. Many gamers may balk at this game being this low. Tigris and Euphrates is often dubbed a “gamer’s game.” It centers on a clash between neighboring dynasties along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Funny, both of the first games we’re talking about are named after famous rivers. Anyway, Tigris and Euphrates offers tactical and strategic objectives, where immediate (tactical) goals are more realistic at larger but smaller player counts allow for long-term planning.

Tigris and Euphrates features drawing tiles from a bag. Players may redraw tiles if they don’t like the ones they drew by spending an action point (players have two action points per turn). After drawing tiles, players will place tiles and leaders onto the board, creating and expanding regions and kingdoms. During the game, players collect points in each of the four tile colors, prompting players to balance the tile types they play. Tigris and Euphrates has a lot more conflict than most German games during this time. It’s a classic.

**4: For Sale (1997)**

For Sale is a fast-paced auction card game about real estate. It’s played in two phases. During the first phase, players bid for several buildings. After all the properties are purchased, the second phase begins, and players sell their buildings for the highest profit. For Sale is one of those easy-to-teach, easy-to-learn, and difficult-to-master card games.

In short, For Sale may be the opposite of Tigris and Euphrates. Both are stellar games, but I’m giving For Sale the slight nod for its accessibility.

**3: GIPF (1997)**

GIPF is the first abstract strategy game to make one of these lists in several posts. GIPF was recommended for the Spiel des Jahres in 1998. It has plenty of accolades, but GIPF makes this list because it began a series of abstract strategy board games by designer Kris Burm named the GIPF Project. TZAAR, ZERTZ, DVONN, YINSH, PUNCT, LYNGK, and MATRX GIPF are great games that use various game mechanisms. But we’re talking about GIPF, the game of pushing.

GIPF takes a board that looks like it could belong in Chinese Checkers. Players introduce a new piece (disc) on the hexagonal game board and push their piece in a straight line. GIPF involves no luck. It’s a straight-up brain burner, and it reintroduced the gaming community to abstract strategy games akin to Go or Othello.

**2: Bohnanza (1997)**

Uwe Rosenberg makes his first appearance on one of these lists with Bohnanza. The game’s title is a pun on the German word Bohne (for bean) and the English word bonanza (for an exceptionally large and rich mineral deposit). Players plant bean cards and then harvest them to earn coins. Each player begins with a random hand of bean cards, and each card has a number on it corresponding to the number of that type of beans in the deck. Modern card game darling, Flip 7, may have borrowed that idea from Bohnanza. Cards with fewer copies in the deck are more difficult to collect, but players don’t need as many copies of the cards to harvest (or make a set).

Bohnanza features trading and can get political. Get ready to make your case. More so than any other game on this list—so far—I’ve seen Bohnanza played in game shops and board game cafés.

**1: Twilight Imperium (1997)**

Twilight Imperium is a board game space opera. Twilight Imperium is the closest thing to a board game version of Star Wars. Twilight Imperium is a classic 4X board game: explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate. You choose how your civilization will settle the cosmos. Twilight Imperium is not for the faint of heart. Games run a minimum of five hours. This is one of the reasons why I’ve only observed games of Twilight Imperium. There’s a lot going on, but if you want to control every move of an intergalactic kingdom, few games do as good a job of capturing that vibe as Twilight Imperium.

You can even dive into Twilight Imperium’s world with its novel series published by Aconyte Books or play the tabletop role-playing game spinoff. Twilight Imperium is a game that some board gamers play exclusively. And there may be a good reason for that. As recently as last year (2024), Nerdist and Polygon dubbed Twilight Imperium as one of the greatest board games ever made. Twilight Imperium easily tops our 1997 list of tabletop games.

Did we get the list mostly correct? Let us know which games you’d add in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Top 5 Beards in Comic Books

Published on September 6, 2025May 23, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

Evidently, September 6, 2025, is Beard Day. Who knew? Geekly has celebrated lesser-known observances over the past couple of months, like Shark Day. Why not comic book beards? Sorry, but I couldn’t help but make the Beard Hunter our featured image. Tee hee. Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. JK Geekly has ignored the important topic of beards in comic books for too long. We aren’t talking about the best comic book characters who wear beards; that’d be a different list. No, we’ll try to break down the best beards. Let’s get to these glorious flavor savers.

5) Lobo

Typically, Lobo wears a mustache and mutton chops, which don’t qualify as a beard. I like it when Lobo sports a chin strap. He may always be the “Main Man,” but Lobo works best when he’s the “Mane Man.” What’s the point of surviving decapitation if you’re not sporting a yeard?

4) Maestro

I admit it. I’m partial to Maestro. If you can no longer grow hair on your scalp, grow it on your face. Like I used to say, it’s just one’s hair migrating south for the winter. Look at Maestro’s luxurious beard. You can’t deny how magnificent his chin curtain looks. I wonder if he’d let me run my fingers through his Grizzly Adams. You know what, no. I want to keep my hands.

3) Vandal Savage

Vandal Savage has lived for a long time. I mean a long time. Centuries. Millennia. Savage has sported various beards throughout the years. Like Lobo, he’s even gone with mutton chops, but those count as beards. Savage looks best when he lets his grizzle flow. Vandal Savage has earned every touch of gray.

2) Aquaman

Aquaman is another comic book character who doesn’t always wear a beard, but let’s face it, he looks tough with a beard. Aquaman’s abilities make him one of DC Comics’ most powerful heroes, but he often gets clowned. That ended when he sported a lumberjack. There’s something about Arthur’s hair, all of his hair, flowing under the sea. Aquaman’s anchor shows true grit.

1) Hercules

I almost went with Thor at this spot, but he’s another comic book character who isn’t always depicted with a beard. Instead, we’ll go with Marvel Comics’ Hercules, who rocked a hipster beard before it was cool. How long do you think it takes Hercules to topiarize that beard? Forget the muscles. You’ve got to give it up for a true beardionado.

I tried to put as many references to beards as I could in this post. Feel free to mention some of your favorite beard terms, and while you’re at it, add a few more comic book beards for this list. There are way too many great beards. Let’s share more hot fuzz. Happy Beard Day, Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

5 Video Games to Secretly Play at Work

Published on September 1, 2025May 23, 2025 by Kyra2 Comments

Happy Labor Day for those of you who celebrate and have the day off. For those of you who don’t celebrate Labor Day or have to work in an office environment, you can secretly play plenty of video games at work. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We will be a little naughty with today’s list in honor of Labor Day and share five great video games you can secretly play at work.

Never mind that the first board games I designed were solo-player games that fit inside school folders and could be played in the middle of class. I would never condone playing video games while at work. Wink, wink.

5: Desktop Tower Defense

We’re kicking this list off old school. The tower defense genre is crazy popular. One of the genre’s first breakout hits was the 2007 Flash game, Desktop Tower Defense. This browser game was my introduction to the tower defense video game genre. Even though I never played Desktop Tower Defense while at work (yeah, right), the game scores extra points for recreating the aesthetics of an office desktop. That’s the trick to games one can play while at work. They need to be easily concealed, like in a school folder.

Like the name implies, players must set up tower defenses to prevent enemies called “Creeps” from reaching portions of the playfield. Desktop Tower Defense further differentiates itself from competitors by using mazes as a game mechanism. Rather than players being at the mercy of the Creeps moving in a predetermined path, players created paths for the enemies to travel. So, while Desktop Tower Defense may have found an early audience by being easy to conceal at work, its unique maze mechanism made it more than just a “game you can play at work.” Desktop Tower Defense is a good game. It even earned a port for the Nintendo DS.

4: GeoGuessr

GeoGuessr uses Google Maps to make an interesting game. GeoGuessr is another browser game, which will be a trend because we’re trying not to get caught playing video games at work. When players load into GeoGuessr, they’ll receive a random street view. The player must use their surroundings to figure out where they are. It’s like Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, only you’re Carmen Sandiego and you don’t know where you are.

Google is ubiquitous in workplaces, so it’s easy to load up a game of GeoGuessr without raising suspicions. The game can be played without time limits, which makes it a casual game, and players can play GeoGuessr in between other tasks. If you want to work, you can. GeoGuessr is also a great way to figure out where you want to take your next vacation or holiday. You’re being productive.

3: Arena XLSM

Arena XLSM may do a better job than Desktop Tower Defense at pretending to be work. In fact, Arena XLSM is a free RPG made in Microsoft Excel. It works in Excel’s 2007, 2010, and 2013 versions, but hasn’t yet been updated for later versions. Like all good RPGs, Arena XLSM is story-driven. The player has been captured after rebelling against an emperor. He’s imprisoned in the titular arena and must fight waves of enemies to survive. Arena XLSM features thousands of enemies and a story told through notes the player receives from their wife, leading to several possible endings.

I was tempted to put Arena XLSM higher on this list, but the game’s availability knocks it down a spot or two. If your company’s PC runs older versions of Windows and the Microsoft Office suite of products, you may be in luck.

2: Paperclips

Oh, ho ho! Paperclips is yet another video game masquerading as work. Except for one other game on this list (our top spot), Paperclips may be the best video game to disguise itself as work. Also known as Universal Paperclips, Paperclips is a clicker game that looks like a calculator program. Clicker games may not be my first choice, but they can have a lot of complexity. After clicking a button to create a paperclip, the player gains the ability to automate, and then they can focus on resource allocation. Resource allocation is what makes clicker games so addictive. Paperclips is a ton of fun and happens to look like something you may have on your computer screen while working. Those numbers aren’t going to click themselves.

1: Leadership

Leadership takes our top spot because it’s the sneakiest.If you couldn’t tell by now, I love it when video games one secretly plays at work are disguised. Leadership looks like a boring line graph, but look closely, and you’ll find a tiny spaceship between the lines. Leadership is a secret lunar lander clone from a group of Danish developers. Leadership must be fun because Danish people tend to be voted the happiest. Just saying. During Leadership, players must guide their spacecraft from point A to point B, and they have a set amount of fuel to reach their goal.

Like other games on this list, Leadership is a browser game, so it’s easy to conceal. But Leadership’s appeal runs deeper than its skin. It’s another fun game. There’s even a leaderboard. You can compete with fellow slackers, I mean, otherwise motivated people from around the world.

That’s our list. I would include more, but I had a lot of other “research” I needed to conduct. Pay no attention to the line graph on my computer. What video games do you like to “not play at work?” Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Top 5 Black Panther Villains

Published on August 30, 2025May 4, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

Eyes of Wakanda continues its run this month, so we’re celebrating by recounting the greatest Black Panther villains. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’ve done the Top 5 villain treatment to several Marvel and DC Comics heroes. It’s only fitting that Black Panther receives his Top 5 Villains.

Honorable Mention: Ulysses Klaw

I feel like we have an honorable mention a lot in these lists, but Ulysses Klaw makes this list in this manner for a reason. He’s a Marvel Universe villain more than just a Black Panther villain. Sure, his origin has Wakandan roots, but Klaw has often battled the Fantastic Four and Avengers. Everyone should fear the man with a body of pure sound.

5: Achebe

Achebe is the Joker to Black Panther’s Batman. Little is known about Achebe, only rumors. The most persistent of these rumors is that Achebe was once a Ghudazan farmer who helped rebel guerrillas from the neighboring country of Ujanka. He helped nurse the fighters back to health, but his wife fell in love with the rebel leader, and the rebels repaid his kindness by stabbing him 32 times, razing his farm, and taking his wife. What is known is that Achebe made a deal with Mephisto and serves as an emissary of Marvel’s version of the Devil. Achebe is ruthless, unpredictable, and a constant thorn in Black Panther’s side.

4: T’Channa

T’Channa is T’Challa’s sister in an alternate universe (Earth-2301). She and her siblings were beaten (she implies brutally) by T’Challa in a contest for Wakanda’s throne. As a result, she left Wakanda for Latveria, where she joined forces with Victor von Doom, until she became strong enough to overtake him as the new Doctor Doom. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind seeing T’Channa’s Doom in an upcoming Marvel project. She blends Wakanda’s technology with the magic she learned from Victor von Doom to become a menace, not just to T’Challa, but to the entire world.

3: White Wolf

Hunter is T’Challa’s adopted brother. The two were close as children. They even competed in childish games like footraces. But Hunter was born a foreigner from the African nation Mohannda. He was the sole survivor of a plane crash before T’Chaka, T’Challa’s father, adopted him. Hunter doesn’t look like other Wakandans. He has light skin. When he was young, Hunter was the Wakandan envoy to European nations because he looked like them. This othered Hunter from his fellow Wakandans. Eventually, Ulysses Klaw killed T’Chaka and Ramonda (Hunter’s adoptive parents), and he was orphaned again. Hunter blamed T’Challa for his problems and sought revenge against Klaw. He strives to make the country of his birth, Mohannda, as technologically advanced as Wakanda. Hunter’s nationalism often puts him at odds with T’Challa.

The Winter Soldier has been nicknamed White Wolf in the MCU, so it’s unknown if a White Wolf will make an appearance. Fingers crossed that he will.

2: Erik Killmonger

Born N’Jadaka, Killmonger needs little introduction. Portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, he exploded on the screen in the original Black Panther movie. Killmonger is a Wakandan exile and vows to take the Black Panther mantle. He often challenges T’Challa to ritual combat. Even when he dies, he finds ways to return. One of his most recent reanimations came in the form of an alien symbiote (like Venom). N’Jadaka will never rest until he’s taken his rightful place on Wakanda’s throne. Death can’t even stop him.

1: M’Baku/Man-Ape

M’Baku’s alias Man-Ape has gone out of favor for obvious reasons. It’s problematic. While the MCU has mostly shown M’Baku as one of T’Challa’s allies, he rarely ends up on the same side as the Black Panther. While T’Challa controls the Panther cult, M’Baku is head of the Gorilla cult (hence his alias Man-Ape). In the comics, M’Baku detests Wakanda’s technological revitalization. He seeks to outlaw technology and return the nation to its mystical roots. Often, M’Baku will use greater conflicts to undermine Wakandan leadership. He’s cunning and willing to ally himself with anyone he thinks will grow his standing within Wakanda. Occasionally, that will be Black Panther. But often, he’ll choose Black Panther’s opposition.

I’d love to see Winston Duke’s M’Baku receive more shine in the MCU. I also like how the MCU changed his alias to Great Gorilla. That works.

Did we get the list right? Let us know who you would add or remove in the comments. And wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Top 5 Pixar Movies

Published on August 25, 2025September 2, 2025 by Skye2 Comments

Happy August, Geekly Gang! My bi-monthly movie posts are usually based on a holiday or awareness event. With August, I have no clue what would work, so I decided to make August a wildcard. Instead of holiday or “Month of Honor” movies, I’d like to take this time to talk about one of my most beloved animation studios, Pixar.

I’ve mentioned my preference for Pixar films over Disney films on my movie blog (TGIMovies), just not with the Geekly Gang. I still enjoy classic Disney, but if I had to choose which studio has more personal, relatable, and adult themes in their films, it’d be Pixar. To this day, many of Pixar’s films are household names and have raised a generation of film lovers. Me included. I’d like to honor my favorites in the post. I hope you enjoy!

5) Toy Story

It’s hard not to include a Toy Story film. While I enjoyed Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3, the original has always been my favorite. Despite the now-outdated (yet charming) animation, the magic of childhood is what keeps me coming back to the first Toy Story. When I first saw Toy Story as a kid, it ignited my love for toys and my imagination. The filmmakers knew what it felt like to have a friend you could hold in your hand. Not only that, but the first Toy Story encouraged me to analyze films for deeper meanings.

After countless viewings in my childhood, I started thinking about why I enjoyed Toy Story so much. I broke down the situations, how effective Sid was as an antagonist, and how the toys are really a reflection of their owners. I started doing this with Toy Story at the age of 10. I couldn’t help but include Toy Story on this list. And Pixar wouldn’t be what it is today without Toy Story. Toy Story easily claims the fifth spot, but over time, I’ve grown to love other Pixar films a bit more.

4) WALL-E

I adore WALL-E. The idea, the execution, the visuals, and the experience are unlike anything else in Pixar’s library. Given the lack of dialogue, the characters’ actions and the visuals tell the story. I respect WALL-E for its dedication to visual storytelling while still being a mainstream, big-budget children’s movie. This shows the filmmakers have deep respect for children by letting them draw their own conclusions.

As an adult, my favorite aspect of WALL-E is its message. WALL-E is unequivocally an environmental movie, but it’s unlike any other environmental film. Most others look at the issue from a pessimistic perspective, but WALL-E is (as far as I know) the only optimistic one I’ve seen. WALL-E addresses the issue realistically while urging us to make a change and focusing on the good we can do if we just try. I’ve already reviewed WALL-E at length on my blog; you can check it out here if you’d like to see my more detailed thoughts.

3) The Incredibles

The Incredibles is a movie that pops into my head without warning. I remember watching The Incredibles as a kid, getting engaged in the action, drawing comparisons between the Parrs and my own family, and loving the comedic beats. What sets The Incredibles apart from other superhero films is how it wasn’t based on a comic, and it preceded the comic-book film boom of today. Part of me can’t help but wonder if the success of The Incredibles paved the way for the reintroduction of superhero movies.

Much like other classic Pixar films, The Incredibles is chock-full of things that went over my head as a child. It still appeals to my inner child, but it challenges me in my adulthood by discussing mature topics. I never noticed it before, but The Incredibles deals with concepts like suicide, targeted legal/government actions, civil rights, big business, socio-economic divides, and cultural genocide. When I was young, all I remembered was “No capes,” but now I know what a difficult place the world is. Thanks, Incredibles.

2) Inside Out

Inside Out has a simplistic premise of emotions controlling your actions. I first saw Inside Out when I was approaching my teenage years, and Inside Out managed to put life in perspective. Inside Out’s greatest strength is its realistic depiction of emotions, but my favorite aspect is how it manages to be both one and two stories at the same time. Inside Out is technically a movie about emotions inside the head of Riley Andersen, but it’s really about Riley herself.

We see what Riley’s emotions go through to keep her on track, and the effects of those actions on Riley in the real world. In the process, Inside Out paints a nearly perfect picture of what it feels like as a real-life girl going through a crisis. When I first saw Inside Out, I saw myself in Riley. I felt her inner turmoil. As I’ve gotten older, Inside Out continues to help me work through difficult past experiences while trying to be the best person I can. What a movie.

1) Finding Nemo

A major part of why Finding Nemo claims the top spot is its story and characters. The characters endeared themselves to me, and the situation they found themselves in was engaging. Each character’s distinct personality, relatable goals, and identifiable flaws make them real. I’ve always preferred Marlin’s story over Nemo’s. In fact, Finding Nemo is the movie that taught me how my own parents are more complex than I first thought.

Before I saw Finding Nemo, I thought my parents were benevolent beings who mercifully gave me life and could do no wrong. I was kinda dumb. Finding Nemo showed me how difficult a parent’s life could be. My parents were more like me, and they have significantly more problems. Granted, a not insignificant part of me wanted to put myself in danger so they could “prove” that to me, so I may have originally misunderstood that point in Finding Nemo. This movie holds a special place in my heart. Finding Nemo features fabulous animation, spot-on pacing, timeless characters, and its story is unforgettable. Without a doubt, Finding Nemo is my favorite Pixar movie.

There are plenty of Pixar films that didn’t make this list. This list was difficult to make because there are so many great Pixar films to choose from. Maybe this post can help y’all decide your favorite Pixar films. Do you agree with my picks? What would you change? Are there any Pixar movies you’re excited about? Feel free to leave a comment; we always love hearing from y’all. Also, why not give your parents a hug? I’m sure they miss you. Take care and keep watching movies!

Top 5 Tabletop Games from 1996

Published on August 23, 2025August 23, 2025 by Kyra1 Comment

1996 was a weaker year for board games than the past handful of years, but a banner year for collectible card games. As a result, we’re lifting the CCG embargo for the 1996 list. There will be more than one CCG entry for the top 5 tabletop games from 1996, and it’s a doozy of a collectible card game. Woo hoo!

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’re back with another Top 5 Tabletop Games. We’ll talk about 1996’s board game list soon, but let’s recap the ground rules for which games make these lists before we start.

1: Cultural relevance plays as much of a factor as overall quality. A game might make a list that doesn’t hold up to others of its type, but you must admit the game is everywhere.

2: Only one game from a franchise makes the list. This will become more of an issue the closer we get to games with expansions.

3: Longevity plays a role, too. A game doesn’t have to fly off the shelves today, but it had to have some widespread appeal for a decent time.

**5: Mythos Collectible Card Game (1996)**

We begin this list with an interesting collectible card game, Mythos. Based on the Cthulhu Mythos stories of horror author H.P. Lovecraft, Mythos is also an adaptation of the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game. Mythos combines elements of some traditional card games like Rummy and borrows other concepts from previous CCGs. While the game is playable by two players, the intent is for Mythos to be played by a larger number of players. The main objective of Mythos is to collect points by completing adventures. Adventures are cards that include keywords derived from different card names and types. Once the required cards are in the player’s story deck or on the table, the player can play the adventure and receive its points.

Mythos differs from many collectible card games because of its lack of a combat focus. This is a CCG that attempts to tell a story. Unfortunately, Mythos faltered after its initial release. Later expansions, most notably the non-collectible Standard Game Set, confused consumers and forced the publisher Chaosium to discontinue Mythos only one year after the game’s original release. Still, Mythos shows what collectible card games can achieve. It earned its distinction as one of Pyramid magazine’s The Millennium’s Best Card Games.

**4: Mad Gab (1996)**

Lately, we haven’t included too many mass-market board games in these lists. Mad Gab bucks this trend. It does so, not just because 1996 was a weaker year for board games like I mentioned, but because it was a cultural cornerstone. Mad Gab uses puzzles known as mondegreens (misheard words that could mean something else) and contain small words that, when put together, make a word or a phrase. For example, “These If Hill Wore” when pronounced quickly sounds like “The Civil War.” Mad Gab had two levels, easy and hard. The faster players solve the puzzles, the more points they score.

Mad Gab uses phonetics. It tests players’ ability to process sounds based on simpler English-written sounds into a meaningful word or phrase. Players must read the words aloud. Reading the phrases silently won’t allow someone to decode the puzzles’ meaning because the sounds need to be decoded.

**3: Kill Doctor Lucky (1996)**

We covered Mystery of the Abbey on our last week, and that game revamped Cluedo (or Clue for the United States). Kill Doctor Lucky flips the idea of Clue on its head. Kill Doctor Lucky features a sprawling mansion filled with a variety of dangerous weapons. Cluedo begins after the murder has been committed, and players compete to solve it; Kill Doctor Lucky ends with the murder, and players attempt to kill the titular character, Doctor Lucky.

Players must find a secluded room before slaying Doctor Lucky. You can even gain extra points if you pair a weapon with a specific room. For example, if you kill Doctor Lucky in the wine cellar with a trowel, you’ll gain extra points, alluding to Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado.” As soon as I heard that Clue: The Movie could receive a remake, I wondered why Hollywood didn’t choose to go with a Kill Doctor Lucky movie. Why not lean into the silliness?

**2: Netrunner (1996)**

We have yet another Richard Garfield collectible card games that make one of these lists. Garfield has a knack for stretching the boundaries of collectible card games. That makes sense. He did create this form of game. Like Mythos, Netrunner doesn’t have a focus on combat. It takes place in the Cyberpunk 2020 role-playing game universe (which is also the basis for Cyberpunk 2077) and pits players against each other in asymmetric roles. One player assumes the role of a runner, who tries to break through and steal hidden plans (hacking) of the mega-corporations (the Corp) that run the world. The other player assumes the role of the Corp and attempts to catch the runner.

Beyond its focus on non-combat, Netrunner was unique because most collectible card games are framed as a battle between peers. Netrunner has two very different sides facing off against each other. While the collectible card game only ran for a few years, in 2012, Fantasy Flight Games adapted Netrunner into Android: Netrunner, which is a living card game that ran until 2019. Netrunner has a long and storied history. Its fans are fierce. But it doesn’t claim our top spot on this list. A different collectible card game has that honor.

**1: Pokémon Trading Card Game (1996)**

Pokémon had to claim the top spot for 1996. It’s the second-longest-running collectible card game in history. When Pokémon first released, it sold out so fast that all the trading card manufacturers in the world postponed their other orders (like baseball, football, and basketball cards) to fill the demand for new Pokémon cards. Releasing later the same year as Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow (the original Pokémon video games on the Game Boy) helped catapult Pokémon to legendary status.

Play alternates between players who take several actions during their turn, including playing Basic Pokémon, evolving Pokémon, attaching an Energy card, playing Trainer cards, and using Pokémon abilities and attacks. The first Pokémon Trading Card Game sets played like simplified Magic: The Gathering decks. This helped Pokémon and built a pipeline for Magic. Wizards of the Coast, the producer of Magic: The Gathering, didn’t mind because the Pokémon Company licensed the Pokémon Trading Card Game to Wizards of the Coast, who published eight expansion sets between 1998 and 2003, after which the licensing transferred back to The Pokémon Company. The Pokémon Trading Card Game is one of the few games of this type from the original trading card boom that has stayed in continuous production. I haven’t played Pokémon in years, but I have fond memories. This game’s legacy demands that it takes our top spot.

Did we get the list mostly correct? Let us know which games you’d add in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

5 Famous Indigenous Video Game Characters

Published on August 9, 2025May 4, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day! Geekly is marking the occasion by listing some of our favorite indigenous video game characters. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. This list was a little more difficult to compile than one would first expect. There are plenty of indigenous people in video games. Unfortunately, many of them lean into cultural stereotypes. We’ll do our best to avoid stereotypical indigenous video game characters. With that disclaimer in place, let’s get to our list of 5 famous indigenous video game characters.

Honorable Mention: Poundmaker (Civilization 6)

Pîhtokahanapiwiyi, better known by the title of “Poundmaker,” doesn’t quite make our list because he was an actual Cree leader during the late 19th Century. Poundmaker advocated the rights of indigenous people at a time when the Canadian government was starving them and encroaching on their land. Though he didn’t hold his position for long, Poundmaker would be arrested for alleged treason. He was exonerated in 2019. Poundmaker earned the respect of the indigenous community. When Civilization 6 added the Cree as a playable civilization, they gave the honor of Cree leader to Poundmaker, a real-life Cree hero.

5) Connor (Assassin’s Creed Franchise)

Ubisoft didn’t play it safe when they moved the Assassin’s Creed story to the American Revolution. Instead of glorifying the colonists, Assassin’s Creed 3 shifted the focus toward how indigenous people were affected by a morally ambiguous war that had nothing to do with them. Ratonhnhaké:ton (aka Connor) is an assassin who worked tirelessly to defend his people from colonial oppression. Connor is divided between two worlds, which provides an interesting and unexplored perspective in video games for one of the most significant wars in American history.

4) Mina “Thunderbird” Sky (Rainbow Six Siege)

Video games don’t tend to feature indigenous characters. This trend goes double for indigenous women, so Rainbow Six Siege‘s introduction of Mina “Thunderbird” Sky was a boon. Mina Sky is a Canadian Air Force pilot originally from the Nakota tribe of Saskatchewan. She proudly wears traditional facial tattoos of her people. Her codename “Thunderbird” derives from an old legend about a powerful bird that often protected the Nakota people. Thunderbird is a fitting name for an operator who protects her Nakota and Rainbow Six families.

3) Nuna (Never Alone)

Upper One Games’ Never Alone takes inspiration from a famous Inuit legend. The hero seeks an end to perpetual winter. While traditionally the hero is portrayed as a man, Never Alone casts the role to a young girl. Nuna has to face harsh Arctic weather with only a white fox for company. She faces trials from puzzles to combat, but proves resilient. Rather than using skill points, Never Alone doles out progression through the telling of Inuit stories. This is fitting with the game’s theme of keeping cultural stories alive.

2) Thunderbird (Thunderbird Strike)

The Thunderbird is a mythological creature for various indigenous cultures. Often portrayed as an eagle-like creature, the thunderbird has immense power and serves as a guardian of the natural order. Game designer Elizabeth LaPensée takes this setup for her game Thunderbird Strike, where players control the legendary bird as it defends the land from the oil industry and restores life. Thunderbird Strike modernizes a famous legend and addresses real-life issues of industrial encroachment on indigenous land.

1) Tommy Towadi (Prey)

The original Prey (2006)–not Bethesda’s 2017 spiritual successor, also called Prey–had a story built around an odd mix of indigenous spiritual beliefs and science fiction. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the game has an indigenous protagonist. “Tommy” Towaldi can spiritually reach places others can’t. He often uses this skill to evade death and outwit his alien captors. Interestingly, a game in 2006 featured an indigenous protagonist. Most games that included indigenous characters in 2006 would’ve put them in stereotypical clothes. Tommy wears a leather jacket and jeans. He happens to be indigenous, and Prey (2006) explores his culture well. Almost two decades later, and Tommy still resonates with gamers.

So, what do you think? Who are your favorite indigenous video game characters? Are there any games that feature indigenous characters we should try? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Top 5 Fantastic Four Villains

Published on July 26, 2025April 20, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

Last month Geekly discussed the X-Men’s top 5 villains. Marvel’s first family, the Fantastic Four, has as many contenders for their top five as Marvel’s merry mutants. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’re back with another Top 5 Villains List. With Fantastic Four: First Steps releasing later this week, let’s discuss the Fantastic Four’s top five villains. We know one that one of these villains will make an appearance in Fantastic Four: Four Steps. Who knows? More than one of these villains will make their MCU debut soon.

Honorable Mention: The Frightful Four

The Frightful Four is a cheat; they’re a supervillain group. Supervillain groups began with Spider-Man’s Sinister Six in 1964. The Frightful Four debuted the following year. Members of the Frightful Four have also served in the Masters of Evil (who made the Avengers Top 5 Villains list) and the Sinister Six. In fact, Sandman is an original member of the Frightful Four and the Sinister Six. The Frightful Four have had a rotating roster, but Wizard (the team’s founder) has stayed the team’s one constant.

The Frightful Four takes its lead from its founder, the Wizard. Dr. Bentley Wittman is a twisted version of Reed Richards. But while Doctor Doom (another twisted version of Reed Richards) combines arcane knowledge with technology, the Wizard combines technology with smoke and mirrors. Think of the Wizard as a beefed-up Mysterio.

5: Maker

Our first Fantastic Four villain is another twisted version of Reed Richards. Maker is the Mr. Fantastic of the Marvel Ultimate Universe. In this universe, Reed proposes to Sue after Sue’s father dies. This universe’s Sue rejects Reed. While somewhat sympathetic (the Ultimate Universe’s Reed Richards witnesses the family he and Sue could’ve had while visiting the main Marvel timeline), Reed gives in fully to his selfish tendencies. He turns his anger on his would-be family by torturing Sue. Subsequently, the Human Torch attacked Reed with his hottest flame, which permanently scarred Reed’s face. After a brief exile in the Negative Zone, Reed emerged as the Maker.

Maker vows to mold the world in his image of perfection. The helmet he wears isn’t just for show. It adjusts to his head. Maker will stretch his brain, learning as much as he can of the universe’s secrets. Maker serves as a warning to Reed Richards. He must not give in fully to his self-centered nature.

4: Super-Skrull

Super-Skrull is an alias used by multiple Marvel comics characters. Essentially, Super-Skrull can refer to any enhanced member of the Skrull race. But when comic book fans refer to “Super-Skrull,” they typically mean Kl’rt, who appeared in Fantastic Four #18, and Kl’rt is the “Super-Skrull” who takes this spot. The Skrulls imbued Kl’rt with the Fantastic Four’s powers. Kl’rt possesses all the Fantastic Four’s powers. He’s an obvious threat.

But Kl’rt’s dominance runs deeper. Typically, he has better control over his powers, and his powers are improved versions of the Fantastic Four’s. Since he’s a Skrull, Kl’rt has natural shapeshifting abilities. Throw in hypnosis, and one can see why Super-Skrull Kl’rt was chosen to pave the way for a new Skrull Empire invasion. While Super-Skrull poses a threat to the Marvel universe as a whole, Kl’rt was designed to take on the Fantastic Four and has been a constant thorn in the side of Marvel’s first family.

3: Annihilus

Annihilus is another villain who poses a threat to the entire Marvel universe. Spoiler alert: The same can be said of the remaining villains on this list. Annihilus is an interdimensional insectoid conqueror and tyrant hailing from the Negative Zone, a pocket dimension located within Marvel’s main timeline. He attempted to take over the Negative Zone by wielding the Cosmic Control Rod. In classic Reed Richards fashion, he postulated that he needed the Cosmic Control Rod to treat Susan Richards during her pregnancy, and instead of asking for the rod, he stole it from Annihilus. The team intended to return the rod when they were done using it, but Annihilus took exception to the theft. Leave it to Reed to kick a hornet’s nest.

Since their first meeting, Annihilus and the Fantastic Four have been uneasy allies and foes on various occasions. Annihilus works best as an irritant to the Fantastic Four. The animosity has led to some stellar storylines that get personal.

2: Galactus

Galactus needs little introduction. He’s the big guy in blue and purple. Even if Galactus needed an introduction, he has countless heralds to do that for him. Galactus is more of a force of nature. He needs to feed on a planet’s essence to survive. Earth and Galactus happen to collide, and when they do, the Fantastic Four serve as Earth’s guardians.

But Galactus’s link to the Fantastic Four (and the Marvel universe) runs deeper than the surface. Galactus wields the power cosmic; the Fantastic Four were transformed by cosmic rays, originating from the power cosmic. Galactus also happens to be the last surviving member of the previous multiverse, the Sixth Cosmos. Due to a plague named the Black Winter, the universe began dying, and Galan (Galactus before he became Galactus) searched the cosmos to find a cure. He failed. Galan proposed to the remaining survivors that they die with glory by piloting one of their starships into the heart of the Cosmic Egg. Everyone aboard the vessel died, except for Galan. He fused with the Sentience of the Sixth Cosmos to become Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.

I love Galactus’s origin. It humanizes him. He’d easily take the top spot if it weren’t for one Fantastic Four villain.

1: Doctor Doom

Obviously, Doctor Doom takes the top spot. As mentioned before, Victor von Doom blends magic and science to become one of the Marvel universe’s greatest threats. He rules Latveria with a literal and figurative iron fist and intends to do the same with the rest of the world. Doom believes the world/universe needs a ruler smart and cunning enough to lead. He happens to be the best person for the job.

Even though Doctor Doom threatens the universe, he’s the perfect Fantastic Four villain because of his ties to Reed Richards. The two were college rivals. Doom blames Reed for the accident that cost him his face and drove him to the far reaches of the earth, where he studied magic to coincide with his brilliant scientific mind. Doctor Doom is forever linked to the Fantastic Four. He’s iconic. He’s a threat as big—if not bigger—than Thanos, and I can’t wait to see what the MCU has in store for this character.

Did we get the list right? Let us know who your favorite Fantastic Four villains are in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.