Best Anime to Watch Over This Holiday Season – Favorites from 2025

By
Douglas
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Final Weapon Best Anime Holiday 2025

Christmas time is here, a time for joy and time for cheers. For some fans, the Christmas break gives us that brief window to watch and catch up all our favorite shows, including anime. 2025 has been a big year for anime, and what a way to round up the year by kicking back to watch your favorite anime. No matter what you’re looking for this holiday season, these anime selections offer fresh perspectives on familiar themes of family, friendship, and the spirit of giving that defines the Christmas season. Without further ado, Final Weapon has the best anime and fan-favorites from 2025 that you need to watch this holiday season on Crunchyroll. 

Best Anime to Watch in Holiday Season 2025

Buddy Daddies

SPY X FAMILY Season 3 might have dominated the fall season, but Christmas belongs to the comedic hitmen turned daddy duo. The story follows Kazuki and Rei, two hitmen trying to make a living. On one of their jobs, they encounter the daughter of the man they had just killed. With nowhere else to go, they take her in, and she immediately becomes the light in their eyes. Hence, with no prior babysitting knowledge, the two must raise their new daughter while keeping her a secret. Buddy Daddies crafted its own unique identity over time, making it a must watch.

Sanda

Sanda

Science Saru’s newest brainchild, Sanda, took the world by storm this year. The show’s visuals and impeccable story captivated many anime fans from episode one. The story takes place in a world where children are valued as a scarce resource. At Daikoku Welfare Academy, students regard Santa Claus as a myth, but to the adults, Santa is a fugitive. The story revolves around Shiori Fuyumura, a young girl searching for her best friend, who has been missing for six months. Her quest to find her friend leads her to confront Sanda, a boy in her class whom she believes is a descendant of Santa Claus, the only one who can grant her wish. The anime is available on Prime Video.

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity anime trailer

The anime adaptation of Saka Mikami’s hit manga series is not just in contention for best romance anime of the year, but a contender for the anime of the year. It delivers a thrilling Romeo-and-Juliet-like story with characters you can’t help but fall in love with. The story centers around two rival schools: Chidori High, for delinquent boys, and the prestigious Kikyo Girls’ High. It follows the story of Rintaro, a Chidori High student who may look like a delinquent but has a heart of gold. While working in his parents’ shop, he meets Kaoruko, and the two immediately hit it off. However, things get complicated when he learns she is a student of Kikyo High. To make it all worse, she is oblivious to the animosity between the two schools. The anime adaptation of The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity is streaming on Netflix.

The Apothecary Diaries

The Apothecary Diaries

Looking for an immersive anime to get you and your loved ones smiling, look no further than The Apothecary Diaries. The amazing anime has stolen the hearts of many fans with its fantastic story and characters. The story follows Maomao, who lived a comfortable life with her apothecary father. However, her life suddenly changes when she is sold to the Emperor’s palace as a slave. While in the palace, her quirky attitude and medicinal knowledge shine, catching the attention of Jinshi, a palace official. Now, Maomao uses her wits and medicinal knowledge to navigate the intricate palace drama. The anime is available on Crunchyroll.

Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf

Spice and Wolf is a heartwarming tale with the right amount of sweetness and a sprinkle of economics. The story follows a wandering merchant, Kraft Lawrence, whose fortunes take a turn when he picks up Holo, a beautiful wolf deity, who seeks to return home. The two strike a deal and set out on their journey together. Holo helps with his business dealings while Lawrence helps her return to the north. The story is an amazing watch for fans looking for a thrilling romance that keeps you on your toes. Fans can watch the anime on Crunchyroll

Bocchi The Rock

This hilarious anime will leave you laughing and smiling from the very first scene. The anime follows Hitori Gotoh, a socially awkward girl who one day hopes to be a rock musician. Despite her immense talent, her shyness has always held her back. One day, she runs into Nijika Ijichi, who invites her to join her newly-formed Kessuko Band. The anime is a gripping tale of friendship and personal growth. The anime is available on Crunchyroll.

Sucker Punch Studio Announces New Leadership

By
Saras Rajpal
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Sucker Punch Studio Announces New Leadership

Sucker Punch and Sony have announced that new leadership will take over the company starting on January 1. Specifically, Brian Fleming will pass his role as studio chief to Jason Connell and Adrian Bentley. 

Fleming will step down from his role and depart the company for reasons that are currently unknown. A post from Sony Interactive Entertainment outlines the experience of both Jason Connell and Adrian Bentley:

“Jason and Adrian have been instrumental in shaping the creative and technical direction of Sucker Punch in recent years. Jason, who served as Co-Creative Director on the Ghost franchise, has helped define the studio’s visual identity and storytelling style, bringing cinematic depth and emotional resonance to PlayStation players around the world.

Adrian, as Technical Director, has led the studio’s engineering and production efforts, driving innovation across development tools and game systems that make Sucker Punch’s worlds so immersive. Together, they represent the perfect blend of creative vision and technical excellence that has always set the studio apart…

Brian’s vision and leadership have shaped the studio’s culture of creativity and collaboration and established a foundation that Jason, Adrian, and the entire team will build on as they look to the future.”

Sucker Punch’s most recent game, Ghost of Yōtei, is available now on PlayStation 5. Final Weapon reviewed the game, rating it a 4/5, and described it as a “great evolution by the foundation that Sucker Punch built with Ghost of Tsushima. While the story feels like a retread of every other revenge story of the past few years, complete with the same frustrating pitfalls, the characters, new gameplay mechanics, and extra content make for a game that will hook you from beginning to end.”

Sgt. Frog 20th Anniversary Film Reveals Trailer and Theme Song

By
Saras Rajpal
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Sgt. Frog 20th Anniversary Film Reveals Trailer and Theme Song

The official website for the upcoming Sgt. Frog 20th anniversary anime film has revealed a new trailer and theme song for the movie. It is titled Gekijōban ☆ Keroro Gunsō Fukkatsu Shite Sokkō Chikyū Metsubō no Kiki de Arimasu! (Sgt. Frog the Movie: The Earth is in Mortal Peril as Soon as We Come Back!), and will release in theaters on summer 2026. 

Soshina and ano perform the theme song, titled “Mata Kaettekita KERO! to MARCH.” The staff of the movie is as follows:

  • Supervising Director/Scriptwriter: Yūichi Fukuda
  • Director: Fumitoshi Oizaki
  • Character Designer: Satoshi Koike

Check out the trailer for the Sgt. Frog 20th anniversary film below:

Sunrise’s anime based on the manga of the same name initially ran from 2004 to 2011. It spawned five feature films and two seasons, the latter of which released on DVD via Funimation. Discotek licensed the series and started re-releasing it on Blu-ray in 2021. The anime is available to watch via Crunchyroll, which describes it as follows:

Keroro is Sergeant Frog – the leader of a platoon of warriors sent to conquer planet Earth. But when the amphibious invaders discovered how much humans enjoy dissecting their comrades, the troops were scattered, the mission was aborted, and Keroro was abandoned.

Now, this once proud soldier spends more time wielding a vacuum than he does the weapons of war. It’s a far cry from the glory of battle, but hey, at least he’s got his own room. And though the invasion may have slowed to a hop, Sergeant Frog still occasionally yearns to overcome his karaoke addiction and reassemble his troops.

Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days Release Dates, Schedule and Episodes

By
Soul Kiwami
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Yano-kun's Ordinary Days

A captivating romance story between an unlucky high school boy and a worried class rep begins in the exciting anime adaptation of Yui Tamura’s Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days manga. As this romance anime takes over the fall 2025 season, Final Weapon has everything you need to know about the release dates and schedule for all episodes of Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days.

The story of Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days focuses on the budding relationship between Tsuyoshi Yano and Kiyoko Yoshida. Kiyoko sees Tsuyoshi come into school injured, and she becomes to follow him out of concern. While she observes his unlucky daily school life, she finds the resolve to support him, and the sparks of romance fly.

Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days Anime Release Dates, Exact Premiere Time and Schedule

©田村結衣・講談社／「矢野くんの普通の日々」製作委員会

New Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days episodes will release on Tuesdays at 9:40 a.m. PST / 12:40 p.m. EST on Crunchyroll. Episodes will be released with English subs. Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days will run for 12 episodes this season.

Here are the release dates and schedule for Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days (subject to change):

  • Episode 1 – September 30 – OUT NOW
  • Episode 2 – October 7 – OUT NOW
  • Episode 3 – October 14 – OUT NOW
  • Episode 4 – October 21 – OUT NOW
  • Episode 5 – October 28 – OUT NOW
  • Episode 6 – November 4 – OUT NOW
  • Episode 7 – November 11 – OUT NOW
  • Episode 8 – November 18 – OUT NOW
  • Episode 9 – November 25 – OUT NOW
  • Episode 10 – December 2 – OUT NOW
  • Episode 11 – December 9 – OUT NOW
  • Episode 12 – December 16 – OUT NOW

New episodes of Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days will premiere at the following times (subject to change):

  • Pacific Standard Time (PDT): 9:40 a.m.
  • Mountain Standard Time (MDT): 10:40 a.m.
  • Central Standard Time (CDT): 11:40 a.m.
  • Eastern Standard Time (EDT): 12:40 p.m.
  • Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): 5:40 p.m.

OP/ED, Cast and Staff

FANTASTICS
iScream

FANTASTICS will perform the opening theme song “POP LIFE.” iScream performs the ending theme song “Better Off”

The cast of Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days includes:

  • Kōhei Amasaki as Tsuyoshi Yano
  • Yuka Nukui as Kiyoko Yoshida
  • Taito Ban as Hashiba
  • Rie Takahashi as Izumi
  • Atsumi Tanezaki as Mei
  • Ryōta Iwasaki as Tanaka
  • Konomi Kohara as Okamoto

Shinpei Matsuo is directing the anime at Ajia-do. Deko Akao is writing the script, while Toshihisa Kaiya handles character design. Hideakira Kimura is composing the music, and Yayoi Tateishi is the anime’s sound director. Bit Groove Promotion is responsible for sound production, while Nippon TV Music handles music production. 

Where Can I Watch Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days?

©田村結衣・講談社／「矢野くんの普通の日々」製作委員会

Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days is streaming on Crunchyroll worldwide excluding Japan, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Korea and Taiwan. In Japan, the anime is airing on Nippon TV and affiliate channels, along with Hulu, U-NEXT, and several other streaming services.

What is Yano-kun’s Ordinary Days About?

Yui Tamura initially released the manga in June 2021 via Kodansha’s Comic Days, and the series is still ongoing.

Lastly, here’s an overview, via MyAnimeList: 

Always reliable and kind-hearted, Kiyoko Yoshida is named the president of Class 2-1. On the first day of school, a boy named Yano Tsuyoshi arrives late, covered in injuries. Due to her caring nature, in addition to Yano being seated right next to her, Kiyoko cannot help but worry about him and how he got those injuries to begin with. After cautiously following him home one day, she learns the truth—he is just extremely clumsy.

Kiyoko soon finds herself constantly worrying about Yano, both at school and at home, not realizing that she is falling in love with him. Armed with a first aid kit, Kiyoko makes it her mission to care for Yano’s mishap-related injuries as a romance between the two begins to blossom.

Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Returns Special Edition Patch Announced

By
Saras Rajpal
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Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Returns Special Edition Patch Announced

Limited Run Games has announced that a new patch will release for Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Returns Special Edition in the coming weeks. It will be available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. 

In a post, Limited Run Games state that “our community of fans comes first. Dedicated to celebrating the classics, our Carbon team will be patching Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Returns.” It promises to “give fans like you the ability to enjoy Tomba! 2 the way you remember it, and include both the original Japanese soundtrack AND the US soundtrack!”

More details about the full patch notes and its release date will likely surface soon. Tomba 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition initially released on December 15. Limited Run Games describes the game as follows:

Tomba is back for more in Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition, a celebration of the often overlooked sequel to the legendary platformer, Tomba!

Evil Pigs have invaded a nearby land and Tomba’s friend Tabby has disappeared without a trace! Without hesitation, Tomba leaps into the sea to find his friend and save the day!

Tomba! 2 was first published back in 1999, and is triumphantly returning in this jam-packed Special Edition release, containing the following features: 

    • Save Anywhere! There’s no longer any need to make frequent trips to save points.
    • Rewind! If you miss a jump or get hit, no problem, you can try again!
    • A museum chock full of classic original packaging and manuals, advertisements, merchandise photos, previously unseen game design documents, and high resolution original artwork

Ariana and the Elder Codex is Coming to the West on March 24, 2026

By
Soul Kiwami
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Ariana and the Elder Codex Steam

Idea Factory International has announced Compile Heart and HYDE’s action platformer Ariana and the Elder Codex will release on March 24, 2026 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 in the west, followed by the PC (Steam) version in spring 2026. Ariana and the Elder Codex will be available physically and digitally in North America and Europe via the IFI Online Store.

The Steam version will include English and Japanese voiceover options, along with English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese subtitle options.

Here’s an overview of the new game, via Idea Factory International:

The Librarian Ariana’s mission is to repair the Seven Hero Codices, which have been altered. Due to the terrible damages, magic has vanished from the world.

By utilizing special Librarian magic that allows her to enter Codices, Ariana seeks to mend the books to bring back magic. Can Ariana safely repair each tome and unravel the mysteries hidden within the Library?

Key Features

      • Restore the books, reclaim the magic — Venture into the Seven Hero Codices as Ariana, defeating enemies to earn new Magic Spells and Skills that grant access to previously unreachable areas. Restore Repair Points by taking on platforming and combat challenges that put your abilities to the test. Clear Repair Points as quickly as possible for permanent HP boosts and more!
      • Librarian Magic materializes — With 30+ unlockable Magic Spells and Skills, mix and match abilities across six slots as you embark on your journey to repair the altered Codices. Experiment with different combinations to discover what best suits your playstyle.
      • Clash with the guardians of the altered Codices — Face formidable bosses, each with a devastating arsenal that will test your combat and platforming skills. Dodge spells, time your attacks, and stay on top of your health to prevail.
      • Harness the power of Magic Items — Mitigate challenges by unlocking, crafting, and equipping Magic Items to boost stats and gain buffs such as elemental boosts, increased critical hits, reduced knockback, and more!

Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.5 Special Program is Set for December 19

By
Soul Kiwami
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Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.5 Special Program stream

HoYoverse has announced the Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.5 “To Be Fuel for the Night” Special Program livestream will be held on Friday, December 19 at 19:30 (UTC+8) / 6:30 a.m. EST. The upcoming broadcast will have the development team reveal all of the new information regarding the Version 2.5 update for Zenless Zone Zero, including new story content and events.

According to HoYoverse, a new redemption code will be released during the Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.5 Special Program livestream on YouTube and Twitch. There will be “special on-site” guests as HoYoverse reveals new details and “a preview of the final battle in Zenless Zone Zero Season 2.

Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.5 Special Program

 

The stream begins at the following times: 

  • Pacific Standard Time: 3:30 a.m. PST
  • Mountain Standard Time: 4:30 a.m. MST
  • Central Daylight Time: 5:30 a.m. CST
  • Eastern Daylight Time: 6:30 a.m. EST
  • Greenwich Mean Time: 11:30 a.m. GMT

To celebrate the 5th anniversary of HoYoFair, HoYoFair Fan Concert 2026, a fan art-driven music festival organized by 54 Entertainment and CHARISMA TANUKI PRODUCTIONS, will be held in the first half of 2026 in the US (New York, Dallas, and Los Angeles), UK (London), France (Paris), and Germany (Berlin). The concert series will feature immersive audiovisual performances across multiple games from HoYoverse, including Honkai: Star Rail, Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and Honkai Impact 3rd.

Zenless Zone Zero is available now for PlayStation 5, Android, iOS, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Windows and Epic Games Store. 

Vampire Crawlers Gets a New Gameplay Preview Trailer

By
Soul Kiwami
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Vampire Crawlers wishlists

Vampire Survivors developer poncle released a new gameplay preview trailer for Vampire Crawlers, a dungeon crawling spin-off the popular 2D roguelite action game. poncle also confirmed that Vampire Crawlers exceeded more than 170,000 wishlists on Steam already, and the gameplay trailer shows enemies and icons designed by Glauber Kotaki, one of the original artists from Vampire Survivors.

Vampire Crawlers launches in 2026 for Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Windows, Steam, and Epic Games Store.

Here’s an overview of the game, via Steam:

In a dark world, a new adventure begins. Explore maps, level up powers, kill monsters. Find treasures.

From the somehow triple-BAFTA‑winning creators of Vampire Survivors, Vampire Crawlers: the turbo wildcard from Vampire Survivors turns the snowballing thrill of Vampire Survivors into a turbo turn‑based, card‑driven BLOBBER with rogue-lite elements. Build busted decks, explore familiar dungeons from a new perspective, and unleash world‑ending combos. Either take your time and be tactical, or play turns as fast as you humanly can: the outcome is always accurate!

What is Vampire Crawlers about?

      • Snowballing, turn‑based carnage: Play cards in ascending mana order to land combos; each step multiplies the next card’s effect. Use Wilds to extend the stack and keep going to 10, 20, 30… Can you reach infinite?
      • Pick your pace: Either take your time and be tactical, or play turns as fast as you humanly can: the outcome is always accurate!
      • Deck-Building: Accumulate experience and level up to gain new cards, headbutt chests for customization gems and power‑ups; chase weapon evolutions and summon survivors to trigger cascade of effects and break the game.
      • Dungeon Crawling: Explore dungeons packed with something seldom seen in Vampire Survivors: functioning walls. And then all sorts of unique treasures and interactions. Find the shovel to dig into the next floor, that will most likely take place in the clouds!

Wishlist now and get ready to Master the Turboturn!

FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time ‘The Sinister Broker Bazario’s Schemes’ DLC Releases Near Christmas

By
Soul Kiwami
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LEVEL-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has announced the free “The Sinister Broker Bazario’s Schemes” DLC for FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is planned for release around Christmas this year. More details about the DLC will be revealed at a later date.

Here’s an overview of the new “The Sinister Broker Bazario’s Schemes” DLC for FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time, via the game’s official website:

Major free DLC “The Sinister Broker Bazario’s Schemes” will be released this December.

The story unfolds on Ginormosia, which is undergoing a mysterious transformation.

This major DLC is scheduled for release this December, alongside the unveiling of a brand-new logo.

At the heart of the story stands Bazario, a new character whose unsettling grin appears to conceal countless secrets.

As a familiar jewel begins to glow, the stage shifts to Ginormosia, now enveloped in a darker and more ominous atmosphere.

Players can look forward to battles against new monsters, the appearance of a mysterious smoke-belching artifact, and the discovery of brand-new equipment and mounts.

Please stay tuned for the release of “The Sinister Broker Bazario’s Schemes”!

FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is available now for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game costs $62.58 on Nintendo Switch 2. Moreover, players can upgrade their Nintendo Switch copy to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition by purchasing an upgrade pack for $2.59. Thus far, FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time has exceeded 1.2 million copies sold worldwide.

BlazBlue Entropy Effect X Introduces Playable Character Naoto Kurogane

By
Soul Kiwami
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BlazBlue Entropy Effect X Naoto Kurogane

Astrolabe Games, Arc System Works, and 91Act have revealed a first look at Naoto Kurogane, one of the fan-favorite BlazBlue characters in roguelite action game BlazBlue Entropy Effect X. BlazBlue Entropy Effect X players can progress and unlock the potential of Naoto Kurogane, who uses his own blood and transforms it into a variety of weapons in combat. His distinct and melee-based combat system rewards players for precise, rhythmic inputs and overall mastery of combos.

BlazBlue Entropy Effect X will launch on February 12, 2026 worldwide for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders for the BlazBlue Entropy Effect X Digital Standard Edition ($24.99) and Deluxe Edition ($34.99) are available now on PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Nintendo eShop.

Deluxe Edition contents include the BlazBlue Character Palette [The Other Side] (14 characters, additional palettes for future characters), BlazBlue Character Palette [X-File] (14 Characters, no additional palettes for future characters), original soundtrack (5 sets, 91 tracks), and four chibi avatars.

Further, physical Deluxe Editions for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch are available to pre-order and release the same day worldwide. It’s worth noting that all Deluxe Edition bonus content may be offered separately later as upgrade DLC for the Standard Edition, and all content will be available at the time of release. 

What’s more, all versions will support English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, and Russian language options.

Here’s an overview of the game, via Astrolabe Games:

Intro

BlazBlue Entropy Effect X is a roguelite action game set in the BlazBlue universe, featuring striking 2D visuals, stylish, fast-paced combat, and precise, responsive controls. Command a line-up of unique characters from the renowned BlazBlue franchise and dive into an
unparalleled action experience.

Story

At a mysterious domain, known as “the Lab”, a group of elite researchers race to save a collapsing word; however, despite their efforts to date, Dr. Mercurius, head of the laboratory, still warns the world’s downfall is near.

In a last-ditch effort, the urgent Research of Possibility initiative seeks to collect Shards of Possibility –a special fragment of the world that could forestall the seemingly inevitable destruction. These shards lie within the Sea of Possibility, a realm between worlds, beyond the bounds of reality.

The protagonist, Ace, is the only being capable of diving into this sea. Guided by the elite researchers at the Lab, Ace descends again and again in pursuit of salvation—until strange visions take hold and his body begins to change. As Ace continues to dive, countless memories flood his mind, and the truth behind the collapsing world– and the research itself – begins to surface….

“……The Power of Azure.”

Lastly, BlazBlue Entropy Effect is available now for Android via Google Play Store, iOS via App Store, and PC via Steam.

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