The Ephemeric

In 2025, neurologists Edward Wild and Sarah Tabrizi played leading roles in a landmark breakthrough for Huntington’s disease, a hereditary neurodegenerative condition that has long been fatal and untreatable. 

Their work on the experimental gene therapy AMT-130, developed with uniQure and delivered in a single surgical dose to lower the production of the mutant huntingtin protein, produced the first robust clinical evidence that the course of the disease can be significantly slowed in humans, with participants showing about a 75 % reduction in progression over three years compared with untreated cohorts. This represents the first time a treatment has been shown to modify the underlying disease process rather than only managing symptoms, offering unprecedented hope to patients and families affected by Huntington’s and marking a major step toward future disease-modifying therapies for neurodegeneration.

14. The Debbie for Videogame Platform of the Year
Winner: Steam Deck

If there is one thing I have learned to appreciate this year, it is technology that allows for more flexible and more portable gaming experiences. The kind of gaming that, should one need to quickly exit and attend to a little human, one can do so. Accordingly, the Steam Deck has emerged as an ideal platform for gaming because it blends portability, power, and ecosystem flexibility in a way few other devices do. 

Its custom AMD hardware runs a wide library of PC games natively or through Proton compatibility, letting players access their existing Steam libraries without sacrificing performance. The integrated controls and touchscreen make the experience intuitive on the go, while the open Linux-based system supports customization, emulation, and even non-Steam titles. With a robust UI designed for handheld play and the ability to dock to a TV or monitor, the Steam Deck bridges the gap between home and portable gaming, giving users a true “play anywhere” PC experience without the compromises of traditional handheld consoles. The only downside is a battery life that can quickly dwindle during an intensive gaming session. This is par for the course with any high powered mobile gaming platform, but I look forward to future models improving in this regard.

15. The Debbie for Videogame of the Year 
Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PC, Playstation, Xbox)
Runners Up: Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (PC, Playstation, Xbox), Dispatch (PC, Playstation, Switch)

Let's first give credit to 2025, which was an absolutely smashing year for gaming, one of the finest. Whittling the list down to just a top three was an extraordinary task, and I feel a shout out is in order to the brilliant games of 2025 that, in any other year, may well have been a contender, but did not break into this year's awards solely because of how absurdly competitive the field was this year. Games like The Alters, Citizen Sleeper 2, Octopath Traveler 0, Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, Keep Driving and Skate Story. Phenomenal all, but alas we can only have three games in a top three.

I had a difficult time with this year's winner. Right up until the day of publication I had been going back and forth in my mind about who should get this. As anyone who is at all switched into the world of gaming knows, in 2025 there has been one game above all others that has been hyped by everyone as the clear winner, and not just the best of the year, but one of the best of the decade. That game is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and I can see why it attracts such praise. This western spin on a classic turn-based JRPG demonstrates absolutely stunning storytelling and artistry, from the unique belle époque aesthetic to the unforgettable visuals, music, writing and voice acting. Yet something that I feel has been overlooked by most reviewers is the fact that, underneath all the presentational brilliance lies a distinctly creaky and flawed base of gameplay mechanics and design, from questionable minigames to cumbersome UI design, and a side quest system that is not very well implemented. None of it is "bad" per se, but there are other games in this competition that demonstrate more accomplished design and execution. This left me with the question, should the "best" game not be the one that is the best made, or is it possible for a flawed masterpiece to have so profound an emotional impact so as to compensate for being more rough around the edges? Clair Obscur is a great example of a piece of work that, through the mystifying alchemy of artistic expression, manages to deliver so much more than the sum of its parts and leaves an indelible mark on the player. Ultimately I can't think of any better way to evaluate the success of a piece of art.

By contrast, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a game with which I can find very few flaws. This is a sequel to Warhorse's 2018 RPG, which was quite famously built on a crowdfunded budget, with minimal studio support. The success of that game has allowed for the development of a much more lavish and polished sequel, and it really shows. This is a game which just oozes quality, from the excellent storytelling, voice acting and writing, to the intricately detailed and interactive open world. Everything has been refined and polished, from the notoriously detailed combat system, to the alchemy, bartering and crafting. The stat-based RPG elements are excellent and remarkably diegetic. It's an excellently made RPG that in any other year would be a worthy winner, if not for that one other, arguably more flawed game and its je ne sais quoi.

Just as it was with first and second, third place also came down to an absolutely brutal death match between Dispatch and The Alters. While I ended up going for the former, if you haven't played The Alters please do so. It's a delightful twist on the base/squad management genre that manages to be funny, thought-provoking, and surprisingly sweet. As for Dispatch, this game is fantastic. A Telltale-style narrative adventure that, at times, feels more like an interactive TV series than a game. Essentially a superhero workplace comedy, this game is blessed with phenomenal animation, genuinely hilarious writing, and an allstar voice cast that includes the likes of Aaron Paul, Jeffrey Wright, and Laura Bailey. The storytelling is absolutely on point and delivered with a surprising amount of style and emotional heft. Frankly, if this was a TV series, it would be one of the best of the year.

16. The Debbie for Company of the Year
Winner: Baboodle

Any parent knows the pain of making sure you have all the baby equipment you need, especially when traveling. strollers and cribs are expensive, take up a lot of space, and don't even last that long before the child becomes too big for use. Baboodle offers a flexible rental subscription model that allows families to access high quality strollers, cribs, carriers (some of which is brand new) for just the period of time you need it, without the full expense or clutter of ownership. The flexibility and service of the business is key, delivering to your door and collecting, with minimal hassle. At the same time, the company’s circular approach also reduces waste and extends product lifecycles, helping parents reduce their environmental footprint. By tackling both economic and ecological challenges with a simple, elegant solution, Baboodle exemplifies a business built for the needs and values of 2025. 

Sports

17. The Debbie for Footballer of the Year 
Winner: Ousmane Dembélé - Paris Saint-Germain

It has been an excellent year for the man at the centre of arguably the best team in the world right now. Ousmane Dembélé's comeback has been remarkable. Historic injury issues had seen Dembélé dismissed as just another failed prospect who never lived up to his potential. Now he is a genuine world superstar. 2025 saw the forward instrumental to Paris Saint-Germain's success as the French side secured a historic treble, including Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Champions League. His performances earned him the Ballon d’Or and The Best Fifa Men’s Player awards for 2025, affirming both peer and fan recognition of his influence on the pitch and his evolution into a complete, world-class forward who defined the season for club and country.

18. The Debbie for Young Footballer of the Year 
Winner: Lamine Yamal - Barcelona

There are a few players in world football today who would be contenders for this prize. Some people may see that I have picked Lamine Yamal and think "oh him again?". It feels like he has been around for years, yet somehow the kid is still only 18. It is this which sets Yamal apart from the likes of Estêvão, Max Downman and Désiré Doué. Yamal is not just an exciting prospect with potential, he is already a world class footballer who can play at the highest level in the world with consistency even at his age. That is unusual, that is rare. In a year when youth often struggles to translate hype into impact, Yamal’s consistency, adaptability, and moments of genuine brilliance marked him as the most compelling young talent in world football.

19. The Debbie for Football Manager of the Year 
Winner: Sarina Wiegman - England Women's Team

Choosing a winner from the women's game may raise eyebrows from some people, but this is no political statement. Sarina Wiegman is the real deal. Wiegman's three European Championship titles in a row (one with Netherlands, two with England) may never be matched. It's mind boggling to even think about it. Add to this that she has also been back to back World Cup runner up, which makes her the first manager in either the men's or women's game to reach five major international cup finals in a row, and it's clear. Truly there is no manager anywhere in the sport with this incredible level of consistency and excellence.

20. The Debbie for Football Club of the Year 
Winner: Paris Saint-Germain

With a squad brimming with world-class stars who excelled both individually and as a unit, Paris Saint-Germain delivered a season to remember, defined by attacking flair, defensive solidity, and mental resilience in big moments. Their success speaks for itself, a historic treble in the bag including a first ever Champions League victory. Really the only black mark on PSG's 2025 is their failure to claim the inaugural Fifa Club World Cup at the hands of a resurgent (if ephemeral) Chelsea, but in spite of this there are few in the world who would argue against PSG being the team of the moment.


Current Events

21. The Debbie for Politician of the Year 
Winner: Mark Carney

So there are a few people in the running for this award, but ultimately my pick for 2025 goes to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney took leadership of the Liberal party at possibly the worst imaginable moment. In the run up to an election where his party trailed in the polls by double digits, in a nation weary after a full decade of Liberal leadership, with a newly hostile American President across the border talking of violent annexation. But anyone who has followed Carney's career knows that this is a man who can handle immense pressure and grave circumstances with grace and skill. That he managed the most unlikely of electoral turnarounds and managed to more or less calm border tensions to the south speaks to this. Carney may not be the flashiest, but he is a steady hand at a time when it is most needed.

22. The Debbie for Scandal of the Year 
Winner: The Epstein Files

I mean it really can't be anything other than this can it? This is hardly a new story, but in 2025 the Epstein Files finally, and belatedly, started to reach fever pitch. This refers to all the Government files relating to Jeffrey Epstein and his ring of child abuse and sex-trafficking, which is said to include a number of highly prominent clients. One person very much embroiled in this affair is, of course, the current President of the United States, Donald Trump. Donald Trump has been long known to have been a very close associate and friend of Epstein and a frequent attendee at his events and visitor to his island, but the revelations we have seen in the past year have at last started to shed a light on just how close he may have been. Allegations of rape, lewd, sexually explicit conversations and communications, references to secrets and "love of nubile young women", not to mention what appears to be a blatant unlawful cover up of those documents. It's no longer rumour and speculation. What happens next will be a massive test of America's moral character. Do they finally address this situation, or continue to shrug at the apparent perpetration and cover up of some of the darkest crimes imaginable.

23. The Debbie for Cause of the Year
Winner: Combatting toxicity and misinformation on social media

This is certainly not a new story, but 2025 has been a year to really cast a spotlight on the dangers of social media, from election-interfering misinformation, to bullying, toxicity and violent crime. There exists a fundamental tension in the world today between liberal western society's desire for openness and free speech, and the damage that can be done when those freedoms are abused, and for whatever reason, no one has yet come up with a satisfactory answer. Censorship is decidedly not the answer, as the UK Government is starting to learn. It is going to require better education, better transparency, and light-handed but essential moderation. I don't have all the answers, but this is the area that most sorely requires action from the powers that be, but sensible, empirically tested actions, rather than performative and reactionary actions.

24. The Debbie for Person of the Year 
Winner: Demis Hassabis

There has been a lot of talk in 2025 of AI and the significance of their creators on the world today. Of these creators, Demis Hassabis stands out as The Ephemeric's Person of the Year because he exemplifies how advanced technology can be harnessed in service of human progress rather than disruption alone. Through his leadership in AI research, most notably its application to biology, medicine, and scientific discovery, Hassabis helped shift the narrative around artificial intelligence from fear and speculation to practical benefit, accelerating breakthroughs that would have taken decades by traditional means. His work has shown that AI can deepen our understanding of life itself, opening new paths toward treating disease and solving complex global problems, while his emphasis on responsibility and long-term thinking offers a hopeful model for how powerful tools should be developed. 

Social & Lifestyle

25. The Debbie for Restaurant of the Year 
Winner: Klein Breda

There are lots of restaurants that can offer elaborate tasting menus with creative and aesthetically pleasing dishes, but there is an art to running a restaurant that can do so whilst maintaining a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Klein Breda in Amsterdam manages to thread this needle, and it does so through a number of methods. From the cosy, casual ambience, to the friendly and flexible service. The menu is accommodating to dietary restrictions and offers flexibility as to the number of dishes. Most surprisingly, the prices are quite reasonable, providing value for money that you rarely see with this type of restaurant. And of course, most importantly, the food is delectable.

26. The Debbie for New Restaurant of the Year 
Winner: Casi Casa

Our pick of the year's new restaurants goes to Casi Casa in Zurich. From the entrepreneurs behind celebrated Zurich establishments such as Weisses Rössli, Casi Casa is a stylish Latin America influenced restaurant, bar and event space. It works for brunch, lunch and dinner, with great food, drinks, and even family-friendly support. The event space opens up for live music, dancing and DJ nights, as well as films and sporting events. An excellent and versatile addition to your Zurich rotation. 

27. The Debbie for Bar of the Year 
Winner: The Pulitzer Bar

A returning champion of Debbie Awards past. This year this highly coveted award goes to The Pulitzer Bar of Amsterdam, a stylish and cosy cocktail venue from the hotel of the same name. Adorned with books, classic velvety armchairs, and rotating themed cocktail lists, there is certainly no more whimsical a setting to enjoy a good snifter in 2019. But this is no mere novelty bar, far from it. It is the high quality of the setting, and the creativity of the drinks that makes Pulitzer a standout establishment, and somewhere that everyone should visit in Amsterdam.


28. The Debbie for Destination of the Year
Winner: Stockholm

Offering a uniquely rich blend of historic charm, cultural depth, and natural beauty, Stockholm invites exploration from its atmospheric cobblestone streets in Gamla Stan and grand royal palaces to world-class museums easily paired with scenic waterfront strolls or visits to the vast nearby archipelago of over 30,000 islands. The city’s distinctive "Scandi" crafts and design makes for an excellent shopping destination, while the food scene encompasses so much more than one might expect. 


29. The Debbie for Wine of the Year 
Winner: Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2021

This year's recipient of the wine Debbie comes from a pairing option we had at dinner. Suffice it to say, it was good enough that top ups were ordered. From the cool, maritime-influenced slopes of Stellenbosch, the Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2021 invites with aromas of lime and peach, with a lush yet textured mouthfeel. The citrus notes are balanced by a fresh mineral-tinged finish. This is a beautifully crafted Chardonnay that rewards both immediate enjoyment and careful cellaring.


30. The Debbie for Tipple of the Year 
Winner: The Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Company, Lyserød

A first for this blog as we award this prestigious prize to a non-alcoholic beverage. Non-alcoholic options for those looking to engage in some convivial beveraging are all the trend right now, and every year we see more and more offerings that are good enough to become, not just an option for those who can't drink, but a worthwhile choice for anybody. This year the prize goes to The Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Company's Lyserød, a delightful and refined non-alcoholic sparkling beverage that elevates what might once have been a simple soft drink into a sophisticated alternative to rosé wine. Crafted from a carefully curated blend of organic teas including oolong, hibiscus, and Silver Needle white tea, Lyserød offers intense fruity complexity while remaining comfortably dry and smooth on the palate. As part of a broader trend toward elevated non-alcoholic drinks, Lyserød stands out for its nuanced taste, thoughtful craftsmanship, and versatility with a wide range of foods.


Well there you have it, another year signed, sealed and delivered. Here's to 2026 being a year of peace, good health, and progress. See you there!