Our Household Unofficial Game of the Year List for This Year
Alright, what did you think of this year in your family? Did it seem all as good as one might claim on Facebook? Packed with A-grades for your offspring and riotous themed fancy dress birthday parties for the parents? Or was it a sea of disappointment with only rare entertaining flotsam? And was any of it actually real, or have we all become seven-fingered AI slop beings with perfect teeth?
I've assembled my thoughts together, willing or unwilling, to discuss the most important thing in a calendar year: which video games we were obsessed with the most. So here goes:
Title First Daughter Played the Most
Pikmin
"Is it impossible to pick just one?"
"It’s not my personal ranking."
Meanwhile, on mobile, she's invested time in Cityscapes and "searching for reasonable healthcare."
"Digitally?"
"In real life."
Release Middle Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I don’t play games on my phone." He was offended that I even asked. I respect that.
Game Youngest Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
She's attempting to get into drama school, but when she took a break from vocals, she was playing Resident Evil. She also spoke at length in great detail about her achievements on The Sims, where her avatar has a successful utopia with infinitely better healthcare than her older sibling has in real life.
Game the Partner Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time
She began the year at 60% completion and finished the year at 82%. She's in it for the long run not a sprint for her. Her phone game: something called Woodle, where you have to extract pins.
Game I Found Amusing That My Kids for Still Playing
Minecraft
Whenever I see my adult son playing Minecraft, I give him a hard time like a cross between a classic comedy bit. When he protests, I reply that I am doing this to prepare him so he can be a man and play games for mature audiences. It’s a very Scottish father/son relationship.
Most Impressive Gaming Family Member 2025
Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024
There was no contest for this one. She is incredible. More impressive than I was at my peak gaming days in my prime.
Title I Played the Most
Marvel Snap
Nothing came close to the hours I spent on this remarkably well-crafted deck building competitive game, with its regularly updated range of cards and game variations.
Game I Wish I Had Played Less
Marvel Snap
The catch about games that constantly evolve their range is you eventually realize and see it is all just an attempt to lure you into fear-of-missing-out driven microtransactions. So enjoyment soured halfway through the year and it got uninstalled.
Title I Wish I Had Played More
Doom: The Dark Ages
Excellent reinvention of a classic franchise. Immersive atmosphere from the start. I wish I could dispatch my demons so effectively in real life.
Title I Wish I Had Played More (Cerebral Edition)
Blue Prince
I refuse to rush this stunning, original game and I just was short on the time or headspace to give it what it required earlier this year. With relatives staying over the festive period, I plan to dive into this in the early morning after family time.
Title That Was a Lifesaver When I Needed It
Balatro
I'm aware Balatro was last year's breakout game, but I was late to it. And it is exceptional. It just gets absolutely everything right. The core concept is a brilliant concept, but the powers behind the different joker cards are so creative it has become a game I would happily play any time. Throw in the cleverness of the card design, and this is an absolute high-water mark of gaming. I wouldn't mind being stuck in a broken-down lift for hours just so I have an opportunity but play it.
Title I Got the Most Backlash For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I experienced a bit of backlash when I wrote about how a technical issue in another game soured the experience for me, but that other title is still a massive gaming achievement in terms of production values – which I appreciated even more after experiencing Outer Worlds 2. So my appreciation goes out to the commenter who took the time to write in to say that my Outer Worlds 2 review was "bitter, confused resentment". I mention that verbatim, because I respect the passion, and they are obviously an astute judge of character.
Game Everybody Loved That I Just Didn’t Get
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Alright. Give me a punishingly tough Metroidvania-esque thing and leave me without guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "figure it out". What a joy. I understand that it is beautiful and is ideal if you are into challenging games, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I want less of in my mid-fifties. I was around back when many games were like this, and I’ve had enough. It was fine when I was a kid, but the same could be said for many less comfortable things.
Biggest Gaming News of 2025
Toss-up between questionable alliances that raised eyebrows, and high launch costs. Both morally indefensible and unpleasant.
Games I Would Name My Children After, Were I I Was Ever Stupid Enough to Have More
Clair Obscur, Despelote and Bananza would all make interesting names called from the garden at dinner time.
Part of My Body That Aches Most From Gaming
Right Thumb Joint. Honestly. I don’t know if it’s because of console gaming or doomscrolling, but it is sore like the mines of sulphur in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs looked after back in the past.
Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2026
Grand Theft Auto VI.
And it will come out in 2026, even if we have to stretch time until the end of days.
Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2036
The Witcher 4.
