Our Household Unofficial Game of the Year Awards for This Year
So, what did you think of 2025 in your home? Could it be described as all as good as one might claim on online? Overflowing with A-grades for your offspring and elaborate themed fancy dress gatherings for the grownups? Maybe it felt like a swamp of letdowns with only occasional fun flotsam? Could any part be actually real, or is everyone now AI-generated synthetic personas with perfect smiles?
I've corralled everyone together, whether they wanted to or not, to debate the paramount thing in any given year: what titles we played the most. Let's get started:
Release Oldest Daughter Played the Most
Pikmin
"Is it impossible to pick just one?"
"You can't expect my definitive list."
On her phone, she's invested time in Cityscapes and "attempting to locate decent healthcare."
"In the game?"
"In real life."
Release Second Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I don’t play games on my phone." He was offended that the question was posed. Fair enough.
Release Third Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
Her goal is to get into drama school, but when she stepped away from the mic, she was immersed in Resident Evil. She also went on in great detail about her accomplishments on The Sims, where her character has a blooming utopia with infinitely better healthcare than her older sibling has in real life.
Title the Spouse Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time
She began the year at 60% completion and ended it at eighty-two percent. It's a long haul not a sprint for her. On her phone: something called Woodle, where you have to remove pins.
Title I Found Amusing That My Kids for Still Playing
Minecraft
Any time I see my 21-year-old son playing Minecraft, I set about him like a cross between a persistent critic. When he protests, I reply that I am behaving this way to build character so he can mature and play games for grownups. It's a classic Scottish father/son relationship.
Most Notable Gaming Family Member 2025
Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024
It wasn't even close for this one. She is incredible. Superior than I was at classic rhythm games in my prime.
Game I Played the Most
Marvel Snap
It was in a league of its own to the hours I spent on this remarkably well-crafted deck building digital pastime, with its regularly updated range of cards and game variations.
Game I Wish I Had Played Less
Marvel Snap
The downside about games that frequently update their range is you eventually realize and realise it is all just an attempt to lure you into fomo-fuelled microtransactions. So love turned to hate halfway through the year and it was deleted.
Game I Wish I Had Played More
Doom: The Dark Ages
Stunning reinvention of a classic franchise. Captivating atmosphere from the off. I wish I could eviscerate my demons so effectively in real life.
Title I Wish I Had Played More (Puzzle-Focused Edition)
Blue Prince
I'm unwilling to rush this gorgeous, distinctive game and I just lacked the time or headspace to give it what it needed earlier this year. With relatives staying over the festive period, I plan to dive into this in the early morning after family time.
Game That Was a Lifesaver When I Needed It
Balatro
I'm aware Balatro was 2024’s breakout game, but I was slow on the uptake. And it is remarkable. It just gets each element right. Crazy Poker is a wonderful concept, but the effects behind the different special cards are so imaginative it has become a game I could play any time. Combine that with the cleverness of the card design, and this is an true high-water mark of gaming. I dream of being stuck in a elevator for hours just so I have nothing to do but play it.
Game I Got the Most Criticism For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I endured a minor pile-on when I mentioned how a technical issue in another game damaged the experience for me, but that other title is still a massive gaming achievement in terms of production values – which I recognized even more after experiencing Outer Worlds 2. So my appreciation goes out to the reader who took the time to contact me to say that my Outer Worlds 2 review was "bitter, confused resentment". I mention that verbatim, because I appreciate the effort, and they are obviously an astute judge of character.
Title Everybody Loved That I Just Didn’t Get
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Sure. Give me a bastard-hard non-linear thing and leave me without guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "look around". Great fun. I acknowledge that it looks ace and is perfection if you are into the genre, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I want less of in my mid-fifties. I was around back when all 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
Debate between business deals that caused concern, and expensive game releases. Both ethically dubious and concerning.
Games I Would Name My Children After, If I Was Ever Crazy Enough to Have More
Clair Obscur, Despelote and Bananza would all make interesting names called from the back door at bedtime.
Part of My Body That Aches Most From Gaming
Right Thumb Joint. No joke. I don’t know if it’s because of video games or endless scrolling, but it burns like the mines of sulphur in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs insured back in the day.
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.
