This Household Unofficial Game of the Year Awards for This Year
Alright, how was this year in your household? Was it all as good as people post on social media? Full of academic success for the children and riotous costume gatherings for the parents? Or perhaps it was a ocean of letdowns with only rare fun flotsam? And was any of it actually real, or is everyone now digitally altered synthetic personas with unrealistic smiles?
I've corralled the family together, willing or unwilling, to debate the most important thing in any given year: which releases we were obsessed with the most. Without further ado:
Title First Daughter Played the Most
Horizon Zero Dawn
"Is it impossible to pick just one?"
"Itâs not my definitive list."
In the mobile realm, her go-to has been Cityscapes and "searching for adequate healthcare."
"In the game?"
"In real life."
Game Middle Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I donât play games on my phone." He was offended that I even asked. I respect that.
Title Youngest Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
Her goal is to get into drama school, but when she wasnât singing, she was immersed in Resident Evil. She also spoke at length in great detail about her achievements on The Sims, where her character has a thriving utopia with far better healthcare than her eldest sister has in the real world.
Title the Spouse Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: Itâs About Time
She started the year at sixty percent 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 extract pins.
Title I Found Amusing That My Kids for Still Playing
Minecraft
Every time I see my adult son playing Minecraft, I give him a hard time like a cross between a relentless heckler. When he complains, I reply that I am doing this to build character so he can be a man and play games for adults. It's a classic Scottish father/son relationship.
Most Impressive Gaming Family Member This Year
Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024
There was no contest for this one. She is incredible. Superior than I was at my peak gaming days in my prime.
Game I Played the Most
Marvel Snap
Nothing came close to the hours I spent on this exceptionally well-crafted deck building competitive game, with its constantly evolving range of cards and game variations.
Title I Wish I Had Played Less
Marvel Snap
The worst thing about games that constantly evolve their range is you have a moment of clarity and realise it is all just an attempt to suck you into compulsion-based microtransactions. So enjoyment soured halfway through the year and it went into the bin.
Game I Wish I Had Played More
Doom: The Dark Ages
Glorious reinvention of a legendary franchise. Captivating atmosphere from the start. I wish I could dispatch my problems so effectively in real life.
Title I Wish I Had Played More (Thoughtful Edition)
Blue Prince
I refuse to rush this beautiful, unique game and I just lacked the mental bandwidth to give it what it required earlier this year. With family visits over the festive period, I plan to dive into this in the late night after family time.
Game That Saved My Soul When I Needed It
Balatro
I know Balatro was last year's sleeper hit, but I was late to it. And it is remarkable. It just gets absolutely everything right. Its gameplay loop is a fantastic concept, but the abilities behind the different special cards are so creative it has become a game I would happily play at any hour. Combine that with the charm of the card design, and this is an definite high-water mark of gaming. I dream of being stuck in a small space for hours just so I have nothing to do but play it.
Title I Got the Most Flak For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I experienced a wave of criticism when I mentioned how a specific bug in another game ruined the experience for me, but that other title is still a massive gaming achievement in terms of art, sound, acting â which I valued even more after slogging through Outer Worlds 2. So thank you to the commenter who took the time to write in to say that my Outer Worlds 2 review was "bitter, confused resentment". I share that as written, because I respect the passion, and they are obviously an excellent judge of character.
Game Everybody Loved That I Just Didnât Get
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Sure. Give me a brutally difficult exploration-focused thing and leave me without guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "figure it out". How delightful. I get that it has great art and is flawless if you are into this kind of thing, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I am less interested in in my adulthood. I was around back when most games were like this, and I'm over it. It was acceptable when I was a kid, but so was many less comfortable things.
Biggest Gaming Scandal of 2025
Debate between business deals that raised eyebrows, and high launch costs. Both ethically dubious and concerning.
Games I Would Name My Children After, If I Was Ever Stupid Enough to Have More
Clair Obscur, Despelote and Bananza would all sound good names shouted from the garden at bedtime.
Part of My Body That Aches Most From Gaming
Right Thumb Joint. Seriously. I donât know if itâs because of console gaming or endless scrolling, but it aches like anything in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs insured back in the 90s.
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 cows come home.
Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2036
The Witcher 4.
