The Household Unofficial Video Game of the Year List for 2025
Well, how was 2025 in your family? Could it be described as all as good as you pretended on social media? Full of top marks for the children and wild costume birthday parties for the grownups? Or perhaps it was a swamp of disappointment with only occasional entertaining moments? And was any of it actually real, or are we all seven-fingered AI slop beings with unrealistic teeth?
I've corralled my thoughts for a chat, willing or unwilling, to reflect on the most important thing in any given year: which releases we were obsessed with the most. Let's get started:
Title Eldest Daughter Played the Most
Pikmin
"Can’t you pick just one?"
"It’s not my games column."
Meanwhile, on mobile, her go-to has been Cityscapes and "trying to find reasonable healthcare."
"In the game?"
"In reality."
Title Middle Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I don’t play games on my phone." He was offended that the question was posed. Point taken.
Game Third Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
She is trying to get into theatre 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 character has a thriving utopia with infinitely better healthcare than her eldest sister has in the real world.
Title the Spouse Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time
She started the year at 60% completion and ended it at eighty-two percent. It's a long haul not a sprint for her. Her mobile diversion: something called Woodle, where you have to unscrew pins.
Game I Found Amusing That My Kids for Still Playing
Minecraft
Any time I see my 21-year-old son playing Minecraft, I rib him like a cross between a classic comedy bit. When he complains, I reply that I am behaving this way to build character so he can mature and play games for mature audiences. This defines our 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 a machine. More impressive than I was at classic rhythm games in my prime.
Title I Played the Most
Marvel Snap
No other game compared to the hours I spent on this insanely well-crafted strategy wizard’s poker, with its constantly evolving range of cards and game variations.
Title I Wish I Had Played Less
Marvel Snap
The catch about games that frequently update their range is you eventually realize and understand it is all just an attempt to trap you with fear-of-missing-out driven microtransactions. So affection became resentment 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. Engrossing atmosphere from the off. I wish I could deal with my problems so effectively in real life.
Title I Wish I Had Played More (Thoughtful Edition)
Blue Prince
I'm unwilling to rush this beautiful, unique game and I just didn’t have the focused attention to give it what it needed earlier this year. With holiday guests over the festive period, I will be playing this in the wee small hours after family time.
Game That Was a Lifesaver When I Needed It
Balatro
I acknowledge Balatro was the previous year's surprise hit, but I was slow on the uptake. And it is exceptional. It just gets every single thing right. Its gameplay loop is a brilliant concept, but the effects behind the different joker cards are so inventive it has become a game I would happily play any time. Add in the wittiness of the card design, and this is an true pinnacle of gaming. I wouldn't mind being stuck in a small space for hours just so I have the perfect excuse but play it.
Game I Got the Most Flak For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I experienced a wave of criticism when I critiqued how a technical issue in another game damaged the experience for me, but that other title is still a gargantuan gaming achievement in terms of overall polish – which I valued even more after experiencing Outer Worlds 2. So my appreciation goes out to the individual 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 appreciate the effort, and they are obviously an excellent judge of character.
Title Everybody Loved That I Just Didn’t Get
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Fine. Give me a punishingly tough non-linear thing and provide little guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "look around". How delightful. I understand that it is beautiful and is perfection if you are into challenging games, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I am less interested in in my adulthood. I was around back when all games were like this, and my patience is gone. It was fine when I was a kid, but so was many outdated things.
Biggest Gaming Scandal of 2025
Debate between business deals that caused concern, and high launch costs. Both difficult to justify and concerning.
Games I Would Name My Children After, Were I I Was Ever Foolish Enough to Have More
Clair Obscur, Despelote and Bananza would all make interesting names shouted from the back door at tea time.
Part of My Body That Aches Most From Gaming
Right Thumb Joint. Seriously. I don’t know if it’s because of console gaming or endless scrolling, but it aches like the mines of sulphur in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs protected 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 cows come home.
Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2036
The Witcher 4.
