This Household Personal Game of the Year List for 2025
Well, what did you think of 2025 in your household? Was it all as good as people post on Facebook? Overflowing with A-grades for your offspring and riotous dress-up birthday parties for the adults? Or perhaps it was a ocean of letdowns with only rare enjoyable highlights? And was any of it actually real, or is everyone now AI-generated synthetic personas with celebrity teeth?
I've corralled my thoughts for a reflection, ready or not, to discuss the crucial thing in any given year: which video games we enjoyed the most. So here goes:
Release Oldest Daughter Played the Most
Just Dance 2024
"Is it impossible to pick just one?"
"It’s not my games column."
Meanwhile, on mobile, she's invested time in Cityscapes and "trying to find decent healthcare."
"Digitally?"
"In the actual world."
Title Middle Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I refuse to play games on my phone." He seemed insulted that I suggested it. I respect that.
Release Third Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
Her goal is to get into theatre school, but when she stepped away from the mic, she was tackling Resident Evil. She also went on in great detail about her successes on The Sims, where the Shark has a thriving utopia with far better healthcare than her eldest sister has in the real world.
Release the Spouse Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time
She began the year at 60% completion and finished the year at 82%. It's a long haul not a sprint for her. On her phone: something called Woodle, where you have to unscrew pins.
Title I Laughed at My Kids for Still Playing
Minecraft
Every time I see my 21-year-old son playing Minecraft, I set about him like a cross between a classic comedy bit. When he complains, I reply that I am doing this to toughen him up so he can grow up and play games for adults. This defines our Scottish father/son relationship.
Most Impressive Gaming Family Member This Year
Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024
It wasn't even close for this one. She is incredible. Superior than I was at Dancing Stage MegaMix 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 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 endlessly add to their range is you wake up one day and understand it is all just an attempt to trap you with fomo-fuelled microtransactions. So love turned to hate halfway through the year and it was deleted.
Title I Wish I Had Played More
Doom: The Dark Ages
Glorious reinvention of a legendary franchise. Captivating 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 decline to rush this gorgeous, distinctive game and I just lacked the focused attention to give it what it needed earlier this year. With holiday guests over the festive period, I plan to dive into this in the late night after appropriate hospitality.
Title That Was a Lifesaver When I Needed It
Balatro
I know Balatro was last year's sleeper hit, but I was a late adopter. And it is remarkable. It just gets each element right. Crazy Poker is a wonderful concept, but the abilities behind the different special cards are so creative it has become a game I could play constantly. Throw in the charm of the card design, and this is an definite peak of gaming. I dream of being stuck in a broken-down lift for hours just so I have the perfect excuse but play it.
Title I Got the Most Flak For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I received a wave of criticism when I mentioned how a glitch in another game soured the experience for me, but that other title is still a massive gaming achievement in terms of overall polish – which I appreciated even more after slogging through Outer Worlds 2. So thank you 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 respect the passion, and they are obviously an excellent judge of character.
Game Everybody Loved That I Just Didn’t Get
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Fine. Give me a punishingly tough exploration-focused thing and don’t tell me guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "figure it out". How delightful. I acknowledge that it looks ace and is perfection if you are into this kind of thing, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I want less of in my adulthood. I was around back when many games were like this, and my patience is gone. It was okay when I was a kid, but the same could be said for many questionable things.
Biggest Gaming Scandal of 2025
Debate between corporate partnerships that sparked debate, and high launch costs. Both morally indefensible and unpleasant.
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 called from the doorstep 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 doomscrolling, but it burns like hellfire in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs insured 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 wait patiently until the end of days.
Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2036
The Witcher 4.
