So, how did you experience the past year in your family? Could it be described as truly wonderful as people post on social media? Full of A-grades for the children and wild costume celebrations for the grownups? Maybe it felt like a ocean of frustration with only occasional fun highlights? Is any of this genuine, or is everyone now digitally altered virtual entities with celebrity dental work?
I have gathered everyone for a chat, willing or unwilling, to debate the paramount thing in twelve months: which releases we were obsessed with the most. Let's get started:
Release Eldest Daughter Played the Most
Horizon Zero Dawn
"Can’t you pick just one?"
"You can't expect my definitive list."
In the mobile realm, she's invested time in Cityscapes and "searching for reasonable healthcare."
"In the game?"
"In reality."
Title Second Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I have no interest in games on my phone." He was offended that the question was posed. Point taken.
Release Third Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
She's attempting to get into acting, but when she took a break from vocals, she was tackling Resident Evil. She also went on in great detail about her achievements on The Sims, where her avatar has a thriving utopia with significantly better healthcare than her eldest sister has outside the game.
Release the Spouse Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time
She began the year at 60% completion and ended it at 82%. It’s a marathon not a sprint for her. Her mobile diversion: something called Woodle, where you have to unscrew pins.
Release 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 persistent critic. When he protests, I reply that I am engaging in this to toughen him up so he can be a man and play games for grownups. It's a classic 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 a machine. 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 insanely well-crafted card game wizard’s poker, with its regularly updated range of cards and game variations.
Game I Wish I Had Played Less
Marvel Snap
The catch about games that frequently update their range is you have a moment of clarity and understand it is all just an attempt to trap you with fomo-fuelled microtransactions. So enjoyment soured halfway through the year and it was deleted.
Title I Wish I Had Played More
Doom: The Dark Ages
Glorious reinvention of a iconic franchise. Captivating atmosphere from the beginning. I wish I could dispatch my problems so effectively in real life.
Title I Wish I Had Played More (Puzzle-Focused Edition)
Blue Prince
I refuse to rush this gorgeous, distinctive game and I just was short on the time or headspace to give it what it deserved earlier this year. With relatives staying over the festive period, I will be playing this in the wee small hours after family time.
Title That Kept Me Sane When I Needed It
Balatro
I'm aware Balatro was the previous year's surprise hit, but I was late to it. And it is exceptional. It just gets every single thing right. Its gameplay loop is a brilliant concept, but the powers behind the different wild cards are so creative it has become a game I could play at any hour. Combine that with the wittiness of the card design, and this is an definite peak of gaming. I wouldn't mind being stuck in a broken-down lift for hours just so I have nothing to do but play it.
Game I Got the Most Backlash For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I endured a minor pile-on when I wrote about how a glitch in another game damaged the experience for me, but that other title is still a gargantuan gaming achievement in terms of production values – which I valued even more after playing Outer Worlds 2. So thank you to the reader who took the time to send a message to say that my Outer Worlds 2 review was "missing the point". I present that verbatim, 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
Sure. Give me a bastard-hard non-linear thing and don’t tell me guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "explore". Great fun. I get that it looks ace and is flawless if you are into the genre, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I am less interested in in my adulthood. I was around back when many games were like this, and I'm over it. It was acceptable when I was a kid, but the same could be said for many outdated things.
Biggest Gaming Scandal of 2025
Debate between business deals that sparked debate, and premium pricing. Both ethically dubious and concerning.
Games I Would Name My Children After, If I Was Ever Foolish Enough to Have More
Clair Obscur, Despelote and Bananza would all sound good names shouted from the garden at dinner time.
Part of My Body That Aches Most From Gaming
Right Thumb Joint. Seriously. I don’t know if it’s because of button mashing or doomscrolling, but it burns like the mines of sulphur 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 make 2026 last until the heat death of the universe.
Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2036
The Witcher 4.
