Our Household Personal Gaming of the Year Roundup for 2025
So, how did you experience the past year in your household? Did it seem entirely positive as one might claim on Facebook? Overflowing with A-grades for the kids and riotous dress-up gatherings for the parents? Or perhaps it was a swamp of letdowns with only rare enjoyable moments? Could any part be actually real, or are we all seven-fingered synthetic personas with celebrity smiles?
I have gathered my thoughts together, ready or not, to debate the crucial thing in a calendar year: which video games we enjoyed the most. Let's get started:
Release Eldest Daughter Played the Most
Pikmin
"Why can't you pick just one?"
"You can't expect my personal ranking."
On her phone, she's invested time in Cityscapes and "trying to find decent healthcare."
"In the game?"
"In reality."
Game Second Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I have no interest in games on my phone." He seemed insulted that I suggested it. Point taken.
Game Youngest Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
She is trying to get into theatre school, but when she stepped away from the mic, she was playing Resident Evil. She also went on in great detail about her accomplishments on The Sims, where the Shark has a blooming utopia with far better healthcare than her older sibling has in real life.
Game the Wife Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: Itâs About Time
She began the year at 60% completion and ended it at eighty-two percent. She's in it for the long run not a sprint for her. Her phone game: something called Woodle, where you have to remove pins.
Title I Laughed at My Kids for Still Playing
Minecraft
Whenever I see my 21-year-old son playing Minecraft, I set about him like a cross between a persistent critic. When he complains, I reply that I am doing this to prepare him so he can be a man and play games for grownups. It's a classic Scottish father/son relationship.
Most Skilled Gaming Family Member of the Year
Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024
She was the clear winner for this one. She is incredible. More impressive than I was at classic rhythm games in my prime.
Title I Played the Most
Marvel Snap
Nothing came close to the hours I spent on this exceptionally well-crafted deck building digital pastime, with its constantly evolving range of cards and game variations.
Title I Wish I Had Played Less
Marvel Snap
The downside about games that endlessly add to their range is you eventually realize and realise it is all just an attempt to trap you with compulsion-based microtransactions. So affection became resentment halfway through the year and it went into the bin.
Title I Wish I Had Played More
Doom: The Dark Ages
Glorious reinvention of a legendary franchise. Captivating atmosphere from the beginning. I wish I could dispatch my issues so effectively in real life.
Game I Wish I Had Played More (Puzzle-Focused Edition)
Blue Prince
I refuse to rush this gorgeous, distinctive game and I just lacked the focused attention to give it what it needed earlier this year. With relatives staying over the festive period, I plan to dive into this in the late night after evening drinks.
Game That Saved My Soul When I Needed It
Balatro
I acknowledge Balatro was last year's sleeper hit, but I was a late adopter. And it is incredible. It just gets each element right. Its gameplay loop is a brilliant concept, but the abilities behind the different joker cards are so imaginative it has become a game I literally would play constantly. Combine that with the charm of the card design, and this is an definite peak of gaming. I wouldn't mind being stuck in a small space for hours just so I have an opportunity but play it.
Title I Got the Most Criticism For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I endured a bit of backlash when I mentioned how a specific bug in another game damaged the experience for me, but that other title is still a colossal gaming achievement in terms of art, sound, acting â which I recognized even more after experiencing Outer Worlds 2. So thank you to the reader who took the time to write in to say that my Outer Worlds 2 review was "bitter, confused resentment". I present that verbatim, because I acknowledge the engagement, and they are obviously an astute judge of character.
Title Everybody Loved That I Just Didnât Get
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Fine. Give me a bastard-hard Metroidvania-esque thing and donât tell me guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "figure it out". What a joy. I acknowledge that it is beautiful and is ideal if you are into challenging games, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I am less interested in in my current stage of life. I was around back when all 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
Close call between business deals that raised eyebrows, and premium pricing. 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 sound good names shouted from the back door at bedtime.
Part of My Body That Aches Most From Gaming
Right Thumb Joint. Honestly. I donât know if itâs because of button mashing or phone use, but it aches like the mines of sulphur in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs looked after 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 make 2026 last until the end of days.
Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2036
The Witcher 4.
