This Diamond Family Personal Gaming of the Year Roundup for This Year
Well, how was the past year in your home? Was it entirely positive as you pretended on Facebook? Overflowing with top marks for the kids and riotous costume celebrations for the grownups? Or was it a sea of disappointment with only occasional fun moments? Is any of this genuine, or are we all seven-fingered AI slop beings with celebrity smiles?
I have gathered the family for a chat, ready or not, to discuss the most important thing in twelve months: which video games we enjoyed the most. Without further ado:
Title Eldest Daughter Played the Most
Pikmin
"Is it impossible to pick just one?"
"You can't expect my definitive list."
Meanwhile, on mobile, she’s been playing Cityscapes and "attempting to locate decent healthcare."
"Virtually?"
"In reality."
Game Middle Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I have no interest in games on my phone." He was offended that the question was posed. Fair enough.
Game Youngest Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
She's attempting to get into acting, but when she wasn’t singing, she was playing Resident Evil. She also went on in great detail about her successes on The Sims, where her character has a successful utopia with significantly better healthcare than her big sister has in real life.
Game the Partner Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time
She started the year at sixty percent completion and finished the year at eighty-two percent. It’s a marathon not a sprint for her. Her mobile diversion: something called Woodle, where you have to remove pins.
Game I Teased My Kids About My Kids for Still Playing
Minecraft
Every time I see my 21-year-old son playing Minecraft, I rib him like a cross between a relentless heckler. When he complains, I reply that I am doing this to build character so he can grow up and play games for adults. It’s a very Scottish father/son relationship.
Most Notable Gaming Family Member This Year
Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024
It wasn't even close for this one. She is unstoppable. Even better than I was at Dancing Stage MegaMix in my prime.
Game I Played the Most
Marvel Snap
No other game compared to the hours I spent on this exceptionally well-crafted card game competitive game, with its regularly updated range of cards and game variations.
Title I Wish I Had Played Less
Marvel Snap
The worst thing about games that frequently update 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 got uninstalled.
Title I Wish I Had Played More
Doom: The Dark Ages
Stunning reinvention of a classic franchise. Engrossing atmosphere from the start. I wish I could eviscerate my issues 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 time or headspace 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.
Title 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 incredible. It just gets absolutely everything right. Its gameplay loop is a brilliant concept, but the powers behind the different joker cards are so imaginative it has become a game I would happily play at any hour. Throw in the charm of the card design, and this is an absolute pinnacle of gaming. I wouldn't mind being stuck in a elevator for hours just so I have nothing to do but play it.
Title I Got the Most Backlash For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I received a minor pile-on when I critiqued how a glitch in another game damaged the experience for me, but that other title is still a massive gaming achievement in terms of production values – which I recognized even more after playing Outer Worlds 2. So my appreciation goes out to the reader who took the time to send a message to say that my Outer Worlds 2 review was "poorly reasoned". I mention that verbatim, because I acknowledge the engagement, and they are obviously an excellent judge of character.
Game Everybody Loved That I Just Didn’t Get
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Alright. Give me a brutally difficult exploration-focused thing and don’t tell me guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "explore". What a joy. I get that it is beautiful and is perfection 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’ve had enough. It was fine when I was a kid, but so was many questionable things.
Biggest Gaming Controversy of 2025
Close call between business deals that raised eyebrows, and high launch costs. Both morally indefensible and concerning.
Games I Would Name My Children After, If I Was Ever Crazy Enough to Have More
Clair Obscur, Despelote and Bananza would all be unique names shouted from the doorstep at bedtime.
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 anything in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs insured 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.
