🔗 Share this article This Dominik Diamond Unofficial Game of the Year Awards for The Past Year Alright, what did you think of this year in your family? Did it seem entirely positive as one might claim on social media? Full of academic success for the children and wild dress-up celebrations for the parents? Or was it a sea of letdowns with only rare entertaining moments? And was any of it genuine, or is everyone now AI-generated virtual entities with celebrity smiles? I have gathered my thoughts for a chat, whether they wanted to or not, to debate the paramount thing in a calendar year: which releases we enjoyed the most. Without further ado: Game First Daughter Played the Most Just Dance 2024 "Can’t you pick just one?" "You can't expect my games column." In the mobile realm, she's invested time in Cityscapes and "searching for reasonable healthcare." "Digitally?" "In the actual world." Game Middle Son Played the Most Overwatch "I refuse to play games on my phone." He was offended that I even asked. I respect that. Release Third Daughter Played the Most Resident Evil Biohazard She is trying to get into theatre school, but when she wasn’t singing, she was tackling Resident Evil. She also went on in great detail about her achievements on The Sims, where the Shark has a thriving utopia with far better healthcare than her older sibling has outside the game. Title the Wife Played the Most Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time She started the year at sixty percent completion and ended it at 82%. She's in it for the long run not a sprint for her. On her phone: something called Woodle, where you have to remove pins. Release I Laughed at My Kids for Still Playing Minecraft Whenever I see my adult son playing Minecraft, I rib him like a cross between a classic comedy bit. When he complains, I reply that I am doing this to prepare him so he can be a man and play games for mature audiences. It's a classic Scottish father/son relationship. Most Notable Gaming Family Member of the Year Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024 It wasn't even close for this one. She is a machine. Superior 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 remarkably 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 downside about games that endlessly add to their range is you wake up one day and realise it is all just an attempt to lure you into compulsion-based 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. Engrossing atmosphere from the off. I wish I could dispatch my demons so effectively in real life. Game I Wish I Had Played More (Thoughtful Edition) Blue Prince I'm unwilling to rush this stunning, original game and I just was short on the mental bandwidth to give it what it required earlier this year. With relatives staying over the festive period, I plan to dive into this in the early morning after family time. Game That Was a Lifesaver When I Needed It Balatro I know Balatro was the previous year's sleeper hit, but I was a late adopter. And it is incredible. It just gets absolutely everything right. Its gameplay loop is a wonderful concept, but the powers behind the different wild cards are so creative it has become a game I literally would play any time. Throw in the wittiness of the card design, and this is an definite pinnacle of gaming. I wouldn't mind being stuck in a small space for hours just so I have nothing to do but play it. Game I Got the Most Flak For Criticising Outer Worlds 2 I endured a wave of criticism when I wrote about how a technical issue in another game soured the experience for me, but that other title is still a colossal gaming achievement in terms of art, sound, acting – which I valued even more after playing 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 mention that as written, because I acknowledge the engagement, and he is obviously an astute 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 leave me without guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "look around". Great fun. I get that it is beautiful and is perfection if you are into the genre, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I want less of in my adulthood. I was around back when most games were like this, and I'm over it. It was fine when I was a kid, but the same could be said for many questionable things. Biggest Gaming Controversy of 2025 Close call between corporate partnerships that raised eyebrows, and premium pricing. Both morally indefensible and repugnant. Games I Would Name My Children After, If I Was Ever Crazy Enough to Have More Clair Obscur, Despelote and Bananza would all make interesting 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 phone use, but it is sore like hellfire 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 make 2026 last until the cows come home. Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2036 The Witcher 4.