This Household Personal Video Game of the Year Awards for 2025
Well, what did you think of 2025 in your home? Did it seem all as good as people post on social media? Packed with academic success for the children and riotous dress-up birthday parties for the grownups? Maybe it felt like a swamp of letdowns with only rare entertaining moments? And was any of it genuine, or is everyone now digitally altered synthetic personas with perfect teeth?
I've assembled my thoughts for a reflection, willing or unwilling, to debate the most important thing in any given year: which releases we played the most. Without further ado:
Game Eldest Daughter Played the Most
Pikmin
"Can’t you pick just one?"
"You can't expect my personal ranking."
Meanwhile, on mobile, her go-to has been Cityscapes and "trying to find decent healthcare."
"Digitally?"
"In reality."
Game Middle Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I don’t play games on my phone." He seemed insulted that I suggested it. Fair enough.
Release Third Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
Her goal is to get into drama school, but when she wasn’t singing, she was immersed in Resident Evil. She also spoke at length in great detail about her accomplishments on The Sims, where her avatar has a thriving utopia with far better healthcare than her eldest sister has outside the game.
Game 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. Her phone game: something called Woodle, where you have to extract pins.
Title I Found Amusing That 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 objects, I reply that I am behaving this way to build character so he can be a man and play games for grownups. 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 classic rhythm games in my prime.
Title 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 worst thing about games that endlessly add to their range is you eventually realize and realise it is all just an attempt to trap you with fear-of-missing-out driven microtransactions. So love turned to hate 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 start. I wish I could deal with my problems so effectively in real life.
Game I Wish I Had Played More (Thoughtful Edition)
Blue Prince
I refuse to rush this beautiful, unique game and I just didn’t have the focused attention to give it what it required earlier this year. With holiday guests over the festive period, I will be playing this in the late night after evening drinks.
Game That Saved My Soul When I Needed It
Balatro
I acknowledge Balatro was the previous year's sleeper hit, but I was slow on the uptake. And it is remarkable. It just gets absolutely everything right. The core concept is a wonderful concept, but the effects behind the different wild cards are so inventive it has become a game I literally would play any time. Throw in the wittiness of the card design, and this is an true peak of gaming. I dream of being stuck in a elevator for hours just so I have nothing to do but play it.
Game I Got the Most Flak For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I experienced a bit of backlash when I critiqued how a specific bug 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 valued even more after experiencing 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 acknowledge the engagement, and she is obviously an sharp judge of character.
Title Everybody Loved That I Just Didn’t Get
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Alright. Give me a punishingly tough Metroidvania-esque thing and provide little guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "look around". What a joy. I acknowledge that it is beautiful and is flawless if you are into the genre, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I am less interested in in my mid-fifties. I was around back when all games were like this, and my patience is gone. It was fine when I was a kid, but the same could be said for many outdated things.
Biggest Gaming Scandal of 2025
Close call between questionable alliances that raised eyebrows, and high launch costs. Both difficult to justify and concerning.
Games I Would Name My Children After, Were I I Was Ever Crazy Enough to Have More
Clair Obscur, Despelote and Bananza would all be unique names shouted from the doorstep at tea time.
Part of My Body That Aches Most From Gaming
Right Thumb Joint. No joke. I don’t know if it’s because of button mashing or doomscrolling, but it burns like anything in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs looked after 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 cows come home.
Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2036
The Witcher 4.
