Our Dominik Diamond Personal Gaming of the Year List for 2025
Well, how was the past year in your home? Did it seem truly wonderful as people post on social media? Overflowing with A-grades for the kids and riotous themed fancy dress celebrations for the adults? Maybe it felt like a sea of letdowns with only sporadic enjoyable flotsam? And was any of it genuine, or is everyone now AI-generated virtual entities with unrealistic teeth?
I've corralled my thoughts together, ready or not, to reflect on the most important thing in twelve months: what titles we played the most. Without further ado:
Release Oldest Daughter Played the Most
Pikmin
"Is it impossible to pick just one?"
"It’s not my personal ranking."
In the mobile realm, she's invested time in Cityscapes and "searching for reasonable healthcare."
"Virtually?"
"In real life."
Release Second Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I don’t play games on my phone." He seemed insulted that the question was posed. Point taken.
Title Third Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
She is trying to get into acting, but when she took a break from vocals, she was tackling Resident Evil. She also spoke at length in great detail about her successes on The Sims, where her character has a blooming utopia with far better healthcare than her older sibling has outside the game.
Title the Partner Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time
She started the year at 60% completion and ended it at eighty-two percent. It's a long haul not a sprint for her. Her mobile diversion: something called Woodle, where you have to unscrew pins.
Title I Teased My Kids About My Kids for Still Playing
Minecraft
Any time I see my adult son playing Minecraft, I give him a hard time like a cross between a classic comedy bit. When he objects, I reply that I am behaving this way to toughen him up so he can grow up and play games for adults. This defines our 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. More impressive than I was at Dancing Stage MegaMix 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 remarkably well-crafted deck building 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 eventually realize and realise it is all just an attempt to suck you into fomo-fuelled microtransactions. So enjoyment soured halfway through the year and it went into the bin.
Game I Wish I Had Played More
Doom: The Dark Ages
Glorious reinvention of a iconic franchise. Captivating atmosphere from the off. I wish I could deal with my problems so effectively in real life.
Title I Wish I Had Played More (Thoughtful Edition)
Blue Prince
I refuse to rush this stunning, original game and I just didn’t have the time or headspace to give it what it deserved earlier this year. With family visits over the festive period, I aim to experience this in the early morning after evening drinks.
Title That Kept Me Sane When I Needed It
Balatro
I'm aware Balatro was last year's surprise hit, but I was late to it. And it is remarkable. It just gets absolutely everything right. Crazy Poker is a wonderful concept, but the abilities behind the different special cards are so inventive it has become a game I could play constantly. Add in the cleverness of the card design, and this is an absolute peak of gaming. I wouldn't mind being stuck in a elevator for hours just so I have an opportunity but play it.
Game I Got the Most Criticism For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I received a minor pile-on when I wrote about how a technical issue in another game damaged 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 slogging through Outer Worlds 2. So thank you to the individual who took the time to contact me to say that my Outer Worlds 2 review was "missing the point". I mention that verbatim, because I appreciate the effort, 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 bastard-hard Metroidvania-esque thing and leave me without guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "figure it out". How delightful. I get that it has great art and is perfection if you are into the genre, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I want less of 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 questionable things.
Biggest Gaming Controversy of 2025
Close call between questionable alliances that sparked debate, and expensive game releases. Both morally indefensible 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 sound good 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 hellfire in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs looked after back in the 90s.
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.
