The Dominik Diamond Unofficial Gaming of the Year Roundup for 2025
So, what did you think of the past year in your home? Did it seem all as good as one might claim on online? Overflowing with A-grades for the children and riotous themed fancy dress birthday parties for the adults? Maybe it felt like a sea of disappointment with only sporadic enjoyable flotsam? And was any of it authentic, or have we all become digitally altered synthetic personas with perfect dental work?
I have gathered my thoughts for a reflection, ready or not, to debate the most important thing in any given year: what titles we played the most. So here goes:
Title Eldest Daughter Played the Most
Horizon Zero Dawn
"Can’t you pick just one?"
"It’s not my games column."
On her phone, she's invested time in Cityscapes and "attempting to locate adequate healthcare."
"Virtually?"
"In real life."
Title Middle Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I refuse to play games on my phone." He took umbrage that the question was posed. Point taken.
Title Youngest Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
She's attempting to get into drama school, but when she wasn’t singing, she was immersed in Resident Evil. She also went on in great detail about her successes on The Sims, where the Shark has a successful utopia with infinitely better healthcare than her big sister has in the real world.
Title the Spouse Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time
She began the year at sixty percent 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 unscrew pins.
Title I Teased My Kids About My Kids for Still Playing
Minecraft
Every time I see my 21-year-old son playing Minecraft, I give him a hard time like a cross between a classic comedy bit. When he protests, I reply that I am doing this to toughen him up so he can mature and play games for mature audiences. It’s a very Scottish father/son relationship.
Most Notable Gaming Family Member of the Year
Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024
She was the clear winner for this one. She is unstoppable. Superior than I was at my peak gaming days in my prime.
Game I Played the Most
Marvel Snap
Nothing came close to the hours I spent on this insanely well-crafted strategy digital pastime, with its ever-changing range of cards and game variations.
Title I Wish I Had Played Less
Marvel Snap
The catch about games that frequently update their range is you wake up one day and understand it is all just an attempt to suck you into compulsion-based microtransactions. So affection became resentment halfway through the year and it went into the bin.
Game I Wish I Had Played More
Doom: The Dark Ages
Excellent reinvention of a legendary franchise. Captivating atmosphere from the start. I wish I could eviscerate my problems so effectively in real life.
Title I Wish I Had Played More (Thoughtful Edition)
Blue Prince
I'm unwilling to rush this stunning, original game and I just lacked the focused attention to give it what it required earlier this year. With family visits 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'm aware Balatro was the previous year's sleeper hit, but I was a late adopter. And it is incredible. It just gets each element right. The core concept is a wonderful concept, but the powers behind the different joker cards are so imaginative it has become a game I literally would play constantly. Add in the wittiness of the card design, and this is an absolute high-water mark of gaming. I dream of being stuck in a broken-down lift for hours just so I have the perfect excuse but play it.
Game I Got the Most Backlash For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I endured a bit of backlash when I critiqued how a technical issue in another game ruined 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 individual who took the time to contact me to say that my Outer Worlds 2 review was "bitter, confused resentment". I share that in the exact way, because I respect the passion, and she is obviously an excellent judge of character.
Game Everybody Loved That I Just Didn’t Get
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Sure. Give me a punishingly tough Metroidvania-esque thing and provide little guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "figure it out". How delightful. I acknowledge that it looks ace and is ideal if you are into the genre, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I want less of in my mid-fifties. I was around back when most games were like this, and I’ve had enough. It was okay when I was a kid, but the same could be said for many less comfortable things.
Biggest Gaming Controversy of 2025
Debate between questionable alliances that caused concern, and high launch costs. Both difficult to justify and concerning.
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 called from the doorstep at bedtime.
Part of My Body That Aches Most From Gaming
Right Thumb Joint. Honestly. I don’t know if it’s because of console gaming or doomscrolling, but it burns like hellfire in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs insured 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 heat death of the universe.
Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2036
The Witcher 4.
