Our Household Alternative Game of the Year Awards for 2025
Alright, what did you think of 2025 in your household? Was it truly wonderful as one might claim on online? Overflowing with A-grades for the kids and riotous costume birthday parties for the adults? Or perhaps it was a ocean of letdowns with only sporadic enjoyable highlights? Could any part be authentic, or have we all become seven-fingered virtual entities with perfect teeth?
I've assembled the family for a reflection, whether they wanted to or not, to reflect on the most important thing in twelve months: what titles we were obsessed with the most. Without further ado:
Title Eldest Daughter Played the Most
Just Dance 2024
"Is it impossible to pick just one?"
"You can't expect my personal ranking."
On her phone, she’s been playing Cityscapes and "attempting to locate adequate healthcare."
"Digitally?"
"In reality."
Title Middle Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I have no interest in games on my phone." He took umbrage that I suggested it. I respect that.
Title Third Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
Her goal is to get into theatre school, but when she took a break from vocals, she was immersed in Resident Evil. She also elaborated in great detail about her successes on The Sims, where her avatar has a blooming utopia with significantly better healthcare than her eldest sister has in the real world.
Game the Wife Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time
She began the year at 60% completion and finished the year at eighty-two percent. It's a long haul not a sprint for her. Her mobile diversion: something called Woodle, where you have to extract pins.
Title I Laughed at My Kids for Still Playing
Minecraft
Every time I see my adult son playing Minecraft, I rib him like a cross between a relentless heckler. When he protests, I reply that I am behaving this way to toughen him up so he can mature and play games for adults. It's a classic Scottish father/son relationship.
Most Impressive Gaming Family Member of the Year
Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024
She was the clear winner 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
No other game compared to the hours I spent on this remarkably well-crafted deck building wizard’s poker, with its ever-changing range of cards and game variations.
Game I Wish I Had Played Less
Marvel Snap
The catch about games that constantly evolve their range is you eventually realize and realise it is all just an attempt to trap you with compulsion-based microtransactions. So enjoyment soured halfway through the year and it was deleted.
Game I Wish I Had Played More
Doom: The Dark Ages
Glorious reinvention of a iconic franchise. Captivating atmosphere from the start. 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 lacked the focused attention to give it what it deserved earlier this year. With relatives staying over the festive period, I will be playing 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 surprise hit, but I was a late adopter. And it is incredible. It just gets each element right. The core concept is a fantastic concept, but the effects behind the different special cards are so imaginative it has become a game I could play at any hour. Throw in the wittiness of the card design, and this is an absolute peak of gaming. I wouldn't mind being stuck in a small space for hours just so I have the perfect excuse but play it.
Title I Got the Most Backlash For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I endured a bit of backlash when I critiqued how a glitch in another game damaged the experience for me, but that other title is still a gargantuan gaming achievement in terms of art, sound, acting – which I valued even more after slogging through Outer Worlds 2. So my appreciation goes out to the individual who took the time to write in to say that my Outer Worlds 2 review was "bitter, confused resentment". I mention that verbatim, because I respect the passion, and she is obviously an excellent judge of character.
Title Everybody Loved That I Just Didn’t Get
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Sure. Give me a bastard-hard non-linear thing and leave me without guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "look around". How delightful. I acknowledge that it looks ace and is ideal if you are into this kind of thing, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I desire less in my current stage of life. I was around back when many games were like this, and my patience is gone. It was fine when I was a kid, but so was many questionable things.
Biggest Gaming News of 2025
Toss-up between business deals that raised eyebrows, and expensive game releases. Both difficult to justify and unpleasant.
Games I Would Name My Children After, If I Was Ever Foolish Enough to Have More
Clair Obscur, Despelote and Bananza would all make interesting names bellowed from the garden at dinner time.
Part of My Body That Aches Most From Gaming
Right Thumb Joint. Honestly. I don’t know if it’s because of video games or phone use, but it burns like the mines of sulphur 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 stretch time until the end of days.
Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2036
The Witcher 4.
