The Diamond Family Alternative Gaming of the Year Awards for This Year
Well, what did you think of 2025 in your home? Did it seem truly wonderful as you pretended on Facebook? Packed with top marks for your offspring and elaborate costume celebrations for the grownups? Or perhaps it was a ocean of frustration with only sporadic entertaining highlights? And was any of it authentic, or is everyone now seven-fingered synthetic personas with celebrity smiles?
I've assembled the family for a reflection, ready or not, to reflect on the crucial thing in any given year: which video games we played the most. Without further ado:
Title Oldest Daughter Played the Most
Horizon Zero Dawn
"Can’t you pick just one?"
"It’s not my games column."
In the mobile realm, she's invested time in Cityscapes and "searching for decent healthcare."
"Digitally?"
"In real life."
Title Middle Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I have no interest in games on my phone." He took umbrage that the question was posed. I respect that.
Game Youngest Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
Her goal is to get into theatre school, but when she stepped away from the mic, she was tackling Resident Evil. She also went on in great detail about her accomplishments on The Sims, where her character has a thriving utopia with infinitely better healthcare than her eldest sister has in real life.
Release the Wife Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time
She started the year at 60% completion and finished the year at eighty-two percent. It's a long haul not a sprint for her. Her phone game: something called Woodle, where you have to remove pins.
Title I Laughed at My Kids for Still Playing
Minecraft
Every time I see my 21-year-old son playing Minecraft, I rib him like a cross between a relentless heckler. When he objects, I reply that I am behaving this way to toughen him up so he can be a man and play games for mature audiences. It’s a very Scottish father/son relationship.
Most Skilled Gaming Family Member of the Year
Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024
It wasn't even close for this one. She is incredible. Even better than I was at classic rhythm games in my prime.
Game I Played the Most
Marvel Snap
It was in a league of its own to the hours I spent on this exceptionally well-crafted strategy digital pastime, with its ever-changing 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 have a moment of clarity and see it is all just an attempt to trap you with fomo-fuelled microtransactions. So love turned to hate halfway through the year and it got uninstalled.
Game I Wish I Had Played More
Doom: The Dark Ages
Excellent reinvention of a legendary franchise. Immersive atmosphere from the off. I wish I could eviscerate my demons so effectively in real life.
Title I Wish I Had Played More (Cerebral Edition)
Blue Prince
I refuse to rush this stunning, original game and I just was short on 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 wee small hours after evening drinks.
Game That Kept Me Sane When I Needed It
Balatro
I acknowledge Balatro was the previous year's breakout game, but I was late to it. And it is exceptional. It just gets every single thing right. Crazy Poker is a fantastic 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 charm of the card design, and this is an absolute pinnacle of gaming. I dream of being stuck in a elevator for hours just so I have an opportunity but play it.
Title I Got the Most Criticism For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I experienced a minor pile-on 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 overall polish – which I appreciated even more after playing Outer Worlds 2. So thank you to the commenter who took the time to write in to say that my Outer Worlds 2 review was "poorly reasoned". I mention that verbatim, because I acknowledge the engagement, and they are obviously an excellent judge of character.
Title Everybody Loved That I Just Didn’t Get
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Alright. Give me a punishingly tough exploration-focused thing and leave me without guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "look around". What a joy. I get that it has great art and is flawless if you are into this kind of thing, 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 News of 2025
Debate between corporate partnerships that caused concern, and expensive game releases. Both morally indefensible and concerning.
Games I Would Name My Children After, Were I I Was Ever Stupid Enough to Have More
Clair Obscur, Despelote and Bananza would all be unique names bellowed from the back door 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 endless scrolling, but it burns like the mines of sulphur in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs protected 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 make 2026 last until the cows come home.
Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2036
The Witcher 4.
