The Dominik Diamond Unofficial Game of the Year Awards for The Past Year
Alright, how was the past year in your family? Did it seem truly wonderful as one might claim on social media? Full of academic success for your offspring and wild dress-up celebrations for the grownups? Maybe it felt like a sea of letdowns with only sporadic enjoyable highlights? And was any of it actually real, or is everyone now AI-generated synthetic personas with unrealistic smiles?
I've corralled everyone for a reflection, ready or not, to reflect on the paramount thing in any given year: which releases we played the most. Without further ado:
Release Eldest Daughter Played the Most
Pikmin
"Can’t you pick just one?"
"This isn't my personal ranking."
In the mobile realm, she's invested time in Cityscapes and "attempting to locate decent healthcare."
"In the game?"
"In reality."
Title Middle Son Played the Most
Overwatch
"I refuse to play games on my phone." He seemed insulted that I even asked. I respect that.
Game Youngest Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
Her goal is to get into acting, but when she stepped away from the mic, she was immersed in Resident Evil. She also went on in great detail about her successes on The Sims, where her avatar has a thriving utopia with infinitely better healthcare than her older sibling has in the real world.
Game the Partner Played the Most
Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time
She started the year at sixty percent completion and ended it at 82%. It's a long haul not a sprint for her. Her phone game: something called Woodle, where you have to unscrew pins.
Game I Teased My Kids About My Kids for Still Playing
Minecraft
Any time I see my adult son playing Minecraft, I set about him like a cross between a relentless heckler. When he complains, I reply that I am engaging in this to prepare him so he can grow up and play games for grownups. It's a classic Scottish father/son relationship.
Most Notable Gaming Family Member 2025
Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024
There was no contest for this one. She is unstoppable. More impressive than I was at my peak gaming days 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 digital pastime, with its regularly updated range of cards and game variations.
Title I Wish I Had Played Less
Marvel Snap
The worst thing about games that frequently update their range is you wake up one day 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
Stunning reinvention of a legendary franchise. Engrossing atmosphere from the off. I wish I could eviscerate my issues so effectively in real life.
Game I Wish I Had Played More (Thoughtful Edition)
Blue Prince
I'm unwilling to rush this beautiful, unique game and I just was short on the focused attention to give it what it deserved earlier this year. With holiday guests over the festive period, I plan to dive into this in the wee small hours after family time.
Title That Was a Lifesaver When I Needed It
Balatro
I know Balatro was the previous year's sleeper hit, but I was slow on the uptake. And it is incredible. It just gets absolutely everything right. Crazy Poker is a wonderful concept, but the abilities behind the different wild cards are so inventive it has become a game I would happily play at any hour. Combine that with the wittiness of the card design, and this is an true pinnacle of gaming. I fantasize about being stuck in a broken-down lift 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 wave of criticism when I wrote about how a glitch in another game ruined the experience for me, but that other title is still a massive gaming achievement in terms of overall polish – which I appreciated even more after experiencing Outer Worlds 2. So thank you to the reader who took the time to contact me to say that my Outer Worlds 2 review was "missing the point". I present that as written, because I respect the passion, and he 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 Metroidvania-esque thing and don’t tell me guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "explore". How delightful. I acknowledge that it looks ace and is ideal if you are into challenging games, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I am less interested in in my current stage of life. I was around back when most games were like this, and my patience is gone. It was okay when I was a kid, but the same could be said for many outdated things.
Biggest Gaming News of 2025
Close call between business deals that sparked debate, and premium pricing. Both difficult to justify and unpleasant.
Games I Would Name My Children After, Were I I Was Ever Stupid Enough to Have More
Clair Obscur, Despelote and Bananza would all make interesting names called from the back door at dinner time.
Part of My Body That Aches Most From Gaming
Right Thumb Joint. Seriously. I don’t know if it’s because of button mashing or phone use, but it burns like hellfire in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs protected 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.
