Our Household Alternative Gaming of the Year Roundup for This Year
Alright, what did you think of the past year in your family? Was it entirely positive as people post on Facebook? Full of top marks for your offspring and riotous dress-up birthday parties for the parents? Or perhaps it was a ocean of letdowns with only rare entertaining moments? Is any of this authentic, or is everyone now AI-generated AI slop beings with celebrity teeth?
I've assembled everyone for a chat, ready or not, to debate the crucial thing in a calendar year: what titles we enjoyed the most. So here goes:
Release Eldest Daughter Played the Most
Just Dance 2024
"Is it impossible to pick just one?"
"You can't expect my definitive list."
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 have no interest in games on my phone." He took umbrage that I suggested it. Point taken.
Title Youngest Daughter Played the Most
Resident Evil Biohazard
She is trying to get into theatre school, but when she wasn’t singing, she was tackling Resident Evil. She also elaborated in great detail about her accomplishments on The Sims, where her avatar has a thriving utopia with significantly better healthcare than her big sister has outside the game.
Title the Wife 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 marathon not a sprint for her. On her phone: 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 give him a hard time like a cross between a classic comedy bit. When he protests, I reply that I am engaging in this to prepare him so he can mature and play games for mature audiences. This defines our Scottish father/son relationship.
Most Notable Gaming Family Member This Year
Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024
It wasn't even close for this one. She is incredible. Superior than I was at classic rhythm games in my prime.
Title I Played the Most
Marvel Snap
Nothing came close to the hours I spent on this insanely well-crafted card game digital pastime, with its constantly evolving range of cards and game variations.
Title I Wish I Had Played Less
Marvel Snap
The catch about games that constantly evolve their range is you eventually realize and see it is all just an attempt to suck you into fomo-fuelled microtransactions. So enjoyment soured halfway through the year and it was deleted.
Game I Wish I Had Played More
Doom: The Dark Ages
Excellent reinvention of a classic franchise. Immersive atmosphere from the start. I wish I could eviscerate my issues so effectively in real life.
Title I Wish I Had Played More (Thoughtful Edition)
Blue Prince
I decline to rush this beautiful, unique game and I just didn’t have the time or headspace to give it what it needed earlier this year. With family visits over the festive period, I plan to dive into this in the late night after family time.
Game That Was a Lifesaver When I Needed It
Balatro
I know Balatro was 2024’s sleeper hit, but I was late to it. And it is remarkable. It just gets every single thing right. The core concept is a wonderful concept, but the effects behind the different special cards are so imaginative it has become a game I could play at any hour. Add in the cleverness of the card design, and this is an absolute pinnacle of gaming. I wouldn't mind being stuck in a small space for hours just so I have the perfect excuse but play it.
Game I Got the Most Criticism For Criticising
Outer Worlds 2
I experienced a minor pile-on when I mentioned how a glitch in another game soured the experience for me, but that other title is still a colossal gaming achievement in terms of production values – which I valued even more after slogging through Outer Worlds 2. So thank you to the reader who took the time to send a message to say that my Outer Worlds 2 review was "bitter, confused resentment". I share that as written, because I appreciate the effort, and he is obviously an astute judge of character.
Title Everybody Loved That I Just Didn’t Get
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Alright. Give me a bastard-hard Metroidvania-esque thing and don’t tell me guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "look around". What a joy. I get that it is beautiful 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 many games were like this, and I'm over it. It was fine when I was a kid, but so was many less comfortable things.
Biggest Gaming News of 2025
Toss-up between business deals that sparked debate, and high launch costs. 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 make interesting names shouted from the garden at tea time.
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 endless scrolling, but it aches like hellfire 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 wait patiently until the heat death of the universe.
Game I Am Looking Forward to the Most in 2036
The Witcher 4.
