Well, how was this year in your household? Was it entirely positive as one might claim on Facebook? Full of A-grades for the kids and riotous themed fancy dress gatherings for the adults? Or perhaps it was a ocean of letdowns with only sporadic enjoyable moments? Is any of this actually real, or are we all seven-fingered synthetic personas with celebrity smiles?
I've assembled the family for a chat, ready or not, to debate the paramount thing in any given year: which releases we were obsessed with the most. So here goes:
Just Dance 2024
"Is it impossible to pick just one?"
"You can't expect my games column."
On her phone, her go-to has been Cityscapes and "searching for decent healthcare."
"Digitally?"
"In real life."
Overwatch
"I don’t play games on my phone." He was offended that I suggested it. I respect that.
Resident Evil Biohazard
Her goal is to get into drama school, but when she stepped away from the mic, she was immersed in Resident Evil. She also elaborated in great detail about her achievements on The Sims, where her avatar has a blooming utopia with infinitely better healthcare than her eldest sister has outside the game.
Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time
She started the year at 60% completion and ended it at eighty-two percent. It’s a marathon not a sprint for her. Her phone game: something called Woodle, where you have to remove pins.
Minecraft
Any time I see my adult son playing Minecraft, I give him a hard time like a cross between a relentless heckler. When he objects, I reply that I am engaging in this to toughen him up so he can mature and play games for mature audiences. It's a classic Scottish father/son relationship.
Eldest Daughter on Just Dance 2024
There was no contest for this one. She is incredible. Even better than I was at classic rhythm games in my prime.
Marvel Snap
It was in a league of its own to the hours I spent on this insanely well-crafted card game competitive game, with its constantly evolving range of cards and game variations.
Marvel Snap
The catch about games that endlessly add to their range is you eventually realize and see it is all just an attempt to suck you into compulsion-based microtransactions. So enjoyment soured halfway through the year and it got uninstalled.
Doom: The Dark Ages
Excellent reinvention of a iconic franchise. Immersive atmosphere from the beginning. I wish I could deal with my problems so effectively in real life.
Blue Prince
I decline to rush this stunning, original game and I just lacked the time or headspace to give it what it required earlier this year. With family visits over the festive period, I will be playing this in the wee small hours after family time.
Balatro
I'm aware Balatro was the previous year's breakout game, but I was late to it. And it is incredible. It just gets each element right. Its gameplay loop is a wonderful concept, but the powers behind the different special cards are so creative it has become a game I could play constantly. Add in the charm of the card design, and this is an true high-water mark of gaming. I wouldn't mind being stuck in a small space for hours just so I have nothing to do but play it.
Outer Worlds 2
I endured a minor pile-on 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 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 "missing the point". I mention that verbatim, because I acknowledge the engagement, and they are obviously an excellent judge of character.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Sure. Give me a bastard-hard non-linear thing and don’t tell me guidance on what I am supposed to be doing, except "look around". Great fun. I understand that it looks ace and is flawless if you are into the genre, but I cannot think of a gaming experience I am less interested in in my current stage of life. I was around back when many games were like this, and I’ve had enough. It was acceptable when I was a kid, but the same could be said for many questionable things.
Close call between corporate partnerships that sparked debate, and premium pricing. Both difficult to justify and repugnant.
Clair Obscur, Despelote and Bananza would all sound good names called from the garden at dinner time.
Right Thumb Joint. No joke. I don’t know if it’s because of video games or phone use, but it is sore like hellfire in the mornings now. I knew I should have got my thumbs protected back in the 90s.
Grand Theft Auto VI.
And it will come out in 2026, even if we have to stretch time until the cows come home.
The Witcher 4.
A software engineer and tech writer passionate about open-source projects and AI advancements.
