The Dominik Diamond Alternative Game of the Year Awards 2025
In a Guardian culture feature dated December 26, 2025, Dominik Diamond shares his family's alternative game of the year awards for 2025. Each family member's most played game reflects their preferences: the eldest daughter favored Just Dance 2024, along with Horizon Zero Dawn and Pikmin. The middle son most played Overwatch, while the youngest daughter spent most time on Resident Evil Biohazard, also frequently playing The Sims. The author's wife enjoyed Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time and also played the phone game Woodle.
Dominik Diamond himself ranked Marvel Snap as his most played game, though he expressed disappointment as his initial affection soured due to microtransactions and constant variations in card offerings. The game Balatro received high praise, described as the high-water mark of gaming, acclaimed for saving the soul of gaming and particularly noted for its Crazy Poker mechanics.
Outer Worlds 2 was discussed as a massive, gargantuan achievement but also attracted criticism and reader backlash, notably due to its steep £70 price. Meanwhile, Hollow Knight: Silksong was critiqued by the author as an experience not suited to his tastes in his mid-fifties.
