The Dominik Diamond Alternative Game of the Year Awards 2025
In a humorous year-end reflection published on 26 December 2025, Dominik Diamond presented an alternative, family-centered game-of-the-year awards in The Guardian. The feature covered which games the Diamond family enjoyed most throughout 2025.
The game played the most by Diamond himself was Marvel Snap, praised as a deck-building, evolving-card game, though it was criticised for its microtransactions. His eldest daughter was named the most impressive gaming family member for her enthusiasm in Just Dance 2024; she also played Horizon Zero Dawn and Pikmin. Diamond's wife favored Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time, with her game completion rising from 60% to 82% over the course of the year.
Balatro was described as the high-water mark of gaming and the game that saved Diamond's soul. Outer Worlds 2 drew the most criticism from Diamond for its ambition, though it received a defense from a reader via email. Hollow Knight: Silksong emerged as a game loved by everyone except Diamond himself.
Among gaming controversies, the biggest scandal of 2025 was a toss-up between EA’s deal with Jared Kushner and the Saudis and the £70 price of Outer Worlds 2. Looking ahead, GTA 6 is expected to release in 2026, with The Witcher 4 projected for 2036.
