Okay, I’m going to start with a confession. This year has been a bad gaming year for me.
That’s not saying 2025 in gaming was bad. Nope, there have been some amazing games released, some of the best I have seen in many many years. I just… never got around to them.
So, ignoring the fact I have played far too many puzzle games this year, here are some of my gaming highlights.
Artifex Mundi Hidden Picture Games
One of my goals this year was actually completed early on. At the end of 2024, I’d discovered that I only needed five more Artifex Mundi games to complete all of the collection, until they release a new one (they haven’t all of 2025). So I made it a mission to tackle the five as fast as I could, knocking out each one between the end of January and the beginning of February.
I will say that I wasn’t as impressed with the final games as I was the originals, but that’s allowed. They were still somewhat fun, even if the writing was somewhat lackluster and the voice acting still left much to be desired.
Monster High: Skulltimate Secrets
You know I had a slow trophy year when this is a highlight.
For a bit of context, I don’t mind playing games based off of kids’ television series or media. Sometimes they are fun! The Monster High game on the PS3 was actually decent, even if the Platinum was a massive grind in the end.
But this one? I’ve never flown through a game so fast while being so utterly bored. I mean, the story was non-existant, the voice lines were tragically bad, even for this franchise, and the game could be completed in like five hours. Without even trying. You barely had to do any of the side quests, because the game led you to where you needed to go.
I much prefer the PS3 game, thanks. (And I played this twice, for trophies. Not a good idea.)
The Cats and Seek Series
I wasn’t going to mention some of the more obvious puzzle games, but I have to give a shout out to this little series.
I really do love games where you have to find a series of hidden objects, and the Cats and Seek series is perfect for this. Hundreds of cats hidden inside spralling pictures, and you have to find them all.
There’s just something calming about it. It is relaxing, soothing even. Hmm, I wonder if a new one is coming out.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
It’s not the DLC that makes DDV a highlight for me.
It’s the fact that in March, I finally got the Platinum trophy. The game is still a great deal of fun, the DLCs are mostly worth it (don’t listen to the complainers online). But finally getting that last trophy after almost TWO YEARS was worth the tears I shed. Especially since I got the previous trophy in June the year prior.
Yeah, I’m not doing the PS4 version. I don’t think I have the patience for it.
LEGO Gaming
So, this year in LEGO Gaming was… slow.
Yes, I completed LEGO Voyagers, which was a heartfelt little tale. Yes, I also started LEGO Horizon Adventures (which I really need to finish, but that game is just… not really great.) And yes, I started tackling two more editions of LEGO Harry Potter, even though I don’t exactly want to talk about that.
I just wanted more.
Oh well, the next LEGO Game from TT Games comes out in May. LEGO Batman, here I come!
Little Kitty, Big City
And finally, there’s what I’m calling my Game of the Year, only because I don’t have Clare Obscur yet.
I was introduced to Little Kitty, Big City by a Twitch streamer I follow. He played it on the Xbox One (I think), back when it was a timed console exclusive. When I saw that it was available on the Playstation Network, I had to have it immediate.
It’s just a cute little tale of a kitty lost in a small neighborhood of a big city, and them trying to find a way back up to their window. Short, sweet, with a multitude of animal characters to meet along the way who all have a place in the kitty’s story.
What’s next?
My goal for next year is to play more games with longer stories, instead of just short simple games. It helps that there are some great games coming out next year that I just can’t wait for (especially one, but that’s a tale for another day).
Until then, I’m going to finish out the year with a pretty successful trophy streak, which is always awesome.
Game on!
[Note: This was actually completed on December 15th, I just completely forgot to click publish. It has been backdated to that date.]
