So. Top 5. What have they been?

For me it’s a weird one. It’s been a full on year for gaming but I haven’t had quite the same amount of time to play as I usually do (mainly due to Lily leaving home, but MA and other family stuff happened too). I keep on seeing games that I loved but actually I forgot that I played. I guess that’s an easy filter for me to think about it through.

Lords of the Fallen. I think this is going to be another eternal darkness for me. The one I never manage to convince you gits to play. I loved it though. It’s the closest any non From dev has come to producing a true Souls game, and unfortunate perf issues aside (largely fixed) it kept me engrossed for 100 hours and then kept me engrossed cooping with Rachel (cross platform coop with no restrictions . Cough.) until she finished it too. I’d urge my fellow souls fans to give it a few hours. It’s definitely been a perfect bookend to a year that I started by rinsing Elden Ring again.
Dead Space remake. It gave me immediate nopes and didn’t let up until the end. It was hell. Beautiful hell.
Wild Hearts. A bit like LotF is to Souls, this was to Monster Hunter. Loved it. Preferred it even.
Remnant 2. It’s a perfect sequel to a great game. Elevated every aspect of it and continues to surprise me.
Darktide. I really like Darktide. I love my Ogryn. I’ve wanted a game that could get me into 40k for years. This was the game. Technically came out last year but they transformed it this year.

Notable that most of my faves have been coop. Long may it continue 😉