..and that's game 10 of 2026 completed - Resident Evil 2 (1998) Absolutely loving replaying through these. Resi 2 has always held the top spot of my most beloved games and this playthrough has reconfirmed it. Actually prefer the handling of the intertwining stories in this one more than the remake.

..and that's game 9 of 2026 completed - Resident Evil (1996) Possibly my most replayed game ever and one I still love dearly to this day. Decided to start a re-playthrough of the entire series in between bigger releases this year. Perfect timing given the 30th anniversary of the franchise.

and that's game 8 of 2026 completed - Dino Crisis 2 Never actually completed this upon its original release, and it's been great revisiting it. Much more action based than the first game but still perfectly playable and enjoyable to this day. Next up starts my re-playthrough of the Resi franchise.

..and that's game 7 of 2026 completed - Dino Crisis My survival horror kick in the runup to RE9's release continues with a playthrough of this Capcom classic. Hopefully any renewed interest following its recent Steam release leads to a full blown remake at somepoint.

..and that's game 6 of 2026 completed - Crisol: Theater of Idols This ticks all the right old school survival horror boxes with some interesting imagery, varied puzzles & satisfying gunplay. Just lacks in the enemy variety department. Certainly packs plenty of game for the insanely cheap price too

..and that's game 5 of 2026 completed - Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Essentially an indie Skyrim which exceeds expectations in almost every area. Tells a unique story across three massive acts. Also be sure to play the Sanctuary of Sarras DLC. It's the very definition of a sleeper hit.

..and that's game 4 of 2026 completed - Cairn My god I LOVED this game! Such a beautiful, challenging and unique gaming experience. One that offers a true journey of survival and perseverance, with some fantastic environmental storytelling along the way.

..and that's game 3 of 2026 completed - No Rest For The Wicked (Early Access) Probably the best early access release Ive played since Baldurs Gate 3. Moon Studios have something VERY special on their hands here. Completed all currently available story content & now eagerly awaiting the 1.0 release

..and that's game 2 of 2026 completed - Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Thoroughly enjoyed this over the Xmas period. Whilst it obviously retreads a lot of the same ground as BOTW, the new additions and gameplay refinements elevate it even further. A true masterpiece of open world game design

..and that's game 1 of 2026 completed - Dispatch Off to a good start with this incredible interactive story. Yes the actual gameplay may feel a bit mundane but my god the writing, acting and animation more than make up for it. Can't recall a more immediately likeable bunch of characters.

Happy New Year everyone! Hope to be more active on here again during 2026. In the meantime though here's a final recommendation for a few indies that didnt quite make my top 10 of the year, but still thoroughly deserve a play: BallxPit Ninja Gaiden Ragebound System Shock 2 Remaster Eternal Strands

..and here they are. My top 10 games of 2025: 1 - Hades 2 2 - Absolum 3 - The Seance of Blake Manor 4 - Donkey Kong Bananza 5 - Hollow Knight Silksong 6 - Blue Prince 7 - Metroid Prime 4: Beyond 8 - Pipistrello and the Cursed Yo-yo 9 - Shinobi: Art of Vengeance 10 - Ninja Gaiden 2: Black

..and that's game 50 of 2025 completed 🎉 - Ghost Town Easily one of the best standalone Meta Quest titles I've played. Builiding on the foundations of the Room VR this one offers a series of Escape Room style puzzles, in realistic settings. All wrapped around a well told supernatural story.

Two weeks off work and settling in to a playthrough of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom over the festive period.. Happy days! 🎄

..and that's game 49 of 2025 completed - Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons Battlemarked I always tend to get back into VR gaming this time of year and this one was a real cracker. The Demeo/D&D colab is a match made in heaven and captures the tactical combat of tabletop gaming perfectly.

🏆#TheVPAwards // 2025 ARE OPEN! – Enter your shots NOW – thefourthfocus.com/thevpawards

..and that's game 48 of 2025 completed - Routine My favourite kind of atmospheric horror game. One with a consistent sense of foreboding, plenty of puzzles and the occassional jumpscare. Any SOMA lovers will be right at home with this game. Now the question is, can I make it to 50 for the year? 🤔

..and that's game 47 of 2025 completed - Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Really really enjoyed this one. Yes the open world desert element is a bit lacking and feels like padding, but the core biomes are as good as the series has even been. It absolutely nails the sci-fi alien world vibes throughout.

..and that's game 46 of 2025 completed - Marvel Cosmic Invasion If Id have played this before Absolum I may have rated it a bit higher but in comparison this definitely lacks any real form of lasting depth or variety. The incredible pixel work on the key cast of characters is to be commended though

..and that's game 45 of 2025 completed - Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Dead Rising is probably one of my most replayed game of any series. It's time based gameplay was divisive at the time but for me it's the games biggest pull. Adding a much needed sense of urgency to the zombie slaying antics.

..and that's game 44 of 2025 completed - Neon Inferno A beautiful retro run'n'gun shooter with some incredible pixel art/animation. Core gameplay is a mix of Contra with some gallery shooting elements similar to Cabal/Wild Guns (as you also have to contend with enemies in the 2D background plane).

..and that's game 43 of 2025 completed - The Seance of Blake Manor Easily one of the best detective mystery games I've ever played. It's clever, complex, well written, well acted and has a great time based mechanic that pushes you on without being overly stressful. Go play it and thank me later! 😉

Although we are nearing the end of the year, the deluge of top quality Indie games continues in force! Got this little lot to keep me busy at the moment. Each one excellent in their own way. #NeonInferno #TheSeanceOfBlakeManor #MonstersAreComing #Demonschool #IndieGaming

..and that's game 42 of 2025 completed - Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake A lovingly crafted remake for one of the most enduring JRPG series out there. Really enjoyed the playthrough and the simplicity of it all was actually quite refreshing.

..and that's game 41 of 2025 completed - Silent Hill F As expected the weird and surreal Silent Hill formula transitions incredibly well into this 1960's Japanese horror setting. Only let down by some repetition towards the end and a few overly obscure puzzles along the way.

..and that's game 40 of 2025 completed - Ball x Pit My recent Rogue-lite/like obsession continues and this one is as addictive as they come. An obscenely simple premise executed incredibly well. I'm just so happy games like this even exist!

..and that's game 39 of 2025 completed - Slots & Daggers A fantastic little Indie mini rougelike. Utterly addictive and insanely cheap. Shares some of the same DNA as the likes of Balatro and Clover Pit but is still very much its own thing.

..and that's game 38 of 2025 completed - Sonic Racing: Crossworlds Fancied a bit of arcade racing so gave this a try, sadly its really lacking something that made the previous Sonic Racing titles shine. Still stuck with it an golded all GP cups but wont be returning.

..and that's game 37 of 2025 completed - Absolum Dotemu really are becoming the masters of this genre. This time seamlessly blending their Streets of Rage 4 gameplay to a perfect D&D/Fantasy rogue-lite setting. Such a great year for Indies & this is another that sits way up the top of the list.

..and that's game 36 of 2025 completed - Hades 2 Rolled credits after 18 successful runs and could still quite happily keep playing. Once it gets it's hooks into you it's all consuming, and all that time in early access definitely paid off. Death to Chronos!

..and that's game 35 of 2025 completed - Hollow Knight Silksong One of the toughest and most rewarding games I've finished in years. Impeccable visuals, level design and lore building all help set this game up as the true Dark Souls of the Metroidvania genre.

..and that's game 34 of 2025 completed - Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Metroidvanias have been going from strength to strength these past few years & this one is up there as one of the best. A perfect modernisation of a SEGA classic. I just hope the other upcoming remakes are done to a similar standard

..and that's game 33 of 2025 completed - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater MGS3 has aways been my favourite entry in the series and this beautifully handled remaster only solidifies its place. Offering an impressive visual uplift, refined controls and some nice quality of life improvements.

..and that's game 32 of 2025 completed - Sword of the Sea One word... Breathtaking!

The Magnificent Sword of the Sea - #SwordoftheSea #VPSupport #VPRepost #VirtualPhotography

..and that's game 31 of 2025 completed - Donkey Kong Bananza A ridiculously addictive platformer thats up there with Nintendos very best. A game that shows an increasingly brilliant level of creativity and inventiveness, that simply never lets up during its 30+ hour playtime.

..and that's game 30 of 2025 completed - Ninja Gaiden Ragebound Dotemu have done it again! This time with a fantastic reinterpretation. One that pays homage to Ninja Gaidens 8-bit roots, whilst still feeling fresh and offering a serious challenge. Another GOTY contender for me for sure.

..and that's game 29 of 2025 completed - The Drifter A fantastic entry to the point and click adventure genre. One that wouldn't feel out of place alongside the classics of that era. Even down to replicating some of the slightly obscure style of puzzle solving in the final couple of chapters 😉

..and that's game 28 of 2025 completed - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Never actually finished it at launch so I jumped at the chance of a fresh Switch 2 enhanced playthrough and boy did it deliver! An utterly captivating world that begs you to explore every well designed inch of it.

Latest Indie purchase - #TheDrifter Any classic (point & click) adventure fans out there need to play this. It's pixel art perfection! youtu.be/2GiHlkE2z8g?...

New NIN! 🙌 youtu.be/-Sj-FmI5JfA?...

..and that's game 27 of 2025 completed - Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Wanted to get in the mood for the arrival of Donkey Kong Bananza in a couple of week time. So what better way than with a playthough of one of Nintendos best platformers.

June 2025 VP Recap Another month of barely any VP output. But I did atleast manage to complete this rather eclectic bunch of excellent titles.

Atleast this has put a smile on my face this morning!! LFG!! 🤩 #TheProdigy

Ever feel like you are being relentlessly tested?... After overcoming my battle with depression and passing of my father last year. To this year worrying over an ill wife & mother, a house clearance/renovation and move. Only to now be hit with risk of redundancy at work basically "I'm tired, boss"

The Prodigy showing exactly how you close a festival. Absolutely immense! The FOMO is real! - #TheProdigy #Glastonbury

..and that's game 26 of 2025 completed - System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster Absolutely blasted through this over the past few (very late) nights. As good today as the day it released, and still one of the best immersive RPGs out there. Thief series next please @nightdivestudios.bsky.social

..and that's game 25 of 2025 completed - Lost in Random: The Eternal Die The world of Random makes an ideal setting for this Hades inspired Roguelite. Whilst being slightly more forgiving than its main inspiration it's still a really great addition to the genre. One that's well worth peoples time.

My entire feed is hyped for the Death Stranding 2 release.. and here's me patiently awaiting Shodans anniversary remaster. Just a couple of days to go. #SystemShock2 @nightdivestudios.bsky.social

..and that's game 24 of 2025 completed - Doom: The Dark Ages Really enjoyed the combat but it does feel like the series is going the same way as the Halo games and becoming bogged down within its own lore. It could easily have been 3 or 4 chapters shorter too. Bit too much padding for my liking.