Mark Ⴟ Ⓥ Delaney
@blueskynoise.com
editor for gamespot | vegan, straight-edge, atheist, wife guy from Boston, and as annoying as that sounds | letterboxd: https://boxd.it/aA7G7
My first full year on @letterboxd.social
December 31, 2025 at 5:25 PM
My first full year on @letterboxd.social
took my annual post-Christmas trip to Powell’s and got these to kick off 2026.
December 30, 2025 at 7:44 PM
took my annual post-Christmas trip to Powell’s and got these to kick off 2026.
Great day to play Light Up The Town on Steam, a cozy game where you decorate your neighborhood for Christmas. Playable on Steam Deck, too.
store.steampowered.com/app/3419910/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3419910/...
December 25, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Great day to play Light Up The Town on Steam, a cozy game where you decorate your neighborhood for Christmas. Playable on Steam Deck, too.
store.steampowered.com/app/3419910/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3419910/...
1. Arc Raiders
This is the most exciting multiplayer landscape since Sea of Thieves. Every round tells a story and it’s such a thrill to load in and not know exactly how it’ll play out. The fact that solo queues tend to be cooperative adds a dynamic that I’ve not seen in other games like this.
This is the most exciting multiplayer landscape since Sea of Thieves. Every round tells a story and it’s such a thrill to load in and not know exactly how it’ll play out. The fact that solo queues tend to be cooperative adds a dynamic that I’ve not seen in other games like this.
December 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM
1. Arc Raiders
This is the most exciting multiplayer landscape since Sea of Thieves. Every round tells a story and it’s such a thrill to load in and not know exactly how it’ll play out. The fact that solo queues tend to be cooperative adds a dynamic that I’ve not seen in other games like this.
This is the most exciting multiplayer landscape since Sea of Thieves. Every round tells a story and it’s such a thrill to load in and not know exactly how it’ll play out. The fact that solo queues tend to be cooperative adds a dynamic that I’ve not seen in other games like this.
2. Goodnight Universe
The Before Your Eyes team leaned into some of the same mechanics and themes to tell another beautiful story that, while stranger and longer, is similarly impactful (see: tear-jerking).
The Before Your Eyes team leaned into some of the same mechanics and themes to tell another beautiful story that, while stranger and longer, is similarly impactful (see: tear-jerking).
December 22, 2025 at 6:32 PM
2. Goodnight Universe
The Before Your Eyes team leaned into some of the same mechanics and themes to tell another beautiful story that, while stranger and longer, is similarly impactful (see: tear-jerking).
The Before Your Eyes team leaned into some of the same mechanics and themes to tell another beautiful story that, while stranger and longer, is similarly impactful (see: tear-jerking).
3. Herdling
Okomotive has once again made a game unlike any other I’ve played, and this time they did it depicting the remarkable bond between humans and animals in a way I so greatly appreciate.
Okomotive has once again made a game unlike any other I’ve played, and this time they did it depicting the remarkable bond between humans and animals in a way I so greatly appreciate.
December 22, 2025 at 1:44 AM
3. Herdling
Okomotive has once again made a game unlike any other I’ve played, and this time they did it depicting the remarkable bond between humans and animals in a way I so greatly appreciate.
Okomotive has once again made a game unlike any other I’ve played, and this time they did it depicting the remarkable bond between humans and animals in a way I so greatly appreciate.
4. REPO
Lethal Company inspired a dozen copycats, but REPO is the first one that outshines the original blueprint. This is a near-perfect blend of horror and comedy.
Lethal Company inspired a dozen copycats, but REPO is the first one that outshines the original blueprint. This is a near-perfect blend of horror and comedy.
December 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
4. REPO
Lethal Company inspired a dozen copycats, but REPO is the first one that outshines the original blueprint. This is a near-perfect blend of horror and comedy.
Lethal Company inspired a dozen copycats, but REPO is the first one that outshines the original blueprint. This is a near-perfect blend of horror and comedy.
5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
This is surely my favorite RPG since Cyberpunk 2077. Despite being so different from each other, they share something in common: immersive, incredibly reactive worlds, which is maybe my favorite attribute an open-world game can have.
This is surely my favorite RPG since Cyberpunk 2077. Despite being so different from each other, they share something in common: immersive, incredibly reactive worlds, which is maybe my favorite attribute an open-world game can have.
December 19, 2025 at 6:21 PM
5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
This is surely my favorite RPG since Cyberpunk 2077. Despite being so different from each other, they share something in common: immersive, incredibly reactive worlds, which is maybe my favorite attribute an open-world game can have.
This is surely my favorite RPG since Cyberpunk 2077. Despite being so different from each other, they share something in common: immersive, incredibly reactive worlds, which is maybe my favorite attribute an open-world game can have.
6. Skin Deep
I’ve never soured on immersive sims tending to being super serious, but Skin Deep was such an exciting change of pace thanks to its colorful world and hilarious emails from cats.
I’ve never soured on immersive sims tending to being super serious, but Skin Deep was such an exciting change of pace thanks to its colorful world and hilarious emails from cats.
December 18, 2025 at 11:34 PM
6. Skin Deep
I’ve never soured on immersive sims tending to being super serious, but Skin Deep was such an exciting change of pace thanks to its colorful world and hilarious emails from cats.
I’ve never soured on immersive sims tending to being super serious, but Skin Deep was such an exciting change of pace thanks to its colorful world and hilarious emails from cats.
7. Battlefield 6
Is this just a return to form for a series once stuck in neutral, or is it especially good? I actually enjoyed BF 2042, so I tend to think this is the latter. It's also the first time the team has nailed battle royale, which is very important to me as a genre.
Is this just a return to form for a series once stuck in neutral, or is it especially good? I actually enjoyed BF 2042, so I tend to think this is the latter. It's also the first time the team has nailed battle royale, which is very important to me as a genre.
December 17, 2025 at 3:14 PM
7. Battlefield 6
Is this just a return to form for a series once stuck in neutral, or is it especially good? I actually enjoyed BF 2042, so I tend to think this is the latter. It's also the first time the team has nailed battle royale, which is very important to me as a genre.
Is this just a return to form for a series once stuck in neutral, or is it especially good? I actually enjoyed BF 2042, so I tend to think this is the latter. It's also the first time the team has nailed battle royale, which is very important to me as a genre.
8. Peak
This is a hilarious co-op game that's reliably a fun time, whether it's played in short bursts or during long nights. My favorite games tend to be canvases for emergent player stories, and Peak is one of the best examples of that quality in 2025.
This is a hilarious co-op game that's reliably a fun time, whether it's played in short bursts or during long nights. My favorite games tend to be canvases for emergent player stories, and Peak is one of the best examples of that quality in 2025.
December 16, 2025 at 11:59 PM
8. Peak
This is a hilarious co-op game that's reliably a fun time, whether it's played in short bursts or during long nights. My favorite games tend to be canvases for emergent player stories, and Peak is one of the best examples of that quality in 2025.
This is a hilarious co-op game that's reliably a fun time, whether it's played in short bursts or during long nights. My favorite games tend to be canvases for emergent player stories, and Peak is one of the best examples of that quality in 2025.
My most-played Steam game in 2025 was @velanstudios.bsky.social's taken-too-soon all-timer, Knockout City (private server edition). Admittedly, this is because my little girl hops in regularly to pummel the bots, but she takes after me because we both adore that game. Long live KOC.
December 16, 2025 at 7:18 PM
My most-played Steam game in 2025 was @velanstudios.bsky.social's taken-too-soon all-timer, Knockout City (private server edition). Admittedly, this is because my little girl hops in regularly to pummel the bots, but she takes after me because we both adore that game. Long live KOC.
9. Lego Voyagers
This is my favorite co-op experience I had with my daughter this year. Similar to It Takes Two in design but with a much quainter, sweeter world, I especially loved the ending.
This is my favorite co-op experience I had with my daughter this year. Similar to It Takes Two in design but with a much quainter, sweeter world, I especially loved the ending.
December 15, 2025 at 4:13 PM
9. Lego Voyagers
This is my favorite co-op experience I had with my daughter this year. Similar to It Takes Two in design but with a much quainter, sweeter world, I especially loved the ending.
This is my favorite co-op experience I had with my daughter this year. Similar to It Takes Two in design but with a much quainter, sweeter world, I especially loved the ending.
10. South of Midnight
Like yesterday’s game, this is a good “game” and an incredible story. It also has some of the best music and perhaps the most visually striking art direction of any game I played in 2025.
Like yesterday’s game, this is a good “game” and an incredible story. It also has some of the best music and perhaps the most visually striking art direction of any game I played in 2025.
December 15, 2025 at 1:35 AM
10. South of Midnight
Like yesterday’s game, this is a good “game” and an incredible story. It also has some of the best music and perhaps the most visually striking art direction of any game I played in 2025.
Like yesterday’s game, this is a good “game” and an incredible story. It also has some of the best music and perhaps the most visually striking art direction of any game I played in 2025.
11. Mafia: The Old Country
In the early hours, I was left wanting, but this gets so good before long. It ended up being one of the best stories in any game I played this year.
In the early hours, I was left wanting, but this gets so good before long. It ended up being one of the best stories in any game I played this year.
December 14, 2025 at 1:48 AM
11. Mafia: The Old Country
In the early hours, I was left wanting, but this gets so good before long. It ended up being one of the best stories in any game I played this year.
In the early hours, I was left wanting, but this gets so good before long. It ended up being one of the best stories in any game I played this year.
12. Lego Party
“Mario Party but not” is all this really had to be, but it goes beyond that by identifying the pain points of Nintendo’s series and erasing or improving on them.
“Mario Party but not” is all this really had to be, but it goes beyond that by identifying the pain points of Nintendo’s series and erasing or improving on them.
December 12, 2025 at 3:10 PM
12. Lego Party
“Mario Party but not” is all this really had to be, but it goes beyond that by identifying the pain points of Nintendo’s series and erasing or improving on them.
“Mario Party but not” is all this really had to be, but it goes beyond that by identifying the pain points of Nintendo’s series and erasing or improving on them.
13. Cronos: The New Dawn
For me, Cronos' job was to illustrate whether Bloober Team can make a great horror game when they weren't following an incredible blueprint a la Silent Hill 2. The answer, as it turns out, is yes.
For me, Cronos' job was to illustrate whether Bloober Team can make a great horror game when they weren't following an incredible blueprint a la Silent Hill 2. The answer, as it turns out, is yes.
December 11, 2025 at 5:32 PM
13. Cronos: The New Dawn
For me, Cronos' job was to illustrate whether Bloober Team can make a great horror game when they weren't following an incredible blueprint a la Silent Hill 2. The answer, as it turns out, is yes.
For me, Cronos' job was to illustrate whether Bloober Team can make a great horror game when they weren't following an incredible blueprint a la Silent Hill 2. The answer, as it turns out, is yes.
14. Dying Light: The Beast
I've accepted that the writing in these games will never be for me, but this entry is the most horror- and stealth-focused of them all, easily making it my favorite so far.
I've accepted that the writing in these games will never be for me, but this entry is the most horror- and stealth-focused of them all, easily making it my favorite so far.
December 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
14. Dying Light: The Beast
I've accepted that the writing in these games will never be for me, but this entry is the most horror- and stealth-focused of them all, easily making it my favorite so far.
I've accepted that the writing in these games will never be for me, but this entry is the most horror- and stealth-focused of them all, easily making it my favorite so far.
15. Wheel World
This is a game that knows how good it feels to ride a bike, and centers everything--mechanics, music, characters--around authentically capturing that persistent rush of joy. Everybody in this game loves their bike, and damn do I relate to that.
This is a game that knows how good it feels to ride a bike, and centers everything--mechanics, music, characters--around authentically capturing that persistent rush of joy. Everybody in this game loves their bike, and damn do I relate to that.
December 9, 2025 at 3:22 PM
15. Wheel World
This is a game that knows how good it feels to ride a bike, and centers everything--mechanics, music, characters--around authentically capturing that persistent rush of joy. Everybody in this game loves their bike, and damn do I relate to that.
This is a game that knows how good it feels to ride a bike, and centers everything--mechanics, music, characters--around authentically capturing that persistent rush of joy. Everybody in this game loves their bike, and damn do I relate to that.
Reminder that Batman Arkham Origins and Spider-Man: Miles Morales are both set during Christmas and feel awesome to play around this time of year.
December 8, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reminder that Batman Arkham Origins and Spider-Man: Miles Morales are both set during Christmas and feel awesome to play around this time of year.
16. Atomfall
Rebellion cleverly reinvented its open-world structure seen in Sniper Elite to make an investigative action-RPG that tells you virtually nothing about where to go or what to do, letting every action feel like you've made an exciting discovery all on your own.
Rebellion cleverly reinvented its open-world structure seen in Sniper Elite to make an investigative action-RPG that tells you virtually nothing about where to go or what to do, letting every action feel like you've made an exciting discovery all on your own.
December 8, 2025 at 4:29 PM
16. Atomfall
Rebellion cleverly reinvented its open-world structure seen in Sniper Elite to make an investigative action-RPG that tells you virtually nothing about where to go or what to do, letting every action feel like you've made an exciting discovery all on your own.
Rebellion cleverly reinvented its open-world structure seen in Sniper Elite to make an investigative action-RPG that tells you virtually nothing about where to go or what to do, letting every action feel like you've made an exciting discovery all on your own.
17. Despelote
The video game equivalent of a memoir, presented in such a way only video games can. This is an unconventional, endlessly charming slice of life.
The video game equivalent of a memoir, presented in such a way only video games can. This is an unconventional, endlessly charming slice of life.
December 8, 2025 at 3:50 AM
17. Despelote
The video game equivalent of a memoir, presented in such a way only video games can. This is an unconventional, endlessly charming slice of life.
The video game equivalent of a memoir, presented in such a way only video games can. This is an unconventional, endlessly charming slice of life.
18. FBC: Firebreak
Remedy’s multiplayer game lacked some helpful onboarding early on and hurt its appeal, but these days I’ve nearly earned every achievement and quite like it as a chaotic change of pace from my other multiplayer stuff.
Remedy’s multiplayer game lacked some helpful onboarding early on and hurt its appeal, but these days I’ve nearly earned every achievement and quite like it as a chaotic change of pace from my other multiplayer stuff.
December 7, 2025 at 5:57 AM
18. FBC: Firebreak
Remedy’s multiplayer game lacked some helpful onboarding early on and hurt its appeal, but these days I’ve nearly earned every achievement and quite like it as a chaotic change of pace from my other multiplayer stuff.
Remedy’s multiplayer game lacked some helpful onboarding early on and hurt its appeal, but these days I’ve nearly earned every achievement and quite like it as a chaotic change of pace from my other multiplayer stuff.