Read Gamer Social Club’s Hollow Knight: Silksong Review to find out how this sequel takes the Metroidvania genre to new heights.
VGChartz's Taneli Palola: "Before we leave 2025 completely behind us and begin taking a closer look at the horrors that 2026 surely has in store, let's once again mull over the best and worst of the last year. As is more or less tradition by now, the winners side took ages to properly fill, while there was an abundance of choice for the losers, but to keep some semblance of balance I whittled both sides down to just five. Let's take a look, shall we?"
Good read.
“Phil Spencer made some rather curious statements following the layoffs, notably stating that ”our platform, hardware, and game roadmap have never looked stronger.” So the company is simultaneously the most successful it's ever been, while also firing people by the thousands. Its gaming division is supposedly stronger than ever, yet it's effectively gutted many of the studios that brought it success in the first place.”
This is how a textbook Makavelian society works, where the top dogs become more successful in terms of flair and pomp with soaring bank accounts, only to realize the foundation of the society is rotten and relatively close to collapse. According to former border patrol agent JJ Carell., in 2025 the US was the largest consumer of human in trafficking on earth, and that slavery in America was more popular last year than it ever was, even compared to back when slavery was actually legal in the 1800s. But activist today will blab about how happy they are. But activists today will blab about how happy and proud they are that slavery is technically illegal because they fundamentally fail to grasp how a Makavelian society functions.
Hollow Knight: Silksong on PS5 is a confident sequel that meaningfully evolves the original’s Metroidvania formula around Hornet’s speed and flexibility.
GamesRadar+: "Clair Obscur and Sandfall Interactive win big with a record-equaling 7 awards."
Console Game of the Year - Ghost of Yōtei
Ultimate Game of the Year - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Well done to both games and a special mention to Blue Prince winning Best Indie game. I bought this game at launch and I platinumed it. Loved it.
Best Audio Design - Ghost of Yotei
Best Early Access Game - R.E.P.O.
Best Game Adaptation - Arcane Season 2
Best Game Expansion - Lies of P: Overture
Best Game Trailer - Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
Best Gaming Hardware - AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Best Indie Game - Blue Prince
Best Indie Game - Self-published - Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Lead Performer - Jennifer English
Best Multiplayer Game - Peak
Best Remake / Remaster - The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
Best Soundtrack - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Best Storytelling - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Best Supporting Performer - Ben Starr
Best Visual Design - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Breakthrough Award - Schedule 1
Console Game of the Year - Ghost of Yōtei
Critics' Choice - Donkey Kong Bananza
Most Wanted Game - GTA 6
PC Game of the Year - Hollow Knight: Silksong
Still Playing - Mobile - Pokemon Go
Still Playing - PC & Console - Minecraft
Streamers' Choice - Peak
Studio of the Year - Sandfall Interactive
Ultimate Game of the Year - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
This game is far from a 10/10