The Decoy Awards - Gaming
The games I played to the extent that they became a detriment to everything else in my life.
Welcome to the second batch of our awards show. Mid-February is not too late for retrospectives, right? Right??
Anyway, each year I keep a list of every game I play, and when December comes I pick my favourites. Usually this is a bronze/silver/gold, but in keeping with the Decoy Awards we’re going bespoke.
2025 had some heavy hitters - Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, Monster Hunter Wilds, Hollow Knight Silksong - but which forced their way into my dreams?
The “One More Run” Award for Keeping me Hooked goes to He is Coming, by Chronocle
I have a problem. I’m addicted to Roguelikes. Give me three choices to choose from, relics to change up my runs, unfair bosses to smash into like a brick wall and I’ll be content for weeks (or years - see Slay the Spire).
He is Coming has this in spades. I generally stay away from Early Access titles on the assumption they’ll never get finished, but He is Coming brings so much to the table even in this pre-launch state that I spent an inordinate amount of time coming up with synergies to overcome the various challenges. Every time I gain speed I gain armour, and every time I lose armour I gain speed? Why thank you! That tactile feedback loops, the streamlined autobattling, the dread of “will I reach that chest and find a key component of my build before the night ends” all weave together in beautiful harmony. Sure, the pixel art is basic, but intentionally so - the chunky pixels form a coherent art direction that plays to the system’s strengths.
And after you’ve got a few runs under your belt, when you can identify key combos and boss weaknesses easily, there’s a wealth of challenges to keep you occupied. Now do it without upgrades. Without armour. With your starting wooden stick as your only weapon. With just grit and game knowledge. There’s no hefty metaprogression that makes you better - playtime gives you system mastery and more options (not necessarily good ones either).
I expect to keep playing this on and off into 2026, and look forward to further updates.
Honourable mentions - Hades 2, Brotato, Aethermancer
The “Consumed Every Inch of my Brain” Award goes to Europa Universalis V, by Paradox Interactive
I love history. I love strategy. EU is a long running franchise that lets me drink deep from both these cups.
Now the game isn’t in the best of states, with systems being reworked continuously like an active ship of theseus situation. But the major systems of economy, diplomacy, and warfare, worked. Building up a thriving utopia, reversing cataclysmic historical events, pushing back warmongering neighbours were all delightful challenges.
I can only hope that with a while more in the oven, it’s made into something even better.
Honourable Mentions - Blue Prince, Civilisation VI
The “Unexpectedly Cozy” Award goes to S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2", by GSC Gameworld
This should not be a cozy game. It should be terrifying, being hunted by invisible mutants in the pitch black night, picking your way through abandoned factories in Chernobyl’s no go Zone. Hoping your weapons hold out, trying not to fall prey to yet another ambush.
But nothing, nothing, comes close to the coziness of hiding in a bombed out building listening to the rain as a radioactive emission scorches the land, rain thrumbing on the tin roof. Sometimes other explorers will join you in the shelter, plucking at a guitar, eating tins of condensed milk as the wrath of the gods abounds outside.
It’s an immersive experience, to say the least. Sure, you can gun down anything in the Zone by the end. But you’ll always need a place to hunker down and hide when the sky turns red.
Honourable mentions - none?? Nothing else accomplished this.
The “Unexpectedly Great Anime Trash” Award goes to The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily, by Alliance Arts
I have a great fondness for anything that knows how silly it is, and leans into it. It’s over the top, it’s flamboyant, and it doesn’t care. Strategy of Lily is the story of the wayward Duchess Scarlett, framed for regicide who gleefully encapsulates the spirit of chaos and revolution.
The overland map is cute and blocky, the character art is distinctive and pretty, and the game is tough.
As a small force, you’re contantly outmanned and outgunned. But as the sole owner of an airship, you’re rarely outmanouvered. The map expands to cover the continent mission by mission, and each time new fronts are opened up. You’ll have to choose what ground to cede, what battle to pick, and try not to get caught out of position between the hammer an anvil of the empire.
There are multiple routes, either befriending the various characters scattered around the map and building on the momentum of the revolution, or going full demon queen and torching everything that gets in Scarlett’s way.
There’s a real joy in overcoming the challenges put in your way. Sometimes they feel grossly unfair, but it’s all manageable with enough creative thinking. Perhaps your war hero father can deliver a seranade to draw out some entrenched positions, perhaps you just need to cut a supply line or two.
Strategy of Lily is a romp, from start to finish. It also delivers a solid few salvos to my weak spot of “sweet queer romances” in the middle of things, which certainly kept me entertained for the playthrough. I’m looking forward to checking out Alliance Art’s other titles in the coming year.
Closing Remarks
And that’s it! Let me know any gems that I’ve missed and should be on my 2026 list.
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Alright, look - I didn’t finish Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 or Silksong. Yes, I had a good time with them - both have incredible music, fun combat, and reward exploration. But I just didn’t quite manage to power through them to the end, so they don’t get on the list. Maybe I’ll come back to them - I only have a few hours left on E33 so I should close it out by the end of the month. But there’s just so many good things to enjoy! I blame being swept up with reading. Speaking of, tune in next time for the Decoy Awards - Books and Stuff! (name tbd)