We might be well into 2026 at this point but many people haven’t had a chance to play 2025’s best games yet, as a reader makes a list of his favourite titles.

As we approach the halfway point of 2026, I’ve finally managed to play all the games that could have made my top list of 2025. Despite all the doom and gloom surrounding the video game industry of late, last year proved to be a truly stellar year for video games, regardless of your preferred genre(s).

10. Ball X Pit

Even with the generous set of characters to unlock and choose from, each run on Ball X Pit feels very similar, but the core gameplay loop of destroying enemies with various balls and then upgrading your village to assist in subsequent runs still manages to remain entertaining for a good few hours.

9. Split Fiction

Hazelight Studios continue to cement their reputation as the premier co-op creators, with Split Fiction, which mixes sci-fi and fantasy elements with an amazing level of invention and it’s great fun from start to finish.

8. Monster Train 2

Monster Train 2 isn’t a huge departure (pun intended) from the original but with plenty of new factions and cards available with which to build your deck it’s sure to provide dozens of hours of entertainment for fans of the first game.

7. The Rogue Prince Of Persia

The roguelike genre may be a little oversaturated these days, but thanks to its excellent combat and traversal The Rogue Prince Of Persia is still a game worth seeking out.

6. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Whatever your thoughts on Hideo Kojima’s games, it’s hard to deny that he truly is a one of a kind and although Death Stranding 2 obviously lacks the originality of the first, the satisfying feeling you get from helping connect people remains as strong as ever.

5. The Alters

11-bit Studios, the developers behind This War Of Mine and Frostpunk, have created yet another excellent survival game with The Alters, full of stressful resource management and tough decisions.

4. Blue Prince

Blue Prince’s rogue-ike mix of puzzles and exploration is utterly enthralling, and unless you really are determined to discover every single last mystery, any slight frustrations that the random nature can occasionally cause is easy to overlook.

3. Dispatch

Dispatch sets a new standard for video game writing and animation to the point where you feel as though you’re essentially playing an interactive cartoon, and this more than compensates for the relatively little traditional gameplay.

2. Hades 2

Hades 2 follows the template laid down by its predecessor pretty closely, but the rougelite gameplay loop remains as enjoyable and addictive as ever.

1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

With it’s well told story, excellent combat system and stunning musical score, Clair Obscur is a unique and beautifully crafted role-playing game.

By reader drlowdon

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge on Friday dismissed a human smuggling case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, finding that the Justice Department’s pursuit of criminal charges was designed to punish him for challenging his mistaken deportation to El Salvador last year.

The ruling amounted to an extraordinary rebuke of a Justice Department that under President Donald Trump has repeatedly been accused of targeting defendants for political purposes. The Trump administration touted the charges against Abrego Garcia last year at a press conference in which then-Attorney General Pam Bondi declared, “This is what American justice looks like.”

“The evidence before this court sadly reflects an abuse of prosecuting power,” U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw, in Nashville, Tenn., said in his ruling granting Abrego Garcia’s motion to dismiss for “selective or vindictive prosecution.” Without Abrego Garcia’s “successful lawsuit challenging his removal to El Salvador, the government would not have brought this prosecution.”

Abrego Garcia’s deportation became an embarrassment for Trump officials when they were ordered to return him to the U.S. In his motion to dismiss, Abrego Garcia claimed that both the timing of the criminal charges and inflammatory statements about him by top Trump officials demonstrated that the prosecution was vindictive.

Despite the win in criminal court, his future in the United States is uncertain. Barred from deporting him to El Salvador, administration officials have threatened to deport him to a series of African countries, most recently Liberia.

“Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a victim of a politicized, vindictive White House and its lawyers at what used to be an independent Justice Department,” his criminal defense attorneys said in a statement after Friday’s ruling. “We are so pleased that he is a free man.”

The Justice Department vowed to appeal, calling the judge’s order “wrong and dangerous.”

Crenshaw stopped short of finding the government acted with “actual vindictiveness,” a rarely-met standard that usually requires evidence like a prosecutor admitting that charges were filed in retaliation against someone. But the judge did find there was enough evidence of “presumptive vindictiveness” — including the timing of the indictment, statements made by then-U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and the sustained oversight of the case by other top Justice Department officials — that the case against Abrego Garcia was thoroughly tainted.

The government’s own explanations weren’t convincing, Crenshaw wrote.

Abrego Garcia was charged with human smuggling and conspiracy to commit human smuggling, with prosecutors claiming that he accepted money to transport within the United States people who were in the country illegally.

The charges stem from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee for speeding. Body camera footage from a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer shows a calm exchange with Abrego Garcia. There were nine passengers in the car, and the officers discussed among themselves their suspicions of smuggling. However, Abrego Garcia was eventually allowed to continue driving with only a warning.

In the Friday ruling, Crenshaw wrote that the timing of the charges was central to the presumption of vindictiveness. Homeland Security had been aware of the traffic stop for two years and had closed the case against Abrego Garcia when it deported him. Once the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that he should be brought back to the U.S., they reopened the case. While the government bore the responsibility to rebut the presumption of vindictiveness, prosecutors did not call as a witness the person who reopened the case, to explain why. Instead they offered only “secondhand testimony.”

In a statement released by the group We are CASA, which has been supporting Abrego Garcia and his family, he thanked God for the dismissal of the criminal charges.

“Justice is a big word and an even bigger promise to fulfill; and I am grateful that today, justice has taken a step forward,” he said.

Abrego Garcia’s deportation violated a 2019 immigration court order granting him protection from deportation to his home country, after the judge found he faced danger there from a gang that targeted his family. Abrego Garcia is a Salvadoran citizen with an American wife and child who has lived in Maryland for years although he immigrated to the U.S. illegally as a teenager. The 2019 order allowed him to live and work in the U.S. under Immigration and Customs Enforcement supervision, but he was not given residency status.

The man told the victim, his former partner, that if he was a woman, he would have killed her

A man locked his former partner inside their home and held a pillow over her face so she couldn’t breathe. Police were called to the home of Richard Chipperfield, 39, on March 15, 2025, after a mental health helpline received a call from his former partner.

She said that he had locked her inside their caravan and prevented her from leaving. With the victim’s consent, the police were called after she added that Chipperfield had become controlling in recent months, monitoring her phone and following her to the toilet.

In February 2025, Chipperfield held a pillow over his partner’s face so she couldn’t breathe. He told her that if he was a woman, he would have killed her.

At Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday, May 21, Chipperfield, of Wood Lane in Ramsey, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting to false imprisonment and intentional strangulation.

DC Aaron Fletcher, who investigated, said: “I’d like to praise the victim for her bravery in coming forward and confiding in police about her partner’s behaviour. Chipperfield caused her to live her life in fear, after he trapped her inside the home they shared together, and threatened her if she didn’t comply with his orders.

“This sentence reflects the seriousness of Chipperfield’s actions and sends a clear message that violence, abuse, and controlling behaviour will not be tolerated in our county.”

President Donald Trump has shared a heavily edited, AI-generated video on Truth Social Friday evening, targeting Stephen Colbert following the final broadcast of The Late Show the night before.

The doctored clip depicts the president walking up behind the late-night host, physically lifting him and depositing him into a dumpster. The video then cuts to Trump dancing to the song “YMCA” by the Village People before a cheering crowd.

The post marks the latest escalation in a long-standing dispute between Trump and the former television host.

Following the show’s final broadcast Thursday, Trump praised the conclusion of the program on social media, writing that Colbert was a “total jerk” with “no talent, no ratings, no life.”

“Thank goodness he’s finally gone!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

CBS announced the cancellation of the 33-year late-night franchise last July. At the time, the network described the move as “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” rather than a reflection of the program’s content or performance.

But the cancellation occurred just days after Colbert publicly criticized CBS’s parent company, Paramount, for agreeing to a $16 million settlement with Trump.

The legal dispute involved allegations that 60 Minutes had deceptively edited a 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris during the presidential campaign. Colbert had joked about the payment on air, referring to it as a “big fat bribe.”

Despite the controversy, Colbert’s final episode drew 6.74 million viewers, making it the most-watched weeknight episode of his 11-year tenure as host. Throughout its final season, the series maintained an average audience of 2.7 million viewers.

The final broadcast featured appearances by several prominent figures, including a joint segment with rival late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver.

Paul McCartney served as the final guest, performing The Beatles’ song “Hello, Goodbye” alongside Colbert, his family and production staff.

The program concluded with McCartney and Colbert symbolically pulling a power lever backstage at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater, turning out the building’s lights.

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT District Attorney Raymond Tierney said: “This was not an alleged single act of violence. It was months of alleged systematic cruelty and sadistic abuse, meticulously documented”

Prosecutors allege that a seven-year-old girl lost her life as a result of abuse and torture inflicted by those entrusted with her care.

Jor’Dynn Duncan was pronounced dead at hospital after suffering cardiac arrest on the morning of December 29, 2025. Three women are currently facing charges in connection with the youngster’s death. A post-mortem examination revealed that the little girl died from a severe, untreated infection caused by sharp force injuries. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office documented approximately 90 separate injuries on her body.

Following a thorough investigation, three women were arrested: Emily Kelly, 50, Barbara Renner, 75, and Elyssa Seymore, 24.

Emily Kelly of Bayport, the fiancée of Jor’Dynn Duncan’s father, was granted custody of the young girl by Suffolk County Child Protective Services in December 2024, despite having no family connection to the child, reports the Mirror US.

Kelly allegedly fabricated stories, including claims of a trip to Disney World, to conceal the systematic abuse of Jor’Dynn and account for approximately 40 days of school absences the previous year. Investigators reportedly uncovered evidence on Kelly’s mobile phone detailing what they have described as “systematic and sadistic abuse.

“This was not an alleged single act of violence. It was months of alleged systematic cruelty and sadistic abuse, meticulously documented,” said District Attorney Raymond Tierney. “The child was allegedly left to die while these defendants watched her deteriorate. No child should ever endure such horror, and we will seek justice for Jor’Dynn.”

Three people have been indicted following the young girl’s death — Kelly, her mother, and her daughter. Kelly faces murder charges, while her mother, Barbara Renner, 75, has been charged with manslaughter, and her daughter, Elyssa Seymore, 24, faces charges of unlawful imprisonment. Both Renner and Seymore have also been charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Renner’s solicitor argued that her client, who suffers from dementia, was neither the child’s carer nor responsible for her death. “We anticipate conducting a more thorough investigation into the circumstances of this matter,” her attorney stated.

Seymore’s legal team also deny the allegations, insisting she played no part in the child’s death. “To be clear, she has not been charged nor has ever been implicated to be associated with the untimely death of [Jor’Dynn] Duncan on December 29, 2025,” her attorneys wrote, “The charges of the alleged unlawful imprisonment stem from a three-day period in July of 2025.”

Jor’Dynn was a second grader in Bayport, and was fondly remembered by her teachers, who said she “lit up the room”.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy Hearney said: “The Bayport-Blue Point School District remains heartbroken and profoundly saddened by the tragic death of Jor’Dynn Duncan, a beloved second grader. Our thoughts remain with all those affected by this unimaginable loss, including the student’s family, classmates, teachers, and the entire Bayport-Blue Point community. We remain committed to providing all necessary support to our students and staff members as we continue to navigate this difficult period.

“We are aware that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office announced criminal charges in connection with Jor’Dynn’s death. As this matter involves individual student privacy rights as well as an ongoing criminal investigation, the district is unable to share details surrounding the allegations. We remain committed to fully cooperating with law enforcement.”

The teenager and his passenger both came off the bike during the police pursuit

A police chase came to a dramatic end when a teen motorcyclist and his pillion passenger were cornered. They were filmed travelling at speed along pavements on July 18 last year during the pursuit in Wrexham.

Alfie Hughes, 19, and the passenger sitting behind him were followed by a police car along Dean Road before being intercepted in Borras Park. Both were knocked from the off-road bike as Hughes turned into Borras Park Road from Jeffreys Road.

The pair fled on foot and a police helicopter was called in. Using thermal imaging, police air service spotters found them hiding in bushes and trees next to Acton Park lake.

Police bodycam footage shows an officer closing in on their hiding place while pointing a Taser and shouting: “Stay where you are, show me your hands, come here now.”

Hughes, of Deva Way in Wrexham, admitted charges of driving without due care and attention, failing to stop for police, and driving while uninsured and unlicensed.

At Mold Magistrates’ Court he was banned from driving for six months and fined almost £300, North Wales Live reports.

Sgt Danny Rees said officers were patrolling the area at the time following a series of antisocial motorcycling incidents.

He said Hughes mounted pavements without regard for the safety of others. A specially trained police driver had blocked his path to protect pedestrians, the officer said.

Sgt Rees added: “Thankfully, no members of the public were injured during this incident.

“However, Hughes clearly showed a complete disregard for the safety of others by driving carelessly as he attempted to escape police.

“Antisocial riding will not be tolerated in our communities, and we are asking members of the public to continue supporting us to tackle this issue by providing information to us about bikes in their area.

“We will use all the tools and resources at our disposal to ensure it is stopped before anybody is hurt, or worse, killed.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled a new “Great British Summer Savings” package as experts warn household energy bills could rocket by another £209 a year within weeks.

Under the plans, children aged five to 15 will get free bus travel across England throughout August – while shoppers could also see lower prices on everyday treats including chocolate, biscuits, dried fruit and nuts.

The move comes as millions brace for another painful rise in household costs linked to the escalating Iran conflict.

Energy analysts at Cornwall Insight now predict the energy price cap could jump from £1,641 to around £1,850 from July after global oil and gas prices surged.

And experts are already warning the real crunch could come later this year when colder weather returns and households start using more energy again.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We know many hard-working families are still feeling the squeeze.”

He added that free bus travel and cheaper food imports would help put “money back into people’s pockets”.

The Government is cutting tariffs on more than 100 imported products in a bid to lower prices in supermarkets.

Officials believe the changes could save consumers more than £150 million a year.

But while families may welcome cheaper shopping and summer travel help, ministers stopped short of announcing direct support for rising energy bills – despite growing concern over what could happen this autumn.

Reeves said: “My number one priority is protecting households from rising costs.”

She added: “As the war in Iran pushes prices up at home, my economic plan is the right one.”

The Chancellor is also expected to abandon plans for a fuel duty rise later this year as ministers try to prevent further pressure on motorists.

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The latest intervention comes after inflation unexpectedly fell to 2.8% in April, helped by lower energy prices earlier this spring.

But economists warn that relief may only be temporary.

The next energy price cap announcement from Ofgem is due on May 27 – and millions of households are anxiously waiting to see how much more they may have to pay.

There is also the argument that Ulster are victims of their own success.

As a reward for an upturn in form, the province were heavily represented in Ireland’s Six Nations squad.

A proud moment for those associated with the club, but it did deprive key players of the mid-season breather they normally would have had.

For the final, Ulster were missing their four longest-serving players. Captain Iain Henderson was suspended, while Stuart McCloskey – so influential for both Ulster and Ireland – was injured along with Jacob Stockdale and Rob Herring.

Of the team that started in Bilbao, Timoney was the oldest player at 30.

“There were eight players in Ireland camp and only two last year,” observed Murphy.

“The rugby we’ve played, and reaching a European final, albeit not with the result we wanted, all of those things have had an impact on us making the top eight.

“We have had to move our resources around and at this time our squad probably isn’t strong enough to compete in two competitions.”

The Netflix series followed the lives of Paris, Tyson and their seven children

Paris Fury has issued a plea to her fans over her family’s popular Netflix series At Home With The Furys.

Paris and her husband Tyson Fury were proud parents on Saturday (May 16) as their eldest of seven children Venezuela tied the knot. The 16-year-old married her fiancé, Noah Price, who proposed at her birthday party last year.

Among those in attendance for the ceremony at the Royal Chapel of St John the Baptist on the Isle of Man was Molly-Mae Hague, who is in a relationship with Venezuela’s uncle Tommy Fury. Snaps from the big day shared so far included one of Tyson getting out of a vintage wedding car with his daughter.

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Due to the Fury’s recent move from Morecambe, Lancashire, the family didn’t have far to travel for the big day. The entrance to the church had a long blue carpet rolled out to the entrance and was decorated with an archway of blue hydrangeas and yellow roses.

Once Venezuela and Noah said ‘I do’, the wedding reception took place at the nearby four-star Comis Hotel and Golf Club. During the reception, wedding guests were treated to a string of nostalgic pop hits from Peter Andre.

The event marked another big moment in what’s proving to be a hectic year for the family, last month saw fans delighted at the release of the second series of their reality documentary At Home With The Furys.

Viewers saw how Tyson was doing at home after retiring from the ring following his loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. However, it soon became clear that he wasn’t going to stay out of the ring for long.

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The synopsis for the second season of At Home With The Furys teases: “At Home with the Furys returns for a second season, following heavyweight champion Tyson Fury as he attempts to give retirement another shot and embrace life beyond boxing in Morecambe Bay.

“Surrounded by wife Paris Fury, their seven children and his ever-opinionated dad John Fury, Tyson channels the competitive drive that made him a world champion into new ventures – from a family road trip to Monaco to investing in a racehorse and finding creative ways to stay busy.

“Meanwhile, Paris is determined not to be left out of the mayhem. As she explores new business opportunities, she’s also juggling life at the heart of the Fury household while planning two major family milestones: a spectacular sweet sixteenth celebration for their daughter and an elaborate renewal of her wedding vows with Tyson.”

Taking to Instagram on Thursday (May 21), Paris sent a message to her fans about the documentary being nominated for a National Television award this week. She emphasised her desire to win the award after the last series went home empty handed.

“So I’ve just been told that At Home With The Furys Season 2 on Netflix has been nominated for an award and it’d be great if everyone could check it out, click on the link and vote because last series I don’t think we won any awards, so you know this time let’s try and bump the numbers, let’s try and get some credit for one of the most-loved docuseries that’s come out this year,” she said.

Nominated in the new Reality Docuseries category’s longlist, the series faces stiff competition from Netflix’s Being Gordon Ramsay, Prime Video’s Clarkson’s Farm, Disney+’s Raising Chelsea, the BBC’s Stacey & Joe, Sky’s The Dyers’ Caravan Park, and Prime Video’s Vinnie Jones In The Country.

Lord Eliott made the comments after it was revealed that less than a quarter applying for jobs at the council were from a Protestant background

A Sinn Féin councillor has rejected claims from former Ulster Unionist Party leader Lord Tom Elliott that Fermanagh and Omagh District Council must not become a “cold house for Protestants.”

Lord Elliott made the comments in The Impartial Reporter in response to figures released by the council, which showed that 24 per cent of applicants for jobs at the council in 2025 came from a Protestant background, compared to 61 per cent from a Catholic background.

57 per cent of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council employees are from a Catholic background, compared to 35 per cent from a Protestant background.

The figures also showed that, among successful candidates for promotions within the council, 73 per cent were from a Catholic background and 18 per cent from a Protestant background.

Cllr Dermot Browne said: “I categorically reject the assertion from Tom Elliott that Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is a ‘cold house for protestants’.

“Equality and fair representation are embedded within the Council’s Employment policies.

“This type of rhetoric is divisive and does little to address the real issues facing people across Fermanagh and Omagh.

“The people of Fermanagh and Omagh want to see their elected representatives working together to improve local services, support communities and deliver positive outcomes instead of engaging in political point-scoring.

“Our focus should remain firmly on the issues that matter most to local people every day.”

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