PC Game Release Dates 2018 – 2019 by Month / Date
Update: 2019 has arrived! Kindly check out our updated list for 2019 – 2020 PC game releases here.
Welcome to the PC Game Release Dates 2018/19 for January 2018 onwards. Whether you are looking for PC games releasing in 2018 or PC games still not given a definitive release date, this is the list for you.
This is unlikely to cover every single upcoming PC game of 2018 because it’s impossible to keep track of everything these days due to the sheer volume of PC games released on Steam. We’ll be doing our best to keep this list up to date as often as possible.
As always, comments are welcome – we’ll add any glaring omissions and this list will be continually updated throughout 2018 with revised dates and new titles. For some entries, we will have to guess, speculate, or infer possible release dates but we’ll let you know in the text if the dates are speculative.
This PC Game Release Dates 2018 list is continually updated by the PC Invasion team with titles being added and dates being changed. You can also check 2017’s list in case you missed something.
Last updated 12 December 2018.
January 2018 / Q1 PC Games
Forged Battalion (Petroglyph) 16 January Early Access
Petroglyph return with another new RTS and this time the focus is on unit customisation with game mechanics similar to most Petroglyph games.
Lost Sphere (Square Enix): 23 January 2018
This JRPG comes from Tokyo RPG and considered a spiritual successor to their first title, I Am Setsuna.
Subnautica (Unknown Worlds): 23 January 2018
After years of testing in early access, Unknown Worlds underwater survival game is ready to either sink or swim.
Endless Space 2 (Amplitude Studios): 25 January
The Vaulters expansion reintroduces the Vaulters and they will have the ability to teleport and use the coloniser ship the Argosy. The Vaulters will also have their own heroes, technology, buildings, and a new special node, and much more.
Dragon Ball FighterZ (Arc System Works): 26 January 2018
Goku and his chums come to the PC in a 2D fighting game by Arc System Works.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA (Falcom): 30 January
NIS America finally push the PC version of this ARPG out the door following its release in 2017 on the PS4.
Conan Exiles (Funcom): 31 January
After a lengthy stint in Early Access, Funcom’s Conan open world game is finally fully released.
What are the best new PC games 2019? Perhaps you have just been paid, bank account fat with virtual dosh, or you simply want to get caught up with the latest PC games because they are, well, new and shiny.
It is all well and good starting another daring round of PUBG, taking on a new 100-hour Football Manager save, or yet another The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim adventure but, as much as we love setting mammoths ablaze, there are plenty of the latest PC games that will more than supply your gaming fix. You don’t want to be the person who isn’t In The Know now, do you?
These days, new PC games pour onto Steam at a dizzying rate, making it impossible to keep up with them all. Thankfully, us kind folk at PCGamesN have separated the wheat from the chaff when it comes to recent PC releases, too. Below you will find the new PC games for which you should be saving your pennies.
The best new PC games of 2019 are:
Warhammer: Chaosbane
Warhammer and Diablo is an enticing combination, and Warhammer: Chaosbane is a new PC game based on the ubiquitous franchise that delivers on exactly that. With up to three other players or on your demon-slaying tod, you will be beating back the Chaos hordes in a nightmarish world devoured by war and watching the blood-soaked numbers go up.
If you’re looking for something to tide you over ahead of the Diablo 4 release date, Chaosbane is for you, and you’ll probably also have a good idea of how its gameplay loop works. Once you’ve picked one of four different character classes, you’ll be fighting the various followers of the Chaos Gods and looting increasingly powerful gear with which to punish more demonic foes. As you’ll find in our Warhammer: Chaosbane review, this might be a co-op game with very clear inspirations, but the world of Warhammer is a devilishly fun place for it.
Total War: Three Kingdoms
If you’re hoping for an easy time of it in forging the next great ancient Chinese dynasty, think again. Each of the other major Generals – whether that’s Total War: Three Kingdoms’ Lü Bu, Cao Cao, or Yuan Shao – you’ll come up against are vying to do just the same thing, relentlessly hounding you for every gorgeous acre of the Three Kingdoms by blood, or vassalage.
If you’re time with the latest entry to Creative Assembly’s new PC game is anything like we experienced as part of our Total War: Three Kingdoms review, these hard-fought beefs will find themselves among your most memorable moments in the seminal series.NPC and enemy behaviour is inspired by the Chinese concept of dynamic inter-relationships, Guanxi. This brings out their idiosyncratic personality traits, motivations, likes, and dislikes. It turns out most of them really like killing you.
You choose from two game modes: Romance and Records. Romance gives generals superhuman strength – such as allowing Lü Bu to solo 2000 enemies at once – whereas the latter has a greater emphasis on realism and historical authenticity. With a new settings comes revamped game modes, so here’s what you need to know about the new Total War: Three Kingdoms diplomacy system, and how to steal characters in the game.
Rage 2
Rage 2 wants you to kill faster, better, and more chaotically with each target you dispatch in an inevitable shower of viscera. Combining your booming array of guns with your Rage 2 Nanotrite abilities, you’re quite a force to be reckoned with. And that’s before we get to Overdrive: this overpowered state sees your guns reload quicker, your pace quicken, and your health replenish. It charges again with each kill, forcing you to drive on and on.
While our Rage 2 PC review pointed out that the story, wider world, and driving mechanics don’t measure up to the glories of its pummeling combat, there’s still a lot to love about this new PC game. Plus, it’s made even crazier when it comes to the myriad Rage 2 cheats that are sold by a marauding wizard. Because Rage 2.
A Plague Tale: Innocence
One or two rats we can deal with without jumping onto the table and gently screaming. Hundreds of them congealed together in a writhing, infested sea of shrill squeaking, not so much. Wealthy teenager Amicia de Rune is evidently made of much hardier stuff as she navigates the plague-carrying vermin en route to her younger brother in 1348 France.
Like Life is Strange, A Plague Tale: Innocence is an adventure game that tells its twisting mystery from the perspective of the young, and it’s just as refreshing. Where there might be a few too many systems introduced too quickly for a linear, narrative-focused experience – at least we thought so in our A Plague Tale: Innocence review – stealth and the way it ties into the contrast between light and dark means this is a new PC game that’ll likely get under your skin, and stay there.
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Not long ago it wasn’t possible for the keyboard-and-mouse brigade to venture into the fictional Tokyo districts of Yakuza at all. Now that Yakuza Kiwami 2 is out in the wilds of PC gaming, they’re as ubiquitous as zany SEGA mini games. This sequel is a remaster of the second action-RPG in the series and, just as our Yakuza Kiwami 2 PC review contends, the souped-up Dragon Engine designed for the sixth game makes it even better.
Anime-zing: Give the best anime games on PC a go
Kiryu Kazama might be struggling to leave his old, troubled life behind him, but we certainly don’t want him to. Thanks to the modern engine touch up, PC players late to the Sotenbori-set party can revel in seamless transitions between interiors and the streets and beautifully-animated battles. The original was already up there with the best RPGs on PC, and now we have the chance to give this overlooked classic another chance in the spotlight.
Imperator: Rome
Imperator: Rome is a daunting strategy game experience. As our Imperator: Rome review contends, its extraordinary detail is hidden behind a mess of obtuse and confounding menus. The information heavy battle screens, at first, will leave you struggling to get a read on how you’re doing in mass conflict. Only after tens – perhaps hundreds – of hours will you feel at home in your sprawling empire, and that’s despite the tutorial that starts you as Roman emperor 450 years on from Romulus killing his brother. Then again, nobody’s knowledge of running an imperial regime was ever built in a day.
This is a new PC game that rewards you for putting in the hard graft of diplomacy, troop organisation, and diligent micromanagement as the impossible detail Paradox have imbued the Classical era with unravels. Engrossing alternative histories play out on a dice roll and up being better than the actual one, probably. If you’re still not persuaded, the entire nation of Armenia is hyped for the game. Or, if you just want to swap Maurya for Mordor, there’s already an Imperator: Rome Middle-earth map.
Mortal Kombat 11
For a series that’s notorious for repeatedly upping the stakes of its brutally stomach-churning finishing moves, the eleventh entry to the series somehow does it again. Mortal Kombat 11’s fatalities have you dismembering your poor opponent before using them as a horrific ventriloquist dummy or filling somebody with blades before spinning in a nightmarish tornado of gore. We’ve even had our spines ripped out – and we thought our rival’s trash talk was just figurative.
This new PC game is easily the best fighting game in the series not only because of its sheer volume of features: MK 11 is more tactical than ever with its slowed walk speed and greater emphasis on positioning. The crushing blow is a strong new addition, but this bone-shattering move can only be performed under certain conditions, such as on counters that are timed just right. Combat is strengthened across the board, whether you’re playing in multiplayer or single-player as you progress to one of the numerous Mortal Kombat 11 endings.
Hunting for the many cosmetic upgrades and new techniques will keep you bludgeoning and impaling long after the credits roll. You’ll get those in the puzzle and secret-filled Krypt – so here’s a Mortal Kombat 11 Krypt walkthrough for that – and in the tough, modifier-filled Towers of Time. But, make sure you’ve unlocked Frost in Mortal Kombat 11 to complete your roster: she’s not available from the beginning and you’ve got to make certain choices in the story to make her available for battle.
Anno 1800
The Industrial Revolution might have been a time of beautiful architecture and superbly-coiffed ‘dos for the rich, but it wasn’t so great for the grubby, coal-smudged poor. With Anno 1800 you have the chance to implement some revisionist history as a benevolent liberator, or cash-in as a corrupt conqueror. Either way, at least part of your empire will look like the pretty postcard we created for our Anno 1800 review.
You have the choice of campaign, multiplayer, and sandbox modes. You have six different win conditions you can set – such as wealth accrual or sufficient external investment – as you grow your empire amid competing AI or human-controlled entities across the archipelago. Each AI character has their own character traits that you can learn through diplomacy or espionage, and you can extend your nation to new islands with a Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire-style text adventure as your brave adventurers sail on their way.
The tutorial is serviceable, but it’s a little incomplete. To make up for it we have a useful Anno 1800 tips list to give you the upper hand in this new PC game, and a detailed walkthrough of the best ways to produce steel beams and weapons in Anno 1800. These jet fuel-defying poles are a toughie to get made but are useful, so get them in production so you can be well on your way to being a just innovator/opportunistic exploiter.
Read more: See what upcoming PC games are coming soon
There you have it, the new PC games you should be playing right now. Now, we’ll admit, we were being a little facetious earlier: new PC games aren’t necessarily the cream of the personal computer crop. For that, you should swing by our list of the best old games for the classics and the best PC games of all time. While it’s important that you keep up with the new PC games we have listed, you are missing out on some of the most memorable gaming experiences around from previous years – and they’ll likely be a lot cheaper by now, too. We feel for your growing pile of shame.
- Read More
- Warhammer: Chaosbane review
- Warhammer: Chaosbane streamlines Diablo
- Warhammer: Chaosbane Slayer
On this list you'll find the best PC games we're playing right now—recent singleplayer hits, thriving esports, and a few modern classics that would improve any game library. We'll continue to update this list as new games release, removing older favorites and replacing them with our latest obsessions. Rather than an ever-expanding list that reaches deep into the past, we're shooting for a practical answer to the question: 'What new PC game should I get?'
If you're looking for a more comprehensive list which includes our favorite games from the past few decades, check out our yearly Top 100 list or our list of the most important PC games. For an up-to-date look at the year's upcoming games, we've assembled the new games of 2019. For budget options, check out the best free games on Steam and best free browser games.
Need a new system to play these games on? Here's our advice on what kind of gaming PC you should get, or take a look at our best graphics cards roundup to upgrade your GPU.
What to play right now
Auto Chess-style games are the latest craze, with both Valve and Riot quickly releasing their own versions: Dota Underlords on Valve's end, and Teamfight Tactics in the League of Legends launcher. They're both interesting, as is the original Auto Chess mod (a standalone version of which is on the way). Here's a comparison of all three.
We're still loving Mordhau's hard-to-master medieval combat. Meanwhile, Apex Legends remains the best new battle royale game, an all around improvement on what's come before, and it's now entering its second season.
Looking for something a bit slower? Observation is a sci-fi thriller from the creators of Stories Untold, in which you play as a space station's AI.
We're also still playing Sekiro. It's a slight departure from the Souls games, but still feels like a FromSoftware game: challenging and mysterious and strange in its own ways. Check out Tom's Sekiro review for more on why we love it.
Amid Evil also scored high marks recently. If the idea of using planets as grenades and pinning demons to walls with spikes appeals to you, check it out.
More of our favorite recent (and ongoing) games can be found in the list above. Below, we dive a little deeper into the PC Gamer staff's current favorites.
Competitive online games
Apex Legends
Released: 2019 | Developer: Respawn | Origin|Our review
Released: 2019 | Developer: Respawn | Origin|Our review
Apex Legends is the best battle royale game available now. The map is fantastic, the 'ping' communication system is something every FPS should have from here on, the guns and movement are great fun (no wallrunning, but sliding down hills feels great), and it's free-to-play with nothing to pay for except cosmetics. It isn't the game we expected from Respawn, but we're glad it's here. Check James' review for more.
Rainbow Six Siege
Released: 2015 | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2015 | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Counter-Strike's sexier cousin. Siege might lack the sharp hit detection and purity of CS:GO, but it's a more accessible and modern FPS that rewards clever timing and coordinated teamwork as much as aim. Siege's learning curve is a result of all the stuff (characters, gadgets, elaborate maps, and guns) that's been added since December 2015, but eventually you find yourself picking operators, map spots, and roles that you're comfortable with. Ubisoft continues to support Siege, dropping four major updates per year along with regular fixes.
Overwatch
Released: 2016| Developer: Blizzard | Battle.net | Our review
Released: 2016| Developer: Blizzard | Battle.net | Our review
With Overwatch's colorful characters and bright, inclusive world, Blizzard brought the world of team-based hero shooters to an entirely new market. Teams of six take the roles of tank, DPS, and healer to battle over objectives, not just who can get the most kills. It's a game that rewards—if not requires—teamwork. And with a growing cast of now 27 heroes to choose from, there's a character to fit just about any play style.
Fortnite Battle Royale
Released: 2017 | Developer: Epic | Official site | Free-to-play | Our review
Released: 2017 | Developer: Epic | Official site | Free-to-play | Our review
What started as a sterile PUBG imitation has evolved into the Minecraft generation’s arena shooter. Fortnite’s building system rewards good aim and an eye for architecture equally, extending battle royale shootouts from green pastures to impromptu skyscrapers slapped together in a minute. With ridiculously frequent updates from Epic Games that introduce new weapons, traps, tools, and skins, Fortnite is easily worth the price of admission, and even then, worth the time it takes to master such an obtuse, irregular building system.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
Released: 2017 | Developer: PUBG Corp. | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2017 | Developer: PUBG Corp. | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
100 murderous hopefuls skydive onto an abandoned island, grab whatever weapons and ammo they can find, and fight to the death. Rinse and repeat. Though the concept wasn't new (PlayerUnknown himself is responsible for multiple battle royale modes and mods), PUBG made the battle royale genre into the phenomenon that it is today. As a third- or first-person shooter, PUBG is more realistic and less arcadey than Fortnite. The joy of it is how it forces players to move and take risks as an ever-shrinking forcefield funnels surviving players toward each other until a winner climbs out of the wreckage. Every instant of every game is a flood of important decisions to make, and any one of them—even a minor one—could lead to your doom.
Rocket League
Released: 2015 | Developer: Psyonix | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2015 | Developer: Psyonix | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
The best and only synthesis of hockey and soccer than you can play with rocket-powered battle cars. Where most esports rely on gunplay or clicky top-down wizardry, Rocket League is all physics and speed. Simply put, you're trying to smash a giant soccer ball into a goal with a car. But the cars can jump, and flip, and fly into the air once you get the hang of it (which will take a while). Even after three years, Rocket League players are still inventing new moves and tricks—if there's a skill ceiling, no one's bumped it yet. It's intimidating and your first matches will probably be rough as you learn to steer and backflip and ride the walls, but since there are so many other new players at any given time, as well as training modes and bot matches, you can still get up to speed even if you're entering the arena late. Note that while you can play Rocket League with a mouse and keyboard, and some good players do, most prefer a controller.
Hearthstone
Released: 2014 | Developer: Blizzard | Official site
Released: 2014 | Developer: Blizzard | Official site
Despite the departure of game director Ben Brode, he of the flannel shirt and megaton laughter, Hearthstone remains in relatively rude health. The game's last two expansions—The Boomsday Project (August 2018) and Rastakhan's Rumble (Devember 2018)—have rightly been criticised for failing to freshen the meta sufficiently, but nonethless it's possible to build a deck with any class and pilot it successfully on the ladder. Those looking to try-hard on a budget should consider Spell Hunter, which is relatively cheap to build, whilst those looking to make instant enemies may prefer the ultra aggressive Odd Paladin, which remains obnoxious despite a recent nerf. For those of you with ladder anxiety, Hearthstone also now includes a rich suite of single-player content in the Solo Adventures section. There you'll find Rumble Run, Puzzle Lab, Monster Hunt and Dungeon Run—plenty of fun, without the pressure of a turn timer.
League of Legends
Released: 2009 | Developer: Riot Games | Official site
Released: 2009 | Developer: Riot Games | Official site
MOBAs are hard, rewarding competitive games because they demand teamwork, quick reaction times, and knowledge of beginning, middle, and endgame phases that vary with the role you play. And if you're going to play one, LoL is the best place to start. League of Legends has had remarkable staying power as one of the most popular games in esports for a couple simple reasons. One, it strikes just the right balance of depth and approachability for a MOBA. A gargantuan roster of heroes means you could spend years learning the ins-and-outs of the game, but mechanically it's less demanding than Dota 2, and more involved than Heroes of the Storm. Two, Riot Games hasn't been afraid to make significant changes to the map, characters, and other systems over the years, so there's always something new to learn.
If you can, play with a team of friends—it's far more fun (and effective) to coordinate on a headset than deal with randoms over text chat. If you bounce off of LoL, Dota 2 is of course extremely popular as well, and both are free-to-play, so give it a shot.
More competitive games
Dota 2
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Mordhau
Dead by Daylight
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Mordhau
Dead by Daylight
Battlefield 1 and Battlefield 5
Released: 2016/2018 | Developer: DICE
Released: 2016/2018 | Developer: DICE
While Battlefield 1 diehards insist that it's the superior game, we recommend both BF1 and BF5. On BF5's side, EA has done away with paid seasons passes, and is releasing all new maps free, plus there's a battle royale mode now.
Meanwhile, though, Battlefield 1 is included with Origin Access (both Basic and Premium) and is pretty cheap otherwise, so if the World War 1 setting appeals to you, it's a low-cost entry into the series.
Here's our Battlefield 1 review, and our Battlefield 5 review.
Singleplayer and co-op shooters
Doom (2016)
Released: 2016 | Developer: id | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2016 | Developer: id | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
The original Doom—back in 1993—is the most influential shooter of all time. With a pedigree like that, 2016's Doom reboot could have coasted by on the family name, had some fun, and called it a day. Instead, Doom surprised us all by being a spectacular shooter in its own right. More than that, Doom abandoned a lot of the storytelling conventions and cutscenes we've come to associate with modern games: about 30 seconds into the first level, the main character physically throws the plot across the room and shoots a demon in the face. Doom has a singular purpose, and if you're not a gun or a demon's face, it doesn't care to know you.
The remarkable thing about Doom is how eagerly it embraces ridiculous ideas as long as they're fun. Punch a demon until extra ammo pours out? Yes. Infinite stream of high-explosive rockets? Absolutely. The entire game is a crescendo, a heavy metal guitar solo that just gets louder and louder. Speaking of heavy metal, that soundtrack? Phwoar. What a game.
Warhammer: Vermintide 2
Released: 2018 | Developer: Fatshark | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2018 | Developer: Fatshark | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Like Vermintide 1, Vermintide 2 takes on the format of Valve's classic co-op shooter, Left 4 Dead. Each hero is generally capable but vulnerable on their own. Among the swarms of rats are elite enemies that specialize in ambushing individual players, leaving them helpless until a comrade rescues them. The mutual need for protection makes Vermintide unusually dependent on good teamwork, and sharp spatial awareness and generous instincts are better for survival than perfect aim.
There are five heroes to play, and each has three subclasses and a long list of possible weapons and specialty skills. Every successful mission rewards players with random weapons and loot, and a surprisingly deep crafting system helps players customize their heroes. Random matchmaking to find groups is fine, but Vermintide 2 is a real joy when played with friends, like a corporate team-building exercise with swords and axes.
More shooters
Titanfall 2
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
Prey
Killing Floor 2
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus
See our full list of the best FPS games.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
Prey
Killing Floor 2
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus
See our full list of the best FPS games.
Dusk
Released: 2018 | Developer:David Szymanski | Humble Store, Steam
Released: 2018 | Developer:David Szymanski | Humble Store, Steam
If you have any nostalgia for DOS-era shooters like Doom and Quake, Dusk has got it all: finding color-coded keys and secret chambers, a metal soundtrack, and high-speed strafing with dual-wielded shotguns while blasting the faces off of demons. An ideal way to spend an afternoon. Check out our Dusk review for more.
Resident Evil 2 (Remake)
Released: 2019 | Developer: Capcom | Steam | Our review
Released: 2019 | Developer: Capcom | Steam | Our review
A superb remake of the survival horror classic, with a mix of nostalgia and newness that Andy called 'tense, challenging, and beautiful' in his review.
Action games
Grand Theft Auto 5
Released: 2015 | Developer: Rockstar North | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2015 | Developer: Rockstar North | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
GTA 5 runs beautifully on PC, and its open world is still the best of any game, a gorgeous sprawl that replicates everything we associate with Los Angeles: the flat heat, the atmosphere, the fact that the city is so damn big. The campaign is the series' best ever, punctuated by ambitious heist missions involving all three protagonists. It's a lot of fun to spend time in this world.
If you want to take things further, GTA Online is waiting for you with an absolute ton of stuff to do. Not all of it is amazing, but with a few friends, it's great fun to knock through the Online mode's bespoke heists, and owning a business feels pretty cool too. There are plenty of ways to play this game forever, including all of these great mods.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Released: 2018 | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal | Steam | Our review
Released: 2018 | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal | Steam | Our review
Ubisoft nailed the latest in the Assassin's Creed series, fully embracing the roleplaying genre and retooling its typical open world to-do list into an adventure full of quests worth doing—all set in its grandest world to date.
Dishonored 2
Released: 2016 | Developer: Arkane Studios | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2016 | Developer: Arkane Studios | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
The best immersive sim around, with sprawling, complicated levels that are wonderful to unpack, as well as a couple of high-concept missions that you'll never forget. It's like Arkane made a sequel based on how much everyone loved Lady Boyle's Last Party in Dishonored—most of the levels here are just as good. The option to play as two characters, with their own version of the story and sets of powers, offers even more replay value.
Crucially, too, Dishonored 2 offers more non-lethal ways to play if you're not a perfect stealth player. Being able to block enemy sword attacks, get them into a chokehold, shove them over then boot them in the face, knocking them out, is the best fun. Likewise, using Emily's domino ability to knock out multiple enemies at once feels incredibly empowering. And that's just one of many ways you can play.
More action games
Far Cry 5
The Evil Within 2
Bayonetta
Ruiner
Check out our list of the best open world games, too.
The Evil Within 2
Bayonetta
Ruiner
Check out our list of the best open world games, too.
Hitman 2
Released: 2018| Developer: IO Interactive| Steam | Our review
Released: 2018| Developer: IO Interactive| Steam | Our review
Agent 47 has been taking contracts and knocking off targets in games for almost 20 years, but the latest in the series is his best work yet. What's extra great about Hitman 2 is that if you didn't play the previous Hitman reboot (also great), you can purchase upgraded versions of all of its levels. And if you do own 2016's Hitman, you can have those for free. For more on why we love Hitman's latest incarnations, head to our 2018 award for Best Stealth Game.
Action and turn-based RPGs
Nier: Automata
Released: 2017 | Developer: Square Enix | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2017 | Developer: Square Enix | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
This offbeat action RPG focuses on extremely stylish androids who've been sent to Earth to make it safe for humans again by wiping out the dangerous machines that dominate the landscape. But the story isn't as straightforward as that—and not all of the machines you face are brainless automatons. Some of them have hopes, dreams and orgies (!). The story in Automata is surprisingly fantastic, with multiple endings that change your perspective on your characters, and well-written sidequests.
This is one of those games that overreaches slightly, but is better for having done so. As an action game, it's not quite Platinum's best—that mantle still belongs to Bayonetta—but it's still satisfying to batter robots with a big sword in washed out open world environments. A deserved cult hit, even if the game still hasn't been properly patched on PC (there's a fan mod that smooths out a few performance issues).
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Released: 2015 | Developer: CD Projekt RED | GOG| Our review
Released: 2015 | Developer: CD Projekt RED | GOG| Our review
The Witcher 3 follows Geralt, the world's grumpiest monster-slaying bounty hunter, as he fights and magics his way across a medieval fantasy world. It tells a well-written, clever story, but more importantly, The Witcher 3 is the best open-world RPG you can explore right now (and quite possibly the best there's ever been).
The Witcher 3 is great mostly because it's so full of things to do. It's a huge world chockablock with ghouls, vampires, and wraiths—and the people can be pretty nasty, too. The size and depth of the world gives every quest context, an anchor that feels like it stretches back into history. Investigating a haunted farmhouse, for example, turns up clues about the type of spectre involved. Choosing the right weapon and brewing up a special potion feel like steps in a centuries-old ceremony. The Witcher 3 is a triumph of worldbuilding.
Besides the world, Geralt himself is the star of the show. He's frequently dour and funny and jaded, and he's an appealing character to spend time with. Some of the storylines will mean more to long-time fans of the Witcher books and games, but even without playing the earlier games in the Witcher series, The Witcher 3 is worth several hundred hours of your time.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Released: 2017 | Developer: Larian Studios | GOG, Steam | Our review
Released: 2017 | Developer: Larian Studios | GOG, Steam | Our review
A classic-style isometric RPG that feels completely modern, with four-player co-op, great characters, and super-challenging turn-based combat that makes heavy use of physical interactions: cast a rain spell to put out fires, for instance, or splash oil around to spread them. With big open areas, interlocking quests that can be completed in any order, disguises, status effects, and the freedom to whack any NPC you feel like, it's worth putting up with a little wonkiness (which has been improved with the Definitive Edition update) to experience such a creative, freeform campaign. The writing and roleplaying are also top-notch, giving you a real emotional investment for a campaign that can easily stretch to the 100 hour mark.
OS2 also includes built-in game master tools for running your own adventures, and separate, free mod tools that give you full access to the engine's capabilities and all of the included assets.
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Released: 2018 | Developer: Level-5 | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2018 | Developer: Level-5 | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
One of the prettiest and most ambitious JRPGs on PC, Ni No Kuni 2 follows Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, a young half-cat king who sets out to build a peaceful new kingdom—and a new circle of friends—after his rightful crown is stolen from him. Ni No Kuni 2 channels Suikoden and Studio Ghibli, pairing an expansive open world with exciting realtime third-person combat, and grounding them in a satisfying kingdom building sim. Scout new citizens by visiting fantastical far-off kingdoms, earn better gear by tackling secret dungeons and minibosses, then bring everything back home to improve your own kingdom. The kingdom sim is enjoyable in its own right, and every other part of the game benefits from it, from exploration to combat. Ni No Kuni 2 is a cute fairytale wrapped in complex systems that connect in meaningful, interesting ways, and there's not an ounce of fat on it.
More RPGs
Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire
Final Fantasy 15
Planescape Torment: Enhanced Edition
Battle Brothers
West of Loathing
See our full list of the best RPGs
Final Fantasy 15
Planescape Torment: Enhanced Edition
Battle Brothers
West of Loathing
See our full list of the best RPGs
Dark Souls 3
Released: 2016 | Developer: FromSoftware | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2016 | Developer: FromSoftware | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
What Dark Souls 3 lacks in originality—like the Souls games before it, it's an action-RPG that takes you through a baroque, dying world filled with monsters and opaque storytelling—it makes up for in polish. It's by far the smoothest of the series, gorgeous and stable on PC, and that translates to faster, more vicious enemies that will murder you without mercy. But you're also a bit more nimble this time around, keeping the notorious Souls challenge intact but rarely feeling unfair. And like all the Souls games, there's so much here if you plunge into the RPG depths: classes and magic systems, shortcuts and speedrun options, gear upgrading and NPC storylines to follow if you can make the right choices. Conquering Dark Souls 3 once will easily keep you busy for 50 hours, but if it gets its hooks in you, you could keep playing it for years.
Exploration, survival, and building games
Stardew Valley
Released: 2016 | Developer: ConcernedApe | GOG, Humble Store, Steam| Our review
Released: 2016 | Developer: ConcernedApe | GOG, Humble Store, Steam| Our review
The Harvest Moon farm-life sims used to be console-only. Then indie designer Eric Barone came along and made this tribute so we too can enjoy the pastoral fantasy of chicken ownership and mayonnaise profiteering. In Stardew Valley, you inherit a farm in the countryside and split your days between growing crops and befriending the locals, a colorful cast of eccentrics, some of whom can be romanced. You either get super serious about maximizing your income, creating the perfect grid of profitable crops for each season, or just potter about, taking the occasional fishing trip or delving into the monster mines as the mood takes you. An entire subgenre of farming/crafting sims with obligatory fishing minigames has sprung up in its wake, but Stardew Valley remains the best.
Kerbal Space Program
Released: 2015 | Developer: Squad | GOG, Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2015 | Developer: Squad | GOG, Humble Store, Steam | Our review
You build a spacecraft, and fly it into space. Simple, right? Usually it's not. A lot of things can go wrong as you're constructing a vessel from Kerbal Space Program's vast library of parts, almost always explosively so. But as you trial-and-error your way to a stable orbit, you start to unlock the full breadth of what Kerbal offers. You can build many different types of ship, and use them to edge further and further out into the solar system, enjoying your achievement as you contemplate the vast solitude of space. Kerbal Space Program is equal parts slapstick comedy and majestic exploration—incredibly silly, but evocative where it counts.
Subnautica
Released: 2018 | Developer: Unknown Worlds | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2018 | Developer: Unknown Worlds | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Depending how you feel about diving, Subnautica can be either a wonderful opportunity to explore an alien aquarium or a straight-up horrorshow. Even with the survival stuff turned off so you don't have to regularly grab fish and eat them as you swim past, its depths contain claustrophobic tunnels and beasts big enough to swallow you whole. The thing is, Subnautica works as both a tense survival game about making it day by day in a hostile alien ocean and a way to drift around meeting strange sea creatures (and eating them).
More building and survival games
Factorio
Surviving Mars
Rust
See our full list of the best survival games
Surviving Mars
Rust
See our full list of the best survival games
Proteus
Released: 2013 | Developer: Ed Key and David Kanaga | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2013 | Developer: Ed Key and David Kanaga | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Proteus takes nature and simplifies it into evocative shapes and sounds. Curved hills, solid tree trunks, frogs that burble and bounce. Wandering over its island of pastel plants and animals triggers a variety of pleasant noises, a symphony that builds as you chase birds or stand still among the fireflies. It's what every chillout room aspires to be.
Strategy games
Into The Breach
Released: 2018 | Developer: Subset Games | GOG, Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2018 | Developer: Subset Games | GOG, Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Try to save the human race from an alien invasion, five turns at a time, in the brilliant bite-sized roguelike strategy game from the makers of FTL. Into the Breach feels almost like a puzzle game, because it presents you with clear information on what the enemy is doing every turn, and it's so well-balanced, there's almost always a solution that will get you out of a mission alive. There are multiple teams of mechs to unlock and choose from, and their abilities play off one another incredibly well. In the Rusting Hulks squad, for example, the nimble Jet Mech can drop a bomb that deals damage and envelops enemies with a smoke cloud, while the passive ability on the Rocket Mech causes smoke clouds to deal damage to enemy units. Each squad has its own playstyle, and you can freely mix and match mechs to create your own team-ups. Ending a mission after preventing all damage to the fragile civilian buildings scattered around the map never stops feeling like a triumph.
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
Released: 2017 | Developer: Firaxis | XCOM 2 on Humble | War of the Chosen on Humble | Our review
Released: 2017 | Developer: Firaxis | XCOM 2 on Humble | War of the Chosen on Humble | Our review
This brutal strategy game puts you in charge of a resistance force during an alien occupation. The XCOM format blends base building, squad construction and strategic command with tense turn-based tactical battles. As you pilot your enormous home base between territories, you gather materials and research the enemy to unlock cooler space lasers and rad-as-hell armour for your crew.
Vanila XCOM 2 was a tough, lean survival game that held you to account with a doomsday countdown. War of the Chosen gives you even more problems in the form of three minibosses who stalk you throughout your campaign. Fortunately, you can befriend three resistance factions—each with their own suite of gadgets for you to research—and use their leads to track down your nemeses. The result is a layered, engrossing tactical game with a lot of dramatic intrigue. We developed a strong love/hate relationship with the Chosen. Hate to see them messing up our plans; love to blow them up with massive space guns in revenge.
Total War: Warhammer 2
Released: 2017| Developer: Creative Assembly | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2017| Developer: Creative Assembly | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Warhammer is a dark fantasy setting shared by multiple games, popular because of its grim maximalism (it has two Mordors and about three Draculas). The Total War games are a venerable series of historical strategy games with unit-shuffling battles and large-scale nation management. The combination of Total War and Warhammer is a perfect match. Warhammer's factions are strong mixes of trad fantasy archetypes and oddballs like the beloved ratmen called skaven, who are easily set against each other on a big map. Meanwhile, the abstract scale of Total War seems less odd when removed from recognizable historical events. It's the best of both worlds. There's a campaign where each faction races to control a magical vortex by conducting a string of rituals, each providing a significant boost when performed, but if you want to slow the pace you can spring for both this and the previous game, then combine their maps together into a gigantic life-consuming war for domination called Mortal Empires.
Slay the Spire
Released: 2019 | Developer: Harebrained Schemes | Steam|Our review
Released: 2019 | Developer: Harebrained Schemes | Steam|Our review
A brilliant singleplayer deck builder, Slay the Spire hooked the PC Gamer team back when it was in Early Access, and now it has even more to offer, including daily challenges and custom runs. The joy of it, as Evan explains in his review, is how much power you can accrue through smart deckbuilding. Because it's a singleplayer card game, the monsters don't have to have fun, and your deck doesn't have to be balanced with any other—which means absurd combos are possible. But it's also possible to create terrible decks as you ascend the spire, picking new cards along the way and finding relics that encourage certain builds. There's so much strategy to learn that it can take tens of hours to reach the endgame, but starting a new run always feels exciting.
More strategy games
Civilization 6: Rise and Fall
FTL: Faster Than Light (the precursor to Into the Breach)
Stellaris: Utopia
Crusader Kings 2
See our full list of the best strategy games
FTL: Faster Than Light (the precursor to Into the Breach)
Stellaris: Utopia
Crusader Kings 2
See our full list of the best strategy games
BattleTech
Released: 2018 | Developer: Harebrained Schemes | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2018 | Developer: Harebrained Schemes | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Lead a scrappy mercenary company across a half-scripted, half-procedurally generated singleplayer campaign as you complete escort, assassination, base capture, and other missions for cash, salvage, and faction reputation. In the style of XCOM, BattleTech is about sending roster of mechs (and to a lesser extent pilots) into planetary combat, then managing the monetary and mortal aftermath of that spent armor, broken mech legs, dead pilots, and plundered parts of your enemies in the comfort of your spaceship base.
Unlike XCOM, the turn-based combat is a wonderfully granular game of angles and details: mechs have 11 different armor segments, and weapons and ammo are housed in these individually destructible locations. The orientation, heat level, speed, and stability of your mechs matters, and fights between the durable walking tanks play out like heavyweight boxing matches.
On the next page: Puzzle games, great stories, simulations and city-builders..
Puzzle games
Return of the Obra Dinn
Released: 2018 | Developer: Valve | Steam, itch.io
Released: 2018 | Developer: Valve | Steam, itch.io
Our favorite puzzle game of 2018, Return of the Obra Dinn is a detective game set upon a ship once lost at sea. You, an insurance investigator, must determine what happened to the crew. We're sure you've never played anything quite like it (unless you've played it).
Portal 1 + 2
Released: 2007/2011 | Developer: Lucas Pope | Steam
Released: 2007/2011 | Developer: Lucas Pope | Steam
Portal would be great if it only had inventive puzzles. It would be great if it only had clever writing. Somehow Valve managed to pack both into an unmissable, unforgettable experience that messes with your head in more ways than one. Its titular mechanic teaches you to think differently by letting you instantaneously create paths to almost everywhere, and its underlying story, at once grim and gut-bustingly funny, is constantly egging you on.
Portal 2, meanwhile, delivers more of everything that made Portal great, and a peerless co-op mode besides. Portal 2's world is bigger and its puzzles are more complex, and it doesn't sacrifice any of the series' sinister, sassy humor to pull them off. But the sequel's true triumph is that it invites you to play with a friend—not through some tacked-on bonus levels, but through a handcrafted co-op campaign so good it makes the stellar singleplayer feel like a prelude.
Opus Magnum
Released: 2017 | Developer: Zachtronics | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2017 | Developer: Zachtronics | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
The challenge of Opus Magnum isn't just to figure out how to solve each puzzle, but how to solve it the best way. With programmable robot arms you'll build alchemy machines that are more or less efficient at the transmutation task put before you, and there's an amazing number of ways to succeed—simple parts and simple instructions can produce some not-so-simple machines. If it grabs you, Opus Magnum doesn't let you go easily.
More puzzle games
SpaceChem
Infinifactory
Stephen's Sausage Roll (This one'll infuriate you)
Yankai's Triangle and Yankai's Peak (Nice and relaxing)
See our full list of the best puzzle games
Infinifactory
Stephen's Sausage Roll (This one'll infuriate you)
Yankai's Triangle and Yankai's Peak (Nice and relaxing)
See our full list of the best puzzle games
Gorogoa
Released: 2018 | Developer: Buried Signal | GOG, Steam | Our review
Released: 2018 | Developer: Buried Signal | GOG, Steam | Our review
The gorgeous, hand-drawn Gorogoa is one of our favorite recent puzzle games. The premise is simple: arrange illustrated tiles 'in imaginative ways' to solve puzzles. The complexity, and the feat of its creation, is in how those tiles interlock with impeccable elegance. As Pip said in our review: 'Chunks of interiors and exteriors match perfectly without seeming out of place in either of their respective scenes, an image in a thought bubble lines up with a balcony scene, a star in the sky is positioned perfectly so that it peeps through the gap in an overlaid tile and becomes the light from a lamp.' It's best to see it in motion, so check out the trailer here.
Lumines Remastered
Released: 2018 | Developer: Resonair | Steam | Our review
Released: 2018 | Developer: Resonair | Steam | Our review
The classic musical puzzle game, which was first released on the PSP, returns in top shape and is still great after 15 years. The new version is far superior to the original PC port, and the remastered music is fabulous. Lumines doesn't translate perfectly to PC—it's one of those games that feels like it was meant for handheld devices—but if you missed it the first time around, take any opportunity to play it.
Baba is You
Released: 2019 | Developer: Hempuli Oy | Steam, itch.io | Our review
Released: 2019 | Developer: Hempuli Oy | Steam, itch.io | Our review
A wonderful puzzle game in which you rearrange words to create new rules for the world. 'It’s part logic puzzle, part existential quandary, part love letter to how much potential is contained in the tiny building blocks of language,' said Philippa in her Baba is You review.
Great stories
What Remains of Edith Finch
Released: 2017 | Developer: Giant Sparrow | GOG, Steam | Our review
Released: 2017 | Developer: Giant Sparrow | GOG, Steam | Our review
Explore the curious home of a doomed family in this surprising and varied narrative game, which at first feels like a familiar walking simulator but then transforms into something else. Each member of the Finch family has a story to tell about what became of them, and each tale is presented in almost a minigame-like way—some of these chapters are thrilling, most of them are quietly devastating, and you should play this game without having a single one spoiled. You deserve to discover the secrets of this mysterious house for yourself if you haven't already. More than deserving of our GOTY award for Best Story in 2017.
Life is Strange
Released: 2015 | Developer: Dontnod | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2015 | Developer: Dontnod | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
You could argue most videogame stories are Young Adult fiction, but Life is Strange is actually like the kind of story in the YA section of your local bookstore. It's about teenagers, small towns with secrets, and coming to terms with adult responsibilities through the metaphor of being able to rewind time. It's Twin Peaks for teens.
Life is Strange benefited from being released episodically, able to adapt to what players enjoyed about the early chapters and then focus on those elements later. That means you have to give it an episode and a half to get going, and the finale's divisive too, but in the middle it's as affecting an emotional rollercoaster as anything that's about to be turned into a movie and make someone very rich.
More great stories
The Pillars of the Earth
80 Days
Reigns: Her Majesty
Butterfly Soup
See our list of our favorite videogame stories
80 Days
Reigns: Her Majesty
Butterfly Soup
See our list of our favorite videogame stories
Tacoma
Released: 2017 | Developer: Fullbright | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2017 | Developer: Fullbright | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Calling a game a 'walking simulator' was probably meant to be pejorative, but I can't think of a better description of what games like Tacoma and Gone Home—and developer Fullbright—do better than any other game: build a world I want to walk around in, explore, and learn to love. In Tacoma, the player walks into an abandoned space station and a mystery. Exploring this detailed setting feels like spending time in a real place, and hours spent there make the departed crew intimately familiar. I saw dozens of tiny stories, comedies and dramas, unfold as I watched the crew through VR recordings and dug into their discarded belongings. If you want to see the future of storytelling, to experience characters and plot in a way that can't be duplicated in a book or a movie, go for walk in Tacoma.
Simulations, sports games, and city builders
Forza Horizon 4
Released: 2018 | Developer: Playground Games | Microsoft Store | Our review
Released: 2018 | Developer: Playground Games | Microsoft Store | Our review
Unless you're looking for a hardcore sim, Forza Horizon is still the best racing series around.
Euro Truck Simulator 2
Released: 2013 | Developer: SCS Software | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2013 | Developer: SCS Software | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
A lot of players have the same story about Euro Truck Simulator 2. Lured in by curiosity, we try this ridiculous-looking game about driving trucks back and forth across a low-budget Europe. Then, hours later, we're flicking headlights up and down while driving through the night. It starts to rain somewhere outside Berlin, the sound adding percussion to whatever's playing on the central European radio station. We're hooked and don't even know why. Even on a different continent in American Truck Simulator it can have the same effect, proving that ordinary inspirations modeled well enough can make for extraordinary games.
Elite Dangerous
Released: 2014 | Developer: Frontier Developments | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2014 | Developer: Frontier Developments | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Space, to borrow a phrase, is big. Really, really big. In Elite: Dangerous, players can become deep-space explorers spanning the entire Milky Way galaxy, or they can be asteroid miners whose entire world consists of two space rocks and the vacuum between them. Both are equally worthy ways to use your flight time in Elite, an open-world (open-galaxy?) space flight sim that masterfully gives players total freedom. At the high end, you can spend your time being everything from a space trucker to a bounty hunter, but newbies shouldn't overlook the simple joy of being a pilot, of the tactile way that flight skills grow and deepen over time. Anyone into sci-fi or flight sims owes it to themselves to spend time in an Elite cockpit—especially if they can do it in VR.
Football Manager 2019
Released: 2018 | Developer: Sports Interactive | Steam | Our review
Released: 2018 | Developer: Sports Interactive | Steam | Our review
The best game yet in the best football management series.
More sims and builders
Cities: Skylines
Planet Coaster
Project Cars 2
X-Plane 11
Planet Coaster
Project Cars 2
X-Plane 11
Frostpunk
Released: 2018 | Developer: 11 Bit Studios | GOG, Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2018 | Developer: 11 Bit Studios | GOG, Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Part city-builder, part survival game, Frostpunk is about making difficult choices and dealing with the consequences. Trying to keep a handful of citizens alive in a perpetually frozen world isn't just about managing resources but managing hope, and to keep people working toward their future means convincing them there is one, often through brutal means.
Unlike most city-building games, Frostpunk isn't an open-ended experience: it takes place over a 45 day period, with narrative events occurring periodically that can throw a wrench in the gears of your city and society. It's a tense and grim experience where you can wind up regretting your finest moments or defending the harshest choices you made. What are you prepared to do to save lives, and what will the ultimate cost be?
Super Mega Baseball 2
Released: 2018 | Developer: Metalhead Software | Steam | Our review
Released: 2018 | Developer: Metalhead Software | Steam | Our review
With so few great sports games on PC, Super Mega Baseball 2 gets squished into our sims category for now—though with Madden finally coming back to PC this year, we may need to add a proper sports category. Super Mega Baseball 2 may look cartooney, but look beyond that, because as we said in our review, it's the 'best on-field baseball sim on PC.'
On the next page: MMOs, local multiplayer games, and platformers..
MMOs and online RPGs
World of Warcraft
Released: 2004 | Developer: Blizzard Entertainment | Official site | Our review
Released: 2004 | Developer: Blizzard Entertainment | Official site | Our review
World of Warcraft might have a few grey hairs here and there, but it's still the undisputed king of MMOs. Set in the high-fantasy setting of the famous Warcraft real-time strategy games, World of Warcraft is the story of you, a hero who rises from lowly pawn to god-slaying badass as you strive to save your world from all manner of fiendish enemies. With 12 classes and 13 races to play as (and an ever-growing list of subraces), who and what your character will become is entirely up to you. And whether you want to play for two hours a month or two hours a night, there are a nearly unlimited number of places to explore, quests to complete, raids and dungeons to conquer, and items to craft. It's less of a videogame and more of a part-time hobby.
World of Warcraft's latest expansion, Battle for Azeroth, is a bit of a low-point for the series according to its most hardcore fans. That doesn't mean it's bad—the austere mountains of Kul Tiras and lush jungles of Zandalar are evocative and fun to explore—but it is disappointing because World of Warcraft's usually stellar endgame of dungeons and raids are hamstrung somewhat by its wonky gear system. There's exciting news on that front, though: the next update is going to be huge.
World of Warcraft is the jack-of-all-trades MMO that can satisfy nearly any kind of player. Whether you want competitive PvP battles, white-knuckle raids, or just a fun, colorful story to follow along with while you collect mounts, World of Warcraft delivers.
Warframe
Released: 2013| Developer: Digital Extremes | Steam | Our review
Released: 2013| Developer: Digital Extremes | Steam | Our review
Set in a bizarre science-fiction universe full of esoteric secrets, Warframe sells itself on one amazing concept: You are a space ninja. And yes, it's as fun as it sounds. This free-to-play third-person shooter gleefully taps into the fantasy of being a gun-toting, sword-wielding killing machine through its versatile movement system. You'll air dash, wall run, and slide through levels with up to three teammates as you eviscerate hordes of android enemies in exchange for oodles of crafting resources.
But Warframe's true strength is just how complex it is. Each Warframe (a kind of suit of armor that you wear) plays like its own character class, complete with unique abilities that define its combat style. You might charge into packs headfirst as Rhino or silently assassinate your targets as Ivara. Hell, there's even a Warframe that lets you compose your own music using an in-game sequencer to inflict debuffs on enemies. Learning how to craft and equip these Warframes is a daunting task for new players, but those who endure will find a rich action RPG that can easily devour thousands of hours. What's more, Digital Extremes is constantly taking Warframe in bold new directions, like adding open world zones to explore with friends. It might not be an MMO in the traditional sense, but Warframe is every bit as massive.
Path of Exile
Released: 2013 | Developer: Grinding Gear Games | Steam | Our review
Released: 2013 | Developer: Grinding Gear Games | Steam | Our review
A free-to-play spiritual successor to the beloved Diablo 2, Path of Exile is a dauntingly complex action RPG that will make even the most zealous theorycrafter weep tears of joy. Behind that familiar loop of dungeon diving and looting are several dozen features that each feel like the Marianas trench of progression systems—they're that deep. Skill gems can be chained together to create practically limitless spell combos, while the passive skill tree has hundreds of nodes to choose from that each shape your character in their own small way. And then, of course, comes the gear, which is a whole separate school of learning that can take months to fully understand. Path of Exile is certainly daunting and it won't appeal to everyone.
It's good news then that it's also fun as hell. There's 10 acts to explore, each one touring you through desecrated temples or corrupted jungles full of the walking dead. It's a grim place to be, but the kinetic combat and enticing rewards make the journey worth it. Every few months, Grinding Gear Games rolls out a new temporary challenge league that introduces entirely new progression systems, cosmetics, and enemies but requires starting a new character. Normally that'd sound like a chore, but Path of Exile is so robust that starting fresh is just a chance to learn something new.
EVE Online
Released: 2003 | Developer: CCP Games | Official site | Our review
Released: 2003 | Developer: CCP Games | Official site | Our review
Brutal, uncompromising, and intimidating—there's a good chance that EVE Online's reputation precedes it. While its players will say that it's mostly hyperbole, there's no denying that EVE Online isn't an MMO for the faint of heart. But in return for a considerable investment of your time and energy, EVE Online achieves something remarkable: It feels alive.
The galaxy of New Eden is an ever-evolving virtual world full of merchants and pirates, mercenaries and warlords, and, yeah, the occasional spy. It's a thriving ecosystem grounded by a player-driven economy where players are encouraged to group together to achieve long term objectives like conquering territory or just becoming filthy, stinking rich. To participate, you'll need to contend with a hopelessly unintuitive user interface and familiarize yourself with a daunting number of systems. But it's worth it. The focus on player-driven experiences creates stories that just don't happen in any other kind of game, and being apart of those narratives is thrilling. It's an experience that is so absorbing, there's a good reason why EVE players joke that quitting for good is 'winning at EVE Online.'
More MMOs
Black Desert Online
Guild Wars 2
The Elder Scrolls Online
See our full list of the best MMOs.
Guild Wars 2
The Elder Scrolls Online
See our full list of the best MMOs.
Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn
Released: 2014 | Developer: Square Enix | Steam | Our review
Released: 2014 | Developer: Square Enix | Steam | Our review
Final Fantasy 14 is a dream come true for Final Fantasy fans who don't mind the rigamarole that comes standard with MMOs. Set in the high fantasy world of Eorzea, you play as one of the series' iconic classes, like a black mage, and set out to help the locals defend themselves from constant invasions by the evil Garlean Empire. It's as generic a Final Fantasy story as they come, but FF14 lives up to the series legacy by populating the world with an endearing ensemble of characters that grow significantly over the course of its two expansions. If you like story-driven MMOs, Final Fantasy 14's sweeping epic is undoubtedly the best.
Square Enix doesn't try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to being an MMO, though. Final Fantasy 14 is formulaic in its progression and the equipment system is pretty bland. It is by no means boring, however. The story reaches some surprising highs and Final Fantasy fans will be pleased to hear that FF14 has a nearly endless supply of memorable boss fights to work through. It might not be as expansive as other MMOs, but Final Fantasy 14 is beautiful and charming.
Local multiplayer games
Nidhogg 2
Released: 2017 | Developer: Messhof | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2017 | Developer: Messhof | Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Some say Nidhogg 2's clay-monstrosity art style and added weapons marred the elegance of the first game, but they're both great in their own ways. Whichever one you choose, the basic format is the same: two players duel across a single screen, attempting to push their opponent left or right into the next screen, all the way to the end of the map. That's a big part of the brilliance of the series: get pushed all the way to your corner, and it's still possible to make a comeback and finesse your opponent all the way back across the map for a clutch win. Pure thrill.
The fighting itself is great, too, like an ultra-lo-fi Bushido Blade. Kills come in one hit as you thrust and parry and throw your swords with simple controls that result in complex dances of stance and aggression. It's exciting, hilarious, and tests the hell out of your reaction time and ability to predict your opponent's moves. There's nothing quite like either Nidhogg.
TowerFall Ascension
Released: 2014 | Developer: Matt Thorson | GOG, Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2014 | Developer: Matt Thorson | GOG, Humble Store, Steam | Our review
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As cool as bows and arrows are in games like Tomb Raider, TowerFall does them best. Whether played by four people against each other, or two in co-op against waves of monsters, TowerFall makes leaping from a ledge and skewering somebody with a perfect shot easy to do. It also makes shooting at someone above you, missing, and then impaling yourself as the arrow falls back down easy to do. It's as chaotic as it sounds, but the clean pixel art and expressive animation makes it simple to follow, and every triumph and screw-up is visible to all.
More local multiplayer games
Castle Crashers
Enter the Gungeon
Gang Beasts
See our full list of the best local multiplayer games.
Enter the Gungeon
Gang Beasts
See our full list of the best local multiplayer games.
Overcooked 1 and Overcooked 2
Released: 2018| Developer: Ghost Town Games | Steam | Our review
Released: 2018| Developer: Ghost Town Games | Steam | Our review
We hate Overcooked. Wait, no: We hate anyone who gets in the way in Overcooked, or doesn't bring us our damn tomatoes when we need them, pre-chopped. This four-player kitchen catastrophe simulator sets up some brilliantly simple basics—working together to prepare ingredients, cook basic dishes, and turn them in on a tight timetable—and then mercilessly complicates them with devious kitchen hazards. In one level, on the deck of a pirate ship, some of your counters slide back and forth, forcing you to switch up tasks on the fly. In another cramped kitchen, there isn't enough space for two characters to squeeze past one another, forcing you to coordinate all your movements or get into shouting matches about which direction to go.
There's a lot of shouting in Overcooked, but barking orders, properly divvying up jobs, and setting a new high score feels so good. The controls are intuitive enough that infrequent gamers can get onboard. Just beware of playing with anyone with a truly explosive temper. While both are great, if you haven't played either we'd recommend Overcooked 2, which adds online play.
2D platformers
Spelunky
Released: 2013 | Developer: Mossmouth | GOG, Steam | Our review
Released: 2013 | Developer: Mossmouth | GOG, Steam | Our review
Spelunky deserves much of the credit (or blame) for the boom of roguelikes in the 2010s, but none have bettered the rich interactions of this game, which sees you adventuring through mines, the jungle, caverns, and even Hell in search of riches and escape. You'll die many, many times along the way—sometimes suddenly, sometimes hilariously, and often because of your own stupidity. But that arms you with knowledge of what not to do and how to exploit the game. Can you trick two NPCs into fighting each other? Can you use a damsel you should be rescuing to instead safely set off a trap for you? What's the deal with the Ankh, anyway?
These are all things you'll discover as you play more Spelunky. Half the game is 2D platformer; the other half is a rich simulation packed with secrets and interlocking pieces that make the entire game feel like a living organism designed with the express purpose of killing you. That's what makes pulling those pieces apart and using them to your advantage so endlessly satisfying.
Celeste
Released: 2018| Developer: Matt Makes Games | Steam | Our review
Released: 2018| Developer: Matt Makes Games | Steam | Our review
In this age of quick saves and infinite lives, action-oriented platformers need to be difficult. And this difficulty almost always becomes the talking point, even for games that seem to hide something more profound beneath their mounds of countless dead (see: The End is Nigh). But no one talks about how hard Celeste is—or at least, that’s not why we talk about it. Even if you roll your eyes at the masochistic appeal of Super Meat Boy or N++, you might find yourself seeing Celeste through to the end. Sharing the vibrant, chunky pixel-art of Matt Makes Games Inc’s TowerFall, Celeste charts its protagonist Madeline’s efforts to scale a gigantic mountain. She’s not going up there to save the world, she’s going up there to save herself. It’s hardly a visual novel, but the light narrative dabs make progress more meaningful than “simply wanting to do it”, and its set-piece moments are really spectacular. It feels great too: Madeline can grab onto walls and quick-dash through the air, and there’s never a lack of new environmental challenges to ward off monotony.
More platformers and Metroidvanias
N++
Ori and the Blind Forest
Super Meat Boy
The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human
Ori and the Blind Forest
Super Meat Boy
The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human
Hollow Knight
Released: 2017| Developer: Team Cherry| Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Released: 2017| Developer: Team Cherry| Humble Store, Steam | Our review
Hollow Knight is still slightly too new to be regarded as highly as Nintendo's genre-defining Super Metroid, but it might actually be the better game (gasp!). It's at least the best game to follow in Metroid's footsteps in a decade (if you want more games in this vein, make sure to play Cave Story). You play as a small explorer venturing through the remnants of Hallownest, an underground bug civilization, with remarkably little hand-holding showing you where to go. Subtle environmental clues and smartly doled-out powerups will help you find your path through the world, and from the first moments the 2D essentials of jumping and attacking have a perfectly tuned weight and snappiness to them. That's what will keep you playing Hollow Knight long enough to be pulled into its world, and then there's no turning back.
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What are the best upcoming games to keep an eye on this year and the next? Hope, anticipation, agony, and elation – it’s the endless cycle of emotions we go through during the annual PC release schedule.
Year in, year out, games – via Steam and otherwise – are produced in such varying degrees of quality that not a single one of them is destined for certain success. Masterpieces are released alongside utter disasters, series are born while others dwindle and, occasionally, a game actually lives up to our expectations.
So how can we possibly navigate all the dizzying number of announcements, trailers, and teases to find which of the upcoming PC games we should devote our finite supply of hype to? Us old PCGamesN sages have been round the videogame block plenty of times already, so we’re perfectly placed to tell you about the titles you should be saving your pennies up for. Below you’ll find the upcoming PC games you should keep on your radar.
Here are all the upcoming PC games you need to know about by quarter:
upcoming pc games q3 2019
WOLFENSTEIN: YOUNGBLOOD
Friends that slay Nazis together, stay together. Wolfenstein: Youngblood sees the series lurch forward in time to the 1980s and stars BJ’s twin daughters for some co-op slaughter. Its cheaper price suggests a Wolfenstein game akin in size to The Old Blood, but that’s no bad thing.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood release date: July 26, 2019
Wolfenstein: Youngblood release date: July 26, 2019
CONTROL
With its gun-toting third-person action gameplay redolent of Quantum Break and Max Payne, Control is unmistakably a Remedy game. We’re looking forward to seeing more of the enigmatic brutalist building that shifts around, and using more of the extremely cool Control gun, which is basically Excalibur.
Control release date: August 27, 2019
Control release date: August 27, 2019
WORLD OF WARCRAFT CLASSIC
Blizzard is finally doing what fans have been badgering it to do for years: World of Warcraft Classic. For this upcoming game we know that, according to executive producer J. Allen Brack, Blizzard “want to replicate the game experience” of WoW back in its early years.
This might sound excellent, but the company has asked “are you aware” that there could well be a WoW level cap squish. If that doesn’t put you off, there are a series of WoW Classic stress tests you can get involved with to help test the game.
World of Warcraft Classic release date: August 27, 2019
World of Warcraft Classic release date: August 27, 2019
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Yet another erstwhile Sony exclusive we can welcome to the land of PC with open arms. Ahead of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy release date, we can look forward to each of the famous dragon’s games bundled together: Spyro The Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage!, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy release date: September 3, 2019
Spyro Reignited Trilogy release date: September 3, 2019
GEARS 5
In Gears 5 we’ll be mowing down more waves of Locusts but, with Kait’s troubled state in mind from the previous game, the toughest battle in this fifth entry to the series might just take place within our burly squad.
Gears 5 is built “from the ground up for PC”, and it looks like that means we could be getting 4K at 60 fps. Locust slaughter will never have looked so good.
Gears 5 release date: September 10, 2019
Gears 5 release date: September 10, 2019
Borderlands 3
By Claptrap, the next era of cel-shaded looter shooters is officially on its way. Yes, the Borderlands 3 release date is coming soon with a frankly absurd “one billion guns” – well, even more than that, actually.
So you’ll certainly be kept busy collecting an impossible number of Borderlands 3 weapons as you take on the evil duo, The Calypso Twins. On top of the predictable visual upgrades and multiple planets to visit, your new Vault Hunters will consist of a robotic beastmaster and a siren with six summonable arms.
Borderlands 3 release date: September 13, 2019
Borderlands 3 release date: September 13, 2019
Ni no Kuni Remastered
Our instinct when a sequel, not the original, comes to PC, is to wait to see the whole story. When it comes to this anime game series, the two might not be all that connected, but we’ve still been waiting for a Ni no Kuni Remastered release date ever since Revenant Kingdom hit Steam in 2018.
Both games are wholesome, but the series lost some of its spark when it lost Studio Ghibli, the legendary Japanese animators. If you haven’t undertaken Olly’s excellent adventure in his own grief-stricken imagination, get that corrected when it comes to PC.
Ni no Kuni Remastered release date: September 20, 2019
Ni no Kuni Remastered release date: September 20, 2019
THE SURGE 2
The Surge was one of the better Souls-likes, so we’re pleased to see the game’s dynamic limb-targeting system return in The Surge 2. Deck 13 claims the sequel will “expand greatly upon the formula” with more ambition and scale featuring “a sprawling, devastated city.”
The Surge 2 release date: September 24, 2019
The Surge 2 release date: September 24, 2019
PHOENIX POINT
The next game from original XCOM creator Julian Gollop looks much more complex than XCOM. Phoenix Point is closest to Terror from the Deep in aesthetic and plays like a more complex version of Gollop’s classic. If you’re well into the resurgence of turn-based strategy and tactics games, you should be excited for its dark and terrifying geoscape.
Phoenix Point release date: September 2019
Phoenix Point release date: September 2019
Upcoming PC Games Q4 2019
Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Breakpoint takes 2017’s Wildlands away from the Bolivian open-world to a fictional island infested with Ghost army operatives. But, as we’ve come to expect from Ubisoft games by now – Ghost Recon Breakpoint’s politics are, well, absent.
Whatever your stance on that as you devastate your foes with a quick time to kill behind enemy lines, all the new Breakpoint gameplay features and The Division 2-esque MMO stylings mean this is shaping up to be quite the series upgrade, regardless.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint release date: October 4, 2019
Ghost Recon Breakpoint release date: October 4, 2019
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
The ‘modernity’ of Infinity Ward’s most famous COD is over a decade old now so, naturally, a reboot is in order. By the end of the year – once the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare release date has arrived – we’ll have just that, but with Fortnite-style matchmaking, co-op, and no Zombies mode.
This is an upcoming PC game that aims to be the most realistic shooter ever made in terms of its context. In our Call of Duty: Modern Warfare interview with the developers, we find a team wrestling with the problem of updating COD for today’s troubled world in a sensitive way.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare release date: October 25, 2019
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare release date: October 25, 2019
THE OUTER WORLDS
If Fallout 76 wasn’t what you’d hoped for, The Outer World’s might be the RPG for you. Developed by Obsidian – the minds behind New Vegas as the Fallout franchise as a whole – when The Outer Worlds release date lands, this resolutely single-player RPG plonks you in the midst of a deep colonial conspiracy.
The setting of Halcyon is nice and zany, but that goes for how you role-play, too: You can create a variety of wildly different The Outer Worlds builds, such as making yourself a natural leader or a blabbering ‘idiot’.
The Outer Worlds release date: October 25, 2019
The Outer Worlds release date: October 25, 2019
STAR WARS JEDI: FALLEN ORDER
After cancellations and disappointments, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order looks the real deal for fans looking for a properly good Star Wars game. And, no, we’re not counting Battlefront 2 *shudders*.
Ahead of the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order release date, we know that its lightsaber combat is as punishing as Dark Souls with world design inspired by Metroid. Also, Chris Avellone is in so, naturally, we are, too.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order release date: November 15, 2019
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order release date: November 15, 2019
SHENMUE 3
Well, it’s happening. A massively successful Kickstarter, a presumably large amount of Sony cash, and an almost bottomless pile of hype. Successive delays to the Shenmue release date have disappointed but some will wait for Shenmue 3 however long they need to.
If the storefront the game is sold on matters to you, note that Shenmue 3 is an Epic exclusive, but developer Ys Net is “assessing the situation” in that regard. If it makes you feel any better, Shenmue 3 has real-time turtle racing, at least.
Shenmue 3 release date: November 19, 2019
Shenmue 3 release date: November 19, 2019
DOOM ETERNAL
Hell is coming to Earth. But, in better news, Doom Eternal’s Heaven is on its way, too. We’ve been waiting a while for the Doom Eternal but, when the Doom Eternal launch date arrives, it’s likely we’ll enjoy being bathed in more beautiful demonic viscera – despite its “restrained” game design.
Doom Eternal release date: November 22, 2019
Doom Eternal release date: November 22, 2019
HALO: THE MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION
The beloved FPS series that played a formative part in the early gaming experiences of many is coming to PC: guns, Spartans, Warthogs, and all. The Halo Master Chief Collection consists of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, and Halo 4, with Halo Reach making its first appearance in the set.
When it comes to the Halo Collection PC price, you can buy each for $10. The Halo: The Master Chief Collection PC release date is 2019, with each game in the set coming out separately. The wait to see the green-armoured icon on Steam is almost over.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection release date: 2019
Halo: The Master Chief Collection release date: 2019
Upcoming PC games TBC 2019
BIOMUTANT
Biomutant came from pretty much nowhere, but the vibrant and mysterious world revealed in its initial trailer has made us embrace it with open arms. So far, we’ve seen some typical RPG fare and character creation screens, but we do also know Biomutant has a karma system and a variety of attractive worlds from arid deserts to snowy mountaintops.
Biomutant release date: TBC 2019
Biomutant release date: TBC 2019
Psychonauts 2
In Psychonauts 2 you continue playing as the same protagonist from the first game, Raz, who is a newly graduated Psychonaut with powerful psychic abilities. This sequel will delving further into parts of Rax’s family and the curse that continues to affect them.
Psychonauts 2 release date: TBC 2019
Psychonauts 2 release date: TBC 2019
SPELUNKY 2
Paris Games Week 2017 gave us plenty of goodies, but Spelunky 2 is up there with the biggest announcements. Expect more spelunking, obviously, as you head into yet more randomly-generated levels in this challenging indie game sequel as the original platforming protagonist has been replaced by his daughter – and her beloved pug, Monty.
Spelunky 2 release date: TBC 2019
Spelunky 2 release date: TBC 2019
Babylon’s Fall
The next offering from Platinum Games is a dark fantasy title, but we don’t have much else to go on than that when it comes to Babylon’s Fall. That doesn’t matter though: if it’s Platinum at the helm, we’re in.
The reveal trailer appears to reference the mythical Tower of Babel, but we’re most looking forward to engaging in what looks like electrical swordplay as considerably overdressed knights.
Babylon’s Fall release date: TBC 2019
Babylon’s Fall release date: TBC 2019
SKULL & BONES
Black Flag and For Honor meet for PvP sailing, piracy, and cannon-firing in Skull & Bones. With a familiar UI and control mechanism for anyone that’s played Assassin’s Creed’s seabound adventure, it’s got some strange scoring mechanisms, and its not just about wiping out the enemy team.
Skull & Bones release date: TBC 2019
Skull & Bones release date: TBC 2019
Upcoming PC games Q1 2020
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Set to be a jewel in the crown of the Xbox Game Pass for PC lineup, Ori and the Will of the Wisps sees us visiting “a vast and exotic world” to “unravel Ori’s true destiny”. All we can say is, we’re itching to save the adorable little owl from that huge, horrible spider from the reveal trailer when the Ori and the Will of the Wisps launch date arrives.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps release date: February 11, 2020
Ori and the Will of the Wisps release date: February 11, 2020
Gods & Monsters
It certainly looks like Gods & Monsters is Ubisoft’s take on Nintendo favourite, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. From the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey devs, you’ll be pitted against the many Ancient Greek Gods and Monsters, err, monsters such as Gorgons, Cyclopes, and Hydras as you take on quests, explore dungeons, and solve fiendish puzzles.
Gods & Monsters release date: February 25, 2020
Gods & Monsters release date: February 25, 2020
WATCH DOGS LEGION
So the next game in Ubisoft’s hacktivist series didn’t turn out to be Watch Dogs 3. Instead, we’re getting Watch Dogs Legion, which sends you and your brigade of tech-savvy operators to a post-Brexit London in what looks like a darker turn for the franchise.
Not to worry, though, you can share in the misery with all of Watch Dogs Legion’s NPCs, who are all recruitable and playable with unique animations and voice lines.
Watch Dogs Legion release date: March 6, 2020
Watch Dogs Legion release date: March 6, 2020
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
It’s been 15 long years, but now we finally have a sequel to the cult classic bloodsucker. The sequel is taking us to Seattle, but the land of coffee and grunge has been given a coagulated coat of crimson as you unravel another rich mystery.
Yet, while the original is remembered fondly for its engrossing narrative, it remained rife with bugs and disappointing combat. Luckily, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2’s gameplay plunders immersive sims such as Dishonored 2 and Deus Ex to make its vampiric fisticuffs just as engaging as its story. We’re growing hungrier, but we just have to wait a little longer.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 release date: Q1 2020
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 release date: Q1 2020
Phantasy Star Online 2
Japan’s biggest online RPG has never made its way to Western shores before, until now. Phantasy Star Online 2 on PC is on to the West – excluding the European region – and it comes packing “all the bosses and epic battles” Japanese players have long enjoyed. Soon we’ll finally get to see what all the fuss is about.
Phantasy Star Online 2 release date: Spring 2020
Phantasy Star Online 2 release date: Spring 2020
MINECRAFT: DUNGEONS
In a crushing defeat for nominative determinism, this is a Minecraft game that features neither mining nor crafting, really. Minecraft: Dungeons is a dungeon-crawling RPG with drop-in/drop-out four-player co-op and different classes set in Mojang’s recognisably blocky universe, and it looks like a refreshing change of pace for the franchise.
Minecraft: Dungeons release date: Spring 2020
Minecraft: Dungeons release date: Spring 2020
DYING LIGHT 2
You’d better prepare yourself for the Dying Light 2 release date: the decisions you make in this zombie parkour sequel will significantly alter the larger world as Dying Light 2 factions compete for control. And, that’s just during the day. With Chris Avellone and The Witcher 3 writers on narrative duties, this is looking promising.
Dying Light 2 release date: Spring 2020
Dying Light 2 release date: Spring 2020
Roller Champions
While it was originally tipped to be something of a Rocket League-like, Roller Champions appears to be something all of its own. As the Roller Champions release date approaches, we know that it will be a skill-based, PvP esports game with two teams of three racing around a banked track to score points.
It certainly looks an entertaining spectacle, and developer Ubisoft certainly want to leverage that and grow a competitive scene around the upcoming game. It wants Roller Champions to be “as fun to watch as it is to play”, so expect the company to be courting plenty of streamers and esports personalities to ensure its longevity.
Roller Champions release date: early 2020
Roller Champions release date: early 2020
Rainbow Six Quarantine
Ubisoft’s limited-time PvE mode which ended with 4.5 billion zombies slain – if you check the Rainbow Six Siege Outbreak stats – was just too well-made to be removed for good. Once Rainbow Six Quarantine was revealed at E3 2019, the spiritual sequel to it was official.
In the run up to the Rainbow Six Quarantine release date you can look forward to 3-player PvE co-op that features operators such as Ela and Vigil tackling the fallout of “an unknown and devastating parasite”. However, the rumoured Rainbow Six Quarantine permadeath features seem to make this a rather different beast from standard Siege.
Rainbow Six Quarantine release date: early 2020
Rainbow Six Quarantine release date: early 2020
Upcoming PC games Q2 2020
CYBERPUNK 2077
The next game from the folks who made a little RPG called The Witcher – you might have heard of it. Now the Cyberpunk 2077 release date is finally known, we can finally get properly hyped for the upcoming game shaping up to be one of the best ever made.
And that’s not only because friggin’ Keanu Reeves is Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077. No you’re breathtaking.
Cyberpunk 2077 release date: April 16, 2020
Cyberpunk 2077 release date: April 16, 2020
The Avengers
Have you ever dreamed of being Thor or Captain America? Prepare to settle into your spandex, then: The Avengers is a live service that’s narrative-focused, and you will “play in it for years to come”, according to developer Crystal Dynamics.
In an “original story” for The Avengers, when the launch of a West Coast Avengers base in San Francisco goes awry, it’s up to you and one of your choice of five heroes to use your incredible powers to fix the mess you made. The Avengers gameplay looks impressive so far, but we’ll have to wait and see if it’s fun enough to sustain hundreds of hours of play.
The Avengers release date: May 15, 2020
The Avengers release date: May 15, 2020
Upcoming PC games Q3 2020
Outriders
As far as shooter developers go, the atmospheric new IP, Outriders, comes from good stock. People Can Fly created Gears of War: Judgement and the most overlooked and best FPS games that is Bulletstorm. The Outriders reveal shows that we’ll be getting intimidating extraterrestrials in our crosshairs as we wade through a dark, perilous world.
Outriders release date: Summer 2020
Outriders release date: Summer 2020
Upcoming PC Games Q4 2020
HALO INFINITE
We’ve been waiting long enough for the Halo Infinite’s release date but now we finally have one, we can actually start getting excited for the “spiritual reboot” to Halo 5.
343 Industries says the game is so ambitious that it “needed” the new Slipspace Halo Infinite engine, so it’s going to look ridiculous. If that;s got you all hot and bothered, this official Xbox deodorant should do the trick.
Halo Infinite release date: Holiday 2020
Halo Infinite release date: Holiday 2020
Upcoming PC games TBC 2020 and beyond
SUPER MEAT BOY FOREVER
The name of Tommy Refenes’ platformer sequel refers to the fact that each stage can be played endlessly, but will get harder with each visit. The bright, precise levels return from the original as you rescue Nugget’s loved one.
Super Meat Boy Forever release date: TBC 2020
Super Meat Boy Forever release date: TBC 2020
Final Fantasy 8 Remastered
While it might not be the all-singing, all-dancing revitalisation of Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s combat and setting, the fact that Final Fantasy 8 Remastered is happening – and is more than just a simple re-release – means that it’s a great time to be a fan of the series. Let’s hope it still comes to PC, as promised.
Final Fantasy 8 Remastered release date: TBC 2020
Final Fantasy 8 Remastered release date: TBC 2020
Chivalry 2
Move over Mordhau, the definitive medieval, multiplayer slash-’em-up is returning for a sequel. The Chivalry 2 release date is coming soon and, when it does, the upcoming game will support 64 players, new horses, and fresh sets of battle tactics.
The pace of battles will much much speedier than the original and everything has been “completely revamped” according to developer Torn Banner Studios. But, since “at least half” of Chivalry 2 players are drunk when they’re in action, maybe you won’t even notice, anyway.
Chivalry 2 release date: TBC 2020
Chivalry 2 release date: TBC 2020
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Skywalker Saga gives you another chance to immerse yourself in George Lucas’ sci-fi fantasy world in the blocky form of Lego. But, this isn’t just a rehash of The Complete Saga with The Force Awakens tacked on: you get proper Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga space exploration in this one.
The films already covered in the game are being remade, and you can tackle them in any order but, you’ll now be able to explore space just as you did Lego Marvel Superheroes’ Manhattan. What’s more, you can fight and explore the inside of Star Destroyers, each made of 18 million digital bricks.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga release date: TBC 2020
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga release date: TBC 2020
STALKER 2
Besides the Facebook announcement from GSC Game World owner Sergiy Grygorovych that STALKER 2 is in development, we know absolutely nothing about the upcoming survival horror sequel.
All we have is an official site with a new logo and a release date. This isn’t the first time the game has been in production, but fingers crossed everything goes swimmingly this time.
STALKER 2 release date: TBC 2021
STALKER 2 release date: TBC 2021
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
Most FPS fans will have fond memories of killstreaks, assiduously maintaining kill/death ratios, and blasting away noob campers in seminal shooter, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. These fans will undoubtedly be shocked to learn that, according to trusted source, CharlieINTEL, that its 2018-bound remaster will not include multiplayer.
The story is still strong and it will cost a reduced $25 in relation to the $40 price of the the original game’s remaster, at least. It’s initial April 30, 2018 launch came and went with nothing, however.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered release date: TBC
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered release date: TBC
Age of Empires 4
Age of Empires 4 is being developed by Relic Entertainment – the team behind Dawn of War and Company of Heroes.
It’s exciting, of course, but does the RTS genre really need it? The series has been seminal in the triple-A strategy space, but we’ll have to wait and see whether Age of Empires 4 can imbue it with new life.
Age of Empires 4 release date: TBC
Age of Empires 4 release date: TBC
Serious Sam 4: Planet Badass
Partly funded by Humble and first revealed in the prehistory of 2013, Croteam confirmed that we would see more of Serious Sam 4. From what we’ve seen so far, this is the real deal: the teaser trailer shows the big man cruising through an idyllic countryside on a motorbike before rendering a brainless goon, well, brainless with a shotgun.
Serious Sam 4 release date: TBC
Serious Sam 4 release date: TBC
Dead Island 2
Dead Island 2 still exists, apparently, and is making “fantastic progress” at take-over developer Sumo. Exactly how much it’ll resemble the weird Californian sun-pocalypse we saw on display during the original announcement is anyone’s guess.
Development on the first-person zombie smasher has been chaotic to say the least. Last we heard in July 2018, Dead Island 2 is still in development. When it comes to the nature of its current state, however, is anybody’s guess.
Dead Island 2 release date: TBC
Dead Island 2 release date: TBC
Nioh 2
FromSoftware might be muscling its way into the nails-hard action of samurai games, but Team Ninja’s Souls-like will return. We don’t know for certain if the upcoming game is coming to PC, but the original found its way onto Steam eventually, so we’re crossing our fingers that we can wield William’s blades and batter the yokai once again.
Nioh 2 release date: TBC
Nioh 2 release date: TBC
Magic: The Gathering Arena
You’ve probably heard of the famous trading card game Magic: The Gathering. Now the game’s publisher Wizards of the Coast is releasing Magic: The Gathering Arena, a new digital version of the game. Arena is the first project to come from the in-house studio, Digital Games Studio.
Wizards says that Arena will focus on “fast-paced, exciting, and easy-to-follow” gameplay, and that the beta test will initially focus on casual play, featuring cards from the card game’s Ixalan release. Here’s how it can compete with Hearthstone and Artifact.
Magic: The Gathering Arena release date: TBC
Magic: The Gathering Arena release date: TBC
Baldur’s Gate 3
It’s official: Baldur’s Gate 3 is real. “If you like D&D, you’ll be happy,” the developer said in our Baldur’s Gate 3 Larian interview. The original revitalised the CRPG and made the now iconic isometric Infinity Engine famous.
That said, it’s not a one-way street in terms of inspiration: Baldur’s Gate 3 will shape Dungeons and Dragons 6th edition. We already know the accomplished Belgian studio can use D&D to enhance their games with the exquisite Divinity titles, so colour us excited.
Baldur’s Gate 3 release date: TBC
Baldur’s Gate 3 release date: TBC
The Elder Scrolls 6
Bethesda finished its E3 2018 conference in the best way possible by announcing the upcoming PC game we all wanted: The Elder Scrolls VI. With only a teaser trailer of some rocky hills, ruined castles, and coastlines to go on, we’re still waiting on a setting, and a Elder Scrolls 6 release date, of course.
We didn’t hear anything more at the following E3, really. Game director Todd Howard let us down early at E3 2019 to say that there wouldn’t be any further news on The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield, but stressed that Bethesda is “still hard at work” on both of them.
The Elder Scrolls 6 release date: TBC
The Elder Scrolls 6 release date: TBC
starfield
When Bethesda took to the stage at E3 2018, The Elder Scrolls 6 was not the only major surprise reveal. We can also get excited about their upcoming space game: although the Starfield release date is seemingly lost somewhere in the vacuum.
It’s much further along than the company’s famous fantasy series, however, but that’s about all we know so far. Basically, when it comes to Starfield, “everyone should be very patient”. Regardless, it’s got our interstellar interest piqued.
Starfield release date: TBC
Starfield release date: TBC
Dota Underlords
If you actually understand the esoteric rules of the supremely popular MOBA spin-off – the Dota Auto Chess player count topped eight million in May 2019 – which we absolutely do, then you’ll no doubt have played the Dota Underlords open beta that shortly followed E3 2019.
Underlords is Valve’s official take on the custom made that resembles neither Dota nor the ancient tabletop game all that much. The company describes it as “a new stand-alone game that pits you against seven opponents in a battle of wits that will have you building, combining, and leveling-up a crew.” So Auto Chess, basically.
Dota Underlords release date: TBC
Dota Underlords release date: TBC
Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
The long-awaited follow-up to crowd favourite Mount & Blade, this sequel is promising to be bigger and better in pretty much every way. The developer has focused on two areas so far in reveals: humongous siege battles and making the game moddable. With the latter, the studio is going as far it can, giving modders as much power as possible to make the game even better.
Mount & Blade 2 release date: TBC
Mount & Blade 2 release date: TBC
Star Citizen
Without a doubt one of the most wildly ambitious games around, Star Citizen aims to be the ultimate space exploration experience.
Taking to the skies in one of numerous ridiculously detailed craft, you will engage in military service, become a reputable trader of goods, live the life of a smuggler, or become a universe-famous race pilot. That’s if development ever finishes, of course.
Star Citizen release date: TBC
Star Citizen release date: TBC
System Shock 3
While the original is getting an HD remake from Night Dive Studios, there’s another Shock project on the go elsewhere. System Shock 3 is likely a long, long way off, but we know Warren Spector is involved, and… that’s about it. Otherside Entertainment is doing the actual production, with Spector on board as studio director – we’re expecting to hear more from them throughout 2018.
System Shock 3 release date: TBC
System Shock 3 release date: TBC
Elden Ring
It’s a meeting of minds only the most optimistic of fantasy RPG fans could conjure up, but it’s happening. The Elden Ring E3 2019 trailer gives only cryptic clues for fans to dissect for months to come, but here’s the only thing you need to know: it’s a FromSoftware open-world game written by George R. R. ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ Martin.
As you’d expect Elden Ring reflects Dark Souls’ gameplay in terms of difficulty, but combat, Miyazaki-san says, is “fundamentally different” and its FromSoft’s biggest game yet. Martin has reportedly penned reams of lore for this dark new universe, and we couldn’t be more hyped.
Elden Ring release date: TBC
Elden Ring release date: TBC
Deathloop
Having played the Dishonored games, we’re excited about anything developer Arkane is working on, frankly. The latest is set on the fictional island of Blackreef as two legendary assassins lock horns. While we wait for the Deathloop launch date, we can only imagine the inventiveness and meticulous detail Arkane Lyon will imbue into this nicely stylised experience.
Deathloop release date: TBC
Deathloop release date: TBC
GhostWire: Tokyo
An action-adventure game with a twist, GhostWire: Tokyo is a new IP from the developers behind the Evil Within games, with all the spookiness, if not the survival-horror elements that entails.
The GhostWire: Tokyo E3 announcement trailer shows that the story from developer Tango Gameworks centres on the baffling disappearances of people from their home of Tokyo. Let’s hope this curio doesn’t go missing, too.
GhostWire: Tokyo release date: TBC
GhostWire: Tokyo release date: TBC
Beyond Good & Evil 2
Yes, it’s happening, but the Beyond Good & Evil 2 release date is probably a long, long way off. According to creator Michel Ancel, the team is looking for a lot of community input to get it moving, with help from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and hitRECord. Expect to hear more as we approach 2019’s playable Beyond Good & Evil 2 beta.
Beyond Good & Evil 2 release date: Beyond Space And Time, Probably
Beyond Good & Evil 2 release date: Beyond Space And Time, Probably
Read more: These old games have aged like the finest PC wines
Wow, that’s a lot of games to get excited for, so luckily our anticipation levels are boundless already. Of course, it’s tough just keeping up with games as they come out, let alone remembering the games we should be saving for. For that we have a new PC games guide so you know the best titles you could be playing right now. For now, perhaps if you keep reading this list the games you want will come out quicker. It’s worth a go, at least.
- Read More
- Cyberpunk 2077 release date
- Cyberpunk 2077 lore & universe
- Cyberpunk 2077 world
If you're looking for a good PC game to play, you've come to the right place. There are a lot of video games in this round up that'll entertain you, and they're neatly organized by genre. Steam users (and if you're a PC gamer, how aren't you?) should visit PCMag's Steam Curator page and Steam Discussion Group, too. Our reviews live there, as well as several themed lists featuring highly regarded titles.
Please recognize, however, that this is not a historical examination of the most groundbreaking PC games. Uh-uh. Sure, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain redefines stealth-based action and the Forza Horizon series is the definitive open-world racing franchise, but they didn't make it into this guide based purely on those metrics. Simply put, this an ever-expanding collection of entertaining titles you should buy if you own a gaming desktop or gaming laptop.
To clarify, games don't need to have been released within the calendar year to qualify for this roundup. Any game that's still available and still considered excellent when ranked against the best of today is eligible. We think that's the most useful approach to helping you decide which video games deserve space on your PC's hard drive, and which aren't worth consideration even when their prices are cut by 85 percent during a Steam sale.
In our newest update, we've added one that we've reviewed since our last update: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. It's really good.
How We Pick 'Em
Compiling this guide was no small undertaking. PCMag's in-house and freelance editors have played a ridiculous number of PC games over the years, so creating inclusion criteria was essential. Here's what we came up with. To be included, a game must have been reviewed by PCMag, still be available for purchase, and received a rating of 3.5 stars or greater.
The first requirement is to ensure that we can give you more insight into a game. Yes, this guide goes into some depth on each game entry, but the ability to link to a full review benefits those looking for a deeper cut. The second point we've already covered. The third point required a bit of pondering. We didn't want to set the star rating so low that nearly all PC games qualified for the guide, yet we didn't want to set the star rating so high that we exclude quality B-tier games, such as Dead Island and Split/Second. For now, 3.5 stars is the happy medium, but, as we review more games, we may have to be choosier, to keep the list at a manageable size.
Explore Our Picks
There are currently more than 150 games in this PC gaming guide, so making navigation as simple as possible was an extremely high priority for our creative commandos. The games are grouped alphabetically by genre, and the titles in each category are listed in alphabetical order. Simply select a genre, say fighting games, and the page jumps to that section. Easy!
Sadly, two games have been removed from this roundup due to them being delisted from the Steam and other platforms: Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 and The Walking Dead. It's a game preservation issue that developers need to address to ensure that titles stick around for future purchase.
In addition, you should make sure to secure your PC while gaming. We suggest checking out our roundup of the best VPNs for gaming, a roundup of PCMag-tested virtual private networks. Not only will a VPN prevent people with ill intent from snooping your network, but it may enable you to, say, spoof your IP address so that you access games in other countries. Explore our reviews to learn about the VPN services that add the least latency to your gaming sessions.
Join the Conversation
If you disagree with our picks, or feel that we should review a game that somehow slipped through the cracks, sound off in the comments section below—we welcome your input! Just keep it civil.
Oh, and if you're a console gamer who thinks that we're biased toward PC gaming because we're PCMag—you're right! Still, our staff has assembled their top picks for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, 3DS, and Switch. Those roundups aren't quite as robust as this one, as the PC has a much deeper library and, well, this is PC Magazine.
We now present the best PC games. Enjoy!
Best PC Games Categories:
Best Action PC Games
Best Adventure PC Games
Best Fighting PC Games
Best Horror PC Games
Best MMO PC Games
Best MOBA PC Games
Best Puzzle PC Games
Best Racing PC Games
Best RPG & Roguelike PC Games
Best Shmup PC Games
Best Shooter PC Games
Best Simulation PC Games
Best Sports PC Games
Best Stealth PC Games
Best Strategy PC Games
Best Adventure PC Games
Best Fighting PC Games
Best Horror PC Games
Best MMO PC Games
Best MOBA PC Games
Best Puzzle PC Games
Best Racing PC Games
Best RPG & Roguelike PC Games
Best Shmup PC Games
Best Shooter PC Games
Best Simulation PC Games
Best Sports PC Games
Best Stealth PC Games
Best Strategy PC Games
Best Action PC Games
Adventures of Pip
$14.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Tic Toc Games' Adventures of Pip is a side-scrolling action-platformer that's based on an interesting premise: evolving and devolving a pixel-based hero between his 1-bit and 16-bit forms to fight through level after level of goons and bosses. The unique premise, rich environments, and fun gameplay combine to form a game with a lot of heart and charm, despite the limited scope of its weapons and power-ups.
Axiom Verge
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Developer Tom Happ, who is known for his work on EA Sports' Tiger Woods PGA Tour and NFL Street franchises, has gone indie and crafted a delightful tribute to the exploratory action genre (aka Metroidvania). This 2D platformer combines the best aspects of classic side-scrollers like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Metroid to deliver a refined experience for newcomers of the genre and seasoned vets alike. Axiom Verge is a fun, engaging title, but plodding story elements and seemingly pointless weapons mar the experience a bit.
Batman: Arkham City
$10.75
%displayPrice% at %seller% 'If you liked X, you'll love Y!' might be the cheapest of critical plaudits, but sometimes nothing else will do. So here goes: If you liked Batman: Arkham Asylum, you'll love Batman: Arkham City. Developer Rocksteady Studios borrows everything from Asylum that worked (thrilling fighting, excellent voice acting), though it delivers far less innovation. This makes Arkham City derivative, but the game's packed with enough goon-busting fun that it still stands as one of the PC's best action games.
Bayonetta
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The original Bayonetta is one of the best action games ever made, and it easily stands alongside such genre classics as God Hand, Devil May Cry 3, and Ninja Gaiden Black. It features explosive action, and it tests your combo prowess against every divine creature in the good book. Despite Bayonetta's poor PlayStation 3 performance, this PC port is excellent. It delivers the action at a rock-solid frame rate and a range of uncommon resolutions, which makes this version the definitive angel-slaying experience.
Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The arcade scene saw an explosion of side-scrolling beat 'em ups in the wake of 1987's groundbreaking—and money-generating—Double Dragon. Developer Capcom played a major role in the genre's skyrocketing popularity, thanks to a string of memorable releases that gave players the opportunity to team up with a friend to pound enemy forces into pulp. Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle collects seven of those games, including the classic Final Fight, in a package that also includes online play. If you fancy thumb-numbing, button-mashing action in either solo or multiplayer sessions, Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle is a recommended package. That said, it lacks the deep production design documents and historical notes found in Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection or SNK 40th Anniversary Collection.
Cuphead
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Cuphead is a charming run-and-gun/shoot-'em-up hybrid that channels Konami's iconic Contra series, while also taking heavy inspiration from the rubber-hose animation style that was prominent during 1920s- and 1930s-era cartoons. If you're familiar with the Contra series' fast-paced gameplay, then Cuphead should be right up your alley. The titular protagonist and his brother Mugman must best a wide variety of perilous stages and bosses to complete their quest. Cuphead lacks the expansive level design featured in Contra and other genre classics, but the hardcore action game gives you a beefy list of complex and satisfying boss fights to overcome, in the style of Treasure's beloved Alien Soldier.
Darksiders III
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Darksiders series, a creative reinterpretation of the Christian end-of-the-world scenario that follows the misadventures of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, returns with a twist. With Darkstalkers III, you take control of the irate and unpredictable Fury who's tasked with capturing the Seven Deadly Sins. Armed with a barbed whip and wicked agility, Fury explores the ruins of the modern world and exterminates menaces in an interconnected, Metroid-esque environment. The combat system has a few annoyances, such as an unreliable camera and frustrating mobs, that hinder the experience. Still, Darksiders III is an enjoyable action game that you should play if the theme appeals to you.
Dead Island
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% When Techland's Dead Island trailer debuted, it featured one of the most moving video game sequences ever produced: a small child and her family being slaughtered by zombies against the backdrop of a soft, haunting Giles Lamb musical score. Dead Island's gameplay doesn't quite match the trailer's promise, but the open-world action-RPG offers a very solid zombie-slaying good time as you craft weapons and try to stay alive in an island paradise gone wrong.
Dead Rising 2: Off The Record
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Frank West returns to zombie-slaying action in Dead Rising 2: Off The Record. Capcom's reimagining Dead Rising 2 sees the gruff photojournalist facing off against a wider array of monsters, building new weapons, snapping photos, and best of all, mixing it up in a new open-world sandbox mode. Stomping the undead is fun—for a while—but bugs and repetitive gameplay keep Dead Rising 2 from achieving true greatness.
Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition
$24.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition takes everything that made Capcom's original 2008 release an impressive action game and expands on it. The game includes the Legendary Dark Knight enemy horde mode that was added to the original PC port, as well as three new playable characters, improved visuals, and subtle gameplay tweaks. Some of the weaker aspects of the original release, such as the repetitive story campaign, remain and slightly tarnish an otherwise brilliantly polished title. Overall, Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition is a rock-solid action game that is well worth picking up for fans of the series and action buffs alike.
Devil May Cry 5
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Devil May Cry is a genre-defining action series that pits your demon-slaying protagonist against the hordes of hell, giving you a sword, guns, and a robust list of special attacks to string together in crazy and over-the-top combos. Devil May Cry 5 is the newest incarnation of the series. It takes elements from previous games, even including the fan-derided DmC: Devil May Cry reboot, and introduces all-new characters and gameplay systems for fans and newcomers to enjoy. All systems have been rebalanced and streamlined, making them easy to grasp yet challenging to apply in practice and to master. It's one of the best action games ever made.
The Disney Afternoon Collection
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Disney Afternoon, the mega-popular 1990s animation block, spawned some of the best platformers on the Nintendo Entertainment System, thanks to developer Capcom. And, 20 years later, those games are back in the excellent Disney Afternoon Collection. The six games—Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers 2, Darkwing Duck, DuckTales, DuckTales 2, and TaleSpin—feature a crisp 1080p resolution, the ability to save your progress at any time, and a useful rewind feature that helps combat the infamous difficulties associated with old school Nintendo games.
Far Cry Primal
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% With Far Cry Primal, developer Ubisoft abandons all political pretenses and focuses on what made Far Cry stand out from its peers when the series debuted: the open-world sandbox. You play as a Stone Age hunter named Takkar, and your goal is to secure a safe haven for your people, the wandering Wenja tribe, in the prehistoric realm of Oros. Melee combat and beast companions set Primal apart from past Far Cry games and make exploration feel much more personal and engaging. But its story is simpler and more straightforward, so if you were hoping for eccentric villains and outlandish melodrama, Primal may leave you a tad disappointed.
For Honor
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% For Honor is a medieval-themed combat game has two faces. One is a splendid multiplayer blend of large- and small-scale battles. The other is a forgettable single-player campaign that unfortunately requires an online connection. However, For Honor's strategic combat—a resplendent combination of positioning, pacing, awareness, and timely opponent reads—gracefully lifts the entire package from the mediocre AAA bog that might otherwise have slid into.
Freedom Planet
$14.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% GalaxyTrail's Freedom Planet is a retro-platformer that looks and feels like a long-lost 16-bit mascot game. Freedom Planet's 14 levels are large, colorful, and varied. Almost all have Sonic the Hedgehog-style loops, ramps, and corkscrews. Each level also introduces its own unique elements, such as disappearing blocks, colored switches, and keys. These elements sound like basic platforming obstacles, but they're so well-crafted and diverse that they always feel fresh and don't overstay their welcome. The downside? Some cringe-worthy voice acting.
Jet Set Radio
$4.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% In 2000, Sega gave us a look into the future of funk with Jet Set Radio, a cel-shaded action game that starred a cute band of rollerblading miscreants who tagged walls, battled rival delinquents, and avoided out-of-control cops. This updated PC version flexes high-definition graphics, developer interviews, and all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a Steam game. Dripping in manga-influenced hip-hop flavor and boasting one of the greatest soundtracks ever crafted for a video game, the grind-happy Jet Set Radio is a title that belongs in the library of anyone who digs fast-paced action games, incredibly catchy tunes, and street culture.
Killer Is Dead: Nightmare Edition
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Goichi Suda (aka Suda51) is the Robert Rodriguez of the video game industry. The Japanese developer crafts projects noted for their style, edginess, and violence, but once you peep beneath the cool veneer, the work is exposed as a somewhat empty, if fun, experience. Such is Suda51's Killer Is Dead: Nightmare Edition, a Steam game that stars a cybernetically enhanced assassin named Mondo Zappa who slays vampires, mystics, and other monstrosities for a government agency. Killer Is Dead is dripping with Suda51's trademark humor, character swag, and fast-paced action, but it lacks the killer level design and supporting elements that would elevate the game to the top of its genre.
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% TT Games's Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham squeezes in a lot of DC Comics fan service and silliness, while maintaining a whimsical and simplistic approach to its action and story. Whether it's the subtle 1978 Superman theme that plays when the caped do-gooder is flying, or Nightwing reminiscing about his sidekick days while compulsively spewing 'holy' exclamations, Lego Batman 3 is so filled with Easter eggs that it feels like a love letter to all of DC Comics. The gameplay doesn't deviate much from the familiar Lego formula, but the experience is solid, nonetheless.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Lego Marvel Super Heroes is a near-perfect blend of three wonderful childhood staples: comic books, video games, and, well, Lego. Steeped in Marvel Comics goodness, Lego Marvel Super Heroes puts players in the role of superheroes—including the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man—who are tasked with recovering all-powerful Cosmic Bricks before top-tier baddies such as Loki, Dr. Doom, and Magneto get their hands on them. The open-world game features fun brick-bashing action and light puzzle challenges.
Mega Man 11
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Mega Man 11 is a continuation of Capcom's iconic side-scrolling platformer franchise, and it retains many of the series' classic elements. In terms of gameplay, Mega Man 11 introduces the impressive speed- and power-boosting Double Gear system, which offers new ways to avoid obstacles and dispatch enemies. There are a handful of hazards strewn throughout this action game that feel a touch unfair, and some stages drag on much too long. Still, Mega Man 11 delivers a wonderfully fun challenge that's splashed with a fresh coat of paint.
Mega Man Legacy Collection
$14.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Capcom, in collaboration with Digital Eclipse, revisits Mega Man's past with a package that does the original six NES Mega Man games justice. Besides featuring high-definition versions of the classic 8-bit games, the collection contains new trial challenges, leaderboards, video replays, and developer art. It's one of the best retro compilations around. Besides the recent Rare Replay, Mega Man Legacy Collection is the closest to a video game equivalent of the Criterion Collection the medium has seen. If you're a Mega Man fan, consider this a must-have collection.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Konami's Metal Gear Solid series is known for its stealth-based gameplay, but its spin-off, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, is a straight hack-and-slash action game starring stooge-turned-badass, Raiden. Developer Platinum Games bundles the game with numerous goodies not associated with the original console version, including graphical enhancements and three DLC packages that were separate console purchases—all at a reasonable price. In short, if you liked the console version of Revengeance, you'll dig this one, too, despite the occasional rough camera angle and frame rate drop.
Metal Slug 3
$7.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Run-and-gun video games have a long history of thrilling fans with high-octane, shoot-everything-that-moves action, but few do it better than SNK Playmore's Metal Slug 3. Originally released to the Neo Geo platform in 2000, the acclaimed Metal Slug 3 has appeared on nearly every console and handheld since then—and now it's available for PCs. In this title, you control adorable, armed-to-the teeth soldiers who defend Earth from an alien invasion using guns, rocket launchers, and the eponymous Metal Slug tanks. Metal Slug 3 is a genre masterpiece due to its charming (and hyper-violent) cartoony graphics, tough-as-nails challenges, creative weapons, and varied level design.
Okami HD
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Okami HD is a high-definition port of the beloved PlayStation 2 action-adventure game in which you play as the wolf-goddess Amaterasu. In it, you guide the deity across Nippon to defeat the demonic presence that threatens nature and mankind. On a basic level, Okami has a similar gameplay structure to The Legend of Zelda series, in that players must explore expansive zones to unlock power ups and clues that lead to new areas to explore. Even better, the game's visuals are unashamedly Japanese, utilizing a watercolor-like graphical style to create a unique aesthetic. If you enjoyed romping through mythical Japan as William Adams in Nioh: Complete Edition, you might enjoy Okami's take on the subject, as well as its lighter tone and colorful visuals.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Fresh and wide-eyed from her exploits in Japan, the young and ambitious explorer Lara Croft is pitted against a cult of fanatical zealots in pursuit of immortality. Rise of the Tomb Raider features more of the spectacular set pieces, powerful combat, and tricky puzzles that made the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot so well received by critics and fans alike. Series fans may get a distinct feeling of déjà vu when running through the similarly styled gameplay scenarios and platforming sections, but Rise of the Tomb Raider is a solid action-adventure title.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a From Software action game that carries some of the DNA of its Dark Souls and Bloodborne predecessors. Thankfully, From Software injects enough new freshness into its formula to create an entirely unique experience. The game introduces fantastic movement elements, clever stealth systems, and parry-heavy swordplay as the ninja protagonist, Sekiro, battles gods and monsters. The controls can be a bit sticky at times, and there are a few obnoxious hitbox issues, but these are relatively minor complaints.
Shadow Complex Remastered
$14.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The original Shadow Complex is a 2.5D platform-adventure game that became an Xbox 360 cult classic thanks to its fast-paced, exploration-heavy gameplay. The title has since received the remaster treatment, which gives the beloved game updated graphics, hard-hitting new contextual melee attacks, and Master Challenges. The run-and-gun game's plot and voice acting don't quite match the rest of the stellar package, but if you can overlook those ills, you'll find an excellent title that's well worth the $14.99 price.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a haunting, cinematic look at Lara Croft as she transverses the steppes and underworlds of the modern home of ancient Mesoamerican culture. Developers Eidos-Montréal and Crystal Dynamics redefine Croft in the final installment of her origin series by tossing away her iconic dual-pistols, and transforming her from a hapless orphan into a hardened tomb-dwelling adventuress that who must stop the coming Mayan Apocalypse. Shadow of the Tomb Raider wraps up Lara's early days in satisfying fashion, but narrative and performance issues prevent the action-adventure game from reaching the same heights as the previous installments in the series.
Shenmue I & II
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Sega's Shenmue I and Shenmue II remasters are odd games, just like the original Dreamcast and Xbox releases. They're loaded with a head-scratching amount of underutilized content, hilariously awkward writing, and some horrific pacing issues. But at the same time, they pack a startling amount of detail for games this old. Furthermore, the fighting mechanics are solid, the overarching story is engaging, and the game has an undeniable charm. Yes, many titles have since improved upon the systems featured in Shenmue (notably Grand Theft Auto and Yakuza), but you can't shake the appeal of these classics.
Shock Troopers
$7.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% If you have the 'I want to squash all threats to the republic' itch that's risen in recent days, do yourself a favor and play SNK's Shock Troopers. This run-and-gun action game tasks you with saving a biotech genius from The Bloody Scorpion terrorist organization by going into battle using a single soldier (Lonely Wolf mode) or a three-person squad (Team Battle mode). Cool weapons, fun vehicle-based levels, branching pathways, and co-op play make for a very entertaining, G.I. Joe-like experience.
Shovel Knight
$14.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Retro '8-bit' side-scrolling indie platformers have flooded the video game market, and it's easy to discount the entire genre as an easy-to-develop cash-in on nostalgia. Then there's Shovel Knight from Yacht Club Games, a studio created by former WayForward Technologies director Sean Velasco. You play as a shovel-toting knight who must rescue his partner, Shield Knight, from dastardly foes. It's an incredibly satisfying and expertly crafted platformer that recalls games like DuckTales and Mega Man, but also has some of the most authentic NES-style graphics to appear in the HD era.
Sonic Mania
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Sonic Mania is, for all intents and purposes, the true Sonic the Hedgehog 4, discounting the intensely mediocre, polygonal game that appeared last console generation. Sonic Mania adheres to the classic Sonic gameplay of running really fast through loops and straightaways as you collect life-preserving gold rings, dispatch enemies, and free captured fuzzballs from hulking enemy machinery. On that level, Sonic Mania is very much like the sprite-based Sonic titles that came before it. That said, DRM issues and poorly designed bonus stages steal a bit of its shine.
Tembo The Badass Elephant
$14.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Tembo the Badass Elephant's story takes place in Shell City, a populous city that's plunged into a state of emergency by an evil force known as The Phantom. The National Army is unable to contain The Phantom's destruction, so it enlists the aid of an old war buddy, the Rambo-like elephant known as Tembo, to push back the enemy troops. The game's frequently compared to the 16-bit Sonic the Hedgehog games, as it's published by Sega and features a relentlessly speedy main character who obliterates foes. However, developer Game Freak (of Pokemon fame) also implemented elements from classic franchises such as Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong Country to create a well-rounded 2D action-adventure platformer that stands apart from the titles that inspire it.
Yakuza 0
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Yakuza 0--the prequel story that shows how series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu rose through the ranks to become the big boss of a Japanese crime syndicate--is more than just knuckles, guns, illegal rackets, and vendettas. At the heart of the gangsterism is empathy and honor, be it between bro and bro, an orphan and his surrogate father, or well-dressed hoodlums and the desperate strangers they meet. It's also a tale involving a pelvis-thrusting man, referred to as both Walking Erection and Mr. Libido, wearing nothing but shoes and tighty-whities. Yakuza 0's ability to dance between the dramatic and the absurd, all of it punctuated with thrilling combat, makes this beat 'em up one of the best action games on the PC.
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner Mars
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% It's a sad truth that there aren't many great action-focused mech games. Sure, there are numerous well-crafted strategy games featuring the hulking mechanical vehicles, but if you just want to pilot a cool, humanoid machine that blasts opponents into scrap metal in twitchy fashion, the pickings are slim. Enter: Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner Mars. It's an enhanced version of the cult classic PlayStation 2 game that satisfies that mech-action itch by letting you shoot, slash, and toss enemy machines in a variety of sci-fi environments. The 2nd Runner Mars is an engaging action game that delivers satisfying combat, but it suffers from annoying control issues—carryovers from the original release.
Best Adventure PC Games
Batman: The Telltale Series
$24.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The point-and-click adventure game genre has seen a resurgence in popularity since Telltale Games began combining its excellent storytelling chops with popular comic book properties. But it is Batman: The Telltale Series that really shows what the developer can do when it merges an action-focused license with its successful story-driven formula. The game delivers the fisticuffs, gadgetry, and detective work you'd expect from Bruce Wayne's masked persona, while once again giving you the option to shape the narrative in both large and subtle ways.
D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die
$14.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Film student turned video game designer Hidetaka 'Swery' Suehiro wears his influences on his sleeve. Last generation, the video game auteur was the driving force behind the bizarre, Twin Peaks-inspired Deadly Premonition; now his special brand of storytelling insanity graces the PC in the form of another oddball, David Lynch-like murder mystery called D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die. It tells the story of a widower, detective David Young, who is obsessed with unearthing the events that led to the death of his wife, Little Peggy. The game—with its supernatural elements, quirky characters, and compelling investigative gameplay—is one that should not be missed.
Game of Thrones
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Telltale Games' Game of Thrones parallels the HBO show, establishing some tenets that fans of the series have long since come to embrace. The realm of Westeros is cruel and harsh, and very little is sacred when nobility and madmen make a move for power. There is an obvious history and weight to the events leading up to this game that can be intimidating for newcomers, but the crux of the conflict is more centralized and concise.
The Wolf Among Us
$24.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Wolf Among Us, a game that's a canonical prequel to Bill Willingham's popular Fables comic book series, features a well-written story, light puzzle-solving challenges, and reflex-testing Quick Time Event (QTE) sequences. The visually striking title draws inspiration from film noir cinema, while keeping the heavy black outlines and bright colors associated with its source material. The murder-mystery isn't particularly challenging, but if you want to spend a few hours in an immersive world filled with interesting characters and top-notch voice acting, The Wolf Among Us should find a home in your PC gaming library.
Best Fighting PC Games
Dead or Alive 6
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Dead or Alive 6, much like its immediate predecessor, is one part fighting game, one part fashion show, and one part schlocky action movie. Individually, each of the game's widely differing elements might not stand up to scrutiny. After all, DOA 6 isn't the best fighter, doesn't offer the deepest character customization, and doesn't quite reach the Tekken series' level of story insanity. Yet, Dead or Alive 6 is an entertaining and surprisingly strategic PC game that offers enough freshness to warrant playing with its new Break Blow and Break Hold tools. Plus, the game's familiar Triangle System and Danger Zones are highly entertaining, too.
Divekick
$4.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Iron Galaxy Studios' Divekick is the most hipster game ever created. It's the product of the indie scene, and it mercilessly parodies fighting games and their diehard community, yet demands that you be part of the underground circle to fully get all of the references and in-jokes. It's also a lot of fun if you open your mind to the insane concept of a one-on-one fighter based almost entirely on the idea of jumping and kicking.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Beside Fist of the Northstar and Jo Jo's Bizarre Adventure, there are few anime properties that are as intrinsically suited to the fighting-game treatment as the Dragon Ball series. Spanning multiple series, movies, and generations of characters, Akira Toriyama's manga-turned-anime-turned-game series is all about buff monkey men, humans, aliens, and androids trading blows in actual earth-shattering battles. Dragon Ball FighterZ ditches the Xenoverse games' arena-brawling model in favor of 3 vs. 3 tag-team fighting on a 2D plane. The gameplay shift is just one of the many reasons Dragon Ball FighterZ is being held aloft as one of 2018's notable titles. Its beautiful design, intense combat, and accessible control scheme add up to a game one that anyone can jump into for Super Saiyan thrills.
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
$9.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Upon its 1999 release, Garou: Mark of the Wolves—a surprisingly deep and visually stunning entry in the long-running Fatal Fury series—was hailed as SNK's wondrous response to Capcom's Street Fighter III. Nearly 20 years later, SNK has finally given the 1 vs. 1 fighting game the proper PC treatment by releasing it with numerous additional graphics options, leaderboards, and online versus play. The result is an excellent PC game that boasts beautiful animation, Just Defend parries, and the strategic T.O.P. system.
Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign-
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Guilty Gear is a niche series within a niche genre, one that's enjoyed a cult following since its first appearance in 1998. With Xrd -Sign-, developer Arc System Works ditches the series' 2D sprites in favor of 3D cel-shaded graphics in an attempt to expand its audience. Likewise, series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari sought a more approachable play style that maintained the depth and high skill ceiling that long-time Guilty Gear fans love. The result is a feature-packed fighting game that boasts incredible graphics and deep mechanics. Unfortunately, it arrived on PC after many Guilty Gear fans had moved on to the next game in the series: Guilty Gear Xrd -Revelator-. So, like The Last Blade, Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- is a game that's worth buying if you don't mind local play and the lack of online competition.
Killer Instinct
Free
%displayPrice% at %seller% When Killer Instinct debuted for Windows 10 in March 2016, it represented the latest chapter in the continued PC fighting game renaissance. With its arrival, Microsoft's combo-heavy, one-on-one game of fisticuffs joined the likes of Guilty Gear, The King of Fighters, Street Fighter, and other high-profile series that now grace the personal computer. Thankfully, Iron Galaxy—the development team that picked up the Killer Instinct reins after Double Helix, the original developer, was purchased by Amazon—has delivered a remarkably fun, season-based title that's more than worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as its competition.
The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match Final Edition
$14.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The King of Fighters '98 is widely regarded as one of the best fighting games ever made, so it's no surprise that developer SNK Playmore has returned to the title many times since the game's original release. In 2008, SNK Playmore celebrated the game's tenth anniversary by porting the team-based fighter to the PlayStation 2 as The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match, a game loaded with extra characters, stages, and gameplay modes. Now, a tweaked Ultimate Match is available for PCs as The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match Final Edition, a game that rebalances the massive 64-character roster and adds Steam trading cards and achievements. Final Edition's gameplay retains its predecessor's wonderfully deep and flexible fighting mechanics, but it's missing features that were present in the beloved PS2 version.
The King of Fighters XIII: Steam Edition
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% One of the most impressive sprite-based games ever created, The King of Fighters XIII: Steam Edition brings SNK Playmore's excellent 3-on-3 2D fighter to the PC via Valve's digital distribution platform. If you've rumbled with friends and foes in the version that appeared on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms, you'll feel right at home here: the intricate combat mechanics, gorgeous graphics, and up-tempo music are successfully ported over to this Steam game. Even better, The King of Fighters XIII: Steam Edition contains all of the console DLC, the King of Fighters XIII: Climax arcade features, and PC-centric graphics options.
The Last Blade
$9.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% SNK put weapons-based 2D fighting on the map with 1993's delightful Samurai Shodown, but the developer went on to refine the idea of sword combat four years later in a somewhat lesser-known Neo Geo title: The Last Blade. Recently released to the Steam platform with several contemporary bells and whistles, The Last Blade ($9.99) boasts excellent swordplay, a dozen exquisitely designed characters, and a gorgeous anime- and manga-style presentation that make its 19th-century Japanese setting one of the most beautiful in fighting-game history. Genre fans shouldn't hesitate to pick up this excellent PC fighting game, but the barren online play means most matches will take place locally.
Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite
$59.99
Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite has taken its fair share of flack since its reveal, and the venom is not at all unwarranted. The initial trailer for the tag-team fighting game featured dull, washed-out graphics, and Capcom highlighted the new novice-friendly, auto-combo options that are designed to help casuals bust out cool-looking moves in an otherwise hardcore genre. As a result, fight fans were highly skeptical of the game. Fortunately, sentiments toward Infinite changed dramatically upon the game's release. The Infinity Stone hook and the move to 2 vs. 2 action make Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite an incredibly fighting to play in both casual and hardcore sessions. Still, the roster, which features many intriguing characters locked behind DLC paywalls or ignored due to brand wars, needs some work.
Mortal Kombat XL
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% When NetherRealm Studios released Mortal Kombat X to consoles in 2015, the game continued to evolve via free and paid updates that added characters, balanced the roster, and improved online play. However, the High Voltage Studios-ported PC game received zero post-launch support, much to the dismay of hardcore Mortal Kombat fans. Thankfully, that changed with the Mortal Kombat XL update, a version of MKX that finally gives PC gamers all the extras that console-based fight fans have enjoyed for some time now. We dislike the idea of paying more money for PC content released long after the console version, but it's hard not to love the additions, which include even more fighters, stages, costumes, and gore.
Skullgirls 2nd Encore
$24.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Skullgirls 2nd Encore, the update to Reverge Labs' critically acclaimed original game, takes cues from many highly regarded fighting titles and blends it with the series' cartoony, art deco style. The indie fighter has a Capcom vs. SNK-style ratio system that lets you select up to three characters to battle up to three rival characters, as well as a Marvel vs. Capcom-style assist system. That said, Skullgirls 2nd Encore's graphics aren't all that separate it from the competition. The fighter also has a built-in system that automatically stops infinites, those annoying and abusive combos that never end.
Soulcalibur VI
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The fighting game renaissance wouldn't be complete without a new SoulCalibur title. The weapons-based combat series has seen its ups and downs over the years, but with SoulCalibur VI, developer Bandai Namco has taken what's worked in the past—swift, strategic combat and robust character customization—and paired it with the new Reversal Edge and Soul Charge battle mechanics to create an engaging PC fighting game that'll shine in all sorts of battles, whether they're between buddies or on big esports stages like Evo. SoulCalibur VI lacks the stellar presentation found in recent, competing releases, such as Dragon Ball FighterZ, Injustice 2, and the developer's own Tekken 7, but it's a strong title that deserves a place in your PC game collection.
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Until very recently, the 40-year old video game industry lacked its own Criterion Collection, letting important pop culture contributions slip into oblivion. Thankfully, Digital Eclipse has taken up the games-preservation task, blessing gamers with titles that celebrate classics via accurate emulation and a bounty of production-related extras. The company's first foray into the fighting game genre is Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, a historical document in video game form. The package includes the mainline 2D arcade titles (the original Street Fighter to Street Fighter III: Third Strike) and a wealth of production-related materials, including a timeline, animation viewer, jukebox, and design sheets. It's a marvelous collection, one that shows why Street Fighter is one of the most important and beloved video game series.
Street Fighter V
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% In February 2016, Capcom's newest one-on-one fighting game arrived on PC with many flaws that detracted from the stellar gameplay, including awful server instability, no true single-player mode, and a surprisingly limited multiplayer Battle Lounge. However, several updates have since addressed many of those issues and added new playable characters. The fixes, combined with new and classic characters, fresh and returning fight systems (like the cool V-Skills and V-Triggers), and cross-platform play with PlayStation 4 owners, finally make Street Fighter V a game to pick up even for gamers who don't have Evo dreams.
Tekken 7
$49.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Tekken 7, like the main-line Tekken games that came before it, is a tale of fathers and sons attempting to murder each other to purge the Mishima clan from the Devil Gene, a magical DNA bit that transforms certain people into hell spawn. Touted as the conclusion of the Mishima drama, Tekken 7 reveals secrets and leaves cliffhangers, thus simultaneously answering long-standing questions and prompting the fan base to ask new ones. Thankfully, the wonderfully ridiculous tale is bolstered by some of the best mechanics featured in contemporary fighting games, with the new Power Crush, Rage Arts, and Rage Drive attacks deftly blending into the established mix.
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
$24.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 pits Marvel's superheroes against Capcom's video game characters in a frantic brawl. The 48-character headcount is impressive, but it's the individual characters that truly make the game shine. Marvel's side has several popular fighters, such as Captain America, Iron Man, and Spider-Man, as well as once-obscure characters that have gained recognition thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, such as Doctor Strange and Rocket Raccoon. Capcom's side is comprised mainly of characters from the company's fighting and action games, including Final Fight's Mike Haggar and Street Fighter's Ryu.
Ultra Street Fighter IV
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Ultra Street Fighter IV marks the fourth version of Street Fighter IV and the third version available on the Steam platform. This final iteration of the one-on-one fighting game adds five new characters, six new stages, a YouTube upload option, and a host of gameplay tweaks. It's Street Fighter IV's best and meatiest update, though some balance and DLC issues prove a bit irritating. Still, Ultra Street Fighter IV is an excellent competitive fighter with strong netcode.
Best Horror PC Games
Alien: Isolation
$49.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Alien: Isolation may be the best Alien-based game ever made. Instead of using James Cameron's action-focused Aliens as its foundation, as so many video game developers have done in the past, Creative Assembly looked at Ridley Scott's original 1979 film for inspiration. And it pays off. Rather than focusing on running and gunning, Alien: Isolation is all about evasion and subterfuge. Though you gain some assistance via radio, you, as the daughter of Ellen Ripley, must navigate a world of survival horror on your own, dodging the alien stalker using your wits, the environment, and the tools you craft. Alien: Isolation is smart, dark, and oppressive in all the right ways.
Narcosis
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Some of the scariest video game moments are derived from developers preying on our simplest fears. It isn't hordes of enemies rushing at you, or creepies jumping at you from closets. Far scarier is what loneliness does to the human psyche, as you struggle to retain your own sanity when you can't tell what's real and what's just a projection of your own insecurities. It's also helplessly running from danger, while watching your last drops of breathable air trickle away. This is the terror that Narcosis for Oculus Rift forces you to deal with in a dread-filled undersea environment. It's an absolutely frightening PC game, though one a bit light on content and competent AI enemies.
Resident Evil HD Remaster
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Nearly 20 years after its debut, Resident Evil returns as an HD remaster of the 2002 GameCube remake of the 1996 original. Resident Evil HD Remaster brings the remake back from the dead by unshackling the game from Nintendo's console and bringing it to PC. However, Capcom had some trouble during the transition to HD. The remake's gorgeous pre-rendered backgrounds and video cutscenes were difficult to update for the modern era of widescreen displays and maxed-out resolutions. As a result, there's a mish-mash of uneven quality backgrounds, many of them inferior to the GameCube originals. Don't let that deter you, though. Resident Evil HD Remaster is still a great zombie-blasting game, even if it is a little worse for the wear.
Resident Evil 2
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Resident Evil 2 is back! Sure, the classic PlayStation game has received numerous ports and rereleases over the years but this new version, simply titled Resident Evil 2, rebuilds the survivor-horror game from the ground up. You once again play as Leon Kennedy, a rookie cop, and Claire Redfield, a woman searching for her brother after the events of the first Resident Evil. Though this remake treads familiar zombie-shooting ground, it tosses in new enemies and puzzles to freshen things up.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% If you thought the Resident Evil series lost its way when it shifted to gunplay, you must pick up Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. By slowing down the action and changing the perspective, developer Capcom has created a Resident Evil game that captures the dread that filled the original game. The excellent pacing, thoughtful action, and amazing atmosphere—you explore a depraved family's home in the Louisiana bayou—result in the best horror game to come along in some time.
Best MMO PC Games
Blade & Soul
Free
%displayPrice% at %seller% Blade & Soul is a highly stylized Korean MMORPG inspired by martial arts and Asian mythology. The free-to-play game stands out from other MMO titles in the market thanks to the blend of combo-centric action, lush Asian fantasy locales, and bombastic artwork by manhwa artist Hyung-Tae Kim. The combat is amazingly well balanced for both PvE and PvP, and the game looks great and runs well. The downside? Blade & Soul has a relatively unimpressive questing and leveling system, and most of its dungeons are quite linear. Nonetheless, there is a lot to enjoy with what's launched so far.
Onigiri
Free
%displayPrice% at %seller% Although many games based on anime franchises exist, they're usually basic action or fighting games that lack depth and are created solely to pander to their fan bases. Enter the free-to-play Onigiri, a third-person, action-focused MMORPG. Onigiri is an enjoyable, highly customizable anime-meets-gaming experience that lets you mix it up with other online players. Despite its simple graphics and ho-hum music, Onigiri is worth checking out if you want to explore a virtual world that boasts thrilling combat and excellent voice acting.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Free
%displayPrice% at %seller% For the uninitiated, The Old Republic is an MMO that takes place thousands of years prior to the events of A New Hope. This gives the developer, Bioware, the freedom to craft an exciting new story, such as the recently released Knights of the Eternal Throne expansion that's set within the established Star Wars universe. This liberty, combined with Bioware's wonderfully dynamic dialogue system, thrilling combat, and extremely generous free-to-play model, has produced a truly epic MMO that shines as one of the genre's defining titles.
World of Warcraft
Free to play until level 20; $15 per month thereafter
%displayPrice% at %seller% Blizzard's World of Warcraft is a MMORPG that has evolved into a cultural icon over the past 12 years. The list of accolades that WoW has accumulated since its release is simply staggering. While it is certainly not the first or only entry in this particular genre, WoW is the standard by which all other MMOs are judged. The game, bolstered by many expansions and a recent visual makeover, is a rich and rewarding experience that boasts a large selection of customizable races and classes battling in a fantasy world.
Best MOBA PC Games
Dota 2
Free
%displayPrice% at %seller% 'Easy to learn, hard to master' is a phrase commonly heard in gaming circles, but few titles exemplify the idea more than Defense of the Ancients 2 (Dota 2). This free-to-play MOBA game tasks you with selecting one of 111 playable Heroes to take to the battlefield, utilizing the character's unique abilities, play style, and attributes to help your team achieve victory. Dota 2 lacks Paragon's graphical flair, and it doesn't have Smite's many unique play modes, but it is the best and most balanced MOBA on PC.
League of Legends
Free
%displayPrice% at %seller% League of Legends, Riot Games' free-to-play, multiplayer online battle arena title is, simply put, the best MOBA game you can buy. Its gameplay incorporates elements of role playing, tower defense, and real-time strategy—a combination that differentiates it from the many cookie cutter MOBAs flooding the market. More importantly, the playable characters (known as Champions) show a deep level of variation, and each match's competition level increases as the game sinks you deeper and deeper into addiction.
Smite
Free
%displayPrice% at %seller% If you've ever dreamed of being a powerful god who battles other gods, check out the free-to-play Smite. Hi-Rez Studios' action-focused MOBA puts you in the role of a deity chosen from among the Chinese, Greek, Egyptian, Hindu, Japanese, Mayan, Norse, and Roman pantheons in a war for godly supremacy. Smite is an excellent, fast-paced PC game with numerous game modes and an ever-expanding character roster. However, recurring server issues, the lack of cross-platform play, and other issues prevent the game from achieving true godhood.
Best Puzzle PC Games
Bejeweled 3
$4.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Bejeweled 3, when compared to its predecessors, is a gold rush of new features and enhancements. Skeptics who previously found little appeal in gem-swapping will enjoy new objective-oriented modes, be it saving butterflies, digging for gold, shattering ice, or concealing a poker hand. Bejeweled 3 doesn't remake the franchise, but that isn't the aim. For the millions who already enjoy it on computers, websites, and mobile phones, Bejeweled 3 polishes an already shining gem.
Inside
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Few video games receive perfect scores here at PCMag.com, but Inside is a title that qualifies as damn-near flawless. The action-adventure title features, at its core, a boy navigating a dark and deadly world. To go too deep into Inside's structure would both spoil the game and do it a disservice. Trust us: It's worth a pick up.
Katamari Damacy Reroll
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% PlayStation 2 gamers likely remember how difficult it was to avoid the hype surrounding Katamari Damacy. Publisher Namco Bandai's action-puzzle game tasked you with rebuilding a destroyed cosmos, and went on to become a sequel-spawning hit, thanks to its addictive gameplay, charming graphics, and amazing score. The delightful original game has now been given the remaster treatment with Katamari Damacy Reroll, a game featuring updated graphics and keyboard support. Katamari Damacy Reroll delivers the same whimsical enjoyment as the original did in 2004, but with the addition of a new coat of paint that makes this PC game one you should not miss.
Game 2019 Pc Latast Version Torrent
Papo & Yo
$14.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Papo & Yo, a puzzle-platformer from Minority, crossed over to PC from PlayStation Network with grace and style. This tale of a boy and a monster takes places in an imaginative world filled with South American-style houses, reason-defying physics, and a heartfelt story that explores the relationship between a child and an alcoholic, abusive parent.
Portal 2
New Pc Games 2019
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Valve's original Portal was noteworthy for its witty and acerbic dialogue, creativity in blending the previously incompatible brain-teasing-puzzle-game and first-person-shooter genres, and relative shortness. With Portal 2, Valve has left intact the first quality, expanded and elaborated on the second, and done a bit to address the third. What this adds up to is a sequel that stands up proudly to the original, updating the characteristics that made it a distinctive success without dulling their memory. Limited multiplayer and post-campaign options slightly diminish the replay factor, but in almost every way Portal 2 is just as amusing and exhilarating as its predecessor.
Quantum Conundrum
$8.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The video game industry is dominated by space marines, regular marines, super-soldiers, and zombie-killers—the headshots and gun-blasts permeate the business. That's why it's particularly nice to see a clever title like Airtight Games and Square Enix's Quantum Conundrum, a project from Portal designer Kim Swift. The first-person puzzle game focuses on solving increasingly challenging puzzles using a dimension-shifting tool within a mansion filled with wacky inventions.
Scribblenauts Unlimited
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Scribblenauts Unlimited, 5th Cell's latest word-adventure title, lets creative gamers use a magic notebook to summon a wild array of items—from the mundane to the extravagant—as they attempt to reverse a spell that's turning their in-game sister, Lily, into stone. It's a very basic plot that kickstarts the action, but Scribblenauts Unlimited excels at sparking imagination as you attempt to solve puzzles. It's one the wordsmiths and imaginauts will love.
The Swapper
$14.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Imagine a game soup flavored with chunky bits of old school 2D Castlevania, Portal, and BioShock, and you still wouldn't get close to describing The Swapper. The game's not quite a platformer; it's a puzzle game, packaged with a brooding sci-fi story set in space. Finnish company Facepalm Games delivers a fascinating, memorable exploration title that can sustain at least two plays through because of multiple endings and achievements.
Best Racing PC Games
Forza Horizon 3
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Crafting a racing game that deftly rides the line between pure arcade action and hardcore simulation is an incredibly difficult task, as a developer risks alienating fans of both play styles. Playground Games has, however, somehow managed to pull it off once again, this time with Forza Horizon 3, a ridiculously addictive racing game that represents the series' first appearance as a PC game, courtesy of Microsoft's Xbox Play Anywhere initiative. The Australian setting gives the development team a cool box of toys to play with, as Oz's climate and beautifully rugged landscape mix well with the series' trademark fast cars, open-world exploration, and reckless driving. Forza Horizon 3 is a resplendent racing game that celebrates car culture and youthful festival energy, but its frame-rate hiccups mar an otherwise excellent racing experience.
Forza Horizon 4
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Some questioned Forza Horizon 4's necessity, given that the open-world racer debuted just two years after its excellent predecessor. But developer Playground Games has taken its incredible racing-and-music festival formula and added even more goodness, including new vehicles, fresh and addicting solo and multiplayer modes, and seasonal effects that impact the environment and change how you approach driving. Simply put, Forza Horizon 4 is the best racing game on PC.
Horizon Chase Turbo
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% It's easy to dismiss the retro vibe behind many pop culture phenomena as little more than shallow appeals to nostalgia. A handful of media properties have managed to dig deeper, however, creating more rewarding experiences. Horizon Chase Turbo zooms into that category thanks to simple, but thrilling, racing action inspired by 1980s and 1990s tiles like Rad Racer and Top Gear. Gamers weaned on Forza, Gran Turismo, and other contemporary racing titles may find Horizon Chase Turbo a tad shallow, but those who dig arcade-style racers with fast action, tight controls, and hummable music will find little fault in its simplicity.
Ridge Racer Unbounded
$9.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Ridge Racer series may not carry Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport's swagger, but the long-running franchise has a dedicated fan base that loves the drift-centric racing action. This entry, crafted by Bugbear Entertainment, brings a chaotic element to the familiar gameplay by adding environmental and vehicular destruction as you race for street cred in the fictional Shatter Bay. The story is something you can flat out ignore—it's a racing game, after all—but the driving action is interesting and varied. Just play against human opponents if you wish to maintain your sanity.
Split/Second
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Do you crave a game in which you drive fast cars and cause mass destruction? Framed around a fictional reality television program, Split/Second merges arcade-style racing and huge, environment-wrecking explosions to form an addictive, thrilling racer that will keep you hugging corners, jockeying for position, and downing jumbo jets well into the night. That said, Split/Second is not without flaws: The online servers are dead, there's some screen tearing, and the game could benefit from additional environments. Still, if you're looking for a PC racing game that isn't aimed at the Top Gear crowd, Split/Second is a PC game you'll want in your Steam library.
Best RPG & Roguelike PC Games
Dark Souls II
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Dark Souls returns to the PC, and it's every bit as terrifying as you may have heard. Don't worry, Dark Souls II avoids the missteps of its predecessor's infamous port, allowing you to focus on the rich, gloomy action-RPG world and fantastic, unforgiving gameplay. Dark Souls II is a relentless barrage of demonic enemies and enraging boss encounters that will test your reflexes—and your patience. This is not a game for the faint of heart or quick of temper, so clear your desk of ceramics, take the framed pictures off the walls, and prepare to enter the dark world of Drangleic.
Dark Souls III
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Dark Souls III is developer From Software's return to the Souls series after the eldritch madness that was Bloodborne. In fact, the newest Souls game incorporates gameplay and design elements from virtually all of the team's recent titles. As a result, the gorgeous and action-packed Dark Souls III feels highly familiar, yet fresh and content-rich at the same time. Like all of From Software's launches, however, the game is in need of a few patches to adjust weapon balance. Nonetheless, Dark Souls III is easily one of the best games in the series.
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Blizzard seems to be one of the few companies committed to sticking with old-school expansions for its games and not just DLC packs. World of Warcraft received several large, and full-priced expansions, as did Diablo III, with Reaper of Souls. The add-on contains a good chunk of content that, with some much-needed tweaks to the base Diablo III, make the whole game feel fresh and fun.
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is a single-player RPG, with action-driven gameplay akin to Capcom's Devil May Cry and Monster Hunter franchises. It draws inspiration from classic fables and myths, setting the game in a world burdened with the return of a destructive red dragon. Its combat is flashy and engaging, and the open-world environments are rich with detail, but the quest-driven plot and sparse character development weaken what would be an otherwise interesting story. The RPG leveling stalls combat, as well, so you won't fight at your full potential until you've leveled your class sufficiently. These issues may turn off less patient players, but those hoping for a grand, long-lived adventure across an action-packed open world will find plenty to discover and enjoy.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series has consistently been on the front lines of RPG immersion, giving you ever bigger and more elaborate realms to explore. The quantum strides made in Morrowind (2002) and Oblivion (2006) continue in Skyrim, which provides the most delicious perspective to date on this fascinating world over which you have almost complete control. It's no challenge to set yourself up as a warrior, a wizard, or a pickpocketing miscreant, of either gender, of any of ten species, and with just the physical and facial characteristics you desire.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster bundles the celebrated tenth installment of the main Final Fantasy series, and its sequel, into one stellar role-playing game package that Square Enix fans will adore. Both role-playing games boast graphical overhauls that enhance the beauty of their worlds and newly added features not found in the console versions. Ain't PC gaming grand?
Mass Effect: Andromeda
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% With Mass Effect: Andromeda, developer BioWare promised a game that would feature a compelling story, fantastic visuals, tight gameplay, and hot alien romance—unfortunately, the action-RPG delivers on only a few of those fronts. On the upside, the space opera has several sizable open-world environments to explore and a thrilling combat system. On the downside, it has infamously awkward animations, tedious menus, and performance issues. Nonetheless, if you're looking to blast aliens with zany space magic or woo an exotic space lady or gentleman, Mass Effect: Andromeda is a game that has some entertaining elements that are worth your time.
Mass Effect 2
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The BioWare-developed Mass Effect 2 picks up exactly where the original space opera left off. In fact, one of the great things about this RPG, beside the incredible character development, is that you can upload your character from last game directly into this one. In terms of fresh features, there's a new cover system, and a revamped health recovery system lets you heal most wounds by camping out of harm's way. Although Mass Effect 2 is much more shooter-like than the original, role-playing is still at the game's core.
Mass Effect 3
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% When the fate of the galaxy is in your hands, how often does it feel like it's really in your hands? It does in Mass Effect 3. Picking up where Mass Effect 2 left off, Mass Effect 3 thrusts you back into the persona of Commander Shepard, who's standing at the brink of one of the most daunting challenges ever. He's tasked with nothing less than rescuing the Earth, and the entire Milky Way, from the clutches of the all-consuming Reapers that are threatening them as never before. Packed with action, character development, and customizability that transcend what you find in most games, Mass Effect 3 is an entertaining and frequently engrossing trip into the psychology of helplessness, if one that doesn't realize all of its towering ambitions.
Monster Hunter World
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Even Monster Hunter's most rabid fans admit that there's a certain level of gameplay jank that you need to live with in order to enjoy the creature-slaying series, a jankiness that has turned many people away. But with Monster Hunter World, Capcom enhanced animations, streamlined gameplay, and made tons of quality-of-life adjustments designed to appeal to core and casual audiences alike. And the moves worked. Tracking and battling huge, snarling beasts with a variety of crafted armor and weaponry is an absolute joy, especially while doing so with friends in multiplayer mode.
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is a heartwarming adventure that resurrects the wonder and chibi-world aesthetic of classic role-playing games like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. Developed by Level-5 in collaboration with former Studio Ghibli character designer Yoshiyuki Momose and composer Joe Hisashi, Ni No Kuni II is an audio-visual treat that leads you through a world seemingly crafted from a child's imagination. Revenant Kingdom has some frame rate issues and doesn't offer many challenges, but it's a magical ride nonetheless.
Nier: Automata
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Nier: Automata is an action-RPG developed by Platinum Games, the studio behind the Bayonetta games, and directed by Yoko Taro, the creator of the Drakengard series and the original Nier. Platinum Games' previous works excel on the gameplay front, but their stories are generally campy schlock. Taro's games, on the other hand, are brilliantly depressing stories tied together with weak gameplay. Nier: Automata is a marriage of Platinum Games' intense action combat and Taro's wacky, yet somber storytelling, and is easily one of the better games released in 2017, thanks to the hot android-on-robot combat. Unfortunately, Nier: Automata suffers from some technical issues. A lack of developer support compounds this, so you'll need to rely on fan-made patches if you want to get the very best performance out of the game.
Nioh
$49.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Nioh is Team Ninja's first attempt at an action-RPG, and it shares a few superficial similarities with From Software's influential Dark Souls games. The player-summoning cooperative gameplay, corpse-run death system, shortcut-rich levels, and enemy-respawning checkpoints will all feel familiar to Dark Soul aficionados. However, Nioh is very much its own beast, and is filled with highly technical action and stronger narrative elements than the Souls titles. This Complete Edition includes the original console game, as well as all of the DLC content, so newcomers have dozens of hours of action to master. Perhaps to the game's detriment, Nioh has a mountain of systems that new players must learn before they can tackle the higher difficulties. Still, Nioh won't disappoint gamers hungry for a rich and immersive action game.
RymdResa
$11.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% RymdResa is a fascinating PC game that features a narrative structure, music, and environments that play out like an art-house drama. While drifting through the emptiness of space, collecting resources and materials to survive, your character occasionally drops poetry gems via diary entries, while reflecting on the loneliness that vastness represents—as well as the depression, hope, and desire that comes with it. RymdResa features nearly zero in-game interactions, but the roguelike adventure game uses a single character and simple graphics to dissect the human psyche in a story that flirts with the possibility that we are one with the universe in more ways than we imagine.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% It isn't very often a game comes along that presents a setting and story as unapologetically risqué as South Park: The Fractured But Whole. Naturally, The Stick of Truth fans know exactly what they're getting themselves into: topical, highly satirical, and utterly absurd South Park comedy that's paired with a deep, grid-based RPG combat system. It's a refreshing RPG, if only because the gameplay, hard language, ridiculous scenarios, and show references keep you smiling until the end. Fractured slips up once in a while; the superhero-themed exploration elements utilize some highly tedious menu switching and quick time event (QTE) mechanics, and the game is surprisingly buggy. However, if you can look past these issues, you're in for an enjoyable time.
Wasteland 2
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Wasteland 2 is a return to the classic computer RPG conventions that have been largely absent in the contemporary gaming scene. CRPGs have seen a recent resurgence with the release of Divinity: Original Sin and Shadowrun, and developer InXile Entertainment has followed suit with a proper sequel to its 1988 classic. The core of any good CRPG is choice, and Wasteland 2 embraces this wholeheartedly. You can either choose from a list of premade characters or create a more specialized and customized party by allocating skill points and attributes. There is no single protagonist; instead, you control a party of Desert Rangers. Wasteland 2 isn't without flaws, however. The combat in particular is a tad underwhelming, but it's still an enjoyable return to post-apocalyptic Arizona and California.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the final installment in CD Projekt Red's action-RPG series. Geralt of Rivia sets out one last time to slay beasts, collect bounties, and protect the child of destiny. CD Projekt Red changes the game formula by introducing a massive, open world filled with monsters to hunt and quests to undertake. But it also greatly improves the series' combat by making alchemy more accessible and tightening the action controls. The rich story narrative that drives the game is rife with tragedy, folkloric horror, humor, and intrigue, keeping you on your toes every step of the way.
Xanadu Next
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% 'Simplicity' is the word that best suits Xanadu Next. The action-RPG is an unabashedly uncomplicated game that features basic mouse controls and PlayStation One-era visuals. The simplicity, however, isn't detrimental to the game: Xanadu Next makes excellent use of its uncomplicated systems to deliver a fantastic dungeon-crawling experience that's well worth checking out. The game has a few minor issues that hold it back from action-RPG greatness, such as its clunky controller support and occasionally tedious progression. Still, Xanadu Next runs well, plays well, and oozes old-school RPG charm.
Ys: Memories of Celceta
$24.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Memories of Celceta is a Ys IV reimagining that sees longtime series hero Adol emerge without his memories from a forest that was previously said to have claimed the lives of all who entered it. Thankfully, Adol is still a skilled warrior who, along with a handful of uniquely skilled party members, is willing to hack and slash his way through hordes of monsters. This action-RPG may not have reliable party AI, but its combat, sense of exploration, and rocking tunes are excellent.
Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim is an excellent top-down hack-and-slash RPG by Japanese developer Nihon Falcom. Originally released exclusively for PCs in Japan, Ys VI was ported to the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable by Konami in 2005 and made available around the world. This newer version of Ys VI features an XSEED localization that includes an improved translation, a more challenging game mode called Catastrophe Mode, enhanced graphical settings, and Steam support—features that more than make up for the missing content that was in the Konami-published port.
Best Shmup PC Games
Deathsmiles
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Game studio Cave holds true to its promise of porting its shoot-em-up (or 'shmup') catalog to Steam with the release of Deathsmiles. You play as one of five gothic lolitas who defend their land from a demon invasion using familiars and intense, enemy-wrecking firepower. It's a simple premise that's bolstered by huge enemies, big explosions, beautifully detailed environments, and a thrilling goth-rock score. All in all, Deathsmiles is a thoroughly enjoyable PC shooter, despite cramped environments and sprites that were already considered a bit dated at the time of its original 2007 arcade release.
DoDonPachi Resurrection
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The shoot-'em-up renaissance that's occurring on the PC has given us many pulse-pounding shmups, but none balance thrills and depth like DonDonPachi Resurrection. Developed by Cave, a company that's created many space-shooter classics, DoDonPachi Resurrection boasts high-powered offensive and defensive options for annihilating aliens. The game also has multiple ships, multiple endings, and local co-op play.
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
$14.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Top-down arcade shooters have been a video game staple for a long, long time. The 1980s saw Robotron: 2084 popularize the genre with easy to use twin-stick controls, while the 1990s added Arnold Schwarzenegger flair and Paul Verhoeven panache with Smash TV. Recently, the best shooter wasn't newfangled fare like Halo or Gears of War, but a simple gem called Geometry Wars. True to its title, sequel Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions takes the addictive shape-shooting action into the third dimension with near-immaculate results. The game is rendered with Tron-like grids, wire-framed objects that explode into kaleidoscopic fireworks as a Daft Punk-ish soundtrack pulses in the background. It's a feast for the senses.
Ikaruga
$9.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Treasure, the development house that made its name crafting genre-defining and genre-breaking titles during the 16-bit and 32-bit console generations, applied its creative chops to the shoot-'em-up category in 2001 and released the renowned Ikaruga. It wasn't until 2016 that the game received a PC port, but the wait was worth it. Ikaruga is now available as a Steam game that retains the unique color-switching mechanic found in the previous arcade and console versions, but adds video uploads, numerous options, and a handful of Steam-specific features.
Mushihimesama
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Death's frosty hand will grip us all in due time, but, fortunately, it's a one-and-done situation. We fight the inevitable but ultimately succumb without a repeated struggle. However, if you fire up Mushihimesama, a bullet hell shooter from developer Cave, you will die a lot, but may eventually cheat death should you master your guns and the ability to weave between waves of fat, neon-colored enemy bullets. This excellently crafted PC game doesn't do a very good job of introducing newcomers to its systems, but seasoned pilots will enjoy this game's huge insect enemies, awesome firepower, and many thrills.
Best Shooter PC Games
Battlefield 4
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% When it comes to evaluating any title in the Battlefield franchise, it's important to remember that the only reason anyone plays campaign mode is to unlock new weapons in multiplayer. Despite great voice acting by Michael K. Williams (Omar from The Wire), campaign mode is little more than a four to six hour tutorial teaching you how to play the game. Multiplayer combat, on the other hand, captures the awe of destruction. You can run across the battlefield, ducking in and out of cover, board a helicopter, hop on the mini-gun, cut enemies to shreds, then hop off the gun and repair the helicopter while in flight. It's all in a day's work on the battlefield.
Battlefield V
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Battlefield V looks gorgeous, plays fast, and encompasses all the hallmarks of a modern first-person shooter. It includes respectable single player content (War Stories), and new takes on multiplayer gameplay (Grand Operations), but both settle into genre norms. Battlefield V's most apparent drawback, however, is the complexity of its progression systems and somewhat repetitive gameplay. Overall, Battlefield V is a solid entry in the long-running Battlefield series and you should play it if you are a fan of previous titles. Just don't expect anything groundbreaking.
Bioshock Infinite
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Shattered dreams form the foundation of BioShock Infinite, the third installment in Irrational Games' impressive saga exploring the devastating effects of isolation (and isolationism) on the human psyche. But even if you loved the original BioShock (2007) and its sequel, BioShock 2 (2010), this chapter won't leave you with the impression your dreams have been betrayed. Wedding familiar gameplay elements from the preceding titles with exciting new mechanics, an engrossing story, and stunning visual design, BioShock Infinite is the culmination of the series' aesthetic and its promise to turn a mirror on humanity by probing as deeply into the self as possible.
Borderlands 2
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Gearbox Entertainment and 2K Games take you back to the warzone with Borderlands 2, the sequel to the hit apocalyptic RPG-shooter that isn't Fallout. If you played the original Borderlands, you understand this game. You play a Vault Hunter, a treasure hunter looking for an alien vault on the barely colonized planet of Pandora. While doing so, you cut a swath of death through thousands of Mad Max-style raiders, mutant animals, and robots. Throughout your adventure, you level up your character in an RPG-like fashion, and collect hundreds of different guns, each with its own unique stats and attributes.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops is less like a traditional first-person shooter than it is a plunge into someone else's fever dream. A jolting collection of intense action sequences, haunting writing, and ultra-dark humor, this installment in the popular franchise revitalized the historical-fiction FPS genre. Though its captivating campaign is on the short side, it's loaded with additional things to do, including cooperative and competitive multiplayer scenarios and plenty of unlockable extras.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Free
Valve's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) debuted in 2012, backed by a strong heritage of multiplayer FPS titles, including the original Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike: Source. Six years later, the fast-paced PC game still mostly holds its own against more modern titles, partly because of its established core gameplay and active community. Visually, however, CS: GO is starting to show its age, and it's not as thematically rich as popular titles like Overwatch. Still, many players will enjoy CS: GO's no-frills experience and highly competitive esports scene.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Let's start with what will be the meat of the Black Ops II experience for many: multiplayer mode. Developer Treyarch has not toyed significantly with the formula, giving players numerous options for facing off against others across the country and around the globe. The missions include Team Deathmatch, Free-for-All, Search & Destroy, Capture the Flag, and eight others; you can also engage in two types of Combat Training runs to hone your skills, or play four Party Games that put interesting for-entertainment-only spins on the weapons you can use and the rules you play by.
Doom
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Don't let the non-numerical name fool you. Doom is the latest sequel in the hallowed series, and it's the best modern update one could hope for. It's also the best first-person-shooter in recent memory—so long as you stick to the gory, frantic, and lovingly satanic campaign. The multiplayer is lackluster and the DLC is a shame, but the real star, the single-player mode, blends old-school design with modern know-how to form a satisfying, unholy concoction.
Far Cry 4
$49.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Far Cry 4 is a fun sandbox of shooting with an interesting land to explore and tons of missions to find and collectibles to grab. It slavishly follows Far Cry 3's structure, but when the action is this entertaining, hard to complain. Far Cry 4 doesn't do much new, but it's an enjoyable and good-looking excuse to spend some hours stomping through jungles and sniping people from towers.
Fortnite
Free
%displayPrice% at %seller% Fortnite is yet another game capitalizing on the popularity of the battle royale genre, but that doesn't mean that the title is without merit. Although it's still an Early Access game, Fortnite has a lot going for it, including approachable gameplay modes, bright and zany graphics, and an excellent construction system. Iffy combat and the presence of microtransactions detract from the experience, but as Fortnite is a free-to-play game, fans of PUBG and other titles in the genre should still give it a shot.
Gears of War 4
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Gears of War 4, the newest entry in the series that defined cover-based shooting, brings satisfying alien-blasting action to PC. The Coalition-developed title offers a new team to fight with, new toys to play with, and all-new enemies to shred, either alone or with a friend. And, like Forza Horizon 3, Gears of War 4 is a part of Microsoft's Play Anywhere initiative, so you can play a digital copy on either a Windows 10 PC or Xbox One console with a single purchase—a nice perk. The gameplay grows a bit repetitive as the story progresses, but if you want to sneakily kill lots and lots of enemies, Gears of War 4 is a worthy pickup.
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, the first DirectX 12 PC title, just about sets the standard for what a remastered game should offer. The third-person shooter was already a great game when it debuted a decade ago on Xbox 360, but this updated title adds 4K resolution, unlocked frame rates, and content that was once paid DLC. That said, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition isn't perfect; it doesn't work well with AMD GPUs, bugs from the original game are still an issue, and it lacks some of the updated mechanics found in later Gears games. But if you own an Nvidia-powered gaming rig, you'll be good to go.
Halo 5: Forge
Free
%displayPrice% at %seller% It's easy to recommend Halo 5: Forge to anyone who's looking for a solid multiplayer shooter. Forge comes with a wealth of multiplayer modes, including the titular map-editing mode, giving you a ton of content to chew through. It does have a few shortcomings that are worth noting, however. Multiplayer matchmaking is restricted to private lobbies, so sessions are limited to playing with your Xbox Live friends. In addition, Halo 5: Forge suffers from a tight field of view that makes playing the game unexpectedly stressful. Still, if you are willing to overlook these and a few smaller issues, Halo 5: Forge is well worth downloading. After all, you can't beat free.
Halo: Spartan Strike
$5.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Is there anything that sounds more cynical than a top-down shooter Halo spin-off for phones and tablets? Ever since single-handedly saving the original Xbox, Halo has remained Microsoft's gaming cash cow, so sticking its name on something is a great way to drum up extra interest. However, instead of being a mere cash-in, Halo: Spartan Assault is a legitimately fun and well-produced game, triumphantly translating Master Chief's missions to PCs and mobile devices. Halo: Spartan Strike maintains much of that game's strengths, while cutting out most, but not all, of its weakness.
Overwatch
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Shooters don't always need to be dark, gritty, or realistic. Cartoony fun has its place, too. Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch is a prime example of exactly that, with its colorful levels, multiple game modes that focus on teams attacking and defending, characters with vastly different play styles, and a few MOBA-like twists. Overwatch is a thoroughly enjoyable first-person shooter that's filled with mechanical variety, but it has one glaring problem—its awful micro-transaction structure.
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The original Garden Warfare married PopCap Games' zany Plants vs. Zombies universe with strategic, class-based third-person shooting, resulting in an addicting, polished multiplayer shooter. Garden Warfare 2 expands the roster of playable characters and variants, adds all-new customization options, introduces new game modes, and fleshes out the single-player experience, creating a much more rounded game than the original. That said, balance issues make some classes feel more potent than others, and the server connectivity is spotty at times, resulting in jittery matches. Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is a solid title nonetheless, and one that fans of the original and newcomers alike can enjoy.
PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Like many other games in the open-world survival or first-person shooter genres, the primary goal of PUBG is to be the last player alive. However, PUBG doesn't adhere to the genre norms. It takes some of the best aspects of open world games, combines it with the mechanics of a good first-person shooter, and accommodates a player base typical of MMOs. There's also a good balance of gameplay elements. For example, you get to choose where to parachute down on the map, everyone starts without a weapon, and there's a deadly and giant shimmering blue dome that reduces the playable area every so often. It's tense and fun, but bugs dull the experience a bit.
Prey
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Let's get this out of the way: Prey could easily pass as an unofficial System Shock game. On the surface, Prey looks very much like the brainchild of industry veterans Ken Levine or Warren Spector. While the opinions of the latest System Shock spiritual installments (BioShock 2, BioShock Infinite) are all over the place, Bethesda's take does the Shock family and first-person shooter genre justice with its fast-paced, body-morphing gameplay set in Art Deco-flavored environments.
Star Wars: Battlefront
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Star Wars: Battlefront is a multiplayer shooter that reboots the classic LucasArts video game series. Unlike previous games in the series, Star Wars: Battlefront lacks an overarching narrative and historic battles to reenact; it's basically a modern shooter given a liberal coat of Star Wars paint. The veneer is a fine one, and Battlefront has some good action to offer, including a playable Emperor Sheev Palpatine. However, once you look past the façade, the game doesn't have enough content or variety to keep you invested for a super-long time.
Star Wars Battlefront II
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Star Wars Battlefront II does many things right. It has top-notch environments, thrilling multiplayer modes, and engaging mechanics that will have you piloting ships and swinging lightsabers deep into the night. That said, an uproar over this first-person shooter's included microtransactions tanked its reputation at launch, causing publisher Electronic Arts to quickly reverse course and temporarily remove all microtransactions from the game on the eve of its release. Microtransactions will strike back in some form, however, in the near future.
Superhot
$24.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Superhot is the most innovative shooter to come along in some time. Despite its unimpressive visuals, this game is a genuinely creative and challenging experience that injects puzzle elements and a bizarre meta-narrative into quick, bite-sized servings of computerized violence. It might seem like a short and simple game at first, but between the addictive time-pausing mechanic and some very satisfying and repeatable extra modes, you'll quickly find yourself playing it for hours, and the built-in social media features for sharing your best runs will keep you coming back to get more consecutive, stylish kills.
Best Sim & World-Building PC Games
Elite: Dangerous
$44.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% If you want to appreciate the vastness of space, play Elite: Dangerous. This PC game by Frontier Developments is a crowdfunded follow-up to the classic Elite series of space sims. It's a game that gives you a ship, a handful of equipment, and a full tank of fuel, then sets you out on your own in the vast cosmos. It's huge, slow, deliberate, and open, and it will reward players with the patience stay with it.
Minecraft
$26.95
%displayPrice% at %seller% Minecraft is a blocky, beautiful sandbox that lets you explore the depths of your imagination. The core of the game is exploring and surviving in a hostile world made from blocks that you can build with as you please. But as you play, you'll quickly see that this game has so much more to offer than just architecture. What Minecraft presents is plenty of space for players to enjoy their own kind of play. The detail-oriented will thrill at the possibilities of an enormous sandbox, but even a dabbler will find pleasure facing off against an unfriendly wilderness. If you've never experienced it, start exploring and see if you can resist the call of its endless potential.
No Man's Sky
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The controversial and much-hyped No Man's Sky is a game that offers two opposing experiences. One is a beautiful and wholly fresh journey through space to chart undiscovered worlds. The other weighs down that joy with mundane and repetitive resource gathering and fighting. That said, No Man's Sky is so much more than a sterile description of its parts and features. It's an astounding artistic and technical achievement that's worth playing.
The Pinball Arcade
Free to play one table; season packs start at $29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Pinball—the classic game of reflexes, luck, and spatial recognition—isn't nearly as popular as it was 25 years ago, but its legacy of tables, flippers, and gaudy lights lives on in FarSight Studios' The Pinball Arcade. Unlike Pinball FX 2, a pinball collection for PC gamers that features original tables from popular entertainment properties, The Pinball Arcade focuses on recreating classic real-world pinball machines from renowned manufacturers Bally, Gottlieb, Stern, and Williams. The result is a collection that looks, sounds, and feels like the pinball games of yore. Amassing all of your favorite tables could be a serious investment, however, because of the way game's season packs are organized.
Rocksmith 2014 Edition Remastered
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% In the mid- to late- aughts, Guitar Hero and its evolutionary spin off, Rock Band, gave people with zero musical talent the opportunity to realize their dreams by playing instrument-based karaoke with plastic axes. Now, they can learn to play the real deal with Ubisoft's Rocksmith 2014 Edition Remastered. The 'game' teaches you the intricacies of learning bass, lead, and rhythm guitar via dynamic challenges, mini-games, and instructional videos. An enormous assortment of downloadable songs (which cost extra) ensures that your music library stays fresh.
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Building on our inborn desire to see things no one has ever seen and take chances beyond the boundaries of reason—and, of course, exploit our hunger for addictive turn-based strategy games—Civilization: Beyond Earth catapults you off the planet that's housed your kings, wonders, and wars for millennia (or at least since 1991, when the original Civilization was released), and lets you fend for your life and begin a new history on a literally alien world. But if there's one problem with this game, it's that it never quite feels alien enough.
The Sims 3
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% With The Sims 3, the Sims series has finally grown up. No longer are the Sims just digital action figures in a big dollhouse. The new Sims have personalities, goals, and unique body types and hairstyles. The Sims themselves aren't the only thing overhauled in this release, either. The game mechanics have been changed to make it easier to customize your environments and surroundings, giving users millions of ways to create the worlds of their choice.
Best Sports PC Games
Baseball Stars 2
$9.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% There aren't many baseball games on PC, but Baseball Stars 2 stands out among the few that made it to the big leagues. The classic SNK sports title doesn't flaunt a MLB license or strive to be a super-realistic simulation. Instead, Baseball Stars 2 is old-school baseball fun, with simple controls, oodles of charm, and incredible cut scenes that highlight tense moments (like punching a pitcher in the face after he hurls a bean ball).
Fire Pro Wrestling World
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Fire Pro Wrestling World sees the series return to excellent form after the embarrassment that was the avatar-based, Xbox 360-exclusive Fire Pro Wrestling. World has all of the elements that comprise a great Fire Pro game—excellent creation tools, a ridiculously deep moveset, tight controls—and adds online play and Steam Workshop integration. Fire Pro Wrestling World is a slick package even in unfinished form (it's a Steam Early Access title), which should have Yuke's Co Ltd. and Visual Concept's WWE 2K18 shaking in its wrasslin' boots.
Football Manager 2018
$49.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Football Manager series is an enigma to many outside observers, but the seemingly niche appeal has grown into a borderline obsession for a large, passionate fan base. The football (or, yes, soccer) sim is an insanely detailed, text-heavy simulation of the world's most popular sport, wherein you take on the role of club manager overseeing player transfers, on-field tactics, staff instructions, and everything in between in a bid to lead your club to glory. Part tactics sim, part strategy game, part financial manager, and part talent scout, Football Manager 2018 is capable of eliciting a wide range of emotions, and it has a surprisingly strong capacity for creating emergent narratives.
Mutant Football League
$24.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Football is a bad sport. Yes, it's beloved by millions, but the concussions that result from giants hurling themselves at each other are an undeniable problem. The sport is much more enjoyable in video game form, especially arcade-style football, which lets you perform superhuman feats without annoying flags or hideous injuries. Digital Dream Entertainment's Mutant Football League literally plays by that ruleset by pitting skeletons, robots, orcs, aliens, and mutated humans against each other in not-so-friendly gridiron contests featuring landmines and cheat plays. Mutant Football League is definitely worth playing, and not because it's the rare American football PC game; it's legitimately good, despite some annoying dirty tricks.
NBA Playgrounds
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Arcade-style basketball games have been sidelined from the gaming scene for some time. Outside of the 2010 NBA Jam reboot and its 2011 On Fire Edition update, there have been slim pickings for sportsballers craving physics-defying dunks and full-court jumpers that are all net. Saber Interactive brings that fun to PC with NBA Playgrounds, a b-ball game that builds on its predecessors' foundations, adding its own flavor via over-the-top gameplay and a delightful scoring system and power-up mechanic. A few flaws prevent it from entering the sports game hall of fame, but this 2 vs. 2 basketball title is constantly evolving, thanks to numerous updates that have remedied many of the title's initial woes.
Rocket League
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% There are few video games that drop all dark and portentous pretenses and give you a straightforward, honest-to-goodness game. Rocket League is one such title. It blends the charm of RC racing with the heated competition of soccer, and adds plenty of over-the-top spectacle to keep every match interesting. Rocket League is just as fun during your first hour as it is during your twentieth; there are very few multiplayer games that utilize addictive simplicity as effectively. It even supports cross-platform play with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One gamers.
Super Mega Baseball 2
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Long gone are the days when the likes of Midway's NFL Blitz and Nintendo's Ken Griffey Jr. games ruled the market with their pick-up-and-play sensibility, flashy graphics, and outrageous gameplay. Hardcore simulations like FIFA or NBA 2K are great, but arcade sports fans have lamented the decline of the less realistic stuff. If you're in that camp, pick up Super Mega Baseball 2. The game offers accessible mechanics, a cartoony art style, and an overall sense of fun that's rare in today's sports games. However, it has enough depth to keep even the most die-hard baseball fans addicted. Super Mega Baseball 2 has a couple of graphics-related flaws, but it's one of the best current-gen sports games available for PC.
Best Stealth PC Games
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Cyborg law enforcer Adam Jensen returns to stealth-based shooting action in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, the newest entry in Square Enix's cyberpunk series. Mankind Divided is a dark journey through an oppressive world where the 'augmented' live as second-class citizens. Though Deus Ex's is light on its usual conspiracy-laced story, the game's numerous side quests, fantastic stealth, and gritty futuristic setting will keep you hiding, shooting, and hacking for a long time to come.
Dishonored
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Arkane Studios' Dishonored is a fantastic first-person game that puts you in a playground of murder and stealth, while still keeping focused on an interesting story in a rich and enthralling fantasy world that's filled with supernatural happenings. It's not quite as large, as open, or as well-written as Deus Ex, but it stands as a solid spiritual successor to one of the best PC games of all time.
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Stealth-action series Metal Gear started life on the MSX home computer and at long last returns to the PC after an extended absence. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes sees series protagonist Big Boss undertake extraction and elimination missions against the mysterious Cipher organization in this Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain prologue. Boasting beautiful graphics that were built on the impressive FOX Engine, a wide selection of weapons, and a variety of ways to tackle missions, Ground Zeroes sets the stage for the final chapter in the series, even if it can be beaten in roughly an hour.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% In terms of pure gameplay, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the best game in the long-running stealth series. You once again play as Big Boss, aka Punished 'Venom' Snake, who battles the nefarious XOF organization across 1980s Africa and Afghanistan. Boasting a wealth of combat options, impressive weaponry, and outstanding audio and video work, The Phantom Pain is an absolute joy to play. That said, the truncated story raises more questions than it answers, and may leave you feeling a phantom pain of your own.
Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine
$14.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% In this production by Pocketwatch Games, a ragtag group of criminals escape from the French Riviera prison and go on several heists: for money, documents, and, eventually, the chance to retire from the business once and for all. Monaco has the co-op formula down pat; it's easy to jump in, and complex enough to reel in long hours of sneaking and thieving. With plenty of charm and a novel design that makes stealth work, Monaco is one of the best PC co-op experiences.
Best Strategy PC Games
Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Battlestar Galactica property has enamored two generations of sci-fi enthusiasts, with both the original 1978 series and the 2007 reboot achieving cult classic status. Deadlock sets itself on ground left relatively untouched by either series, taking players into the throes of the first Cylon war. The turn-based strategy game puts you in command of the entire colonial fleet and the disposition of its forces. Though some tactical elements occasionally feel unbalanced, Deadlock does justice to the franchise by delivering incredible space battles and intriguing lore.
Battletech
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Battletech is a pure adaptation of the classic board game that was first published in 1984 by FASA Corporation. Jordan Weisman, one of the board game's creators, played an executive role in this modern take. As a result, the PC game's universe is rich and storied, with the setting echoing a strangely effective combination of giant robots and medieval feudalism. In Battletech, noble houses project their battlefield influences using Battlemechs, or 'Mechs, piloted by knights or sellswords called Mechwarriors. This means lots of action as you position units, launch attacks, and try to outsmart your opponent. That said, Battletech has a level of randomness that feels unfair at times.
Halo Wars 2
$59.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Halo Wars 2 is a real-time strategy game set within Microsoft's insanely popular Halo universe. Utilizing a rock-paper-scissors-styled combat system, Halo Wars 2 tasks you with developing bases and armies to combat hostile alien forces. The game keeps things simple: Once you familiarize yourself with your units and resource production, it's just a matter of building the right troops for the job at hand, whether that means capturing enemy bases, defending your own base, or surviving waves of enemies. Halo Wars 2's simple design makes the RTS experience accessible for both newcomers and veterans, but the game doesn't do much to invigorate the genre besides adding the e-sports-friendly Blitz mode.
StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void
$39.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% The third and final StarCraft II expansion is both a fantastic conclusion to Blizzard's five-year saga and a great entry point into one of the most complex, but satisfying, strategy games ever made. Unlike the previous StarCraft II expansion, Legacy of the Void doesn't require you to buy any previous versions of the game to play this package. It's completely standalone. Factor in a varied single-player campaign, gorgeous cinematics, and new noob-friendly co-op modes, and you'll see that Legacy of the Void is one of the best PC games of all time.
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
$19.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is a sci-fi real-time strategy game in which you build structures and gather resources to build an army and defeat your opponent through cunning tactics and sheer firepower. Nothing could quite live up to the hype surrounding the real-time strategy game's release, but, even so, this is a wonderful title. The story is well-paced, and the strategy and resource-management missions will lock you into finishing the game.
Supreme Commander 2
$12.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% Gas Powered Games' Supreme Commander 2 probably doesn't deserve the word 'supreme' in its title, but then changing the title would defeat the purpose of making a sequel. Not that this game isn't a fine follow-up to the 2007 original, but it's definitely aimed at a broader (and less patient) audience. With much of the micromanagement minutiae reduced or removed entirely, Supreme Commander 2 is more of a garden-variety real-time strategy title than a proud member of a distinctive series. Still, it's a lot of fun if you can accept the gameplay changes.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
$29.99
%displayPrice% at %seller% 2K Games and Firaxis succeeded in rekindling a long-dead franchise with XCOM: Enemy Unknown. This turn-based strategy game is a reimagining of 1994's X-COM: UFO Defense, a long-beloved game that last saw a sequel in 2001 with the ill-received X-COM: Enforcer, a shooter that didn't have any of the first game's strategy. XCOM: Enemy Unknown feels like a straight remake of the original, bringing almost everything gamers loved about it to the PC, along with updated graphics, streamlined gameplay, and plenty of challenge.