No, this is a list of 25 games that we, the IGN editors and contributors, collectively recommend the most, based on our own tastes, and all from within the past 10 years. One of the best PS4 games finally made its way to PC this summer, Horizon Zero Dawn and its icy expansion The Frozen Wilds provide dozens of hours of action and exploration making it one of the best single-player PC games.
Boasting a satisfying crafting and RPG-inspired progression system, its massive post-post-apocalyptic world is full to bursting, with plenty of "ancient" secrets to uncover and monstrous machines to hunt or hone your combat skills against, all wrapped up in a compelling story that not only sets the stage for the upcoming sequel, Forbidden West , but provides an intriguing new take on life after the collapse of modern society.
Just like its main location, the Oldest House, much more lies beneath the surface of Control, and its mysteries are worth fully exploring. Also, the PC is currently the only place to play with ray tracing enabled, giving the world a more realistic and yet more otherworldly appearance. Remedy, meanwhile, is working on several new projects, including a Control multiplayer game, the long-awaited Alan Wake 2 , and a free-to-play co-op shooter codenamed Vanguard. With an amazing lineup of memorable characters and meticulously balanced abilities, Overwatch is a shooter that bobs and weaves almost perfectly between being the quick-fix adrenaline hit you might want after a long day of work, and the thoughtful, strategic multiplayer experience that becomes the center of evening-long binges with friends.
It might not have the most exhaustive list of maps and modes, but the offerings grow with every new seasonal event, and what's already there provides nearly endless opportunities for exhilarating, coordinated play. Overwatch 2 is now in development at Blizzard. A recent delay has presumably shifted its release window to or later. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an awe-inspiring journey where the fantasy world is your plaything.
What its main story quest lacks in nuance it more than makes up for with its invitation to go anywhere and do anything. Set out in any direction to explore a vast kingdom filled with people going about their daily lives, warring factions, and dangerous wildlife that ranges from wild dogs to imposing giants and full-fledged dragons. And of course, with this being the PC version, you have access to a nearly unrivaled collection of transformative mods at your fingertips.
Skyrim 10th Anniversary Edition was released in November. This latest version includes all previously released content as well as some new features, including a fishing mechanic. But here, a distinctive approach to city building in which major structures like specialized districts and Wonders are placed on their own tiles gives it a distinctive flavor, and the newly added climate change mechanics add new long-term environmental considerations throughout and hazards that manifest in the late game.
Think of Diablo 3 not for its infamous launch, but for the incredible action-RPG it evolved into in the years afterward. While its early existence was plagued by plenty of problems including a real-money auction house that was ultimately entirely removed and burned to the ground , Blizzard managed to reshape this revival of a classic series into an excellent and infinitely replayable co-op, demon-slaying party. Diablo 3 is still lovely to look at, full of interesting choices and class synergies, and specially designed to keep you interested far, far past when the credits roll.
The series' next mainline entry, Diablo 4, will likely be released in or later. Its sprawling caves open up and offer multiple paths to you at any given time, but no matter which way you go there are exciting bosses to fight and significant power-ups to make you stronger. And even though it was already a massive game, Hollow Knight has only gotten bigger since its launch in early Developer Team Cherry released multiple free updates with new areas and bosses, each harder than the last.
But whether you just want to get to the credits, find the true ending, or push even farther than that, Hallownest is a world worth exploring. With its distinctive Old West-tinged approach to the post-nuclear wasteland, game-changing decisions, and flexible ways to complete its quests, Fallout: New Vegas carved out a spot as not just the best game of the Fallout series, but one of the best RPGs ever made.
And the fact that you, a nameless nobody courier, get to rise up from nothing and become the person who decides the fate of the region, gives you a real sense of control and power.
Just a few years ago, the Doom series was, for all intents and purposes, dead. A legend in a grave. Twelve years passed between Doom 3 — which would prove to be the final Doom from the original id Software team — and the Doom reboot in But against the odds, the new generation of id developers did it: they reimagined Doom as a fast-action modern-day demon-slaying experience while still respecting the satisfying feel of the classic originals. Glory kills, aggressive monster mobs, big weapon and ability upgrades, and speed, speed, speed define the new Doom.
Play this game first and then run straight for Doom Eternal , which evolves the formula in very smart, very fun ways you won't soon forget. Into the Breach is a puzzle game masquerading in turn-based tactics clothing. Each mission presents you with overwhelming odds and limited options — a seemingly impossible task.
Each turn becomes a puzzle for you to solve, using your limited actions for maximum effect. Into the Breach made our updated list of the 10 best roguelikes. Few games will make you fear for your life upon encountering the most mundane of inanimate objects the way Prey does — and fewer still will then give you the power to become those objects yourself. Developer Arkane Austin is now working on Redfall , an open-world, co-op vampire shooter.
No game simulates the feeling of being in command of a starship flying by the seat of your pants like FTL: Faster Than Light. It's a game you shouldn't expect to survive — more likely, you'll be blasted out of the sky by a vastly superior enemy ship or boarded by a death squad of giant killer insects who massacre your crew. However, the moment that Assassin's Creed Valhalla clicked with me was when I roamed the lively snowy peaks tops of Norway and randomly encountered the Elk of Bloody Peaks only to go axe-to-antler with it at the edge of a glowing pool of water on a mountaintop.
It was immersive and magical. Between its fun combat and stealth mechanics, immersive exploration and gorgeous world design, Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a great game if you find it on sale. At a lower price, I could see Valhalla being one of the best PC games to play.
Gears Tactics looked kind of silly when the trailer first dropped at E3, but it should have been apparent then that a Gears of War-meets-XCOM game is a match made in blood, guts and glory. What Gears Tactics brings to the table apart from thoughtful turn-based mechanics is how well the developers Splash Damage and The Coalition approached cosmetics and character creation -- everything is free from both currency and gender.
Even diving into the settings proved to be fruitful, as I discovered a wealth of performance and accessibility settings. While I enjoyed the gameplay, the story failed to immerse me into its pre-Gears universe. I played 8 hours before reaching an interesting plot point. Despite that, for the gameplay alone, Gears Tactics is one of the best PC games you can play right now.
See our full Gears Tactics review. Horizon Zero Dawn is a phenomenal game. Horizon Zero Dawn drops the player in a large open world to scavenge materials, hunt beasts both robotic and organic, and craft an arsenal of elemental weapons and armor. Because many enemies had the potential to devastate me in a single hit and set me back by up to 10 minutes of progress, I found most encounters to be deeply horrifying.
This design philosophy emphasizes how unexpectedly gorgeous the end of the world can be. Stories revolving around a planet void of life are plenty compelling for sure, but Horizon Zero Dawn perfectly understands how to best illustrate what will actually happen once nature reclaims the Earth.
See our full Horizon Zero Dawn review. The final chapter in Geralt of Rivia's video game adventure offers all the sword wielding and spell casting you'd expect, with plenty of dialogue and morality trees, along with a massive bestiary of mythical creatures to fight. In the final entry, you're on the trail of a grown up Cirilla, on the run from the titular Wild Hunt. Along the way, you'll meet series favorites, including Triss, Dandelion Jaskier and, of course, Yennefer of Vengerberg.
So, toss your coin and several hundred hours of your life to your Witcher and play through a fun, engaging story. See our full The Witcher 3 retrospective.
Are you looking for a well-written story? Or maybe just a fun multiplayer experience? Try Fortnite. If you want something that focuses on gameplay, you could always try out the VR rhythm game Beat Saber. Do you like first-person shooters? Apex Legends might be for you. Or are you into third-person action games? If you can take challenging difficulty, then Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a good choice. For a third-person cover-based shooter, none master the form more than Gears 5.
A fighting game fan? Look no further than Mortal Kombat We also have a list of game hubs that are keeping track of the most anticipated games coming down the road, including:. However, for the ones we have reviewed, we test how they perform on a PC. First, we benchmark the game on a laptop to see how it runs, and then we dive into any bugs or glitches we experienced during gameplay. We also rate what kind of graphical settings the game has. For example, some games give you one option for overall graphical quality, while others will go all out and offer twenty different settings for each graphical component that makes up the game.
Nonetheless, you'll hopefully find something you'll like from our selection. If you're an action fan, then shooting down aliens in Gears 5 or slicing demons to pieces in Devil May Cry 5 are the top picks for you.
They both look gorgeous in their own way, and have mechanics that have been polished through the entire length of their long-running franchises, with these installments being the best yet. If you'd prefer something slower paced but still a thrill, then XCOM: Chimera Squad is a strategy title that will see you test your mental powers against those who seek to destroy the tenuous human-alien alliance, with the help of a unique cast of agents.
Red Dead Redemption 2 and Disco Elysium are a pair of titles that will provide you with many hours of content to explore.
RDR2 is full of exquisitely modelled environments for you to explore, while Disco Elysium focuses more on your character's own internal conflicts, with the RPG systems that make up the game reflecting the detective work you undertake as you play. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a game you could buy just for its beautiful vistas, but the tight 2D platforming and combat mean there's plenty to do as you travel around its world.
It's a similar story with Microsoft Flight Simulator, despite the very different genre. With all the assist options enabled, it becomes a relaxing way to travel the world in an aircraft. But should you want it, you can dive into the metaphorical nuts and bolts of your plane to really explore what the simulation can offer. What Remains of Edith Finch is the final title we'll spotlight here.
This is a story-focussed game that will continually surprise you with radically different gameplay vignettes for each section. It doesn't take long to play, but the real value comes in how it'll stick with you long after you quit the game for the final time. In the shoes and shabby jacked of the titular writer, you take a trip to what seems like a cute little town to get away from things.
However different, darker challenges await Alan when his wife goes missing and Bright Falls is overrun with shadow monsters. The game feels similar to your typical third-person shooter, but before you fill your enemies with bullets, you have to burn off their protective layers of darkness with a sustained blast from your flashlight.
With precious few sources of light besides that one lonely beam in your hand, you'll have to carefully prioritize your targets or simply hold them back while you make a break for the next safe area.
Coupled with the spooky TV series theming, you've got a lot of delicious, omnious atmosphere to enjoy as you play. It's been too long since the original Psychonauts amazed us all with its enjoyable platforming and imaginative environments, so we've been delighted to try out the sequel.
With new and more customizable psychic powers, it's even more fun to play as Raz the second time around. Plus with the extra power of a modern PC, each unique environment and set of enemies looks fantastic.
Plus with the story taking place directly after the original and a detailed recap at the start of the game , there's no discomfort while trying to understand exactly what's going on. The latest installment of the hectic 2D fighting series is also its most accessible. Whether it's the detailed tutorial, bevy of missions and training options to help you learn moves and combos, or the in-depth glossary and lore resources to help get you up to speed on the story, GG Strive gives you every chance to immerse yourself.
While the game's story mode is worth your time if you're a fan of anime action, the heart of the game is its one-on-one fights. All the characters have an arsenal of flashy and devestating moves, but it's up to you to learn how to tie them together and best your opponent. Mix in dramatic moments like aerial combos, wall breaks and stage transitions and every fight feels epic, even if you aren't an expert.
This isn't just a new coat of paint on the old games though. Bioware has tweaked the controls and gameplay to make all three titles play smoothly. And yes, that includes the infamous Mako tank from the first game.
To complete the package, all the games include all the DLC too, be it just guns and armor or a full story expansion.
With so much high quality content to enjoy, this is unquestionably one of the best PC games around right now. A sequel that's just as good as the original, Little Nightmares II once again puts you in the shoes of a vulnerable kid trying to escape the clutches of monstrous adults. This time you're not alone though.
You play as Mono, the boy wearing a paper bag, but you're joined by Six, the girl with the yellow jacket who starred in the original game. As you'd expect, there are enemies to avoid or fight, plus lots of environmental hazards and traps to work your way around. The visual design and sound design are as atmospheric as ever, which helps create a baseline sense of unease as you traverse the Pale City.
It's on the shorter sides of these best PC games, but it's still all too memorable. The sequel to 's Nioh keeps the already challenging core of the action RPG intact, but adds new fun elements on top of that. Set in an early-modern Japan inhabit by numerous good and evil spirits, you play a half-spirit, half-human. Adventuring across the islands you will meet key historical figures from the Sengoku Era, as well as taking on the yokai that stand in your way.
The most obvious comparison point for this game is the Dark Souls series. Combat is quick and deadly for both you and your opponents, but you can augment your abilities with new items you discover and craft, which will help you reach the next checkpoint. It doesn't just involve traditional weapons and switching battle stances any more though, as your new Yokai Shift powers let you take the form of foes you've defeated.
The lethality of battle and the number of complex mechanics means this game will take some serious dedication to complete. After hiding on the Epic Games Store as an exclusive early access title since late , Hades has now finally launched as a full product on other platforms, and quickly became recognized as one of the best PC games around. This is a rare combination of a roguelike game with a comprehensive, branching story.
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