In PC gaming, there are many different genres and types of games available to play. It has been estimated that gamers can enjoy well over 15 thousand different popular titles. While this may sound like a lot, there have been plenty of classic games that all fans should be able to enjoy at some point in their lives.
To provide you with a list of the top 10 best pc games ever made, we have started by looking for these classics on many different websites and forums around the internet.
It appears as though nearly everyone who enjoys playing games online or offline would be able to agree on these being among the best PC games ever created. With this said, let’s now take a look at our list!
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
This role-playing video game was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox and later as part of the Xbox Originals. The title was first put on sale in 2003 and received plenty of positive reviews from fans worldwide. Some may even consider this as one of the best computer games they have ever had a chance to play.
It has been said that there were over three million copies sold worldwide since its release date on November 15th, 2003 up until 2004. Some people claim that GameSpy voted one of the top twenty games for any console within seven different categories in February 2004.
The storyline of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is set over 4,000 years before those found within all of the movies from this series. It has been said that this story doesn’t even take place in the same galaxy as those.
Throughout the game, you will be able to play as either a Jedi or a Sith character – whichever one fits your style best – and will have an opportunity to build up your preferred force affiliations throughout the process.
This is a perfect option for fans who want to enjoy a well-balanced combination of action and role-playing games with plenty of storytelling elements thrown into the mix as well.
It was also noted that this particular title benefited from some high-quality voice acting throughout its entirety, something rare for any game but appreciated by fans of the Star Wars series.
The Sims 2
This is another excellent option that will provide players with hours upon hours of entertainment. This game has plenty of expansion packs and other DLC items available, so there are always new things to explore as you continue playing through your adventure.
It is currently available on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and many different mobile phone platforms. The title was first released in 2004 and became an instant hit worldwide thanks to its unique concept that allows users to control the lives of their digital characters without having them exist within real-life environments.
Some people do not consider this one of the best computer games ever created because they are more interested in real-life video games than digital ones.
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
This strategy game was first launched onto store shelves in October 1997 for both Windows and Mac operating systems. It was also later released on Steam back during 2015 as well as on various other proprietary platforms.
This particular title has had a lot of positive reviews from critics worldwide thanks to its exciting premise involving human history throughout the middle ages. There are plenty of units available within this title, including some unique types, including cannons, trebuchets, battering rams, and many others.
Players can also build bridges, dig tunnels, and create unique architectural designs using different building types.
The graphics found within this game are some of the best that have ever been created for any video game on a PC platform too. Fans have even said that this title helped significantly increase sales for Windows itself due to its overall popularity among users who were interested in playing games before purchasing a computer system altogether!
The original edition only required a 486 processor and 16 MB RAM to run smoothly without any significant problems encountered along the way. There is also plenty of expansion packs available for those who want more from their experience with this video title. These additional downloads can be purchased separately or in large bundles.
Once you have decided which one is right for your situation, then you can get the most enjoyment out of this title for sure!
Half-Life 2
This particular installment is set 18 years after Gordon Freeman originally released his iconic video game onto the market in 1998. During this period, Earth has been invaded by an alien race known as The Combine, and they are not looking to leave anytime soon.
Players will be able to switch between multiple characters throughout their gameplay to utilize their unique abilities while completing various tasks and missions during the process.
Some of these character types include a rebel soldier who uses a laser pistol and other high tech weaponry, a scientist with a laser pincer who is not afraid to get her hands dirty, a female assassin with deadly capabilities that are hard to match, and even a child who must flee his home town after an alien invasion.
This installment was released in 2004, but it still has plenty of active users today due to its high entertainment value within the gaming community.
This game received very positive reviews from critics worldwide during this period largely because it features some of the best graphics ever seen for any video game on this particular platform at that time.
The gameplay itself also allowed for multiple modes, which were both entertaining and challenging to enjoy. At the same time, fans especially appreciate the excellent storyline written by Marc Laidlaw that flows perfectly into Half-Life 3!
There are plenty of maps and missions to enjoy, but the special episodes occur outside of the main story arc that many fans love. These episodes give players the ability to experience one-player and co-op multiplayer with different friends online.
Once you download this title for your computer system, you will want to try out the additional downloadable expansions as soon as possible! It can be played on both Windows PCs as well as Macintosh computers too! It may not have gotten many awards during its initial release.
But over time, it has become a favorite all around the world among gamers who were introduced to this video title at some point throughout their lives just because they wanted something refreshingly new to play within today’s gaming community along with plenty of new experiences to enjoy!
Grand Theft Auto V
This particular installment takes place in the fictional city of Los Santos, which is based in modern-day Los Angeles. It was initially released on September 17th, 2013, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Since its announcement, the game was highly anticipated, so many people were eager to get their hands on it as soon as possible after its official release date back in 2013.
Rockstar has stated that they had more than 1 million pre-orders placed before this iteration of the game even hit store shelves during its initial month back at launch, making it one of the most popular video games ever created.
This title also made over $800 million upon its first day alone, with nearly 15 million copies quickly selling worldwide by mid-2014.
Grand Theft Auto V is a game that Rockstar Games published. This particular installment has been set within the open-world environment of Los Santos for players to explore through missions where they are required to complete various tasks throughout the process.
Players will be able to switch between characters seamlessly while playing their favorite missions, including robbing banks, escaping from jail, racing all around the city streets, or even exploring every nook and cranny within this virtual playground without any restrictions whatsoever!
This video game also provides players with many fun activities such as purchasing real estate, investing in properties, and earning lots of cash, along with plenty of other side quests, too, so that you can explore them whenever you feel like it.
Once you download this game, you will immediately tell why it was rated as the best game ever created for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 by critics worldwide because there is so much packed into this video game!
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The previous installment within the series, “Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,” also made our list of Top 10 Best PC Games of All Time. If you are a fan of gaming, it would be impossible to have not heard about this popular video title published by Bethesda Game Studios back in 2011.
This particular installment has sold over 20 million copies worldwide since its initial release date too, which helps show just how successful this specific title has been enjoyed among all gamers who have played through this game at least once.
It was initially released on November 11th, 2011, for Microsoft’s Windows operating system along with the Xbox 360 console, which helped it quickly become one of the most popular games ever created because of its captivating gameplay features.
Alongside all of the incredible storylines featured within this video title, players will be able to control multiple playable characters within an open-world environment.
They can interact with plenty of other characters found throughout their journey and train their fighting skills alongside magic, thanks to a leveling-up system used during your adventure.
Since there are so many different ways to play through every mission in this video game, you never know what might happen next! The level of freedom makes this video game stand out from the others, and it is why so many people still play through these games repeatedly while exploring every nook and cranny in the massive open world.
There are also hundreds of quests to complete. At the same time, you make your way through this adventure, and not all of them will be similar either since each mission contains an exceptional narration which means each time you visit Skyrim, something new or exciting might happen!
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
Starcraft II is a tricky one to rank. It’s not particularly innovative, and it didn’t change the RTS genre in any significant way, but that doesn’t stop this game from being extremely fun and addictive. The campaign was an enjoyable romp that had you battling against the forces of the insect-like Zerg and their ancient enemies, the Protoss.
You could play from either side of this war or even switch sides if you felt like it. In addition, each unit could be controlled by you, allowing for all sorts of tactics, techniques, and maneuvers depending on your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.
The attention to detail in Starcraft 2’s gameplay mechanics is astounding; countless strategies can be used depending on your point of view. For example, if you are playing as the Terrans, it’s better to produce more units than having too many that are powerful.
The other main thing that sets Starcraft II apart from most RTS games is the tremendous attention to balance, allowing you to compete with opponents on a level playing field no matter what race or faction they choose.
No one unit is overpowered, and there are no ludicrous scenarios where one side has an obvious advantage. This makes for some seriously tense battles in which victory can come down to just a few moments!
While Starcraft II might not be much of a looker these days, there’s still lots of fun to be had in this game when playing against friends or via matchmaking on BattleNet. If you’re a fan of strategy games and multiplayer combat, then this is one add-on that I would highly recommend.
Mass Effect 2
Electronic Arts Inc. published this particular video title in 2011. It has become one of the most popular science fiction action role-playing titles ever created thanks to its addictive gameplay mechanics that other developers have tried to mimic ever since this game became available for sale.
Mass Effect 2 is the sequel to Mass Effect, which was published back in 2007. It continues to follow the story of Commander Shepard as they try to save the universe from destruction at the hands of the evil Reapers that are trying to wipe out all organic life!
While playing this video game, you will be able to visit many different planets within our solar system recreated with stunning detail, making exploring every inch of these locations worthwhile.
Fallout 3
Fallout 3 is an action RPG that has you taking on the role of a lone survivor in Washington D.C. after it’s been destroyed by nuclear weapons. Your mission is to search the ruins for your father, who disappeared shortly before all hell broke loose around him.
Along the way, you’ll encounter many different factions and groups that will try to kill you every step of the way.
Surprisingly enough, this game had quite a few survival elements that added extra tension to each battle because if you died, you’d have to start over from scratch with nothing. As such, every time I entered combat, my heart would almost always be pounding fast because my character was at risk of dying during these highly-challenging skirmishes.
Thankfully, the difficulty curve in Fallout 3 was spot on as well because if you were too weak, your enemies would destroy you with ease; conversely, if you were over-leveled for a particular area, then it felt like a walk in the park.
It wasn’t until I reached the end of my first playthrough at level 20 that I finally overcame all of these obstacles and finished this lengthy RPG off.
The way that Fallout 3’s story ends is also one of my favorite things about this game because it kept me hooked from start to finish by throwing numerous twists and turns at me during my eight-hour journey to completion. In addition to this, there were lots of shocking moments mixed into the plot, which made every conversation feel worthwhile.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Another game that holds a spot on the list of best PC games is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which offers players an open world environment to explore while completing numerous quests for fellow residents of the fantasy-based city known as the fantasy-based city Novigrad.
This video game is unique to other titles in this series because it features a much more in-depth side quest system than previous releases since each specific task will take players longer to complete than in past titles.
In addition, there are plenty of challenges and trophies available within The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which add another level of replay value whenever you want to experience everything this video game has to offer.
Final Thought
The PC has been the mainstay of the gaming market since its launch. The graphics and sheer scale put many consoles to shame; even though the battle is slowly shifting towards next-generation systems such as PS5 and Xbox One, PC remains an excellent platform for gamers.
Every genre is catered for. We wouldn’t recommend buying a system to play games alone – we’d always say it should be part of a well-rounded entertainment setup. But if you do have one spare, then there are almost limitless options available at your fingertips.