The Best PC Games Ever – And a Few New Ones

Many people wonder, what is the #1 PC game ever? In fact, it’s an impossible question to answer. The best PC games of all time can be separated by categories, eras, and genres. Let's find out as we give you our top recommendations of the best PC games from different eras of gaming, starting from the 1980s. We’ll also give you the lowdown on the top titles around right now.

What is the Hottest PC Game Right Now?

If you’re someone who’s looking for the best PC games in 2023, there are a few on the market this year that we believe you should check out. You may be wondering, what is the most popular PC game right now? The answer to that would be PUBG: Battlegrounds, currently. But we bet you’re also looking for a few new recommendations, so let’s start there.

Resident Evil 4 (March 2023)

Resident Evil 4 is a remake of the classic 2005 game featuring Leon S. Kennedy. That offering from Capcom was one of the highest-rated entries in the long-running series. It’s exciting to think what the title will look like with modern graphics techniques like the ray tracing found in today’s PC games. There's even a demo if you're on the fence about this title.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (April 2023)

The Star Wars franchise gets bigger and better every year, and the games have been particularly impressive so far. Many are expecting Star Wars Jedi: Survivor to be one of the best games for PC in 2023. The action-adventure from Respawn Entertainment is the sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which was an incredibly successful title.

Starfield (September 2023)

Starfield is one of the gaming industry’s most early anticipated titles. The title is from Bethesda Game Studios, one of the world's most lauded development companies. The reason why gamers are excited about this one is that it will be the first new intellectual property from the company in 25 years. During that time, the studio has solely focused on entries in the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series. 

Baldur’s Gate 3 (August 2023)

One of the top games for PC in 2023 will be Baldur’s Gate 3. The role-playing game from Larian Studios is the first main title since 2000. The existing games in the series and their expansions have gone down in history as some of the best PC games ever, so there are high hopes for Baldur’s Gate 3.

The Day Before (November 2023)

The Day Before is an open-world zombie survival game with an original premise. That’s the fact that it is an MMO, in which players will have to work alongside one another or compete against each other to succeed in the bleak world.

What Games are Worth it on PC?

Now we’ve mentioned five of the top PC games for you to try out in 2023, let’s now look at some of the fun PC games that we believe are worth it for all players. We’ll start in the 1980s and take you through a few different eras of gaming up to now.

Rogue (1980)

Rogue was one of the first major titles to be considered among the best PC games. It was created by Michael Toy, Glenn Wichman, and Ken Arnold at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Rogue was a pioneer of the roguelike genre. Its procedurally generated dungeons, permadeath, and loot system inspired many of the games we love today. The difficulty and unpredictability of the title challenged players, making each playthrough a unique and rewarding experience.

Solitaire (1990)

Solitaire has been a staple on Microsoft Windows since its inception and has provided countless hours of entertainment for players of all ages. The original version was designed by Wes Cherry, who was working as an intern at Microsoft. According to legend, he developed the game to teach himself how to code for the company.

Solitaire’s simple yet addictive gameplay has made it one of the best Windows games of all time for many. The title also highlighted how adaptable card games were to a digital format and may have been the precursor to the rise of other world famous offerings like blackjack and poker. It will go down in history as one of the best free games for PC ever.

Doom (1993)

Doom helped popularize the first-person shooter genre and revolutionized the gaming industry with its fast-paced, gory, and intense gameplay. The title from ID Software was known for its engaging single-player campaign and innovative multiplayer modes. It quickly became one of the best PC games of its era and went on to inspire many other titles in the years after its release.

Age of Empires II (1999)

Age of Empires II is a real-time strategy game set in the Middle Ages. It was the follow up to the hugely popular Age of Empires and managed to improve on various elements from the original title. The game allows players to control armies, build civilizations, and conquer empires.

Various aspects made this offering from Ensemble Studios a fan favorite. For instance, it was known for its in-depth gameplay mechanics, varied factions, and historical accuracy.

The Sims (2000)

The Sims is a life simulation game that lets players create and control virtual people. It has become one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, and there are still regular releases and expansions from Electronic Arts. Its open-ended gameplay and customization options allow players to create unique stories and lifestyles for their virtual characters. It’s interesting observing how the simulated individuals interact with one another.

Half-Life 2 (2004)

Half-Life 2 had a task on its hands to live up to its predecessor, but the sequel did an excellent job. The offering from Valve Corporation took what was great about the original and made it even better.

It’s hard to pinpoint what the best draw of this classic title is. Along with the compelling story, it had innovative gameplay mechanics. It was also advanced graphically at the time of its release and still holds up today. Many would argue that Half-Life 2 set a new standard for the genre. Its physics-based puzzles and nonlinear-level design were particularly innovative.

Portal (2007)

Portal is a puzzle-platformer renowned for its dark humor and memorable characters. This is another classic from Valve Corporation, and it is often listed in the charts of best PC games ever. Players had to think outside the box, as the use of portals and physics set the title apart from other similar games. There’s no doubt that Portal offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience.

Minecraft (2011)

If you’ve never played Minecraft before, where have you been? The title that allows people to build things with blocks was released in 2011 and has been at the forefront of gaming ever since. It swiftly became a cultural phenomenon and there have been more than 200 million copies sold to date.

The standout thing about this title created by Markus Persson is that it has infinite possibilities. Players are given creative freedom to do whatever they want. It also has thrilling multiplayer modes to add to the social experience, making it one of the best PC games ever.  

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt from CD Projekt Red is easily one of the best PC games of all time. This open-world RPG features an engrossing story, memorable characters, and stunning graphics. Its popularity is reflected by the fact that it has won numerous Game of the Year awards.

Its immersive world-building, choice-based narrative, and deep combat system make it a standout in the genre and a must-play for RPG fans. The open-world game also has a mini-side game called Gwent, which was extremely well-loved. It even got its own spinoff title.

Among Us (2018)

Among Us is a multiplayer game that involves players working together to identify an imposter on a spaceship. The title from indie game studio InnerSloth has become a sensation on social media platforms. It’s free to play on mobile but unfortunately doesn’t fall into the category of free PC games. Instead, players have to pay a one-time fee on Steam to download and play.

Among Us has been lauded for its social deduction mechanics, suspenseful gameplay, and online multiplayer modes. All these factors make it a fun and addictive experience, and the gameplay from it can spill over to social situations in real life.

Time to Play Some of the Best PC Games

We hope this list has been helpful for you, and you now have an idea about the best PC games to play in 2023. There’s something here for everyone, so download one now and have some fun.