(Credit: Getty Images/Dragos Condrea)
You’re faced with many purchasing options upon booting Epic Games Store, Steam, Xbox Game Pass, or any other digital PC game marketplaces. Do you feel like sneaking through Cold War-era Russian jungles? Check out Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Want to pummel your friends with fireballs and uppercuts? Give Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves a try. Ready to go on an epic action adventure? Pick up Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Don’t get frozen by choice, though. We have more than 20 years of gaming-testing experience, so you can trust our independent reviews to help you make a swift and informed purchasing decision.
This is not a historical examination of the most groundbreaking PC games. It’s an ever-changing collection of what you should buy if you own a gaming desktop, gaming laptop, or Steam Deck OLED (or other handheld gaming device). To clarify, games don’t need to have been released within the calendar year to qualify for this roundup. Any release that’s still available and considered entertaining is eligible.
This page has a top pick for each of our 17 genre categories, from action games to stealth games. These top picks will change as exciting new titles get released. Right now, you can explore 308 PC games by diving into our standalone, genre-based lists linked below each entry.
And if you’re a console gamer who thinks we’re biased toward PC gaming because we’re PCMag—you’re right! Still, our staff has assembled their top picks for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X. In addition, don’t forget to visit the best video games coming out this year to know what’s on the horizon.
We now present the best PC games. Grab your keyboard, mouse, gamepad, flight stick, or fight stick, and enjoy.
Why You Should Game on a PC
Action
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a thinking gamer’s action game. You play as a professor, after all. By focusing more on puzzles and stealth than straightforward fighting, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle delivers a first-person Indy fantasy that’s heavier on adventure than mindless violence. Of course, you’ll still get to snap that whip. The gorgeous presentation does justice to a cinematic storyline that surpasses some recent Indy films.
For more, check out The Best PC Action Games.
MSRP $69.99
Adventure
For nearly three decades, atmospheric point-and-click game Myst has stood as one of the best, most successful, and most influential PC release of all time. This latest update enhances the beautiful visuals, adds virtual reality support, and randomizes puzzles to make each playthrough unique. Get lost on the island all over again.
For more, check out The Best PC Adventure Games.
MSRP $29.99
Battle Royale
Fortnite is the super-popular, mainstream face of the battle royale genre, but that doesn’t mean that the title is without merit. Fortnite has a lot going for it, including approachable gameplay modes, bright and zany graphics, and an excellent construction system. The heavy reliance on microtransactions detracts from the experience a bit, but fans of PUBG and other genre releases should still give this free-to-play game a shot.
For more, check out The Best Battle Royale Games.
MSRP Free
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Beat ‘Em Up
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
A love letter to TMNT fans, Shredder’s Revenge sees developer Tribute Games pull from past games, comics, and TV shows to create what may be the definitive Turtles title. Featuring six-player action in local and online co-op, Shredder’s Revenge has all the humor and wonderful animation that you’d expect from a property that pits mutated reptiles (and a rat) vs. ninjas (and an alien brain). Like Streets of Rage 4, it incorporates fighting game elements to keep the combos flowing.
For more, check out The Best Beat ‘Em Up Games.
MSRP $24.99
Fighting
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
King of Fighters is great, but Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves resurrects the SNK fighter that started it all. Familiar faces like Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui, as well as odd real-life guest characters like Ronaldo and DJ Salvatore Ganacci, gather for an excellent take on fundamental, 2D fisticuffs. Rich mechanics add depth to both offensive and defensive play, and comic book-inspired graphics give brawls a distinct visual identity. Crossplay multiplayer shines with rollback netcode.
For more, check out The Best PC Fighting Games.
Price as Tested $59.99
Horror
Dying Light: The Beast once again drops you into a terrifying open world full of ravenous zombies to test your wits and will. The franchise’s trademark feature is its set of slick, parkour-inspired movement mechanics that let you quickly transition from slaughtering the undead with an axe to making a rooftop getaway. This new entry doesn’t do much that we haven’t seen before, and even brings back some familiar faces. Still, it’s an enjoyably violent adventure for you and your friends.
For more, check out The Best PC Horror Games.
MSRP $59.99
MMO
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.
For more, check out The Best PC MMO Games.
MSRP Free
MOBA
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.
For more, check out The Best PC MOBA Games.
MSRP Free
Puzzle
UFO 50 defies characterization. A team of indie developers came together to create 50 full 8-bit games that chronicle the history of a fictional console. We’re putting it in the puzzle category since some of our favorite games are real headscratchers. But this anthology has games that span all genres and appeal to many players.
For more, check out The Best PC Puzzle Games.
MSRP $24.99
Racing
Each sequel in Xbox Game Studios’ popular racing series uses the previous title as a foundation, and Forza Horizon 5 continues the tradition. The fifth title in the racing-and-music festival has the fun atmosphere, hip music, and wild stunts you’d expect, but this time the additions and changes are more evolutionary than revolutionary. Longtime series fans will appreciate Forza Horizon 5’s varied Mexico setting, ridiculously packed modes, and new features (the create-a-track EventLab, in particular). Newcomers will be wowed by the racer’s many creative riches.
MSRP $59.99
RPG & Roguelike
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Yes, it has a baffling title, but Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is worth picking up due to its intriguing mix of classic RPG gameplay and contemporary design sensibilities. It features incredible graphics and eye-catching attacks that require specific timing to transform turn-based battles into exciting skirmishes. The top-notch presentation extends to the soundtrack, voice acting, and narrative. You won’t explore much off the main path, but it’s a journey you should undertake.
MSRP $49.99
Shmup
Whisker Squadron: Survivor
Whisker Squadron: Survivor is an unashamed homage to Nintendo’s famous Star Fox franchise. You play as adorable talking cats in space who pilot starships and blast enemy waves. Unlike Star Fox, Whisker Squadron is a roguelike, so no two corridor runs are precisely the same. Cool power-ups, a sleek art style, and charming characters encourage you to keep playing.
For more, check out The Best PC Shmups.
MSRP $19.99
Shooter
Taking place in the past, Doom: The Dark Ages adds more medieval flair to the gory, demon-slaying action. Alongside your trusty shotguns, you slaughter monsters with a sturdy shield and heavy mace. The combat is grounded yet open to creative tactics. Take a break from shooting and hop on a flying dragon or into a towering mech. The story may take itself a little too seriously, but Doom: The Dark Ages gets your blood pumping the way only developer Id Software can.
For more, check out The Best PC Shooters.
MSRP $69.99
Simulation & Sandbox
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of PC gaming’s most beloved series, a franchise cherished and supported by aviation enthusiasts. The 2020 edition, crafted by developer Asobo Studio in tandem with Microsoft, is a delight. Improved graphics aside, the near-magic addition of a fully recreated and explorable Earth, built and populated with Microsoft’s Bing satellite imagery and real-time weather conditions, elevates the franchise to new heights.
For more, check out The Best PC Simulation Games.
Starts at $59.99
Sports
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
The odd thing about aging is just how often it makes you look to the past, perhaps as a way to cope with an ever-shrinking future. The resulting nostalgia can sometimes soften the rough edges of the things we love, making them seem better than they truly were when we first experienced them. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2—a bundle that remasters two iconic late-1990s and early-2000s skateboarding games—doesn’t fall into that trap. In fact, it proves that, yes, those brash and exciting action-sports titles are as good as our memories recall, but they now exist with a beautiful visual overhaul and new, bountiful options that make them even better than what we remember.
For more, check out The Best PC Sports Games.
MSRP $39.99
Stealth
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
The original Snake Eater was a Metal Gear Solid prequel that dropped soldier Naked Snake into Cold War action. It was a masterpiece of stealth game design, and that’s still the case in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. More remaster than remake, Delta dramatically updates Snake Eater’s visuals while leaving the core game untouched. It’s a great modern way to play a fundamentally fantastic stealth game.
For more, check out The Best PC Stealth Games.
MSRP $69.99
Strategy
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Since its release in 1997, Final Fantasy Tactics has remained the gold standard for blending role-playing adventure with tactical depth. It’s a classic strategy game that holds up beautifully today. The Ivalice Chronicles revives that experience for a new generation, featuring an improved UI and enhanced accessibility features. Plus, the intensely political story is even more relevant considering today’s headlines.
MSRP $49.99
