The 15 Best PC Games of All Time, Ranked (2023)

We've come a long way since the dawn of PC gaming. What started as a simple pixelated space war shooter in 1962 quickly grew into the fan-favorite series we know and love.

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And of course, in 60 years, some games have risen well above the rest and more than earned their place as some of the best games ever made for the PC. Between graphical improvements, interesting gameplay, good storytelling and much more, here is our list of some of the best PC games out there.

Updated on 11/13/2022 by Gabrielle Castania:It's been a very important year for PC gaming, and with so many new games making it to the top, it's time to look back at our list to perfect it so we can continue to bring you the very best.

15 Undertale

who would have thoughta pixelated indie RPGdevelop such a lasting presence in the gaming scene?Undertaleputs you in the shoes of a child exploring the underground, a world beneath the surface of the earth, solving puzzles and making friends while you decide exactly what to do with all the monsters you face. With a branching story and multiple endings, your choices really matter in The Underground. The game quickly gained cult status and cemented its place in PC gaming lists forever.

14 BioShock

Could you pleaseAre you giving this iconic horror FPS the respect it more than deserves? Extremely reliant on his Ayn Rand references, inBioschock, the 2007 hit that launched a long-running and well-loved franchise, takes you through Rapture, a once idyllic underwater metropolis. If you find it, it's teeming with genetic mutants and massive protectors known as Big Daddies, and between eerie graphics, sustained tension, and a well-executed plot twist, this game definitely deserves all the praise it's receiving has.

13 Apex Legends

Plays in the same sci-fi game universe as themRemains of TitanSeries and featuring various characters from it, you take control of Legend characters as you split into teams to compete in Battle Royale deathmatches.

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Although the game was released as a surprise for fans who thought a direct sequel to Titanfall was in the works,Apex Legendsremains one of the most played games of all time, with 25 million players in its first week and 100 million players in April 2021.

12 The Civilization of Sid Meier II

This entry-level PC game might not have been the first of its enduring series, nor was it the newest, butIt isthe title that first gave the Civilization games their legacy. Your goal in them is simple: monitor your empire over time while competing with other civilizations to meet your victory conditions. Explore the map, raise an army, establish a capital and compete to be the first to win by reaching space, defeating everyone else, or surviving to 2020 (which probably felt like it).AwayMid 90's cooler than it turns out).

11 Baldur's Gate II: Shadow of Amn

BioWare is back at the top of our list with this massive RPG sequel, and with good reason - Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn is not only great, it's packed with 200-300 hours of content. This was completely unknown when the game was released in 2000, but between the main story and all of its dozens of side quests, fans more than got their money's worth with this game. Critics also praised it when the game was released, calling it "engrossing", "polished" and even "exemplary".

10 real person 5

While the original version of Persona 5 was released for console in 2016 and was a contender for multiple Game of the Year awards,real person 5, the content-enriched re-release, was first released in 2020 and won over fans by becoming Metacritic's Top Game of the Year.

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In it you follow Joker, a wrongly convicted teenager serving his sentence in Tokyo as he and his ragtag group of friends navigate a metaverse to change the hearts of the entire country of Japan.

9 Minecraft

The vise of this virtual block building sandbox,Minecraft, had on the online gaming community when it was first released can never really be forgotten. The game was originally released as a beta in 2009 and received a steady stream of updates from developers until Mojang released the final version in late 2011. The game sold over a million copies in its first month alone, a number that has only grown over the years. Continuous advances and updates keep it current even more than a decade later.

8 World of Warcraft

Almost two decades after its launchWorld of WarcraftIt's still going strong, at the time of writing this list only 10 million people are still playing it. The game's events tie into 2003's Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, bringing players back to Azeroth once again and encouraging teamwork to defeat the world's monsters or even other players. The game is easily one of the largest andmost enduring MMORPG title, which almost two decades later still has an impressive and loyal following.

7 Grand Theft Auto V

When you mix insane, iconic protagonists, fast luxury cars, expensive bank robberies and the ability to totally troll people online, it's no wonder this happens.Grand Theft Auto VIt remains the most enduring title in the long-running series.

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In this installment, you'll follow retired (and presumably dead) thief Michael, street thug Franklin, and insane Trevor through a totally open world that's both beautiful and full of dozens of activities as you wreak all sorts of havoc on the city. by Santos.

Long home to one of the most active modding communities online,Skyrim(as it's more commonly abbreviated) has been one of the most iconic PC games for some for over a decade. Although the game has now become a meme on how many platforms, the game has made more than a name for itself in its genre. Praised by rave reviews for its diverse, immersive, and well-rounded approach to a classic genre, Skyrim remains one of the most popular RPGs to date.

5 mass effect 2

Emmass effect 2, continue with Commander Shepard's mission to save humanity - after watching him die in the first ten minutes of the game, of course. Mass Effect 2, the sequel to BioWare's equally impressive and popular 2007 release, greatly improved the series' combat system and also added complex, well-written characters to the series that quickly became fan favorites. It's impossible not to be invested in the characters and their stories while playing.

4 her sims

Will Wright had a hit with Sim City, so he took a magnifying glass and had you play puppet with the townsfolk too. Over the years since its inceptionher simstook on a life of its own, eclipsing Sim City and spawning sequels, spin-offs, and add-ons.

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The game is fun and simple enough to appeal to casual gamers, promising friendships, romance, careers and home ownership. It was even inducted into the Video Game Hall of Fame in Rochester, NY in 2016.

3 Portal 2

Clear,the cake may (or may not)it was a lie, thoughPortalRanking so high on our list is definitely not the case. The classic video game lead voice and antagonist GLaDOS returns, and she is onekleinmad that you killed her in the prequel. This 2011 sequel to the original, hugely successful Portal game followed the puzzle-platform format but added new elements, including tractor beams, light bridges, and lasers. Teachers even reported using the game to help their students learn physics at school.

2 half-life 2

Introduced in 2004 to continue the success of its predecessor,half-life 2puts fans back in their minds of Gordon Freeman. You will be joined by Alyx Vance as you fight your way through the campaign to help the Combine liberate humanity. The game's reception has remained positive over the years, winning a total of 39 Game of the Year awards with additional nominations for things like excellent voice acting and sound effects. When a game is listed as the top rated shooter in the 2008 Guinness Book of World Records, you know it has to be good.

1 Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

you go through the mostDisco-Elysiumas an amnesiac police officer trying to solve a murder case through dialogue with the citizens of a war-torn city. While the game was already great when it was first released in 2019, it has been significantly improved and re-released with a free update in 2021. Written and designed by Estonian writer Robert Kurvitz, this indie developer didn't know until its success The Game of Awards of the Year began to arrive and for 2020 a television series was announced for them.

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