The world of PC gaming has seen many changes over the years, but one thing remains constant—the love of gamers for incredible experiences.
With the advent of high-speed internet and powerful hardware, the PC gaming scene has become one of the most exciting and diverse in the world.
So, if you are a PC gamer, I bet you want to know the best PC games of all time.
And some of you may already know some of the games mentioned in this list.
#25. World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
- Release Data: Blizzard Entertainment, 2008
- Genre: Role-Playing » Massively Multiplayer
This expansion is considered one of the best World of Warcraft expansions, as it introduces tons of new content and adds some quality features as well.
It also raises the overall level cap from 70 to 80, allowing players to gain more skills and powers.
Basically, this expansion gave the game a hefty boost in popularity.
#24. Minecraft
- Release Data: Mojang AB, 2009
- Genre: Action Adventure » Sandbox
Minecraft took the world by storm when it first launched, thanks to its huge open-ended nature and encouragement of creativity.
Players simply stack blocks on top of each other to create anything they want.
Generally speaking, your imagination is the limit in Minecraft, and the game combines creativity with light survival elements to create a highly addictive experience.
#23. Starcraft
- Release Data: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998
- Genre: Strategy » Real-Time » Command
The game has so much to offer, from a story-heavy single player campaign to multiplayer modes with several modes, Starcraft will keep you company for a long time.
All told, Starcraft perfected the real-time strategy genre and does it miles better than any other competitors.
#22. Divinity: Original Sin II
- Release Data: Larian Studios Games Ltd, 2017
- Genre: Role-Playing » Western-Style
This RPG focuses on player choice, allowing them to complete missions in a variety of ways.
You can control each member of your party independently, allowing for more complex attack formations, role-playing opportunities, and tactics.
If anything, Divinity: Original Sin II allows players a massive amount of freedom in how they experience their adventure.
#21. Grim Fandango
- Release Data: LucasArts, 1998
- Genre: Adventure » 3D » Third-Person
Grim Fandango is both a narrative and puzzle focused experience, with tons of characters and brain-teasing riddles to solve.
You use items to complete puzzles and bypass barriers, all while exploring the mystical underworld.
The mysterious plot leads you on a four year journey throughout the Land of the Dead, full of intrigue and humor.
#20. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
- Release Data: Blizzard Entertainment, 2002
- Genre: Strategy » Real-Time » General
Like previous Warcraft titles, this game has you collecting resources and building up your base, creating units and commanding them in battle.
The game is split up into five different campaigns; an optional prologue and one campaign for each race.
Each campaign takes you through a variety of linear missions, with each ending in a massive large scale battle.
#19. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Release Data: BioWare/Activision, 2003
- Genre: Role-Playing » General
In this game, players are given moral choices within dialogue and missions, which allow them to either grow more good or evil.
This affects the different skills and abilities you unlock, which makes replaying the game an absolute must.
The lengthy experience takes you to numerous fantasy worlds and is truly a must-play for any fan of the Star Wars property.
#18. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
- Release Data: Bethesda Softworks/2K Games, 2006
- Genre: Role-Playing » Western-Style
This RPG gives players a huge open world to explore, and allows them to complete missions at their leisure.
And whether you join the Assassin’s guild, save the world from the forces of Oblivion, or just enjoy a pleasant stroll through the forest, Oblivion is one of the most satisfying RPGs ever made.
#17. Sid Meier’s Civilization IV
- Release Data: Firaxis Games/2K Games, 2005
- Genre: Strategy » Turn-Based » 4X
There are many layers of management within the game, as you’ll have to develop technologies for your population, choose religions, have political conversations with other civilizations, and more.
Generally speaking, Civilization IV is a hugely fleshed-out simulator that allows you to play the way you want, growing in power until you take over the entire world.
#16. Grand Theft Auto III
- Release Data: Rockstar North/Rockstar Games, 2002
- Genre: Action Adventure » Open-World
In GTA III, players can steal vehicles and run over pedestrians, or follow the main story by completing missions.
And without this title, we wouldn’t have the same kind of open-world games that we know today.
As one of the most influential games of all time, GTA III easily earns its spot on this list.
#15. Unreal Tournament (1999)
- Release Data: Epic Games/Infogrames, 1999
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
This multiplayer focused game broke new ground in the first-person shooter genre, giving players an insane amount of speed and fun, bloody combat.
Although multiplayer is the main focus, you can play through a solo campaign in matches against AI-controlled enemy teams.
Playing Unreal Tournament is like riding a never-ending roller coaster, resulting in a breakneck experience unlike any other shooter.
#14. Company of Heroes
- Release Data: Relic Entertainment/THQ, 2006
- Genre: Strategy » Real-Time » General
This game takes the RTS mechanics of games like Warcraft and Starcraft and mixes them with the realistic warfare of World War II.
Players select their faction and army, moving around the map to collect resources and craft buildings and military units.
You then command those units into battle, forming strategic attack plans and defense formations.
Overall, a great game.
#13. Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn
- Release Data: BioWare/Virgin Interactive, 2000
- Genre: Role-Playing » Western-Style
This game continues the story started in the original Baldur’s Gate, and sees characters exploring a fantasy world full of quests and monsters.
The game plays from an isometric perspective as you lead your party of characters through the game’s world.
The lengthy story will take players hundreds of hours to complete, providing an extensive and enjoyable RPG experience.
#12. Half-Life
- Release Data: Valve Software/Sierra Entertainment, 1998
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
Half-Life is an FPS, but focuses on telling a narrative story using scripted sequences instead of cutscenes.
This storytelling mechanic was an instant hit, and shaped the way that modern first person shooters tell their stories.
Using his handy crowbar, pistol, and many other weapons, Gordon must blast his way to safety while uncovering the mysteries contained within the secretive lab.
#11. Undertale
- Release Data: tobyfox, 2015
- Genre: Role-Playing » Japanese-Style
Undertale is a wholly unique experience, combining multiple mechanics from a variety of genres to create a masterfully crafted tale.
Most of the game is spent chatting with fun and hilarious characters and completing small quests for them.
It might not be the most graphically impressive game, but Undertale tells an exciting and unique story through fun and often subversive gameplay.
#10. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Release Data: Rockstar North/Rockstar Games, 2003
- Genre: Action Adventure » Open-World
Vice City builds on the success of Grand Theft Auto III by utilizing the same game engine, but switching up the environment and style.
The missions revolve around everything that made the 80’s so wild; drug culture, fast vehicles, and a whole lot of style.
For fans of the 80s and absolute chaos, Vice City is an instant classic.
#9. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Release Data: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks, 2011
- Genre: Role-Playing » Western-Style
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a true classic choose-your-own-adventure game with unlimited replayability.
Every side quest and every action has weight on it and will alter the storyline as you progress.
The environment is very immersive, not to mention the tons of mod available to improve the gameplay.
It’s definitely one of the best RPGs that is suitable for everyone.
#8. Mass Effect 2
- Release Data: BioWare/Electronic Arts, 2010
- Genre: Role-Playing » Action RPG
This title allows players to explore multiple planets and interacting with characters.
As the player, you have a choice in whether or not Shepard is a kind leader or an evil one, depending on the moral choices you make.
More importantly, the experience feels personal and tailored to the player, resulting in one of the most satisfying RPGs of all time.
#7. BioShock
- Release Data: Irrational Games/2K Games, 2007
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
BioShock is well known for its exciting shooter gameplay and inventive and original storytelling.
The linear story leads you through a ruined fantasy city, overtaken by drug-fueled citizens who have lost their mind.
The story is known for having one of the most surprising twists in all of gaming history, and is sure to throw your mind through a loop.
#6. The Walking Dead: Episode 5 – No Time Left
- Release Data: Telltale Games, 2012
- Genre: Adventure » Point-and-Click
The Walking Dead: Episode 5 – No Time Left presents the closure for character and story developed since the first episode.
And although the story gets derailed at times, Episode 5 offers a comprehensive adventure with some emotional moments here and there.
#5. Championship Manager 4
- Release Data: Sports Interactive/Eidos Interactive, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Team » Soccer » Management
This is a great football sim game, implementing the first real-time 2D match into its gameplay.
It has an intuitive user interface which is simple yet feels complete.
Championship Manager 4 is a game that demands full attention from its player to get the most out of it and it is worthy of your attention if you love the genre.
#4. Grand Theft Auto V
- Release Data: Rockstar North/Rockstar Games, 2015
- Genre: Action Adventure » Open-World
This entry in the GTA franchise features the biggest map yet, with multiple playable characters and several huge areas to explore.
You can switch between the three characters at any time, taking on unique missions or participating in a wide variety of side activities.
All of these makes GTA V one of the most content-filled open-world games available.
#3. Portal 2
- Release Data: Valve Software, 2011
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
This sequel adds cooperative gameplay to the popular portal-shooting experience, as well as a brand new story campaign.
Players guide the main character through countless puzzle rooms, using their portal gun to traverse the dangerous areas.
You can also play a separate cooperative campaign with a friend locally or online, which considerably changes up the strategy and puzzle-solving dynamic.
#2. Half-Life 2
- Release Data: Valve Software/VU Games, 2004
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
This sequel continues the tale of Gordon Freeman, the crowbar-wielding scientist who uses his intellect to save the world.
The gameplay remains highly enjoyable, with frantic first-person shooting sequences.
Also, the new weapon spices up the experience, namely the “gravity gun” that allows you to shoot objects at unsuspecting foes.
#1. The Orange Box
- Release Data: Valve Software/EA Games, 2007
- Genre: Casual » Compilation
This compilation contains Half-Life 2 and both of its episodic expansions, as well as the puzzle focused Portal and the multiplayer shooter Team Fortress 2.
Whether you’re saving the world as Gordon Freeman, escaping a laboratory with a portal device, or battling to the death in class-based battles, The Orange Box contains a gaming experience for every kind of player.
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See also: Best Gaming Chairs & Best Gaming Room Accessories
Are your favorite games on the list?
Deciding which PC game is the best is no doubt a never ending topic, but it’s fun to do!
