This new Top 5 list was composed by polling the IGN staff for his or her most highly recommended PC games, then using our own bully-off tool to randomly compare every game to each other game, separating the niche favorites from those with a breadth of support among the staff. Then we argued about it and shifted things here and there until we had an inventory that no-one quit in protest over, which we here at IGN concede to be a win.
1. Portal 2
Portal 2 claims the highest spot because, within the past decade, nothing else has struck numerous chords so perfectly. No game accomplishes such a lot so well. Its impeccable level design, charming personality, and exceptional and varied puzzle systems make us feel smarter only for getting through it. Plus, its co-op campaign requires a special kind of smarts that is still one of the simplest multiplayer experiences with pals around.
The valve may be a developer that, presumably due to the time it takes to form its incredible games, creates a sense of timelessness in its design. Portal 2 – which iterated on and added to the brilliant puzzle design and world-building of its predecessor – feels even as clever and unique because it did in 2011. Simply put, if you’ve never played Portal 2, your top gaming priority immediately should be to try to do just that.
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Deep, lengthy RPGs are a staple of PC gaming, and really few have put a bigger chunk of sophisticated content forward than The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has. Its massive sandbox open-world areas impress, both in terms of scope and density; they’re generously dotted with great monsters to slay, tantalizing mysteries to unravel, and private stories to unfurl.
It’s also one among the foremost impressive overall productions in gaming history, with reams of excellently written dialogue performed by a stellar voice cast, a fantastic original soundtrack, and graphics that qualify as both a technical and artistic achievement.
3. Half-Life: Alyx
Valve’s first Half-Life game in 13 years reminded us of the innovation that’s made this series so special and why its return was so anticipated. even as the primary Half-Life proved you’ll tell a story during a first-person game without taking control of the camera away, and Half-Life 2 pioneered physics-based puzzles and combat, Alyx has set a replacement standard for polish in computer game shooters.
Its full-length campaign pulls out all the stops for a tremendous and horrifying battle against alien soldiers, zombies, headcrabs, and three-dimensional puzzles, and it even turns the straightforward act of reloading your weapon into a desperate life-or-death struggle. It caps it all off with an incredible ending that made the wait almost feel worthwhile.
4. Slay the Spire
In a roguelike, variety is king: Slay The Spire’s constantly changing decks of ability cards, powerful relics, and therefore the three drastically different playable characters keep these turn-based battles fresh and interesting for much longer than they need any right to. Watching your character’s attacks, defenses, skills, and powers evolve across its three chapters may be a journey, and throwing your hand in at the top of a run knowing you’ll never see it’s like again are often like saying goodbye to a lover you were barely going to know.
Of course, the likelihood of getting a good better combination subsequent time through makes it tough to resist hitting the New Game button, and therefore the randomized Daily Climb runs give even veterans a replacement and interesting thanks to playing a day.
5. Divinity: sin 2 – Definitive Edition
Divinity: sin 2’s Definitive Edition has cemented it together as the best RPGs of all time. It masterfully mixes pieces of classic cRPGs with more modern mechanics and styles, feeling old and new at an equivalent time. The sequel has improved upon its predecessor’s already incredible combat by deepening its systems while simultaneously simplifying and smoothing out its clunkier bits – to not mention it introduced some brutally smart new AI.
There’s also an awesome amount of game here to play. With six different origin characters, custom tags to form your own, and over 74,000 lines of fully voiced dialogue, this massive RPG has quite enough to stay you returning thereto