Are you wondering which captivating adventures, thrilling battles, and immersive worlds await you on your gaming rig in 2024? The video above offers a fantastic glimpse into some of the top contenders for the best PC games, but diving deeper into what makes these titles truly exceptional can help you choose your next grand escapade. PC gaming has never been more vibrant, with a constant stream of innovative and critically acclaimed experiences. Whether you’re a veteran player or just starting your journey into the vast world of PC gaming, this comprehensive guide expands on the video’s selections, providing extra context and insights into why these games deserve a spot on your must-play list. Let’s explore the finest PC games available right now, dissecting their unique strengths and the unforgettable moments they offer.
Exploring the Best PC Games of 2024: A Deeper Dive
The gaming landscape of 2024 continues to evolve at an incredible pace, bringing new innovations and polishing existing masterpieces. While recent hits like Balatro and Hell Divers 2 are certainly making waves, the titles featured in the video represent games with proven longevity and consistent quality. This list focuses on games that have not only stood the test of time but continue to deliver unparalleled experiences for PC gamers.
Unforgettable Worlds & Deep Narratives in PC Gaming
Many of the greatest PC games distinguish themselves through their richly imagined settings and compelling stories. These titles don’t just offer gameplay; they invite you into another reality.
Hollow Knight: A Metroidvania Masterpiece
Kicking off any list of the best PC games, *Hollow Knight* stands as a modern benchmark for the Metroidvania genre. Launched in early 2017, this game plunges players into the mysterious kingdom of Hallownest, a beautifully hand-drawn world teeming with secrets, challenging platforming, and memorable boss encounters. While its initial difficulty may deter some, many players find its hooks irresistible, leading to dozens of hours of exploration. Developer Team Cherry has further enriched this expansive experience with multiple free updates, adding new areas, formidable bosses, and deepening the lore. The blend of intricate level design, responsive combat, and a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere ensures *Hollow Knight* remains a treasured title for fans of exploration and discovery.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus: A Story-Driven Shooter
For those who appreciate powerful storytelling alongside intense action, *Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus* is a standout. Released in 2017, MachineGames transformed the Nazi-killing rampage into a deeply character-driven narrative. Players step into the shoes of B.J. Blazkowicz, wielding a wonderfully satisfying arsenal of alternate-history weaponry. What makes this game truly exceptional is its exploration of Blazkowicz’s internal struggles and the introduction of General Engel, a truly menacing and gleefully sadistic villain. The game’s cautionary tale of fascism offers a surprisingly relevant and impactful narrative experience, making it one of the strongest single-player shooters in recent memory among PC gaming titles.
Disco Elysium – The Final Cut: Unparalleled Narrative RPG
*Disco Elysium – The Final Cut* reinvents the CRPG genre with its unique approach to storytelling and character development. Instead of traditional combat, the game focuses on deep dialogue options and internal debates, where 24 different sections of your own brain represent various skills and traits. Players embody a down-and-out detective tasked with solving a murder in a meticulously detailed noir setting. The game’s strength lies not just in its conclusion, but in the journey itself, populated by a ludicrously detailed world and cast of characters. Widely celebrated for some of the best writing ever seen in a video game, *Disco Elysium* offers an experience unlike anything else in PC gaming, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore its vast narrative branches.
Action-Packed Adventures & Combat Excellence
High-octane action, refined combat systems, and thrilling boss fights are central to many of the best PC games. These titles push the boundaries of gameplay, offering exciting challenges and satisfying victories.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon: Mech Action Reimagined
From Software, a studio renowned for its Souls series, has brilliantly revitalized its classic sci-fi mech action franchise with *Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon*. This title masterfully blends the core fundamentals of the original series with the refined design principles learned from their Souls-like games. The result is an action game that is both brutally difficult and strategically rewarding. Players are encouraged to prepare intelligently, customizing their mech for specific encounters, while also relying on twitch reflexes in spectacular boss fights. It represents a triumphant return for the series and a fresh take on mech combat for PC gamers.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered: Superhero Power Fantasy Unleashed
Bringing the beloved web-slinger to PC gaming, *Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered* captures the essence of being a superhero like few others. Initially a PlayStation 5 native, the PC version allows players with high-end rigs to push the visual fidelity even further, experiencing the open world of New York City with stunning ray tracing effects. The game excels with its fluid web-swinging, dynamic free-flowing combat, and a fantastic, character-driven story. It stands alongside the likes of the Batman Arkham series in effectively distilling the power fantasy of a fan-favorite superhero, offering an incredibly immersive experience.
Resident Evil 4 Remake: Classic Horror, Modern Thrills
The 2023 remake of *Resident Evil 4* brilliantly updates the 2005 original, delivering an action-horror classic for a new generation. This meticulously rebuilt title takes everything that made the original a standout and modernizes it to thrill present-day gamers. It masterfully builds tension through high-intensity combat against a ferocious cast of creatures, brought to life with rich detail. The story rapidly guides players through a series of impressive action sequences, creating a relentless and captivating experience. This remake demonstrates how to respectfully evolve a classic while maintaining its core appeal, making it a must-play in the realm of PC games.
God of War: A Father-Son Epic on PC
Originally a PlayStation exclusive, *God of War* made a significant impact with its 2018 launch, earning IGN’s Game of the Year award. Its arrival on Steam in early 2022 opened up this exceptional adventure to a whole new audience of PC gamers. This reinvention of the classic series features excellent and challenging combat, seamlessly interwoven with an incredibly touching story about Kratos and his son, Atreus. The game’s gorgeous presentation and meticulous detail take full advantage of its mythological roots while innovating on them in a way that feels incredibly fresh. It’s truly a standout from the last decade, proving its greatness transcends its original platform.
DOOM (2016): Ripping and Tearing into PC Gaming History
The 2016 reboot of *DOOM* is hailed as one of the greatest reimaginings of a classic game ever made. It launched players face-first into hordes of space demons, inviting them to “rip and tear” through them with a wildly aggressive, satisfying combat loop. This style of single-player action felt like a breath of fresh air, breaking first-person shooters out of a rut seen in many multiplayer-focused titles released the year prior, such as *Call of Duty Black Ops 3*, *Battlefield Hardline*, *Halo 5 Guardians*, and *Star Wars Battlefront*. While its sequel, *Doom Eternal*, introduced more technical combat, the raw, visceral simplicity and satisfaction of *DOOM* (2016) continue to resonate, securing its place among the essential PC games.
Hitman: World of Assassination: The Ultimate Stealth Sandbox
For strategic minds and stealth aficionados, *Hitman: World of Assassination* is an unparalleled experience. This collection unifies IO Interactive’s entire recent Hitman trilogy under one banner, offering a vast array of deviously designed scenarios. With rich, rewarding, and highly replayable sandboxes at your fingertips, players can embody Agent 47 and track down targets with surprising and imaginative assassination opportunities. Success hinges on examining every nook and cranny, observing NPC behavior, and cleverly utilizing gear. The thrill of executing a perfect, silent hit is one of gaming’s most satisfying sensations, making it a king among stealth-based PC games.
Nier: Automata: Crazy, Beautiful, & Highly Entertaining Action RPG
*Nier: Automata* delivers a ridiculously entertaining journey that is equal parts strange and beautiful. Previously hampered by technical issues on PC, recent updates have significantly improved its performance, earning it “very positive” Steam user reviews. This action RPG opus bounces between genres and styles, offering a rollercoaster of different gameplay opportunities wrapped in a fascinating futuristic dystopian story. With multiple possible endings, it encourages players to explore every corner of its engrossing world. Coupled with frenzied combat and an unforgettable soundtrack, *Nier: Automata* is more than worth checking out if you missed it previously, especially for those seeking unique PC games.
Hades: The Gold Standard of Rogue-likes
*Hades* has solidified its reputation as the current gold standard of the rogue-like genre. Its exhilarating combat, incredible soundtrack, and clever narrative—featuring characters that seemingly never run out of meaningful things to say—create an exceptionally engaging experience. Despite its difficulty, *Hades* never feels punishing; dying is an integral part of the fun, bringing new conversations, opportunities for game-changing upgrades, and a fresh run with new Godly boons. This innovative approach to rogue-like design, combined with Supergiant Games’ signature polish, ensures *Hades* remains a top-tier choice for PC gamers.
Expansive Worlds and Endless Possibilities
Open-world games and those with incredible replayability offer hundreds of hours of content, inviting players to get lost in their intricate designs.
Final Fantasy XIV: An MMO Reinvented
*Final Fantasy XIV* isn’t just one of the best PC games in the MMO genre; it’s a fantastic Final Fantasy game in its own right. Through its remarkable relaunch and subsequent four expansions, including the latest *Endwalker*, it has evolved from a generic plot into a sprawling, political, and fantastical thriller. The game now offers a satisfying conclusion to its eight-plus year storyline. Square Enix has streamlined the experience so effectively that players can enjoy the epic story solo, tackling missions and even instanced dungeons with computer-controlled party members. For those who enjoy social interaction, it remains a fully fleshed MMO with end-game raiding that caters to all skill levels, from accessible to maddeningly punishing.
Grand Theft Auto V & GTA Online: Grand in Every Sense
*Grand Theft Auto V* still sets the bar for open-world games. Its meticulously detailed map, though sprawling, is incredibly dense with excellent content. Beyond the driving, shooting, and three-protagonist story of its campaign, players can dive into numerous side activities and immerse themselves in a city teeming with bustling human activity—including its vibrant underbelly. The single-player experience is robust, offering over 60 hours of story content, which is significantly expanded by the creative tools, mods, and extensive multiplayer mode of *Grand Theft Auto Online*. The limitless potential for high jinks within its enormous sandbox of towns, outlaws, and wildlife makes it a truly amazing title on multiple levels, a must-have for any PC gaming library.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: A Sprawling RPG Epic
Deep, lengthy RPGs are a hallmark of PC gaming, and few have delivered a more sophisticated chunk of content than *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt*. Its massive sandbox open-world areas impress with both their scope and density, dotted generously with incredible monsters to slay, tantalizing mysteries to solve, and deeply personal stories to unfurl. This game is also one of the most impressive overall productions in gaming history, featuring reams of excellently written dialogue performed by a stellar voice cast, an incredible original soundtrack, and graphics that stand as both a technical and artistic achievement. Its depth and detail make it an enduring favorite.
Cyberpunk 2077: A Dystopian Masterpiece Polished
Making its debut on many “best of” lists, *Cyberpunk 2077* has undergone a remarkable transformation. While arguably great on PC at its late 2020 launch, it wasn’t until CD Projekt Red launched the major 2.0 patch and the *Phantom Liberty* expansion in 2023 that its true potential was fully realized. Now more gorgeous than ever, and with years of polish and refinement to its combat and skill systems, exploring the gleaming, yet seedy open world of Night City is an unparalleled experience. The original story, starring Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand, offers over 30 hours of content, with the spy-themed *Phantom Liberty* expansion adding another 20 hours, featuring Idris Elba as Solomon Reed. This expanded narrative delves into new, interesting themes exploring the intersection of capitalism, police states, and the mind-warping effects of near-future technology, cementing its place among the premier PC games.
Red Dead Redemption 2: An Open-World Outlaw Saga
*Red Dead Redemption 2* is a monumental achievement in open-world design, portraying Arthur Morgan’s sprawling tale of loyalty, conviction, and the price of infamy. The marvelous PC port further enhanced the gorgeous Wild Western atmosphere of Rockstar’s most recent open-world adventure, adding even more activities, unlockables, and impossibly fine details to its expansive map. This makes it arguably one of the biggest and best single-player PC games ever. Beyond the 60-plus hours of story content in the base game, it offers an extensive multiplayer mode, Red Dead Online, providing near-limitless potential for high jinks in its sandbox of towns, outlaws, and wildlife. Its detail and scale make it a must-play for anyone with a capable rig.
Elden Ring: A Monumental Achievement in Open-World Souls-like
In just over a year since its release, *Elden Ring*’s reputation has only grown, which is a testament to its initial acclaim as one of the best-reviewed games of all time. It is a monumental achievement in the open-world and Souls-like genre, offering worlds that are a wonder to explore. Memorable experiences, valuable rewards, and imposing boss fights cover nearly every square inch of its enormous map. While it has faced some performance challenges on PC, these do not detract from its status as an easy pick for the top five best PC games, thanks to its breathtaking scope and ingenious design.
Baldur’s Gate 3: A High-Water Mark for CRPGs
IGN’s 2023 PC Game of the Year winner, *Baldur’s Gate 3*, takes the top spot on many lists, including the video’s 2024 update. This massively role-playing adventure is both enormously ambitious in its scope and endearingly old school in its style. Its storytelling is epic, stocked with memorable characters rendered in impressive detail, and offers a multitude of meaningful choices that impact the narrative. The tactical combat is a throwback to the turn-based BioWare RPGs of old, loyal to its Dungeons & Dragons roots, which can be intimidating initially. However, once mastered, it provides over 100 hours of enthralling, “all thriller no filler” questing. *Baldur’s Gate 3* is a defining experience for PC gaming, setting a new benchmark for CRPGs.
