If you’re looking for a list of the best video games ever made, this list of the best PC games of all time is for you. From the ancient to the modern, our picks for the top games of all time range from action to adventure and everything in between. With such a broad span of gaming history, it can be hard to know which titles earn a spot on this list of the best PC games ever made. After much debate, polling our readers, and countless hours of research.
Here is the list of the best PC games of all time.
1. Wolfenstein 3D (1992)
Developed by id Software and published by Activision, Wolfenstein 3D was the first game to integrate the id Tech 1 engine into a third-person shooter. It is regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time and is often cited as one of the forefathers of modern FPS.
The game features realistic and beautiful graphics, a detailed and immersive environment, and a solid and challenging combat system. The game is also known for its voice acting and rich story-driven gameplay. Wolfenstein 3D is the first PC game among the best PC games of all time.
2. Doom (1993)
Doom is one of the most recognizable and successful franchises and the best PC games of all time in the video game industry. Developed by Silicon and Games, Inc., and published by 3D Realms, Doom is a first-person shooter (FPS) game that lets players assume the role of the Master Hacker. The game is set in the first-person perspective, and its trademark dark atmosphere lets players immerse themselves in a scary and confusing world where violence and death rule.
3. Civilization V (2010)
At the center of it all is legendary game designer Sid Meier’s Civilization series. The most successful series in computer game history, the Civilization games let players take control of different nations and lead them in an interplanetary “war of ideas.” The games also let players custom-build their civilization, making use of a wealth of tools and technologies. Today, Civilization V is one of the most-played games on Steam and the best PC games of all time.
4. Civilization: Beyond Earth (2016)
Featuring an ambitious new graphics engine and real-time effects, Civilization: Beyond Earth is set in the Crypto-Earth, a far-flung planet inhabited by humans, aliens, and various other fascinating species. It expands the boundaries of the series in terms of both the player’s ability to maneuver a hexagonal-shaped map and the breadth of available technologies and social institutions.
5. Doom 2 (1994)
The spiritual successor to Doom, Doom 2 was developed by New World Computing and published by 3D Realms. It was the first game in the series to implement a third-person shooter perspective, and it is also widely regarded as one of the best. The game is set in the same universe as the first game, and it follows the same storyline, with minor alterations.
6. Far Cry 3 (2012)
Developed by Ubisoft Singapore and published by Ubisoft, Far Cry 3 takes place in a fictional African setting, where players assume the role of a law-enforcing hybrid who works as an “arguably UN-sanctioned mercenary.” The game features an all-new graphics engine and is set in real-time, allowing players to interact with the world and create their own stories. Far cry 2 is an amazing PC game among the best PC games of all time.
7. Destiny (2015)
Featuring a robust and fully-featured online environment, Destiny is a first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie and published by Activision. The game is set in a world where humans, Guardians, and aliens have co-existed for thousands of years. However, a cataclysmic event has recently caused the aliens to gain a foothold on Earth, and now players must explore the planet and fight against a variety of enemies including the undead and robots.
8. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (2013)
After the success of its predecessor, Final Fantasy XIII, the team at Tetsuya Nomura’s studio D3 Publisher began work on a third entry in the franchise. Titled Final Fantasy XIII-2, the game is set a decade after the events of the first game and follows Lightning, a new member of the cast, as she searches for her past.
9. Tomb Raider (1995)
Tomb Raider is an action-adventure game developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Eidos Interactive. The game is set in a fictional setting inspired by the works of Lewis and Clark, as well as the reality of ancient British archeology, and follows the titular tomb raider as she searches for the ancient Greek Rosetta Stone.
10. Lara Croft Go! (2004)
The spiritual successor to Tomb Raider, Lara Croft Go! takes players to India, where they will work with local guides to locate five ancient tombs and solve a contemporary mystery. Lara Croft Go is an amazing PC game among the best PC games of all time.
The game also features “new” visual effects, an upgraded engine, and a more action-oriented combat system.
11. Titanfall 2 (2015)
Titanfall 2 is a first-person shooter game developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by EA. Set two years after the events of the first game, Titanfall 2 follows the crew members of the Titanfall from the first game as they discover new and familiar enemies on the way.
12. Final Fantasy XIII-3 (2013)
After the events of Final Fantasy XIII, the team at Tetsuya Nomura’s studio began work on a new entry in the series. Titled Final Fantasy XIII-3 the game is set in London just after the events of Final Fantasy XIII and focuses on Lightning, Prompto, and Yuna, now known as the Royal Diablos, as they protect the city from SPOILERS Titanfall 2. Final Fantasy XIII-3 is one of the best PC games of all time.
13. Dragon Quest VIII (1995)
Developed by Square and published by Enix, Dragon Quest VIII is a role-playing game (RPG) for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It is the eighth main installment in the Dragon Quest series and is the first to be released in North America.
14. Final Fantasy IX (2001)
The first game in the series to be released in North America, Final Fantasy IX is a role-playing game (RPG) for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It is the ninth main installment in the Dragon Quest series and is the last to be released in the United States.
15. Dragon Quest IX Advanced (2002)
The Advanced version of Dragon Quest IX, Dragon Quest IX Advanced is an enhanced port of the game with improved graphics and sound. It features new characters, spells, and abilities, as well as a remastered soundtrack.
16. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (2003)
The first game in the series to be released in the West, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a turn-based Tactics game that follows the story of a young cadet as he battles against a variety of enemies throughout the world.
17. Final Fantasy IX Blitzwing (2005)
The first game in the Blitzwing series, Final Fantasy IX Blitzwing is a strategy role-playing game for the WiiWare developed by Mages of the Sun and released in December of 2005. The game is the first to feature Dearly Devoted Robin, who later became a playable character after the game’s release.
18. Final Fantasy XII (2002)
The first Final Fantasy in over a decade, Final Fantasy XII is shaping up to be one of the most divisive games in the series history and is one of the best PC games of all time.
Players assume the role of a party of four adventurers as they journey across a vast and dangerous land. The game features an interesting blend of turn-based and real-time combat, and its expansive world holds much to offer.
19. Dragon Quest X (2004)
Developed by Square and released by Enix in Japan, the Dragon Quest X game is a fantasy role-playing game for the Nintendo DS. It is the tenth main installment in the Dragon Quest series and is the first to be released in North America.
20. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Few PC games have advanced a higher portion of sophisticated content than The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has, despite the fact that long, in-depth RPGs are a staple of the genre. The Witcher 3 is one of the most popular and best PC games of all time. Its expansive sandbox open-world settings are impressive in both scale and density; they are liberally peppered with formidable enemies to slaughter, intriguing mysteries to unravel, and private narratives to unfold.
