When it comes to gaming, the PC beats any console hands-down. We've put together a list of 32 must-have PC games.
24: Indigo Prophecy
The developer insists that Indigo Prophecy be referred to as an interactive movie, not an adventure game, and we're inclined to agree. The camera angles are cinematic, and the control scheme encourages you to mimic onscreen actions with simple gestures. Even the scripted events are on timers instead of triggers; the game moves forward when it wants to, regardless of what you're doing. It might sound like an obtrusive design, but Indigo Prophecy is as frantic, compelling, and emotional as any film you've seen. It's earned its praise.
23: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
When gamers discuss excellence in co-op multiplay, they point to Pandora Tomorrow. Its simple, ingenious two-on-two stealth wars were about so much more than the kills. Where else could you climb up a friend's body to reach hanging ductwork, only to help him follow you inside? Where else was a spoken word to a teammate so life-threatening? Where else could you slip your knife through the fleshy folds of an enemy, only to whisper dark words as you lay them to rest on the cold metal floor? Sam Fisher's nighttime outings have always been fun, but in Pandora Tomorrow, you got to share that fun with others.
22: Thief: Deadly Shadows
Garrett is the man. He's got a blackjack in his hand, a zoom lens for an eye, and that cool drawl that'll set his marks squirming-after he's lifted their purses. The Thief series pioneered stealth gaming well before Splinter Cell came to town; it had gamers watching for shadows and dousing the lights when Sam was still in training. Deadly Shadows, the most recent of Garrett's outings, perfected the genre with a sprawling storyline and an attention to detail that leaves the competition wanting. After all, success in Thief has nothing to do with killing. It's all about masking your tracks, hunting for gold, and holding tight to the thick curtain of the darkness.
21: Crysis
If there's anything the PC does better than consoles, it's graphics. No matter how much oomph Microsoft and Sony can shove beneath their systems' hoods, the infinite upgradability of the PC always wins out in the end. Thanks to games like Crysis, the power users of the world get to point and laugh at the PS3, because there's just no denying that it's the prettiest game ever made. Fortunately, it's also got some great sandbox gameplay, thanks to a super-suit that can do everything but walk on walls. Is it the best game in the world? Not really. But will it make you giggle endlessly at the way a leaf flutters in the wind? God help us, yes.
NEXT PAGE: Fallout 2 and Supreme Commander
- The games no PC owner should be without
- Grim Fandango and Deus Ex
- Indigo Prophecy and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
- Fallout 2 and Supreme Commander
- Battlefield 2 and The Longest Journey
- Sins of a Solar Empire and Diablo II
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Starcraft
- Our must-have PC game
Comments
John Mackie said: THE SIMS 2 IS FUNNY LOLO
amiga said: Im happy to be without 95 of the games in that list
Si said: World of Warcraft at No1 and no Call of Duty Grand Theft Auto or footy sims Whats wrong with you people
gamer said: World of warcraft number 1 WTF you have got to be kidding me right
Blufox said: 32 best pc games of what Computer games history I think not I would like to now the criteria is been used to choose this list because there is a lot to disagree
Gavin said: For starters you have Crysis finishing above Half Life and Deus Ex Crysis may have looked nice but the gameplay was very averageWould have been better if backed up by actual sales figuresetc
Dragon said: This list has to be posted by a male I am not a warmonger nor a shootemup fan Apart from Peggle I wouldnt touch most of these with a 10 foot bargepoleDream Chronicles 2 tho not 1 amp Magic Encyclopaedia are good and make you use your brainsI did buy the Warhammer game for my grandson whose 2nd home is the Game Workshop Not my cup of tea at all
gooner said: Did your reviewer start gaming in 2004 - where is DOOM or even DUKE NUKEM