When it comes to PCs, there have been some brilliant games over the past 30 years. We've rounded up what we think are the 10 greatest PC games of all time.
When it comes to good PC games, as far as I'm concerned, the best are those that deliver a transcendent gaming experience that is possible only with the aid of a personal computer. They don't simulate board or card games, reproduce real-world sports, or try to approximate movies. They are an art form unto themselves.
I surveyed dozens of PC game developers, asking them to share their picks for the 10 greatest PC titles of all time. In addition to weighing their opinions, I took into account factors such as influence, innovation, design, and replay value.
To be considered, a game must have achieved most of its prominence on a PC platform. (This explains why Tetris, for example, didn't make the cut: it was clearly the Nintendo Game Boy's killer app). I defined a 'PC' as any consumer computer that has a keyboard the user can program with arbitrary code - not just a PC of the IBM variety.
Without further ado, here are our 10 greatest PC games of all time, counting down from Number 10.
10. Trade Wars 2002
Released: 1990
Developer: Martech Software
Publisher: Martech Software
For a surprising number of people, Trade Wars 2002 (TW2002) is the greatest PC game they've never heard of. This epic text-based space strategy game hails from a somewhat secret world of Bulletin Board System doors - early online games played on dial-up BBSs, which peaked in the 1980s and 1990s.
Of the thousands of BBS door games programmed over the years, none has had the staying power of Trade Wars 2002. Long after the BBS era, the turn-based trading game continues to thrive thanks to Trade Wars Game Server, which hosts stand-alone games of TW2002 over the internet.
To gauge the influence of Trade Wars, you need look no further than the popular massively multiplayer online game Eve Online, which many observers describe as a modern 3D version of Trade Wars. Another link to latter-day glory: Drew Markham, one of TW2002's ANSI artists, later directed ID Software's Return to Castle Wolfenstein.
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Comments
Poit said: So WoWs UI is an elegant work of unsurpassed genius is itThe list is just silly and almsot certainly designed to provoke Its best taken with a pinch of salt the size of Australia
Ray said: No way is wow the best PC game of all time Its nothing special its not done anything any MMORPG hasnt its simpily popular Windows is the most used OS but that doesnt make it the best does itDeus Ex should be in there along with Tie Fighter Mass Effect Monkey Island Frontier Elite Half Life etc Games like that that have have either made the industry move forward or changed it
bored bloke said: Andrew - how the hell can you claim ps3 graphics are better than a pc Simple fact is the ps3 uses an Nvidia 7800gtx gpu which was never optimised for a consoleAs for which is the ultimate gaming machine - I would take my pc for strategy and shooters and my console for platform and sports games
app0mat0x said: Andrew said on Sunday 15 February 2009 Oh and killzone 2 beats any PC games Graphics Its a factobviously andrew here has never seen Cysis on the PC THATS A FACTAs regards to the portability of a gaming PC i host LAN parties of 24 players every 3 months at my work and you get used to moving the PC The PC pros - MODS Price of games programmes like steam where there is NO need for thousands of disks and then fact that wiht research you can play ANY older game on the PC real reverse compatibilityyou cant always cross platform to consoleHowever the biggest issues with this list is as Jammy mentioned no deus ex that is by far and away the best single player game ever made choices to make throughout the game the actually require a bit of imersive expeirince real choices not like Bioshock in the game skills to develop that you make suit your personal game play
john said: where the hell is tomb raider
Bob said: I dissagree about world of warcraft It isnt so much the best more the most addicting I would nominate Half-life 2 as number 1 but Im a valve fanboy so P
Bob said: I dissagree about world of warcraft It isnt so much the best more the most addicting I would nominate Half-life 2 as number 1 but Im a valve fanboy so P
Commodore said: Oh and lets not forgetOregon Trail
Commodore said: DIABLO 2
Skidz said: Fahrenheit was awesome The list is a bit old and for my taste a bit nerdy
Si said: Seems most people like me are disappointed with your list Benj Edwards Get on here and defend this lousy compilation
balls said: WoW greatest PC game of all time LOL get a life
Andrew said: You can get an adaptor which allowes u to use a keyboard and mouse to play all games and on some games u can use a keyboard and mouse without an adaptor on the ps3 Oh and killzone 2 beats any PC games Graphics Its a fact Personally Still prefer PC but all good games come to PS3 so thats where im at
Jigpoy said: Are we missing half the Sierra Adventure Games amp a little something called Tie Fighter
Meow said: 1 World of Warcraftur kidding me right other then the bizarre collection u have up there ur number 1 is WoW
kantutan said: wheres counter strike and half life
Jammy said: No Deus Ex
Si said: Skidz - Agreed one thing the PC has going for it is that you can use both but for FPS you cant beat the keyboard mouse combo
Skidz said: No controller beats a keyboard and mouse for FPS I have an xbox360 pc controller and love it for some games but you cant beat the K amp M for FPS
Si said: - Consoles are portable try dragging your desktop to a mates house a PS3 or Xbox will fit in a backback And dont use laptop gaming as an excuse because you have to spend a small fortune to get a decent gaming laptop and then when you do the screen is far too small- Consoles do better multiplayer online and offline All you need is a 2nd controller and away you go Try doing that with a keyboard and mouse- Consoles are cheaper - 160 for an XBox 360 try getting a good game to play on a 160 PC It aint gonna happen- Games come out faster for consoles - Take GTAIV arguably the best game to come out last year and PC gamers had to wait another 6 months for it and when it eventually came full of DRM- Try finding a place which will let you rent a PC game- There are different consoles to suit the type of gamer you are The PS3 and Xbox are for the more serious gamers but the Wii has made gaming accessible to everyone with its motion technology