What to play: 20 iconic PC projects

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

You don't have to buy a console to find a game that's really fun.

For some time it was believed that sooner or later computers as a gaming platform will retire, and consoles will take their place. Nevertheless, consoles still cannot boast of the power and control that are available to PC owners. The life hacker talks about the games that are the last ones to try out first.

Doom (2016)

Before people knew about first-person shooters, Doom was born. The game was released in 1993, and for a very long time all other projects in this genre were considered its clones. One of the best shooters of the last decade is the reboot of the franchise, also called Doom.

This is a game with a very high tempo, liters of blood and countless severed limbs. The main character simply rushes forward and kills people from hell in all possible ways.

In Doom there is not only a bunch of all kinds of weapons, but also the ability to get up with monsters various lewdness in close combat. All this - under the energetic metal, which creates the ideal mood for the extermination of everything and everyone.

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Overwatch

Shooters have long ceased to be exclusively solitary. Overwatch is a great example of first-person multiplayer action.

Players fight each other in small groups in a variety of modes - from simple capture of the flag to seasonal activities like soccer. The developers are trying to make the world of the project as lively and interesting as possible: they release expensive short films about characters, comics, and so on.

Overwatch is not only the perfect option for those looking to get an idea of esports, but it also allows you to play in completely different styles. It doesn't matter if you want to shoot enemies with a sniper rifle or defend your teammates while in the thick of things, there is a class for everyone.

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Fortnite

Fortnite was originally a paid game about building bases and defending against zombies. It still has such a thing, but millions of people fell in love with it thanks to the free battle royale mode.

About a hundred players find themselves on a large island and begin to fight with each other for the palm. Weapons, supplies and other useful things are scattered across the map. The danger is carried not only by enemies, but also by the constantly narrowing ring of death, outside of which you cannot live long.

Fortnite is more than a sequel to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. This is a game with an ever-changing world, ample opportunities for the construction of defenses and a generous set of content.

Minecraft

Largely thanks to Minecraft, early access games became popular - when a developer releases an unfinished version of a project, and users try it and offer all sorts of improvements. But it is also one of the first survival games.

You find yourself in a randomly generated world that is eight times the size of the real Earth. You need to grow food, hunt and build your own home, defending against local threats in the face of zombies, skeletons and exploding creepers.

The creative possibilities of the project have helped many video bloggers to gain millions of views. There are modifications that turn the game into a shooter or puzzle.

Since 2009, when the alpha version was released, there has been so much content in Minecraft that you can easily create a huge world unlike any other. The project is available on almost all modern platforms, but the most comfortable way to play it is still on a PC.

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PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

The game known as PUBG grew out of a modification for the military shooter ArmA 2. The concept of battle royale, implemented in it, became so popular that it quickly eclipsed a large number of modern multiplayer action films.

Unlike Fortnite, PUBG cannot be built, and there is not a trace of cartoony left in it. It's a pretty serious action movie with believable weapon models and tons of ground vehicles. And in addition to the narrowing ring of death, dangerous zones periodically appear in which it is easy to die from the bombing.

Despite the intense competition between Fortnite and PUBG, each game has unique features that appeal to its audience.

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World of warcraft

World of Warcraft was released almost 15 years ago, but the developers are still introducing new content into the project. Thanks to this, not only do many old players not leave the MMORPG, but new ones also appear.

Seven additions have already been released for the game, the last one just recently. The Battle for Azeroth addon is dedicated to the epic war between the Alliance and the Horde - the two main factions. In World of Warcraft, the world is not only constantly expanding, but also changing.

And there is also a living community here. You don't have to be afraid that you will have to complete tasks and walk through the dungeons alone. There will always be like-minded people or just those who are not averse to helping to get another rare weapon or armor.

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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The third game about the slayer of monsters and the favorite of sorceresses, Geralt, was released more than three years ago, but is still an excellent example of high-quality game design. It is available on modern consoles, but it is on the PC that it appears in all its glory.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt can be safely called the benchmark in terms of what tasks should be in role-playing games and how the user's choice should influence the world around them. But it is on the computer of the third "Witcher" that you need to run it because on no other platform it looks so good.

On a PC, you can set a longer drawing distance and a higher picture resolution. This makes everything in the project - from the landscapes to the characters - look amazing. Of course, if there is enough iron power.

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The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

One of the advantages of a PC is the ability to do whatever your heart desires with your game files. Almost nowhere is this opportunity revealed more than in The Elder Scrolls series.

There are a huge number of custom modifications for Skyrim. They add new quests, items, characters and other content.

Thanks to the integration with the Steam Workshop, mods are very easy to install. No need to download files from third-party sites and manually upload them to a special folder. Just select a mod, click on the button, and it's in the game.

If your enthusiasm knows no bounds, check out The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind - arguably the best game in the series. You will have to figure out the mods for it, because you will have to do everything manually.

But it's worth it: you can transform the old project beyond recognition and make it much more interesting. For example, the Tamriel Rebuilt mod, which has been constantly improved for 17 years, adds a huge land area to Morrowind with a considerable set of exciting tasks, high-quality voice acting and full support for the fast travel system.

Buy The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind →

Buy The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim →

Divinity: Original Sin 2

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is one of the most entertaining modern RPGs in the classic RPG genre. The game has a deep storyline - it's not a sin to go through it several times. Everything is worked out to the smallest detail, so that almost any task can be completed in different ways.

The world of Divinity: Original Sin 2 will seem both very familiar and completely alien to fans of high fantasy, and this makes the game even more attractive. The project was released not only on the PC, but also on modern consoles, however, it is most convenient to play it with a mouse and keyboard.

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Kentucky route zero

A whimsical storytelling of magical realism set in rural America. This is the story of a truck driver at an antique shop looking for a track not marked on any map.

Kentucky Route Zero has been airing episodes for the past five years, with the finale slated to release later this year. Also, the studio has released a series of "interludes" for the project, which are available free of charge.

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Total War: Warhammer 2

The Total War series turned the RTS genre upside down. The tactical component of its games is highly realistic. Total War: Warhammer 2 demonstrates this in the best way.

The events take place in a popular fantasy world, where there is a place for both high elves and rat-like skaven. In single player mode, battles can be slowed down and even stopped so that you can think through every action.

For the game, add-ons are constantly being released. The largest is Mortal Empires. It contains a huge story campaign, which takes place on the maps Total War: Warhammer and Total War: Warhammer 2. The addon contains 117 factions and 35 playable characters. And all this is free if you bought one of the two mentioned games.

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Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak

Spiritual heir to the iconic Homeworld space strategy. Deserts of Kharak is a prequel in which you find yourself on the surface of a barren planet and fight for control of it.

The main thing in the gameplay is the land-based aircraft carrier: it collects resources, new fighters come out of it, and research is carried out on it. There is also transport that acts as a support. Particular attention is paid to the characters here.

The game was released by a team of people who worked on the original Homeworld. The project looks great and has a number of features that are not found in other representatives of the genre. It also features one of the best intro videos in the history of video games.

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ArmA 3

ArmA 3 is not just a shooter, but a combat simulator. This is a project with a bunch of nuances that would make it impossible to play comfortably on a console.

For example, you can not only sit down or lie on the ground, but also stand on tiptoe to look at the enemy from behind cover, then stick your head out to the right, focus on your leg and fall on your shoulder. Everything in order not to catch a single bullet, which may be enough to kill.

In addition, you will find a mass of ground and air vehicles with sophisticated aiming and control systems. Therefore, you cannot do without a keyboard and mouse.

ArmA 3 has a single player campaign, but the real value is the multiplayer. A large number of clans have formed around the game, many of which have been fighting together for over 12 years. Well, you shouldn't forget about the heap of modifications of various genres.

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War thunder

Shareware game from the largest Russian developer Gaijin Entertainment, which is a flight simulator for everyone - even for those who have no idea about the cockpit structure. The project has different levels of difficulty - from hardcore historical simulation to arcade mode.

However, you can fight not only on airplanes, but also on tanks and ships. This makes War Thunder one of the most intense war games ever.

Elite: Dangerous

This multiplayer space simulator recreates the Milky Way galaxy with 400 billion star systems. You start playing as a practically beggar mercenary, and what to do next is up to you.

You can help other users, participate in large-scale battles, or just go to the edge of the Galaxy, admiring the cosmic beauty. Everyone can find something to their liking.

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League of legends

League of Legends is a well-known representative of the MOBA genre. This is a hybrid of real-time strategy and RPG, in which it is important to be able to use the abilities of the heroes, think strategically and work together. There are many options to defeat: good, there are more than 140 characters to choose from.

It is also an important esports discipline: a number of international tournaments with impressive prize pools are held in the game. The attitude to League of Legends among the participants is as serious as possible, therefore the battles turn out to be very entertaining.

XCOM 2: War of the Chosen

Turn-based tactical strategy is another genre that was created specifically for the PC. XCOM 2: War of the Chosen takes the best from him.

Since the release of X-COM: UFO Defense - the first part of the series - not much has changed: you take control of a small group of fighters and carry out a clearly set goal at a certain location. Every step has to be thought over.

But War of the Chosen touches not only with its tactical capabilities, but also with a well-developed world, plot and characters. Despite the fact that this is an add-on, it is more fun to play than the original.

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Crusader kings 2

In this strategy, you are trying to conquer the whole world. The game starts with a historically accurate fact, but you decide what happens next.

Your sovereign will grow old, he will have children who will eventually take over the rule - unless, of course, they are killed. Such randomly generated events, which are a lot in the project, can captivate no worse than "Game of Thrones".

Crusader Kings 2 was released in 2012, but the developer still supports it. The latest addition, Jade Dragon, came out last November and added a lot of China-themed content.

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Civilization 6

Civilization is a true PC long-liver: the first game in the strategy series was released in 1991. In the sixth part, the essence remains the same: you play the role of a famous historical figure who leads her nation to prosperity. You will start in ancient times, but if you are lucky, you will have time to conquer space.

Many believe that the heyday of the franchise fell on Civilization 4: it has full 3D, and the gameplay has become much more modern. But now there is no point in buying it, since the sixth "Civilization" simply successfully develops the ideas of its predecessor. At the same time, it is not deprived of anything for which the project is loved and appreciated.

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