15 Must-Play PC and Computer Games

 

Max Payne (Remedy Entertainment/Gathering of Developers)

Part film noir epic, part double-fisted gritty crime drama, Max Payne blew the doors off the action-adventure genre with its straight-to-DVD movie-style approach to punching holes in criminal scumbags. Released in the summer of 2001, it effectively translated the look and feel of Hong Kong's most notorious movies into a game, introducing the world to “bullet time" — a slow-motion mode where you could mow down multiple adversaries in mid-air. In many ways an interactive graphic novel, its trippy story, featuring an NYPD detective who sets out to avenge the murder of his family, also helped set an ultra-atmospheric tone for impending disaster. An explosive cocktail of armed encounters that steadily dials up one absurd scenario and insane shootout after another, it remains every bit as tense and mouse-mashingly addictive today as when it was released 15 years ago, making it a must-play for anyone who considers themselves a gamer.

 

Crysis (Crytek/Electronic Arts)

White-knuckle sci-fi shooters aren't particularly new or original unto themselves — but this one took the visual bar and gave it such a massive upward wrench, tugging that sucker so high every similar title ever after would be judged against it, that the gaming world couldn't help but sit up and take notice. After its release in 2007, players didn't just want to own Crysis, they wanted to own new PCs capable of playing it as well. (A concept today's dedicated gaming laptop and ultra-high-end desktop computer enthusiasts, who often struggle to keep up with a constant barrage of new FPS releases, recognize all too keenly.) While the storyline is a bit surreal in that players had to fend off an alien invasion and fight against the North Koreans, you're unlikely to object, even to this day, to this genre-blending, as up to 32 players can battle online in instant action, deathmatch-style encounters, or team-based "power struggles." Playing the title, you'll see just how advanced it was for its time — and why its underlying software engine went on to power several more of PC gaming's most defining outings over the years.

 

SimCity 2000 (Maxis/Electronic Arts)

Once upon a time there was a little game of urban planning and management called SimCity that revolutionized the PC and Mac worlds with its intricate approach to plotting, building, and maintaining miniaturized metropolises that all but came to life on your computer screen. Years later, this long-overdue (and long-anticipated) sequel finally arrived in 1994, providing an equally innovative approach to playing the role of creator, and helping move the wheels of progress forward for the simulation genre. Offering an entirely new and graphically enhanced perspective on custom designs, advanced terrain that included differing elevations, and underground elements including water pipes and subways, upgrades were both plentiful and welcome. Quick to play, and unexpectedly difficult to tear away from, SimCity 2000 offered the ability to build highways, add seaports and airports, and construct a variety of power plants. But most importantly, what it offered was the chance to construct a near-infinite number of designs which could be added to, edited, and shared to ensure endless replayability. As a result, to this day it remains a gem that's well worth experiencing.

 

BioShock Infinite (Irrational Games/2K Games)

What happens when you take a first-person shooter, polish it to perfection, tack on one of gaming's most original and gripping storylines ever (based on Ayn Randian principles), give players insane superpowers, and set the escapade in a sunken city filled with a cast of characters so memorable they're practically tailor-made for big-screen stardom? Think millions of games sold and an instant classic. Now fast-forward to the era of ragtime, great expectations, and American exceptionalism — the backdrop to much-anticipated follow-upBioShock Infinite — and you've got an even more compelling recipe for success. Set in a fantastical city in the sky in a steampunk-esque alternate-reality 1912, this title instantly garnered an explosively positive reaction from fans and critics alike, and furthered the franchise's reputation for uniquely crafted tales with its detailed back story, reams of social commentary, and numerous unexpected plot twists. It remains a different kind of shooter with its sprawling world, DNA-splicing abilities to garner (think fire- and ice-flinging antics), and endless ways to creatively waste opponents. Built on the Unreal Engine 3 software engine, BioShock Infinite is (like all titles in the series) a wonder to behold and experience. Fire it up, and prepare to be amazed: if you like a good book, or good battle, it's a veritable wonder to watch in motion.

 

World of Warcraft (Blizzard Entertainment)

The 10-ton gorilla of massively multiplayer online role-playing games isn't just the gold standard by which all internet-based dungeon-crawling fantasy epics are currently judged. It's also a bona fide pop culture phenomenon to the tune of millions of registered players; a decade of successful books/toys/comics and other spin-offs; countless late-night TV references; and an entire episode of the hit animated series South Park devoted to its addictive powers. So powerful was this genre-defining hit's influence that it not only knocked previously unchallenged category leader EverQuest from the top of charts in short order, but also put the world of MMOs on the map for an entire generation of players. Not only doesWorld of Warcraft remain a popular favorite and veritable industry juggernaut, but its virtual in-game economy is also so powerful that people can actually now sell in-game items for substantial amounts of real world cash. With further expansions, movies, and more on the way, be sure to put it on your playlist if you haven't already, if only to see why the title's made such an impact on so many players, and so many lives.

 

Battlefield 2 (EA Dice/Electronic Arts)

Punching smoking holes in buddies and blowing their smoking corpses to kingdom come never gets old — a point well-taken in this grand-scale game of nonstop military mayhem, wherein you can wreak havoc at an order of magnitude most rivals simply can't match. And while this wasn't the first game in the critically acclaimed series to introduce into an FPS the ability to command vehicles, as well as mow rivals down with sprays of gunfire, Battlefield 2scores beaucoup points for revolutionizing the concept of squad-based combat. Playing it, you'll notice an important point: while you have the ability to go it alone as a lone wolf gunman — especially if playing a sniper is your cuppa tea — groups of individuals that work as a team score a major advantage. What's more, you'll find that this was among the first games to successfully make the genre-leap to a modern combat setting, putting players in near-future hot zones the world over. Give it a go, if you're into cutting huge swaths of destruction, to see where the category has been, where it's going, and where it's still bound for years to come.

 

Half-Life 2 (Valve)

One of the first first-person shooters to prove that these types of games could offer storylines every bit as sharp and sophisticated as those found in supposedly more erudite genres, the original Half-Life remains a treasured gaming classic. And while it's hard to fix what isn't broke, Half-Life 2 manages to improve upon the original in a bounty of ways, offering higher resolution graphics and featuring an equally rich plot and compelling narrative. Credit a tale that provides numerous optional adventures that extend the base alien-squishing odyssey's thrills, or that can be totally bypassed for those who prefer to run and gun their way through saving mankind. Hero Gordon Freeman even gets the option to call in help from a number of computer-controlled resistance soldiers and medics. In short, it's one of the first FPS games to all but perfectly nail things on all counts — story, graphics, gameplay, etc. — while also allowing for greater interaction with NPCs than you'd typically expect to see from genre entrants. Taking the formula that made one of gaming's best offerings great and making it even better, there's little not to like about the adventure, making it a solid bet for FPS fans of all interests and skill levels.

 

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda Softworks)

Want to wander a living, breathing fantasy world filled with crumbling dungeons, ancient castles, and towns peopled by lively characters? Check out this pièce de résistance, a watermark in action role-playing, which offers one of the most stunningly realized worlds of sword-and-sorcery seen to date, complete with endless areas to explore from wilderness expanses to cities, towns, underground caverns, and even fortresses. Playing it, you'll be wowed by its wealth of characters, items, and customizable options as you follow a main quest that allows for a story-driven narrative with numerous optional side quests and hundreds of hours of play just waiting to be enjoyed. If you haven't copped a powerful gaming PC, consider it among the best excuses yet to do so: you'll be absolutely stunned watching Skyrim's adventures unfold, and the world unveil its secrets, at peak volume and maximum visual resolution.

 

Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (Blizzard Entertainment)

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, real-time strategy (RTS) games hit the shelves. But few offered the sheer level of graphical sharpness, brilliantly engaging storyline, or endless replayability of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos — still a must-play for anyone who loves fantasy strategy excitement. Offering four playable races, a single-player campaign, and myriad online multiplayer options, it still plays incredibly tight, looks amazingly sharp, and provides an array of surprises to aspiring armchair generals. While the title didn't revolutionize the genre, it nonetheless demonstrated (and continues to demonstrate) what's possible when developers are willing to go the extra mile. If you've only got time to play one RTS game before you die? Provided you're not looking to play the title that started it all (we love you, Command & Conquer), make it this one: Warcraft III is, put simply, the slickest sword-and-sorcery escapade fans of tactical combat can imagine.

 

PlanetSide 2 (Daybreak Game Company)

If you're a fan of first-person shooters (and who isn't?), you could enter an endless litany of titles on this list from Call of Duty to Doom, Duke Nukem 3D, Quake, F.E.A.R., Far Cry, and more. But chances are, you've already played them. Examining a rundown of less widely celebrated outings (No One Lives Forever, Brothers in Arms, etc.) we couldn't help but be struck by PlanetSide 2. Why? Many first-person shooters offer a chance to get in heated battles with up to 64 players, and several offer 128 gamers the ability to happily blast away. But this sucker — a much-lauded update of the original free-to-play massively multiplayer online FPS — took online battles to a whole new level, populating up to 2,000 players per continent, meaning that a frantic finger-pumping duel was never far away. Instead of simple matches, picture PlanetSide 2 as a persistent world gone wild with six character classes and three totally unique factions. Offering fans of futuristic encounters serious sci-fi gaming mayhem (the kind you'll need a top-end graphics card such as the one in an ROG G20 to truly experience as intended), it's worth checking out just for sheer scale alone.

 

Honorable Mentions

Civilization V (Firaxis Games/2K Games). The latest update to the celebrated game of conquest, exploration, and resource management adds complex layers that allow players to guide their historical civilization from the stone age to the stars. With options for succeeding through cultural development, religious dominance, and even government regulation, it packs enough raw replay value to keep even the most diehard strategy gamers satisfied for years to come.

DayZ (Bohemia Interactive). Based on a mod first developed for military combat–themed outing ARMA 2, DayZ could be a game-changer for the action genre. While on the surface it's a horror survival game in which players must stay alive following a zombie apocalypse, what makes this one a true standout are the open-world environment and its options to work with or against other players. Currently available for play via Steam early-access features, it's scheduled for a wider release later this year.

Total War: Shogun 2 (Sega). This long-awaited sequel to one of the epic turn-based/real-time tactical combat strategy hybrid franchise's most famed outings only improves on everything prior installments offer, including the ever-popular ability to lead massive groups of troops into battle. Set in 16th-century feudal Japan, it offers an exotic twist on typical wargame scenarios, giving you the chance to carve out a dynasty by managing an epic war campaign on your computer monitor.

Deus Ex (Eidos Interactive). Once upon a time, most games could easily be classified in individual genres. Determined to change matters, all-time favorite sci-fi role-player Deus Exwas among the first interactive titles to blend and even blur category lines, marrying elements of first-person shooters with stealth adventures and even stat-crunching RPGs. With its futuristic, conspiracy-themed tale, numerous outcomes, and flair for all things cybernetic, theBlade Runner–inspired offering remains a popular favorite with fans thanks to its sheer inventiveness, and its sheer replayability.

Minecraft (Mojang). If you can dream it, you can build it in this sandbox-style game of construction and exploration, which lets you craft and structure just about anything out of blocks, then travel these landscapes, adventuring in the worlds you've created. Millions of kids and adults alike swear by it: go hands-on, and just a few moments in, you're likely to be doing so as well.

 

By Scott Steinberg

 

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