From the intense combat scenarios in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and strategic team dynamics in League of Legends, to the haunting RPG journey in Elden Ring, the choices are vast and varied. But fear not, this guide is designed to help you navigate through this extensive gaming universe and make an informed decision that aligns with your gaming preferences. So, whether you’re searching for a quick adrenaline rush or a deep, captivating storyline that demands hundreds of hours, brace yourself as we delve into the best PC games 2024 has to offer.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Craving for a dose of mecha warfare? Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon by FromSoftware, breathes fresh life into the genre and revives the long-quiet series with its elaborate war machinery, task-oriented challenges, and hard-hitting boss fights. While some missions may feel like fillers amidst more extensive scenarios, the complete experience is sure to satiate enthusiasts of heavy-duty, humanoid (and quasi-humanoid) battle machines.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Assassin’s Creed Mirage presents a more streamlined and concentrated gaming experience, harking back to the groundbreaking early installments of the series. As Basim, a young assassin, you are tasked with dismantling a despotic rule in Ubisoft’s portrayal of Baghdad. Mirage reintroduces popular features such as eavesdropping and pickpocketing, components that were conspicuously missing from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Origins, and Valhalla. Although the controls can be a tad inflexible, Mirage ensures an enthralling gaming journey.
Batman: Arkham City
For fans of Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City is a treat. Rocksteady Studios, the developer, retains all the successful elements from Asylum, including exhilarating combat and stellar voice performances, although it offers less novelty. Despite Arkham City being somewhat repetitive, the sheer joy of taking down henchmen ensures it remains one of the top action games on PC.
Darksiders III
The Darksiders franchise, a creative reworking of the biblical Apocalypse that centers around the exploits of the Four Horsemen, returns with a new twist. In Darksiders III, you’re in charge of the mercurial and fiery Fury, who is assigned to apprehend the Seven Deadly Sins. With a barbed whip in hand and exceptional agility, Fury navigates through the ruins of the modern world, eliminating threats in a connected environment reminiscent of Metroid. The combat system has some drawbacks, such as an unpredictable camera and aggravating foes, which slightly detract from the overall experience. Nevertheless, Darksiders III is a compelling action game worth playing, particularly if its distinctive theme appeals to you.
Death Stranding
Death Stranding initially puzzled PlayStation 4 users with its intricate storyline revolving around extinction, isolation, death, and the remnants of humanity attempting to reconstruct a fragmented world. This once contentious console game has now evolved into a PC game, featuring enhanced graphics, exclusive missions themed around Half-Life, and a photo mode. Blending aspects of action, stealth, and survival genres, Death Stranding offers a bolder venture than most mainstream video games. After all, it’s not every day you come across a game where the lead character, a delivery man, combats flying whales at one moment and engages in philosophical discussions about the afterlife with Guillermo del Toro the next. It’s a distinct, slow-paced journey.
Devil May Cry 5
Devil May Cry is a trailblazing action series that thrusts your demon-battling protagonist into the midst of hell’s hordes, equipping you with a sword, guns, and a vast selection of special attacks to weave together in flamboyant and adrenaline-fueled combos. Devil May Cry 5 is the most recent addition to the franchise. It draws from components of earlier games and ushers in entirely new characters and gameplay techniques for both die-hard fans and newcomers to relish. All systems have been re-tuned and streamlined, making them easy to comprehend, yet challenging to apply skillfully and conquer. It is recognized as one of the supreme action games in history.
Far Cry Primal
In Far Cry Primal, Ubisoft, the creator, forgoes all political nuances and concentrates on what set Far Cry apart at its inception: the expansive open-world sandbox. You take on the role of a Stone Age hunter known as Takkar, with your objective being to carve out a safe refuge for your tribe, the itinerant Wenja people, in the ancient domain of Oros. The incorporation of hand-to-hand combat and beast allies sets Primal apart from its Far Cry predecessors, rendering exploration more individualized and engaging. Nonetheless, Primal’s plotline is more straightforward and less intricate, so those yearning for eccentric villains and high-drama may find it somewhat lacking.
Ghostrunner
The cyberpunk genre holds a special place in the world of video games. These games excel in portraying the chaotic interplay of a society where technology and corporations rule supreme. Titles like Cyberpunk: 2077 and Watch Dogs: Legion has provided gamers with a taste of cyberpunk in an open-world format. However, for those seeking a more streamlined yet decidedly more ruthless experience, the visually stunning and brutal Ghostrunner is worth trying. This first-person action game presents a formidable level of difficulty that may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but ardent gamers will savor its quick-paced, ninja-inspired action.
Immortals Fenyx Rising
Even though Immortals Fenyx Rising was launched during the bustling holiday season alongside heavyweight titles such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion, it stood out as Ubisoft’s top game of 2020. Ubisoft Quebec, the game’s developer, moved from the vast narrative of Assassin’s Creed to a more concise action-adventure style, a change that let this narrative of Greek mythology truly radiate. While Immortals Fenyx Rising, a PC game, does incorporate elements from other prominent games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it effectively creates a distinct identity for itself.
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
TT Games’ Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is a treasure trove of DC Comics nods and witticisms, maintaining a playful and uncomplicated approach to its storyline and action. Whether it’s the nostalgic 1978 Superman theme playing as the superhero takes flight, or Nightwing nostalgically recalling his days as a sidekick with a barrage of “holy” remarks, Lego Batman 3 is teeming with Easter eggs that make it seem like a sincere homage to the world of DC Comics. The gameplay stays true to the classic Lego blueprint, yet offers a solid gaming experience nonetheless.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, a former PlayStation 4 hit, has now made its way to the PC platform. This open-world game by Sony gets a magnificent port, complete with new graphical settings and all previously released DLCs. If you haven’t yet experienced navigating through this digital version of Manhattan, capturing villains with your web, now is the perfect opportunity.
Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection
The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a concoction of excellent, average, and underwhelming aspects. The collection encompasses Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge – acclaimed action games with intricate and exciting combat systems. Regrettably, the shortcomings noticeable in the later games persist in this collection without significant enhancements to the original framework. To make matters worse, this package eliminates the games’ multiplayer modes and offers scant options for performance adjustments. While newcomers to the series might relish the top-notch action, seasoned players seeking the definitive versions of these games may find themselves unsatisfied.
Ori And The Will of The Wisps
Known predominantly for their realistic games starring space troopers and high-end cars, Xbox Game Studios sometimes leaps the domain of family-friendly platformers. Their 2015 release, Ori and the Blind Forest was a significant success in this genre, and its follow-up, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, has managed to exceed it. With its spot-on platforming controls, vibrant visuals, and smart-level designs, Ori and the Will of the Wisps emerges as a captivating classic that will entertain gamers for many more years to come.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 spins a harsh narrative about the fading era of the Old West. The protagonist is Arthur Morgan, a member of an outlaw gang who is disenchanted by his criminal existence. Despite this, Arthur cannot imagine a life without banditry and violence, leading you on numerous exciting missions. Although there are some performance glitches, Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC is nothing short of impressive. Its engrossing plot, visually appealing graphics, a wealth of side quests, and continually updated online mode could keep you captivated for years. Additionally, those fond of gambling games will find plenty of opportunities to play dominoes, five fingers, poker, and blackjack online mini-games in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Rise of The Tomb Raider
Newly returned from her adventures in Japan, the eager and determined adventurer Lara Croft finds herself up against a sect of fervent zealots in their quest for eternal life. Rise of the Tomb Raider showcases more of the remarkable set pieces, intense combat, and challenging puzzles that contributed to the critical acclaim and fan popularity of the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. While series enthusiasts might experience a sense of familiarity with similar gameplay scenarios and platforming sections, Rise of the Tomb Raider establishes itself as a robust action-adventure game.
