Gaming
Games
The PC games you have to play in 2020
Five cracking PC recommendations that will make your tower purr.
Throughout this year, expect plenty of chatter on what Microsoft and Sony are doing next; the console giants are looking to blow our minds with the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 this holiday season. Looking at the specs for both, there’s no doubt plenty of brains will be bursting at the thought of GDDR6 SD RAM, ray-tracing and 8K. With each passing generation, the little black boxes that sit in our entertainment units become more PC-like, which raises the question: why not get a PC, then?
Granted, a suped-up computer often has a hefty price tag, but after that initial payment you’ve effectively got yourself a console that can be upgraded whenever you wish. And you can check your email on it, too! So, now that you’re on board, you’ll be looking for games that truly test your new rig. Fortunately, you're in the right place. Here’s a list of five games, across a range of genres, that are simply must-haves for all PC players.
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3 has a compelling story and stunning vistas
© CD Projekt
Toss a coin to developer CD Projekt Red and play the game that made Geralt of Rivia a worldwide superstar long before Henry Cavill put on a blonde wig. Five years after its launch, The Witcher 3 is still one of the greatest open-world games money can buy. In this fantasised medieval world, the real joy comes from going off the beaten path: the Bloody Baron is the most famous side quest, but there are plenty of other phenomenal distractions here that will have you hooked for over 100 hours.
Wild Hunt is available on every major system right now, but if you want to experience the best version of the game, then you want the PC variant. Longer draw distances, greater graphical fidelity and mod capability make it the definitive edition of The Witcher 3.
2. Control
Aping sci-fi hits like The X-Files and Fringe, Control is a stylish shooter
© 505 Games
Control may be the best superhero game ever made. While it doesn’t ratchet up the primary colours in the same way a Marvel movie does, the combat sees you zipping through the air and firing bits of the environment at your enemies via telekinesis. Although it may sound like the latest addition to the Guardians of the Galaxy, developer Remedy Entertainment takes inspiration from sci-fi telly such as Twin Peaks and The X-Files when it comes to world-building and story. And it absolutely smashes it at every turn.
One of the major issues players had with this exceptional action-adventure from last year was that, technically, it was more than shaky on consoles. Luckily for you, the PC version plays like a dream. On a high-end machine, with an Nvidia RTX graphics card, you’ve got yourself one of 2019’s best.
3. Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
Add some expansions and Civilization VI is a stonking empire-builder
© 2K Games
Since the early ‘90s, this turn-based series has wowed PC players, and the 2016 edition was no different. Civilization VI places you in the role of a historical figure that’s looking to build an empire, and it’s up to you whether you want to do that through advances in technology, impact on culture, or by building an army.
Slower-paced than any of the other games on this list, Civ 6 takes some time to get used to if you’re unfamiliar with the genre. But, as many will tell you, once it’s got its hooks in you, you’ll never look back.
4. Divinity Original Sin II
Divinity: Original Sin 2's elemental combat is a highlight
© Larian Studios
Divinity: Original Sin II does much more than just appeal to your nostalgia: it’s a modernised version of the classic isometric RPG that so many grew up on in the early days of PC gaming. With terrific voice acting, branching paths and an engaging story, there’s more than enough here to have you casting spells for hours on end.
If the fighting gets a bit too hot you can have a go on the narrative mode, which focuses on the fantastic, fantasy tale that developer Larian Studios has crafted. Although, if you fancy yourself as a bit of a storyteller, there’s the Game Master mode, which allows you to control the actions of NPCs and act like a Dungeons & Dragons DM for up to four of your pals.
5. Minecraft
Minecraft isn't just for kids, it's a fairly cerebral build-'em-up
© Mojang/Microsoft
It had to get a mention, really. Still an entertainment juggernaut more than a decade since its launch, Minecraft remains one of the best sandbox games out there. You don’t have to run a Twitch channel to enjoy the wonders of this blocky world, honest! You begin life on a procedurally generated map that contains everything you need to survive; that last word is important. Don’t be fooled by those cutesy, low poly designs – zombies and creepers are out to get you.
As well as the vast supply of tools in-game, a decade of mods mean you can make your creations truly pop thanks to the innovative community that developer Mojang has fostered. After countless clones and pretenders to the throne, Minecraft remains hard to beat in the survival genre.
