PC gaming has come a long way since the days of floppy disks and early DOS games.
Now, with highly advanced graphics cards, immersive sound systems, and lightning-fast processors, games have never looked or sounded better. And with each passing year, technology continues to advance even further, leading to newer and better games for players to enjoy.
Looking ahead to the next couple of years, 2023 is shaping up to be a massive year for PC gaming. From stunning graphics to innovative gameplay, we're here to explore the top PC games to look out for in 2023. So, buckle up and get ready for an exciting ride into the future of gaming!
1. Introduction to the Best PC Games of 2023
2023 promises to be an exciting year for PC gamers with a plethora of amazing games to play. From triple-A titles to indie gems, PCGamesN compiled a list of the best PC games that every gamer should be playing. With so many games available, finding the top PC games can be a daunting task, but this list is here to help. The list is not exhaustive but includes only the best of the best for 2023, according to their expert opinion. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or a newbie, there's something for everyone on this list.
There's no denying that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) has been the pinnacle of competitive first-person shooter (FPS) games since 2012. Still, Valorant from Riot Games is extremely accessible and offers a unique experience compared to other FPS games. Besides its excellent shooting mechanics, Valorant features a diverse roster of heroes, each with passive, active, and ultimate abilities that keep every round fresh and exciting. Learning how to combine abilities and apply them to the game's maps is an endless learning curve that always encourages experimentation and unconventional plays.
Valve made a bold move in releasing Half-Life: Alyx as a virtual reality (VR) game. However, Alyx is not just an incredible Half-Life game but validates the years of VR hype within the industry. Though the mission's scope is smaller than the main Half-Life games, the level of interaction available to players far exceeds that of the Gravity Gun. Every interaction in Alyx feels intuitive, rewarding, and offers a great sense of player immersion. It's an excellent game that offers a unique experience that you won't find with traditional PC games.
Engadget's list of the best PC games for 2023 is a great starting point if you're new to PC gaming or looking for something fresh to play. One standout recommendation is Lyst, a game that blends stylish visuals with smooth, precise mechanics that allow players to glide through environments on rollerblades, dodging and shooting enemies in a thrilling dystopian bloodsport. On the other hand, Stray, a game that has players embodying a cat in a post-apocalyptic world, offers a perfectly contained adventure game with fresh and cute ideas that cater to a feline's natural instincts.
Overwatch 2 is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting games to release in 2023. The sequel to one of the most popular team shooters around has improved its onramp for new players, but still, has a steep learning curve. Once players overcome its challenges, they'll indulge in perhaps the best team shooter in existence. The game's simple goal is to stand on or near an objective and keep the other team away. However, the game's diverse cast of heroes with unique abilities and interactions offer a depth that keeps players coming back for more. [1][2]
2. CS:GO and Valorant: The Best Competitive FPS Games
CS:GO and Valorant are two of the best competitive FPS games in 2023. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive remains the most popular competitive FPS game in the world despite being over a decade old. It has a highly competitive nature and an extremely healthy pro/competitive scene. Meanwhile, Valorant has taken the world by storm with its mix of tactical gameplay and hero-based abilities, attracting a younger audience. Both games require skill, teamwork, and coordination to win, making them some of the most challenging and rewarding FPS games on the market. So whether you're a fan of classic tactical gameplay or newer hero-based shooters, CS:GO and Valorant have got you covered. [3][4]
3. Half-Life: Alyx as a VR Game
Half-Life: Alyx is a pioneering VR game, showcasing the potential of the medium without compromising on what made the series great. Alyx Vance fights against the Combine alongside her father Eli in an experience that combines intimate exploration with the frightening resource management of Resident Evil. The game delivers on overwhelming expectations with an immensely creative presentation of new mechanics, making it a must-play for VR gamers. [5][6]
4. Street Fighter 6: New Features and Gameplay
Street Fighter 6 brings a whole new generation of gaming, providing players with option-rich mechanics, community-centric online features, and numerous entertaining modes, all with excellent netcode. The game introduces gameplay mechanics tied to the new Drive Gauge that lets players fight with more freedom than any Street Fighter in the series history, enabling creative combat that's as fluid and beautiful as the hip-hop culture that permeates the console.
Capcom gives its groundbreaking series the truly urban feel it deserves with Street Fighter 6. The game leans into the aesthetic wholesale with its graffiti-based logo, paint-splashed Drive Impact move, arcade-style Battle Hub, and Hub Goods Shop where players can drip out a custom character. It has more than just a vibe, allowing players to create their own fighter based on 18 avatar faces and bodies for people who don't want to do much tweaking.
The character creator has inspired the community to produce avatars that include the cool, the angelic, and the horrific. The game has incredibly detailed character models, featuring rippling clothing, skin wrinkles, toned musculature, and waving hair, all powered by Capcom's RE Engine. Street Fighter 6 includes a new mode named World Tour mode, which allows players to create an avatar that gains abilities from the Street Fighter characters they train under.
Street Fighter 6 brings a more unified and cohesive fighting game experience with a reimagined World Tour mode, which offers a compelling addition to the series with a distinct setting and world where hand-to-hand combat in the streets is the norm. With its new features and gameplay, Street Fighter 6 continues to evolve and adapt to modern times, catering to both veteran players and newcomers and earning a perfect five stars and our Editors Choice award. [7][8]
5. Resident Evil 4 Remake: Modernized Survival Horror
The Resident Evil series has enjoyed impressive remakes, and the 2023 remake of Resident Evil 4 is no exception. The remake incorporates updated visuals and modernized controls while retaining the core scares and charms of the original game. Players once again control Leon S. Kennedy, tasked with rescuing the president's daughter from a mysterious cult in rural Spain. The game retains its combat-focused gameplay and over-the-top moments but streamlines the experience for a more intense and unforgettable adventure. With its top-notch graphics, engaging storyline, and polished gameplay, Resident Evil 4 remake delivers modernized survival horror at its finest. [9][10]
6. Hi-Fi RUSH: Syncing Music and Action
Hi-Fi Rush is a new game from Bethesda developed by Tango Gameworks that combines two great tastes - brawling and rhythm. The game follows Chai, a regular human who volunteers for a project to turn him into a cyborg worker. However, the experiment goes awry, and Chai's heart is replaced with an MP3 player. With his new rhythmic superpowers, Chai and his allies must fight against the high-tech Vandelay Corporation and its army of robots.
The game's rhythm combat system makes it a pure delight to play. Everything in the game moves to the beat of the background music, and players must sync their attacks to deal more damage, cover more area, and move faster. The game even adds special effects to your moves if you time them with the beat. Chai's attacks and movements all come out to the beat of the music, making it a unique and enjoyable experience.
Hi-Fi Rush is a cross between a character action game and a rhythm game, with a musical heart that grants Chai superpowers. Players can use Chai's guitar to smack enemies, and there are plenty of targets ripe for that kind of treatment. The game's exuberant fun-loving attitude and excellent rhythm combat make it one of the must-play games of 2023.
The game's bright, colorful, and expressive art direction is eye-popping, and the characters are full of life, endearing, and self-aware. The Saturday morning cartoon-style animation looks fantastic, and there is a lot of love, artistry, and attention to detail here. Hi-Fi Rush is a complete departure from Tango Gameworks' usual horror games, and its combination of rhythm and action makes it a refreshing and enjoyable experience.
Players can expect a dynamic and flashy combat system that is satisfying to play with even in its basic form. The game gradually introduces new mechanics, such as combo finishers, dodges, assist characters, special abilities, grappling hooks, and a parry and counter system. All of these mechanics are tied to the beat, making it complex and enjoyable for those who want a challenge.
Overall, Hi-Fi Rush is a bizarre-yet-effective combination of action and rhythm that is unlike pretty much anything else out there. Its unique gameplay, excellent combat system, and bright and colorful art direction make it a must-play game in 2023. Players can easily sync music and action in this game, making every move and every attack a satisfying and enjoyable experience. [11][12]
7. Dead Cells and Castlevania: Unprecedented Collaboration
Dead Cells and Castlevania have joined forces in an unprecedented collaboration, and the result is Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania. The game launches on March 6th and is sure to be a hit among fans of both series. The game is a mix of the fast-paced action of Dead Cells and the classic platformer gameplay of Castlevania, offering a unique gaming experience that players won't soon forget. Get ready to explore the dark and dangerous world of Castlevania like never before, with all the added excitement of Dead Cells' thrilling combat and challenging gameplay.
In Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania, players will take on the role of a cursed warrior who is on a mission to defeat the evil that plagues the kingdom. With the ability to traverse the dark corridors of the castle as well as the sprawling city that surrounds it, players will face off against challenging bosses and enemies around every corner. The game features a blend of Metroidvania-style exploration and roguelike mechanics, offering players an endless replay value as they attempt to conquer the castle and defeat the ultimate evil.
As players progress through the game, they'll collect weapons and power-ups that will help them on their quest. From the classic whip of Castlevania to the ranged weapons of Dead Cells, players will have a variety of tools at their disposal to take down their enemies. And with the ability to upgrade and customize their weapons, players can tailor their gameplay experience to their unique playstyle.
Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania offers a beautiful and haunting visual style, with detailed environments and character designs that stay true to both series. The game also features a haunting soundtrack that perfectly sets the scene for the dark and foreboding world of Castlevania. With seamless gameplay and an addictive combat system, Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is sure to be a standout game in 2023. [13][14]
8. Diablo IV: Meet Your Maker and Legions of Creation
Players who pre-purchase the Ultimate Edition of Diablo IV will receive early access to the game's launch. The highly anticipated action RPG features five character classes, each with unique abilities and equipment. Explore the beautifully dark world of Sanctuary either solo or with friends, with opportunities to battle world bosses in team-up mode or test your skills against other players in PVP zones. Customize your character and carefully select your talents and abilities to become a force against the unspeakable horrors that dominate the land.
Embark on a campaign through expansive lands, retake besieged towns, and delve into corrupted dungeons to uncover lost secrets. Claim these strongholds against enemies for the citizens of Sanctuary. Be mindful of your surroundings in hostile areas, such as the Fields of Hatred, Tabak Whitepan, and the Dry Steppes, where heroes meet a swift end without vigilance. Enter the PvP zones at your peril, where victory means taking a swing at other players for their valuable loot.
Lilith, summoned by a dark ritual after eons in exile, returns to bring darkness and misery to Sanctuary. The world was created by the offspring of an angel and a demon, and humanity, their descendants, built villages, cities, and empires that spread across Sanctuary. Play as the Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer, Rogue, or Sorcerer, each with unique strengths and skillsets, to wage war against the legions of creation and Meet Your Maker in the ultimate battle against evil.
PC Gamer has released a schedule for the biggest PC game launches of 2023, with an impressive lineup of heavyweight titles. The halfway mark of 2023 approaches, and summer is packed with announcements from game publishers. But the age of game delays during the pandemic years means some titles may get pushed back for extra polish. The list features new games like Redfall, Darkest Dungeon 2, and the System Shock remake. Return to Citadel Station in the modern reimagining of the 1994 classic and face the terror of the Dark Hour in another treasured Persona RPG, finally arriving on PC.
A reshaped WWII series marches onto the battlefield with Relic's hallmark real-time strategy. Fine-tune your own army customization to play it your way. Frey Holland, a displaced New Yorker and fledgling sorcerer, embarks on a parkour adventure in another open-world RPG from Square Enix. Sever alien limbs with a plasma cutter in the Motive remake of the much-loved space horror shooter from 2008, where physics puzzles and no-HUD approach of the original remain. The year opens with JRPG releases like Coral Island for the pirate anime, The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero for the PC port of this JRPG, and Samurai fantasy deckbuilder Shadow Tactics.
Subscribers can enjoy the world's #1 PC gaming magazine, receiving issues and game release updates straight to their device or door. With a friendly tone and third-person view, readers will find all the information they need on upcoming games out in 2023. Although developers may experience delays, the list of upcoming games provides a promising line-up of entertainment for gamers. [15][16]
9. The Reign of Enmity in Sanctuary: Cult of Personality
The PC gaming world is always evolving, and each year, new releases take players on exciting adventures. In 2023, gamers can expect some stellar games, including Street Fighter 6, Resident Evil 4 and Hi-Fi RUSH. But there's one game that stands out from the rest: Diablo IV. The launch of this long-awaited game promises a shared world where players can explore, trade, team up, and even engage in PVP zones. With five classes to choose from and endless abilities to master, Diablo IV is sure to reign supreme in the gaming world.
However, the world of Sanctuary is not without its challenges. Lilith's return has plunged the land into darkness and misery. Chaos reigns as evil and impiety spread, and demons and corrupted wildlife roam the land. The pious plead for guidance, yet doubts cloud their faith. It's a cult of personality in which fear is the driving force.
Despite the bleak situation, some brave adventurers venture into the hostile land to retake besieged towns, delve into corrupted dungeons and uncover lost secrets. With each victory, they transform once-hostile regions into safe havens. But hostile regions, like the Dry Steppes, are not without danger. The seemingly idle geysers of Tabak Whitepan and the Reach of Fulmination's active volcano can easily boil travelers, and even bloodthirsty adventurers may not be the only threat in PvP zones.
The Barbarian has unparalleled strength, the Druid commands the power of nature, and the Rogue is an agile warrior. Choose one of five classes, adapt and customize your character, and battle the unspeakable horrors that blight the land. The Sorcerer is a formidable foe, using fire, ice, and lightning to rush towards victory. Necromancers conjure vengeful hordes of the undead to help them dispatch their foes. Each class brings its unique abilities to the battle against Lilith and her minions.
The legend of how Sanctuary was created speaks of a union between an angel and a demon. Their descendants, humanity, built villages, cities, and empires, spreading across the land to form the world's cultures and civilization. Today, those descendants faces their gravest threat yet. Lilith has returned, and her reign of enmity threatens to consume Sanctuary. Survival is not guaranteed, but the fight for the fate of the world is not one they're willing to give up.
The gaming world is always looking for the latest thrill, the biggest adventure, and the most exciting combat. Diablo IV offers all of this and more, with shared worlds, PvP zones and an extensive campaign. The world of Sanctuary is in dire straits, but with the right strategy, courage, and determination, players can face down evil, survive and thrive in this much-anticipated game. [17][18]
10. Conclusion and Recommendations for Best PC Games in 2023
The world of PC gaming is vast and constantly expanding, with countless options for players to choose from. According to PCGamesN, a few standout titles in 2023 include CS:GO, which has been a popular competitive FPS game for years, and Valorant, which adds unique abilities to the traditional formula. Meanwhile, Half-Life: Alyx offers an immersive VR experience that lives up to the hype.
For PC gamers looking for more recommendations, PCMag offers an ever-expanding collection of top-rated titles. This list is updated regularly and includes games across a variety of genres, such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for those craving intense combat and League of Legends for team-based strategy. The only requirement for a game to make this list is a PCMag rating of 3.5 stars or higher.
When choosing PC games, it's important to consider personal preferences and hardware limitations. However, both PCGamesN and PCMag offer helpful guides for narrowing down the options. While CS:GO, Valorant, and Half-Life: Alyx are just a few of the standout titles in 2023, there are countless other PC games worth trying. By doing a bit of research and reading reviews, PC gamers can find the titles that will offer the most enjoyment on their individual gaming setups. [19][20]