Summary
- PC offers top-tier graphics, endless customization with mods, and diverse gameplay options not found on consoles.
- Controllers are a no-go for RTS games. Civilization VII excels on PC with fast clicks crucial for victory.
- FPS games like Overwatch 2 and Valorant are best experienced on PC, providing precise gunplay and support for custom modes.
Nowadays, there are fewer and fewer exclusive titles around. Releasing titles for multiple consoles allows players to enjoy exciting multiplayer battles and cinematic boss fights, regardless of whether they own a high-end gaming PC or a four-year-old iPhone.
Sometimes, certain games are simply optimized better on one platform than another, while in other cases it is the large arsenal of tools available thanks to the PC platform being far more diverse and varied when it comes to modding potential and graphical tweaking. At the end of the day, personal preference plays a big role in deciding what to play and where, but there are some irrefutable benefits exclusive to the PC platform that simply cannot be ignored.
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9 Balatro
Brain Melting Calculations
Balatro
- Released
- February 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Gambling Themes
- Developer(s)
- LocalThunk
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Digital Card Game, Roguelike
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Android, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Balatro exploded onto screens in early 2024 and took the gaming world by storm. This simplistic poker hand rogue-like offers virtually endless replayability. The game has since been ported to virtually all major devices, including both Playstation and Xbox consoles, so players can jump in regardless of where their allegiance lies.
But when it comes to the definitive experience, the PC takes the cake, allowing modded gameplay which adds endless customization options, as well as some custom Jokers to unlock, giving more flavor and variety to the already diverse set of possibilities. While the mobile version does offer an on-the-go touch option, dragging and dropping card after card with a mouse never ceases to satisfy.
8 Civilization 7
Real-Time Strategy At Its Best
Sid Meier's Civilization VII
- Released
- February 11, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Firaxis Games
- Franchise
- Sid Meier's Civilization
- Genre(s)
- Grand Strategy, Turn-Based Strategy, 4X
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
It's safe to say that RTS games have always found their home on the PC. It makes sense that if the gameplay involves dragging and dropping units around a large gridded map and upgrading individual cities or structures, then a controller is a no-go.
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With Civilization 7, the case remains the same. It's an excellent strategy title for multiplayer as well as single-player playthroughs, offering a large array of win conditions and an ever-expanding leader list that would please any player. And if players up the ante and set turn timers to the lowest, then fast clicks and precise unit placements are crucial to securing a victory.
7 Baldur's Gate 3
Generational Role-Playing Immersion
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
It's a simple rule of thumb: if it's turn-based, play it on the computer. Baldur's Gate 3 redefines what a good RPG should be, having one of the richest and filled worlds and a vast array of weaponry and loot to acquire, whether for sneaky rogues or aggressive warriors.
Gameplay aside, modding is a big aspect of the game. Many mods fix bugs or tweak gameplay mechanics to better suit certain playstyles. If they are so inclined, the player can use mods to overhaul entire weapon types and character models for some wacky and peculiar changes.
6 Overwatch 2
High-Octane Hero Shooter Mayhem
Overwatch 2
- Released
- August 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Hero shooters are a staple video game genre, and Overwatch 2 is the poster child for good reason. Its satisfying and precise gunplay, movement, and rewarding combinations make it a title that any gamer can pick up and enjoy in an instant. Fast shooters are inherently more reliable with a mouse and keyboard, with console versions adding aim assist to compensate for the reduced precision.
Additionally, the majority of the player base exists on PC, reducing queue times and giving players more opponents to crush and teammates to commend. There are also workshop tools that give players the option to create and play custom modes and maps that, while accessible on the console, are far easier to play and create on PC.
5 Valorant
Tactical And Tricky
Valorant
- Released
- June 2, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Riot Games
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
In Valorant, every bullet counts. One missed flick or one wrong step, and the round is over. The e-sport itself is centered around the PC version because it's the original, intended way to experience the gameplay and the best place to show off impressive lineups and movement tricks.
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As the PC is Valorant's home, any other platforms like the consoles feel more like a bonus or an afterthought than a fully fleshed-out version. While they work fine and can be a good way of enjoying the game without a PC, the added support, fast bug fixes, and additional levels of update priority make the PC the place to be.
4 The Sims 4
A Lifetime Of Mods
The Sims 4
- Released
- September 2, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
An entire life sandbox behind a screen, The Sims 4 is the best title in the series by a long shot, offering life simulations down to the finest detail. Navigating and creating these worlds is easiest when done with a mouse, as the specific placements of furniture, walls, and items are far easier to accomplish this way.
But ignoring gameplay, it's all about the mods. There are already over 80 DLC packs available, each adding a new set of features and content, but the mods list enters the 1000s. Maybe there's a specific color option or a funny character that just needs to be in the world. There are endless options and additions that just simply don't exist anywhere else. Another benefit is the lack of processing power required to run the game, allowing even low-end laptop users to enjoy the game in all its mod-filled glory.
3 Football Manager 2024
The Perfect Management Simulation
Football Manager 2024
- Released
- November 6, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Sega
- Genre(s)
- Management, Simulation, Sports
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The pinnacle of football simulation, FM24 sets the bar high and is hard to compete with in terms of the level of detail. Player statistics, stadiums, and more are all expertly crafted and make the player feel like a real manager of a league-topping club.
The mobile port has elicited incredibly mixed feelings. The UI feels janky and awkward, and console gamers will struggle to feel truly immersed as they watch the cursor slowly drag along the transfer window tabs. The PC version has always felt the most complete, most polished, and best way to play.
2 Helldivers 2
A Movie In Every Session
Helldivers 2
- Released
- February 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Completely blowing open the concept of the original, this sequel delivers some of the most cinematic, intense, and downright absurd action sequences that rival even blockbuster movie titles. The explosive battle moments are best played with a mouse and keyboard, allowing for accurate machine gun fire and some quick escapes when things get a bit too hot.
There is unmatched satisfaction from taking out the hordes of enemies and jet-packing across planets. Having a PC that can deliver top-tier graphics turns it from a rewarding shooter to a gorgeous action epic.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2
As Close To Reality As It Gets
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Beautiful doesn't even begin to describe the feeling of galloping across a field, RTX enabled, graphics on Ultra, and not a care in the world. Rockstar hit every mark with this one, filling the world with so much lore, flavorful NPC's, treasures to uncover, and a journey of pain, sorrow, and, of course, redemption.
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Console gamers can appreciate the great storytelling and the amount of love that went into every aspect of this game, but they will never witness the glistening streams or gleaming sunlight in full 4K glory. And even if the graphics are not to the player's tastes, the game has a dedicated modding community that is set on fixing some pet peeves, adding weapon-related content, or miniaturizing all NPCs.
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