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For now, 3.5 stars is the happy medium, but, as we review more games, we may have to be choosier, to keep the list at a manageable size. We didn't want to set the star rating so low that nearly all PC games qualified for the guide, yet we didn't want to set the star rating so high that we exclude quality B-tier games, such as Dead Island and Split/Second. The third criteria required a bit of pondering. Yes, this guide goes tell you a bit about each highlighted game, but the ability to link to a full review benefits people looking for a deeper cut.
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The first requirement is to ensure that we can give you more insight into a game.
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To be included, a game must have been reviewed by PCMag, still be available for purchase, and received a rating of 3.5 stars or greater. Here's what we came up with, after much deliberation. PCMag's in-house and freelance reviewers have played a ridiculous number of PC games over the years, so creating criteria for inclusion was essential. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium, Tales of Arise, and WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship.Ĭompiling this guide was no small undertaking. In our newest update, we've added three games: SNK vs. We think that's the most useful approach to helping you decide which video games deserve space on your PC's hard drive, and which aren't worth consideration even when their prices are cut by 85 percent during a Steam sale. Any game that's still available and still considered excellent when ranked against the best of today is eligible. To clarify, games don't need to have been released within the calendar year to qualify for this roundup. Simply put, this an ever-expanding collection of entertaining titles you should buy if you own a gaming desktop or gaming laptop. Sure, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain redefines stealth-based action and the Forza Horizon series is the definitive open-world racing franchise, but they didn't make it into this guide based purely on those metrics. Please recognize, however, that this is not a historical examination of the most groundbreaking PC games. Don't get frozen by choice, though use this guide to help you make a swift and wise purchasing decision. In short, the PC gaming space is deep and varied. In the mood to knuckle up against online opponents? A fighting game like The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match Final Edition or Tekken 7 will do you good. Feel like leveling characters in a role-playing game? Disco Elysium: The Final Cut and The Witcher III: Wild Hunt got what you need. When you fire up Epic Games Store, Steam, Xbox, or any of the other digital marketplaces for PC games, you'll be faced with many purchasing options.
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