Top 10 Best PC Games in 2023

This year brings an incredible slate of must-play titles to the PC platform. The boundless potential for innovation and creativity in PC gaming enables developers to craft stunning living worlds and push interactive entertainment forward. This list highlights the 10 most ambitious, celebrated, and genre-redefining releases that will captivate players. From long-awaited sequels to new IPs, these games represent the pinnacle of imagination and technical excellence in the industry today. Their immersive worlds, compelling characters, and unforgettable experiences will resonate for years to come.

1. Elden Ring

Elden Ring has already established itself as a masterpiece in the RPG genre. This massive open world action RPG comes from renowned studio FromSoftware, makers of Dark Souls and Bloodborne. Elden Ring takes everything that makes FromSoftware's titles special - challenging real-time combat, labyrinthine worlds, and meticulous lore - and amplifies it to the next level. The Lands Between is an sprawling, interconnected world teeming with secrets and monstrous bosses. Players are given unprecedented freedom to choose their own path through perilous dungeons, misty forests, and grand castles. With over 100 hours of content, jaw-dropping vistas, and rewarding gameplay, it's no surprise Elden Ring has enraptured over 16 million players.

2. God of War Ragnarök

Kratos and Atreus return for epic father-son adventure in God of War Ragnarök. This story-driven action game pushes the envelope for cinematic gameplay and emotive narrative. Ragnarök concludes the Nordic saga that began in 2018's God of War with tremendous heart, showcasing the series' signature large-scale battles and Leviathan Axe combat with an added layer of emotional resonance. Kratos' relationship with Atreus deepens as the two come to terms with their prophecy-driven fate. Stunning mythological settings like the grand halls of Asgard are realized with an eye for detail and scale. Ragnarök is already garnering perfect review scores for its poignant storytelling and phenomenal production values.

3. Starfield

Starfield represents a giant leap into the unknown as Bethesda's first new IP in 25 years. This hugely ambitious sci-fi RPG promises complete freedom to chart your own course in a NASA-punk vision of space colonization. You can explore over 1,000 unique planets, from barren moons to vibrant alien metropolises, each with their own histories and mysteries to uncover. Bethesda's next-gen Creation Engine 2 enables an unprecedented level of detail and immersion. Between action-packed missions, customize your player character, spaceship, and crew to create a distinct spacefaring identity. For RPG fans yearning for seemingly endless horizons, Starfield's galaxy teeming with factions, cultures, and adventures aims to be Bethesda's most expansive game yet.

4. Hogwarts Legacy

Step into the wizarding world like never before in Hogwarts Legacy. This immersive open world action RPG is set in the 1800s Harry Potter universe. Create your own witch or wizard and experience life as a Hogwarts student. Master spellcasting and potions in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Herbology classes. Explore the halls, secrets, and grounds of the castle. But a dark mystery encroaches as you join the fight against rogue goblins and Dark wizards. Hogwarts Legacy enchants with rich magical systems and the ability to tame magical beasts. This is the perfect virtual fantasy fulfillment for Potterheads.

5. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

The next entry in Activision's blockbuster FPS franchise, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II raises the bar with bombastic campaign set-pieces and honed multiplayer. The cinematic campaign continues the story of Task Force 141 with globally-traversing missions. Multiplayer adds tactically-focused modes like Knockout and Prisoner Rescue, alongside traditional chaotic maps and mods. Modern Warfare II also packs in an expanded DMZ mode inspired by Escape from Tarkov. With AAA polish and presentation across campaign, multiplayer, and spec ops, Modern Warfare II proves Call of Duty is still king of military shooters.

6. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

Reunion Final Fantasy VII is considered one of the most groundbreaking and influential RPGs ever made. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion gives players a chance to experience the prequel story that fleshed out iconic characters like Zack Fair and Sephiroth. This full HD remaster modernizes the graphics and combat of the 2007 PSP original. The moving tale that revealed Cloud Strife's backstory has never looked or played better. For both nostalgic fans and those discovering Crisis Core for the first time, this is the definitive way to play a vital piece of Final Fantasy's epic saga.

7. Persona 5 Royal

Persona 5 Royal makes its debut on PC, bringing the definitive edition of this stylish Japanese RPG. Step into the phantom thief shoes of Joker and explore Tokyo while navigating high school life by day and delving into surreal dungeons at night. The acclaimed social simulation features deep bonds with confidants and party members. Royal adds a sizable new story arc and characters to the original's 120 hour adventure. From the jazzy acid jazz soundtrack to the flashy user interface, Persona 5 Royal is a one-of-a-kind modern classic.

8. Victoria 3

Victoria 3 elevates the historical strategy genre with new political and economic depths. Paradox's complex grand strategy game focuses on the shifting politics, technologies, and ideologies of the 19th century. Manage production, trade, and diplomacy to steer your chosen nation through the unpredictable Industrial Era. Revolutionary warfare, ideological struggles between social classes, and dynamic population needs create challenges. With realistic systems and far-reaching consequences, Victoria 3 crafts an tremendously reactive sandbox that makes history feel alive.

9. Silksong

Hollow Knight forged a reputation as one of the best modern metroidvanias with its haunting bug kingdom of Hallownest. The highly anticipated sequel, Silksong, promises an even bigger adventure centered on Hornet in the sprawling new kingdom of Pharloom. Hornet must master nimble new traversal skills and weapons to battle invading insects and unravel Pharloom's mysteries. With over 150 new enemies, fluid parkour platforming, and a charming hand-drawn aesthetic, Silksong expands on everything that made Hollow Knight so distinct and engrossing.

10. Dead Space

The 2008 survival horror classic returns from the grave completely remade. Dead Space retains the sci-fi horror story of Isaac Clarke trapped on a monster-infested spaceship but magnifies the tension and terror to astounding effect. State-of-the-art graphics make the Necromorphs more grotesque than ever. Improved gameplay modernizes gunplay and zero-G movement while keeping the eerie atmosphere intact. Few remakes could do justice to a masterwork of horror, but the new Dead Space terrorizes a whole new generation while honoring the original.

Conclusion

The assembled games run the gamut from fantastical to futuristic, leveraging the PC's power to realize their developers' grandest ambitions. These titles captivate with stories that tap deeply into the human experience, worlds that feel alive, and gameplay perfected through meticulous iteration. Their visionary heights represent players' soaring imaginations brought to vivid life. As gaming continues to evolve as an artform, these works stand as testaments to the mediums' ability to inspire awe, foster empathy, and transport us to places far beyond our everyday lives. Though diverse, they are bound by technical excellence, progressive ideas, and most importantly, the passion to show what games can be.

Explore more topics:

• Best places to buy refurbished or used iPhones

• Best VPN for iPhone and iPad