Just Built a PC - Help Me Put Games Inside of It

Hey Everybody,

I built a PC this week, and I am ready to put it through its paces. I was hoping that some of you could suggest some "must play" titles. Some background: I have been exclusively playing on consoles for the last decade or so, as I have not had a computer capable of running anything remotely modern. I built this machine not only because consoles are starting to show their age graphically, but also because it seems like you can get some really unique experiences on the PC. So, what are those experiences? Great simulations? Great RPGs? Great anything that uses a mouse as its primary means of control? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

If you haven't checked out the Witcher games yet, do that. Witcher 1 is good but 2 is okay to jump into. It'll look nice on your computer too. Really interesting RPGs with choice but compared to Bioware, lots of grey areas. Also a really interesting world.

I highly recommend the Total War series for the type of thing you just can't get on a console. Strategy overworld with tactical battles that involve huge amounts of troops with real formations and everything. Rome Total War is my favorite in the series but the recent Shogun is great too.

Dawn of War II is awesome. It's basically a tactical action RPG, very unique and the Warhammer 40k universe is one of the best out there.

Mount and Blade is a very cool series that's far different than stuff you'd see on consoles. It's a medieval sim. You get to take control of a leader who can go around being a bandit, pleding allegiance to various factions, taking part in tournaments, and fighting in large battles. You can be infantry, but the real draw is the horseback riding and combat which is really awesome. It has a multiplayer and a great mod scene too. If you're interested, Warband is the best in the series and it's like $10 or so. The graphics are pretty low rent but the game is a blast.

Just a few recent ones that jump out to me. Have fun dude! I'll let you know if I think of anything else.

Starcraft 2 is a great PC only experience.

I'd say either go through some of the pc quick looks on the site or hit up steam/good old games. Either of these sites will give you a good collection to work with where the games are only on the PC or better on there. Depends really on how far back in the pc game library you are willing to go as there's some gems out there but not done recently.

@ArtisanBreads: Thanks for the reply. I am a little intimidated by the RTS genre, to be honest. TBS is probably more my thing - so I may have to check out Total War.

• Civilization V & Gods & Kings
• The Witcher & The Witcher 2

@newhatter said:

@ArtisanBreads: Thanks for the reply. I am a little intimidated by the RTS genre, to be honest. TBS is probably more my thing - so I may have to check out Total War.

Well Total War does have real time battles but the overworld is all turn based. In the battles you have a pause function and it's easier to focus because it's not like Starcraft or something where you have to manage a base. It's just managing your troops themselves, which are all in big formations and there isn't a lot of micromanaging to it. It's basically all about positioning, flanking, protecting archers, that kind of thing.

Check out some videos to see if it's something you'd be interested in.

Now that I think about it, another interesting TBS game I really liked is Silent Storm, if you liked the recent XCOM. It's turn based with more micromanagement than XCOM has but more depth. Takes place in World War II. Not sure where it's still available, probably on GOG.com. That one's older but you probably haven't played it.

And if you are worried about Dawn of War II because you find RTS intimidating you should check out gameplay of that as well because it's really an action RPG, something like Diablo, more than an RTS really.

@FritzDude: Civ V is definitely on my radar. Missed the Steam sale, though, for which I am now kicking myself.

Add me on Steam, I have an extra copy of Civ 5. Rentfn. Welcome to PC gaming!!!

Skyrim, Sleeping Dogs and Far Cry 3 for some really nice looking games.

@rentfn: Wow. That is pretty gosh darn generous of you!

Looking at my Steam list for games not yet mentioned...

Company of Heroes

World in Conflict

Diablo III (whatever haters)

Any flight sim kicks all console ass, MS FSX, DCS A-10 Warthog, Wings of Prey.

Don't ignore any console games that you may not have played, most of the time they are better on PC.

Counterstrike: GO is pretty good and cheap.

Chivalry is fun n cheap as well.

Dragon Age Origins. It's lightyears better on the PC over the console.

@newhatter said:

Hey Everybody,

I built a PC this week, and I am ready to put it through its paces. I was hoping that some of you could suggest some "must play" titles. Some background: I have been exclusively playing on consoles for the last decade or so, as I have not had a computer capable of running anything remotely modern. I built this machine not only because consoles are starting to show their age graphically, but also because it seems like you can get some really unique experiences on the PC. So, what are those experiences? Great simulations? Great RPGs? Great anything that uses a mouse as its primary means of control? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

FTL is $5 on Steam right now.

Free games that are cool:

• Team Fortress 2
• Tribes Ascend
• PlanetSide 2
• Super Monday Night Combat
• Katawa Shoujo

@PenguinDust said:

Dragon Age Origins. It's lightyears better on the PC over the console.

It also has the added benefit of not being Dragon Age 2 !

The Witcher 1 and 2. You could get 2 on 360 but the PC version looks really, really good.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat or Shadow of Chernobyl for open-world hardcore Eastern European buggy weird shooter post-apocalyptic goodness.

Crysis 1 is a different beast on PC than its console counterpart. OK, the levels and guns and stuff are the same, but it looks and runs so much better and the powers are separated.

Dragon Age Origins is also a game that plays a whole lot better with a mouse and keyboard. The console version plays fine but after seeing how much more I can do, and how much better I can do it, with a mouse and keyboard, I don't want to go back to a console for this game.

Battlefield 3, for the massive 64 player battles.

Team Fortress 2

Portal 2 for all of the user-made content. Also, every Bethesda game since Morrowind for the mods.

Finally, you have to play Half-Life at some point.

If you want to test its power, Metro 2033, Witcher 2, Sleeping Dogs, and the original Crysis.

Thanks everybody. Certainly keep the suggestions coming, but I definitely have a good base to start with now.