Gaming on a PC can be an intimidating venture for a lot of people. Veterans of the platform will tell you how cheap it is compared to consoles, and that’s likely true in a lot of cases. The problem as we see it, however, is that most people are turned off by the idea of building or upgrading, and even having to use a mouse and keyboard. Simply put, some people just want to lean back on the couch with a controller in hand and game like they did with the Nintendo Entertainment System in the 1980s.
The problem with that approach is that there are too many great PC exclusives to ignore, and most of them aren’t resource hogs that require a super-computer to run. With that being said, in the spirit of helping you discover some awesome games that your PlayStation 4 and Xbox One don’t have, here are five PC games you should play today.
5. Goat Simulator
Let’s start off with something beyond ridiculous and far more enjoyable than it should be. Goat Simulator was released via Steam on April 1, 2014, and it wasn’t an April Fool’s prank. What started as a joke within Coffee Stain Studios quickly became one of the greatest time wasters in video game history. Don’t even bother reading a review for it, because it’s terrible yet absolutely incredible at the same time. You can Buy Goat Simulator on Steam right now.
4. Civilization V: Brave New World
Who doesn’t want to rule the world, building the empire they’ve always dreamed of? Civilization V requires more resources from your PC than Goat Simulator, but it’s one of the best turn based strategy games of all-time, if not the best. The good news is, with Civilization: Beyond Earth set to release on October 24, 2014, you can Snag Civilization V and still keep some money in your wallet.
3. Unturned
Besides being a mix between Minecraft and DayZ, the best part about Unturned is that it’s free-to-play, meaning you don’t have to spend a dime to start having fun. Developed by Nelson Sexton, a 17-year-old from Canada, the game requires you to loot for supplies and battle against zombies to survive. It’s also very likely the first game in history to feature Prince Edward Island as a location, and it will most likely be the last. Play for Free on Steam.
2. The Stanley Parable
Created by Davey Wreden, The Stanley Parable is a single-player title that is designed to go against the narrative and rules that commonly confine games. Stanley, the protagonist, works in an office building and mindlessly presses buttons on his keyboard. When the screen goes blank, he begins to explore the office and finds it empty. As Stanley moves throughout the world the narrator will go on telling the story, and even suggest which choices the player will make before they make them. At that point Stanley can choose to go with the narrative or against it, and can ultimately arrive at six possible endings. The game scored critical acclaim across the board, and would make for a great first-step into PC gaming. The Stanley Parable can be Purchased on Steam.
1. Gone Home
Gone Home is a first-person interactive story adventure video game that focuses on exploration of its setting. It takes place in June 1995 at a house in the Pacific Northwest. When a young woman returns home from a trip abroad, she finds her family missing and must piece together what happened. It’s not only critically acclaimed, but also considered one of the better examples of story-telling in video games. You can Purchase Gone Home on Steam.
