Best PC Games 2023: All our favourite PC picks to play right now

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We play every game we review through to the end, outside of certain exceptions where getting 100% completion, like Skyrim, is close to impossible to do. When we don’t fully finish a game before reviewing it we will always alert the reader.

Forza Horizon 5

Best racer on PC

We were so impressed with Forza Horizon 5 that we gave it a perfect score. This sandbox racer is set in Mexico, featuring a wide range of jaw-dropping biomes from vast deserts to lush jungles. While races offer heart-pounding fun, you can have just as much fun simply exploring the map.

The driving feels fantastic, even if it does have an arcadey slant rather than making the exercise hyperrealistic. You don’t need to be a huge car fan to have fun here, separating Horizon from its more serious Forza Motorsport sibling.

You can play solo or with a group of friends too, making Forza Horizon 5 impressively versatile. So if your squad is fatigued from gunning down in Call of Duty Warzone, this is a fantastic alternative to take for a test drive.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Forza Horizon 5 Review

Elden Ring

Best Souls game

Elden Ringis the latest RPG from FromSoftware that brings in a large open world to explore and a compelling narrative, alongside the famous combat and lore from the publisher’s own Dark Souls series. While this game is definitely about fighting and not about talking, it’s great to meet characters that were hinted at in past games and to learn more about the overall lore.

The open-world map is epic in scale, with the beginning of the game not pushing towards any missions or tasks, giving the player the chance to traverse the lands and get to grips with the new gameplay mechanics, including a fully-fledged jump button.

If you’re interested in diving into a challenging but rewarding RPG with a fantastic aesthetic, Elden Ring is the perfect game to check out this year. While this title won’t be for everyone, due to the inherently difficult gameplay, it’s worth the glory if you’re willing to step up to the plate.

Reviewer: Alastair Stevenson
Full Review: Elden Ring Review

Deathloop

An excellent time-bending shooter

Deathloop feels like a breath of fresh air compared to the other AAA games on the market. Instead of having traditional levels to play through, Deathloop locks you into a time loop which can only be broken by assassinating eight targets before the weekend is over.

Interestingly, you can’t simply jump into each location guns blazing to take down your targets, as you must instead do some sleuthing and clever time manipulation in order to put your carefully assembled dominos in place.

Throw in some absurdly fun supernatural abilities and the capability for online players to invade your game, and Deathloop becomes an absolute joy to play. If you’ve been complaining that modern games are all too similar, this is one of the best PC games that you buy right now.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Deathloop Review

Crusader Kings 3

Best strategy game

Crusader Kings 3 may look like a bore that only a history nerd could love, but it’s actually a ridiculously fun create-your-own-adventure epic, as you can become the ruler of any kingdom you fancy and change historical events for the better or worse.

You can take your crown seriously and try to conquer as much land as possible, or just have a ruddy good time by spending your money on parties and sleeping with every character that looks your way. There’s an excellent RPG system at play here, so you can make different builds with each character.

Strategy games such as Crusader Kings have understandably been intimidating for new players in the past, but this time round there’s an excellent tutorial, accompanied by detailed guides. It’s well worth a go if you have even the faintest interest in history, or you simply just want to wreak havoc as King of England.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Crusader Kings 3 Review

Best sports game

You may be repulsed by the idea of a game that involves spreadsheets and emails, but Football Manager 2022 is a surprisingly entertaining game. You can take control of any football team you fancy, and then fiddle with every aspect of the club, from what style of football you should be playing to what kind of salary your scouts should be getting.

Playing as Newcastle will grant you a whopping £200 million war chest in the latest iteration, allowing you to build up your own title-winning team from scratch. The introductions of the Data Hub and an expanded Transfer Deadline improve the immersion of being a head coach too, making this the best entry in the series yet.

It may not offer the end-to-end excitement of FIFA, but if you’ve ever wondered what managing a football club would be like, then Football Manager 2022 is your best opportunity.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Football Manager 2022 Review

It Takes Two

The best co-op PC game

Most multiplayer games are focused on pitting everyone against each other, but It Takes Two takes another approach. This is a co-op game that requires two players to work together, as a married couple in the process of divorce are magically turned into dolls.

With a new Toy Story-esque perception, there’s a fantastic variety of locations to explore here, from the innards of a grandfather clock to a ski resort inside a snow globe. As a platformer, you’ll be required to time your jumps and solve a number of puzzles.

Best of all, only one person needs a copy of the game in order for two to play online. So you’ll be able to buy it now and convince a mate to experience one of the absolute best PC games with co-op multiplayer.

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: It Takes Two Review

Resident Evil Village

Best horror PC game

Resident Evil Village may not be the scariest entry in the series, but it’s still a fantastic survival-horror game thanks to the abundance of vampires, werewolves and monsters baying for your blood.

Village has a great focus on combat compared to its predecessors, which may be frustrating for those who enjoyed the terror of sneaking past indestructible enemies. Despite this, the game still features a creepy and tense atmosphere that will linger in the memory long after the credits. The visuals look outstanding too if you’re able to crank up the graphics settings.

If you’re looking for a sweet but short campaign, with plenty of tropes to delight horror fans, then Resident Evil Village is one of the best PC games that’s currently available.

Reviewer: Alastair Stevenson
Full review: Resident Evil Village Review

Two Point Campus (2022)

Best management simulator

Two Point Campus sees you become the owner of a university, blending the management elements perfectly with quirky graphics and interesting characters to create a unique experience.

A large portion of this game is dedicated to customisation, as you’re tasked with creating your university campus from the ground up. You need to ensure that your campus is up to standards, with enough rooms like Student Lounges and Libraries to meet every student, and staff needs.

We loved how easy it was to customise your space, with options of funky decor like a Clown Dresser or Gothic Bookcase. And that’s not to mention how entertaining the courses are, with students taking Knight classes and Cooking seminars, it’s so easy to get lost in this world for hours on end making sure your campus is the best in town.

Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full review: Two Point Campus Review

Dying Light 2 Stay Human

Best zombie game

Dying Light 2 may look like your bog-standard zombie slasher on the surface, but it actually feels very different to the likes of Resident Evil thanks to its top-notch parkour system.

You’re able to climb up skyscrapers, soar through the air with a glider and even somersault over the undead. This makes fleeing from hordes of zombies even more fun, especially during the night when there are even more frightening monsters lurking in the streets.

Those looking for a proper horror game will likely be disappointed here, as Dying Light 2 is more interested in high-octane action than building up a creepy atmosphere. But if you’re squeamish and don’t fancy soiling your pants, this is likely the best zombie game for you.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Dying Light 2 Review

Halo Infinite

Best multiplayer shooter

Halo Infinite is one of the most popular shooters on PC right now. Its online multiplayer is free to play, and is well worth trying out with a group of friends, although you will need to pay upfront to experience the sixth mainline campaign in the series.

Master Chief once again stars in this latest outing, proving as resilient as ever following a crushing defeat by a new enemy: the Banished. He’s joined by a fantastic cast of characters, while also benefiting from a new grappling gun that allows you to zip across a battlefield in a blink of an eye.

The shooting mechanics are fantastic here too, with plenty of heart-pounding shootouts with a huge variety of sci-fi weapons. The new open-world map is admittedly disappointing, feeling somewhat empty and lifeless, but that’s easily forgivable when the gunplay is so much fun.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Halo Infinite Review