Last updated on January 23, 2026
If you’ve been around PC gaming long enough, you know the list is never really finished. In 2026 pc games can mean anything from a 20-hour story you binge in a weekend to the kind of multiplayer you keep installed for months, just in case the squad pings you at midnight. The problem isn’t finding games, it’s finding the ones that actually stick.
That’s what this top 20 is for: a mix of titles that are worth your time because they deliver something memorable, not because they’re loud. Some are pure comfort, some demand skill and some surprise you with how deep they go, but all of them earn the hours you put in.
Elden Ring
It’s the kind of game where you set out to “just explore” and suddenly you’re deep underground fighting something you definitely weren’t ready for. The world loves to hide entire areas behind a random cave or a suspicious elevator. Brutal sometimes, yes but the wins feel earned in a way most action RPGs don’t manage.
Forza Horizon 5
This one is basically a road trip with a garage obsession attached. You can treat it like a serious racer, but it shines when you’re just roaming, hunting corners, swapping cars, and doing stupidly clean drifts for no real reason. It’s bright, fast and easy to enjoy even if you’re not “a racing person.”
Alan Wake 2
It leans hard into mood. Long stretches where you’re just listening, watching, second-guessing shadows. The game doesn’t rush to show you the monster, it prefers making you uncomfortable first. If you enjoy horror that’s more “what is happening to my head?” than “here’s a shotgun, go,” this fits.
Baldur’s Gate 3
This is the one where “I wonder if I can…” is usually followed by “oh wow, I can.” The best moments aren’t scripted cutscenes, they’re your decisions colliding with the world and the party reacting like real people. Also, it’s shockingly funny when you least expect it.
Helldivers 2
You drop in with a plan and it lasts about 30 seconds. After that it’s smoke, screams, last-second revives, and somebody calling in the wrong stratagem on your head. If you’ve got a squad, it prints stories.
Red Dead Redemption 2
It’s still the king of “I was supposed to do a mission but ended up doing something else for three hours.” The world isn’t just big, it’s convincing, towns have a mood, conversations feel natural.
Resident Evil 4
It moves like a rollercoaster that never loses momentum. You get tension, then action, then a quick breath, then something jumps you again. The remake keeps the personality while making the combat feel sharper and more physical.
Hades 2
It’s the “one more run” trap, upgraded. Combat is fast and stylish, builds get addictive, and the dialogue keeps pulling you back even when you’re technically failing. Somehow it makes repetition feel like momentum.
Cyberpunk 2077
The Night City is still unmatched for vibe with neons, rain, noise and that feeling that you’re small in a huge city. What makes it stick now isn’t just the visuals—it’s the quests that get personal and messy, where you don’t get a clean win. You can play it like an action game, but it is better when you slow down and live in it.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Even now, few games do side quests like this. You go in expecting a simple job and come out with a moral problem and a bad feeling. It’s long, but it’s the rare long game that actually earns the hours.
Black Myth: Wukong
It has that “boss fight is the headline” energy. Gorgeous, yes, but also demanding, with combat that punishes sloppy timing. The myth vibe gives it personality you can spot in five seconds.
Path of Exile 2
This is for the players who enjoy planning as much as playing. You’ll spend time tweaking a build, chasing one perfect upgrade, and then suddenly it’s 2 AM. If you like ARPGs as a hobby, it’s an easy pick.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
It’s not trying to be a modern tactical shooter with an Indy skin. It’s aiming for adventure: exploring, poking at mysteries, getting caught, improvising, escaping. If the tone lands, it scratches that old-school “movie night” feeling where danger and charm sit in the same scene.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
You are not here to negotiate. Space Marine 2 is built around momentum, charging forward, carving through crowds, and feeling like a walking weapon in a war that never calms down. It’s heavy, loud and committed to the spectacle. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
This is medieval life sim energy, but with a sharper edge. Kingdom Come 2 doubles down on realism: social systems, consequences, and a world that doesn’t revolve around you being “the chosen one.” Combat is grounded and can be punishing, but it is rewarding once you stop playing it like an arcade brawler. For players who want immersion and authenticity over flashy fantasy, this game is a standout.
Arc Raiders
Every run is a tiny argument with yourself. Leave now with decent loot, or stay longer and risk everything for one more find. The tension is the feature, and it’s addictive if you like high-stakes decisions.
Silent Hill f
It looks like horror that creeps in through the cracks, not the jumps. Pretty scenes that feel wrong, like the world is rotting politely. If it sticks the landing, this could be the kind of game you don’t want to play alone at night.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
The appeal is that mix of beauty and punishment. You explore, get lost, get humbled by a boss, then come back cleaner and faster. If you love movement-focused Metroidvanias, it’s basically mandatory.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
It has a strong identity right away, not “fantasy RPG number 900.” The art direction is striking, the premise is weird in a good way, and the combat looks like it wants you awake at the wheel. One of those games that could become a cult favorite fast.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Oblivion has that classic Bethesda chaos where your “main quest” becomes whatever distraction grabs you first. Strange quests, awkward NPC energy, and lots of wandering that turns into an accidental adventure. A remaster just makes it easier to sink into without wrestling the old edges.
I write for Need4Games, mostly keeping track of what’s coming next. I cover showcases and release updates, put together quick lists when you just want the highlights, and I’ll post Steam deal roundups when the sales get wild. I play a lot of games, so I tend to look at games through that lens. No overthinking, just: what it is, why it’s interesting, and if it’s actually worth your time. I also stream now and then on Twitch.
