Games every PC gamer needs to play at least once

The greatest thing about being a PC gamer isn’t the amazing graphics, competitive gaming scene, or customisation – it’s the endless amount of games on offer.

Many great PC games have been released throughout the years, but very few leave a permanent mark on gaming history.

Some games are a must-play for any PC gamer, whether it’s because of their innovation, community impact, or stellar gameplay.

Check out these games every PC gamer should play at least once:

Half-Life 2

Half-Life 2 was a revolutionary game when it was released, and consistently ranks among the best games of all time.

Introducing brand-new mechanics for physics in video games, Valve’s Half-Life sequel took the original mod and turned it into something timeless.

The game still holds up well to date, and its fluid gameplay and immersive world are unmissable.

Sid Meier’s Civilization

Sid Meier’s Civilization introduced the PC gaming world to the 4X genre and has become one of the most popular strategy franchises of all time.

Although any Civilization game contains the addictive turn-based core of the genre, Civilization V: Brave New World and Civilization IV are the most highly-acclaimed modern releases in the series.

Portal

Portal is a must-play simply for its unique and creative gameplay mechanics.

Both Portal 1 and 2 are great games, although the second is much longer than the first, and features interesting new puzzles.

The game’s mechanics are difficult to wrap your head around at first, but pretty soon you’ll be thinking in portals.

Age of Empires II

Age of Empires II is one of the best real-time strategy games of all time, mixing complex gameplay with balanced multiplayer.

Although it has aged a fair amount, gamers who haven’t yet played the classic title can pick up the HD version, which includes resolution fixes and updated textures.

Minecraft

Although many PC gamers might neglect Minecraft due to its association with a young audience and YouTube personalities, this unique game introduces an unprecedented amount of freedom to the sandbox genre.

Featuring polished multiplayer and endless possibilities, gamers will be pleasantly surprised with the game’s depth, and instantly addicted to its limitless creation.

World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft is the grandfather of the MMO genre, and remains one of the biggest MMORPGs of all time.

The game has changed many times since its initial release, but is still a must-play for any gamer who wants to experience the possibilities of open-world multiplayer.