Some of the best PC games out there have been released in the past decade, to the point of putting PC gaming on par with the latest consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. And thanks to services like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, it can be cheaper than ever to get access to some of the best games. 

In some cases, PC gaming can even be preferable to consoles due to the technical advantages that the best graphics card can offer. Some of these enhancements include higher framerates, resolutions, features such as ray-tracing, DLSS and HDR. Strategy games fans and those who love to get their hands on weird smaller titles are well served here too as the PC has a wider selection available than any other platform. 

Let's be honest, if you know your way around a mouse, it's the best place to play shooters too. Sorry, but it's true.  

So whether you have a tricked-out PC gaming setup or looking for games to play on your productivity laptop, we’ve put together a list of the best PC games you can find right now. Of course, not every game is for every person, but there are definitely at least one or two titles on there for you.

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Elden Ring is all anyone can really talk about these days, and for good reason. FromSoftware's latest punishment simulator has all the familiar touchstones of a soulslike, but expanded out into an open world with a story crafted by Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, so you know it's not going to pull any punches.

The PC version of the game has had some performance issues that FromSoftware is working on patching. Still, even with these issues, it's unquestionably one of the best games, if not the best, that the studio has ever put out. 

As devoted fans of the studio's work since the original Demons' Souls on the PS3, we don't offer that kind of praise lightly, but like the Souls-like genre itself, you gotta earn it, and FromSoftware unquestionably does with Elden Ring.  

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is aging like fine wine. Even several years after it hit the streets, it’s still one of the most impressive open-world games to exist – mixing Skyrim’s unapologetic scale with Grand Theft Auto V’s incredible depth. It’s such a jam-packed game, which is why it's still near the top of the best PC games in 2023. 

Staggering, beautiful and an absolute time sink – in a good way – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt isn’t just one of the best PC games of 2023 or among the best open-world games on PC. It might just be one of the best video games of all time.

One of the best RPGs in recent years, Baldur's Gate 3 invites you to explore a rich fantasy world full of a mind-boggling array of possibilities. A traditional RPG in the mold of Dragon Age: Origins, and the original Baldur's Gate series, Baldur's Gate 3 has you control a group of adventurers isometrically stopping for occasional bouts of turn-based combat as you make your way through the world. 

The game boasts hours of cinematics, offering a level of cinematic ambition that rivals many of the other entries on this list. The main story is an immersive, high-fantasy adventure worthy of even the best Dungeons and Dragons campaign, while the combat mechanics give even the best PC strategy games a run for their money. 

Ultra-violence and constant motion meet in this post-apocalyptic dystopian game. This FPP is not for the faint of heart – it’s tense and exhilarating, and you'll probably die repeatedly trying to beat it. If you ever wanted a game that came in equal parts Doom Eternal and Mirror’s Edge, you found it in Ghostrunner.

The game is set in Dharma Tower, a sort of last refuge for humanity, where you ascend the tower through platforming and katana-induced carnage to take revenge on a ruthless ruler. You do so by slicing up your enemies, dodging bullets, and using a number of unique abilities to continue making your way to the top. This is the kind of game that will leave you out of breath just playing it. If that sounds like your kind of game, then you’re in for a treat.

Open-world zombie games may seem a little clichè these days but Dead Island 2 has managed to keep things fresh with buckets of over-the-top gore and some pretty meaty first-person melee combat. 

The parody version of Los Angeles you'll explore is fresh and interesting and features a lot of satirical nods to modern culture - something you would expect when the US is being skewered by a bunch of people working in an office in Nottingham. Solid combat, an interesting world, and the ability to dropkick zombies through plate glass windows? This might just be a winner, and that's before you get your hands on an electrified combat knife. Don't get us started on the swimming pool full of acid, either.

Supergiant Games made a name for itself thanks to the great reception that Pyre, Transistor, and Bastion received. Now, fans of the studio have a new entry to add to the studio’s pantheon of great games: Hades. Hades uses the same isometric view of the other games and tells the story of Hades’ son, Zagreus, trying to escape the underworld.

This roguelike dungeon crawler has a few new features up its sleeve. Not only can you romance some characters for extra bonuses, but dying in the game doesn’t start you at the last checkpoint. When you die, you might start at the beginning but you’re not starting over. You’re able to upgrade your character and weapons to improve your chances of escaping with each subsequent death. This leads to a sense of progression that makes for a very addictive game.

God of War as a series has been around since 2005. And, though it’s had many entries over the years, the one from 2018 has reinvigorated the series, whether that’s due to a new setting – you’re not exploring some hellscape version of Greece anymore – or the fact that Kratos now has a companion on his journey.

This former PlayStation exclusive finds you playing as Kratos, the demigod that’s taken down just about the entire Greek pantheon in the previous games, as he and his son travel to the top of the mountain to scatter his dead wife’s ashes in a Norse-inspired mythological setting. Of course, being a God of War game, you’ll have to fight your way through all sorts of creatures and gods on the way.

Beyond its impeccable graphics and its excellent peripheral support, it won’t take you long to realize that Microsoft Flight Simulator is a labor of love. There’s great attention to detail here, as well as a level of realism and immersion you won’t find elsewhere. 

So much so that if you’re not a fan of flight simulations, you’ll want to start getting on the bandwagon. However, that also means this game won’t be for everyone. Still, if you’re a flight sim fanatic or you love planes and flying, you’ll relish the chance to fly iconic vehicles in some of the most beautiful yet dangerous locations and conditions in the world.

Doom Eternal takes everything from the remastered Doom (2016) and turns it up to 11. The game is intense, visually, and sonically overwhelming, and is exactly what you would expect a fever dream inspired by Doom would feel like.

The game offers a seamless first-person shooter where you trek into hell to battle an assortment of never-ending demons and reclaim an overrun earth. Refilling your health sometimes requires quite literally tearing monsters apart, and there is some need to be creative with your weapon choice, depending on what demon you’re facing. However, this game is all about creating havoc and rushing into battle as loud and as brash as possible.

Not only is Doom: Eternal a hell of a ride (pun intended), but it’s also a gorgeous-looking game that takes advantage of the newest hardware. And, it’s a 2v1 multiplayer mode where one player takes control of the “slayer” and faces off against two more player-controlled demons.

Diablo 4 is the latest entry in Blizzard's iconic action RPG series. With its distinctive gothic art style and modern open-world layout, Diablo 4 offers a co-op-friendly dark fantasy experience. Join up with friends or play solo as you attempt to save the world of Sanctuary from the dark machinations of the nefarious Lilith. 

Customize your character with dozens of different abilities and hundreds of different gear options as you craft your own bespoke adventurer. Choose from five distinctive classes, each with its own unique mechanics and ability combinations. Diablo 4 also offers a seamless multiplayer experience, allowing you to enlist the help of friends as you delve into the game's foreboding dungeons.

Game Pass on both console and PC is a fantastic way to try new titles that you may not pick up otherwise, and there's a significant library to explore which is everchanging. We've got a list of the best Xbox Game Pass games, in case you want a little extra guidance on which games to pick up, but generally, we would recommend the subscription service to anyone who's looking to get a little more bang for their buck. 

As of 2023, the most popular/most-sold game on PC is Minecraft. The sandbox survival title has been incredibly popular since its initial release in 2011, with millions of players have been enjoying its content since. Despite its popularity, we haven't included it on our list due to the game being available across all major platforms, and while it is a fantastic game, we wanted out list to spotlight what we consider to be the titles that make the most of a PC gaming experience. 

The team behind TechRadar Gaming has spent thousands of hours testing out the best PC games, so we know exactly which titles are worth recommending, and which titles are worth giving a miss. Between us, we have interests in almost all genres, so any title you're considering picking up has more than likely been played by a member of the team at some point. 

Because of just how long we've spent jumping in and out of games of all kinds, we've got opinions you can trust. Our experience means our picks have been carefully considered, so there's bound to be something you enjoy within one of our best lists. 

If you're looking for other ways to make the most of your PC, it's worth checking out the best multiplayer games on PC, alongside the best Game Pass games and the best single-player games.