The PC has no problems churning out great games year after year. Now that we're midway through the year, we've sifted through the over 100 releases this year to bring you the Top 10 PC Games of 2020 So Far, arranged by playscore.
See the more titles with our list of all the best PC games of all time!
10. Streets of Rage 4
It took three decades of waiting, but the classic beat 'em up finally makes a return. Led by the folks at Lizardcube, Streets of Rage 4 aimed to bring the arcade experience to modern consoles with a fresh coat of paint. And, that's exactly what they achieved: moving away from the pixels, into smooth cartoon visuals, and expanding combat with a few new skills.
Content-wise, this may have been a little too thin a modern sequel for some reviewers. As IGN puts it, "Streets of Rage 4 definitely prioritises nostalgia over any kind of big modern reinvention."
However, by bringing back a brand of action that's been badly missed for years, Lizardcube has definitely achieved its goals. The difficulty continues to rage on, and with the new multiplayer modes, you can even do it with friends.
It has a playscore of 8.68
9. The Pedestrian
This next game requires a different kind of street smarts. A puzzle platformer from Skookum Arts, it definitely makes an impression, right from the first look. With a game world taking place in and out of city signs, it's both familiar and fascinating. Aside from the distinct charm of its presentation--which shows the rich environment around the signs--, the gameplay is also really solid, allowing for a variety of amusing interactions. Rearrange the boards, connect the dots, pull down levers, and everything else in order to get to that final exit.
While it was just neat and tidy enough to get a critic score of 7.82, its gamerscore show that they were more than impressed, giving it a total playscore of 8.71
8. Black Mesa
This FPS from Crowbar Collective demonstrates that Valve's iconic series has one hell of a half-life itself. Decades after the game's first release, Gordon Freeman's sci-fi shooting escapades get an unofficial re-envisioning.
As a fan-made game, the fact that Valve allowed it to be released is a testament to its quality. While it doesn't offer a full-blown new-gen remake, critics cite it as one of the best ways to experience the classic game in the modern age. Not only is it faithful--giving justice to the combat and the atmosphere of the series--it also makes changes on the Xen part which remains a heavily criticized part of the 1998 original.
Technical flaws notwithstanding, this 8-year labor of love is worth a look, whether for fans wishing to relive a classic or for newcomers who want a less dated experience. It gets a score of 8.87
7. Monster Train
We already had a taste of roguelike deck building with Slay the Spire last year. This year, it looks like developer Shiny Shoe is following its footsteps, this time with a monster train to hell and a harrowing climb to boot.
There is a remarkable simplicity in the game's mechanics, but with it, comes the undeniable thrill of its matches, like finding awesome new synergies between cards and witnessing the fireworks of a good combo. Monster Train has its own complexities hidden beneath its playful style.
Bravely taking inspiration from such a strong strategic contender like Slay the Spire, the comparisons are inevitable. And, while it falls short of reaching that level, it remains a welcome new diversion for fans of the growing genre. It has a playscore of 8.86
6. Lair of the Clockwork God
Another indie game has made it onto our PC halfway list. Proud to say it's a fast-paced point and click puzzle adventure and an indie platformer in one, Lair of the Clockwork God gives your money's worth with two varieties of fun.
It tickles two different genres alternately throughout dual protagonists, Ben and Dan's adventures, creating a decent balance that will impress fans of either kind. The game has been praised for the sum of all its cleverness--not just in the very British banter it presents between the two characters, but also in the push and pull between the contemplative puzzle stages and the pixel-perfection of their platforming.
With the success of this bold project, this hopefully won't be the last we see of Ben and Dan. It has a playscore of 8.89
5. Deep Rock Galactic
This here is a dwarf's wet dream, combining the mythical race's love for working side by side in mining, and fighting. It might have a more science fiction feel to its environments though, but it stays true to fantasy dwarf lore with its co-op multiplayer gameplay. Letting you hang around with up to three of your friends, dig, explore, and fight your way through their satisfyingly destructible and procedurally generated cave system.
It seems Ghost Ship Games went tunnel vision on providing an excellent haven for coop action and that's exactly what they delivered here. Learn to synergize with teammates using their four different classes, and immerse yourself in the role of a space dwarf in a game teeming with content and fun. It has a score of 8.91
4. Persona 4 Golden
This may not be a totally brand new game from Atlus, but it is the first time that this groundbreaking Persona entry made it to the PC. This edition, which includes new features, characters, and story elements, was first released on the PS Vita in 2012. With this move to a new platform 8 years later, it received a few more enhancements to the experience, such as additional Japanese voiceovers and a much needed high definition makeover.
While it's not the recent, phenomenal PlayStation exclusive, Persona 5, this game provides a perfect opportunity to get into a series known for its fantastic storytelling, colorful characters and interactions, as well as its combat and mystery. Getting more than half a million sales in the first half, this is definitely a time-tested title and it gets a playscore of 9.01
3. Desperados III
Following the release of the latest Red Dead Redemption entry, we get another look at life in the Wild Wild West, but this time from the folks at THQ Nordic.
But while Red Dead deals in thrills of shooting and exploration, Desperados challenges your strategic skills while playing the role of John Cooper and his gang in his quest for redemption. Roam around their beautiful, perpetually sundown environments, and figure out how to get through each daunting stage.
There's a lot to tinker with thanks to its various level design. Although it may have its frustrating moments, according to PC Invasion, "for those craving a certain test of your tactical acumen, Desperados III is a perfectly rewarding experience from start to finish."
It receives a playscore of 9.04
2. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
After the stir it caused with its first entry, we expected the sequel to the beloved Microsoft Exclusive to bring more of the same magic that the first one brought.
However, it seems that it brought a different kind of flavor to its familiar charms. It builds upon the world that they created, expanding it further with new platforming mechanics and improved combat.
Some reviewers didn't quite like their move away from the simplicity of Blind Forest, but together with its beauty and Metroidvania precision, it's still a worthy sequel. According to Destructoid, "Ori and the Will of the Wisps loses some of the simplicity and innocence...but it steps up in turn with bite and refinement."
Still as beautiful as we remembered it, it has a playscore of 9.1
1. Half-Life: Alyx
It seems Valve has taken in all of everyone's Half-Life 3 expectations and used all our energies to create something entirely different. Alyx is not the sequel we were all expecting, but within this virtual reality world, they recreated the same atmosphere, action, and intrigue that we loved from the Half-Life series, and added a fresh layer of technical genius.
A prequel set between Half Life 1 and Half Life 2, take on the shoes of Alyx Vance as she roams around City 17 and meets some familiar faces. We might have expected Valve to deliver a quality experience, but they definitely broke new grounds in the VR world, creating a full-fledged singleplayer experience packed with unprecedented graphical quality, believeable physics, and a captivating storyline.
It's the first half of 2020's runaway winner with a playscore of 9.49
Here are the runners-up:
15. DOOM Eternal
Tripping on its own ambitiousness in some, this latest Doom title is still a phenomenal experience that raises the stakes that the reboot series began. Takedown the legions of hell and heaven in their expansive campaign, and expanded multiplayer
14. The Room VR: A Dark Matter
After being one of the most awesome puzzle games on the mobile, Fireproof Games took their tried and tested formula to the VR. Walk around in their renowned environments, gather clues, and leave no virtual stone unturned.
13. Command & Conquer Remastered
The time to relive the strategy classic has come. After shaping many of our childhoods, the series makes a return with eye-popping visuals, enhanced UI, and a revamped soundtrack.
12. The Procession to Calvary
For anyone that's a fan of Python-esque silliness and medieval settings, this point and click adventure is worth checking out. Live out the life of a Terry Gilliam cutout in this laugh out loud journey of corruption, conspiracy, and miracles.
11. WORLD OF HORROR
Thanks to Junji Ito, we all know how creepy black and white anime images can be. This love letter to the iconic horror mangaka pays tribute to that art, injecting the formula into a turn-based roguelite RPG.