Twenty-two games is a solid number of titles, spread across multiple genres, with selections for just about every age group. Why 22 games, though? Any less makes it hard to narrow things down, and any more might be overwhelming. That includes some of our personal favorites, but also older games that cast a long shadow.
So, a warning upfront: Unlike our other Essentials lists, this one covers a catalog that’s spread across multiple decades, and focuses on the 22 games on the platform we think everyone should play if they want to get the most out of PC gaming. As a result, PC gaming is able to quickly pivot both toward and away from trends to give its players unique and amazing experiences. Gaming PCs, especially powerful ones, may be more expensive than consoles, but PCs have flexibility, moddability, and power unavailable in the competition.
