Finding the best Steam games is no easy task, considering that Valve’s popular storefront hosts over 50,000 games. Of course, a lot of these games are junk cash grabs (which is why you should know how to get a refund on Steam), but that still leaves a few thousand absolute gold titles. With so many great Steam games available, how can we narrow down a specific list of the best of the best?
It is definitely not easy. But if you are a new PC gamer, Steam should be one of the first programs you install, and one of the following games can be your first download. Whether you’re in the mood for demanding strategy games, expansive RPGs, or innovative first-person shooters, Steam has at least one excellent game to suit your taste – and possibly thousands more.
Just be aware that all of these games cost money; We rounded the Best Free Steam Games in another place. However, you can usually make a sale if you are patient.
1. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
Age of Empires II was one of the best RTS games of 1999, so it fits that Age of Empires II: The Definitive Edition It was one of the best RTS games of 2019. In this historical simulation, you take control of a medieval civilization and lead it to a glorious victory – or a shameful defeat. Age of Empires II offers over 30 playable civilizations, from the Aztecs and Incas, to the British and Franks, to Turks and Arabs, to Ethiopians and Malays, to Indians and Khmer, to Japanese and Koreans. Even just making your way through the diverse (and educational) single-player campaigns can take hundreds of hours.
2. Civilization VI
“One Turn Only” is the rallying cry of Civilization Six players everywhere. In this turn-based historical strategy game, you choose one of 18 global civilizations (Americans, Chinese, Egyptians, Congo, Romans, etc.), and then lead them all the way from the Stone Age to the Space Age. You can choose to conquer your enemies through military might, lead the world in scientific achievements, or become a utopia of artists and philosophers. With plenty of options to customize your experience, Civilization VI is friendly for beginners and veterans alike, and can be as cool or as demanding as you want it to be.
3. Dark Souls: Remastered
If you’re in the mood for a challenge, the Dark Souls trilogy is your friend, and Dark Souls: Remastered is where it all begins. This dark action/RPG puts you as an adventurer in the moribund world of Lords, where you may be able to break a perpetual cycle of violence and decay. The combat is tough and arduous, and you can expect to see the “You Died” screen quite often. But you can also expect to customize a character the way you see fit, with a variety of attributes, weapons, and armor, and explore some amazing locations. Just be careful you want a controller; The game doesn’t work great with a mouse and keyboard.
4. Dom (2016)
Nothing says “PC games” like a first-person shooter, and Doom (2016) is one of the best FPS games in recent memory. The soft reboot of the Doom series puts you in the bloodstained shoes of the Doom Slayer. As humanity’s last hope against a creeping army of demons, it’s up to the Doom Slayer to brutally slay every goblin, ogre, and infernal knight to even look at him funny. Doom is a deep, bloody and fast-paced experience that looks even better when you can use a powerful computer to boost resolution and frame rate (check out Best PC for gaming to our recommendations). It’s animalistically satisfying, but there’s a decent story underneath all that carnage, too.
5. Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is perhaps the strangest game on this list, but its popularity speaks for itself. You play as a colorful creature who must compete with 59 other colorful creatures in a variety of mini-game challenges for both bragging rights and cosmetic items. That’s really all about Fall Guys, yet it’s an amazingly addictive formula. It’s not violent. It is not difficult by nature. It’s not that deep. But it’s good, clean fun and incredibly easy to pick up and play with, especially if you can get some friends on board. The developers add new content periodically as well.
6. Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V has taken on a life of its own since its debut in 2013. For starters, the game’s single-player mode is pretty deep in terms of its own feature. You play as three protagonists – Michael, Franklin and Trevor – as you explore the vibrant city of Los Santos and unfold a complex criminal drama. However, the game’s multiplayer component, Grand Theft Auto Online, was arguably more influential. Grand Theft Auto Online is more than just a multiplayer mode; It is a whole living ecosystem, where developers are constantly adding new content and players are constantly testing the limits of what is possible.
7. Half-life 2
Half-Life 2 is arguably Steam’s first major game, and it’s still one of the best first-person shooters ever. This game continues the adventures of theoretical physicist Gordon Freeman as he resists both alien invasion and a tyrannical government. Although the controversy may seem strange now, Half-Life 2 and Steam earned players the ire of 2004 when Valve required an internet connection for this single-player game. It was definitely annoying – and arguably still is. But Half-Life 2’s tight gameplay, brilliant graphics and ambitious story still stand after all this time, and an active internet connection is a small price to pay.
8. Mystery
Myst is one of the most important titles in the history of computer games, and we get an updated re-release every few years. The latest version of Myst was released in August 2021, and it includes great 3D graphics and VR support. You can enable ray tracing, or take pictures of the environment to help you solve puzzles, but moderate upgrades aren’t really the focus here. Instead, Myst itself is still a brain teaser with an interesting storyline. You play as an adventurer who appears on a seemingly deserted Mist Island, and you must solve its countless mysteries to discover what happened before you arrive.
9. Planet Coaster
No list of the best Steam games would be complete without the theme park sim. While there are plenty of good options (including the original RollerCoaster Tycoon from 1999, which is still standing), Planet Coaster is one of the most accessible and scalable. The game challenges you to create and manage an amusement park, showcasing your creative ideas while keeping your visitors happy. You can install all kinds of games, but the focus here is on colorful and customizable roller coasters. For roller coaster addicts who simply can’t travel to an amusement park every day, this is as close as possible to the real thing.
10. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the most ambitious and polished open world games on the market today. You play as Geralt of Rivia, who goes about his trade as a Witcher, roaming the countryside and slaying monsters for money. However, in the third and final installment of the Witcher trilogy, Geralt has also caught the attention of several kings and queens – as well as the killer King of the Wild Hunt, who pursues him across dimensions. With an epic storyline that adapts to your choices, tons of meaningful side quests and a massive world full of secrets to discover, The Witcher 3 can keep you immersed for dozens of hours.
[ad_2]