The Best PC Games Of 2023 According To Metacritic (2024)

Imagine that you stumble upon a cabin in the woods, find a princess chained up inside, and then you're casually told to murder her if you don't want the world to end. From that starting point, you're left to make some hard decisions in this beautifully hand-drawn adventure, as there's more to the princess than meets the eye. To say anything more would spoil the game, but if you're in the mood for a clever story, haunting visuals, and big surprises, Slay the Princess will easily sink its hooks into you and never let go.

Metacritic: 92

After the infamously anemic launch of Street Fighter V, Capcom had its work cut out for it with the next chapter in this legendary fighting game franchise. Fortunately, the company over-delivered with the best Street Fighter game of the modern era, a gorgeous slugfest of over-the-top action, deliciously deep gameplay mechanics, and an online mode that benefits from modern technologies. The biggest feather in Street Fighter 6's cap? Its approach to bringing in new challengers, as the game's selection of approachable controls and beginner-friendly modes makes Street Fighter 6 an excellent jumping-on point for newcomers.

Metacritic: 92 | Read our Street Fighter 6 review

Boomer-shooters are hotter than ever, and of the many games released in a genre that's focused on the formative years of the first-person shooter genre, Turbo Overkill is one of the best. Relentlessly over the top and full of action so fast-paced that you won't want to risk blinking, Turbo Overkill is a savage display of chainsaw-powered carnage. Excessively violent in the best way possible, there's a purity to its action that is unmatched by anything else on your digital shelf.

Metacritic: 91

Capcom's fantastic year continued with a remake of Resident Evil 4 that earned rave reviews across the board. Taking the DNA of the original game and modernizing it for new platforms was just the beginning of what Capcom had planned, as it enhanced the game with thoughtful upgrades, perfectly polished action, and visuals sharper than the edge on Leon Kennedy's trusty combat knife.

Metacritic: 91 | Read our Resident Evil 4 review

While the debate over Dave the Diver's indie status rages on, its quality remains undeniable. A wholesome tale of managing a restaurant and getting the freshest ingredients directly from the ocean, Dave the Diver is a 2D-pixel adventure that's constantly rewarding and surprising the deeper you go into its world. Its complexity ramps up gently, it's packed with weird minigames, and don't be too surprised to discover that you've lost dozens of hours to Mintrocket's fascinating deep-sea adventure.

Metacritic: 90

From the creator of One Night Stand, Videoverse is a story about friendship in the modern era. That sense of shared camaraderie from online spaces, expertly captured in chat windows and video game sessions, Videoverse uses those social circles to tell intimate stories about human connection. In a year where Twitter has begun to implode, Videoverse makes a good argument for finding a safe space online as you explore a visual novel that'll make you reminisce about the good ol' days of the internet.

Metacritic: 90 | Read our Videoverse review

The last few years have seen a few retro-inspired blasts from the past, but nothing beats the original when you're looking for a unique blend of speed and edge-of-your-seat gunplay. Nightdive Studio's remaster of Quake 2 feels so good that you quickly forget you're playing a 25-year-old game as your muscle memory is reignited. It hits that sweet spot for upgraded visuals, enhanced features, and major improvements, making the original Id Software game play better than ever. Smooth as silk and completely free of any ring rust, this is how games should be preserved.

Metacritic: 90

Much like the phantoms that you'd run into, Ghost Trick on the Nintendo DS quickly phased out of existence once its business had concluded. Fast-forward to 2023, and this terrific sleuth-'em-up got the remaster that it deserved on modern platforms. Sharper and benefiting from the option to be played on screens larger than three inches, Ghost Trick looked better than ever and still has plenty of charm in its quality animations and gripping storyline.

Metacritic: 90 | Read our Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective review

A triumph of storytelling, Alan Wake 2 blends everything that makes a Remedy Entertainment game great and pours out a smoothie of sinister secrets, gruesome nightmares, and rugged detective work that you'll want to down in a single gulp. A first-class narrative split between two protagonists, Alan Wake 2 makes a hard turn into survival-horror territory that works brilliantly in this sequel. Constantly unnerving, frequently surprising, and outstandingly confident in what it wants to be, it's simply one of the best games of the year.

Metacritic: 89 | Read our Alan Wake 2 review

Separate Ways isn't just more of the same but from the viewpoint of Leon Kennedy's frenemy Ada Wong; it's an essential part of the Resident Evil 4 experience. Sure, we'll take any excuse to play more Resident Evil 4, but this expansion adds to that game with a delightful sense of maneuverability, remixed battles, and a compact design that makes it ideal. You'll want to clear your schedule for the day, slip into your favorite sweatpants, and settle down for an expansion that intelligently adds to Resident Evil 4's winning formula.

Metacritic: 89 | Read our Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways review

Phantom Liberty is a statement of intent from CD Projekt Red: a final chapter in a redemption arc saga that brings the game up to speed and shows just what the studio can do when it's firing on all cylinders. An intense spy-thriller full of tough choices and cyber-enhanced combat, Phantom Liberty goes above and beyond what you'd expect from an expansion. An ambitious game that shoots for the stars and achieves interstellar orbit with its ambitious overhaul of Cyberpunk, it's a riveting and energetic return to the neon-soaked streets of Night City.

Metacritic: 89 | Read our Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review

Hi-Fi Rush isn't just the best surprise of 2023, but also a heartfelt love letter to the power of music. Specifically, the power to use the unique beats of an awesome mixtape and clobber your way through tight-fisted robot werewolves, legions of drones, and corporate culture that has gone out of control. Like the best albums, Hi-Fi Rush stays with you long after the credits have rolled, as its combination of rhythm-based action, a cast of lovable misfits, and Saturday morning cartoon energy will make you demand an encore.

Metacritic: 89 | Read our Hi-Fi Rush review

There's no harm in being inspired by a classic platformer, and when it comes to Pizza Tower, developer Tour de Pizza clearly has some fond memories of Wario Land. But where Pizza Tower makes a name for itself is in how it goes beyond surface-level inspiration and offers a fresh slice of 2D platforming thrills as you attempt to stop a fast-food rival from demolishing the pizzeria of your protagonist, Peppino Spaghetti. It is old-school fun backed up by a wonderfully weird art direction, inventive level design, and hard-earned victories that always feel satisfying.

Metacritic: 89

It might look like a forgotten game from the SNES past, but Sea of Stars is a surprisingly modern spin on classic RPG fun. Its pixelated visuals are effortlessly charming, combat is engaging, and the retro energy that powers this time capsule of 16-bit fantasy is turbo-charged with several modern ideas.

Metacritic: 88 | Read our Sea of Stars review

Cocoon is one of those rare games that works best the less you know about it. Going in as blind as possible on a roughly five-hour puzzle game might sound like a hard sell. Still, Cocoon is a masterpiece of audio and visual design that'll leave a lasting impression on you as you analyze its heady concepts. Challenging but never obtuse, it's a tightly crafted adventure that never outstays its welcome.

Metacritic: 88 | Read our Cocoon review

We're not certain when Konami will revive its signature Dracula-hunting simulator, but at the very least, this year's Castlevania-themed expansion for Dead Cells shows makes good use of that IP. Return to Castlevania is more than just a reskinned Dead Cells; it's a celebration of the Konami franchise. There is genuine love and care for Castlevania in this crossover, and in an impressively sizable collaboration, Dead Cells shines brighter than ever thanks to the abundance of stages, themes, and weapons transported from Dracula's castle and into its world.

Metacritic: 88 | Read our Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania review

From Software's return to war-torn lands and heavy metal action was a treat for the eyes and thumbs this year. Armored Core 6 is a blast, a thrilling blast of mechanized warfare amplified by some of the best customization in the franchise to date. Benefiting from the lessons learned in games like Sekiro, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring, Armored Core 6 soars high with its wonderfully crunchy combat, nerve-wracking boss battles, and exhilarating exploration.

Metacritic: 88 | Read our Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon review

A head-scratcher and an existential crisis wrapped up with a bow of hard-hitting questions, The Talos Principle 2 takes everything great about the 2014 games and improves on it. There's a grand design to savor in this game--both mechanically and philosophically--all set in a world where humanity has gone extinct and robots have risen to inherit the planet. There's a beauty in its desolation: a serenity that you'll feel while taking on Portal-esque puzzles in this reminder that the future is always worth fighting for.

Metacritic: 88 | Read our The Talos Principle 2 review

A good roguelite game requires several key elements, and for the best of the genre, a sense of harmony that between those parts that help elevate it in a crowded genre. Astral Ascent is a prime example of this idea, a symphony of well-polished action, a gorgeous art direction, and memorable boss fights that'll make you sweat. It doesn't bring anything radically new to the table, but it does offer a superb and traditional roguelite experience to enjoy.

Metacritic: 88

The original Dead Space still holds up pretty well, and if EA Motive had decided to spruce up the 2008 sci-fi horror game and call it a day, few people would have complained. Instead, the developer went all-out with its remake, rebuilding Dead Space from the ground up and updating it with gruesome new graphics and modern gameplay ideas. Horror distilled to its purest form, Dead Space will keep you on your toes while nightmarish terrors stalk you. And yes, you'll enjoy every second of that pulse-pounding panic.

Metacritic: 87 | Read our Dead Space review

Shredder's Revenge is easily one of the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games of all time, and it only got better with the release of the Dimension Shellshock DLC. Two more characters--Shredder's adopted daughter Karai and bunny samurai Usagi Yojimbo--joined the stacked roster, a brand-new survival mode pushed you to your limits, the soundtrack got even more hit tunes from composer Tee Lopes, and powerful perks were added to the game. That's a whole lot of game-changing content that made a retro-flavored adventure even better.

Metacritic: 87 | Read our TMNT: Shredder's Revenge review

While it's also available on Xbox Series X|S, Starfield on PC is where Bethesda's new game found its groove. Contrary to what the studio claimed, it very much is Skyrim in space, but that's not a bad thing at all! A grand odyssey across the stars, Starfield is packed with hauntingly lonely planets, settlements on the fringe of known space, and factions vying for your loyalty. With surprisingly satisfying combat, varied spaceships to collect, and a galactic mystery to uncover, Starfield is a rewarding journey into unknown territory.

Metacritic: 86 | Read our Starfield review

Sometimes, you don't need to be a genre-defining game to earn positive reviews. Take The Legend of Heroes: Trail to Azure, for example. It's a fun and familiar trek across JRPG territory that doubles down on the strengths of that genre. It has a rich lore to explore, the combat is engaging, and for anyone who played the previous entry in the Crossbell saga, this is an essential follow-up that has a big payoff waiting at the end.

Metacritic: 86

No matter how bad things may seem, high school is never the end of the world. That is, unless you're in A Space for the Unbound, a tender and magical adventure set in '90s Indonesia. Resembling a '90s point-and-click adventure game, A Space for the Unbound is full of twists and supernatural turns as its stories unfold over a dozen hours. With dark secrets to uncover, memorable characters to meet, and many cats to pet, it's another 2023 highlight that'll live rent-free in your head once you finally roll credits on this touching indie masterpiece.

Metacritic: 86

Sure, Sanctuary might be filled with demonic creatures, phantoms with a literal axe to grind, and subterranean horrors, but for some digital tourism, it was the place to be when Diablo 4 arrived earlier this year. The latest sequel in the Diablo series walks a fine line between reverence for the past and new-fangled ideas to keep players engaged via live-service elements, but that combo works surprisingly well. It's a dark tale that still provides moments of hope and a seasonal structure that dynamically evolves the Diablo experience makes for a hell of a good time.

Metacritic: 86 | Read our Diablo 4 review

PC gamers had several PlayStation ports to enjoy this year, starting with Returnal in February. Housemarque's live-die-repeat game is a gem of high-pressure gameplay, deathly loops, and pure arcade bullet-hell energy as you chase that perfect run, making it a uniquely challenging experience. On PC it looks better than ever, especially with a selection of ultrawide resolutions and enhanced visual options that take full advantage of high-tech setups to power its chronal carnage.

Metacritic: 86 | Read our Returnal review

The Brotherhood has been responsible for some of the best and creepiest horror games over the last couple of years, and Stasis: Bone Totem is no exception. Set inside of a massive underwater base, this isometric point-and-shriek game has chilling puzzles, a killer soundtrack, and a thick layer of tension that’ll send shivers down your spine as you dive deeper into the unknown.

Metacritic: 85

One of the best early games for the PS5, Ratchet, Clank, and Rivet made their way to PC this year. A blast from the past, Rift Apart isn't challenging but it is enjoyable as Insomniac's eye for detail, well-written characters, and several blockbuster moments all helped create a memorable adventure. With Nixxes on porting duty, this new arrival in the PlayStation Studios PC catalog ran like a dream and looked better than ever.

Metacritic: 85 | Read our Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart review

Developer Mimimi's final game, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a triumphant farewell from a studio that has crafted intricate masterpieces over the years. In this shift to nautical necromancy, Shadow Gambit combines stealth and strategy to create a tactical treat. You'll need to think several steps ahead and use every cursed crewmate to their full potential, but as the old saying goes, there's nothing better than seeing a plan come together. Especially when that plan gets you a few steps closer to becoming a pirate legend.

Metacritic: 85 | Read our Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew review

Another great game for visual-novel fans, The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is at its core a story-driven deck builder where you'll build your own cards. That's a neat twist on the standard formula, made even better by the art of crafting these powerful cards with the resources available to you. But it's the story behind each card and the choices that you'll make in a quest to win back the freedom of protagonist Fortuna that make The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood stand out from the pack. It's an enchanting examination of causality from the creators of The Red Strings Club, amplified by slick visuals and a mesmerizing soundtrack.

Metacritic: 85

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key is nothing short of a magical finale for one of the most underrated RPG series around. With the first two games establishing a rich world to explore alongside a cast of lovable characters, the third game builds on that foundation to create the definitive chapter in the series. There's a sense of finality at play here, but Atelier Ryza 3 still pushes forward with polished RPG mechanics and a bold art direction toward the end of this magical adventure.

Metacritic: 85

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