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What makes a PC game one of the best of all time?
“Best” depends on the question being asked. A game can be historically important without being easy or enjoyable to play now; a newer favorite can be excellent today without having decades of influence behind it. A useful shortlist should keep those judgments separate rather than pretending one ranking settles them all.
- Quality today: Does the game still offer a satisfying experience?
- Historical importance: Did it change how games were made, played, or understood?
- Originality and depth: Did it offer a distinctive idea, and does it reward replay or exploration?
- Practical availability: Is there a modern edition or re-release, and is it straightforward to play on a current PC?
PC Gamer’s 2025 Top 100 makes its own priorities explicit: quality counts for 60% of its score, importance for 20%, and freshness for 20%. The ranking comes from a 300-game longlist voted on by more than 30 writers and editors. PC Gamer says, “Quality remains the most important category—if we don’t think a game is actually good, it doesn’t make the Top 100.” That makes the list a considered editorial consensus, not a permanent statistical verdict.
Historical influence is a different lens. PC Gamer’s feature on 50 influential PC games asks how games changed game-making, play, and culture, even if a title is no longer easy or enjoyable to play. It includes perspectives from creators such as Richard Garriott, John Carmack, Sid Meier, Chris Avellone, Jane Jensen, Tim Schafer, Cliff Bleszinski, and Warren Spector.
#1 Best Overall
- Compatible with Windows and Android.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate (for 2.4G and wired connection)
- Hall Effect joysticks and Hall triggers. Wear-resistant metal joystick rings.
- Extra R4/L4 bumpers. Custom button mapping without using software. Turbo function.
- Refined bumpers and D-pad. Light but tactile.
Four leaders in PC Gamer’s current all-time-greats section
PC Gamer’s page, updated 15 September 2026, identifies this section as the top four from its October 2025 Top 100. It names four games and describes their placement and broad appeal:
- Baldur’s Gate 3: No. 1; PC Gamer’s 2023 Game of the Year and, in its description, a brilliant RPG. It is the clearest first pick for someone looking for a major contemporary role-playing game.
- Disco Elysium: No. 2; PC Gamer’s 2019 Game of the Year and a former No. 1. It is the most direct next title to consider if you want to stay within this ranking’s modern RPG canon after Baldur’s Gate 3, though that placement alone does not guarantee a similar play experience.
- Dwarf Fortress: No. 3; a fantasy civilization sim. Consider it if a simulation-focused game sounds more appealing than a conventional RPG.
- Crusader Kings 3: No. 4; a historical simulation. Its inclusion gives the current top four a distinct strategy-and-simulation choice alongside the two RPGs.
The ranking has changed since earlier editions: Doom (1993), Minecraft, Persona 5 Royal, and Half-Life 2 left the top ten, while Dwarf Fortress, Crusader Kings 3, Caves of Qud, and Red Dead Redemption 2 entered. PC Gamer says its selections shift as the team changes and reconsiders older games: “The selection changes year-to-year not just because there are new games we want to include, but also because our collective tastes change as people join or leave the team, or because we’ve reevaluated a classic since the last vote.”
Rank #2
- Supported Multi-Platform:Switch/Switch 2 (NO support wake-up function)/iOS/Android/Windows PC (Notice:Not compatible with Xbox, PlayStation or GeForce Now, For game platforms not mentioned, please consult customer service before buying）
- Connection modes:Wired/Bluetooth/Wireless Dongle(Connect to PC via Bluetooth : Select iOS (phone) mode, but it's not recommended; Dongle is more stable)
- 【Innovative Intelligent Interactive Screen】Manba One V2 wireless game controllers create a new era of controller screens; Equipped with a 2-inch display, no App & software needed, you can set the pc controller directly through the screen visualization, More convenient operation
- 【Micro Switch Button】Manba One wireless controller has Micro Switch Button and ALPS Bumper; The 6-axis gyroscope function makes switch games more immersive
- 【Customize Your Own Controller】The intelligent interactive screen allows you to easily set vibrations, buttons, joysticks,lights, etc., without the need for complex key combinations; 4 configurations can be saved to unlock your own gameplay for different games; The 4 back keys support macro definition settings, and you can activate the set character's ultimate move with one click
Six classics that broaden the canon
These older games are useful counterweights to a present-day ranking. GamesRadar’s classic guide notes that many older selections remain accessible through remasters or re-releases, but that general point does not establish the current edition, price, or storefront for every title.
- Star Wars: TIE Fighter (July 1994): An essential-era pick for readers interested in PC games built around a science-fiction setting. GamesRadar’s guide includes it among its classics.
- Myst (24 September 1993): A classic adventure-game choice for players drawn to exploration and puzzle-solving. GamesRadar describes it as the best-selling game of the decade; that is the guide’s claim, not a neutral industry statistic.
- StarCraft (31 March 1998): A classic strategy pick for players who want a foundational PC-era title to explore. GamesRadar calls it the best-selling PC game in its launch year; that claim is attributable to the guide.
- Baldur’s Gate (21 December 1998): A way to look back at an earlier entry in the series behind the current No. 1. Choose it for historical context rather than assuming it plays like its later namesake.
- Deus Ex (23 June 2000): A classic from the turn of the millennium for players exploring that era’s PC canon.
- Diablo II (29 June 2000): Another major turn-of-the-millennium pick, for readers who want to explore an older action-RPG staple.
These six are not ranked against the current top four: the available editorial material identifies them as classic-guide selections, not as entries in a shared scoring system. For any one of them, check the current edition and compatibility details before buying; the general claim that remasters or re-releases exist does not establish which version is currently available in your region.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Tri-mode Connectivity: Wired for Xbox, 2.4G & Wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. The G7 Pro supports seamless connectivity across Xbox, PC, and Android. Effortlessly switch between modes using the convenient physical mode switch.
- TMR Sticks: The G7 Pro features GameSir's Mag-Res TMR sticks, combining Hall Effect durability with traditional potentiometer performance. This advanced technology delivers stable polling rates for smooth, drift-free gaming with low power consumption.
- Hall Effect Analog Triggers: The GameSir precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers provide unmatched smoothness and linear input for precise control. Featuring clicky Micro Switch trigger stops, gamers can easily switch based on their preferences.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate on PC: Experience ultra-responsive gaming with a 1000Hz polling rate on PC, available through both wired and 2.4G wireless connections. This ensures instantaneous input registration, reducing lag and optimizing your performance for the most competitive gameplay.
- GameSir Nexus App: The G7 Pro is compatible with the upgraded GameSir Nexus app, which brings a significant upgrade over the original. It introduces powerful new features such as gyro settings, stick curve adjustments, and button-to-mouse mapping, giving you deeper customization and more control than ever before.
Which game should you start with?
Use the kind of experience you want—not a number on a list—to make the first choice:
- For a current RPG: Start with Baldur’s Gate 3, PC Gamer’s No. 1 in the cited section and its 2023 Game of the Year.
- For another modern RPG in the same ranking: Try Disco Elysium, while treating it as a separate experience rather than a guaranteed match.
- For simulation: Choose between Dwarf Fortress’s fantasy civilization setting and Crusader Kings 3’s historical one.
- For a classic: Pick from the older titles by genre or setting, then verify the exact current release and its compatibility with your PC.
There is also a reason rankings disagree. PC Gamer generally limits its list to one game per series, with exceptions when entries are meaningfully different. That choice, its 60/20/20 scoring, the balance of genres, and changing editorial tastes can all affect which games appear and where they land.
Rank #4
- Multi-Platform PC Gaming Controller: Working with Switch, PC, Android, and iOS devices via Bluetooth, wired, and wireless dongle connections.
- Hall Effect Joysticks: Delivering enhanced recentering performance for smoother control and superior anti-drift capability. Plus, with anti-friction rings.
- 2-Way Trigger Lock: With trigger stops, gamers can toggle between short and long pull positions. Additionally, gamers can activate hair trigger mode by pressing M+LT/RT (triggers must be in the long pull position).
- 1000Hz Polling Rate: This ensures that your inputs are registered almost instantaneously, minimizing lag and maximizing your performance during competitive play.
- Mechanical Circular D-pad: Designed for quick reactions and accuracy in every direction, this D-pad elevates your gaming experience with superior responsiveness.
PCWorld offered a different test in 2009: “PC games are best when they deliver a transcendent gaming experience that is possible only with the aid of a personal computer.” It is a useful reminder that all-time lists are arguments about what matters—current enjoyment, historical impact, a distinctively PC experience, or some combination—not objective laws.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Platform Compatibility: This PC controller is designed for Windows PC, Steam, Switch, Android, and iOS. Xbox-style asymmetric stick layout for PC gamers. Three modes cover all your devices. Please check your device compatibility before purchase
- Three Connection Modes: 2.4G wireless, Bluetooth, wired USB-C. PC gets native XInput/DirectInput. Switch pairs via Bluetooth, no adapter. This gaming PC controller switches devices seamlessly. Stable wireless minimizes random disconnects during gaming
- Hall Effect Precision: Hall effect joysticks and triggers eliminate stick drift. This gaming controller for PC delivers smooth, responsive input with no dead zones. Built for FPS, racing, and action games. Long-term precision for competitive PC gaming
- Back Buttons & Battery: Two programmable back buttons map combos and shortcuts. Textured grips with dual vibration. 1000mAh battery delivers up to 20H playtime. RGB can be turned off. A solid PC controller for gaming with custom back buttons
- ABXY Layout Switch: Press B + Minus + Plus to swap between PC and Switch modes. Features: 1000Hz polling rate, RGB lighting, turbo. Note: designed without mic jack or gyro sensor
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