There is no single consensus pick for the best PC game of 2024: Balatro won PC Gamer’s editorial Game of the Year, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree topped Metacritic’s critic-based PC list, and Black Myth: Wukong won the community-voted 2024 Steam Awards. For a standalone new release, Metacritic’s pick is Metaphor: ReFantazio. The right choice depends on whether you value an editorial jury, critic reviews, a community vote, or a particular style of game.
How the best PC game of 2024 was chosen
The three prominent year-end results answer different questions, so they should not be treated as a single shared ranking.
| Selection | Top pick | What the result represents |
|---|---|---|
| PC Gamer’s 2024 awards | Balatro | Editorial awards selected by a 30-plus-person team. Each member could nominate up to six games released in 2024; the team discussed a shortlist and chose 14 award recipients. PC Gamer’s awards and process |
| Metacritic’s best PC games list | Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree | Metacritic’s best overall PC game of 2024, based on professional critic reviews. The list covers releases from January 1 through December 31, 2024, and requires at least seven professional critic reviews. It is a critic aggregate, not a vote about personal enjoyment. Metacritic’s 20 best PC games of 2024 |
| 2024 Steam Awards | Black Myth: Wukong | Game of the Year in a community-voted event. PC Gamer reports it also won two additional categories. Steam Awards results |
PC Gamer described the year as “a handful of major releases, but many more incredible games that dedicated themselves to satisfying a specific niche” in its awards introduction, published December 30, 2024. That variety is why the best fit for one player may not be the award winner for another.
Best PC games of 2024 by the experience you want
For inventive, replayable card runs: Balatro
PC Gamer named Balatro its overall Game of the Year. Its roguelike deckbuilding reworks poker-like play into runs built around assembling powerful combinations. It is the strongest starting point if you want a compact, repeatable game loop rather than a long campaign. Metacritic also includes it among its 20 best PC games of 2024. PC Gamer’s awards; Metacritic’s list.
#1 Best Overall
![Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Standard Edition (Pre-Purchase/Launch Day) – Play on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wzIlxO80L._SL160_.jpg)
- CONTENT IS PLAYABLE AT 6AM PST ON NOV-19-2024.**
- MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2024: Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- STANDARD EDITION: Includes over 65 aircraft and 150 handcrafted airports
- FLY WITH PURPOSE: Pursue your aviation career throughout the world with dynamically generated missions ranging from Medevac and Search & Rescue to Aerial Firefighting and Passenger Transport
- CHALLENGE LEAGUE: Compete against other pilots in the iconic Reno and Red Bull Air Races
For a sprawling action RPG: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Metacritic names this the best overall PC game of 2024, but it is an expansion to Elden Ring, not a standalone new game. It is the critic-score-first choice for players who already have the base game and want more of its challenging action-RPG world. If you are choosing a new game without that prerequisite, consider Metaphor: ReFantazio instead. Metacritic’s list.
For a standalone fantasy JRPG: Metaphor: ReFantazio
Metacritic selected Metaphor: ReFantazio as its best new PC game of 2024. It is a fantasy JRPG, making it a more suitable Metacritic-backed pick for someone seeking a new game rather than an expansion. The list also notes that it won three Game Awards. Metacritic’s list.
Rank #2
![Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Premium Deluxe Edition (Pre-Purchase/Launch Day) – Play on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51p9VlYT7TL._SL160_.jpg)
- CONTENT IS PLAYABLE AT 6AM PST ON NOV-19-2024.**
- MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2024: Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- PREMIUM DELUXE EDITION: Includes everything from the Standard Edition plus 25 additional aircraft and 10 additional handcrafted international airports
- FLY WITH PURPOSE: Pursue your aviation career throughout the world with dynamically generated missions ranging from Medevac and Search & Rescue to Aerial Firefighting and Passenger Transport
- CHALLENGE LEAGUE: Compete against other pilots in the iconic Reno and Red Bull Air Races
For a varied retro collection: UFO 50
Metacritic calls UFO 50 its best PC exclusive. The collection contains 50 retro-styled games across multiple genres, so it suits players who enjoy sampling different kinds of play instead of committing to one long, unified campaign. Metacritic’s list.
For building and optimizing a factory: Satisfactory
Satisfactory combines factory building with exploration in a first-person open world. PC Gamer recognized it as Best Sandbox, while Metacritic notes its 1.0 release in September 2024. Choose it if designing production lines and expanding a world are more appealing than a tightly directed story. PC Gamer’s awards; Metacritic’s list.
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Rank #3
- MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2024: Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
- PREMIUM DELUXE STEELBOOK EDITION: Includes the Jumbo SteelBook case, custom pilot's lanyard with Standard Edition digital game code, and a message from the developer.
- FLY WITH PURPOSE: Pursue your aviation career throughout the world with dynamically generated missions ranging from Medevac and Search & Rescue to Aerial Firefighting and Passenger Transport.
- CHALLENGE LEAGUE: Compete against other pilots in the iconic Reno and Red Bull Air Races.
- ADVANCED SIMULATION: Enhanced physics and aircraft systems and a groundbreaking flight planner create an unparalleled simulation experience.
For hidden paths and environmental puzzles: Animal Well
Metacritic describes Animal Well as a secret-rich, Metroidvania-style puzzle-platformer. It is a good fit if you like exploring interconnected spaces and discovering how the world’s puzzles work. Metacritic’s list.
More award-winning choices for specific tastes
PC Gamer’s category awards highlight how widely 2024’s games differed in focus. These are category winners, not interchangeable alternatives to one overall pick.
Rank #4
![F1 Manager 2024 Standard - PC Steam [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51rUOvhelpL._SL160_.jpg)
- Lead your team to glory in F1 Manager 2024. A new Formula 1 season has arrived, and with it, the most comprehensive F1 management experience to date.
- Build a legacy with one of 10 official F1 constructors or create your own team for the very first time.
- Best Tactics: Tactical Breach Wizards, for tactical play.
- Best Roguelike: Caves of Qud.
- Best City Builder: Manor Lords.
- Best Multiplayer: Helldivers 2.
- Best Ongoing Game: Stardew Valley.
These awards come from PC Gamer’s editorial selection process, rather than Metacritic’s critic aggregation or Steam’s community vote. See PC Gamer’s full 2024 award results.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which 2024 PC game should you pick?
- Choose Balatro for repeatable roguelike deckbuilding and PC Gamer’s editorial Game of the Year.
- Choose Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree for Metacritic’s critic-led top pick, provided you want an expansion to Elden Ring.
- Choose Black Myth: Wukong if the community-voted Steam Awards winner is the distinction that matters to you.
- Choose Metaphor: ReFantazio for a standalone fantasy JRPG recognized as Metacritic’s best new PC game.
- Choose UFO 50, Satisfactory, or Animal Well if their collection, factory-building, or puzzle-exploration structure is a closer match for how you like to play.
Award labels help narrow the field; genre and the kind of play you actually want are better guides to which game you will enjoy.
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