One of the best parts about Christmas shopping is how easy online shopping has become. Instead of contesting with crowds of people, simply checking off the list from the comfort of home makes Christmas shopping far less stressful. The convenience of using computers extends to PC video gaming as well.
PC players don’t need shelves of physical games and consoles stacked on top of each other. Nearly everything they need is right on their computer. Even finding games to purchase has been made increasingly simplistic thanks to digital game storefronts such as Steam and Epic Games. Steam and Epic Games have released many amazing games within the past few years. Their games are a must-have in any PC gaming digital collection, especially the winner of the Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2022.
10/10 Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Platinum Edition
Steam: $78.96
Epic Games: $15.19 (81% Off)
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is the latest in the popular world power-building franchise. The overall game structure is similar to previous entries, where players begin with a humble settlement that they’ll need to grow throughout time periods into a first-world civilization. Players will interact with historical figures ranging from Cleopatra to the unexpectedly nuclear weapon-wielding Mahatma Gandhi.
Civilization VI has two major expansions, which include features such as natural disasters that can alter the trajectory of any civilization. More is on the way into 2023 through free and paid updates. It’s definitely not too late to dig hundreds of hours into the classic strategy series. Civilization VI Platinum Edition is a great starting point, considering it contains most DLC and expansions.
9/10 Cult Of The Lamb
Steam: $24.99
Cult of the Lamb is just as twisted as it is adorable. In this 2022 roguelike game, players play as a lamb who is saved from death by “The One Who Waits.” This possessed lamb will embark on a journey to build up a cult of acolytes.
Because Cult of the Lamb is a roguelike, that means death isn’t only inevitable, but encouraged. Players, over time, will learn strategies and create upgrades that will allow them to advance further. Players also have a central village where they can utilize their cult to grow and expand resources.
8/10 Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
Steam: $44.99 (25% Off)
Epic Games: $44.99 (25% Off)
One of PlayStation’s best games in recent years is now on PC. Marvel’s Spider-Man carries the torch from the Batman Arkham series by showing that the superhero genre can produce phenomenal games. The PC version of Marvel’s Spider-Man is the remastered version, which includes improved visuals as well as all previously released content.
If that’s not enough, Marvel’s Spider-Man’s spinoff, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, is also available on PC. There’s more than enough Spider-Man content that will whet the appetite of PC players before Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 releases in 2023, although not right away for PC.
7/10 New Tales From The Borderlands
Steam: $39.99
Epic Games: $23.99 (40% Off)
When Telltale Games initially shut down, so many of their great point-and-click adventure series were left in purgatory. One of the best among them was Tales from the Borderlands. 2K acquired the rights to Tales from the Borderlands and produced a sequel in New Tales from the Borderlands, which carried over similar adventure-based gameplay and Borderlands’ trademark humor.
New Tales from the Borderlands takes place after Borderlands 3, but previous Borderlands knowledge isn’t required. New Tales from the Borderlands doesn’t carry over the main cast of the original game, but its own cast is endearing in their own ways. Anuradha Dhar, her brother Octavio Wallace-Dhar, the robotic L0U13, and yogurt-shop owner Francine Miscowicz all dream of reveling in the riches of a Vault. However, they’ll have to compete with Weapons manufacturer Tediore to make their dreams come true.
6/10 Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Steam: $39.99
Epic Games: $9.99 (75% Off)
For fans of detective mysteries, look no further than Disco Elysium: The Final Cut. Disco Elysium is an isometric role-playing game where players take on the role of an amnesiac detective in a seaside fictional city.
Disco Elysium boasts phenomenal writing and dialog choices that will have players conflicted on how to approach each conversation as they pursue answers to their past and the active murder mysteries. The Final Cut version added full voice acting to compliment Disco Elysium’s writing and changes based on player feedback.
5/10 Return To Monkey Island
Steam: $24.99
Return to Monkey Island is a return in many ways. It’s the first Monkey Island game since 2009’s Tales of Monkey Island and the first to be directed by Monkey Island creator Ron Gilbert since Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge in 1991.
Return to Monkey Island nails what made the original Monkey Island games so special. The swashbuckling Guybrush Threepwood is just as hilarious and loveable as ever, its new art style fits well with the adventure series, and the dialog choices are every bit as witty as before. Return to Monkey Island will have players wishing they won’t have to wait long to return to Monkey Island again.
4/10 Guilty Gear Strive
Steam: $39.99
The fighting game genre is beginning to reach another golden age, and Guilty Gear Strive deserves some credit for that. Guilty Gear Strive comes from the masterful Arc System Works, which continues to pump out hit fighting games such as Dragon Ball FighterZ and DNF Duel.
Guilty Gear Strive is the 25th overall Guilty Gear game, but serves as a perfect entry point for newcomers. Guilty Gears’ notoriously complex fighting mechanics are a little more simplified and beginner-friendly compared to previous entries. Guilty Gear Strive also includes top-of-the-genre online netcode and has more DLC characters on the way.
3/10 Cyberpunk 2077
Steam: $59.99
Epic Games: $29.99 (50% Off)
Cyberpunk 2077 is undergoing one of the best comeback stories in gaming history, following one of the most infamous releases in gaming history. CD Projekt Red has gone above and beyond to make up for Cyberpunk 2077’s disastrous launch, leaving the current state of the game in a great place.
Cyberpunk 2077 has also received free content that ties into the critically acclaimed web-anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Cyberpunk 2077 is set to receive a major expansion in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty in 2023. Patient players who purchase Cyberpunk 2077 now, or receive it as a gift, will get to experience a game that realizes the extremely high pre-release hype.
2/10 Final Fantasy XIV – Complete Edition
Steam: $59.99 ($19.99 For The Starter Edition)
60-Day Subscription Code: $29.99
Speaking of comeback stories, Final Fantasy XIV is still going strong after its own debacle of a launch. The rebooted Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn has soared to becoming one of the most popular MMORPGs. Those interested in experiencing Final Fantasy XIV will be met with a robust free trial that allows players to play the base story and the first expansion, Heavensward.
Players convinced Final Fantasy XIV is right for them can purchase the Complete Edition that contains all expansions through 2021’s Endwalker. Those who already are entrenched in Eorzea’s world will certainly enjoy receiving subscriptions as a gift through Square-Enix’s online store, so they can continue their journey without worrying about the cost.
1/10 Elden Ring
Steam: $59.99
There’s a lot that can be said about the phenomenon that is 2022’s Elden Ring, but its numerous Game of the Year awards speak for themselves. Elden Ring was the winner of the Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2022 and took the award from other publications such as IGN.com.
Elden Ring is a Soulsborne game set in an open world. It’s more accessible than most Soulsborne games, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Elden Ring’s world is built through writing by George R. R. Martin, known for his masterful fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, otherwise known as Game of Thrones. Players who have yet to play this instant classic will be thrilled to discover what the fuss is about.
