The gaming community has had some time to settle down after the release of the next generation of home consoles. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X have hit the market with great success, and even the Nintendo Switch has its fans. Despite this success, there is still no denying that the best way to game is with a keyboard and mouse.
The GPU performance on the latest generation of consoles can make the latest video games look impressive, but this only ever works if you have a perfectly working TV to support these graphics. A PC gamer never has to worry about these issues as they get to tailor their computer setup to the types of games they want to play. That is why PC gaming is still the best way to play video games in 2024. But what are the best games to play this year?
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Release Date: January 18, 2024.
Prince of Persia returns to its 2D roots with this gorgeous Metroidvania packed with quick action and mind-bending time challenges. The Lost Crown is a 2.5D side-scrolling action-adventure platform video game created by Ubisoft Game Studios. The game was launched on January 18, 2024, and is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Amazon Luna. Sargon, the game’s protagonist, is a member of a warrior group known as The Immortals, and the plot revolves around their journey to save Prince Ghassan.
The Sims 4
The Sims have been a beloved life simulator franchise since the early 2000s. Even though the latest version of the game, The Sims 4, is eleven years old at this point, it is still worth playing on PC in 2023.
While fans were initially sour on The Sims 4 when it was released in 2014, several updates and DLC packs have slowly improved upon many of these criticisms. You now have access to cars, swimming pools, and an expanded map. Plus, the modding community has got to work creating plenty of additional content for players. The graphics in The Sims games have never been much to shout about. The newest game only looks slightly better than it did on the PS2. However, the isometric view and scrollable open world make The Sims 4 necessary for PC players over console gamers. If you were unimpressed with The Sims 4 when it was originally released, perhaps it is worth another look in 2023.
Star Wars: Jedi Survivor
Dedicated fans of Star Wars have been waiting for a decent action-adventure game in that universe since 1977. Fortunately, Star Wars fans had their prayers answered in 2019 when Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order was released across all platforms.
Fallen Order takes place in the time between the original trilogy and the prequels and allows players to explore the universe as a Jedi. The game was praised for its battle mechanics, upgrade system, and lore accuracy. However, most console gamers had a similar complaint. The game struggled to render quickly enough, and there were long loading times. These are issues that most PC gamers do not have to contend with. If they ever do, they always have the option of using Totality Services. As such, you may prefer to play the upcoming sequel, Jedi Survivor, on this platform instead when it is released on April 28th.
Resident Evil 4 Remake
The modern era of gaming is full of remakes and remasters. A good game should extend beyond time and technological capabilities, after all. That is exactly the sentiment of fans in 2023 as they start replaying the remake of Resident Evil 4 in 2023.
The original Resident Evil 4 was a horror survival game that was released in 2005. The remake has already boasted updated mechanics and a reimagined storyline. However, that is not why gamers play the Resident Evil series. True fans want to experience the thrill of watching detailed blood fly as they swing a chainsaw at a zombie or cultist. While new generations of consoles promise to have upgraded graphics, it is nothing compared to the processing power of a PC. That is why you may want to choose this option when it is time to face the horror of Resident Evil 4 again.
Hi-Fi Rush
Not every new video game involves adventuring or wild swordplay. Take, for example, Hi-Fi Rush, a rhythm-based hack-and-slash from Tango Gameworks.
This cell-shaded PC game takes the art style to a new level and has had critics talking since its release in January 2023. With the game allowing you to play through the platforming levels as a cartoon, you may be wondering why you would want to play Hi-Fi Rush on PC. As of writing, Hi-Fi Rush is only available on this platform, and it doesn’t appear like developers are planning to expand the release to home consoles. That means that the only way to play what could be awarded one of the best games of the year is on PC. You can always sync up a controller to your setup if you find the rhythm-based gameplay too difficult to master on a keyboard and mouse,
Conclusion
PC gaming isn’t a medium that is suited to everyone. However, anyone that prefers the keyboard and mouse would be a fool to miss out on these games in 2023.
