10. Unforeseen Incidents
Many gamers fondly remember the point-and-click adventure games that were popular back in the day. Unforeseen Incidents taps some of that nostalgia with a unique art style reminiscent of a drearier version of the Atlantis: The Lost Empire movie. The game sends your character, an ordinary handyman, on a journey that starts with him finding a dying woman on the street and leads to "a fight for the future of humankind armed only with his trusty multi-tool." Unforeseen Incidents offers a reprieve from fast-paced action games and gives you something to fill that point-and-click hole in your heart.
9. 'Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition'
Final Fantasy XV finally reached the PC earlier this year. The game is best known for its winding development, which took it from Final Fantasy Versus XIII in 2006 to Final Fantasy XV in 2016, but the end product hardly suffered for that extended journey. Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition also has the benefit of improved graphics over its console counterparts--hardly a surprise--as well as the inclusion of all the content that's been added to Final Fantasy XV since its release. There's no better place to experience this action RPG than on PC. Who'd have thunk?
8. 'Batman: The Enemy Within'
It's 2018, and people still can't get enough of Telltale Games' point-and-click adaptations of popular franchises. Batman: The Enemy Within is no exception. The developer released the latest two installments in the series (or "episodes" in Telltale's parlance) this year, and they were particularly well-received. Both installments put you in Bruce Wayne's and Batman's shoes--wait, why are they the same size?--as you investigate Gotham City's latest catastrophes. Batman: The Enemy Within is a more nuanced take on the Caped Crusader than the action-packed Arkham games that preceded it.
7. 'Dark Souls: Remastered'
It's no surprise that people are happy with Dark Souls: Remastered. The game practically spawned a genre unto itself. Dark Souls: Remastered offers largely the same experience as the original game, but with improved graphics and better performance across the board. You know what that means--yep, Blighttown is finally a playable area instead of a glorified slideshow. You can still get by with the original PC release, but with Dark Souls: Remastered available, why would you?
6. 'Subnautica'
Subnautica is all about exploring the ocean of an alien planet. You'll have to navigate "sun-drenched shallow coral reefs to treacherous deep sea trenches, lava fields and bio-luminescent underwater rivers" as you fight to survive on an unforgivably inhospitable hunk of space rock. The game also has you scavenge for food, collect resources and craft anything you need to increase your odds of avoiding a watery death on the ocean floor. Put on your snorkel--it's time to do some deep sea diving that would scare off the most daring swimmers on Earth.
5. 'Paladins'
Paladins is another title many people had spent countless hours playing before its official debut. This is Hi-Rez Studios' take on the hero shooter, and unlike the semi-realistic, near-future leanings of Blizzard's Overwatch, Paladins takes its inspiration from the fantasy realm. The game also got its own spin-off earlier this year, Paladins: Battlegrounds, that ultimately became Realm Royale (which is currently available as an open alpha). That's right--a game that was only officially released in May now has a spin-off meant to help its developer chase the latest trend. What a world.
4. 'Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire'
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is supposed to appeal to the inner Dungeons & Dragons lover that lies dormant in every PC gamer. The RPG tasks you with creating a party with up to seven companions to explore a new region called Deadfire in pursuit of a rogue god. You can plot your own course, assign each companion multiple classes and abilities and experience the sequel's "vastly improved graphics, deeper game mechanics and a whole new hand-crafted adventure where choices truly matter." Not bad for a game inspired by a tabletop RPG released decades ago.
3. 'Far Cry 5'
Far Cry 5 is the first title on this list to appear on all three of our sources. Ubisoft packed the game full of side quests, locations and, of course, enough weapons to make even the most fervent gun enthusiast blush. The inclusion of an arcade mode has also contributed to Far Cry 5's popularity. Intrepid players have recreated famous Call of Duty maps, emulated locations from Resident Evil and, simply, made some really solid multi-player maps. You can look for meaning in the game's story, or you can just embrace the "do whatever you want" mentality. It's up to you.
2. 'Frostpunk'
Frostpunk is billed as "the first society survival game." Other titles have tasked you with surviving a post-apocalyptic universe, or with managing a city, but Frostpunk wants you to do both. Humanity is on the brink of extinction, and you have to manage the last remaining city on Earth to allow mankind to withstand the freezing cold that's taken over the planet. The addition of a new Survivor Mode that doesn't let you pause the game or actively save your progress will make matters even more pressing. It's up to you to protect the last vestiges of humanity; good luck.
1. 'The Forest'
Speaking of survival: The Forest tops our list with its take on the increasingly popular genre. You have to gather resources, scavenge food and craft everything from small traps to a full camp if you want to live. Oh, and you also have to contend with a tribe of mutants that want to eat you and that the game's developers stress have beliefs, families and morals, appearing to be almost human. The Forest's primary draw is its VR support--you know, because fighting for your survival with a traditional setup isn't nearly terrifying enough.
