Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Fill up your backlog with the best games on Steam

Gamer playing PC games in the dark
Florian Olivo / Unsplash
Best Product Promotional Image
Get straight to the top tech—no junk, just the best.

If you want to play the best PC games, Steam is the place to go. Other storefronts have tried to carve out a piece of the market, but it is clear that Valve’s platform is the undisputed king. With tons of Steam sales on everything from indie games to giant open-world games, there are too many games on Steam to pick from. And, we’re sad to say, most games aren’t worth your time or money. If your backlog isn’t already intimidating enough, these are the best games on Steam that you need to check out.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds
90%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Capcom
Publisher
Capcom
Release
February 28, 2025

Monster Hunter Worlds was the first entry in the series to come to PC and absolutely exploded in popularity. That paved the way for Monster Hunter Wilds to be one of the biggest launches in the series’ history and somehow managed to crush even those lofty expectations. While it does have a few systems that are still unclear that newcomers will have trouble grasping, the entire experience is as smooth and appealing as it has ever been (especially with some mods). The story is essentially an excuse to showcase the world and all the monsters, with the meat of the game coming after you finish and can truly begin the loop of fighting these beasts for materials. Bringing in your friends to go on hunts with all the different weapons and tools is some of the best pure gameplay experiences you can have on PS5. If you have any love for upgrading your gear, deep combat systems, and giant monsters, you will love Monster Hunter Wilds.

Monster Hunter Wilds World Premiere Trailer at The Game Awards 2023

Final Fantasy XIV Online

Final Fantasy XIV Online
50%
Platforms
PlayStation 3, PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Role-playing (RPG)
Developer
Square Enix Product Development Division 3
Publisher
Shanda Games, Square Enix
Release
September 30, 2010

Final Fantasy XIV is quickly becoming the go-to MMORPG on the market. It has grown from a buggy, empty mess at launch to one of the richest MMO experiences available, teeming with players and content to keep you busy. It still requires a monthly subscription, but that’s only after the free trial, which includes all but the most recent expansion. At this point, that’s hundreds of hours of content you can dig into without spending a dime.

Final Fantasy XIV Online: Cinematic Trailer

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2
93%
Platforms
Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Rockstar Games
Publisher
Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games
Release
October 26, 2018
Red Dead Redemption 2 lets you live on the American frontier in the most detailed and realistic Western game ever crafted. You play as Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang, as he travels across the Great Plains, encountering friends, foes, and gold. Although Red Dead Redemption 2 features a story for the ages, simply living in the beautiful world Rockstar created is worth the price of admission. The world is fully alive with animals to hunt, plants to gather, cattle to herd, and more. You can play it as a cinematic blockbuster or a full-fledged cowboy simulator, and both experiences are excellent.
Red Dead Redemption 2 - Announcement Trailer (Official)

Apex Legends

Apex Legends
76%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Respawn Entertainment
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
February 04, 2019
Respawn Entertainment’s Apex Legends is a rockstar of a battle royale. Rising to the top of the best battle royale games within days of launching, Apex Legends has continued to prove that it has the staying power to keep fans hooked. Like similar games, you drop into a battle zone with nothing to your name, and you’ll need to loot, shoot, and sprint to make it to the winner’s circle. Respawn enhances the experience with fast movement mechanics that allow you to make it across the massive map with ease, and the developer continues to add new modes to give players something else to chew on.
Apex Legends Official Launch Trailer

Dota 2

Dota 2
79%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Genre
Strategy, MOBA
Developer
Valve
Publisher
Valve
Release
July 09, 2013
Dota 2 remains one of the most hotly competitive MOBA games around. Going toe-to-toe with League of Legends, it delivers similarly strategic gameplay that’s dominated by some of the most competitive esports players on the planet. Unlike League, however, you have access to all of the characters in Dota 2, even as a free player. That allows you to compete on a level playing field regardless of how much money you have to spend, which is likely why Dota 2 is frequently the most played game on Steam.
This Is Dota

Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3
96%
Platforms
Google Stadia, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical, Adventure
Developer
Larian Studios
Publisher
Larian Studios
Release
August 03, 2023

The king of CRPGs has returned in all its glory with Baldur’s Gate 3. This game crushed expectations during a year filled with stiff competition despite being a CRPG. The quality, performance, and graphics are one thing, but it’s in the story and level of freedom to actually role play that put this game head and shoulders above the rest. Just about anything you think you should be able to do in a game, you can. Not only that, but the developers somehow seem to have planned for it and made the world and NPCs react realistically. It is as close to playing a game of Dungeons & Dragons around a table with your friends as a video game can get, with all the unpredictable humor and fun that entails.

Baldur's Gate 3 Opening Cinematic

Sid Meier's Civilization VII

Sid Meier's Civilization VII
65%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Linux, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Developer
Firaxis Games
Publisher
2K
Release
February 11, 2025
For the first time in the long, long history of Civilization games, Civilization 7 launched on consoles at the same time as PC. For those who have already sunk hundreds of hours into past titles, this entry won’t be a huge shakeup to the formula. You are still expanding your territory, growing your cities, interacting with other leaders, and aiming to win through one of the various victory conditions. What this game adds is Ages where you are able to reset and change aspects of your Civ as technology advances, plus deeper ways you can team up with or cause friction with the other leaders. If you’re someone who can fall into a loop of that “just one more turn” mentality, you might want to watch out for this one.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII - Official Teaser Trailer

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2
73%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Valve
Publisher
Valve
Release
September 27, 2023

It’s hard to choose a better Steam game than one made by the developers who made Steam. Counter-Strike: 2 remains one of the most relevant competitive shooters despite being nearly a decade old after evolving out of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. CS:2′s simplistic yet ruthlessly competitive multiplayer traps players in for hours on end. It’s a game where you want to play for just one more round.

Counter-Strike 2: Beyond Global

Disco Elysium

Disco Elysium
94%
Platforms
Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Developer
ZA/UM, ZA/UM
Publisher
ZA/UM, ZA/UM
Release
October 15, 2019
Disco Elysium is a game about choice. The game starts when you, playing as a detective, wake up in a grungy motel without any indication of how you got there. Worse, you can’t even remember your own name. Things start to clear up when you meet your supposed partner in the motel lobby, who informs you that the two of you are there investigating a body hanging from a tree in the back. From there, it’s up to you to role-play how you want, building or destroying your character in any way you see fit.
Disco Elysium - Epic Games Store Trailer

Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V
90%
Platforms
PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox 360, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter, Racing, Adventure
Developer
Rockstar North
Publisher
Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games
Release
September 17, 2013
Rockstar’s latest crime-causing social satire sold more than 100 million copies for a reason: Grand Theft Auto V is a magnificent, open-world action game with enough content to keep players busy for years, or at least long enough until GTA 6 comes out. Many have willingly done so, enjoying its single-player content as well as the always-evolving Grand Theft Auto Online. The Steam version wasn’t available when the game first launched, but user-created content and mods have helped to make it the definitive version of the game.
Grand Theft Auto V - Next-gen Launch trailer (Official)

Hitman World of Assassination

Hitman World of Assassination
90%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter, Tactical, Adventure
Developer
IO Interactive
Publisher
IO Interactive
Release
January 26, 2023
The Hitman series has always been at its best when it allows players to just experiment and see the craziest things they can do in its sandbox levels, and IO Interactive has never understood that more than in Hitman World of Assassination. This is a bundle of all three games in the trilogy plus a new roguelike mode called Freelancer. Want to throw someone into a pit of cement or have defense robots shoot your target so you don’t get your hands dirty? You can, or you could just shoot them or throw them off a roof like a “normal” assassin. The only limits here are in your imagination, and finding new ways to manipulate the sandbox will keep you hooked.
HITMAN World of Assassination - Launch Trailer

Portal 2

Portal 2
92%
Platforms
PlayStation 3, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Platform, Puzzle, Adventure
Developer
Valve
Publisher
Valve, Electronic Arts
Release
April 18, 2011
It has been available for over a decade, but Valve’s Portal 2 remains one of the most engaging, hilarious, and creative video games ever made. Building on the portal-traveling premise of the original but with more complex puzzles, an even funnier storyline, and a charming new companion character, Portal 2 managed to smash the lofty expectations fans had, and it remains just as playable now as when it first released. User-created levels let you play others’ puzzles, and a separate cooperative mode makes it perfect to enjoy with a friend.
Portal 2 Coop Trailer HD

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
88%
Platforms
PlayStation 3, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox 360
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
November 10, 2011
Sure, you can play The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on just about any device imaginable at this point, but none of them can hold a candle to the PC version. With mod support, higher resolution, better textures, and even fan-made story content, it’s the definitive platform for Bethesda’s masterpiece. The Steam community is still active, too, with a laundry list of guides on how to make your copy look its best. The role-playing adventure is set in one of the most gorgeous and fully-realized worlds ever made, filled with secrets to uncover and monsters to slay, and you can always make your own fun by causing chaos if you don’t want to do quests.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Sounds of Skyrim Trailer

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
94%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
CD Projekt RED
Publisher
WB Games, cdp.pl, Spike Chunsoft, Bandai Namco Entertainment
Release
May 19, 2015
Very few developers can create a world as lifelike and “lived in” as CD Projekt Red, but the Polish studio’s role-playing game isn’t just a virtual sandbox –- it also has one of the best-written stories in the medium, whether you’re enjoying the main quest or one of the game’s countless side missions. No two missions in The Witcher III are the same, and seeing everything the game has to offer can take hundreds of hours. It’s a testament to the game’s quality that many players are willing to spend that time.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Developer Diary: Creating the Sound (Official)

Undertale

Undertale
86%
Platforms
PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure, Indie
Developer
tobyfox
Publisher
8-4, tobyfox
Release
September 15, 2015
Toby Fox’s Undertale looks like a simple retro-inspired role-playing game at first glance, but that is merely a curtain, behind which a truly brilliant adventure hides. Subverting traditional role-playing conventions, Undertale manages to be a commentary on video games themselves, poking fun at character tropes, user interfaces, and combat mechanics while telling a hilarious story. It’s certainly not going to push the power of your PC – or Mac, as it runs on both – but it’s the type of game you won’t find anywhere else.
UNDERTALE Release Trailer

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley
87%
Platforms
PlayStation 4, Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Adventure, Indie
Developer
ConcernedApe
Publisher
ConcernedApe, Chucklefish Games
Release
February 26, 2016
What do you do when you can’t wait any longer to play a full-fledged Harvest Moon sequel? If you’re designer Eric Barone, you just make your own game, instead. Stardew Valley may have aimed to continue the Harvest Moon legacy, but Barone’s game surpasses its inspiration with a colorful cast of characters, deep customization and crop options, gorgeous pixel artwork, and the charm and love that only a truly passionate creator could give a project. With multiplayer and consistent updates, Stardew Valley has only gotten better with age, too.
Stardew Valley Trailer
Jesse Lennox

Jesse Lennox has been a writer at Digital Trends for over five years and has no plans of stopping. He covers all things gaming but has a specific interest in all things PlayStation, JRPGs, and experimental indies. Jesse has been writing about games for over 10 years, starting off as a volunteer and eventually finding his way into doing it full-time. He is constantly striving to push his boundaries in what he covers and finds thought-provoking and important angles to highlight within the games industry.

Originally double-majoring in English and Education, Jesse came into games media as a profession by accident. After an unfortunate layoff, he took his passion for writing about games seriously and was lucky enough to find Digital Trends and other outlets such as Pocket-Lint, Classic Nerd, and Gamepur to write for. He has held numerous writing positions, as well as several editing roles, and is always on the hunt for new opportunities to grow his skillset.

Based in Colorado, Jesse spends at least two hours every morning training in the gym to set his mind straight before a full day of writing and gaming.

Connect with Jesse on LinkdIn.

Dell sale: Up to $400 off monitors, desktop PCs, laptops, and more
Alienware Aurora R16 sitting on a coffee table.

Dell is always an excellent source of monitor deals, desktop computer deals, and laptop deals, especially if you're able to take advantage of the savings from Dell sales -- just like the one that's happening right now. Feel free to take a look at everything that's available through the link below, but you can also check out our favorite offers that we've rounded up. Either way, we highly recommend hurrying with your purchase -- these limited-time deals will only last until May 25, but there's a chance that stocks for the more popular devices will sell out long before then.

Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC -- $2,450 $2,850 14% off

Read more
This budget-friendly Allied gaming PC is on sale for just $600
The inside of the Allied Stinger gaming PC.

Gamers who want a budget-friendly upgrade should check out the Allied Stinger gaming desktop while it's on sale at Best Buy. Its configuration with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card is already relatively affordable at its original price of $880, but it's currently down to just $600 following a $280 discount. That's one of the lowest prices you'll see for a solid machine from gaming PC deals, and you're going to have to hurry with your purchase if you're interested because the stocks up for sale may run out at any moment.

Why you should buy the Allied Stinger gaming PC

Read more
iBuyPower Memorial Day sale: Access huge savings on gaming PCs with this code
The side view of the iBuyPower RDY Y70 R05 gaming PC.

Memorial Day is just around the corner, and iBuyPower is celebrating it with lowered prices for its wide range of gaming PCs. From now until May 26, you can enjoy discounts for the brand's pre-built (RDY) and custom gaming desktops by using the coupon code MEMORIAL during the checkout process. You'll get $50 off for purchases over $999, $100 off for purchases over $1,999, $200 off for purchases over $2,999, and $300 off for purchases over $3,999.

The coupon code during the iBuyPower Memorial Day Mega-Sale will further reduce any promotional prices, so here's your chance at huge savings. Feel free to take a look at all the available offers, but we've also rounded up our favorite gaming PC deals from iBuyPower below if you want any recommendations. Either way, you better hurry -- there's a lot of time left on these discounts, but stocks of the gaming desktop that you've got your eyes on may not last until the sale's last minute.

Read more