best pc games 2014

Best PC games 2014 - What you should be playing

What are the best PC games to play today? Read our 2014 in-depth guide to find out

5 Dec 2014

Playing games on PC often requires a bit more effort than simply buying a console and sticking in a new disc. To run the very latest games, you need an up-to-date graphics card, a healthy amount of RAM, a decent CPU and plenty of storage - and even then you might struggle to run those games at the very highest graphics settings. This shouldn't put you off PC gaming, though, as there are plenty of great games available that can run on a variety of specifications, from top AAA titles to downloadable indie games, and 2014 has been one of the platform's greatest years yet. Even better, PC games are usually much cheaper than their PS4 and Xbox One counterparts - and much better-looking provided you have a powerful-enough PC.

First up we have the bigger titles that should form the mainstay of your gaming for the next few months; then we have a handful of downloadable indie titles, which are well worth a look if you haven’t already played them, especially as they’re now available at bargain prices. We'll be updating this list with the latest releases as soon as we get our full reviews up online. Please note that some of the trailers below are not suitable for those under the age of 18.

THE BIG HITTERS

Alien: Isolation

Your PC is hugely powerful and probably has a large, high-resolution, full colour display. But only 30 years ago such things were the stuff of wild science-fiction dreams, and even some of those had far less advanced view of computing in the future. Alien: Isolation slavishly follows the original film’s look and feel, which means its computers still look like something dreamt up in 1979 – alongside its décor, characters and industrial design. This grim retro future is a remarkable achievement for developers Creative Assembly, but even more remarkable is that they’ve caught the dread and tension of Alien so well.

Playing as Ripley’s daughter, you’re alone aboard a large space station, which is tearing itself apart both literally and figuratively. A single Alien prowls its corridors and crawlspaces, but other enemies in the form of psychotic Synthetic androids and human looters also have to be contended with. The game skilfully blends survival horror and stealth elements into its world. The motion tracker acts as a somewhat limited radar, while the Synthetics believably follow set patrol routes. It’s a slow burn start but this is a brilliant experience for Alien fans as well as anyone who likes atmospheric science fiction. Full review: Alien Isolation

Video of Alien: Isolation Official Launch Trailer - Arrival [US]Minimum PC requirements

OS Support Windows 7 64-bitMinimum CPU 3.16GHz Intel Core Duo E8500

Minimum GPU1GB DirectX 11 (AMD Radeon HD 5550 or Nvidia GeForce GT 430)

Minimum RAM

4GB

Hard disk space 35GB

The Evil Within

Shinji Mikami is one of the undisputed masters of horror games and The Evil Within is easily one of his finest works since Resident Evil 4. This brutal psychological scare-fest doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to blood and gore but it still has the capacity to shock and scare you to your core as well. A 2.35:1 aspect ratio creates a cinematic atmosphere from the get-go, while the liberal use of film grain effect makes it feel as though you’re playing a 1980's video nasty. Combined with the dank, filthy locations that look like you'd contract tetanus if you so much as touched the walls, and a muted colour palette, The Evil Within creates a sense of deep foreboding every time you pick up the controller. It doesn't redefine survival horror, but fans of the genre will definitely enjoy the few new variations it brings to the genre. Full review: The Evil Within

Video of The Evil Within TrailerMinimum PC requirements

OS Support Windows 7 64-bitMinimum CPU Quad-core Intel Core i7 or AMD equivalent

Minimum GPUNvidia GTX 460 1GB / AMD Radeon HD 6850 1GB or better

Minimum RAM

4GB


Football Manager 2015

Football Manager 2015 is the most bewilderingly complex instalment to date. For novices that prefer the on-the-field antics of FIFA it will confuse more than delight, but aficionados will be purring with excitement at what's on offer. For the first time in the series, motion capture has been used to replicate the movements of actual footballers for the newly revamped match engine, so it not only looks completely different, but there's also plenty of other distractions to keep you busy that perfectly capture the highs and lows of the game, including press interviews, discussions with staff or players and job interviews. This game is bigger, harder and more all-consuming than ever before - and all the better for it. Full review: Football Manager 2015

Video of #FM15 New Features Video [Out November 7th]

Minimum PC requirementsOS Support Windows XPMinimum CPU Intel Pentium 4, Intel Core, AMD Athlon - XP: 1.6GHz+ V/7/8: 2.2GHz+Minimum GPU

Nvidia GeForce FX 5900 Ultra, ATI Radeon 9800, Intel GMA X3100 - 128MB VRAM

Minimum RAM

1GB

Hard disk space

3GB

Titanfall

It takes a lot to make a game stand out in the FPS arena, but Titanfall practically rewrites the entire FPS handbook with it intense, parkour-style gunplay with huge, lumbering Titan robots, making it by far one of 2014's most interesting and enjoyable twitch shooters. With plenty of modes and styles of combat to master, it caters for both the casual crowd and more hardcore players brilliantly. Each map has plenty of verticality to accommodate your pilot's jetpack and wall-running abilities, and its AI-controlled grunts help fill each arena to help teams feel much larger than the initial 6v6 teams you join with other players online. Full review: Titanfall

Video of Titanfall - Launch TrailerMinimum PC requirements

OS Support Windows 7 64-bit

Minimum CPUIntel Celeron E3200 dual-core 2.4GHz or AMD Athlon II X2 220

Minimum GPU Nvidia GeForce GT 8800 or ATI Radeon HD 47700Minimum RAM

4GB


Metro Last Light: Redux

We love a good post-apocalyptic wasteland, but this sequel to 2010's Metro 2033 is one of the very best. While the vast majority of the game is set underground, the subtle lighting effects are truly sensational. As you peer at the world through your cracked and fogged-up gas mask, immersion is at an all-time high, particularly when you can just glance down at your set of improvised weapons and see how much ammunition you have left without having a distracted HUD obscuring your view. You'll need a pretty powerful PC to run the game smoothly, but this is easily one of the most memorable games of the year. Full review: Metro Last Light

Video of Metro Redux - Launch Trailer [US]Minimum PC requirements

OS Support Windows VistaMinimum CPU Dual Core CPU 2.2GHz or better

Minimum GPUNvidia GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

Minimum RAM

2GB


Diablo III: Reaper of Souls

Diablo III was a long time coming, but this classic RPG keeps going from strength to strength and the latest Reaper of Souls expansion pack continues to build on the game's universe, adding a brand new chapter, another playable character, a higher level cap and a whole lot more loot to uncover. Adventure mode also keeps the game feeling fresh by changing the location of Diablo III's original boss fights and enemy encounters. Even the dungeons and the routes through them have been changed, too, so returning players don't feel like they're playing the same game twice. Full review: Diablo III and Diablo III: Reaper of Souls

Video of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Feature TrailerMinimum PC requirements

OS Support Windows XPMinimum CPU Intel Pentium 2.8GHz or AMD Athlon X2 4400

Minimum GPUNvidia GeForce GT 7800 or ATI Radeon X1950 Pro

Minimum RAM

1GB


Wolfenstein: The New Order

Wolfenstein: The New Order starts with one simple premise: "What if the Nazis had won World War II?" It's certainly a rather hellish vision of how 1960 might have turned out, but the game's core objective of blasting evil Nazis left, right and centre remains immensely enjoyable, especially when you can dual-wield practically any item in your arsenal. However, there's rarely room for an all-guns-blazing approach, as The New Order's limited ammunition and emphasis on stealth forces players to think carefully about their method of assault. There's still plenty of variety, though, as the perks system rewards players who try out different weapons. There may not be a multiplayer mode, but The New Order is still a fantastic single-player game that makes Wolfenstein feel great again. Full review: Wolfenstein: The New Order

Video of Wolfenstein: The New Order -- Launch TrailerMinimum PC requirements

OS Support Windows 7 64-bitMinimum CPU Intel Core i7 or equivalent AMD

Minimum GPUNvidia GeForce 460 or ATI Radeon HD 6850

Minimum RAM

4GB


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