Best Offline PC Games

In terms of flexibility in gaming, no other platform can match the PC. The hardware comes with many advantages for those who can overcome the often-daunting price of setting up a computer. As a bonus, while consoles require a subscription fee for online gaming, the majority of PC games can be played online without any additional cost. Regardless, many people find the most enjoyment in offline PC games.

Whether searching for triple-A open-world behemoths or indie darlings that use pixel art, PC players are spoiled for choice. New games are released daily on services such as Steam, and while they might not all be classics, there is never a shortage of great titles. What are the best offline games for PC?

Updated October 26, 2024 by Mark Sammut: October 2024 has been a great month for PC gaming, producing quite a few big titles that have mostly delivered on their promise. One game deserves a special mention, but the following titles also warrant a quick shout out below:

• Metaphor: ReFantazio – Atlus has produced another brilliant single-player JRPG, one that throws in a fantasy setting. Anyone who is a fan of Shin Megami Tensei 5 or Persona 5 will likely love Metaphor: ReFantazio. The game has DRM on Steam, so an internet connection will be required on occasion.
• Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero – A huge roster, generally great visuals, accessible but challenging combat, and a lot of content, Sparking! Zero is the Budokai Tenkaichi successor Dragon Ball fans have been waiting for. While a valid single-player option, the game also has a robust online portion.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

Steam User Rating: 95%

Bloober Team had a seemingly insurmountable task – recreate a legendary psychological horror game in a franchise that has been largely ignored for the best part of a decade. A decent remake would not have been good enough to carry the Silent Hill 2 name, and the project’s earliest showcase did not inspire too much confidence. However, as new footage emerged, the game started to look better, at least to the point of encouraging cautious optimism. Then, on October 8, 2024, a new Silent Hill 2 hit store shelves, allowing PC and PS5 players to once again experience James Sunderland’s haunting story.

As replicating the original game’s influence or innovation is near-impossible, there is no point in contemplating whether the remake is superior or not. They both have the right to exist, and the 2024 version pays respectful tribute to its predecessor while still having the confidence to carve a fresh path in a few key areas. Silent Hill 2 is chilling. Even with the modernized controls, camera, and improved combat, the remake still manages to be constantly terrifying due to its fantastic sound design and smart use of fog. Narratively and thematically, the game hits the mark by mostly sticking to the original blueprint, albeit with a few tweaks and turns.

Silent Hill 2 is a horror masterpiece, and that statement now holds true for two games separated by more than two decades.

Hades & Hades 2 (Early Access)

Steam User Rating: 98% (Hades) & 95% (Hades 2)

Despite being very much an indie company, Supergiant Games has amassed such a positive reputation that every release is deemed an event, and Hades 2 is arguably the developer’s biggest project to date. Released into early access on May 6, 2024, the highly-anticipated sequel is still a work in progress, a fact interested customers should keep in mind; however, the game is already very promising, with the main campaign being largely playable. In its present state, Hades 2 has enough content to match its (fantastic) predecessor, and the gameplay is generally fun, even if it will likely receive some tweaks in the next few months.

Still, if someone would rather play a 100% complete project, they can just pick up the original Hades. The 2020 game sits among the best roguelites on the market, and it does a brilliant job of blending the genre’s traditional repetitive loop with a narrative that allows for a sense of constant progression. As Zagreus, players need to work their way through four areas (and bosses) to escape the Underworld. Naturally, this process is anything but simple, and Zagreus will need to experiment with boons and weapons to get the job done.

Alan Wake 2

Great Survival Horror Sequel

Alan Wake 2 took a long time to materialize, but it was largely worth the wait. Remedy delivered a sequel that expands on its predecessor’s ideas while never coming across as a retread. Along with the titular character, the game features a second protagonist named Saga Anderson, who is an officer investigating a series of murders. Outside a few sequences, players are free to swap back and forth between both characters, and their halves of the campaign are fairly different from each other.

Firmly falling within the survival-horror genre, Alan Wake 2 succeeds in creating a sustained sense of anxiety that a threat could be present around every corner. The game uses light as a weapon; in turn, nothing is scarier than the dark. The story is not only fantastic, but also does a great job of differentiating Saga and Alan’s sections while still making them feel like they are part of a cohesive whole.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Stean User Rating: 96%

Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 launched in Steam early access in 2020, and the developer used this time wisely. Although the franchise has remained somewhat active thanks to enhanced editions and spin-offs like Dark Alliance, Baldur’s Gate‘s last mainline entry came out in 2000, with its expansion debuting a year later. BioWare’s original two games are still regarded as some of the greatest RPGs of all time, and they set a bar that seemed almost impossible for a sequel to surpass. Baldur’s Gate 3 not only leaps over this bar but also confidently carves a new path that sets it apart from everything that came before it, at least in the D&D franchise.

Deep customization, a fully realized world, and flexible storytelling are just a few of the game’s strengths, and they are really just the tip of the iceberg. Utilizing a turn-based combat system reminiscent of Larian’s Divinity: Original Sin 2, Baldur’s Gate 3 focuses on strategic and calculated play that rewards forward-thinking and big-picture tactics, all the while incorporating an element of luck as a reflection of its tabletop roots. While the title supports co-op multiplayer and shines in the mode, the campaign can be played offline as a traditional single-player RPG.

Divinity: Original Sin 2
is also fantastic.

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Red Dead Redemption 2

Steam User Rating: 91%

Rockstar might not release new games all that often, but each debut is an event. Following its console launch, Red Dead Redemption 2 took more than a year to come to PC, and while the transition was not seamless, the game nevertheless offers a premium single-player experience. While Red Dead Online obviously requires internet, the main game can be played offline, although players will need a connection when they are signing up for the first time.

Set toward the end of North America’s Wild West era, RDR2 follows Arthur Morgan as he deals with internal tension as part of the Van der Linde gang. Boasting a gorgeous and detailed open-world, the game is a technological tour de force with precious few peers in the gaming industry. Narratively, RDR2 is constantly emotionally captivating, which is hardly an easy feat considering the campaign’s length.

Core Keeper

Steam User Rating: 91%

Core Keeper not only supports 8-player online co-op but also implements the feature really well, so it is a great multiplayer option. That said, players are not forced to go online, and they can opt for a solo offline adventure if that is their preferred speed. Fortunately, Core Keeper is also fantastic as a single-player survival sandbox game, particularly if players simply want to get lost in a fairly expansive map as they steadily collect resources, set up a base, and bring light to the surrounding darkness.

Although not completely lacking goals or progression, Core Keeper mostly leaves players to their own devices after they pick a starting background, which can be overwhelming during the first few hours of a playthrough. As they grow more familiar with the mechanics and finally discover a place suitable to set up their home, players will find themselves growing more comfortable and willing to venture further away from safety.

Animal Well

Steam User Rating: 95%

Metroidvanias are all over the indie scene. While most of the genre’s biggest names focus on combat, exceptions exist, and Animal Well is among the very best deviations. Shared Memory’s project revolves almost entirely around exploration and puzzles, with each screen/room effectively serving as self-contained brainteasers that, more often than not, require lateral thinking to solve. Platforming is a central part of the campaign, but these sections are not particularly difficult and mostly exist to facilitate puzzles.

Along with consistently great level design, Animal Well is also surprisingly haunting, courtesy of beautiful but eerie environments and minimal music. The game feels otherworldly in the greatest possible way. While generally an easy recommendation for people who love puzzle Metroidvania, genre newcomers should be aware that Animal Well can be quite difficult.

Fields Of Mistria

Steam User Rating: 98%

Steam does not have a shortage of farming sims; in fact, someone could easily spend a whole year just going through these types of releases, and they would be constantly playing catch-up since new titles seem to debut every other week. For the most part, they tend to fade from the spotlight fairly quickly, becoming just another cozy project that is fun for a few hours but might struggle to stand out long-term in a genre dominated by a few colossal names. That said, Fields of Mistria seems different. While still in early access, NPC’s game is already in impressive shape, delivering a charming escape from reality filled with lovable characters and accessible mechanics.

In many ways, Fields of Mistria feels like a greatest hits project that combines most of the popular mechanics associated with farming sims and, especially, Stardew Valley. However, it combines familiar parts to create a surprisingly refreshing whole, one that is elevated by a beautiful and nostalgic art style with proven longevity. As has become customary, the game includes farming, combat, town renovation, cooking, fishing, animal raising, and festivals. Romance is also part of the equation, and marriage is on the cards.

Planescape: Torment

RPG Classic With Writing That Holds Up

A bona fide classic, Planescape: Torment holds up as one of gaming’s best uses of Dungeons & Dragons. Unlike the more action-oriented Baldur’s Gate and its sequel(s), which are all naturally fantastic, Planescape: Torment is driven almost entirely by its writing and world-building, two things that are fairly timeless. The combat system was never amazing, and time has done little to change that, but it largely avoids diminishing the RPG’s strengths.

PST brings to life a complex, dark, and engrossing universe that encourages players to fully immerse themselves as the Nameless One, the campaign’s protagonist. In 2017, an Enhanced Edition was released that made the game easier to run on modern systems, and the remaster includes a few quality-of-life improvements as well.

Dave The Diver

Clever Blend Of Genres

After a stint in early access, Dave the Diver made its full debut in June 2023, and it is safe to say the game has been a resounding success. Mintrocket really went for broke with this project, crafting an experience that appears to actively despise repetition despite sticking to a fairly fixed loop. Dave not only runs a sushi shop but also personally catches the fish he serves, meaning he spends his days exploring a fantastical ocean and his nights managing a restaurant. That is a lot of work for anyone, and the amazing thing is that Dave the Diver does not neglect either area.

The deep-sea expeditions are an absolute joy thanks to an ever-changing environment and a one-weapon-per-run loadout system. The latter means players constantly have to weigh the pros and cons of their available arsenal, and once a decision is made, they are stuck with it. Dives also come with a well-thought-out risk/reward system since overambition can result in a mostly wasted session.

Dave the Diver takes its restaurant management angle just as seriously as its dives. Players are given full control over the establishment, allowing them to do things like hire staff and alter the menu. Even more impressively, the game is also stuffed with minigames that never overstay their welcome.

Dragon Age: Origins

Best Version Of The Best Dragon Age Game

An online connection could be required to set up Dragon Age: Origins or to access its DLC; however, the base game is an offline experience. Even if recent years do not represent the developer’s peak, BioWare is nevertheless responsible for some of the greatest Western RPGs of all time. The company was on fire during the 2000s, producing Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, Mass Effect, and Baldur’s Gate 2, all of which are ambitious projects that prioritize single-player campaigns.

Dragon Age: Origins is arguably BioWare’s crowning achievement, particularly on PC. While set in a somewhat typical fantasy world, the RPG does a beautiful job of exploring its universe’s mythology, characters, and social systems. Each playable race comes with a unique origin story, which not only serves to enhance the game’s replayability but also expands its overall world-building. The combat system is tactical in nature without being overwhelmingly complex.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

Smooth Movement, Great Combat, Good Story

There are plenty of good superhero games on PC, but for the longest time, it seemed like one of the best Spider-Man adventures was destined to remain on the PS4. However, Insomniac Games’ open-world epic eventually made the jump to computers, and the port is generally pretty good.

Packaged with the Black Cat DLC, the remaster looks fantastic, tells a gripping story, and controls like a dream. The latter is the game’s true selling point as Marvel’s Spider-Man absolutely nails its movement. Swinging across Manhattan is a joy, while the combat is fluid and stylish.

Neon White

Not Just For Speedrunners

Speedrunning is not for everyone, but Neon White just might convince the non-believers. An action-platformer centering around a fascinating card system, Neon White challenges players to repeatedly run through levels so they seek the best time they can manage. While there is some variety, most stages require players to kill every enemy on their way to the endpoint. Completing a level might be simple enough, but the goal is to master them, a process that demands and rewards repeat runs so that each inch of the layout is memorized.

Neon White feels great to play on a fundamental level, and the game’s visuals are stylish and striking. The story is pretty bad, but it does not get in the way of the gameplay. Once its gameplay loop sinks its teeth into someone, Neon White does not let go, firmly establishing itself as one of the best single-player games of the 2020s.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Awesome Modern Beat ‘Em Up That Is Great Solo Or With Friends

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge does not have to be a solitary experience since it supports online co-op, but it can be played and enjoyed solo or locally. A throwback to beat ’em ups of yesteryear, Shredder’s Revenge expertly combines nostalgia and modern innovations to deliver an experience that will satisfy long-time fans searching for the next Turtles in Time and people dipping their toes into this genre for the first time.

Boasting great visuals, a diverse roster of playable characters, and a fun selection of enemies and levels taken from a plethora of TMNT properties, Shredder’s Revenge knocks it out of the park. The game is also quite challenging and does not pull its punches, which helps extend the campaign’s replayability.

Elden Ring

FromSoftware’s Souls Formula Goes Open-World

PvP can be a big part of the Elden Ring experience, provided a player wants it to be. While online certainly adds another dimension to FromSoftware’s masterpiece, Elden Ring also offers an offline mode for those who prefer to focus solely on PvE or do not have access to the internet at that moment. An absolutely massive action RPG that implements the Souls formula in a proper open-world setting, Elden Ring has garnered almost universal acclaim, receiving praise for its combat, exploration, and replayability.

Backed to the brim with bosses, lore, weapons, and stunning vistas, Elden Ring is an early contender for the best game of the decade, regardless of whether someone plays online or offline. The Lands Between are harrowing, deadly, and well worth visiting – just be prepared to die a lot.

Rogue Legacy 2

Hard To Put Down Roguelike

After being in early access for more than a year, Rogue Legacy 2 is finally out, and the game builds beautifully on its very good predecessor. As before, players jump into randomly generated dungeons filled with loot and enemies. Once death falls upon them, players move on to the next generation, picking another character who inherits unique traits that might or might not be useful. Although dungeons reset in each run, there are some elements of progression that remain fixed, specifically stuff bought by using gold acquired during a playthrough.

Containing 15 classes that feel distinct enough from each other, Rogue Legacy 2 packs in a lot of content and replay value. There are plenty of Metroidvania indie games on Steam, but few come close to matching Rogue Legacy 2‘s brilliance.

Batman: Arkham City

Impeccable Combat And Immersive Gotham

Rocksteady’s Batman trilogy still arguably represents the peak of superhero games, and an argument could be made that this accolade should be extended to the action genre in general. All three titles are highly regarded in their own right, but if forced to highlight the pick of the bunch, Batman: Arkham City has to get the nod. Unlike its predecessor, the 2011 entry expands its playground to an open-world setting as Batman finds himself investigating the eponymous prison.

Arkham City has fantastic combat, a memorable main storyline that includes a wide range of Batman’s rogues’ gallery, and a ton of side content that can easily balloon a playthrough’s runtime to more than double its normal length. Even though it is not more than a decade old, Arkham City is still visually impressive, which serves as a testament to Rocksteady’s art design.

Vampire Survivors

Endless Entertainment

Available for less than the price of a Starbucks coffee, Vampire Survivors is a bullet hell roguelite that is in early access. Since its late 2021 launch on Steam, this indie game has frequently released patches containing new stages, characters, and weapons, most of which add hours of content to the base experience.

The premise is simple: pick a character, enter a stage, and survive for as long as possible. As enemies are slain, players will eventually level up, providing access to a slew of new power-ups and weapons. This straightforward concept produces an addictive gameplay loop that contains far more depth than might initially seem to be the case. Most characters are also quite different from each other, greatly altering the ways stages are experienced.

God Of War

Great Reboot With A Strong Story & Solid Gameplay

Originally released on the PS4, Santa Monica’s God of War finally made its way to PC in January 2022. A soft reboot, this entry significantly alters the franchise’s status quo, dropping Kratos in a new mythos while introducing a completely different combat style.

A third-person action game that places a heavy emphasis on its story, God of War follows Kratos and his son, Atreus, as they go on a journey to lay down the ashes of their wife and mother respectively. With no multiplayer elements, God of War is a purely single-player experience, one that delivers plenty of content and polish.

Crusader Kings 3

Create A Dynasty In A Character-Driven Grand Strategy RPG

Grand strategy games are dense, time-consuming affairs that come with a high entry barrier for newcomers. Historically, the genre has struggled to balance accessibility with complexity, with most of the best projects prioritizing the latter at the complete expense of the former; if nothing else, Crusader Kings 3 balances this juggling act better than most of its peers. And, just to be clear, Paradox’s game has a lot more going for it than just that.

Dropped into the Middle Ages, players lead a family dynasty through multiple generations, a process that marries interpersonal drama along with political ambition. Crusader Kings 3‘s brilliance lies in the way it manages to offer a massive world-expanding scope alongside small-scale household squabbles that are just as engaging as full-blown wars.

NieR: Automata

Atmospheric Hack And Slash RPG With A Haunting Story

NieR: Automata is the sequel to a niche spin-off of a relatively obscure franchise, Drakengard, and it is awesome. Although a familiarity with the previous entries can heighten the experience, NieR: Automata mostly stands on its own, delivering an ambitious storyline that pits androids against alien robots.

As this game was directed by Yoko Taro, the story takes quite a few surprising turns and explores a range of philosophical themes. Developed by PlatinumGames, NieR: Automata‘s hack and slash combat is reminiscent of Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising, although it is backed by more RPG elements.

Rise Of The Tomb Raider

Best Of Lara Croft’s Survivor Era

Crystal Dynamics’ Tomb Raider trilogy is a dependable choice for adventure fans. At the bare minimum, all three games are at least good, and the first two entries achieve far more than just the minimum. While 2013’s Tomb Raider is a must-play title, its sequel, Rise of the Tomb Raider, is superior in nearly every way.

Set in Siberia, the 2015 game finds Lara Croft exploring the snowy wilderness in search of the mythical city of Kitezh. The story takes quite a few unexpected turns, and the side content permits Lara to investigate traditional tombs akin to the pre-Crystal Dynamics era. The gameplay blends exploration, crafting, gunplay, puzzles, and stealth, and Rise of the Tomb Raider handles all these elements well.

Undertale

Changed The Indie Scene Forever

Toby Fox’s RPG has established itself as one of the genre’s greatest representatives, and that goes beyond just indie titles. Inspired by games such as Mother, Undertale cleverly examines and critiques the player’s actions as they interact with the inhabitants of the Underground, an area located within the Earth.

Undertale might look simple on the surface, however, the charming 8-bit visuals hide an incredibly complex experience both in terms of story and gameplay. Undertale is one of those releases that everyone should try at one point or another, especially since it is quite cheap to purchase.

Nioh 2

Team Ninja’s Best Soulslike

Similar to most Soulslikes, Nioh 2 has a couple of online features that will be sacrificed if someone decides to disconnect from the internet. While co-op or the clan system are solid additions to the overall package, they are far from required to enjoy Nioh 2; in fact, someone can easily just ignore the online elements and have an absolute blast playing through the extensive campaign.

Similar to its predecessor, Nioh 2 is extensive, guiding players through seven regions/eras that each come with multiple long main missions and a few side quests. The game also has other optional content like Twilight Missions, which are essentially harder versions of normal quests. Even if a player opts against picking up the complete edition and just sticks to the standard version, which would be a mistake, they will more than get their money’s worth.

Turbo Overkill

Frantic FPS Chaos Done Perfectly

There are roughly a billion retro FPSs on PC, and while they might not all be masterpieces, they can be a ton of fun in the right headspace. Turbo Overkill serves as just one representative of this peculiar subgenre, although releases like Dusk are also fantastic. Very much inspired by old-school greats, this first-person romp prioritizes excess above everything else, delivering an all-thrills experience that is almost cerebral.

While the controls work as they should and the gameplay has enough depth to keep things interesting enough, Turbo Overkill is generally quite straightforward, opting to distill the genre’s appeal to its most fundamental selling point: it is fun to shoot things in the face and watch them go boom. Sometimes, that’s all a game needs, along with a chainsaw leg.

Devil May Cry 5

Three Playable Characters Who All Have Deep Combat Systems (+ Vergil)

After a long hiatus and a divisive spin-off, Capcom’s Devil May Cry made its glorious (and stylish) return in 2019. Similar to the fourth game, Nero and Dante are both playable in Devil May Cry 5, and they are joined by a new character called V. All three fighters control very differently, with each one being given mechanics that set them apart from the crowd.

Boasting high-octane hack and slash combat that is accessible but difficult to master, Devil May Cry 5 is endlessly replayable due to the sheer number of combos possible and extra modes like the Blood Palace. While the campaign can become a touch repetitive due to some fairly bland environments, that criticism is offset by the sheer quality of the gameplay. Newcomers to the series can start with this entry, although they should still seek out all the other games besides Devil May Cry 2 and, perhaps, DmC: Devil May Cry.

System Shock 2

An All-Time Sci-Fi Horror Classic

Some games are the definition of timeless, and System Shock 2 falls into that category. This does not mean the game has not aged in various ways, as it naturally has, but its strengths are so undeniable that they override any criticisms. System Shock 2 is a horror RPG set in a starship, with the gameplay revolving around exploration and some combat.

System Shock 2 tells an engrossing narrative featuring a contender for the greatest villain in gaming history, SHODAN. The plot is built up nicely through environmental storytelling and cutscenes, culminating in an unforgettable final act. System Shock 2 is available on Steam and GOG, but the latter is a slightly better pick for offline play.

Disco Elysium – The Final Cut

The Ultimate Dialogue-Driven RPG

Any fan of CRPG games owes it to themselves to give Disco Elysium a spin. ZA/UM crafted an intricate detective story that puts heavy emphasis on player choice and world-building. Exploring philosophical and social themes, Disco Elysium follows a detective suffering from amnesia as they investigate a murder while trying to piece together their own backstory.

The base game was already fantastic, but The Final Cut update took it a step further by adding new voice acting and quests. Permitting the lack of combat is not a deal-breaker for a potential customer, Disco Elysium is a stellar RPG that offers fantastic writing, a fully-realized setting, and some of the best dialogue in gaming.

Slay The Spire

An Addictive Deck-Building Roguelike

Slay the Spire, developed by MegaCrit Games, is a rare game that creates an entire subgenre around it. This time, the name of the game is deck-building rogue-lite. The player will select one of four distinct classes and attempt to climb to the top of the Spire and destroy it. It’s a simple concept, and it’s really easy to pick up and play on any kind of PC.

However, each run plays wildly differently due to the draft system of the cards. There are a ton of different synergies between cards, so the number of viable decks is massive. Plus, with the added bonuses of Relics spicing things up, it’s equally easy to get disgustingly overpowered or just fizzle out on the first act. It may take a few runs to get the hang of it, but the thrill of getting that incredible run is unmatched. This game is one that can easily absorb countless hours and is totally worth it.

Sid Meier’s Civilization 6

Endless Replayable

One noteworthy change to Civilization 6 is a “religion” condition that allows players to win the game by converting the world to their faith. As a turn-based real-time strategy game, Civilization 6 has few close competitors. Raising a civilization from the feudal ages to the modern era is too fun in Civilization 6.

The game can be played offline for competitive matches against smart AI. Civilization 6 has relatively low requirements compared to other leading PC games. This is one game you can’t miss!

Hollow Knight

Sprawling Metroidvania With Top-Tier Combat, Exploration, & Lore

There have been a ton of Indie games released in the modern age that have defied expectations and carved out their own chunk of the entertainment industry as proof that games don’t have to have an AAA budget to be a spectacular adventure. Hollow Knight should be considered one of the poster children for this phenomenon, as it’s been gripping fans ever since its release back in 2017.

The bug-based Metroidvania features gorgeous visuals, punishing difficulty, and some of the most entertaining boss fights in recent memory. Even those who don’t love side-scrolling adventures or platformers find it hard to resist the charm that Team Cherry presents with Hollow Knight. It’s an experience that all players should check out for themselves, at least once.

Diablo 2 (& Resurrected)

Still A Great Action RPG

Largely hailed as the greatest action RPG of all time, Diablo 2 is a bona fide masterpiece that casts a wide shadow over the entire gaming industry. Blizzard’s title offers players the option to pick offline or online, and they both have their positives. The latter should be picked if someone plans to take advantage of the game’s trade system, which can be a good way to make extra cash. Online is also required to take part in Diablo 2: Resurrected‘s Ladder seasons.

These features might make online seem like the obvious pick for Diablo 2, but offline is not only a valid option but also preferred by many people. If someone opts to treat the game like a single-player experience, they will be afforded a few noteworthy benefits. For one, the areas’ maps will remain consistent from game to game, which is not the case when playing online. Also, and this is probably the biggest advantage of offline mode, players will be allowed to respec their characters’ stats as often as they want.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A Decade Later, The Witcher 3 Is Still Arguably The Standard Setter For Open-World RPGs

The expansive world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt can overwhelm players through its sheer scale. This is a game where people can log hundreds of hours and still have something new to discover. The enemy, weapon, and town variety make the game a masterpiece.

As an offline-only game, what The Witcher 3 does, it does perfectly. CD Projekt Red crafted a lived-in and detailed open-world rich with minor but personal stories that are constantly rewarding, justifying constant exploration and immersion. The combat can be divisive and does not offer too much flexibility in its minute-to-minute action, but it does capture Geralt’s Witcher training and personality well. With fantastic writing, strong characters, and 50+ hours of content, The Witcher 3 will keep somebody busy for a very long time.

Stardew Valley

The Farming Sim To Keeps On Producing Gold

Those looking for something a bit more relaxing than many of the high-octane hits found throughout this list can opt for Stardew Valley, an incredibly rich and detailed Indie game that features a surprising amount of depth. Those who enjoy games like Minecraft, Harvest Moon, or even Virtual Novels and Dating Simulators will feel right at home in Stardew Valley‘s beautiful landscapes.

Players will take over a dilapidated farm, working hard to restore it to its former glory and making friends along the way. There is something here for everyone, thanks to Stardew Valley‘s dating sim elements, exploration, building mechanics, and combat (for those seeking a little danger).

Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX-

Steam User Rating: 74%

More or less, the full Kingdom Hearts franchise is available on PC, and all the games/compilations have plenty of positives. That said, Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX- is by far the most worthwhile option; after all, it contains improved versions of the three best games in the franchise.

Ignoring everything else included in this package, HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX is primarily worth owning for Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts 2, and Birth by Sleep, all of which are lengthy action-adventure games with (generally) great combat, RPG progression, fantastic music, convoluted but charming stories, and dozens of Disney-themed worlds that are a constant blast to explore.

Now, this compilation has notoriously had performance issues on certain GPUs, so anyone looking to pick this up should do a quick search on Google to see if any red flags pop up relating to their system. Quite a few of the launch problems should be fixed, but it is better to be cautious.

BioShock

Mediocre Combat Aside, BioShock’s Setting, Story, & Themes Are Timeless

All three BioShock games have a lot to offer, including the often-overlooked second entry, but the original release is undoubtedly the most influential of the bunch. The game takes place in Rapture, an underwater city envisioned as a utopia for the rich and powerful that eventually succumbed to internal strife and became a desolate graveyard and a warning of the corrupting effects of human arrogance and greed. As Jack, players gradually discover Rapture’s history and secrets, a journey that is captivating from the first moment until the last.

Although not among the best-playing releases to come out of the first-person shooter genre, BioShock‘s gameplay gets the job done, primarily thanks to the inclusion of plasmid abilities. However, the game is primarily worth playing for its atmosphere, environmental storytelling, and themes.

Doom (2016)

Sometimes, You Just Want To Shoot Demons In The Face

Doom (2016) is arguably the best attempt at a reimagining of the Doom franchise. The fast-paced combat combined with brutal kills is a first-person shooter game at its finest. The single-player campaign could be the highlight of Doom. The game is set on the planet Mars, which is too freaking cool.

Doom Eternal, the sequel to Doom, is also a thrill ride from beginning to end and incorporates a few noteworthy changes to the gameplay. For one, there is now a dodge mechanic.

Half-Life 2

Valve’s Masterpiece Is Still, Well, A Masterpiece

Valve’s Half-Life 2 is generally considered one of the best, if not the best offline PC game of all time. Launching in 2004 and spawning two episodes, Half-Life 2 expands everything from its predecessor, turning a claustrophobic shooter into a blockbuster. With Earth succumbing to a multidimensional force called the Combine, Gordon Freeman goes on a cross-country trip as part of humanity’s resistance unit.

After all this time, Half-Life 2 naturally shows its age; however, the game remains fun and exhilarating to play. While a VR release, 2020’s Half-Life: Alyx is also a great offline game.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Los Santos Is Always Worth A Visit

Rockstar hit the jackpot with Grand Theft Auto Online, crafting a multiplayer package that continues to be a huge success nearly a decade following its introduction. While the single-player campaign has been overshadowed by the online version, Grand Theft Auto 5 nevertheless offers one of the best offline PC gaming experiences on the market.

With three playable characters, a detailed open-world set (primarily) in Los Santos, and a ton of side-content outside a long main story, GTA 5 feels complete and satisfying. Time has done little to dull this game’s impact.

The RPG That Refuses To Go Away (Especially On PC)

Bethesda is generally a safe bet for offline games. Although not flawless, Starfield‘s scope is impressive, and the RPG is likely to hit the mark with people craving space exploration. The 3D Fallout games are among the post-apocalyptic genre’s most beloved representatives, and most of the single-player entries are worth experiencing (including the ones not developed by Bethesda).

Finally, there is The Elder Scrolls, Bethesda’s quintessential property. Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim are all masterpieces in their own right, and they all present convincing arguments for being the franchise’s peak. Skyrim is, ultimately, the most accessible and popular of the three games, and it has received quite a lot of updates over the last decade. As far as fantasy RPGs are considered, few titles are as long-lasting and addictive as this 2011 project.