Steam, developed by Valve, is arguably one of the most well-known game platforms and markets. While having thousands of famous and must-play games, it's obvious that some among that massive number of games are better. And, in the list below, we break down 25 best games on Steam that are considered must-have for every hardcore gamers who also love the platform.
The games are listed according to alphabetical order. Now let's dig into it!
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Regardless of whether you have played this game, you must have experienced its vibe which is kinda similar to many other horror titles. Surely, having to pay attention all the time to watch out the danger without any weapon seems really daunting. However, you have to admit that this game has defined and recreated a whole subgenre of horror games. Also, the game seems to be causing a lot of excitement and interest since an internet trend in which players play and record their own reactions was also created thanks to it.
If you are a horror games fan, pick it!
BattleTech
Having the same developer with the famous Shadowrun, BattleTech is a tactics game which is filled by futuristic factors and mechs. Sure, the tactics and the story of the game are well-built but buying and enhancing your powerful mechs to serve your mercenary missions all over the galaxy is undeniably interesting.
Cities: Skylines
Stepping up from SimCity's return's failure, Cities: Skylines became one of the most successful city simulation games ever. The most interesting thing about the game is that you are able to do a lot of things in the games thanks to its various mods and expansions. Building a landmark? Winter vibe with snow? Destroy the whole city by an earthquake? Building theme parks to satisfying your citizens? Everything seems possible in the game thanks to the dedication of the developer Colossal Order!
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
CS: GO did a great job at evolving the whole series and even the shooting genre over the last decade. Its new maps, weapons, and characters are all excellent while still being able to keep that classic CS vibe we all want. It's no need to talk much about this game, if you are an enthusiastic shooter, you've gotta have it.
Darkest Dungeon
The game is now available for multiple other platforms. However, many still argue that its PC version is the best. They have their own reasons: it has great DLC, spectacular graphics, no UI problems like the other versions. Having said that, any version is still a great choice since the game itself is already play-worthy. Besides a great battle system and excellent graphics, it tells you a great story, combined with great strategy system and fierce fights. No more doubt, it is one of the best RPG you can get out there.
Dead Cells
Though Dead Cells is not completed at the time it was first published on Steam Early Access, this uncompleted version is still arguably among best games in not only in its roguelike subgenre. Being a roguelike, it is still enjoyable, intriguing to play, progress, level up, and improve your playing skills even after you finished the story. When it was polished and updated to the official version, Dead Cells is even better.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
The first entry of Divinity was a huge success for Larian Studios. However, its later game is even more interesting. Divinity: Original Sin 2 presents more characters, great narrative, new ability system thus turns itself into one of the most appreciated RPG. The game also includes lively NPCs, a cooperative mode, Game Master mode, and even PVP.
Dragon Quest XI
Similar to previous entries in the series, Dragon Quest XI is full of RPG elements and is pretty easy on players due to a simple fighting system. The story is also great enough to glue you to the screen.
Though the game is available on other platforms, the PC version seems to be the best thanks to its spectacular graphics. Additionally, modders have added a new, better soundtrack than the original one of the game which you would love to experience.
Fallout: New Vegas
New Vegas arguably has the most interesting narrative in the series thanks to its complex political elements. The game sets itself in a post-nuclear wasteland in which you have to survive or even gain your own power. It gives you quite great freedom of choices when you can freely choose to support any regime in the wasteland, to kill or spare anyone and at the end of the day, your choices will directly affect the final fate of the story.
Even if you have finished the main storyline, there're plenty of mods made by enthusiasts which are always willing to content you.
Frostpunk
A great idea along with good execution make a success. And that's how Frostpunk got its reputation as one of the most famous survival-simulation games. If rebuilding and running a civilization suffering severe weather and climate change doesn't seem to be too daunting for you, you are up for the challenge.
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
Playing this game is like playing Sisyphus in Greek Mythology. Not kidding, you will have to play as a weird man who is permanently attached to an iron cauldron who (for whatever reason) tries to get to the peak of a remote, precipitous rocky mountain. If you suddenly fall, which you definitely will, you will drop all the way back to where you have started. No checkpoint, no save game, if you fall you fail.
And that sounds really daunting and maybe even boring as hell, but believe us, it is exciting and you will have to try more and more if you have ever touched the game.
Hotline Miami
Hotline Miami is basically a pixelated action game with fierce gunfights and close combat. You will be pushed to your limit while playing this game, struggling to survive huge flows of enemies that always outnumber you with fatal attacks that require quick, decisive reactions to counter. While finding the answer to all the bloodshed you are causing, you will gradually explore the story and the reason behind it... Great game with a driving soundtrack, deep narrative which you will definitely love to play.
Into the Breach
With simple graphics, Into the Breach is still a cool mech strategy game that you may fall in love with. Challenging while controlling a powerful mech army to defend the humankind yet, the rewards for each of your attempts is really worthy. While we all appreciate the turn-based strategy, its storyline and mech customizing system is also really intriguing.
Papers, Please
Basically, you will play as an immigration officer of a fictional communist state called Arstotzka which just finished a war with its neighbor country Kolechia to regain a town. Your job is to control the flow of people immigrating into your country from Kolechia and find out who are deserve to get in and who should not or should be arrested. The job is even more difficult as you can only base on the government primitive inspect and some documents collected from travelers. Being an indie game, Papers, Please have done its job so well.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Continuing just where its prequel ended, you are assigned as a captain of a voyage boat which can explore freely all over the game's world. The game has all of what you expect from an excellent RPG: great graphics, good combat features, intriguing narrative. What's even more interesting that besides the freedom to roam around the world, you have the freedom to customize your companions who have various different abilities, customize your boat and even your own adventure with your choices!
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
What should I say? Started from a mod by an enthusiastic gamer, PUBG had a great development to become one of the most widely-known battle royales. Since it is first released in early 2017, the game was frequently updated with new features, weapons, and maps to content the players. If you find being put on an island to survive by fighting against 99 other players sounds kinda fun, this game is for you.
Portal 2
The original game of the franchise has made such a great success and even created a new cult. With that base, Portal 2 just simply brings out new elements and improve to become excellent. The game still features great puzzle system, single extensive player, cooperation mode, advance physics performance, The storytelling is also highly appreciated and is considered the star of the game.
Return of the Obra Dinn
Return of the Obra Dinn is from the same developer with Papers, Please and it is also excellent. The game is set in Falmouth, 1807 and you will play as an insurance investigator whose mission is to estimate the damage of a lost-now-returned ship called Obra Dinn
While discovering the mystery, you will find out a lot of shocking things which will make you finally admit that this game has a spectacular story.
RimWorld
As a popular sci-fi colony simulation, RimWorld's graphics are simple, yet its story is unimaginable since it is completely driven by AI. It also features a ton of cool features such as different terrains, characters' lively interactions, fighting system, trading, etc...that won't bore you. Most of all, the game attracts a huge amount of enthusiastic modders, the suppliers of fun on PC games.
Ring of Elysium
When it comes to battle royales, many of you only think about PUBG or Fortnite thanks to their massive popularity. However, a new launch by Tencent is also play-worthy as it is unique and greatly executed. Instead of fighting on deserts or grass fields, RoE brings you to the snowy environment with lively winter vibe. You are equipped with special winter gears that will replace vehicles while moving around the map. What's even more interesting that you can cooperate with a few other players at the end of the game to escape the snowstorm instead of just killing each other.
Intriguing? The game is even free-to-play. However, it seems to not be available in some certain parts of the world yet.
Starbound
Starbound is a fun survival Minecraft-like game in which you are asked to survive in outer space while having to deal with space threats, exploring new planets and building civilizations. It's even more fun and free at the multiplayer mode we all want to have on PC games.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley lets you play as a farmer's inheritor, but it's not only about farming. The game offers a wide range of freedom as you can do a lot of things that you would love to such as cooking, fishing, mining, growing fruit,..all to make the full-of-opportunity valley great again!
The game also gives you a multiplayer mode, a great number of features, as well as a customized system to ensure that you will never feel bored.
Subnautica
Ranked among the best survival games on Steam is fair enough for this game with over 73,000 positive reviews. In this game, you play as a survivor of a crash on an alien world. It's just that this world is full of water and is covered by the ocean. Building shelters, craft supplies, exploring another world's ocean and ecosystem sound kinda fun don't they?
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
There you are the legend of RPG. Arguably the Game Of The Year when it is released, The Witcher 3 is also really worth to have that title. It has everything any RPG enthusiast dreams of deep narrative, spectacular fighting system, intelligent quest system, and well-developed characters. Nothing to say much about this game, it's simply a must-have legend for any RPG hardcore gamers.
XCOM 2
The later entry of the original XCOM is a successful update and great improvement. Its tactics stay the same good way while being integrated into good storytelling. The game lets you play as rebels who are trying to fight against an alien government that is a detriment for surviving. With the War of the Chosen expansion, the game only gets better and fuller.