Top PC Games of 2012

Wow, who can forget the 2012 London Olympics? Wasn’t it a great time to be British. Everyone thought it would be a huge disappointment, with congestion on the roads, overcrowding on the streets, and underperformance in the arenas. As things turned out, it wasn’t like that at all. It was brilliant.

We like to think that the success of the 2012 Olympic Games in some way spurred on game developers, inspiring them to create the best work of their lives for the PC and other platforms. It also seemed to encourage console releases, with the Wii U, PS Vita and 3DS XL all hitting the market.

Maybe you’ll remember it as the year Risen 2: Dark Waters was released for PC. It would be an odd way to remember the year, consider many better games hit the platform, including Max Payne 3 and Guild Wars 2. Here are the best PC Games of 2012.

30.

8

F1 2012

The subtle improvements are almost invisible to an untrained eye, but F1 nuts will find immeasurable satisfaction in taming and tuning this year’s cars to performance perfection. Motorsport can deliver incredible drama. So far the 2012 season has been... more

Reviewed on: 17 September 2012 Platforms: PC
29.

8

Torchlight II

Torchlight II is up there with the best examples of the genre, but Runic Games makes very little attempt to advance the genre beyond what we were already comfortable with a decade ago. Torchlight II is a game that plays by the rules, and most of those rules are... more

Reviewed on: 25 September 2012 Platforms: PC
28.

8

NiGHTS into dreams

There's just nothing else quite like NiGHTS. It's called NiGHTS Into Dreams HD but, really, this is a port of a... more

Reviewed on: 10 October 2012 Platforms: PC
27.

8

Dishonored

This is a solid single-player adventure that lasts a good amount of time, but it's just a shame that Arkane Studios can't make more of Dishonored's obvious potential. At first glance Dishono(u)red looks like the perfect single-player game,... more

Reviewed on: 10 October 2012 Platforms: PC
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26.

8

The Walking Dead: Episode Four – Around Every Corner

Despite not giving new and interesting characters the screen time they necessarily deserve, the relationship between Lee and Clementine has never been more pronounced. Walking Dead's last episode left you with a colossal question. Who the hell... more

Reviewed on: 12 October 2012 Platforms: PC
25.

8

Borderlands 2: Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty

Gearbox has shown exactly how DLC is supposed to be done. Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty is an affirming example of the right time, the right place and, crucially, the right content. Borderlands 2, eh? That's probably a game you're playing. It's a game... more

Reviewed on: 23 October 2012 Platforms: PC
24.

8

Football Manager 2013

It's Football Manager, and chances are if you liked other ones you'll have snapped this up already or are planning to. The Football Manager carnival is back in town, bringing with it hundreds of... more

Reviewed on: 29 October 2012 Platforms: PC
23.

8

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Black Ops II clearly wants nothing more than to pucker up and make out with Paul Verhoeven in a filthy nightclub. While Modern Warfare 3 clearly had a big sweetheart crush on Michael Bay,... more

Reviewed on: 12 November 2012 Platforms: PC
22.

8

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed mixes some wonderfully loving nostalgia and ambitious design to create a credible Mario Kart alternative. A worrying and terrifying fact I realised the other day is that those of us... more

Reviewed on: 17 November 2012 Platforms: PC
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21.

8

LEGO The Lord of the Rings

Lego Lord of the Rings is still a huge success that's wonderfully adorable and an absolute delight to play. You should never toss a dwarf, not unless you're very brave. Dwarves hate... more

Reviewed on: 20 November 2012 Platforms: PC
20.

8

Stealth Bastard Deluxe

Nasty, smart, and addictive, this is perfect for Vita. This year has seen a bit of a stealth renaissance, with games like... more

Reviewed on: 04 December 2012 Platforms: PC
19.

8

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dragonborn

1600 MSP isn't cheap, but most of what Dragonborn offers is a new and exciting proposition that any seasoned Skyrimmer will heartily enjoy. Legend says that once you go black, you never go back, but it's quite the... more

Reviewed on: 05 December 2012 Platforms: PC
18.

8

Battlefield 3: Aftermath

Aftermath feels more like an open-armed welcome back to the best online shooter out there. Going back into the Battlefield is as rewarding an experience as I've had online this silly season. Did you forget about Battlefield? No one would blame you if you did - since... more

Reviewed on: 07 December 2012 Platforms: PC
17.

9

Dear Esther

The beauty of Dear Esther is that it raises questions about content rather than mechanics. Your left mouse button is useless. It's not needed, and neither is your... more

Reviewed on: 10 February 2012 Platforms: PC
16.

9

Alan Wake

Alan Wake is still a superbly scripted adventure on PC. This review was originally published for the Xbox 360 version of Alan Wake,... more

Reviewed on: 15 February 2012 Platforms: PC
15.

9

Journey

Journey is an immaculately constructed, expertly choreographed experience that tells a story in an intelligent way, exploring themes of faith and fate, death and rebirth with a rare delicacy of touch. Wonder: that's what we've been missing. This console generation has been... more

Reviewed on: 01 March 2012 Platforms: PC
14.

9

FEZ

Fez's ornate world, sumptuous audiovisual presentation, and cryptic machinations made me feel like an adrift archaeologist filled with wonder. By and large indie games don't get a lot of pre-release hype. Plenty become... more

Reviewed on: 12 April 2012 Platforms: PC
13.

9

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

With a combination of additional content and cutscenes The Witcher 2 on Xbox 360 is one of the most lovingly crafted fan-services you'll find. After I scored the PC version 9/10 last year, CD Projekt RED has taken the... more

Reviewed on: 13 April 2012 Platforms: PC
12.

9

Lone Survivor

Lone Survivor deserves to be massive, because it might just be the most interesting thing I've played all year. When it comes to indie games, there's one word that always makes me cringe,... more

Reviewed on: 16 April 2012 Platforms: PC
11.

9

Minecraft

4J Studios has played its part in one of gaming's grandest success story with affable competence, allowing console owners to grab their tools and build something in Mojang's intricate world Minecraft is only limited by your imagination. The limit of my imagination,... more

Reviewed on: 07 May 2012 Platforms: PC
10.

9

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is trying to have its cake and eat it. It's hard for me to write about Counter-Strike because, well, Counter-Strike... more

Reviewed on: 23 August 2012 Platforms: PC
9.

9

Joe Danger 2: The Movie

Joe Danger 2 can be an incredibly tricky game, but it’s one that always puts a smile on my face. You can go a long way with a smile. When determined stuntman Joe Danger... more

Reviewed on: 14 September 2012 Platforms: PC
8.

9

Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2 surpasses the original with sharper focus, better quests and more enjoyable blasting. Borderlands 2 stinks of money from start to finish, cementing the series'... more

Reviewed on: 18 September 2012 Platforms: PC
7.

9

FIFA 13

FIFA 13 is definitely an improvement on its predecessor. Despite producing an outstanding game last year, FIFA 12 unravelled after a... more

Reviewed on: 20 September 2012 Platforms: PC
6.

9

FTL: Faster Than Light

Even on easy mode, FTL is another capital-D Difficult game and its random nature means even the most careful of explorers might find themselves unexpectedly asphyxiated. Have you ever watched Battlestar Galactica and wanted control over the... more

Reviewed on: 25 September 2012 Platforms: PC
5.

9

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

XCOM works best as a panic management simulator. To get the most enjoyment from XCOM: Enemy Unknown, name your squad. Whether... more

Reviewed on: 08 October 2012 Platforms: PC
4.

9

Hotline Miami

A fine port of the original game. I should feel worse about all this. I've sliced throats with broken bottles,... more

Reviewed on: 24 October 2012 Platforms: PC
3.

9

Need For Speed: Most Wanted (2012)

Need for Speed: Most Wanted's greatest achievement is how it sets such a firm focus on racing. Criterion set out to make an open-world arcade racer where competition is king, and succeeded. Like the cold metal girders and sun-glinted glass panels that make up... more

Reviewed on: 31 October 2012 Platforms: PC
2.

9

Far Cry 3

Far Cry 3 shines in its campaign, which is more layered and compelling than any game proffering a power trip through escapist ultraviolence has any right to be. Far Cry 3's campaign begins with a quote from Lewis Carrol's Alice In... more

Reviewed on: 21 November 2012 Platforms: PC
1.

9

The Walking Dead: Episode 5 - No Time Left

No Time Left provides an emotional, tear-jerking and ultimately satisfying conclusion to the year's best gaming narrative. Throughout The Walking Dead, Telltale has been crafting and nurturing human... more

Reviewed on: 23 November 2012 Platforms: PC

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Top PC Games of 2012

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