Best PC Games of 2012
Now, 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.
- All Genres Action Action Adventure Action RPG Adventure Arcade Battle Royale Beat 'em Up Board Games Card Casual City Builder Collection Combat Dance Educational Family Fantasy Fighting First Person First-Person Shooter Fitness Flight Football Horror Indie Management Massively Multiplayer Massively Multiplayer Online Metroidvania Mini Game MOBA Multiplayer Music Open World Party Pinball Platformer Puzzle Quiz Racing Real-time Retro Roguelike Roguelite RPG Science Fiction Shoot 'em Up Shooter Side-scroller Simulation Singing Soccer Space Sport Sports Stealth Strategy Survival Survival Horror Tactical Third Person Turn Based Virtual Pet Virtual Reality Visual Novel Wrestling
- All Platforms 3DO Android Apple II Atari 2600 Atari 5200 Atari 7800 Atari 8-bit Atari Lynx Atari ST Atari XEGS Classic Macintosh Commodore / Amiga Dreamcast Game Boy Game Boy Advance Game Boy Color Game Gear Gameboy Advance GameCube Genesis Google Stadia iOS Jaguar Linux macOS Neo Geo NES Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 64 Nintendo DS Nintendo DSi Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation PlayStation 2 PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 PS Vita PSP SEGA 32X SEGA CD SEGA Master System SEGA Saturn SNES Test Platform Web Wii Wii U Xbox Xbox 360 Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series S/X Xbox Series X
- All Time 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
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9
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
XCOM works best as a panic management simulator.Reviewed on: 08 October 2012
Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, PC, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Xbox 360
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9
Lone Survivor
This indie wonder proves that survival horror isn't dead.Reviewed on: 16 April 2012
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Wii U
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9
Might & Magic Clash of Heroes
Sparks will fly.Reviewed on: 15 March 2010
Platforms: iOS, Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
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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.Reviewed on: 14 September 2012
Platforms: Linux, macOS, PC, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Xbox 360
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Hotline Miami
Reviewed on:
Platforms: Linux, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One
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9
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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.Reviewed on: 25 September 2012
Platforms: iOS, Linux, macOS, PC
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9
Dear Esther
The beauty of Dear Esther is that it raises questions about content rather than mechanics.Reviewed on: 10 February 2012
Platforms: iOS, macOS, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
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9
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Borderlands 2
Reviewed on:
Platforms: Android, Linux, macOS, PC, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Xbox 360
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9
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9
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's multiple avenues of approach cater to various styles of attack and defence, and its dense and layered environments mean you'll still be discovering new things months, if not years, from now.Reviewed on: 23 August 2012
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
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9
FEZ
Ultimately, Fez is a game about tinkering around in a labyrinthine world while wearing a funny hat. Maybe you'll stubbornly insist on gathering every collectible, maybe you'll just want to cruise through its cubist countryside.Reviewed on: 12 April 2012
Platforms: iOS, Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox 360
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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.Reviewed on: 23 November 2012
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
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9
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8
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8
Civilization V – Gods and Kings
Gods & Kings will certainly rekindle the attention of those faithful to Civilization V's streamlined focus.Reviewed on: 18 June 2012
Platforms: PC
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8
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
High Moon Studios has created something that allows us to fondly recall bygone times.Reviewed on: 28 August 2012
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
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8
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Goodbye, cruel world.Reviewed on: 05 September 2014
Platforms: iOS, Linux, macOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, PSP
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8
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8
The Walking Dead: Episode Three – Long Road Ahead
The team at Telltale Games have done an incredible job keeping the series fresh, and they don't look like they're going to rest on their laurels anytime soon.Reviewed on: 30 August 2012
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
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8
Max Payne 3
Max Payne 3 is the closest our consoles have come to making us feel like an action heroReviewed on: 14 May 2012
Platforms: macOS, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
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8
Quantum Conundrum
Quantum Conundrum's elegant first-person puzzling is only marred slightly by one very obvious comparison, but it's unfortunately something that this downloadable title never really manages to get away from.Reviewed on: 21 June 2012
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
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8
PES 2013
PES 2013 manages to do something only the best arcade experiences achieve. It offers playability to those who want to dip their toes in and hardcore techniques for the serious gamer.Reviewed on: 17 September 2012
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
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8
Rayman Jungle Run
Jungle Run works so well because it remembers that the core joy of platform games comes from the kinetic thrill of movement.Reviewed on: 20 September 2012
Platforms: Android, iOS, PC
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8
Devil May Cry HD Collection
At its best Devil May Cry is complex, punishing and befuddling.Reviewed on: 03 April 2012
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
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8
Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 3 is one for the fans, and few who buy it will be left unsatisfied by how the story ends.Reviewed on: 07 March 2012
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
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8