We continue our article:
Monster Hunter Rise
Since its arrival on PC, the Monster Hunter series has set records for Capcom in terms of sales and popularity. Monster Hunter Rise continues that trend, and while it may not be as visually stunning as Monster Hunter World, the new gameplay mechanics and Japanese theme are what make it shine. Hunters have new abilities thanks to dog-like Palamutes that they can ride, and wire bugs that hurl them into the sky, making even the heaviest weapons an absolute joy to use. There’s nothing quite like the sheer joy of hitting Rathalos over the head with a massive hammer.
Rise really shines when it comes to the Sunbreak expansion. While the new monsters are the star of the show, with the most popular designs based on vampires and werewolves, they’re far from the only noteworthy addition. Endgame content includes Anomaly Investigations, where hunters must track down and kill monsters infected with parasites that drain your life if you take a hit. Even without a ton of endgame activities, Monster Hunter Rise and its Sunbreak expansion are some of the most exciting experiences in gaming. Monster Hunter Wilds is expected to release sometime next year, but if you’ve been curious about Capcom’s best-selling series, there’s no better place to start than this entry.
Outer Wilds
Forget the vast galaxies of games like Starfield, No Man’s Sky, and Elite Dangerous; if you really want to get as close as possible to the experience of space exploration in digital form, Outer Wilds is the only option. It may not offer the same massive scale as other space games, but it feels the most natural and fascinating thanks to its meticulous and intricate design, and its harmonious worlds that work in perfect harmony.
We know it’s a contradiction in saying this, but Outer Wilds is one of those games where your experience is best if you go into it with no prior knowledge. Above all, it’s a journey of discovery, whether that’s flying your ramshackle ship around the galaxy exploring planets and uncovering new secrets on each one, or learning basic facts about the world itself and the laws that bind it together in ways that allow you to explore it more deeply in the future.
Outer Wilds is all about the journey as you explore several planets filled with strange and wonderful events, including the discovery of some lost friends who have accepted their fate to remain on these planets. At times you will find yourself trying to solve various logic puzzles, as the game is filled with challenges that make it one of the best games ever. The genius nature of Outer Wilds is really hard to explain, as it is an experience that everyone should have without prior knowledge, so what are you waiting for?
Total War: Warhammer 3
Concluding an epic trilogy of strategy games, Total War: Warhammer 3 brings together the best of the previous games in the series in a stunning finale. The result of years of refinement by the Creative Assembly, it delivers the definitive Warhammer Fantasy experience and is one of the best Total War games. Seven factions, different campaign types, and online campaign co-op are just some of the reasons to keep coming back to the Old World. And you’ll stay longer thanks to the extensive polish applied to every level of the game.
The game is also very ambitious, with the Immortal Empires map including everything Creative Assembly has made for all three Warhammer games.
Slay the Spire
Many developers have tried to create roguelike deck builders, but no one has mastered the genre quite like Megacrit’s Slay The Spire. All the patterns for each class are easy to understand, and you can level up by fusing Relics. These powerful items contain special boosts that permanently affect your deck.
Relics open up endless deck-building possibilities, as you discover game-breaking combinations, but that’s the challenge. You may not get the same combination of Relics and cards on subsequent attempts, leading you to discover more powerful setups than you ever imagined. With 20 difficulty levels, a secret boss to fight at the end of each round, and four unique classes to learn, it’s no wonder most Slay The Spire players have hundreds of hours logged on Steam.
Dishonored 2
Sometimes in Dishonored 2, you have to kill yourself to save yourself. Playing as Emily Kaldwin, you can summon a double ghost at street level, then jump on top of it and plunge your dagger into its neck to break your fall and avoid damage.
The basic function of the Doppelganger ability is to use it as a distraction, a way to escape confrontations. But Arkane, the developer, wants you to go beyond the rules; to see behind the curtain. You are supposed to experiment, to discover what is possible and there is a lot to discover if you are creative enough. There is a lot to enjoy; this stealth game from Arkane is one of the few games we gave a perfect score.
You can play with these systems in Karnaca, a beautifully designed fantasy set in a Mediterranean-inspired style. It’s one of the most interconnected and story-rich environments in video games, with each room telling a story through its tools. Whether you’re sneaking across rooftops or running around with a dagger, Karnaca is a place worth exploring as much as your abilities. If you like your games to mix violence and reason, don’t miss this clever assassination simulator. It’s without a doubt one of the best stealth games ever released on PC.
Deathloop
First-person shooters have been around for a long time, so it’s hard to come up with new ways to significantly revamp the formula. But Deathloop has done just that, and it’s our favorite game of 2021. You start out on a deserted beach as Colt Vahn, vaguely remembering that you’re the head of security for a mysterious island in the North Atlantic that’s been transformed into an eternal playground for the wealthy thanks to a time loop machine that resets time every day, ensuring that no one suffers any consequences.
It’s like Groundhog Day with guns, set in an alternate 1960s filled with the chaos that defined that decade. Experimental Bauhaus art, blazing funk music, a bunch of Dishonored-style special abilities, and massive weapons you can hold in your hands make Deathloop a great shooter. But it doesn’t stop there: to get things in order so you can take down all the bosses in one day, you’ll need to explore, solve puzzles, and plan carefully—or you can choose to ruin another player’s path by invading their game as Julianna.
Deathloop is fast-paced and beautifully designed from start to finish, and doesn’t drag on too long. While you can endlessly invade other players’ games as Julianna, Deathloop’s campaign wraps up in around 30 hours, which is time well spent. If you’re starting out on the campaign for the first time or need a refresher, check out our Deathloop guides for safe codes and glowing objects.
