Launched in 2003, Stream is the de facto service for most PC players. Though there are plenty of alternatives, Steam's frequent sales and stellar user experience make it the go-to for most gamers. That said, in recent years, Valve's storefront has swollen with bloated, sub-par titles, and it's now to the point that newcomers may have a tough time sifting through the schlock.
Fortunately, there's still no shortage of must-have titles on Steam. From older AAA outings to newer indie hits, every Steam user ought to own these digital offerings.
Updated on October 21st, 2022 by Tanner Fox: Getting into PC gaming can be daunting. The purchase or assembly of a capable computer can be a challenge, and once it's all up and running, sussing out the games that are truly worth playing can turn into an arduous task.
Steam's user reviews allow gamers to get an idea of a title's quality, but there's a selection of classic titles available on the platform that likely need no introduction and rate as must-buys for every new PC gamer.
Team Fortress 2
Originally debuted as part of Valve's The Orange Box compilation in 2007, the seminal hero shooter Team Fortress 2 was eventually ported to PC in 2008 and has since become a crucial part of multiplayer PC gaming.
A proper sequel that greatly improved upon the original Quake mod, Team Fortress 2 beat games like Overwatch and Valorant to the punch by nearly a decade. For better or worse, it played a role in shaping the free-to-play, cosmetics-driven models often seen in modern games. Team Fortress 2 can be downloaded free of charge, and communal support is still such that gamers recently staged a protest to force the developer into implementing new updates.
Undertale
The early 2010s saw the beginning of a retro renaissance; partly a product of 90s nostalgia and partly a result of budget-conscious design, tons of indie games developed by small teams made use of 16-bit aesthetics, and this trend continues to this day.
Largely inspired by the cult hit SNES RPG Earthbound, Toby Fox's Undertale achieved viral fame in 2015 and blended a peculiar wit with some genuinely intriguing gameplay concepts to create something that every PC gamer ought to experience.
Stardew Valley
Inspired by the Harvest Moon series, Stardew Valley has the romance of and similar characters to that seminal series, albeit with a lot more to do. Recently, the game has outdone itself by creating a multiplayer mode where several players can own a farm property together.
What makes Stardew Valley worth so much more than typical farming games is that it’s mod-friendly. That’s not to say that the base game does not have enough content. That’s far from the truth. This is definitely a game someone can put hundreds of hours into.
Hollow Knight
Team Cherry's Hollow Knight pays homage to classic Metroidvania titles such as Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, but it puts a Tim Burton-esque grimdark twist on things that make it feel unique in an otherwise well-tread genre.
While a continual dole of upgrades and enhancements ensures exploration and combat never get old, Hollow Knight is also famous for borrowing a few ideas from the legendary Dark Souls series. Upgrade material must be re-collected upon death, and many areas and enemies require critical thinking and precision to conquer. That said, it's an excellent starting point for plenty of new players, and it's something just about every Steam user should own.
Celeste
Tough-as-nails platformers are nothing new; from the original Castlevania trilogy on the NES to indie darlings like Super Meat Boy, challenge isn't hard to come by in the genre. However, Celeste takes things to new heights by introducing all kinds of new mechanics and including hidden collectibles and bonus levels that will test the mettle of even the most grizzled gaming vets.
Celete's controls are satisfying, the story is emotional and relevant, and the soundtrack is amazing. It's everything any player could want in an indie release, and most would agree that it's a must-own on PC or any other platform.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Although it was developed by CD Projekt, purveyor of rival digital gaming marketplace GOG, 2015's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its two excellent expansions are must-haves for all RPG fans. Almost unimaginably dense and wonderfully crafted in all aspects, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a must-play for fans of the genre, but it also serves as a great starting point for those unfamiliar with standard RPG mechanics.
First-time players will need dozens of hours to get through the game. That may sound grueling, but The Witcher 3 is so incredibly immersive that most will forget the passage of real-world time.
Sunless Sea
Lovecraftian lore is a deep pool from which indie creators love to draw, and Sunless Sea makes particularly excellent use of its influences. Harrowing and haunting, it's a slow-burn sort of experience that'll have players staying away from open water.
Sunless Sea is a survival, RPG, and exploration game. The goal of the game is actually ordained by the player at the outset. Implementing some trendy roguelike mechanics, the game's map is shuffled when the player dies, though the show goes on and the next character simply inherets the previous character's assets. It's a sordid seafaring experience on which no horror fan should pass up.
Subnautica
This open-world survival game was a Steam exclusive for a while before it also came out for some consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One.
The game's plot revolves around a lone survivor of a spaceship that crashed onto an ocean planet. The story is a small part of the game, but it is well-paced and avoids many of the pitfalls encountered by similar titles. A lot of the fun is derived from the base building and survival mechanics. What is most loved about this game, though, is its bewitching oceanic atmosphere that's simultaneously serene and scary.
Night In The Woods
Night in the Woods is one of the games that perfectly capture the current millennial mood. It’s also one of those cute games where everyone is just an animal person. This isn't a laid-back outing like Animal Crossing, however. It's quite the opposite.
Players assume the role of Mae, an anthropomorphic cat who dropped out of college and goes back to her hometown. The plot is a mixture of daily life and a mystery involving people disappearing. The humor and emotion in this game give it a lot of heart, and it combines a fascinating mixture of idealism and cynicism. Its writing, art style, and music really pull you into the story.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
It's a sentiment reiterated so often that it's nearly a meme, but Bethesda's 2011 RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is one of the best games of all time. Despite its rough edges, its immersive, seemingly endless world is almost beyond compare, and the limitless options afforded to the player mean that the game can still feel fresh after hundreds — or, for some, thousands — of hours.
Much like The Witcher 3, a proclivity for high-fantasy RPGs isn't a prerequisite. Skyrim is as approachable as an RPG can be, and a thoroughly dedicated modding community continues to update and improve a game that has yet to lose its luster despite its age.