The Best PC Games to Play Right Now, and What’s Coming Soon

Updated: January 17, 2026

This is your living hub for the best PC games and upcoming games, built to stay relevant long after any single year ends. Instead of a fixed year-end roundup, this page tracks what’s worth playing right now and what major releases are worth watching next. As new games launch, patches improve older titles, and release schedules shift, this list evolves with them. Bookmark it, this is your always-current PC gaming radar.

Some of these picks, like DOOM: The Dark Ages, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades II, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, also appeared in our earlier roundup. They’ve stayed favorites through the year, earning a spot here again as standout PC experiences that still deserve your time.

The List: Our The Best PC Games So Far

Avowed

Obsidian’s first-person RPG is exactly what you’d expect from the studio: strong writing, layered factions, and a world that reacts to your choices. The Pillars of Eternity universe translates well into a more immersive, Skyrim-like experience, with spellcasting and swordplay both viable paths. It’s not the longest RPG around, but that 20–30 hour core loop is packed with branching quests and memorable characters. Play on Steam.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Capcom cranked up the monster-hunting formula with bigger, wilder biomes that actually shift during encounters, deserts turn to storms, and enemies adapt. It’s brutal solo, but the real fun is assembling a squad and coordinating hunts, traps, and gear loadouts. The endgame loop is already consuming lives, with tougher monsters and rare drops keeping people grinding. Steam • Official Site.

South of Midnight

A modern Southern-gothic action-adventure, this one oozes style. You’ll explore swamps, small towns, and twisted folklore that make it stand out from generic AAA backdrops. Combat blends exploration with magic-infused melee, and the storytelling is atmospheric enough to carry its shorter playtime. It’s not the biggest game of 2025, but it’s definitely one of the most distinctive. Compulsion.

DOOM: The Dark Ages

Forget sci-fi labs, DOOM went medieval, and it somehow works. The new shield mechanics let you block, bash, and rip in ways the series never tried before, all while keeping the insane speed and gore intact. It’s still pure DOOM: aggressive arenas, heavy metal vibes, and weapons that feel like overpowered toys only now they’re mounted on armor-clad knights and siege beasts. Also see our requirements for Doom Here or see the official release on Steam.

Hades II: Full Release

Supergiant polished its Early Access darling into a full masterpiece. New weapons, new gods, and a full storyline give you dozens of hours of roguelike perfection. Every run feels fresh, thanks to deep build variety and creative boons that synergize in wild ways. It’s the rare sequel that takes an already brilliant formula and makes it more addictive. Steam.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

After years of waiting, Silksong doesn’t just match Hollow Knight, it surpasses it. Hornet’s faster, more acrobatic moves make combat and traversal far more dynamic. The new kingdom is sprawling, dangerous, and absolutely dripping with secrets for completionists. Read our review of silksong Here. It’s already being praised as one of the best metroidvanias of all time. Steam.

The Outer Worlds 2

Obsidian kept the satire sharp while giving the sequel a much-needed glow-up. Combat feels smoother and more tactical, and the worlds are larger and less corridor-like. Storytelling is still the heart of it: corporate dystopia, oddball companions, and decisions that spiral into chaos in the funniest ways possible. If you loved the first, this is bigger, weirder, and worth diving back into. More Info.

Notable Latecomers Still Worth Playing

Star Wars Outlaws

Outlaws has aged well: performance is noticeably better than at launch, with smoother frame pacing and fewer hitches on modern PCs. The post-launch DLC drops add new side jobs, gear, and reasons to revisit systems you might’ve rushed through the first time. With an additional “Switch 2” version arriving in 2025, the game’s ecosystem feels active again, if you skipped it at release, now’s the time to jump in. Steam.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Shadows has been steadily patched into a far more polished stealth-action sandbox, with improved AI awareness, cleaner traversal, and fewer animation snags. The DLC cadence brings fresh missions, cosmetics, and mastery paths that round out both playstyles, silent infiltration or straight-up samurai aggression. If you bounced off early, the current feature set makes feudal Japan a much richer playground. Steam.

Upcoming PC Games to Watch Out For

Gears of War: E-Day

The prequel dials the series back toward dread and survival, focusing on the first Locust emergence rather than bombastic spectacle. Expect weighty cover shooting, grisly executions, and a heavier horror tone that nods to the original trilogy. It’s confirmed for 2026 and hitting PC day one, so squad up and prepare for a bloodier, more desperate Gears. Details.

Grand Theft Auto VI

Vice City returns with dual protagonists, dense neighborhoods, and Rockstar’s signature attention to detail. Console launch is locked for May 2026, with the PC version expected later, historically arriving with upgraded features and a thriving mod scene. When it lands on PC, expect it to dominate streaming, news cycles, and your free time. Rockstar.

Fable

Playground’s reboot blends fairytale whimsy with modern visuals, keeping the cheeky British humor that made the series stand out. The world looks lush and story-driven, with moral choices and quirky characters setting the tone away from grimdark fantasy. It’s aiming for 2026, though rumors suggest a slip to 2027, if it makes the window, it’ll be one of PC’s headline RPGs. The Verge.

Genre Spotlights (Quick Picks)

Best RPGs

• Avowed — Obsidian’s tight, choice-driven fantasy RPG.
• Hades II — roguelike brilliance with huge depth.
• Fable — the big hope for 2026.

Best FPS / Action

• DOOM: The Dark Ages — brutal and inventive combat.
• Gears of War: E-Day — horror-focused return for the series.

Best Co-op & Big Hunts

• Monster Hunter Wilds — the ultimate co-op grind.
• The Outer Worlds 2 — chaotic space adventures, great as a shared playthrough.

FAQs: “Still Got Questions?”

Which is the best PC game so far?

If you want pure action: DOOM: The Dark Ages. Prefer RPGs? Avowed. Like pain and progress? Hades II.

What PC games are coming in 2026?

Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, and eventually GTA VI on PC.

Will these games run on a low-spec PC?

Some will, but don’t expect miracles. Start with performance checks and tweaks:

• How to Test Gaming PC Performance
• Windows 10 and 11 Problems and How to Fix Them

Where can I wishlist these?

Steam’s Upcoming Page is your best bet, or the official publisher hubs linked above.

Bottom Line: Your PC Backlog Isn’t Getting Smaller

Right now: hunt monsters, blast demons, and get lost in roguelike loops. Next year: brace for Gears, hope Fable sticks the landing, and keep one eye on GTA. I’ll keep this page updated so you can plan your backlog like a pro. Also handy if you’re upgrading your rig:

• Future-Proof PC Build
• How to Pick PC Parts That Actually Fit and Perform
• Best FPS Games for PC 2025 – 2026
• PC Gaming Genres for Beginners

NB! Also have a look at our Earlier Pick of games we did this year: Best New PC Games of 2025 — What’s Hot, What’s Got Buzz, and What’s Pure Trash