Hello everyone
I recently upgraded my PC and I’m excited to explore new games that can take advantage of my improved hardware. Previously, my old PC was limited, and I had to be selective about the games I played. I also have a Steam Deck, but I’m looking for offline single-player experiences on my PC.
I’m looking for games that offer an unforgettable experience and high replay value. I enjoy open-world games that give me the freedom to explore, similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I know it’s not a PC game, but it gives you an idea of my playstyle.
Here are some games I’ve enjoyed in the past:
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - My favorite game, I love the freedom to explore without being bound to quests.
• Far Cry 3 - Great open-world experience that didn’t get boring.
• NieR: Automata - Engaging story, but it got a bit repetitive.
• Scarlet Nexus - Great story, high replay value, and a beautiful world, although it can be repetitive.
• ULTRAKILL - Challenging and high replay value.
• Portal 2 - High replay value.
• Portal 1 - Enjoyed it, but didn’t love it.
• Subnautica - Absolutely loved it.
• The Witcher 3 - Didn’t enjoy it, but I’m giving it another try soon.
• Doom Eternal - Liked it.
• Horizon Zero Dawn - It’s an average game, with a mid-story and a beautiful world.
For me, a good story is often the top priority, but I also enjoy games like Breath of the Wild where I can relax and play without thinking too hard.
If you’re curious about my specs, here they are:
New PC:
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D 16-Core
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
• RAM: 64GB DDR5 Memory
Old PC: • GPU: AMD Radeon RX 480 4GB
• CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K @ 3.50GHz
• RAM: 4GB DDR3 Memory
I’d appreciate any game recommendations that fit my preferences.
Edit: Thanks already for the recommendations, I might also add, that I love the Halo games. Except the newer ones.
Mario and Luigi: Brothership is very charming and alot of fun if you like turn-based rpgs!
You might want to check out Red Dead Redemption 2 in story mode. The graphics and physics are pretty incredible. It’s a little old now, but I think it still holds up well, especially if you like the “old west cowboy” aesthetic.
Thanks for the suggestion. Might be a hot take, but what I dislike about Red Dead Redemption 2 and also Horizon Zero Dawn is that it is like a movie. Just a cutscene after another and I feel like that you aren’t really free in RDR2. But I didn’t play it so it might be better than expected!
I’ve played both and horizon definitely gives that feeling but red dead does not, as it has many more cool things to immerse you in
Tell Me Why is the same thing as well, just so you know.
That’s why I deslike that game (I’m NOT being homophobic, however having a game similar to the Telltales ones would have been a better idea)
fwiw I felt that RDR2 gives you an incredible amount of freedom. You can do so much even outside the main story. You can spend hours just traveling through the world and discovering things, helping / robbing people, hunting, etc. It’s the best game I’ve ever played and even after finishing the main story, there’s still lots to do out in the open world. The main story is usually done with cutscenes, yes, but it usually let’s you do the “active” parts yourself. Just the atmosphere of the game alone is absolutely worth it.
Mass Effect legendary edition.
Isn’t the remastered edition the version who all hate because of the launch with the huge bugs and other errors? Also, since it is from EA, does it like have unnecessarily Micro transactions built in? Apart from that it looks really promising, thanks for the suggestion.
Red Dead Redemption 2 will probably hit all the nerves. Open beautiful world that still hasn’t been matched by another game.
The Spider-Man games are also great and Spider-Man 2 is just around the corner.
And Path of Exile 2 is currently all the rage even though it’s still in early access.
And when you still have time you can play Baldur’s Gate 3, first game to win Game of the Year in all contests.
Thanks for the recommendations.
Spiderman does look interesting, but I don’t know. I guess I’m searching for another Zelda:BotW. Which isn’t Tears of the Kingdom. I really like that game, since it’s the only one where I am free, not bound to some quests or something. I can go anywhere I would like in every order I want to and so on. I just think that the Spiderman Games aren’t as freeing.
Path of Exile 2 looks fascinating, since I haven’t really played a good Dungeon Crawler in a long time.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is definitely on my list, but I think to understand it properly I need lots of time, so I will put that aside for now.
Have you played Minecraft? It’s kind of traditional to build a powerful PC and then just use it to run Minecraft. It’s the ultimate sandbox. Theoretically there’s an endgame with defeating the Ender Dragon. But you don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to.
If you want something more mature ARK: Survival Evolved might be your jam.
I guess I’m searching for another Zelda:BotW. Which isn’t Tears of the Kingdom.
I’m confused by this. TotK is very much just BotW but with more. The construction mechanism is really fun, the three overlapping maps are cool, it’s a good time. You get to see how the world of BotW has changed in the intervening time, and being able to make hover cycles to fly around the world is awesome.
TotK isn’t as freeing. At my first blind playthrough, I casually went for the wind temple just to find out that you need a quest to go there and have a bird NPC character to always follow you that is just in your way, but you need it to complete the game and advance. In BotW. I could just head for Vah Medoh, complete it and then head to the gerudo village.
Edit: The underground is just really empty, and the sky has a few islands, which is kind of disappointing since I’ve waited at least 5 years for the sequel.
SHEEPY
Just played through it, nice and cute little game. Thanks.
Outer wilds does sound like a really fun game. Thanks.
Outer Wilds is an unforgettable experience, but has very low replayability. Everything is knowledge based, and playing the game means figuring everything out for the first time (so be sure not to look anything up).
But it’s all exploration, it has an excellent story, and I would recommend it to anyone.
Remember outer WILDS, which is distinct from outer WORLDS.
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Prey (2017). Good FPS gameplay with RPG mechanics, incredibly detailed semi-open world, emphasizes exploration and player freedom.
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Watch Dogs 2. Above average for an Ubisoft game. Great open world that emphasizes player freedom.
Honorable mentions that you’ve probably already considered: Cyberpunk 2077, Control, Alan Wake 2
Prey looks great, and I think I will like it very much. Judging from the Steam review’s it’s very versatile which I like.
Watch Dogs 2 Also looks very cool. The story peek from the Trailers looks like it matches with my overall interests. The trailer really hooked me, but I’m still looking through other suggestions, thanks.
I have bought Cyberpunk right after Release, but then after watching some reviews, it just waited in my Drawer (physical copy). Because of that mishap from CD Projekt Red, I’m a little hesitant on that. I know that the patch is out, but I somehow not ready to play it yet.
Control seems promising, but I feel like the story is Whack. Guessing by the name, it seems like I can control everything, so that has some appeal.
Alan Wake 2 seems interesting, but not as compelling as Prey or Watch Dogs 2.
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XCOM 2
The Trailer does look promising, but after seeing Gameplay footage it looks kinda boring. I’m not that into turn based games, in fact, the one and only turn-based Game I’ve liked is UNDERTALE. Thanks.
The Long Dark? Offline single player survival in the postapocalyptic Canadian wildernis. There is a survival mode in which you can freely explore, but also a story mode and several challenges. In my opinion an extremely beautiful game and on the higher difficulties also extremly challenging.
After Watching the Trailer, it gave me some Firewatch Vibes. The story seems very interesting. I think I will give it a try. Thanks.
Outer wilds if you enjoyed subnautica’s sense of wonder and exploration. Not replayable but a unique once in a lifetime experience.
Helldivers 2 if you enjoy halo firefight and it’s expansive sandbox. Very replayable.
Teardown is very replayable and will run great on your rig.
Curious why you went for 64gb of ram instead of 32, because the extra dosh could have gone to a better gpu. Always use the extra on the gpu or monitor.
Seconded for Helldivers 2! Play it with the in game music off and with the halo music instead. Wayyy more epic
Thanks for the suggestions. I already own Helldivers 2, and it is great, but I would like something more single-player since my friends aren’t online all the time and playing with strangers is just half the fun.
Teardown does look really promising. Especially that it’s literary, a game where you can just blow up anything!
I went for 64GB because I wanted my RIG to be future-proof. I chose an AMD GPU, because I use Linux (of course on Lemmy ;)), it’s also a Statement to choose AMD over Nvidia because of the outrageous pricing. Honestly, any newer GPU is an upgrade in perspective to my old pc.
Skyrim, Fallout: New Vegas, and Mass Effect Legendary are my favorites that I come back to repeatedly. Of course, they were all probably perfectly playable on your old PC.
Hitman World of Assassination was good and not playable on your old PC. I have not replayed it yet, but it is definitely repayable with the option to approach every level in different ways.
I’ve gotten bored with the Assassins Creed games, but the newer ones are very pretty and they’re open world with lots of story and tons of things to do.
You mentioned Far Cry 3, there’s also 4, 5, 6 New Dawn, and Primal. I haven’t played 5, 6, or New Dawn, but 4 plays the same as 3 (just a different story) and I actually like Primal quite a bit.
The Just Cause series is really over the top mayhem, but I enjoyed them. Lots of open world destruction for a…just cause (or maybe just because).
The Saints Row games are ridiculous, childish fun. Very similar to GTA, but makes GTA look classy by comparison. I think Saints Row 4 and Gat Out of Hell are the best ones. The first 2 are quite dated at this point. There is a recent remaster of 3, I liked the original, but haven’t played the remaster yet. There’s a newer one that’s just called “Saints Row”, I’ve only played a little of it so far and its pretty bland.
Going off of subnautica and Zelda/portal I think you might enjoy outer wilds. I haven’t gotten very far myself but it’s a gorgeous game with a surprising amount of depth
The new Indiana Jones is great
I’ve been getting a lot of play time from Ostranauts.
From the Steam blurb:
Ostranauts is a hardcore noir space-sim. Manage life aboard your ship, and beware the cost of every decision you make. Scavenge and explore the boneyard. Create, build, and customise your ship.
There’s kinda of a story, more like things are happening in the world. You’re mostly just left to your own devices.
Another game that’s taken up a lot of my 2024 was Baldur’s Gate 3, pretty sure it doesn’t need a short write up though.
