New to PC gaming

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werepossum

Elite Member
Jul 10, 2006
29,873
463
126
Get yourself a Steam account. They offer a lot of good older games in all genres suitable for your video card at very good prices.
 

Revolution 11

Senior member
Jun 2, 2011
952
79
91
I like old classics like the Oregon Trail. Played it as a kid, still compelling game. RTS games like Red Alert 1 and 2 and Total Annihilation never get old. Old FPS games like Doom and Wolfenstein and Duke Nukem 3D are still fun. Tie Fighter is still one of the best Star Wars games. Ever played Curse of Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, or other adventure games like Space Quest or King's Quest?
 

sweenish

Diamond Member
May 21, 2013
3,656
60
91
My bad. I didn't realize The Witcher 2 was on console too.

No worries at all. The series is best experienced on PC anyway. Although it's debateable (for me) whether 2 (& maybe 3) play better with controller or m/kb.
 

SMOGZINN

Lifer
Jun 17, 2005
14,359
4,640
136
If you like RPGs check out Divinity: Original Sin. It is currently in Early Access, but should go Gold by in the next 2 months.
 

American Gunner

Platinum Member
Aug 26, 2010
2,399
0
71
You guys can just keep giving me suggestions. Every time you do I go and check out gameplay footage of the games. I am pretty excited to get into pc gaming. I will still play on consoles since Ihave a group of friends that play there, but I am also ready to try some new stuff.
 

sze5003

Lifer
Aug 18, 2012
14,319
682
126
There is the command and conquer series, old but decent. Also, an rts game similar to brothers in arms or some ww2 style game I forget the name.

Hitman absolution looked good on pc, specs ops the line for the story, witcher 2..can't think of anything else right now.
 

Artorias

Platinum Member
Feb 8, 2014
2,276
1,593
136
Just off the top of my head. Have fun!

X-Com Enemy Unknown
Hotline Miami
Trine
World of Goo
Limbo
FTL-Faster than light
Tropico 4
Terraria
Torchlight 2
L.A Noire
Half Life series/Portal
STALKER Series
Sin of a Solar Empire(4X RTS)
World in Confict
FEAR(1&Expansions)
 

xantub

Senior member
Feb 12, 2014
717
1
46
Since you have both new consoles (and probably one or both Ps3/Xbox 360), I'll concentrate on things that you only get on the PC, but get ready to open your mind.

There are a lot of console games, but if you group them it's really not a big list. You have the shooters (mostly played in multiplayer maps), you have the usual sports (Fifa, Madden, NBA), you have 'action/adventure' (pretty much all games you smash your button to follow a story), and jRPGs (also smash your button to follow a story, but characters have spiky hair).

For PC, the boundaries open. A game doesn't have to sell 1 million units to recover the cost, so many new genres open up.
-Turn based: Basically consoles killed turn-based gaming some years ago. It also sort-of disappeared for a while in PC but now it's back with a vengeance: Shadowrun (and expansion), Banner Saga, Might & Magic X, Age of Wonders 3, Expeditions: Conquistador, etc. Plus older games.
-Strategy: Real time like Starcraft 2, or turn based like Civilization 5, King's Bounty, Heroes of Might & Magic, and then Grand Strategy games like Crusader Kings 2 & Europa Universalis 4
-Simulation: Like Sim City, The Sims, Tropico series, The Guild series, Patrician, Settlers, etc.

And so many more! Just google for 'humble bundle' and you'll find big lists of games you can buy for like $5 all together. Also as you probably already know, Steam sales will give you 10 games for the price of a single console game.

Good thing is, since you can play FPS games in your consoles, you don't even need to upgrade the PC in years and years (mine is doing just fine and video card is 3 years old, but that's because I don't like FPS games)
 

American Gunner

Platinum Member
Aug 26, 2010
2,399
0
71
Thanks for all that info xantub. I had heard about humble bundles before, so I will check them out. I have looked and most of the games I want to run will run just fine with the video card I have in already, so I may wait until after I move to upgrade. The card I want to get is only $164, so it's not like it will be that hard to do.
 

Pr0d1gy

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2005
7,774
0
76
Another good way to get back in the swing is play some classics. You should check out GoG.com or Abandonia for some high quality old school action.
 

futurefields

Diamond Member
Jun 2, 2012
6,470
32
91
I'd suggest not being too adverse to revisiting some console titles on PC as well.

Not with his current GPU. A GT635 will not even compare to the graphics of an Xbone, underpowered as that console may be, the 635 just is not a gaming card.
 

Fire&Blood

Platinum Member
Jan 13, 2009
2,333
18
81
Not with his current GPU. A GT635 will not even compare to the graphics of an Xbone, underpowered as that console may be, the 635 just is not a gaming card.

Yeah, even if he goes to consoles for new titles, that GPU will still hurt in the long run.

OP, if you set a tight budget but don't mind buying used, there are some deals on GPU's in the FS/T forum. While I'm at it, give Defense Grid a look too, great game.
 

chihlidog

Senior member
Apr 12, 2011
884
1
81
STALKER series without a doubt. I know you said you're burned on shooters, but STALKER is sort of its own genre. Amazing games.

Supreme Commander - Forged Alliance. One of the best RTS games ever.

Kerbal Space Program. This is still in development, but honestly, it's worth the pick up.

Do you like simulators? I feel that this is one of the PCs strongest advantages over a console. Flight Simulator X is pretty amazing. Pick up a $30 joystick for it. DCS A-10 Warthog is staggeringly realistic if you have the ambition or curiosity to learn to fly combat.

The Anno series is awesome as well. Dawn of Discovery: Venice is an underrated game, IMO.
 

Blitzvogel

Platinum Member
Oct 17, 2010
2,012
23
81
These days, the indies and RTSs are the only real exclusives. Playing on PC is still the best potential experience if you have the right hardware when it comes to multiplatform games.