PC Gamer has announced its annual Top 100 list for 2025, showcasing the best PC games available. This year, a diverse selection reflects the criteria of quality, importance, and freshness utilized by the publication's editorial team.
Selection Criteria and Highlights
An extensive nominating process allowed PC Gamer writers to propose any game for inclusion in the 2025 Top 100 ranking. This process resulted in a longlist of 300 games, each evaluated based on weighted factors: Quality (60%), Importance (20%), and Freshness (20%). The final selection—one game per series, unless broadly varied—includes titles that received the highest scores, factoring in subjective editor input and peer voting.
The top-ranked game, Baldur's Gate 3, highlights the list with its CRPG excellence, underscoring intricate narratives and diverse gameplay. Disco Elysium – The Final Cut follows closely, praised for its profound writing and comedic take on social issues.
Games That Defined the Year
The Top 100 features iconic games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Dwarf Fortress, both celebrated for their immersive storytelling and complex systems. Newer entries such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, released in 2025, make their mark with innovative gameplay mechanics and emergent realism.
Other notable mentions include Red Dead Redemption 2, lauded for cinematic artistry, and Elden Ring, applauded for its expansive exploration and intricate boss battles. Games like Stardew Valley and RimWorld also continue to captivate players with their engaging, system-driven narratives.
What Influenced the Selection?
This curated list mirrors the dedication and broad perspectives of PC Gamer's editorial team, capturing a year of rich gaming experiences across varied genres. The blend of established classics and emerging favorites signals the evolving landscape of PC gaming, emphasizing a blend of deep storytelling, system complexity, and replay value.
- Baldur's Gate 3: Tops the list with its complexity and narrative depth.
- Disco Elysium – The Final Cut: High marks for writing and character.
- Dwarf Fortress: Known for emergent complexity and storytelling.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Celebrated RPG with rich quests and characters.
With games spanning genres from immersive sims to tactical RPGs, PC Gamer's 2025 Top 100 reflects a harmonious blend of innovation and tradition within the gaming industry.
