PC's have been at the forefront of gaming since the industry was first incepted, with humanity's earliest video games designed and released on computers, the superior hardware making them a popular choice for games. Since then, while consoles have significantly improved over the years, PC's still mostly have better hardware, depending on the individual build.
Computer gamers also enjoy a vast library of fantastic exclusive titles that many modern-day gamers might not even be aware exist. These titles deserve a second chance at life to introduce them to a new generation, and also allow existing fans to experience them with improved graphics and gameplay.
7 The Longest Journey
The Dreamfall trilogy is a charming point and click RPG series exclusive to PC, bringing players the story of protagonist April Ryan and her adventures in parallel universe that she finds herself trapped in, featuring a rich story, creative location designs and fun missions that offer challenges to players without being frustrating. The Longest Journey is the game that started the series, in which April Ryan finds herself tasked with the arduous task to find another body for the guardian that protects the Balance.
As it was released back in 2000, The Longest Journey finds itself weighed down by the technical limitations of the time, with lackluster audio, hammy voice-acting and outdated graphics not designed to be played on modern-day monitors. As such, The Longest Journey would benefit greatly with a remake, bringing back the fantastic story for modern-day technology.
6 Baldur's Gate 2
While the first and second Baldur's Gate titles both received Enhanced Edition releases on Steam, the games remain largely unchanged, still hampered by a retro-look to their graphics and the slow turn-based combat that will charge players with dictating the every action of not only their own character, but those of their companions. Baldur's Gate 2 is a game with potential to become even greater if given a new lease on life, set in the rich and imaginative universe of D&D.
Set during the era of the Dale Reckoning in D&D lore, the story centers around the Tablets of Fate being stolen from their resting place, powerful artifacts that balance the good and evil of the world. Desperate to seize back these artifacts Lord Ao, the God of Gods, forced the other deity's to become mortals until the Tablets are found and returned, resulting in the death of many of the gods.
5 The Ultimate Doom
Though the Doom series has received multiple soft reboots in the course of its lifetime, the original game was the only one to get a re-release in 1995, expanding on the much-loved original by adding an extra episode. Players who owned a copy of the original Doom were offered a free upgrade to this updated version. The extra content was the only change made, as the game remained largely the same as players controlled Doomguy as he brutalized his way through maps on Mars and through Hell.
It doesn't seem likely fans will every get a remake with the reboot series selling well to the praise of critics and gamers, but given how it changed the world of gaming, it deserves more recognition, and to be introduced to FPS fans that are only familiar with newer entries. A remake boasting modern graphics and improved gameplay could be the incentive they need to try it for themselves.
4 Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption
Before Bloodlines there was Redemption, a forgotten entry in Vampire: The Masquerade's game series. Unlike Bloodlines which all takes place in the modern day, Redemption spans centuries of Christof's life as one of the embraced, starting at his early days in the 12th century Prague, and then taking players to the late years of the 20th century. He finds himself embroiled in the intricate politics of vampires including sect and clan wars, and the struggle to escape surveillance of hunters as technology and hunting methods develop with time.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption is a fantastic example of what a table-top VtM game could be like, including coteries comprised of different vampires, the dangers the beast imposes to every vampire's dwindling humanity, and the in-fighting between the disparate clans and factions. With rich lore and a well-told story, Redemption would benefit greatly from an overhaul of the technical elements of the game.
3 Half-Life
The flagship title of Valve and the face of PC gaming, many games owe their existence to Half-Life, the first game in the famous series that has since enjoyed a few sequels such as Half-Life 2 and Half-Life: Alyx. The famous sandbox game G-Mod that allows players the freedom of creation also owes it existence to Half-Life, using assets and the same engine that the second was built on. With such a lofty legacy behind the series, the original that started it all is deserving of a full remake.
The game follows the story of Gordon Freeman who works in part of a scientific research lab called Black Mesa. Their latest experiment opens up a portal to Xen, another dimension, and causes massive amounts of damage to the building. Gordon must then travel to this alternate dimension to defeat the entity there that is keeping the portal to Earth open, and flooding the world with monsters from their world.
2 Age Of Empires
One of the earliest real-time strategy games to be made, Age of Empires allowed players to build and develop their very own empire, starting as a small group of hunter-gatherers. Players must gather resources, to build up their structures and ensure their cities can advance to a newer age with better technologies, which in turn aids further development. Players would need to think tactically on how to spend their resources, as ones that have been spent do not replenish.
Not only providing a fun single-player campaign, Age of Empires also offered online multiplayer, allowing players to compete and vie for the world's limited resources. Unfortunately, their servers were disconnected back in 2006, limiting players to single player game modes. But, with a successful remake, multiplayer could once again become an option for this game.
1 Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
The most iconic entry in the VTM game series, Bloodlines was almost the game that never was as it was met with many difficulties in the latter times of its developments. In the end, only three of the original development team remained, meaning the game was released with a plethora of bugs and written off as one of the most disastrous game launches of all time. However, the game was saved as a dedicated team of fans developed the Unofficial Patch which ironed out many of the most infamous bugs, overhauled the graphics, prevented compatibility issues and even added content.
Bloodlinestells the story of a fledging vampire embraced illegally under Camarilla rules, but is spared by the Prince in exchange for their servitude. The Prince has a particular fixation on an ancient sarcophagus that was unearthed, rumored to contain the body if an Antediluvian, the founders of the vampire clans. Players have the freedom to choose their clan, their preferred way of playing, and which faction they choose to go with in the end. It's one of the greatest RPGs of all time, and since players don't expect to see a sequel anytime soon, maybe they can hope Paradox will return to the original.