What PC Game Should I Play Next?
Back in January I asked you to recommend PC games. I’ve since finished a handful of games, including:
- Barrow Hill: Curse of the Ancient Circle
- Secrets of the Da Vinci Forbidden Manuscript
- American McGee’s Alice
- Indigo Prophecy
(And, yes, I’m still playing Zoo Tycoon after picking it up from Wal-Mart’s Nerd Crack bin last weekend, but it’s already become unbelievably dull.)
I’ve discovered that I prefer adventure games, but can’t stand FPS games and have yet to finish an RPG platformer because I get too bored. I prefer longer, story-based games containing puzzles that are interesting but not unnecessarily complicated, and I want a game designed well enough there’s no pixel-hunting involved.
In other words, I want something that feels like a novel but plays like a game. (The Gabriel Knight
Yep, I like my games on the dark side, heavy on the adventure and long on storyline. Unfortunately, I’m out of ideas.
What’s your favorite PC game, and do you know of any that fit what I’m looking for? Just remember: the boredom you save may be my own.
*never tease someone who is dieting* *never tease someone who is dieting* *never tease...
Myst and Riven are the games for you.
I love Neverwinter Nights and it’s sequels (Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark), when I’m not playing a shoot-em-up.
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and the expansion pack Shivering Isles are both excellent. I’m nearly done with Oblivion, and am looking forward to playing the expansions & mods.
Replay Alice, to start with… I have gone through that thing three times now.
Fable is a great game on XBox, and it is even prettier on a good computer – and it lets you go dark or light.
Beyond those, I tend more towards RTS (get yourself an old copy of Master of Orion 2 or the very original XCOM, and you will easily lose a week or two to both), so I am not sure how much help I will be.
Correction: Neither of those games mentioned are actually RTS’s – instead being turn-based, the both of them (though neither actually fully fit into that category either). For good RTS fun, go with Age of Mythology (playing with Nordic giants, Egyptian Anubites, Greecian cyclopses, and all the rest is just way too fun).
I was going to recommend Myst. I have Civilization 4, but I don’t think it meets your criteria.
I’ve played Myst, Riven, NWN, Civ 3, Age of Mythology. They were all quite fun. Is it just me or does it seem like there aren’t too many really great adventure-based PC games coming out these days?
I’m not so sure about Elder Scrolls. I’m pretty sick of D&D style games.
Fable looks good though. Thanks for the suggestion.
Any one else?
I just picked up BioShock. It might be a bit too twitchy for you but it’s really got a great story line, it’s QUITE dark and the gameplay itself is pretty inventive.
My fave of all time? Probably Dungeon Keeper 2. It’s an old RTS with a sense of humor heretofore unequaled. I keep hearing great things about Grim Fandango though. But that’s getting a little long in the tooth.
Lately I’m deep in the online thing, which I doubt would be of interest. But if you want something truly deep EvE Online is bottomless.
Syberia got nice reviews a few years back; you might check it out at http://www.JustAdventure.com. If nothing else, the artwork is just gorgeous. Another possibility: Keepsake.
Or you might really stretch and hit abandonware sites for Starflight 1 and 2.
You must’ve read my mind. I just ordered Keepsake from Amazon!