PC games really started as text only during the DOS era. After this some 8 bit graphics were implemented along with the text all the way back in the mid 80's. Started around 1990 games started featuring 3D graphics, as bad as they are now, that really pushed games onward graphically. PC gaming didn't really start picking up until the mid 90's when games like Diablo, Warcraft, Fallout, Grand Prix II, Doom, and Quake hit the market. The mainstay of games were RTS (real-time strategy) games since computers were the only machines powerful enough to compute all the data. This boosted PC gaming tenfold and revolutionized games to what we have now. Here are 10 of those games that started it all off in no particular order.

1.  Diablo - Diablo was one of the first RPGs that gave gamers countless sleepless night. While the game is too simple  these days Diablo had a huge world to explore and endless dungeons too loot, bosses to kill, and leveling up your character was so addictive you just couldn't stop. While it was a bit weak on the the story there were many different enemies to fight, and each character class played differently. If you really want to know what started the whole MMO thing off then play Diablo.

My Score: N/A                  Also Available On: PC Exclusive    Release Year: 1996   

Notable Expansions: N/A

2.  Unreal Tournament - This game was the pinnacle of online multiplayer. With up to 16 players in one room FPS deathmatching became a standard once it strayed to consoles. People who had high speed internet could finally put it to good use and with all the great mods out there you can still have loads of fun with this game. If you have played this game pick up UT 2004 to continue the onslaught of bloodshed.

My Score: 9.0/10                        Also Available On: PS2      Release Year: 1999

Notable Expansion: N/A

3.  Half-Life - Being considered the best FPS ever made for it's time Half-Life threw us into a strange world of science going wrong as video game icon Gordan Freeman crowbars his way through head crabs and zombies. With the creepy atmosphere and amazing physics Half-Life spawned many memorable mods and a unforgettable sequel. Pick up Half-Life 1 Anthology to play this game with all of it's great expansions.

My Score: 9.0/10                        Also Available On: PS2      Release Year: 1998

Notable Expansions: Half-Life: Opposing Force, Half-Life: Blue Shift

Convenience: Half-Life 1 Anthology includes Half-Life and it's two expansions along with Team Fortress Classic which is the original Team Fortress multiplayer only game. Or you can download Steam which has all of these games separate or as packs.

4.  The Longest Journey - If you want one of the best told stories then play this great point-and-click adventure. The game had amazing pre-rendered visuals that surpassed even Myst. The game has excellent puzzles, voice acting, and an unrivaled atmosphere.

My Score: 9.0/10                        Also Available On: Mac      Release Year: 2000

Notable Expansions: N/A

Convenience: You can also get this game through the download service software Steam.

5.  Grim Fandango - While point-and-click adventures were at the peak during the late 90's Grim Fandango was one of the last greats thanks to it's wonderful art style, amazing visuals, and superb voice acting. The game also had a wonderful sense of humor that was missing in games of that era. If you are into adventure games or a great story GF should be a great addition for you. Get ready for an epic tale of crime and corruption in the land of the dead.

My Score: 9.0/10                       Also Available On: PC Exclusive      Release Year: 1998

Notable Expansion: N/A

6.  Quake II - While Quake didn't quite pick up as well as it should of things really took off after Quake II. Before Unreal Quake did the same thing with excellent multiplayer and a superb gore fest. Quake II still has some great mods, but hopefully you've upgraded to Quake III. You can pick up the Quake Anthology to play all three games as well.

My Score: 8.0/10                   Also Available On: PSX, N64, MAC     Release Year: 1997

Notable Expansions: Quake II: Extremities, Quake II: Quad Damage, Quake II Mission Pack: Ground Zero, Quake II Mission Pack: The Reckoning

Convenience: Quake Anthology includes Quake I, II, III. You can also download many of the Quake games through the downloadable software Steam.


7.  Command & Conquer Red Alert - C&C really hit it off with the realistic RTS games and stood out from the bombardment of lukewarm RTS games of the mid 90's. C&C didn't do much graphically, but it was a very deep RTS that could get you sucked in for hours upon hours without ending. Coupled with great multiplayer C&C will be a hit with people searching for RTS nostalgia or fans of older RTS games. The Arsenal includes Red Alert along with it's expansion The Aftermath.

My Score: N/A                        Also Available On: PSX      Release Year: 1996

Notable Expansions: Command & Conquer Red Alert: Counterstrike, Command & Conquer Red Alert: The Aftermath

Convenience: Command & Conquer Red Alert: The Arsenal includes Red Alert with The Aftermath expansion.

8.  The Sims - Everyone who has a PC has known or heard of The Sims sometime in their life. Mainly being geared toward women you can control lives of your own with the super addictive building mode, or try to get everyone to fall in love. While the graphics look terrible these days The Sims really started off the life simulators and is the best one around. Spawning almost one hundred different variants and spin offs The Sims remains the best selling PC game of all time and will probably remain that way.

My Score: N/A             Also Available On: PS2, GC, Xbox, MAC,     Release Year: 2000

Notable Expansions: Superstar, Makin' Magic, Livin' Large, House Party, Unleashed, Vacation, Hot Date

Convenience: You can pick up The Sims: The Complete Collection which includes all 7 expansions for one low price.

9.  Starcraft - Starcraft was Blizzard's success in the RTS genre and helped kick start and series of fantasy RTS games such as Warcraft. Starcraft had excellent multiplayer along with a deep strategy system and easy pick-up-and-play design. While it looked a bit dated for it's time it had an atmosphere that most RTS games didn't have and this made it shine.

My Score: 9.0/10                        Also Available On: MAC      Release Year: 1998

Notable Expansions: Starcraft: Brood Wars

Convenience: Starcraft Battle Chest includes Starcraft along with Brood Wars.

10.   Duke Nukem 3D - While the first Duke Nukem really set it apart from Doom DN3D with stunning 3D visuals. Instead of 16 bit 2D sprites DN3D actually semi-3D models that made the game look great. Still included was the humor and Duke's smart alack comments every 90's FPS fan should consider this a buy. Prepare yourself for a total meltdown!

My Score: N/A     Also Available On: SAT, GCOM, GEN, MAC, Mobile     Release Year: 1997

Notable Expansions: Duke Nukem 3D: Plutonium Pak

Convenience: Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition has all of the original episodes updated. Duke Nukem: Kill-a-Ton Edition has every single Duke Nukem game.

Honorable Mentions:         These are also excellent games from this time era, but didn't make quite the impact that the top 10 did. These are also excellent games you should consider playing.

• Age of Empires II: Age of Kings (1999)
  
• Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000)
  
• Battlezone (1998)
• Chessmaster 5500 (1997)
• Circle of Blood (1996)
• Civilization II (1996)
  
• Delta Force (1998)
  
• Diablo II (2000)
  
• Diablo II: Lords of Destruction (Expansion) (2000)
  
• Doom II (1996)
  
• Fallout 2 (1998)
  
• FreeSpace 2 (1999)
• Giants: Citizen Kabuto (2000)
  
• Grand Prix II (1996)
• Heroes of Might and Magic III (1999)
  
• Motocross Madness 2 (2000)
  
• NASCAR Racing 3 (1999)
• The Operative: No One Lives Forever (2000)
• Outlaws (1997)
  
• Planescape: Torment (1999)
  
• Quake III Arena (1999)
• Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (1999)
  
• Thief II: The Metal Age (2000)
  
• Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal (Expansion) (1996)
  
• Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (1996)
• Worms: Armageddon (1999)
• X-COM: UFO Defense (1996)