What kept us glued to our monitors from 2010 to 2019? Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the absolute best PC games from what many call the golden decade of modern gaming.
The second decade of the 21st century brought a flood of iconic titles — especially in the early years. We counted nearly forty unforgettable games worthy of a place in PC gaming’s Hall of Fame. These weren’t just technically excellent games with beautiful graphics, gripping plots, and smooth gameplay. These were games with soul.
We’ve picked out the ones that truly defined the spirit of the 2010s — titles that gave us goosebumps, pure joy, and memories that will never fade. So grab a drink, get comfy, and let AdmiGram.com take you on a nostalgia-powered ride through the greatest hits of the decade.
Best PC Games of 2010–2019
Mass Effect Series
PC Releases: ME2 – Jan 26, 2010 | ME3 – Mar 6, 2012
Genre: Action RPG, Third-Person Shooter
Developer: BioWare
PC Sales: ~5 million for ME2 & ME3 (total ~15 million)
🏅 Award: “Galaxy’s New Star” — For the most epic space saga where the universe felt like home.
At the height of their creative powers, BioWare delivered two of the most unforgettable space operas ever made. Mass Effect 2 especially stands as a textbook example of what the action-RPG genre can achieve. Nonlinear storytelling, deep character arcs, moral choices — everything came together in a tale of cosmic consequence. Mass Effect 2 & 3 weren’t just sci-fi — they were emotional, personal, and deeply human.
Heavy Rain
PC Release: February 24, 2010
Genre: Interactive Drama, Adventure
Developer: Quantic Dream
PC Sales: ~1.5 million (total sales ~5.3 million)
🏅 Award: “Golden Heart of Storytelling” — For crafting an emotional, interactive drama that made players feel every choice like it was their own.
A gripping, mysterious, and emotionally intense detective thriller — even years later, its atmosphere hasn’t lost its impact. Heavy Rain became the gold standard for story-driven adventure games and a cult hit for fans of smart, emotional gameplay. Back in 2010, how many people wanted a PlayStation just for this? But PC-only gamers held on to hope that one day, they’d experience this masterpiece. Thanks to Quantic Dream, that hope became reality.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
PC Release: November 11, 2011
Genre: Action RPG, Open World
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
PC Sales: ~15 million (total sales 60+ million)
🏅 Award: “Crown of Immortal Freedom” — For creating an epic world where every player becomes the hero of their own saga.
Released back in 2011, Skyrim still hasn’t lost its magic. Bethesda opened the gates to a snowy Tamriel, where dragons soared and every path led to a new legend. The game’s massive, detail-rich world was polished even further by an endless supply of community mods, turning it into a true open-ended epic. It remains a timeless classic with worldbuilding, lore, and depth few can rival.
Minecraft
Official PC Release: November 18, 2011
Genre: Sandbox, Adventure
Developer: Mojang Studios
PC Sales: ~100 million (total sales 300+ million)
🏅 Award: “Diamond of Infinite Creativity” — For turning pixelated blocks into a global canvas of imagination.
Minecraft is the definition of minimalist genius — crafted by a single developer, it became the second most successful game in history after Tetris. A pixelated world with no story, no traditional goals — just infinite freedom to build, explore, and survive. Who would’ve thought such a simple-looking game could outshine AAA titles? Minecraft proved that creativity always wins.
Assassin’s Creed Series
PC Releases: Main titles released between 2010–2019
Genre: Action-Adventure, Stealth, Open World
Developer: Ubisoft (Montreal, Quebec, Sofia, etc.)
Series Sales: 200+ million across platforms
🏅 Award: “Order of Historical Greatness” — For relentless journeys through time, from the Renaissance to Ancient Greece.
Ubisoft’s determination to release a new Assassin’s Creed nearly every year during the 2010s paid off big. Love it or hate it, this franchise became one of the most recognizable and commercially successful gaming brands ever. Sure, not every installment was perfect — but can you name another series with nine major releases in a single decade that everyone played? Assassin’s Creed is modern mainstream gaming at its finest.
Dark Souls Series
PC Releases: Main entries from 2012–2016
Genre: Action RPG, Soulslike
Developer: FromSoftware
PC Sales: ~10 million (series total ~27 million)
🏅 Award: “Sword of Unyielding Spirit” — For forging a dark masterpiece where every death brought you one step closer to glory.
Few games have gripped players like Dark Souls. It was punishing, unforgiving — and utterly addictive. Die, try again. Learn the pattern. Try again. Win. The dark fantasy world of Lordran is still one of the most intricate and hauntingly beautiful universes in gaming. Through trial and error, pain and perseverance, Dark Souls earned its reputation as one of the decade’s most hardcore and memorable experiences.
Grand Theft Auto V
PC Release: April 14, 2015
Genre: Action-Adventure, Open World
Developer: Rockstar North
PC Sales: ~50 million (total ~200 million)
🏅 Award: “Throne of Urban Freedom” — For building a living, breathing city that became the ultimate playground.
GTA V is a juggernaut that rewrote the rules for open-world games. Rockstar’s Los Santos was more than a city — it was a playground of chaos and freedom. With its epic story of three antiheroes, cinematic flair, and the global phenomenon that is GTA Online, this title became a cultural touchstone. GTA V wasn’t just a game — it was a world of limitless possibilities.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
PC Release: May 19, 2015
Genre: Action RPG, Open World
Developer: CD Projekt Red
PC Sales: ~25 million (total ~75 million)
🏅 Award: “Crown of Gaming Artistry” — For creating the game of the decade.
Yes, we had two Witcher games in the 2010s — but The Witcher 3 was on a whole other level. It wasn’t just better than its predecessors — it redefined what RPGs could be. CD Projekt Red poured heart, soul, and craftsmanship into a world of magic, love, justice, and haunting beauty. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt wasn’t just a game — it was a masterpiece.
Divinity: Original Sin II
PC Release: September 14, 2017
Genre: CRPG, Tactical RPG
Developer: Larian Studios
PC Sales: ~2.5 million (total ~7.5 million)
🏅 Award: “Jewel of RPG Craftsmanship” — For reimagining the RPG genre with obsessive attention to every pixel and line of code.
Can you create a masterpiece on a Kickstarter budget? Divinity: Original Sin II answers with a resounding yes. This is classic RPG gameplay wrapped in a brilliant modern package. Every zone feels alive, every choice has weight, and every encounter is deep. When it comes to isometric RPGs of the 2010s, nothing else compares. Larian Studios didn’t just revive the genre — they elevated it.
Fortnite: Battle Royale
PC Release: September 26, 2017
Genre: Battle Royale, Third-Person Shooter
Developer: Epic Games
Players: Free-to-play, 500+ million players worldwide
🏅 Award: “Firework of Mass Joy” — For becoming a cultural explosion that united millions.
What can we say? Do you remember any other game that hit 10 million players just two weeks after launch? Fortnite: Battle Royale was a perfectly calculated success, combining killer gameplay with total freedom and — crucially — being free to play. Whether you were building, shooting, or just dancing with friends, Fortnite redefined mainstream gaming. Bright, bold, fun — and totally free.
Honorable Mentions
These titles also deserve a standing ovation: Portal 2, Alien: Isolation, DOOM (2016), Prey, Metro series, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty, Fallout: New Vegas, Mafia II, Far Cry 3, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, Dota 2, The Banner Saga series, Shadowrun: Dragonfall, The Sims 4, Life Is Strange, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Firewatch, Frostpunk, This War of Mine, BioShock Infinite, Batman: Arkham City, Undertale, Hollow Knight, To the Moon.
