As E3 2017 proved unequivocally earlier this summer, some of gaming’s biggest exclusives for the year ahead are only coming to the PC. Indeed, while gamers often end up sharing a slice of the triple-A software pie with PlayStation and Xbox owners for some major franchises, there’s still plenty of compelling experiences out there that are only playable on a trusty old home computer.
Whether it’s multiplayer shooters, RPGs or simulators, the PC is still home to some of the best exclusives out there, and the application of Steam only makes things easier to enjoy. Plus, if you’ve got the dosh, you can enjoy them in sumptuous 4K resolution and a silky-smooth frame to boot.
Fortunately, the remainder of 2017 and beyond looks set to play host to some killer exclusive offerings. Here’s some of the highlights that you’d do well to keep on your radar for the rest of the year and into 2018. Start saving those pennies….
Total War: Warhammer 2
Set in the sprawling universe of Game Workshop’s illustrious Warhammer franchise, this turn-based strategy sequel from Creative Assembly focuses on four unique races: Lizardmen, High Elves, Dark Elves, and a mystery fourth race. Unlike its critically acclaimed predecessor, Warhammer 2’s campaign will place more emphasis on narrative, which sees each race scrapping it out to either eliminate or save Ulthuan’s Great Vortex.
The sequel crams in four huge continents to battle across, namely the aforementioned Ulthuan, plus Naggaroth, The Southlands, and Lustria, each one unique in terms of its appearance and cultural influences. Meanwhile, lost ruins that punctuate the battle-worn landscape cough up ample treasure for those keen on exploring, while branching narrative paths will allow gamers to soak up some additional lore. Sea battles return, although Creative Assembly have shaken things up by adding choppy oceans and reefs to make nautical shenanigans more challenging.
Evil Genius 2
Hailing from the same code house as Sniper Elite, Evil Genius 2 kicked started production just this spring and therefore is still very much in its infancy at the time of writing. Developer Rebellion confirmed that the project was initially set for an unveiling a couple of years back via crowd funding, although things quickly changed when the studio shifted up a gear with its other IPs. Evil Genius 2 is very much a full-fledged sequel, and will be a full PC-exclusive release powered by the in-house Asura game engine.
Rebellion has promised concrete details in the coming months, but it’s not hard to imagine what we’re going to be getting come release. The original Evil Genius was critically acclaimed following its 2004 launch, giving players the chance to indulge in a spot of world domination as James Bond-esque super villain while concurrently batting off resistance from local do-gooders. Expect the same compelling marriage of real-time strategy and vibrant, cartoon-like visuals that the original employed so well in its alternate-era 1960s backdrop, which played so wonderfully well to the cliches of classic spy tropes. Color us very excited.
Quake Champions
The venerable first-person shooter franchise returns this year with id Software’s Quake Champions - the first core entry in the series in over a decade.
Boasting a comprehensive and diverse character lineup, each with their own unique attributes, Quake Champions channels the series’ adrenaline-fuelled arena shooting and runs on a hybrid engine of assimilated id and Saber tech. The game was originally envisioned as an expansion to Quake Live, although clearly the developers’ ambitions for the project grew and as a result the project evolved into a full-fledged Quake title.
Quake Champions will also dip its toes into free-to-play territory, with players able to control the character of Ranger in a similar model to that of brawler Killer Instinct. As such, you’ll be able to play the game for free. But if you fancy splashing out cash on the Champion Pack for extra characters, feel free to do so. Expect classic weapons such as rocket launchers and beam canons as you battle it out on intricately designed maps to offer the intense shooting experience that only Quake can bring.
The Bard’s Tale IV
Dungeon Crawlers have become synonymous with PC gaming for more than two decades, and inXile Entertainment’s upcoming party-based RPG looks set to ensure the pair remain inextricably linked.
Propped up by the impressive technical muscle of Unreal Engine 4, the latest entry in this fantasy series sprung to life following a successful Kickstarter funding initiative in summer 2015 - and is the first true sequel to the franchise since the 80s following a number of rudimentary spinoffs.
Set from a first-person perspective, The Bard’s Tale IV continues the franchise’s distinct gaelic tone and will be complemented by the soaring vocals of Scottish folk songstress Julie Fowlis. While not a true open-world game in the vein of fantasy behemoths such as Skyrim and The Witcher, The Bard’s Tale IV’s tighter design promises that your adventuring offers a more cerebral take on the genre, with its developer promising ample riddles and puzzles to solve throughout. So expect to use your noggin’ when you’re not splattering goblins and other nasties via the game’s dynamic phase combat.
Dauntless
Ever craved a good Monster Hunter outing for PC? Then this is about as near as you’re going to get - until next year’s Monster Hunter World, at least.
Dauntless boasts a fine pedigree of developers at Phoenix Labs, with talent behind the likes of Mass Effect, League of Legends, and World of Warcraft involved in the project, which takes the form of a free-to-play action-RPG brimming with content. Players take on the role of Slayers, an elite group of warriors who travel the Shattering Isles dispatching hulking monstrosities known as Behemoths.
Each of these heroes comes in different flavours, sporting a unique skill set and appearance that cater to individual play styles. Dauntless has a strong emphasis on co-op play, with up to four players venturing out into the wilderness to duke it out with invading Behemoths, all the while exploring a vast game world packed to the rafters with exotic scenery and wildlife. You’ll also need to indulge in a spot of crafting in order to better improve your combat efficiency with new weapons and equipment.
Escape From Tarkov
Battlestate Games’ visually stunning shooter is due to enter closed beta at some point this year, and has already attracted much attention from its alpha phase in late 2016. Combining elements of survival gameplay that punctuate the refined shooting mechanics and exploration, Escape from Tarkov offers three playable factions tasked with extracting loot from the game’s eponymous city, which has become a hazardous, dilapidated war zone.
Escape from Tarkov features large-scale raids that can be completed either solo or with some mates in tow, with the city itself offering a wealth of locations to uncover such as suburbs, citizen blocks, chemical plants, a military base and more, all meticulously realised and brought to life by real-time weather conditions.
Furthermore, your character will feel the brunt of his experiences, with hydration, blood pressure, fractures, exhaustion, and other conditions coming into play alongside real-life ballistics and projectile hit physics. This ain’t no walk in the park, folks.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
The sequel to the award-winning RPG Pillars of Eternity, Obsidian Entertainment’s follow-up came to fruition via crowdfunding on Fig, with the project comfortably reaching its goal in just one day. Deadfire boasts a dynamic weather system and a living, breathing world, with individuals having their own schedules and jobs to maintain while you go about your own business.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a direct sequel to the events of its predecessor and takes place within the world of Eora, with players hopping into the shoes of the all-powerful Watcher once more. Companions will form a major part in the experience, however, with four sidekicks available to accompany you on your travels.
Tapping into Deadfire’s nautical-themed shenanigans, players will command a ship that serves as a mobile base to facilitate exploration of uncharted islands. You’ll even be able to pinch new ships off your enemies and recruit swashbuckling pirates to serve as your crew via scripted encounters. Fans of the series can look forward to soaking up some beautiful environments on their travels in Deadfire, with a strong focus on narrative and tactical combat ensuring that the sequel doesn’t stray far from its celebrated roots.
Wild West Online
Cobbled together from the ground-up for PC, this action-MMO lassoes the very best influences of the classic Wild West setting and brings them galloping into a sumptuous, open-world setting that looks set to rival Rockstar’s impending console juggernaut that is Red Dead Redemption 2. Developers 612 Games is promising an epic gameplay experience, with gamers able to choose their own path in the sprawling western landscape, which accommodates diverse play styles and moral dispositions. You may want to stay on the right side of the law and take on a Deputy or Bounty Hunter role; while others may go down a more unscrupulous path and rob, cheat, and lie their way to the biggest prizes.
Whether you go it as a lone ranger or team up with a group of fellow cowboy aficionados is your choice; regardless, the way you play will affect your reputation within Wild West Online, defining how other player’s NPCs react to you. There’s plenty of chance for exploration too, as you take in dazzlingly-realised locations such as the open wilderness, encampments, farms, towns, strain stations, and uncharted territory looking for your next adventure.
The game world is complemented by a dynamic night/day cycle, and you can partake in some down time in the local salons and tailors, where you can down the strongest whisky, play games, socialise or even just treat yourself to a new outfit. As with any good cowboy worth his snakeskin, you can equip yourself with a variety of authentic firearms from the Old West and customise your own to boot. Whether it’s adventure you want or making cold, hard-cash by completing missions, Wild West Online has something for everyone when you finally saddle up.
Griftlands
Freshly unveiled at E3 just last week, Griftlands adheres to developer Klei Entertainment’s beautifully stylish cartoon aesthetic, and takes the form of an RPG in which, apparently, everything is negotiable: money, loyalty, and even morality.
While it’s still early days yet, Klei’s pedigree is enough to make us sit up and take notice of Griftlands, which appears to focus on turn-based combat as you pick a character and venture out into the world to earn your fortune. Described as as sci-fi flavored swashbuckling adventure, Griftlands looks set to offer plenty of dialogue choices and the chance to betray your comrades (always a plus!) while earning plenty of cash by handing in trophies.
As it stands, Klei hasn’t unveiled an awful lot about the game yet, but it’s certainly one of the most exciting titles to come up on our radar this year. Be sure to keep an eye out on this one.
What PC exclusives are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments section below.
