ActionBest PC Games of 2012
Action
RPGDivinity II: Developer's Cut
Larian StudiosFor:RPG players who want a campaign offering more than 100 hours of gameplaySkip if:Players seeking a short RPG may bounce off the stated 100+ hour campaign scope
StrategyStronghold 3 Gold
Firefly StudiosFor:Strategy players who want castle construction tied to troop-led siegesSkip if:Players seeking a purely military game may hit a wall when castle construction and village management become central activities.
ActionTomb Raider I (1996)
Crystal DynamicsFor:Adventure players who want tomb exploration with puzzles and platformingSkip if:Players seeking an experience centered only on combat may find exploration, puzzles, and platforming equally prominent
ActionPainkiller Hell & Damnation
Prime MatterFor:Players who enjoy fast shooter combat and want a demonic setting rather than a military oneSkip if:Players who prefer slow exploration or meditative pacing may bounce off the constant combat.
OtherTiny and Big: Grandpa's Leftovers
Black Pants StudioFor:Platforming fans who want environmental puzzles solved through cutting and movement toolsSkip if:Players seeking combat-heavy gameplay may find the focus on platforming and environmental manipulation limiting
RacingZombie Driver HD
Exor StudiosFor:Action players who want driving and zombie combat in the same gameSkip if:Players looking for a grounded driving simulator rather than exaggerated vehicle combat
ActionMcPixel
Sos SosowskiFor:Point-and-click fans who want very short, timed challengesSkip if:Players seeking a long-form adventure with sustained progression may find the 100 brief challenges limited in scope.
SimulationThief Gold (1999)
Eidos Interactive Corp.For:Stealth players who prefer first-person missions over constant combatSkip if:Players seeking a combat-first action game may find stealth central to the experience
ActionHell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit
SEGAFor:Action-platformer fans who want exploration and combat in the same gameSkip if:Players seeking a restrained or realistic tone may bounce off the exaggerated violence and comic presentation.
AdventureThe Testament of Sherlock Holmes
FrogwaresFor:Sherlock Holmes fans who want a story-led investigationSkip if:Players seeking combat-centered gameplay may find the clue-led investigation a mismatch
RPGDivine Divinity
Larian StudiosFor:Fantasy RPG players who want a long, exploration-focused adventureSkip if:Players seeking a tightly linear campaign may find the non-linear quest structure diffuse
OtherSonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode I
SEGAFor:Long-time Sonic fans who want a continuation after Sonic and KnucklesSkip if:Players seeking three-dimensional exploration may bounce off the game’s 2D structure.
RPGDefender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition)
Level Up LabsFor:Tower-defense fans who want character progression and equipment choicesSkip if:Players seeking a conventional tower-defense game built around fixed defensive structures rather than developing characters
ActionShank 2
Klei EntertainmentFor:Fans of 2D brawlers who want a varied arsenal and weapon combinationsSkip if:Players seeking slow, exploration-led gameplay rather than repeated side-scrolling fights
RPGYs Origin
XSEED GamesFor:Action RPG players who want dungeon exploration mixed with platforming and puzzlesSkip if:Players who want a relaxed, low-pressure adventure may hit a wall at the higher difficulty settings, especially Nightmare
StrategyWargame: European Escalation
Eugen SystemsFor:Real-time strategy players who want Cold War military campaignsSkip if:Players who want turn-based planning may hit a wall when battles require real-time command
AdventureEdna & Harvey: Harvey's New Eyes
Daedalic EntertainmentFor:Point-and-click adventure fans who want puzzle-led gameplaySkip if:Players seeking a fast-paced experience may find the puzzle-solving and hours of dialogue slow the pace.
AdventureLEGO® Harry Potter: Years 5-7
Warner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentFor:Harry Potter fans who want an adventure based on the final three books and four filmsSkip if:Players seeking an open-ended adventure may find the story-led structure restrictive.
AdventureRocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken
Reverb PublishingFor:Players who prefer platform adventures with a story-driven solo campaignSkip if:Players seeking a campaign longer than the stated 15 solo chapters and 10 co-op chapters
RPGTowns
SMPFor:Players who want to manage a settlement rather than directly control dungeon heroesSkip if:Players seeking direct control of a hero during dungeon exploration may stop at the independent hero system.
AdventureChaos on Deponia
Daedalic EntertainmentFor:Adventure players who want a self-contained story with eccentric charactersSkip if:Players seeking combat-focused gameplay instead of puzzle-based adventure
AdventureSuperbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP
Capybara GamesFor:Players who want a stylized adventure built around exploration and atmosphereSkip if:Players seeking deep combat systems may hit a wall when the experience returns to its exploratory and puzzle-focused structure.
StrategyWarlock - Master of the Arcane
Paradox InteractiveFor:Fantasy strategy players who want campaigns centered on empire expansion and conquestSkip if:Players seeking fast, real-time battles rather than turn-based empire managementNothing matches. Loosen a filter.