In the early '80s to late '90s, PCs were the way to go for players who wanted titles that pushed the limits of hardware and storytelling. From this platform, new genres were birthed, such as the First Person Shooter, Real-Time Strategy, and Graphic Adventures. On the other side of the OS war is Macintosh. While excellent for video editing or graphic design, Macs aren't exactly built for gaming.
However, the medium of gaming belongs to everyone- not just the PC master race. While some PC classics have made their way to Apple's operating systems, there are still many that have yet to see a release.
10 Crysis Is A Graphics Benchmark
Crysis was THE benchmark game to test graphics cards and processors. In 2007, no other game could boast the same level of visual fidelity. Retaining the jungle setting from Far Cry and adding some extraterrestrial threats into the mix, the game was a sandbox title that gave players the freedom to approach missions however they pleased.
Players could be a stealthy assassin or simply go in with guns blazing. One notable gameplay mechanic that made it stand out from its predecessor was the nanomachine suit which gave players the ability to cloak, move fast, or armor up.
9 The Neverhood Is A Stop Motion Animated Adventure
The Neverhood was one of the first games published by Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Interactive. This quirky stop motion graphic adventure was the brainchild of Earthworm Jim creator Doug TenNapel. The game utilized a simplified point and click interface absent of any inventory screens or verb commands.
The perspective would change from third-person for the interior shots to first-person when exploring the game's world. Presentation-wise, The Neverhood was both a visual and aural delight with creative claymation and unique tunes from Terry Scott Taylor. Unfortunately, the game has not been re-released in any way, shape, or form.
8 Skyrim Set Standards For Role Playing Games
While it is showing its age in some respects, Bethesda's fifth outing in the world of Tamriel was the culmination of everything that the studio had learned. Gone were the inorganic pre-generated NPC conversations, the fixed dialogue perspective, clunky combat, and other immersion-breaking oddities of Oblivion and Morrowind.
Skyrim presented players with a world they could truly lose themselves in. Looking at those majestic mountains and realizing that they weren't just decorations was nothing short of breathtaking. Despite being ported and remastered on numerous platforms, it has yet to see a release on Mac.
7 Dune II Introduced A Whole New Genre
One of the early pioneers of the Real-Time Strategy genre, Dune II was a rare example of a licensed video game that changed the industry. Where the first game was more of a graphic adventure with some strategic elements, Dune II shifted the focus on the struggles between the three interplanetary houses to control the spice.
The design of the game took inspiration from titles such as Herzog Zwei for the Sega Genesis and Bullfrog's Populous. Westwood Studios would make further refinements to the RTS genre on the Command & Conquer series.
6 Doom 2016 Married Old School And Modern Shooters
Doom 2016 was a blast from the past that brought back the cathartic speed and energy that had been absent in FPSs for far too long. With a new parkour system and flashy finishing moves, the game effortlessly marries the best elements of old-school and modern FPSs.
There is a pretty decent narrative that manages to pull off some dark comedy and corporate satire, but it thankfully never gets in the way of the slaughter. While the multiplayer is underwhelming, the main campaign more than makes up for it. Ripping and tearing never looked or felt so good.
5 The Kilrathi Sought Vengeance In Wing Commander II
Origin Systems expanded on the war between the confederation and the empire of Kilrah in Wing Commander II: Vengence of the Kilrathi. A greater emphasis on narrative was incorporated into this sequel with more elaborate cinematics and even some of the first examples of voice acting in video games.
The gameplay even saw some tweaks to accommodate this new approach. No longer would wingmen simply die as they could now eject from battles when damaged. This title would pave the way for the sequels' Hollywood production values, which featured Mark Hamill and Malcolm McDowell.
4 Eldritch Horrors Await In Quest for Glory Shadows of Darkness
A hybrid of graphic adventure and RPG, the Quest for Glory games center around an unnamed adventurer and his quest to be a hero. The fourth entry, Shadows of Darkness, sees the hero alone in an inhospitable land cursed by a vampiric presence. The game had four different classes to choose from with their own unique skills and quests — Warrior, Thief, Wizard, and Paladin.
More verbose than a typical RPG and more combat and quest-driven than other graphic adventures, Shadows of Darkness provides the best of both worlds and tells a tragic story juxtaposed with humorous dialogue.
3 Thief II: The Metal Age Made Players Feel Like Robin Hood
Thief II: The Metal Age made the most of its stealth-based gameplay with its sprawling environments, hidden secrets, and multiple objectives. Where The Dark Project was more combat-heavy, The Metal Age focused more on the stealth mechanics with less of an emphasis on monsters.
Adding to the Robin Hood nature of the game were the conversations made by the arrogant aristocrats and clueless guards that the player could overhear. This not only provided personality and world-building, but also made the player feel like a rebellious trickster when sneakily relieving them of their valuables.
2 Fallout: New Vegas Was Deeper And Darker
Written and developed by a team largely composed of the original creators, Fallout: New Vegas brought back many of the gameplay elements missing from 3 and told a much more morally grey and complex tale. Traits had returned from Fallout 2 along with fan-favorite characters such as Marcus the super mutant.
The Khans made their return from the first title to join the struggle for the Mojave. Obsidian was even able to incorporate ideas from the canceled Fallout game Van Buren, such as the war between the NCR and the Brotherhood and the character Joshua Graham.
1 The Witcher III: Wild Hunt Raised The Bar
Coming out the same year as heavy hitters such as Fallout 4 and Heavensward, The Witcher III Wild Hunt changed the expectations in open-world RPGs for years to come. Fallout 4's stiff character animations and immersion-breaking bugs couldn't even begin to compete with Witcher III's level of detail.
Even Mass Effect Andromeda, a game released two years later, was outclassed by the facial animations and combat in Witcher III. For the third entry in an epic RPG franchise based on a series of books, it's surprisingly accessible to newcomers.