Steam is packed with free games, but many of them are after your money. Some of these rely on microtransactions or lock content behind additional purchases. Thankfully, there are plenty that just deliver an excellent free game.

Whether you're interested in managing an interstellar empire, flying a ship across the galaxy, or simulating the motion of planets in our solar system, there is space simulator out there for you. Whether you're a veteran of the genre or a newcomer, here are a few great ones that every sci-fi lover should try.

Star Wars Battlefront 3 has been on the minds of many fans, but creating this follow-up is not as simple as many believe. EA can't just decide to make another game, there is a lot more to consider and many reasons it might not seem worth it to the publisher. All this is to say that you'll probably be disappointed if you were holding out hope for a Battlefront 3.

While June isn't typically a month that PC gamers associate with high-profile game releases, this year's lineup holds a few big arrivals across different genres: action-adventures, MMORPGs, soccer, horror, and more.

I'll be the first to admit that I have a backlog of unfinished games on Steam and Epic. It’s not for lack of interest; I just keep starting new games without finishing the old ones. That's why I made a rule for myself: one single-player game at a time. No exceptions.

Games are often dismissed as distractions or vehicles for procrastination, but a growing sub-genre is flipping the script by making productivity the goal.

There are many games that are well-known for being very difficult. Dark Souls, Sekiro, Cuphead, Battletoads... these games can be tough, but they're generally manageable with practice. Today, I want to talk about the real biggest challenges in gaming—the cruelest, most sadistic experiences possible.

Helldivers 2 has most of its fun toys locked behind warbonds. If you just joined the game or came back from a hiatus to defend Super Earth, you've probably got a heap of locked warbonds to choose from. As a veteran player, this is the order I recommend unlocking them in, from best to worst.

If, like me, you were turned off by hard modes as a kid and didn’t go back for years, you are likely missing out without ever realizing it. Hard modes don't just pump up the difficulty, they can change a game entirely. Try doing what I did and give the harder modes a shot—you won’t regret it.

You might think those little Linux emulation handhelds are limited to playing SNES and PS1 games, but you can effectively turn them into a tiny (and very limited) Steam Deck using PC Ports.

All people have a little of that completionist streak in us, which is why games have things like trophies, collectibles, and checklists you can tick off. For some people, however, that urge borders on an obsession. They need to find every secret, see all the content in a video game, and get those platinum trophies or maximum gamerscore rewards.

Do you need the luxury of a $160 mouse? No, not at all. But would that luxury make your PC gaming way more enjoyable, enough so that the cost is justified? If the Razer Viper V3 Pro has anything to say about it, the answer is a resounding yes.

Times are tough all around the world, and usually when belts are tightened, the first thing to go is entertainment. That's a sad situation, and it doesn't help that the only news about gaming these days seem to be that it's getting more and more expensive.

Video game pre-orders have become one of the most controversial practices in modern gaming. While some see it as a risky gamble that encourages publishers to release unfinished games, I think that there are legitimate reasons to pre-order your favorite upcoming titles.

Traveling the world is both expensive and time-consuming. The real deal would be great, but if it's just not feasible, why not turn to video games? These amazing titles will allow you to explore the world in both the past and present in surprisingly realistic detail.

One of the things that make video games different from other media, is that you can often control what happens in the story. Sometimes the best games are ones that leave tough yet memorable choices with you.

AAA games are meant to represent the pinnacle of what's possible in video games when you have virtually limitless money and access to all the best talent. Yet, with every new AAA release, I find these high-budget games less and less compelling.

Unreal Engine has become a dominant force in video games, and that's still true for the latest version of Unreal Engine 5. Just about every modern game seems to be running on this engine, but not everyone is happy about it, especially in the PC gaming world.