If you’ve spent the better part of your video gaming life slumped on the sofa, gripping a DualShock controller, switching to PC can feel a bit like defecting mid-battle. But, with PC gaming coming to the forefront again thanks to a wave of new releases (and setups themselves becoming more affordable and versatile), the appeal is increasingly hard to ignore.
If you’re curious about crossing over, there’s no need to feel like a traitor. In fact, moving across to gaming on the PC might just be what you need.
A Desktop Genre Overview
If you’re a console gamer, you’ve probably been able to get your hands on the hits quicker. At least, that’s the theory, as console-specific titles can take their time to migrate onto competitor platforms. However, did you know that you’ve also been missing out on entire gaming ecosystems with your devotion to camp PlayStation or camp Xbox?
Tactical and strategy genres thrive on PC, from Crusader Kings III to Age of Empires IV. Attempted to play such titles on console and not been impressed? That’s because most of these games, when they do make it to console, aren’t ported very well. And let’s be honest, console controllers aren’t exactly made for unit micromanagement or map scaling.
Modding is another tick for making the switch to the PC. Sure, as a console user, you get all the DLC updates, but PC players get reinvented games. Just look at Skyrim—community mods have kept it alive and relevant for over a decade. Even the wackiest of revisions (Thomas the Tank Engine dragons, anyone?) have had their fans.
Then, we have browser-based and casual games like Space Waves Game. As a console user, do you get the feeling that the online casino market is unfamiliar territory? Well, on the PC, it’s a core gaming sector. From blackjack and roulette to crypto-power slots, playing casino games online with a gaming rig is effortless.
Indeed, playing casino games online has become immensely popular across the board in recent years; fans of basically every kind of game have been able to find something to suit them. The variations are astonishing, especially if you opt for games like the slots, which have themes abound and features aplenty. The graphics are also nothing to sneeze at, often being comparable with other modern video games, stacked with fun characters and vibrant hues.
You can connect with other players across the world or join live dealer games if you want a bit of that classic casino atmosphere without leaving the couch. Casino games have something for pretty much everyone, casual player or strategy enthusiast, and they’re definitely more friendly on PCs than consoles. No downloads or installs to clog up your storage; instead, it’s all about high-quality gameplay across diversified platforms.
While we’re on the subject of diversified platforms, let’s talk DRM-free gaming. The likes of Gog.com and IndieGala specialize in Digital Rights Management-free games. For you, that means real ownership of the game. As an added benefit, in the event that a game server does shut down (a sad fact of video game decommissions), there’s no risk of your purchase becoming unplayable.
Beyond the Games
How are we doing? Have we converted you to the Dark Side yet? No? Let’s see how you feel after you read about how PC gaming really comes into its own…
Sure, access to a compelling and vast gaming library matters, but so too does an elevated gameplay experience. You want customization? It’s endless on this platform. Refresh rates, UI tweaks, aspect ratios—on PC, the game adapts to you.
This same level of flexibility and tailoring extends into gaming hardware. Swap out a GPU for something meatier, upgrade RAM, or overclock a CPU for pro-level performance. You can even extend the life cycle of a gaming rig with a few well-timed updates here and there—and that means more cash in your pocket to stock up on Steam or Epic Games’ latest and greatest.
And speaking of Steam and Epic, there’s storefronts a-plenty for PC gaming. Itch.io directly supports indie developers, and even Epic has gotten into the habit of throwing out free titles on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, desktop browsers deliver feature-rich play that console browsers struggle to match. Wouldn’t you enjoy faster load times and sharper visuals when you game?
Buying (or Building) a Rig: What You Need to Know
We’re presuming you’ve answered yes to that question above, so let’s now take a closer look at what to keep an eye out for in a machine. Compared to consoles, where you’re typically choosing between one of two dominant models, things can get a tad more complicated.
For starters, putting a game console together at home would be unimaginable. But, as a PC gamer, it’s actually pretty straightforward to build your own gaming rig that’s customized exactly to your playstyle and unique quirks and habits.
Whether building or buying, what you don’t need to do is go full neon-drenched tower with liquid cooling straight away. Start by knowing your goals—and your budget!
At the low end, a budget PC with integrated graphics and a moderately recent CPU (like a Ryzen 5 or i5) will handle popular retro games, casual, and indie genres fine—Stardew Valley, Hades, and your browser or casino games will run with no stress.
Entry-level gaming desktops hover around $600–$800 but they’re upgrade-friendly, so you can make a few high-performance tweaks to get a beast of a machine at a lower cost.
What’s the bare minimum setup? If your budget is tight, aim for a system with at least 16GB of RAM, a quad-core CPU, and solid-state storage (SSD) over a traditional hard drive. Even a secondhand setup or refurbished machine can deliver strong performance across a spectrum of titles.
