Welcome to TechRadar’s PC Gaming Week 2020. We hosted this week-long celebration of the best gaming platform in the world for six years, but with everything that’s been going on in 2020, it seemed more important than ever to take a step back and really appreciate the things that bring us joy.
And, when we say we celebrated PC gaming, we meant it. This year we highlighted not just the games themselves, but the teams and players from around the world that make PC gaming such a wonderful, inventive and diverse hobby.
Throughout the week we talked to teams behind the PC games you know and love, while highlighting the best PC games from creators of all different races, nationalities, sexualities and gender identities.
We also had features that explored the exciting tech that’s powering the best PC games, and tutorials on how to get the very best out of your gaming rigs.
No matter who you are and where you’re from, we want to welcome you to TechRadar’s PC Gaming Week 2020. We hope you enjoy reading these features as much as we did making them.
Forget PS5, Xbox Series X and Switch – the PC is the best place to play
Who needs the upcoming consoles when the PC is by far the best place to play? As our PC Gaming Week 2020 celebration drew to a close, we looked at how recent launches by Nvidia and Intel have cemented the PC's place as the best gaming platform in the world.
The 10 best beat ‘em up games on PC
Today’s landscape of PC games is practically awash in quality beat ‘em ups. Classic franchises in the genre, such as Double Dragon and Streets of Rage, exist alongside brand new IP’s that adopt the winning ways of those aforementioned greats.
So, for PC Gaming Week 2020, we looked at the best beat ‘em up games you can play on PC.
How Black Girl Gamers is changing the gaming landscape for the better
Black Girl Gamers is a growing community of female gamers of color, and we talked to the creator, Jay-Ann Lopez, about the essential work Black Girl Gamers is doing to make gaming more welcoming and diverse.
Games For Change wants to create a better world through gaming
Founded in 2004 in New York City, Games for Change has a simple but daunting mission: to help facilitate the creation and promotion of video games and related technologies to not just entertain, but to challenge and to advance positive change in the world.
To see how Games For Change wants to create a better world through gaming, we talked to Susanna Pollack, the president of Games for Change to find out more.
South African PC games to put on your must-play list
Continuing our celebration of PC games and creators from around the world, we listed the best PC games from South Africa.
From side-scrolling beat-em-ups with a distinctly South African style and humor, to VR games and platformers, you'll be impressed with the breadth of games coming out of South Africa right now.
Women and gaming: the best PC games by female games designers
In our guide to the best PC games by female creators, we set out to prove that although the video games industry remains frustratingly male-dominated, there are women working at every level within the industry who are responsible for creating some of the most enterprising, and literally game-changing, titles money can buy.
Trailblazers: the women who are taking the esports world by storm
While esports is still dominated by male players, there's a growing number of female gamers who are kicking some serious ass. In our look at some of the women who are taking the esports world by storm, we highlighted the most exciting female esports stars.
The best LGBTQ+ representation in PC games
While it still has a long way to go, representation of minority groups is slowly improving in PC gaming, and it's one of the most important aspects of modern games.
In our best LGBTQ+ representation in PC games list, we celebrated well-rounded characters whose sexuality or gender identity is just a facet of their personalities, and showcase how important good representation can be.
The best games on PC from Indian creators
While the Indian gaming market is dominated by mobile titles, there are some incredibly exciting PC games coming out of the country. To celebrate, we gathered together the best PC games from Indian creators that everyone should try out.
From beautiful adventures to fast paced rogue-likes and first person shooters with a twist, the best Indian PC games have something for everyone.
The best Minecraft-inspired PC games
Minecraft is one of the most popular PC games ever, and for good reason. Its mix of retro graphics (which allows it to be played on a wide range of devices, no matter how old), and tools that allow you to indulge in your creativity, has meant PC gamers around the world have fallen in love with the game.
So, if you can’t get enough of it, here are the best Minecraft-inspired PC games.
The best games and apps for virtual tourists on PC
Can't go on holiday this year? You're not alone. But, with the best games and apps for virtual tourists on PC, you can travel the world to real (and fictional) places and do a bit of virtual sight seeing.
The 10 best racing games on PC
The PC is home to some of the best racing games ever made, and we picked the 10 best PC racing games that will thrill any racing fan. From realistic simulation games to over the top arcade racers, the PC will have the perfect game for you.
Make sure you also check out our pick of the best racing wheels as well, for the ultimate experience.
Why we still need physical games
Most PC gamers have switched completely to digital downloads thanks to the success of stores like Steam and Epic Games Store. But, in this article, we made the case for why we still need physical games.
10 things you didn't know about Worms
Worms is an iconic cult PC game, and as it celebrates its 25th anniversary, we talked to developers Team17 to find out some juicy secrets.
So, check out 10 things you didn't know about Worms to find out what Mel Gibson film one of the games could have appeared in, what strange games consoles Worms has featured on and much more!
The best PC games from Asian American creators
As we continue to celebrate the diversity of PC gaming, we highlighted the very best PC games from Asian American creators. From indie darling to big budget AAA games, Asian Americans have helped create some of the best and most imaginative PC games ever.
The best exclusive PC games
Forget the Xbox Series X or PS5, the PC has the largest and best catalogue of games in the world, and in our guide to the best exclusive PC games, we highlighted the top titles that you can only play on your gaming PC or gaming laptop.
These games prove that the best gaming platform by far remains the PC.
Are refresh rates really that important?
When playing PC games, you'll want to ensure you've got the best equipment, and that means getting a brilliant monitor as well. But, when buying gaming monitors, there's a lot of jargon thrown about, especially when it comes to refresh rates.
So, we went in-depth to explore if refresh rates really are that important.
10 best PC games from black creators
Some of the most exciting PC games coming out at the moment are from black creators, and in our roundup of the best PC games from black creators, we showcased some of the top titles that you should check out and support.
The best remastered PC games 2020
While a lot of PC gaming is about looking towards the future, as the best remastered PC games show, there's an art to revisiting iconic older PC games as well. By updating these games with modern graphics, sound effects and gameplay elements, while remaining true to the spirits of the original games, the best remastered PC games let you revisit some of the greatest games ever made.
As PS5 and Xbox Series X lean into high resolution, PC gaming remains all about choice
The PS5 and Xbox Series X are coming out this year and are obviously getting a lot of attention. But while many people are thinking about what the next generation of console games will look like, we took PC Gaming Week 2020 as a chance to look at what the next few years may look like when it comes to PC gaming hardware.
My first few months with the first PC I built for myself
Not everyone here at TechRadar is a huge PC gamer, but our US Mobile Editor, David Lumb finally jumped into the fray, building his very first gaming rig (with a bit of help). For PC Gaming Week, David reflected on his experience of the first few months of having a self-built machine.
The 10 best PC games with LGBTQ+ characters and narratives
Thanks to the huge indie games market, there are a ton of games out there that explore all kinds of identities and experiences. So, we gathered up 10 of the best LGBTQ+ games that you can play on PC right now.
Fan service done right: how EA worked with fans to create Command & Conquer Remastered Collection
If you ask any dedicated RTS player what's an "iconic strategy game" the original Command and Conquer will likely be one of the first games they mention. And now that the remaster has finally made it out, we interviewed Petroglyph for PC Gaming Week about how the studio spoke to its biggest fans to make sure the project was authentic.
The best Mac games 2020: top games you can play on your MacBook
Outside of using a service like GeForce Now, most people don't really look at a MacBook as a gaming device. However, things are slowly starting to change, and there are some definite highlights on the platform.
For PC Gaming Week, we looked at the 10 best Mac games you can play right now – and hey, maybe you can actually play some games on break at work.
The 10 greatest settings in PC gaming
PC games can transport us to amazing new worlds, and in this article, we explored ten of the greatest settings in PC gaming. If you're after a bit of escapism and want to immerse yourself in incredible new locations, these are the PC games you need to play.
The best PC games 2020
PC Gaming Week wouldn't be complete without our definitive rundown of the very best PC games you can play right now.
From the top single player games, to hectic multiplayer madness, we selected what we think are the best PC games in 2020. Each one has been thoroughly played by us, and they all prove why the PC is the best gaming platform.
The best gaming PC 2020: 10 of the top gaming desktops you can buy
For PC Gaming Week 2020, we picked the very best gaming desktop PCs that money can buy right now. If our PC gaming coverage made you desperate to fire up a rig and play some games, then this list is an excellent starting point.
What’s it like to game on a $40,000 PC?
How good a gaming rig could you get if money is no object? We put that to the test as we explored what it's like to game on a $40,000 PC.
We visited Overclockers UK's head quarters to test out the phenomenal 8Pack Orion X2, which costs £33,000 – or around $43,000 / AU$60,000 – which is more than most people's house deposits. But just how good at playing games is such an expensive machine? Read on to find out...
Best SSDs 2020: the top solid-state drives for your PC
With the amount of massive PC games releasing on an annual basis, peppered with countless indie releases that just demand playing, the need for a fast, sizable solid-state drive is more dire than ever.
So, we incorporated our guide to the best SSDs on the market in several categories into PC Gaming Week 2020. Here's what we think are the best SSDs for several use cases and occasions.
How to build a cheap gaming PC that doesn't suck
We get it: PC gaming can be an awfully expensive hobby. However, we also have come to learn that it doesn't necessarily have to be, especially if you're able to save.
So, we built a gaming PC for not much more than an Xbox One X that doesn't compromise where it counts. This thing can store plenty of games and play them swimmingly at 1080p resolution. So, here's how to build a cheap gaming PC that doesn't suck.
The best PC gaming headsets of 2020
Being huge fans of PC gaming, we test every end of the hardware experience, even the vast PC gaming audio market. We particularly enjoy the immersion of a good gaming headset.
Since we figure at least some of you share the same desire for excellent audio from our PC games, we included our comprehensive list of the best PC gaming headsets we tested in 2020.
5 secret tips for building a great gaming PC
Think you know all there is to know about building a gaming PC? Think again. With this guide to the best secret tips for building a great gaming PC.
From winning the silicone lottery, to PSU and cooling tips, these handy hacks will have you building a killer rig in no time.
