Getting into PC gaming can feel overwhelming. There are countless games out there, with new releases hitting Steam and other platforms every day. Knowing where to start is not easy when everything competes for your attention. To help you decide, here are 15 of the best PC games for beginners.
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Plants vs. Zombies
Plants vs. Zombies is one of those games that looks cute and goofy at first glance, then completely hooks you. It’s a tower defense game where you protect your suburban home from waves of ridiculous zombies by planting an army of equally ridiculous plants. Your lawn is split into a grid, and each plant you place has a role. Some shoot peas, some explode, some block enemies, and others support your setup by producing sun, the resource you need to plant more defenses.
The game is incredibly creative. Zombies are not just walking targets. They come with funny twists, from balloon-riding pests to disco dancers who summon backup. Each level introduces new ideas gradually, so you learn by playing without feeling overwhelmed. That gentle learning curve is why this game is perfect for beginners. Early levels serve as a tutorial. You have room to experiment, and losing never feels punishing.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley drops you into a quiet little town and hands you your grandfather’s old, overgrown farm. From there, it’s completely up to you how your new life unfolds. Created by a single developer, Eric Barone, the game builds on the classic farming-sim formula and expands it in every direction. You plant crops, raise animals, fish, mine, and slowly turn your land into a thriving farm that feels truly yours.
You can befriend over 30 villagers, take part in seasonal festivals, fall in love, get married, and even start a family. There’s also real depth beneath the cozy surface, including a surprisingly complex fishing system, dangerous caves full of monsters, and meaningful choices that shape the town’s future. For beginners, this game is a dream. There’s no strict pressure, no hard failure, and no wrong way to play. You can take things slow, focus on one activity, or just relax and enjoy the vibes.
Alternative: Fields of Mistria
If you want a similar farming sim with arguably even more quality-of-life features, colorful animals, magic, and a beautiful art style, try Fields of Mistria! You can read more about it on our blog about games like Stardew Valley.
Firewatch
The first-person mystery Firewatch is perfect for you if you want a PC game that focuses on story, atmosphere, and exploration rather than complex mechanics. Set in 1989, you step into the boots of Henry, a man who escapes his messy life by taking a summer job as a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness. From your tower high above the forest, you watch for smoke and try to enjoy the isolation. Your only real connection is Delilah, your supervisor, who talks to you over a handheld radio.
The conversations feel personal and natural, and the choices you make shape your relationship. The mystery slowly pulls you deeper into the forest. Navigation relies on a compass and a physical map, making exploration feel grounded and immersive. The stylized visuals and haunting soundtrack do much of the heavy lifting, creating a world you just want to wander through. The controls are simple, there is no combat pressure, and you can play entirely at your own pace.
Lego Games
If you’re just getting started with PC gaming and want something fun without the stress, Lego games are a great choice. These action-adventure games keep their mechanics simple, so you can jump in right away and understand what’s going on. Combat is light and playful, puzzles are clever without being overwhelming, and experimentation is always encouraged. You’re rarely punished for mistakes, which makes the whole experience feel relaxed and welcoming.
There’s a huge range of worlds to explore. You can dive into Harry Potter, Marvel, Jurassic World, Lord of the Rings, and many other famous franchises, experiencing their stories in a charming Lego style. The games usually retell well-known movie plots with tons of humor and creative twists that keep things fresh. You get familiar characters, clear goals, and gameplay that never feels intimidating. They are creative, cozy, and a great way to build confidence with a controller or keyboard while having a genuinely good time.
Civilization VI
Civilization VI is a fantastic entry point into strategy games, especially if you start on an easy difficulty and give yourself time to learn. It’s a turn-based game, so you can think through every decision at your own pace without pressure. One more turn really can turn into ten as you guide a civilization from the Stone Age all the way to the future.
Its depth and flexibility are impressive. Cities are physically spread across the map, districts provide meaningful bonuses, and research extends far beyond science, with culture, governments, and policies shaping how your empire develops. Every leader plays differently, so you can focus on warfare, diplomacy, exploration, or peaceful growth depending on your mood. The systems are deep yet clearly explained, and you can learn step by step while still having fun. There is no rush, mistakes are part of the learning process, and the turn-based structure keeps everything relaxed.
Rayman Legends
Rayman Legends is the kind of platformer that instantly reminds you why running and jumping can be so much fun. You play as Rayman, a limbless hero with floating fists and endless charm, who is pulled into magical worlds hidden within mysterious paintings. From there, it’s all about precise jumps, playful combat, and pure momentum as you race through wildly creative levels.
Every area brings new ideas, enemies, and secrets, so nothing ever feels repetitive. The hand-drawn art style bursts with color and personality, and the animations are incredibly smooth. The music is as important as the visuals, especially in the rhythm-based stages where you jump and punch in perfect sync with the beat. The controls are easy to learn, the early levels are forgiving, and the difficulty ramps up gradually. It’s joyful, chaotic in the best way, and an absolute must-play.
Portal & Portal 2
If you want a game that makes you feel clever without ever feeling unfair, Portal and Portal 2 are perfect picks. Set in the eerie Aperture Science Laboratories, these games challenge you to solve physics-based puzzles with a portal gun that lets you place linked portals on walls, floors, and ceilings. You use momentum, timing, and a bit of brainpower to move yourself and objects through space in ways that feel wildly satisfying when they click.
The writing is sharp, funny, and surprisingly memorable, thanks in large part to GLaDOS, the passive-aggressive AI who guides you through the test chambers. Portal 2 expands on everything with new mechanics, bigger puzzles, and even a full co-op campaign. The controls are simple, there’s no rush, and each puzzle teaches you something new before asking more of you. You can take your time, experiment freely, and enjoy that brilliant “aha” moment over and over again.
Slime Rancher
Slime Rancher is one of those games that instantly puts you in a good mood. You play as Beatrix LeBeau, a rancher who leaves Earth behind to start a new life on the colorful Far, Far Range. Your job is to explore this vibrant world, collect adorable slimes, and care for them back on your ranch. Each slime has its own personality, preferences, and quirks, making management surprisingly engaging.
You suck up slimes with your vacpack, feed them, maintain their habitats, and collect valuable plorts to earn Newbucks for upgrades and new gear. You can even combine slime species to create bigger, more valuable hybrids, as long as you do not push things too far and accidentally create a dangerous tarr. For beginners, this game is a fantastic choice. The first-person controls are easy to grasp, the world encourages slow exploration, and failure is never harshly punished. You can spend hours just wandering, experimenting, and learning at your own pace.
A Hat in Time
A Hat in Time is a joyful throwback to classic 3D platformers, letting you explore at your own pace. You play as Hat Kid, a tiny space traveler whose fuel has been scattered across a strange planet. To get home, you jump, fight, and explore self-contained worlds to recover Time Pieces, with each area feeling like its own playful adventure.
Once you enter a world, there’s no pressure to rush. You can wander, hunt for collectibles, and enjoy clever level design inspired by beloved late-90s and early-2000s platformers. Combat is simple and fun, using an umbrella that doubles as a weapon, a pogo stick, and a grappling tool. The dynamic soundtrack shifts with your actions, adding even more personality to every moment. The controls are responsive, the difficulty is adjustable, and exploration is relaxed and forgiving. It’s cute, creative, and full of heart, making it easy to fall in love with it from the very first jump.
Subnautica
The survival game Subnautica drops you into a vast alien ocean and gently asks you to survive by exploring. After crash-landing on a water-covered planet, you start with almost nothing and slowly learn to live beneath the waves. You gather resources, craft basic tools, and gradually unlock equipment that lets you dive deeper into coral reefs, glowing caves, and dark ocean trenches.
The world is beautiful and full of life, but it can also be dangerous, especially when massive creatures begin appearing in the depths. The game doesn’t constantly hold your hand. Instead, it encourages curiosity, letting you discover new areas and piece together the story at your own pace. However, Subnautica is surprisingly approachable. The survival systems are easy to understand, crafting never feels like a chore, and progression unfolds naturally as you explore.
Child of Light
Child of Light feels like stepping into a beautifully illustrated storybook. You play as Aurora, a young princess who awakens in the magical land of Lemuria, a world plunged into darkness after the sun, moon, and stars are stolen. To restore the light and find her way home, you explore dreamy landscapes, meet eccentric characters, and battle mythical creatures and dark forces.
The hand-painted art style is stunning, and the world is full of small details. The music creates a calm, emotional mood that lingers. Combat is turn-based and thoughtful rather than hectic, using a timing system that keeps battles engaging without being stressful. Every fight feels more like a small puzzle than a test of reflexes. For beginners, this game is a wonderful introduction to role-playing games. The pacing is gentle, the difficulty is fair, and the focus is on story and exploration rather than pressure.
Terraria
The 2011 survival classic Terraria offers complete freedom and lets you play exactly how you want. Dropped into a randomly generated 2D world, you can dig deep underground for treasure, build your own base, craft better gear, or head out to fight strange and powerful enemies. There is no single correct path, making every playthrough feel personal and different.
The world is packed with items, biomes, bosses, and secrets, and progression feels steady and rewarding. Its pixel art style may look simple, but movement and combat feel great, and the game is still being expanded with new content. You can play solo at a relaxed pace or jump in with friends for chaotic fun. Terraria lets you explore and experiment without pressure, learn systems one step at a time, and set your own goals. The early hours ease you in, and once things click, the game opens into an addictive sandbox that can keep you busy for hundreds of hours.
Assassin’s Creed 2
Assassin’s Creed 2 is often considered the high point of the entire series, and it’s an excellent place to jump in. You follow the story of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a young noble whose life is torn apart by betrayal. What begins as a personal tale of loss slowly becomes an epic story of vengeance, conspiracy, and the path to becoming an assassin, set in the breathtaking cities of Renaissance Italy.
What makes this entry special is its focus and accessibility. Unlike later games, it keeps role-playing elements to a minimum, making the experience easier to grasp and far less overwhelming. Combat is forgiving once you learn the counter system, letting you handle even large groups of enemies without constant frustration. This gives you space to enjoy the story, the parkour, and the feeling of moving freely across rooftops in Florence and Venice.
Have an Easy Start With PLITCH!
Getting into PC games can be overwhelming. You finally sit down to relax, but the boss is wiping the floor with you, or the grind just won’t end. Instead of giving up, PLITCH lets you tailor the game to your skill level and mood. It’s a single-player PC trainer that lets you adjust difficulty, resources, and mechanics across thousands of games, from cozy favorites to brutal challenges like Elden Ring.
You can slow things down, give yourself more health or stamina, and learn how a game works without constant frustration. Nothing is permanent, either. You can turn codes on or off whenever you want and play at your own pace. The best part is how easy it is to use. A clean interface, an in-game overlay, and even a mobile app make everything feel effortless. If you want to enjoy games without stress while you learn the ropes, PLITCH is a fantastic helping hand.
To learn more about PLITCH and how it works, check out this blog. Need help installing or using the client? Our YouTube tutorial will help you!
Happy Gaming!
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