2022 is drawing to a close, but there’s plenty of time left to squeeze into one of our favorite annual events: TechRadar PC Gaming Week.
The PC is still – at least for us – the best place to play games. A wide range of titles, from giant A-games to little-known indie gems, make PC the ultimate platform, whether you’re playing on a beefy rig or an old laptop – or if you’re lucky, on the awesome Steam platform Valve’s Handy Deck.
With several major launches in the graphics and processor divisions this year, PC gaming is in a strong position in terms of hardware. What about the games themselves? We’ve been poring over all sorts of gaming-related offerings this year, and we’re thrilled to bring a wealth of fresh writing talent to your reading pleasure. Scroll down to find all of the Gaming Week 2022 articles – we’ll be adding more as they go live throughout the week, so check back tomorrow!
5 PC games worth playing after completing Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
If you haven’t watched Netflix’s animated adaptation of the Cyberpunk 2077 universe yet, stop reading and do so now. We’re serious. No, you don’t need to play the last CD Projekt Red game, although the series is a great companion to this title.
Edgerunners presents a dark yet bombastic vision of the tech urban future, and these five games perfectly capture the sci-fi connections of both the series and the original Cyberpunk tabletop game.
How the PC Became the Unexpected Home of Fighting Games
They may have spawned generations of home consoles, but fighting games eventually had to find a home on PC. What was once considered an unusual way to play these games has become a widely accepted platform for the genre – and it’s not just about the high performance offered by PC.
The fighting game communities are among the most hardcore and dedicated clades of gamers, and the PC provides the perfect space for games that have gone through their heyday to come back to life. With the advent of cross-platform gaming, even modern fighting games are now attracting a strong PC player base.
Five of the best Steam Deck games for commuting
Ah, the Steam platform. A wonderful portal to the best of PC gaming, compact enough to fit in a small bag or an extra-large jacket pocket. Many of us love our moving game decks, even if the editor managing that particular site doesn’t have one and does very unhappy about that.
However, for those of you with one of Valve’s excellent handhelds, these five games are sure to make your commute fun – and yes, Elden Ring is on the list. Game of this editor still did not play.
(Valve, send me a Steam Deck. Please. I’ll do whatever you want except actually pay for it.)
Steam Deck made me sell my PC and move away from PS Vita – here’s why
Another Steam Deck article? We don’t get paid for this by Valve, we promise. But as our charming and beloved software editor Daryl points out, the Deck is the perfect gaming PC replacement – and it evokes memories of the most underrated handheld of yesteryear, the PS Vita.
The Vita was an amazing game emulation tool as well as having a ton of great games of its own, and the Steam Deck is a natural evolution of that. If you’ve been hesitant to pick up this handheld computer, see if this item will convince you.
How indie developers built a path to queer gaming
The gaming industry has come a long way in terms of LGBTQ+ representation, but it was small indie developers who anchored the need for queer storytelling in games and gave us the great triple-A reputation we see today.
From decidedly queer experiences like Hades and Monster Prom, to more muddled stories about sexuality and gender expression like the award-winning Celeste, this article shows how independent creators paved the way for LGBTQ+ characters on PC and beyond.
I wanted to get into computer games, but the language around them is disgusting
We know it, you know it: while we love computer games, the jargon surrounding computer hardware is completely impenetrable to any novice. Even an experienced PC builder can stumble when new terminology enters the fray.
Luckily, we’ve got some tips for first-time hardware users looking to build their first PC. Don’t be afraid of the jargon – this article will dispel the confusion many feel when starting their own PC assembly journey, and has helpful resources for any confused budding builder out there.
How integration with Twitch can change the gameplay for everyone
Ah, streaming. Now, the multi-billion dollar industry holds the tantalizing promise of making money from gaming, but the barriers to entry are many. Fortunately, some game developers excel at making it easier to stream their games with the magic of Twitch integration.
From full-fledged built-in “streaming modes” to more subtle tweaks that budding Twitch stars can make to the game, these features allow users to further customize the viewer experience and improve accessibility, allowing everyone – even you! – could become the next big streamer.
Sonic fangames is already quenching fans’ thirst
The recent Sonic Frontiers may have been an incredibly divisive entry into an even more divisive franchise, but fans of the blue blur aren’t resting on their laurels while Sega fiddles with its mascot.
These Sonic fan games are some of the best games the hedgehog has to offer, powered by an incredibly dedicated community. The three fan-made titles listed here are just scratching the surface, but for our money they are the best.
How to install Heroic Launcher to play Epic and GOG titles on Steam Deck
If you have a Steam Deck, don’t think you’re only obligated to games you’ve purchased from Valve’s own store. This small AMD-powered portable computer is a surprisingly versatile tool.
In this simple guide, we’ll walk you through installing the Heroic Games Launcher on your Deck, unlocking it for all the games you own on Epic, GOG, and more. Just remember that not every PC game will run flawlessly on compact Deck hardware!
The best computer games
PC Gaming Week wouldn’t be complete without our final roundup of the best PC games you can play now.
From the best single player titles to hectic multiplayer frenzy, we’ve rounded up what we think are the best PC games of 2022. Each of them has been thoroughly played by us and they all prove why the PC is the best gaming platform.
The best gaming laptops
What’s the use of having all the best PC games if you don’t have anything to play them on? Thanks to TechRadar’s carefully curated ranking of all the best gaming laptops on the market today, you’ll be able to get a lot on powerful gaming hardware in no time.
From the affordable Asus TUF Dash F15 to the high-end Alienware x15 R2 and Corsair’s new laptop, the uniquely designed Voyager a1600, there’s something for everyone on our list. Go check it out!
The best PC gaming headsets
As big fans of PC gaming, we test all hardware possibilities, even the vast PC gaming audio market. We especially like being immersed in a good gaming headset.
Since we believe that at least some of you share the same desire for great audio from our PC games, we’ve included our comprehensive list of the best PC gaming headsets we tested in 2022.