It’s been over 10 years since I packed my PlayStation away without regret and switched entirely to PC. It wasn’t about trying out a new platform — it was a return to my roots. I was introduced to computers at the age of five, leveling up undead characters on classic World of Warcraft servers. And how happy I was when my hands once again held a keyboard and mouse instead of a gamepad.
With each passing year, my confidence in choosing the PC as my primary platform only grows stronger. Why I personally play on PC and don’t regret it for a second — I’ll explain in this column.
Now I’m Installing Every Game I Want
Fallout 2 is a cult classic. Even after so many years, I can return and search for the G.E.C.K. once again.
A PC gives you access to tens of thousands of games — modern, unusual, retro, and truly legendary. If I want to launch my beloved Arcanum or play through Fallout 2 for the seventh time — I just do it, no problem. Realistic shooters, stunning action games, deep strategies, MMOs, economic simulators, wargames — many of these genres don’t even exist on consoles. These are PC exclusives, unplayable with a gamepad due to their control complexity or system requirements.
Only on PC can you hop into a match of Dota 2 or Counter-Strike with friends, take part in an epic EVE Online battle, or wander the harsh wastelands of Kenshi. You can even launch Space Rangers or Gothic! Consoles just aren’t made for these kinds of games — too many buttons and controls are needed. Only a keyboard and mouse can handle it.
They Say PC Is Complicated
You have to upgrade it, deal with cables, install software, worry about hardware compatibility. And with consoles, they say, you just buy it and play. I completely disagree. I recently upgraded my PC — got a gaming rig with a QHD monitor, RTX 4070 Super, and guess what? I plugged it in, pressed the power button, launched a game — and played. Just like that.
Comfortable Controls
A battle in EVE Online — even two gamepads wouldn’t be enough to handle the controls.
I love strategy games, especially grand ones like Hearts of Iron IV and Stellaris. The latter, like Crusader Kings III, is available on consoles. Ever tried playing them with a gamepad? It’s a painful experience — finger-twisting and constant pausing. You can’t properly zoom out, see the battlefield, or quickly switch units. Gamepads are great for Souls-likes, fighting games, and sports titles like PES, NHL, and FIFA. But not for strategy.
You also won’t find deep military simulators like Arma 3 or Squad on consoles. Sure, there’s Hell Let Loose, but it leans more toward arcade. The only hardcore shooter on console is Arma Reforger, and it lacks aim assist. Shooting in such a realistic game with complex ballistics using a gamepad — without aim assist — is a nightmare.
High Graphics, Frame Rates, and Resolution
I’ve played on many consoles — SEGA, PlayStation 2, PS3, PS4. When Battlefield 3 launched in 2011, my older brother used to kick me off the PC, so I had to play the shooter on console. That’s when I realized just how big the visual difference was between PC and console.
Back then, my brother was playing on PC with 64-player servers and 60 FPS.
Meanwhile, on PS3, I was limited to 24 players per server and 30 FPS.
Only on a computer can you fully enjoy high frame rates, high resolutions, sharp textures, advanced lighting, and all the other benefits the platform offers. The first time I saw Crysis 2 on ultra settings — I was speechless. Only a PC can showcase the full beauty of Red Dead Redemption 2, Alan Wake 2, and Cyberpunk 2077.
And on PC, you can fine-tune these graphics. I, for example, hate motion blur or default upscalers like DLSS or FSR. I also like to increase the field of view. On PC, I can easily tweak all these settings to get the picture exactly how I want it.
Game Prices on PC
My Steam library has 213 games — not counting accounts on Ubisoft Connect, EA App, Epic Games Store, or VK Play. I was able to build such a collection thanks to great pricing on PC games.
Take Baldur’s Gate 3 as an example — not the newest release, but still very popular. On PC, it costs 1,999 rubles. On PS5, it’ll set you back over 4,000 rubles.
The recent Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 costs 3,499 rubles on PC, but on consoles it’s a painful 5,199 rubles. Older and indie games often go for just 200–600 rubles. Yes, consoles have subscriptions like PS Plus, offering access to large libraries. But if you want to buy something new, it’s cheaper on PC. And let’s not forget Game Pass for Windows.
Mods, Mods, and More Mods
Installing thousands of mods for Skyrim and then never actually playing it — a true PC master race privilege. Fan-made mods unlock new content that developers either didn’t have time to add or never planned to include. More weapons in your favorite RPGs, higher difficulty in shooters, more units in strategy games. Consoles do support mods to some extent, but PC still reigns supreme here.
Mod compilations:
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Extended Edition for Fallout: New Vegas
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Cyberpunk 2077 with mods
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Red Dead Redemption 2 with mods
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Ultima collection for Skyrim
These aren’t just small tweaks. Some of them are full-blown remasters or even unofficial remakes. Enderal: Forgotten Stories became a standalone RPG built on Skyrim’s engine — and it’s free! And if you want to get into modding yourself, tools like REDkit (for CD Projekt RED games) or Creation Kit (from Bethesda) are available only on PC.