Valve

2020 · First-Person Shooter · PC / Steam (VR Only)

Half-Life: Alyx is the game VR needed to prove the technology could carry a full, premium experience. Valve poured the kind of production quality into this that the medium had been waiting for, and the result is a campaign that rivals any traditional first-person shooter in scope and polish. The VR requirement limits who can actually play it, and a few design choices hold it back from the full physical immersion that other VR titles have explored. But for anyone with the hardware, this is the single best argument for strapping on a headset. It set the bar for VR gaming and nothing has cleared it yet.

2013 · MOBA · PC

Dota 2 is the most complex and strategically deep competitive game ever made, with a fully free roster and legendary esports scene, though its crushing learning curve and demanding matches make it a lifestyle commitment rather than a casual hobby.

2008 · Co-op Shooter · PC

Left 4 Dead pioneered cooperative zombie survival with its brilliant AI Director and tight four-player teamwork, creating a template that defined an entire subgenre and still holds up thanks to a thriving mod community.