Switching from Mac to PC, part 5: Gaming is a serious business

After 20 years as a Mac user, I’ve decided to switch to using a Windows PC, and I’m bringing you along for the ride. And what a ride it is—we’ve covered every angle: 

What drove me to switch from Mac to PCWhat to think about when choosing your first Windows 10 laptopThe challenge of finding replacements for your Mac OS softwareHow to get Windows to play nicely with your iOS devices

This time, the focus is on a topic where Microsoft has traditionally trounced Apple: gaming.

There’s no denying that over the past few years, thanks to the App Store and services like Steam, gaming on a Mac is better than it’s ever been. But with a library of titles that spans decades and a large, dedicated community of developers and players, Windows computers are undisputed for gaming.

There’s so much to say about Windows gaming that all I can do is point you in the right directions—tell you what Windows 10 has to offer, and name the most awesome sources for downloading games. Let’s get started!

Windows 10 Game Mode

Microsoft

Windows 10’s Creators Update introduced a feature called Game Mode. It’s a setting designed to improve the gaming experience for people with older or slower PCs. Game Mode does this by prioritizing the game you’re playing, giving it the maximum amount of your computer’s processing power. As for any other resource-hungry applications running in the background, they can wait. 

As our tests of Game Mode show, however, this feature isn’t for everyone. High-end Windows laptop, like Microsoft’s Surface Book (which I’ve been using) or an Asus ROG Strix simply don’t need its help—turning on Game Mode would have no visible effect. However, on mid-level rigs like the Dell Inspiron 7000, and low-end gear with integrated graphics, the difference the feature’ll make to your gaming could be dramatic, providing better frame rates and less stuttering as you play. Given that it comes free with the Creators Update, it’s a nice bonus.

Windows Store apps: Surprisingly great games

Seamus Bellamy/IDG

The Windows Store will likely be the first exposure to Windows gaming for most newcomers. Let me be blunt here: Compared to the other resources I talk about as part of this story, the Windows Store is a hot mess.

After fighting your way through all of the movies, music, and productivity software the store has to offer, you’ll find that the Store will make you work to download a game. Some of the games available through the service are designed to work both with your Windows PC and with Windows Phone. Others aren’t. Many of the games are touch-enabled, while others require a gamepad to play or can only be interacted with via keyboard. Most frustrating is the fact that AAA titles, like Tomb Raider or Gears of War 4 are mixed in with the motley crew of freemium games more commonly associated with iOS or Android devices.

As disappointing as all of this can be, the Windows Store does have two things going for it. First, there’s no need to create a new account in order to use it—access to the store and shopping is all made possible through the same Microsoft account you use to sign into Windows.

Second, and this is cool, a growing number of games in the store support Xbox Play Anywhere‘s cross-platform play. This means Windows gamers can engage in multiplayer battles and co-operative games with their friends who own an Xbox One.

Steam is the bomb

Seamus Bellamy/IDG

Given that it’s available to download in 237 countries and in 21 different languages, it’s safe to call Steam a global gaming phenomenon. At last count, the service boasted close to 2,000 different downloadable games. Big bonus: Thanks to a large, enthusiastic community of amateur and professional developers, a huge number of free downloadable mods can be added to many of your favorite gaming titles.

Steam routinely sells games for a small discount and hosts massive seasonal sales events. This makes it easy to build a sizeable game collection without breaking the bank. To get started, download the service’s client, create a Steam Account, and you’re in business.

While games are the main attraction, Steam’s not just a marketplace—it’s a 35-million-member social network, too. Using your Steam Account, you’ll be able to compete in multiplayer matches with other players, and talk smack and chat with your friends even while you’re hip-deep in a game. Premium AAA titles like Gears of War 4 are here, too.

GOG is your classical education in games

Seamus Bellamy/IDG

Geeks of a certain age will remember that, back in the 1990s, the best games were story-rich, shooters weren’t as twitchy (or as pretty) as they are today, and simulators demanded and rewarded skill and strategy. If you’re nodding in recognition of any of this, then you’ll want to check out GOG.com. GOG—or Good Old Games, as it was once known—is the best source on the web for DRM-free classic and, increasingly, recent games from legendary developers like LucasArts and Black Isle Studios, independent makers Like Telltale Games and AAA properties like The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt. Classic titles like Planescape: Torment, Fallout 2 or X-Wing can be had for $20, while more recent AAA games go for $60 and up. Like Steam, GOG demands that you create an account in order to purchase and download games.

Those new to gaming, take note: many of the titles available through GOG, due to their age and the limitations of the hardware available at the time they were developed, come with crude graphics compared to the sort of visuals we’ve come to expect from modern games. If that’s a turn-off for you, GOG might not be the best service to fulfill your gaming needs. That said, some of the most-loved titles in PC gaming history can be found here. Give these digital senior citizens a chance and I guarantee you’ll be pleased to lose countless hours of your life to them.

EA Origin: For games unattainable elsewhere

Seamus Bellamy/IDG

Electronic Arts makes some of the most popular games around today, but they don’t play well with others. As such, the bulk of their library can be accessed only by buying a physical copy of their games or hitting up EA Origin: Electronic Arts’ online marketplace.

If you’re into The Sims, the Battlefield franchise, Titanfall 2, Star Wars Battlefront, FIFA, the Dragon’s Age series or Mass Effect, you’ll want to download the Origin client. As with the other services I’ve talked about here, Origin requires that you open an account in order to make any online purchases. While Origin doesn’t offer as many sales as Steam does, you’ll occasionally find steep discounts on some of the most popular games of the past few years. As it offers titles you simply cannot find anywhere else online, sooner or later you’ll likely end up downloading Origin.

Next time: Why I’ll stick with Windows (or not)

Now that we’ve covered the hardware, the software, the PC-iPad-iPhone intermix, and the glories of PC gaming, it’s time to decide: Stick with Windows, or go running back to the familiar old Mac? We’ll talk about what I’ve learned over the past few months as a Windows 10 user, and whether switching to a PC will work for me or other Mac users. Stay tuned!