There has always been a gap between console and PC gaming, though thankfully the gap between the two has shrunk as years go by. Still, there are plenty of games that play radically different between these formats, whether it be the core gameplay or the features present in them.
For the most part, the games below admittedly play better on PC than on console, though those who never play with a mouse and keyboard might prefer a controller. At the end of the day, most of the games below are great and the best of them shows on either platform.
10 Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium translates traditional RPG mechanics to a purely narrative adventure. The game involves a ton of dialogue and stat management. On PC you control the character by clicking on objects in the environment, while the recent console re-release has you directly control the protagonist. The UI is a little harder to navigate with a controller, however. The PS5 version also released with a handful of bugs, though numerous patches have already come out, remedying many of the issues.
9 Diablo 3
Diablo is mostly considered a PC property, though the debut entry also came out on the original PlayStation. Diablo 3 eventually made its way to console several years after its PC release. If your only experience in Diablo is playing it on consoles, it may seem wild to think people on the PC control their character by clicking on the battlefield. The upcoming Diablo 2 remake is also coming to consoles and will surely utilize the analog sticks to control the character.
8 Starcraft
Starcraft represents pretty much all RTS games on this list. People may forget this, but the first game did see a port to the N64. While a seemingly impossible endeavor, the studio did the best it could to bring the game to consoles.
The RTS genre just was not made to be played on a controller. There are too many systems and shortcuts you have to manage for a controller to keep up with the fast-paced gameplay.
7 Batman: Arkham Knight
When it comes to this game, things definitely shake out in favor of consoles. Upon its PC release, the game was almost unplayable — to the point of being taken off the store while the problem was addressed. While the game is now purchasable once again, Batman: Arkham Knight still has a lot of problems on PC. It is ultimately preferred to play it on PlayStation or Xbox Consoles. With plenty of time until the Suicide Squad game’s release, now is as good a time as ever to play it again.
6 Wasteland 3
Wasteland 3 is an epic post-apocalyptic RPG where most quests have several outcomes which can drastically change the game world. On top of the console ports launching with more bugs than the PC versions, playing with a controller is also a little less comfortable. You have to navigate the menus with the analog sticks, which just feels less intuitive than the mouse. Despite being less than ideal, it is still a magnificent RPG.
5 Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2 launched alongside the Orange Box, a collection that includes Half-Life 2, its two episodes, and Portal. The console versions received few updates, while the PC edition eventually morphed into a free-to-play multiplayer shooter with microtransactions and numerous cosmetics. Those who want a purer Team Fortress 2 experience can still pop in their PS3 or Xbox 360 disc of the Orange Box to play an older version without the updates.
4 Counter Strike
What started out as a Half-Life mod eventually took on a life of its own. It is such a PC-dominated culture, few may be aware of the game’s console existence. There is a reason why you probably have not heard too much about them. The pinpoint precision required for this hardcore team-based first-person shooter makes a controller inadequate.
3 Doom Eternal
2016’s Doom does a great job of translating the classic Doom gameplay to the modern gaming landscape. Doom Eternal does more than just push the action forward. It adds numerous mechanics and a focus on resource management that further encourages jumping into the wild action.
Unfortunately, the new weapons and moves make it more convenient to play with a mouse and keyboard than a controller. The controls are more complicated than your typical first-person shooter.
2 Deus Ex
The original Deus Ex was a revelation. The mixture of first-person shooter gameplay, RPG mechanics, and gigantic interactive levels made for an extremely dynamic experience. The PS2 port did the best it could to bring the ambitious game to consoles. It made some concessions by splitting levels into chunks and adding geometry to hide load times. One of the more notable mechanical concessions is that health is simplified, with individual limb damage removed.
1 Cyberpunk 2077
There is too much going with Cyberpunk 2077 to describe here. Just know that as of now it is an infinitely inferior experience on consoles compared to what it is on PC. The base PS4 and Xbox versions are almost unplayable. The PC version still has its share of bugs, but at least it looks magnificent if you have a gaming rig that is up for the task. At least playing the currently available version on PS5 or Xbox Series X is tolerable, but we recommend waiting until the true next-gen upgrade comes out.
