In this day and age, consoles are basically computers. Assuming all things are equal, there is no reason a game should run better on aPlayStation 4or anXbox Onethan on a decent PC. Even if someone prefers using a controller over a mouse and keyboard, Microsoft’s recent peripherals take almost no effort to set up on a computer. Ultimately, exclusives provide the biggest incentive for picking up a home console.
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Rare as it might be, multi-platform titles that are superior on consoles do exist, especially since not all PC ports are born equal. Here are 10 examples of games that are better on consoles than computers. Fan patches will not be taken into consideration, as the focus will be on the retail versions.
10Sports Games
Unless someone is solely interested in single-player or their only console is a Nintendo Switch, then it is generally advised to prioritize console releases of sports games over their PC counterparts as they tend to have more dedicated and bigger player bases. This is especially the case when it comes toFifa, which seems to treat the PC version as an afterthought.
Cheaters are also an issue on PC. While cheating is not so rampant on PC that it becomes impossible to enjoy a fair match, it is basically a non-issue on consoles.
9Fighting Games
A decade ago, console gaming was the only option for anyone looking to play fighting games competitively. Not only did they have more players, but tournaments typically used the console versions. Therefore, it only made sense to practice on the same platform. Outside ofStreet Fighter, it was also not unusual for fighting franchises to simply skip PC.
While the PlayStation 4 is the definitive platform for fighters, the PC scene has improved considerably in recent years and has become a viable alternative to Sony’s system.
8One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 (PS4)
Even though things have improved somewhat, Musou games have a long history of inconsistent PC ports. Along with some titles offering little in the way of customizable settings, games likeSamurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanadaare also poorly optimized.
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One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3is actually among the better Musou games on PC; however, the port holds more in common with the PlayStation 3 version than the PlayStation 4 release, making it automatically worse than the latter.
7Tales Of Symphonia (GameCube)
Despite being ported to the PlayStation 3 in 2013 and Windows in 2016,Tales of Symphoniais still at its best on the Nintendo GameCube. While the latter offered 60 fps, the PlayStation 3 and Windows ports lock their frame rate at 30.
That is already disappointing, but the PC version launched in an especially messy state and did not even attempt to take advantage of the benefits afforded by being on a less restrictive platform. The game’s localization was also poor, a frustrating issue consideringTales of Symphoniawas near perfect on the GameCube.
6NieR: Automata (PS4)
With a bit of luck and the unofficialFAR mod, it might just be possible to play throughNieR: Automataon PC. Launching (and remaining) in a notoriously broken state,NieR: Automatawould crash frequently, lock players in missions forcing them to reload an earlier save, and came with a myriad of frustrating visual and technical issues.
NieR: Automatais not perfect on any system, but the PS4 version offers the smoothest and best-looking experience right out of the gate. The FAR mod transforms the PC port into something truly special, but the official iteration is a trainwreck.
5Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition
Poor PC ports were a dime a dozen during the late 2000s, andDevil May Cry3: Special Editionwas one of the most notorious cases. Sometimes ports disappoint because they fail to make the most of being on a computer, butDevil May Cry 3plays noticeably worse on PC than it does on the PlayStation 2.
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Due to a lower frame rate,Devil May Cry’s fluid gameplay loses a lot of its rhythm and speed. The controls are also terrible, be it with a keyboard or controller.
4Saints Row 2 & The Third
Certain PC ports would be unplayable without dedicated modders who are willing to step up to the plate and fix issues that should have never been present.Saints Row 2andSaints Row: The Thirdare great games on consoles but inconsistent on PC, as their poor optimization means they could work fine on one system and barely run on another.
If nothing else, consoles are generally more predictable, which is why it is better to pick up these two games on those platforms.
3So Many Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games create ambitious projects designed to push consoles to their limits. Consequently, their titles are generally built with Sony and Microsoft’s systems in mind, and it is not unusual for PC players to be left waiting months for a game.
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Unfortunately, Rockstar does not have a particularly great track record when it comes to PC ports.L.A. Noire,Bully,Red Dead Redemption II, and many of theGTAshave their own issues that can make them infuriating to play on PC, assuming Windows 10 even manages to run them.
2Dark Souls
Following the release of 2018’s remastered version,Dark Souls: Prepare To Die Editioncan no longer be purchased on Steam. As PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 physical copies ofDark Soulscan still be found, the fantastic action RPG is naturally superior on consoles.
Putting aside FromSoftware’s business practices,Dark Souls: Prepare To Die Editionwas also amess on PCand, frustratingly, its issues were never properly addressed by the publisher. Installing the right mods could turn this shoddy port into the best version ofDark Souls; however, taken on its own,Dark Soulswas better on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The remastered game is solid on PC, though.
1Batman: Arkham Knight
Now, in all fairness,Batman: Arkham Knighthas been generally playable on PC for a number of years, even if certain systems might still struggle to get the game running smoothly. At launch, the PC port feltrushedand did not work for a lot of people. The console versions were considerably better and, for quite a while, were the only reliable ways to experienceArkham Knight.
Like with most bad PC ports, a series of patches (official and otherwise) finally gotArkham Knightto an acceptable state. Even then, the console games are good enough that there is little reason to prioritize the PC release.
