Top 20 Games Under $20

Genre: Action - First Person Shooter
Theme: Sci-Fi
Rating: M for Mature
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

Just one year removed from its release, BioShock still looks better than half the games out this year and a price below $20 makes it a great bargain. The game play and features are fresh and exciting, while the game's environments and graphics are a delight to the eyes. However, it's the compelling storyline that will captivate, pull you in, and leave you wishing for more when it's all over.

Genre: Action - First Person Shooter
Theme: Sci-Fi
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Multiplayer

Battlefield 2142 moved the Battlefield series into the future with this multiplayer combat game. This deluxe edition was released just this year and includes the full Battlefield 2142 game plus the one expansion Battlefield 2142: Northern Strike.

Genre: Action - First Person Shooter
Theme: World War II
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

What better way to prepare for the fourth title in the Call of Duty series due out in November 2008, than to play what some call the best World War II first person shooter. With great single-player campaigns and an addictive multiplayer mode, this is one of my all time favorites. (Not to mention #2 on my Top Games of 2005)

Genre: Real Time Strategy
Theme: World War II
Rating: M for Mature
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

Much like BioShock, Company of Heroes still looks fantastic. Even though it's 2 years old Company of Heroes still has a strong fan based and an upcoming stand-alone expansion is due out this spring. Experience the strategic and cinematic intensity of World War II from the invasion of Normandy to the conquest of Germany and more.

Genre: Action - First Person Shooter
Theme: Sci-Fi
Rating: M for Mature
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

Released this past September, Crysis Warhead is the prequel to last year's excellent first person shooter Crysis. Crysis Warhead picks up with the same heart-pounding action and stunning visuals while keeping the system requirements in check.

Genre: Action - First Person Shooter
Theme: Sci-Fi
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Multiplayer

Similar to games of the Battlefield series, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars is a multiplayer game set in the Quake universe. The battle for Earth between the Humans and alien Strogg continues...online.

Genre: Action - First Person Shooter
Theme: Sci-Fi
Rating: M for Mature
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

F.E.A.R. is another one of the top notch releases from a couple years ago that looks and runs great on newer PCs. Released back in 2005 it won many games of the year awards and was my top pick that year as well. F.E.A.R. provides an excellent gaming experience. So turn down the lights, turn up the volume and get ready to face your fear

Genre: Real Time & Turn Based Strategy
Theme: Historical
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

The next title in the popular Total War series is due out next year but it's most recent release will still give you limitless replayability. Medieval II Total War continues the strong tradition set by its Total War predecessors and delivers an epic historical strategy game that's both fun and exciting with the added benefit of teaching a little medieval history along the way.

Genre: Traditional RPG
Theme: Fantasy
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

Neverwinter Nights 2 is a fantasy role-playing game set in the popular Dungeons & Dragons world of Faerun, also know as the Forgotten Realms. A third expansion module pack is set for release later this month (Nov '08), the game contains both a single player and unique multiplayer campaigns.

Genre: Action - Third Person
Theme: Survival Horror
Rating: M for Mature
Game Modes: Single player

Extremely popular on the Playstation and other console platforms, Resident Evil 4 is the most successful and highest rated of the series to hit the PC. Battle legions of zombies, or rather parasitically-controlled humans in Resident Evil 4, the third person survival horror game.

Genre: Real Time Strategy
Theme: Sci-Fi
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

Rise of Nations Rise of Legends moved the franchise from a historical based real world timeline into a fantasy/sci-fi world with massive armies, new technologies, and strategic battles. Take your civilization from a small primitive village and turn it into a technologically advanced global empire.

Genre: Real Time & Turn Based Strategy
Theme: Historical
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

Rome Total War Gold Edition includes the award-winning Role Total War plus the Barbarian Invasion expansion pack. Rome Total War was the best strategy game as well as one of the best overall games of 2004.

Genre: Action/Adventure
Theme: Historical
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

Another throwback to 2004, Sid Meier's Pirates is a remake of the 1987 classic Pirates! This modern version is a great action adventure game with fun naval combat, character development as well as land battles.

Genre: Action - First Person Shooter
Theme: Post-apocalyptic, Survival Horror
Rating: M for Mature
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl is first person survival horror game set in the aftermath of the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in the Ukraine. Released last year it's been rated higher than the newly released prequel.

Genre: Real Time Strategy
Theme: Sci-Fi
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

Star Wars Empire at War Gold Pack includes the full version of Empire at War as well as the expansion pack Forces of Corruption. Star Wars Empire at War is a solid game from top to bottom. The numerous game modes make the game appealing and playable many times over. Strategy and Star Wars fans alike can rejoice, a strategy game worthy of the Star Wars universe has finally arrived.

Genre: Real Time Strategy
Theme: Sci-Fi
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

Supreme Commander is a sci-fi real time strategy game set in the 37th Century. Players command one of three factions with the goal of becoming the supreme and last faction standing.

Genre: Action - First Person Shooter
Theme: Sci-Fi
Rating: M for Mature
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

Timeshift was released rather quietly last year even though, for the most part, it was well received. Timeshift is a first-person action game that puts you in the role of a famous test pilot Colonel Michael Swift who has just accepted a special mission from the government to travel through time in a machine called the Chronomicon.

Genre: Action RPG
Theme: Fantasy
Rating: T for Teen
Game Modes: Single player

Titan Quest is a fun and addictive single player action RPG based in the ancient world of Greek and Egyptian mythology. Players adventure through the mythological worlds and settings to uncover the secrets of the Titans to save humankind. The Gold Edition includes the full version of Tital Quest plus the expansion pack Immortal Throne.

Genre: Action - Tactical First Person Shooter
Theme: Modern Military
Rating: M for Mature
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

For those who like complex first person military tactical games, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 is for you. It continues the storyline from the original GRAW and puts you in control of one of the U.S military's most advanced soldiers. Set in the year 2014, Mexico has sunken into a civil war which poses an immediate threat to the United States.

Genre: Action - First Person Shooter
Theme: Sci-Fi
Rating: M for Mature
Game Modes: Single player, multiplayer

With gameplay similar to Enemy Territory Quake Wars and the Battlefield series, Unreal Tournament offers online multiplayer game modes, including capture-the-flag, deathmatch, and more. It also offers a full single player campaign.