Best games
Best PC games of 2003
The 53 best PC games released in 2003, ranked from 14,087 critic and player ratings.
The best PC game of 2003 is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, with a critic score of 94/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 2003.
- 50 games are listed on this page, carrying 14,087 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 50
01
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Choose Your Path! Set 4,000 years before the Galactic Empire, you are the last hope for the Jedi Order and the Republic - can you master the ways of the Force to become their savior? Or will you fall to the dark side and achieve ultimate power? Hero, villain, peacekeeper, or chaos-bringer... you and your party will determine the fate of the galaxy! Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a role-playing video game. Players will be able to create their own characters and be able to choose what gender, appearance, class, skills, attributes, and feats they have throughout the game - no two characters will be the same!
94
/100
02
Rise of Nations
Combining the deep tactical elements of turn-based strategy games with the rapid gameplay of real-time strategy, Rise of Nations puts you in command of one of 18 civilizations over the course of thousands of years of history.
92
/100
03
Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil is an action-adventure game with elements of puzzle-solving and stealth-based games. The player controls the protagonist, Jade, from a third-person perspective. Jade can run, move stealthily, jump over obstacles and pits, climb ladders, push or bash doors and objects, and flatten herself against walls. As Jade, the player investigates a number of installations in search of the truth about a war with an alien threat.
91
/100
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Choose Your Path! Set 4,000 years before the Galactic Empire, you are the last hope for the Jedi Order and the Republic - can you master the ways of the Force to become their savior? Or will you fall to the dark side and achieve ultimate power? Hero, villain, peacekeeper, or chaos-bringer... you and your party will determine the fate of the galaxy! Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a role-playing video game. Players will be able to create their own characters and be able to choose what gender, appearance, class, skills, attributes, and feats they have throughout the game - no two characters will be the same!
94
/100
02
Rise of Nations
Combining the deep tactical elements of turn-based strategy games with the rapid gameplay of real-time strategy, Rise of Nations puts you in command of one of 18 civilizations over the course of thousands of years of history.
92
/100
03
Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil is an action-adventure game with elements of puzzle-solving and stealth-based games. The player controls the protagonist, Jade, from a third-person perspective. Jade can run, move stealthily, jump over obstacles and pits, climb ladders, push or bash doors and objects, and flatten herself against walls. As Jade, the player investigates a number of installations in search of the truth about a war with an alien threat.
91
/100
04
Tony Hawk's Underground
Get ready for a major new step for the Tony Hawk series. Tony Hawk's Underground tweaks the gameplay of previous installments to include a plot-twisting story, customizable tricks and decks, online play, and the ability to include your own mug shot on your custom player. Of course, you can also play as any one of pro skating's biggest stars including Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, and Elissa Steamer. Ride, walk, or drive through nine expansive levels then test your skills against other gamers online. Become a star of the Underground.
90
/100
05
Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne
88
/100
06
Silent Hill 3
Silent Hill 3 is the third installment in the Silent Hill series. Like the previous entries, Silent Hill 3 is a survival horror combining action-based combat and puzzle-solving, but is somewhat more combat-oriented than the preceding installments. The main character is able to side-step and block some attacks, but in general shares with the other protagonists of the series their relative ineptitude in combat.
88
/100
07
Call of Duty
"Call of Duty" (2003) is the inaugural game in the acclaimed first-person shooter series developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision. Set during World War II, it provides an intense, cinematic experience that takes players through key battles in the European Theater of Operations. The game features three interwoven campaigns, allowing players to fight as American, British, and Soviet soldiers. With a focus on realism and authenticity, "Call of Duty" introduces innovative gameplay mechanics, such as squad-based combat and the use of iron sights for aiming. Players participate in historic missions like the D-Day invasion, the Battle of Stalingrad, and the assault on Pegasus Bridge, each meticulously crafted to convey the chaos and camaraderie of wartime. The game's gripping narrative, combined with its atmospheric graphics and sound design, set a new standard for the genre and established "Call of Duty" as a landmark title in video game history.
87
/100
08
SimCity 4
SimCity 4 is a city-building simultor. You are in the shoes of one or several mayors, and you are tasked with populating and managing your cities.When you have chosen a segment to place your city in, you will be able to chose between 3 game modes. God mode: This mode lets you shape the overall landscapes as you desire Mayor mode: In this mode you build and manage your own cities. My Sim mode: Here the player can choose his own Sims and have them move into the city, or import saved games from the game The Sims.
85
/100
09
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Max Payne 2 is a third-person shooter, in which the player assumes the role of Max Payne, but also plays as Mona Sax in a few levels. Initially, the player's weapon is a 9mm pistol. As they progress, players access other weapons including other handguns, shotguns, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, and hand-thrown weapons. To move the game along, the player is told what the next objective is through Max's internal monologue, in which Max iterates what his next steps should be.
84
/100
10
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Deceived by the treacherous Vizier, I was led to unleash the Sands of Time curse upon the Sultan's kingdom. With little but an ancient dagger and a devious princess to aid me, I must undo my fatal mistake. Mine is a fight for survival… not glory. • Reverse, accelerate, and slow time itself with the almighty Sands of Time. • Master the Prince's speed, agility, and ferocious fighting skills. • Explore and survive the vast kingdoms of medieval Persia.
84
/100
11
Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour
83
/100
12
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
82
/100
13
Broken Sword 3 - The Sleeping Dragon
82
/100
14
Midnight Club 2
81
/100
15
Command & Conquer: Generals
80
/100
16
Deus Ex 2: Invisible War
80
/100
17
Deus Ex: Invisible War
80
/100
18
Silent Storm
80
/100
19
Lineage II
80
/100
20
Day of Defeat
79
/100
21
Eve Online
79
/100
22
Zuma
78
/100
23
Need for Speed: Underground
76
/100
24
Manhunt
75
/100
25
Unreal 2: The Awakening
75
/100
26
Samorost
74
/100
27
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
73
/100
28
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
73
/100
29
XIII
72
/100
30
Neighbours from Hell
72
/100
31
Worms 3D
72
/100
32
True Crime: Streets of LA
72
/100
33
Alien Shooter
72
/100
34
Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi
70
/100
35
Legacy of Kain: Defiance
70
/100
36
Freedom Fighters
70
/100
37
Commandos 3: Destination Berlin
70
/100
38
Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy
69
/100
39
Neighbours from Hell: Revenge Is a Sweet Game
69
/100
40
Crimsonland
68
/100
41
Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
68
/100
42
Sonic Heroes
67
/100
43
Will Rock
67
/100
44
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
65
/100
45
Lineage 2: The Chaotic Chronicle
62
/100
46
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
62
/100
47
Enter the Matrix
60
/100
48
Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon
60
/100
49
Postal 2
59
/100
50
Devil May Cry 2
59
/100
Tony Hawk's Underground
Get ready for a major new step for the Tony Hawk series. Tony Hawk's Underground tweaks the gameplay of previous installments to include a plot-twisting story, customizable tricks and decks, online play, and the ability to include your own mug shot on your custom player. Of course, you can also play as any one of pro skating's biggest stars including Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, and Elissa Steamer. Ride, walk, or drive through nine expansive levels then test your skills against other gamers online. Become a star of the Underground.
90
/100
05
Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne
88
/100
06
Silent Hill 3
Silent Hill 3 is the third installment in the Silent Hill series. Like the previous entries, Silent Hill 3 is a survival horror combining action-based combat and puzzle-solving, but is somewhat more combat-oriented than the preceding installments. The main character is able to side-step and block some attacks, but in general shares with the other protagonists of the series their relative ineptitude in combat.
88
/100
07
Call of Duty
"Call of Duty" (2003) is the inaugural game in the acclaimed first-person shooter series developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision. Set during World War II, it provides an intense, cinematic experience that takes players through key battles in the European Theater of Operations. The game features three interwoven campaigns, allowing players to fight as American, British, and Soviet soldiers. With a focus on realism and authenticity, "Call of Duty" introduces innovative gameplay mechanics, such as squad-based combat and the use of iron sights for aiming. Players participate in historic missions like the D-Day invasion, the Battle of Stalingrad, and the assault on Pegasus Bridge, each meticulously crafted to convey the chaos and camaraderie of wartime. The game's gripping narrative, combined with its atmospheric graphics and sound design, set a new standard for the genre and established "Call of Duty" as a landmark title in video game history.
87
/100
08
SimCity 4
SimCity 4 is a city-building simultor. You are in the shoes of one or several mayors, and you are tasked with populating and managing your cities.When you have chosen a segment to place your city in, you will be able to chose between 3 game modes. God mode: This mode lets you shape the overall landscapes as you desire Mayor mode: In this mode you build and manage your own cities. My Sim mode: Here the player can choose his own Sims and have them move into the city, or import saved games from the game The Sims.
85
/100
09
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Max Payne 2 is a third-person shooter, in which the player assumes the role of Max Payne, but also plays as Mona Sax in a few levels. Initially, the player's weapon is a 9mm pistol. As they progress, players access other weapons including other handguns, shotguns, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, and hand-thrown weapons. To move the game along, the player is told what the next objective is through Max's internal monologue, in which Max iterates what his next steps should be.
84
/100
10
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Deceived by the treacherous Vizier, I was led to unleash the Sands of Time curse upon the Sultan's kingdom. With little but an ancient dagger and a devious princess to aid me, I must undo my fatal mistake. Mine is a fight for survival… not glory. • Reverse, accelerate, and slow time itself with the almighty Sands of Time. • Master the Prince's speed, agility, and ferocious fighting skills. • Explore and survive the vast kingdoms of medieval Persia.
84
/100
11
Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour
83
/100
12
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
82
/100
13
Broken Sword 3 - The Sleeping Dragon
82
/100
14
Midnight Club 2
81
/100
15
Command & Conquer: Generals
80
/100
16
Deus Ex 2: Invisible War
80
/100
17
Deus Ex: Invisible War
80
/100
18
Silent Storm
80
/100
19
Lineage II
80
/100
20
Day of Defeat
79
/100
21
Eve Online
79
/100
22
Zuma
78
/100
23
Need for Speed: Underground
76
/100
24
Manhunt
75
/100
25
Unreal 2: The Awakening
75
/100
26
Samorost
74
/100
27
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
73
/100
28
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
73
/100
29
XIII
72
/100
30
Neighbours from Hell
72
/100
31
Worms 3D
72
/100
32
True Crime: Streets of LA
72
/100
33
Alien Shooter
72
/100
34
Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi
70
/100
35
Legacy of Kain: Defiance
70
/100
36
Freedom Fighters
70
/100
37
Commandos 3: Destination Berlin
70
/100
38
Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy
69
/100
39
Neighbours from Hell: Revenge Is a Sweet Game
69
/100
40
Crimsonland
68
/100
41
Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
68
/100
42
Sonic Heroes
67
/100
43
Will Rock
67
/100
44
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
65
/100
45
Lineage 2: The Chaotic Chronicle
62
/100
46
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
62
/100
47
Enter the Matrix
60
/100
48
Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon
60
/100
49
Postal 2
59
/100
50
Devil May Cry 2
59
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best PC game of 2003?
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic currently tops the ranking with a score of 94/100 across 1,438 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.