Beste Spiele
Best PC games of 1997
The 28 best PC games released in 1997, ranked from 7,254 critic and player ratings.
The best PC game of 1997 is STAR WARS Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, with a critic score of 91/100 — updated August 2026.
01
STAR WARS Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
91
/100
02
Theme Hospital
Theme Hospital is a business simulation game developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts in 1997, in which the player designs and operates a hospital. Like most of Bullfrog's games, Theme Hospital is permeated by an eccentric sense of humour. The game is the thematic successor to Theme Park, a game also produced by Bullfrog. The game was a massive commercial success, selling over 4 million copies worldwide.
90
/100
03
Grandia
89
/100
STAR WARS Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
91
/100
02
Theme Hospital
Theme Hospital is a business simulation game developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts in 1997, in which the player designs and operates a hospital. Like most of Bullfrog's games, Theme Hospital is permeated by an eccentric sense of humour. The game is the thematic successor to Theme Park, a game also produced by Bullfrog. The game was a massive commercial success, selling over 4 million copies worldwide.
90
/100
03
Grandia
89
/100
04
Total Annihilation
86
/100
05
Ignition
Ignition is an action packed racing game viewed from above and slightly behind the player. The cars on offer range from police car and VW Beetle to school bus and truck, each of which has its own strengths and weaknesses - trying to win with the bus, which involves blocking everyone behind the hideously slow vehicle for 3 laps, is perhaps the ultimate challenge. Initially there are 5 tracks available, with practice and single race modes as well as full championship at 3 levels - winning each of the first 2 levels unlocks an extra track. They all have hazards running through them, and sections where you must make a split-second choice between the safer route and the risky but potentially rewarding one. Multiplayer can be done via network or by split-screen - in a break with convention the screen is split vertically rather than horizontally.
86
/100
06
Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
The Vault Dweller is tasked with exploring post-nuclear California in order to retrieve a water chip to replace the broken chip of Vault 13, their home, which they are the first person to ever leave. The player will engage in Western RPG character building and turn-based tactical combat while getting to know settlements and factions of people, mutants and ghouls through branching dialogue trees.
86
/100
07
S
Final Fantasy VII
The Western release of Final Fantasy VII (released as Final Fantasy VII International in Japan) included additional elements and alterations, such as streamlining of the menu and Materia system, reducing the health of enemies, new visual cues to help with navigation across the world map, and additional cutscenes relating to Cloud's past.
85
/100
08
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
85
/100
09
The Curse of Monkey Island
The Curse of Monkey Island is the third installment in the Monkey Island adventure game series. Players control Guybrush Threepwood, a aspiring pirate, as he navigates the Caribbean to save his love Elaine from a curse that turned her into a golden statue. The game features hand-drawn cartoon graphics, voice acting, and the series' trademark humor and puzzle-solving gameplay. Guybrush must outwit a cast of colorful characters, including the ghostly pirate LeChuck, while exploring various islands and engaging in pirate-themed challenges. The point-and-click interface allows players to interact with the environment, collect items, and solve puzzles to progress through the story. With its blend of comedy, swashbuckling adventure, and clever puzzles, The Curse of Monkey Island continues the series' tradition of witty, engaging storytelling in a pirate-themed setting.
84
/100
10
Riven: The Sequel to Myst
Riven: The Sequel to Myst is a graphic adventure puzzle game developed by Cyan and released in 1997. It continues the story of Myst, following the player’s journey to rescue Atrus’s wife, Catherine, from a decaying world. The game features pre-rendered environments with complex, interconnected puzzles and minimal direct guidance. Its visuals, sound design, and world-building were praised for their depth and realism. Riven expanded on Myst’s narrative and gameplay scale, becoming one of the most acclaimed adventure games of its time.
83
/100
11
Age of Empires
83
/100
12
Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror
83
/100
13
Quake II
83
/100
14
Blood
82
/100
15
Worms 2
81
/100
16
Tomb Raider II
80
/100
17
Grand Theft Auto
80
/100
18
MDK
77
/100
19
Doom 64
76
/100
20
Shadow Warrior
73
/100
21
Need for Speed 2
71
/100
22
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97
71
/100
23
Game Dev Story
70
/100
24
Hexen II
69
/100
25
Broken Sword 2 - The Smoking Mirror
69
/100
26
Mega Man Legends (1997)
59
/100
27
POSTAL
56
/100
28
Blade Runner
53
/100
Total Annihilation
86
/100
05
Ignition
Ignition is an action packed racing game viewed from above and slightly behind the player. The cars on offer range from police car and VW Beetle to school bus and truck, each of which has its own strengths and weaknesses - trying to win with the bus, which involves blocking everyone behind the hideously slow vehicle for 3 laps, is perhaps the ultimate challenge. Initially there are 5 tracks available, with practice and single race modes as well as full championship at 3 levels - winning each of the first 2 levels unlocks an extra track. They all have hazards running through them, and sections where you must make a split-second choice between the safer route and the risky but potentially rewarding one. Multiplayer can be done via network or by split-screen - in a break with convention the screen is split vertically rather than horizontally.
86
/100
06
Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
The Vault Dweller is tasked with exploring post-nuclear California in order to retrieve a water chip to replace the broken chip of Vault 13, their home, which they are the first person to ever leave. The player will engage in Western RPG character building and turn-based tactical combat while getting to know settlements and factions of people, mutants and ghouls through branching dialogue trees.
86
/100
07
S
Final Fantasy VII
The Western release of Final Fantasy VII (released as Final Fantasy VII International in Japan) included additional elements and alterations, such as streamlining of the menu and Materia system, reducing the health of enemies, new visual cues to help with navigation across the world map, and additional cutscenes relating to Cloud's past.
85
/100
08
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
85
/100
09
The Curse of Monkey Island
The Curse of Monkey Island is the third installment in the Monkey Island adventure game series. Players control Guybrush Threepwood, a aspiring pirate, as he navigates the Caribbean to save his love Elaine from a curse that turned her into a golden statue. The game features hand-drawn cartoon graphics, voice acting, and the series' trademark humor and puzzle-solving gameplay. Guybrush must outwit a cast of colorful characters, including the ghostly pirate LeChuck, while exploring various islands and engaging in pirate-themed challenges. The point-and-click interface allows players to interact with the environment, collect items, and solve puzzles to progress through the story. With its blend of comedy, swashbuckling adventure, and clever puzzles, The Curse of Monkey Island continues the series' tradition of witty, engaging storytelling in a pirate-themed setting.
84
/100
10
Riven: The Sequel to Myst
Riven: The Sequel to Myst is a graphic adventure puzzle game developed by Cyan and released in 1997. It continues the story of Myst, following the player’s journey to rescue Atrus’s wife, Catherine, from a decaying world. The game features pre-rendered environments with complex, interconnected puzzles and minimal direct guidance. Its visuals, sound design, and world-building were praised for their depth and realism. Riven expanded on Myst’s narrative and gameplay scale, becoming one of the most acclaimed adventure games of its time.
83
/100
11
Age of Empires
83
/100
12
Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror
83
/100
13
Quake II
83
/100
14
Blood
82
/100
15
Worms 2
81
/100
16
Tomb Raider II
80
/100
17
Grand Theft Auto
80
/100
18
MDK
77
/100
19
Doom 64
76
/100
20
Shadow Warrior
73
/100
21
Need for Speed 2
71
/100
22
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97
71
/100
23
Game Dev Story
70
/100
24
Hexen II
69
/100
25
Broken Sword 2 - The Smoking Mirror
69
/100
26
Mega Man Legends (1997)
59
/100
27
POSTAL
56
/100
28
Blade Runner
53
/100
FAQ
What is the best PC game of 1997?
STAR WARS Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II currently tops the ranking with a score of 91/100 across 204 ratings. Ranking updated August 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.