If you’re a PC gamer, you’ve likely encountered frustrating bugs, compatibility issues, and the endless search for optimal settings. Thankfully, there’s a beacon of hope in the vast ocean of digital gaming: PCGamingWiki. This community-driven website is an absolute treasure trove for any PC gamer, offering a level of detail and accuracy that’s hard to find anywhere else.
While its Discord community boasts a respectable 2,900 members, and over 300 active contributors pour their time and expertise into keeping the website up-to-date, PCGamingWiki deserves far more recognition for the invaluable service it provides. This project, which started 12 years ago by Andrew Tsai (Andytizer) and has since expanded to encompass the AppleGamingWiki as well, has meticulously dissected over 50,000 PC games, creating a comprehensive database of information for gamers everywhere.
The Power of Community Fixes
At its core, PCGamingWiki acts as a centralized hub for community-sourced fixes for PC games. We’ve all encountered those pesky ports with frustrating glitches or performance issues. But, with a few simple steps, many of these problems can be rectified. PCGamingWiki diligently searches, tests, and publishes these fixes, saving you hours of scouring Steam forums and Reddit threads.
For example, let’s take the notoriously problematic Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. This game is infamous for stuttering, crashes, and a plethora of visual bugs. The PCGamingWiki page for this game provides solutions, such as a fix to skip the intro video (a common crash point), workarounds for crashes related to ray tracing, and a fix for the annoying white flashes that occur when objects load into the game world. While you might not be able to solve every issue, PCGamingWiki offers everything you need to significantly enhance your gameplay experience.
Beyond Fixes: A Comprehensive Database
While fixes are a major draw, PCGamingWiki’s value extends far beyond simply addressing glitches. It serves as a meticulously curated database, cataloging detailed information for virtually any PC game imaginable. This includes graphics features, supported resolutions and aspect ratios, controller compatibility, storefronts, save data locations, configuration file locations, and much more. The website even includes screenshots from in-game settings menus, allowing you to preview the options before making a purchase.
Unlocking Game Secrets
This depth of information can be a lifesaver in numerous situations. For example, while Horizon Forbidden West utilizes Steam DRM, purchasing it through the Epic Games Store eliminates the need for DRM. This is valuable information when deciding where to buy the game. The recently released Black Myth: Wukong doesn’t inherently support HDR, but PCGamingWiki reveals a workaround using game engine settings. Likewise, while Lies of P offers button remapping, it doesn’t extend to movement buttons. These are just a few examples of the quirky details that PCGamingWiki meticulously documents.
Let’s say you’ve acquired a shiny new Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP OLED gaming monitor and you’re itching to play Black Myth: Wukong with perfect HDR. A quick Google search will likely lead you to forum posts lamenting the game’s lack of HDR support. However, PCGamingWiki offers a solution, saving you from the frustration of sifting through endless online discussions.
Finding Lost Files and Mastering Settings
Two of the most helpful aspects of PCGamingWiki are the save data and configuration file locations. Game developers often bury these files in obscure folders, ranging from your Documents folder to the game folder or even the depths of your AppData folder. PCGamingWiki provides precise locations for these files for every game in its database, even differentiating paths based on the storefront where you purchased the game.
For instance, Lies of P stores its save data within the game’s installation folder if you bought it on Steam, but it’s located in your AppData folder if you purchased it from the Microsoft Store. PCGamingWiki’s detailed information is a lifesaver, preventing you from wasting time searching for these elusive files.
Earlier this year, I embarked on a co-op run of Elden Ring with friends, using the Seamless Co-op mod in anticipation of the Shadow of the Erdtree release. PCGamingWiki helped me locate my personal save data, allowing me to create a backup before installing the mod. More recently, I purchased Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin only to find that 4K output wasn’t an option. PCGamingWiki pointed me to the configuration file location, where I adjusted the resolution and was back in business.
Lists, Lists, Everywhere!
PCGamingWiki doesn’t just catalog information; it also curates comprehensive lists, covering a wide range of topics. Some lists are straightforward, like games that support Windows Auto HDR or ray tracing. Others delve deeper, such as the list of games compatible with the features of the DualSense controller, revealing that over 200 games, not just Sony-published titles, support these features.
Many of these lists are automatically populated as new games and features are added. However, some lists are carefully maintained by dedicated individuals. One of the most useful lists I’ve found is the upscaling list. This list not only identifies games that support upscaling and the technologies they utilize (Nvidia’s DLSS, AMD’s FSR, or Intel’s XeSS), but also details how upscaling functions within each game.
This level of detail can be critical. For example, in Chivalry 2, you can leverage DLSS or XeSS, but only when running the game in DirectX 12 mode. Supraland, a 3D Metroidvania game, supports DLSS, but only on versions purchased outside the Microsoft Store.
From accessibility settings to controller support to the specific graphics API used by different games, PCGamingWiki offers lists for practically every aspect of PC gaming. While some lists, like the games with offline bots, might not be as universally useful, the majority are incredibly valuable resources for gamers of all skill levels.
If you’re already a PCGamingWiki devotee, this is just a reminder of the invaluable resource at your fingertips. But if you’re still unfamiliar, now is the time to bookmark this website and join the thousands of gamers who have discovered its incredible potential. PCGamingWiki is a continuously updated and essential tool for every PC gamer, offering unparalleled depth and detail in a constantly evolving digital gaming landscape. The website is supported by ads and a small Patreon, so if you appreciate the work that goes into keeping PCGamingWiki running, consider signing up for an account and contributing wherever you can.
