Best PC Games With Low Specs

PC offers by far the most varied gaming library in the industry. While associated with raw graphical power due to the ever-growing capabilities of GPUs and CPUs, major AAA projects that need fairly modern hardware are merely a drop in the bucket. Each week, Steam and the Epic Games Store welcome dozens of great low-end PC games, ensuring players with older systems or non-gaming laptops always have something to look forward to.

Furthermore, patient players can turn to decades of AAA games that are accessible nowadays, with most running at near-perfect quality on modern low-spec PCs. As there are thousands of options available, picking out a few of the best PC games for low-end PCs can be quite challenging. As such, let’s highlight a few of them.

Updated December 19, 2024 by Mark Sammut: In celebration of The Game Awards that was recently held, a title that was nominated for Game of the Year has been added to this discussion. Compared to all other nominees, this indie darling is FAR less demanding, effectively running on nearly any somewhat modern PC.

What Constitutes A Low-Spec Game?

The definition of “low-spec” varies from person to person. For some folks, a desktop with a GTX 1050ti and a 5th gen CPU would qualify; meanwhile, for others, low-spec means a non-gaming laptop that does not have a dedicated graphics card. Consequently, each game’s minimum requirements will be included to provide some guidance, and the definition of “low-spec” will be treated as flexible.

Balatro

Steam User Rating: 98%

Earning a nomination for best game of 2024 by the Game Awards, Balatro is an incredible achievement, especially considering it was made by a one-person development team. Inspired by Poker but not featuring any real gambling, Balatro is a clever roguelike and deck-builder that has a simple but addictive loop that is perfect for both quick explosive sessions and hours-long marathons. While there are plenty of nuances to consider, the main goal is to achieve the required score as quickly as possible, all in the hopes of moving on to the next round.

Balatro is a fantastic game that can keep somebody entertained for an extremely long time, and it requires barely any juice under the hood to operate. Speaking purely in terms of quality to system requirements, Balatro might be the most valuable on Steam in this day and age, especially since it is a 2024 release and not a classic that has been around for years.

TCG Card Shop Simulator

Steam User Rating: 96%

An early access indie project, TCG Card Shop Simulator has relentless charm, and it could fulfill a childhood dream for some players. As suggested by its title, the game is all about running a card shop, a journey that involves starting from a small shelf with some packs and a table or two and gradually building from there. The stock must be constantly replenished and expanded, while customers need to be monitored to see how they react to the set prices. Also, some clients might smell just a little bit, and that can be bad for business.

TCG Card Shop Simulator is not going to be for everyone, but anyone craving a relaxing management sim with a simple structure that provides some wiggle room or experimentation. There is even the option to open packs to find cards that can be showcased in cabinets, which should scratch someone’s collecting itch.

Little Nightmares

Steam User Rating: 94%

A short and creepy 2.5D adventure, Little Nightmares brings to life a terrifying world called the Maw, which features twisted takes on fairly commonplace roles like cooks. As Six, players are relatively defenseless, forcing them to sneak through stages while solving puzzles and trying desperately to avoid detection. While the gameplay is nothing too extraordinary, Little Nightmares gets by on sheer atmosphere and effective character designs, both for Six and the Maw’s various residents.

Even in 2017, Tarsier Studios’ game was hardly a graphical powerhouse, but that does not mean Little Nightmares looks cheap or bad. In fact, the graphics have aged pretty darn well as they are stylish rather than realistic. As such, this horror title will always be worth playing. The sequel is also great and does not require a powerful rig, but it is naturally more demanding than its predecessor.

Animal Well

Steam User Rating: 96%

In 2024’s early months, the PC scene welcomed Palworld, Enshrouded, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Tekken 8, Horizon Forbidden West, Unicorn Overlord, and Persona 3 Reload, all of which garnered near-universal praise. However, one of the year’s best releases to date was an indie Metroidvania with such low system requirements that they almost seem wrong. Running on most computers with specs (and Windows 10), Animal Well is a stunning and fresh entry in a genre that has been somewhat overexposed in recent years. With almost no setup, the game drops players in a surreal and atmospheric setting and just lets them be, encouraging them to go out, explore, collect eggs, and face off against a couple of bosses.

Unlike many Metroidvanias, Animal Well focuses on puzzles rather than combat; in fact, the latter is almost entirely absent, although players can use fireworks to take down or stall enemies. Each part of the map effectively functions as a mini-braintmeteaser, encouraging lateral thinking and clever use of the available tools to unlock gates and get past obstacles. Even boss fights are puzzles. Naturally, exploration is also a big part of the package, and the same can be said for platforming. The latter is simple but enjoyable, while the former is generally rewarding despite some frustrating moments.

Borderlands 2

Steam User Rating: 95%

Borderlands 2 is in a strange place for a recommendation. On the one hand, it is (overall) the best and most complete entry in Gearbox’s franchise. The story has aged incredibly well and is considerably better than Borderlands or Borderlands 3, largely thanks to the presence of Handsome Jack. Although not quite on the same level as its successors, the 2012 FPS’s visuals are still fine and pleasing, which mostly speaks to the timeless nature of cel-shaded graphics. The randomized loot and varied classes provide quite a lot of replay-value, while the co-op is implemented well.

For all its strengths, Borderlands 2‘s gunplay shows its age, and it was never great to begin with. The gameplay lacks punch and is quite floaty, making for an uneven experience when compared to modern releases. Still, the good outweighs the bad, warranting a try as long as expectations are kept realistic.

Dave The Diver

Steam User Rating: 97%

One of 2023’s nicest surprises, Dave the Diver is a pixelated delight. Restaurant and fishing sims are not particularly uncommon, but very few games not only combine the two but also create something that feels genuinely unique. Despite sharing many similarities with other projects, Dave the Diver is one of a kind. As Dave, players find themselves owning a new sushi restaurant, and they are also in charge of acquiring the fish that will be served to customers. During the day, Dave dives into a peculiar sea in search of ingredients that his restaurant can then serve at night.

Although not the deepest restaurant manager on the market, Dave the Diver grants players a fair amount of control over the restaurant’s direction, allowing them enough creative input to give the experience a personal touch. While these sections are fun, the game is at its best when focusing on diving. Blending exploration, combat, and some customization, the dives are surprisingly action-packed, and they have quite a bit of variety as well.

Hotline Miami

Steam User Rating: 97%

Hotline Miami follows a nameless protagonist who receives cryptic messages that are generally interpreted as “go here and kill everyone.” Set in the late ’80s, the top-down shooter is drenched in neon lights and video game eccentricities that inspire players to not give much consideration to the reasons behind their actions. As the killer shoots their way through a building’s floors, they leave behind a trail of blood, guts, and bonus points.

Straightforward as the formula sounds on paper, Hotline Miami contains quite a bit of depth, both in the way stages need to be approached and the narrative that drives the slaughter. Perhaps more importantly, the game is a lot of fun to play, and it has not aged a bit since its 2012 debut. Hotline Miami is not just one of the best low-end PC games but also one of the greatest projects of all time.

The Forest

Steam User Rating: 95%

Eric wakes up on a treacherous island without his son, and he soon comes to realize that surviving a plane crash was the easy part of this adventure. A survival horror game, The Forest incorporates most of the standard elements associated with the genre, including crafting tools, building shelter, and finding food. Eric must also deal with the locals who happen to be cannibals, although they are not necessarily evil (or good).

The Forest is a must-play for survival or horror fans. While not especially striking in the visual department, its gameplay and story are rock-solid. A sequel called Sons of the Forest launched in February 2023, but that requires more juice under a computer’s hood.

Portal 2

Steam User Rating: 98%

Valve does a fantastic job optimizing its games, with pretty much all of them playing well on low-end PCs. Portal 2 is no exception, although the game can look pretty fantastic with high-end graphics. But even “watered down,” and with the settings on low, Portal 2 is one of the most engaging and entertaining puzzle adventures ever produced. Most players come to experience the hilarious storyline and stellar voice action, only to be completely gripped by Portal’s unique brand of gameplay.

What’s even better is that Portal 2 can be enjoyed with a friend, thanks to an entirely separate cooperative storyline. This means there’s twice as much to see and do in Portal 2, and it should all run smoothly with low requirements.

Disco Elysium

Steam User Rating: 93%

Released in 2019 before receiving an updated version two years later, Disco Elysium is among the most decorated RPGs of the last decade. ZA/UM’s game follows an amnesiac detective who is assigned a murder case, one that quickly spirals out of control while also revealing different facades of the protagonist.

Presented from an isometric angle, Disco Elysium is reminiscent of old-school ’90s RPGs that prioritize world-building and dialogue over action. Set in cyberpunk-esque universe, the story dives into the political ideologies that shape the world’s various cultures, and the player’s choices impact the protagonist’s thought patterns and beliefs. Disco Elysium is a story-driven experience with fantastic writing, unforgettable characters, and genuinely impactful choices. Ultimately, the RPG is not for everyone, but that has nothing to do with its accessible specs.

Tomb Raider

Steam User Rating: 96%

Crystal Dynamics’ Tomb Raider reboot will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary soon. While the sequels surpass the 2013 game in a number of ways, Lara Croft’s first “contemporary” adventure is arguably the most consistently great, and the game does not outstay its welcome. Anyone looking for an action-packed game with good visuals, fun gameplay, and a passable storyline will find what they are looking for in this title.

Tomb Raider is well-optimized on PC, and the game is likely to run on most (relatively) modern systems. On low settings, the game can be played on a laptop with Intel HD Graphics 3000 and a halfway decent processor. Lara might lag on occasion, but she will run.

Subnautica

Steam User Rating: 96%

Compared to some other low-spec PC games, Subnautica requires slightly more juice under the hood, which is to be expected of a 2018 open-world release. However, Unknown Worlds’ game entered early access in 2014, and its system requirements are more in line with projects from that era. Consequently, this title is a great option for users with budget computers who are searching for an immersive 3D experience with a reasonably-sized map for exploration.

Crash-landing on planet 4546B, Ryley Robinson finds herself alone in a world consisting primarily of water. In order to survive and perhaps find a way off this rock, the protagonist must scour the ocean for resources, a process that is just as likely to produce beautiful or nightmarish sights.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Steam User Rating: 96%

Batman: Arkham Asylum, City, and Origins are all good games for low-end PCs, and they come with the added bonus of being quite cheap. Arkham Asylum might drop players in a smaller-scale playground than its successors, but this translates to a strong and focused campaign. Visually, the 2010 game has aged extremely well, thanks in part to its Gothic and stylish architecture.

Arkham Asylum is one of the greatest and most influential action games of all time. Rocksteady’s combat system inspired projects like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Mad Max, and Remember Me, and none of those titles are as great as Arkham Asylum.

Fallout: New Vegas

Steam User Rating: 96%

Fallout 1-3 and New Vegas are safe picks for RPG fans with low-end computers. Although naturally dated in certain ways, all four games have timeless strengths, with Fallout 1 and 2‘s storytelling aging particularly well. Fallout 3 is still probably Bethesda’s strongest entry in the series, and mods have greatly extended the game’s lifespan.

New Vegas serves as a middle-ground between Fallout‘s isometric and 3D eras, combining the complex world-building and quest design of the former with the modern sensibilities of the latter. Obsidian’s RPG can be enjoyed without any mods, although that scene should not be ignored either.

HoloCure – Save The Fans!

Steam User Rating: 99%

Auto-action roguelikes in the style of Vampire Survivors are basically all great picks for low-spec PC gaming since they are as untaxing on hardware as possible. And, the subgenre has produced a fair few impeccable titles beyond just Vampire Survivors. One project that came out of nowhere but quickly rose to the top of the pile was HoloCure – Save the Fans!, a fan-made release revolving around HoloLive’s Vtubers. Now, this description might put off people who are not interested in that side of pop culture, but the game is surprisingly accessible to non-fans.

Ultimately, at its core, HoloCure is a colorful, creative, and addictive roguelike that comes with a surprisingly robust selection of characters that play quite differently from each other. Most importantly, HoloCure is free-to-play, meaning it comes with absolutely no risk. While a work in progress, the current version is still packed to the brim with content, and players can easily spend hours on end just trying to unlock all the playable Vtubers.

Darkest Dungeon

Steam User Rating: 91%

Those who enjoy punishing gameplay and strategy elements should put Darkest Dungeon at the top of their list. This gritty, macabre RPG is downright unfair at times, hitting players with strings of bad luck and RNG-generated madness. Even the smartest and most prepared players can find themselves hopelessly clinging to life at the hands of Darkest Dungeon‘s mechanics.

Thanks to its charming 2D aesthetic and side-scrolling action, Darkest Dungeon doesn’t require an immense amount of PC power to run smoothly. A lack of complex particle effects paired with its hand-drawn and sometimes simplistic graphics allows players with low-end PCs to join in on the fun. It also features a pretty dedicated modding community, so there’s a lot of customization to be found.

Undertale

Steam User Rating: 96%

There’s a lot of debate found throughout the gaming world on whether games need expressive graphics and gameplay to be considered truly great. Undertale firmly plants itself as an Indie release that proves that a game can have a fantastic story, fun gameplay, and engaging characters with minimal graphics and effects.

Toby Fox created an incredibly imaginative world that spawned a massive cult following thanks to its colorful cast of characters, incredible soundtrack, and fast-paced dodge-based gameplay elements. Anyone who hasn’t played Undertale is seriously missing out and its ability to run well on even the lowest of low-end PCs gives almost anyone a chance to experience it.

Stardew Valley

Steam User Rating: 98%

Farming games, like tycoon games, are typically great for low-end devices. The goals of the game are simple on the surface, but with layers and layers of depth to keep players engaged. And, of course, it’s hard to mention the genre without bringing up the best title: Stardew Valley. This game wears a lot of different hats over the core farming gameplay loop, and it executes everything it tries to do well.

In terms of running games on low-end computers, the minimum requirements for Stardew Valley include Windows Vista as the operating system, among other quaint settings. If that doesn’t indicate the fact this game can run on anything, I don’t know what else will. It’s frequently on sale, so PC game players both hardcore and casual have no excuse to not pick up Stardew Valley.

Kerbal Space Program

Steam User Rating: 95%

A space flight sim, Kerbal Space Program has been around in some form since 2011, although its official release did not happen until 2015. Do not be fooled by the quirky mascots into believing this is an accessible and casual game as that is far from the case. Kerbal Space Program strives for realism, and players need to know what they are doing if they want a successful lift-off, let alone complete a full trip.

Even though the gameplay is difficult to master, the journey tends to be fun regardless of whether a mission ends in triumph or failure. Kerbal Space Program has an active online community that has crafted tons of great mods and is likely to keep the game active for a long time.

Slay The Spire

Steam User Rating: 97%

Slay the Spire is one of the best roguelites of all time and basically shaped what became the deck-building subgenre. The game is simple and easy to learn but with so much depth in building decks that each character can play radically differently between each attempt. For example, the mage analog in The Defect can use its elemental orbs to succeed or can pick up a bunch of Claws and rip enemies apart. It’s so much fun to experiment, and getting an overpowered run is an amazing dopamine hit.

For low-end PCs, the game’s style is what carries it over the edge. It doesn’t look like a typical card game, but it certainly runs like one. Even the slowest of PCs can get the game going without too much effort. For fans of the genres Slay the Spire flirts with, it’s definitely worth it to check out.

A Hat In Time

Metascore: 79

A Hat in Time is a throwback to classic 3D collectathons, and it does a great job of capturing the magic of yesteryear’s masterpieces. Oozing charm and featuring tight controls, the campaign tells an endearingly silly story that guides players through a plethora of diverse levels that generally avoid overused settings.

While perhaps not breaking new ground, A Hat in Time shows that some formulas are simply timeless, provided they are executed with love, care, and expertise. If someone enjoys games like Super Mario 64, they will have a blast with this indie project.

Fortnite

Metascore: 81

Plenty of things contributed to Fortnite‘s success. Epic capitalized on the battle royale craze just as it was picking up steam, arguably producing the subgenre’s definitive IP. This mode’s free-to-play status attracted people who might have been on the fence about dropping cash on something like PUBG. The gameplay is intuitive and addictive for both the battle royale mode and Save the World, while Fortnite‘s love for cross-promotion has prolonged its existence in the public eye.

All those components helped cement the license as a juggernaut, however, the importance of the PC game’s low specs should not be underestimated. Fortnite has become the de facto “casual” game because of its accessibility, not only in terms of its content but also availability. Essentially, almost anyone can play this (highly popular) release.

Genshin Impact

Metascore: 84

Another extremely popular free-to-play release, Genshin Impact is an action RPG that utilizes a gacha system for unlocking characters. Set in Teyvat, the game has been steadily expanding its world, story, and roster of characters, and the future is bright for Mihoyo’s project. Now, Genshin Impact requires a bit more under the hood than most other low-spec PC games mentioned in this article, but the requirements are shockingly manageable for what is an open-world experience filled with content.

Even if its graphics or map density cannot compare to games like The Witcher 3 or Grand Theft Auto 6, Genshin Impact is still visually appealing and offers quite a variety of variety in its locations and storytelling.

Dusk

Steam User Rating: 97%

Steam is flooded with retro shooters, and most do not have high technical barriers for entries. Prodeus, Ultrakill, HROT, Amid Evil, and Cultic are all very good FPS games that harbor back to old-school projects like Doom and Blood, which are also options for anyone who wishes to revisit the classics rather than their spiritual successors. Out of all these releases, Dusk is arguably the pick of the bunch, offering three fantastic campaigns that are gruesome, intense, and fantastically designed.

While adhering to the standards of ’90s shooters, Dusk also fully embraces horror, arguably more so than any of its contemporaries. The episodic structure allows the game to shake up its setting and enemies, ensuring things do not get repetitive. Most importantly, Dusk‘s nails its weapons and gunplay.

Among Us

Steam User Rating: 92%

It’s hard sometimes to find enjoyable multiplayer games that feature very low-end requirements but there are some serious gems out there. Among Us is a great example that video games don’t need insanely complex graphics or gameplay elements to be a blast. With its cute 2D art style and mini-game-like structure, Among Us offers players a fun gameplay loop that is accentuated by a multiplayer mechanic that makes it even more engaging.

Not only will players enjoy the “tasks” sprinkled around each map, but they’ll also need to keep away from a player-slaying imposter, while also maintaining their innocence.

Torchlight 2

Steam User Rating: 93%

In 2012, Torchlight 2 attracted attention for providing a traditional hack and slash experience during a time when they were hard to come by. It is hardly surprising that a decade-old game can be run on the PC equivalent of a toaster, especially one that was not even intensive when it debuted. Regardless of its age, Torchlight 2 is still a fantastic dungeon crawler and a must-play for anyone itching to pick up as much loot as digitally possible.

The RPG’s cartoonish art style is timeless in a similar way to how the early Borderlands games look set to always be pleasant to the eyes. More importantly, Torchlight 2‘s gameplay also seems to be immune to aging, provided a player enjoys its classic approach to combat.

Spelunky

Steam User Rating: 92%

Spelunky is one of the definite indie titles on both PC and console. In terms of influence, the game should be considered in the same league as The Binding of Isaac, Cave Story, and Super Meat Boy. It’s a game designed with infinite ways to make the player struggle, but just as many ways to help the player succeed. Sometimes the chips don’t fall in favor of Spelunky Guy, but when they do, it’s so worth it.

The sequel, Spelunky 2, delivers more of the same, but it may require a somewhat more modern system to get working. Spelunky‘s HD port on Steam, on the other hand, can still run on Windows XP. The game operates smoothly and is still as engrossing as ever.

The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings

Steam User Rating: 90%

While The Witcher 3 requires a fairly hefty PC to run, the same cannot be said about the older entries in the franchise. Considering the original sequel debuted in 2011, The Witcher 2‘s low PC requirements are not that unexpected; however, the RPG is also very well optimized. Quite a few non-gaming modern laptops are likely to meet the game’s recommended criteria, resulting in a decent experience rather than just a serviceable one.

Overshadowed as it might be by its more decorated successor, The Witcher 2 is nevertheless a fantastic game by most metrics. Rather than open-world, the RPG’s campaign is divided into semi-explorable regions, each one containing side quests along with the main story beats. Unsurprisingly, CD Projekt Red’s tight writing is in full display throughout The Witcher 2, and an argument could be made that this entry’s central storyline is better than the one in its sequel.

Psychonauts

Steam User Rating: 96%

2021’s Psychonauts 2 is a great modern platformer that should be executable on most low-mid tier computers that have dedicated GPUs (GTX 1050/RX 560 should get the job done); however, it requires just a bit too much power to fit a discussion of great low-end PC games. Fortunately, the 2005 original is readily available on Steam and has aged like a glass of fine wine. While it has not been patched specifically for contemporary operating systems, the game has been tested on Windows 10, just to confirm that it is a viable option for modern systems. More importantly, Double Fine’s masterpiece still looks and plays fantastically, especially considering it is roughly two decades old by this point. That statement is not influenced at all by nostalgia either.

Set around a camp that trains the eponymous psychonauts, the story follows Raz, a charming boy who has access to quite a few unique abilities. With the camp serving as the main hub area, the campaign is structured around entering people’s brains, with each one effectively serving as a unique stage. Psychonauts‘ visuals, level designs, and storytelling are comfortably among the best in the 3D platformer genre, and they have all stood the test of time beautifully. If someone is only familiar with the sequel or is just craving a throwback, they should check out this 2005 classic. It is still incredible.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

Steam User Rating: 95%

Baldur’s Gate 3 requires a fairly beefy PC, so it is not a great pick for budget gaming even if the RPG is not quite as taxing as other modern AAA projects. However, if someone is craving a (comparatively) low-spec game that is slightly similar to the DnD title, they should check out Larian’s previous masterpiece, Divinity: Original Sin 2. Debuting in 2017 and arguably setting a new benchmark for tactical RPGs, this release is the full package, offering deep combat, a fully realized world, and a lot of customization options.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 comes with a high skill ceiling, and the campaign’s first couple of hours can threaten to overwhelm newcomers as it does not pull any punches. While never becoming easy, the game should eventually start to click, provided enjoys turn-based tactics.

Alien: Isolation

Steam User Rating: 92%

The gaming industry has tried its hand at a lot of Alien projects over the years, a few of which are even decent. While the majority of these titles take inspiration from the more action-oriented Aliens and Aliens vs. Predator, the franchise’s strongest game turns to the 1979 original movie for tips on how to craft a proper sci-fi horror experience that could terrify genre veterans. A direct sequel to the film, Alien: Isolation centers around Ellen Ripley’s daughter as she tries to discover what happened to her mother. Naturally, Amanda finds herself stuck in a space station that happens to have a Necromorph problem.

Alien: Isolation nails the most important thing about the franchise: the Necromorph is a genuine threat. Throughout most of the campaign, Amanda is very much the prey, and she spends her time trying to hide away from the deadly creature stalking her. Graphically, Creative Assembly designed a fairly impressive game that is not too taxing on the system, which makes sense since the space station is a rather desolate place.

Hollow Knight

Steam User Rating: 97%

The 2010s saw the independent scene reach dizzying new heights. Each year seemed to produce an indie game that could match AAA projects in most areas besides their budget. Hollow Knight is one such masterpiece, and the game’s brilliance attracted a passionate and large fanbase that is eagerly awaiting its sequel, Silksong. Naturally, 2D Metroidvanias should never require an RTX 4090 to get a solid 60 fps, and the genre has produced plenty of low-spec classics; however, Hollow Knight still manages to stand out from the crowd.

Visually, the game is nothing short of striking. Hallownest is a hauntingly gorgeous world that is deceptively massive; in fact, the latter extends to Hollow Knight in general. Team Cherry’s title is absolutely overflowing with secrets, weapons, side quests, and bosses, to the point that a playthrough can easily last around 50 hours. It is all high-quality stuff as well.

Celeste

Steam User Rating: 97%

2D platformers are a dime-a-dozen in the independent scene. They come around so often, they do have a habit of blending together; consequently, if a game manages to stand out from the crowd, that must mean it is extra special. Celeste is one of those releases. Matt Makes Games’ title follows Madeline as she tries to scale the eponymous mountain, a journey that serves as a metaphor for her own experiences with things like depression.

Celeste is a very difficult game, which makes sense considering the mature themes it tries to tackle. For the most part, platformers tend to prioritize gameplay over story, but this 2018 project is something of an exception since it melts the two together in a way that causes them to be intrinsically linked.

Team Fortress 2

Steam User Rating: 93%

Team Fortress 2 is free-to-play on the Steam Store, and the game still continues to sit somewhere near the top of the platform’s most-played titles. It’s a multiplayer first-person shooter from Valve, the famed developers that brought the world Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Half-Life, and Portal. Games like Overwatch might not exist if it weren’t for TF2.

Even if someone has a basic integrated graphics card like the Intel HD Graphics 630, they will probably meet the minimum and recommended requirements for Team Fortress 2. Although it’s aged since its release in 2007, the gameplay holds up well.

Project Zomboid

Steam User Rating: 94%

Project Zomboid has been in early access for nearly a decade, but despite all that time in the oven, the game has continued to consistently sit among Steam’s most successful releases. The 2D horror title takes place in a grueling open-world where the main goal is survival, although there is a backstory for those who wish to do so. However, the gameplay loop revolves entirely around collecting resources to build the necessary equipment to persevere as long as possible in a post-apocalyptic universe.

Although not much of a looker, Project Zomboid‘s presentation gets the job done and does not distract from the gameplay. The game was not especially difficult to run when it debuted in the early 2010s, and it is now firmly established as one of the best low-end PC games on the market.

Diablo 3: Reaper Of Souls

Metascore: 87

Compared to other major 2023 releases like Street Fighter 6, Hogwarts Legacy, Resident Evil 4, Dead Space, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Diablo 4 is forgiving when it comes to minimum specs. Nevertheless, a player needs at least a GTX 660 and an i5 2500K to get the game running, which will eliminate most people who do not have a gaming-leaning desktop or laptop. If an action RPG cannot quite get Blizzard’s project running, they can always just check out Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls.

While the original version of Diablo 3 garnered a lot of criticism, the Reaper of Souls iteration is generally well regarded, to the point that it should have been the entry’s launch state. Although not a looker by traditional standards, the game’s visuals hold up rather well, provided the cartoonish visuals hit the mark with a player.

Sonic Mania

Steam User Rating: 94%

Sonic the Hedgehog has led a rough life. Nowadays, Sega’s legendary mascot has a resume filled with both masterpieces and bottom-of-the-barrel junk, and the latter have dominated the discourse over the last two decades. Despite its many failures, when the franchise gets a project right, it tends to hit a home run. Sonic Mania is almost unquestionably the license’s best title of the current century, and it was developed by a team that previously worked on fangames.

The developers’ experience shines through the game’s retro visuals, tight level design, great music, and classic gameplay. Sonic Mania pays homage to the Blue Blur’s Genesis era in a way that feels fresh rather than a complete retread, although that might have to do with the fact Sega had largely ignored 2D Sonic except for a few levels in games like Sonic Generations.

Hades

Steam User Rating: 98%

Supergiant’s Hades is comfortably among the most popular roguelites on the market, and it serves as a good entry point for newcomers to the genre. The narrative follows Zagreus, the eponymous god’s son who wants to leave the Underworld and make his way to Olympus. However, his father rejects this plan, and he intends to not make the journey easy for the young prince. As a roguelite, Hades‘ loop revolves around replaying the same stages; however, unlike many similar games, defeat does not result in a complete reset. Instead, Zagreus’ story develops naturally following a failure, so there is a constant sense of progression during the first 20 hours or so.

Boasting a gorgeous art style and fast-paced hack and slash combat, Hades knocks its presentation out of the park. Although an indie release, Supergiant’s title is so polished and visually striking that it outshines most AAA projects; however, unlike the latest gaming blockbusters, Hades does not require a high-end PC. In fact, the game is really not demanding.

Minecraft

Metascore: 93

Many of the most popular video games have low PC requirements. It’s not always about frame rate or graphics, which is why a game like Minecraft is widespread.

This block-building game is nothing short of a phenomenon, and a huge part of its appeal is its accessibility. Minecraft is a game for everyone, and that is reflected in both its creativity-driven content and its undemanding PC requirements.

Papers, Please

Steam User Rating: 97%

An indie darling released in 2013, Papers, Please utilizes a minimalist presentation to tell a harrowing story about war, sacrifice, and guilt. Set in a fictional state that is at odds with other countries, players control a border agent who must examine the documents of migrants trying to cross over. Simultaneously a nameless cog in the machine and an entity capable of dictating the lives of countless people, players will steadily come to understand the responsibility placed on their shoulders.

Letting the wrong person through or denying someone who should have been accepted comes with dire consequences in the form of a salary penalty. While this might not sound like a big deal, the agent needs to use their measly income to keep their family fed and alive.

Left 4 Dead 2

Steam User Rating: 97%

Left 4 Dead 2 will never die, or that at least seems to be the case. Valve’s co-op shooter has been out for more than a decade, and the game’s popularity has hardly waned. Four players must work together to blast their way through creative levels overflowing with zombies, some of which are quite creative.

Even in 2009, Left 4 Dead 2 was not a particularly taxing game; consequently, modern systems should not have any trouble running this title on minimum or even maximum settings.

Steam User Rating: 96%

Honestly, most of Platinum’s projects are good candidates for low-spec gaming, especially the developer’s “masterpieces.” Bayonetta does not require much to get working on a PC, and the same can be said for Vanquish or Transformers: Devastation. The Wonderful 101: Remastered is a bit more taxing due to being a comparatively modern release, but it is still not too bad. Even Nier: Automata should run on most low-end PCs without too much hassle. All these are fantastic games that will likely hit the mark with most hack and slash fans (or third-person shooter fans, in the case of Vanquish).

Therefore, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is being used as a representative of the developer’s portfolio. This spin-off delivers fast-paced, stylish, and satisfying combat, along with a ridiculous over-the-top story that does not take itself too seriously. A player does not have to be a Metal Gear fan to fall in love with Revengeance.

Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana

Steam User Rating: 89%

Honestly, Nihon Falcom’s games in general are good bets for low-spec gaming. Except for a few of Square Enix’s biggest properties, most JRPGs could be classified as AA projects, and Ys tends to be a few steps below the likes of Tales in terms of graphics. The franchise took a very long time to shift to full 3D adventures, and even those entries are hardly impressive on a visual level. While all that might sound like criticism, Ys has and always will be about its fast-paced combat, and it has produced some of the greatest action JRPGs of all time. Ys 8 might not be a looker, but it is a lot of fun.

Adol finds himself stranded on a mysterious island with a friend and a few strangers, and there seems to be a mysterious force trapping them. Consequently, they need to go investigate, which means forming parties consisting of class-style warriors and defeating a whole host of monsters. Ys 8‘s combat walks the line between accessibility and depth, toppling an easy-to-grasp hack and slash system with mechanics that need to be mastered if someone wants to survive on the higher difficulty levels.

The requirements for
Ys 9
are pretty similar to its predecessor, and even 2024’s
Ys 10
is not that drastic of an increase (GTX 1050 is the minimum graphics card, along with an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 processor).

Rusty’s Retirement

Steam User Rating: 96%

Rusty’s Retirement is not a typical game. It does not expect or even wants to hog the spotlight, instead preferring to quietly run in the background. This auto-run farming sim makes its home at the bottom of a player’s screen, allowing them to continue using the computer while its eponymous robot manages their farm. Interaction comes in the form of planting seeds and acquiring upgrades, the latter of which arrive in many types and uses.

Steam has no shortage of farming sims, and they can threaten to blend; however, Rusty’s Retirement is one of a kind. While not the deepest game out there, it offers a charming loop and a mild distraction that can add color to even the most boring of days.

Valorant

Metascore: 80

Although Valorant was released in 2020, the game has surprisingly low PC requirements. This low-end favorite is jumping on the scene as one of Twitch’s most streamed games. Its mass appeal is likely because of its low PC requirements and because it’s free-to-play. By using the Unreal Engine, developer Riot Games could focus on improving gameplay instead of building on the game’s graphics.

It goes to show that better graphical fidelity doesn’t trump all. Valorant has addictive gameplay, and Riot is continually adding new content. A budget laptop likely has the necessary hardware to run this explosively popular game.