You’d love to revive your inner gamer, but life is busier than it used to be. You just don’t have the time or energy for modern AAA titles. Sure, they’re stunning, but you can’t exactly take weeks off your day job for a video game.
But hey, that doesn’t mean you should give up on experiencing the best form of distraction known to man (and, let’s be honest, we all could use a little escape to another world in 2020).
We’ve put together a list of PC games that tick these boxes:
If you’re looking for an active and great WWII-based multiplayer shooter but your dreadfully low system specs prevent you from enjoying the juggernauts such as Battlefield 1 and Call of Duty.
Free online tools for people creating pixel art and other low-spec art. Warning: a modern web browser is required to use this website. Great Steam games with low system specs. Ignore this curator Remove ignore state Report this curator. Recent Reviews Top Sellers New Releases Discounts. Recommended January 4, 2019. Into the Breach is the next game from the developers of FTL. You control a squad of mechs facing off against Kaiju monsters.
- They’re super simple; the learning curve isn’t something that’ll take weeks
- They’re advanced (so Solitaire need not apply), but you don’t need the best of 2020 in terms of PC specs and
- They’re fun. Let’s do this!
My pc's specs: AMD A4-6300. Windows 10 32-bit. Some of my favorite games: GTA SA. Final Fantasy XII. Resident Evil 4. Silent Hill (I know, all PS2:D) and also Life is Strange and Alien: Isolation. So what good low spec games would you recommend me to play on it? The low-end PC game also provides a multiplayer feature with different modes. The combat nature and low hardware requirement make Spec ops the line one of the best games on Intel HD graphics.
Also read: 11 Best Game Recording Software for Windows
List of Best Low-Spec PC Games
1. Slay the Spire
![Games Games](/uploads/1/1/7/7/117765473/236759147.jpg)
Okay, the introduction promised no Solitaire, but this is a single-player card game like no other. Slay the Spire is a deck-building game with roguelike gameplay. It’s made by developer Mega Crit, and you can download it from Steam for around 20 bucks.
The point of the game is to climb The Spire, and along the way, you slay enemies, scary monsters, bosses, and come across events and challenges along the way. Building your deck is an incredibly rewarding experience, and the game is well-balanced throughout. It’s as complex as you want to make it, which means it’s perfect for a wide range of players.
Rated a stellar 89 by the review aggregator Metacritic , Slay the Spire is a worthy addition to your collection. In terms of PC firepower, all you need is a 2.0 GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, and 1 GB of video memory. That’s pretty much what you need to run a modern browser like Chrome, so we are pretty sure you’ll be just fine with your existing setup.
2. Magic: The Gathering Arena
This series needs little introduction. we are pretty sure everyone has at least heard of Magic: The Gathering. The collectible card game has been adapted to the digital world, and the result is a bona fide alternative to a real-world game.
In our opinion, there’s nothing that beats the paper version of the game. There’s something about getting together with your friends or going to a tournament that digital can never replace.
But, Magic: The Gathering Arena comes mighty close. The UI is intuitive, the graphics solid, the experience top-notch. The strategy element is challenging but playable even for newbs, and building your deck gets as close as you can to opening that satisfying crinkly wrapper. Overall, a worthy entry. And have we mentioned that it’s free to get started?
What really impressed us about this title is that it’s great for newbies and experienced Magic: The Gathering players alike. It’s far better than the original adaptation released back in 2002. If you were part of the original cohort that played Magic: The Gathering Online, trust us when we say that this one is exponentially better.
3. Video Poker
The world in 2020 has made us realize just how much we absolutely loved those monthly poker nights with our friends. And while it doesn’t 100% replace the camaraderie, having drinks and food with your buddies, and seeing your friend’s face when your hand beats theirs, video poker is still an incredibly fun Friday night activity.
What sets this apart from the other games on this list is that you’re playing for real money. While we are not advocating spending all of your hard-earned cash on the casino (not at all!), there’s something about having a little skin in the game. And as long as you play the lower-stakes games, you won’t risk losing much.
Video poker games go with great variability in odds, where a mere percentage or two could make the difference as to whether you profit in the long run or not. Seasoned gamblers know that even a tiny difference is key to walking away as a winner. The ones with the best odds, as identified by casinos.co.za , are Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, Jacks or Better.
4. Hearthstone
Before Magic: The Gathering decided to throw its hat in the ring, Hearthstone was pretty much the digital alternative for fans of the physical game. First released in 2014, the game still retains incredible popularity with both hardcore loyal fans and droves of new players.
The game is a turn-based card game (1v1), where you use a deck of 30 cards to try and beat your opponent. What’s pretty cool about how this game blew up is that it was originally developed by a relatively tiny group of developers. It was essentially an experimental pursuit by Blizzard and, boy did they hit it out of the park.
We still very much love the game and would recommend it to new players, but do be aware that recent criticism has called the game a little too money-oriented in recent years. But to be honest, you’ll only end up shelling out hundreds of dollars if you want to try and climb to the top of the player rankings. If you’re a casual player that fits the game into a free evening or two, the free-to-play system will be more than enough.
5. Opus Magnum
And now for something a little bit different. Opus Magnum is a true challenge for the brain, with PC Gamer calling it “one of the very best puzzle games of the year, if not the decade”. And we have to say that we agree with that assessment.
The premise of the game is built on alchemy, with players using tools and machines to complete tasks. Each puzzle has several potential solutions, with the one that achieves the aim in the shortest time maxing out the points total. Each level is beautifully designed, and there’s a lot of replayability, as you can come up with a new way to tackle the problem each and every time.
The game has been nominated for several awards, including Best India Game and Best PC Game (2018 Golden Joystick Awards). At the Independent Games Festival Awards, Opus Magnum won the “Excellence in Design” accolade. What we also like about the game is that it was developed by a small team rather than a big name agency.
6. Among Us
Released back in 2018, and now, two years after, Among Us has catapulted to the front of the popularity charts, ranking as one of the most downloaded games of the year. This can largely be explained by pandemics, with players increasingly looking for sociable games to replace their dwindling contact with people out in the real world. This phenomenon has taken place with other ‘party games’ like Jackbox Party Packs or Fall Guys.
And despite the slightly depressing reason for its rise in popularity, Among Us deserves the credits. It’s a seriously fun space-themed murder mystery game that’s worth far more than its $5 retail price. It’s no surprise that over 400,000 Steam users are playing this one.
In Among Us, most players are classed as crewmates. You work together with the others to complete various tasks, like fixing bits on the spaceship or the base. However, lurking amongst you are three impostors who seek to sabotage all of the good work the crewmates do. The aim of the game is either to go through the round unnoticed and kill off crewmates (impostor) or find out who is sabotaging your efforts (crewmates).
7. Into the Breach
We are saving our favorite entry for the end. Into the Breach was released in 2018 on Windows, macOS, and Nintendo Switch. It’s a turn-based strategy video game published by Subset Games, a two-man indie studio. Yet again, another tiny development team hitting a homer. In this game, your aim is to lead humanity’s fight against the Vek, an army of gigantic monsters looking to destroy the world. The premise is seemingly simplistic, but the execution is anything but.
The Guardian describes the game as post-apocalyptic chess with time travel, and to be honest; We can’t come up with a better summary of what Into the Breach offers. It’s a stunning game that has depth without being overly complex, something you can fit into your daily lunch break, and each turn is a captivating experience.
The thing we love about this game is that each match lasts just 10 minutes. That’s it. We’ve got a 9 to 5 and while we love the longer games at the weekend, Into the Breach is just perfect as a quick break. And it still has plenty of layers to it that it doesn’t feel like it’s that short if that makes sense?
And There’s More
Little secret game developers don’t want you to know: there’s more where that came from. This is just a little startup pack list to get your gaming juices flowing. The simple fact is that you don’t need a powerful computer to enjoy some pretty awesome games. This list proves that. Now let the games begin!
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Power down
Steam gaming often places a premium on power. The latest hardware, the biggest hard drives, the fastest processors. It's exciting, but in many ways, it's the antithesis of what Pocket Gamer is usually about.
So we thought we'd put together a list of pocket-friendly titles for you to check out. Many of these are touchscreen-friendly for tablets, and most are undemanding enough to run on a netbook.
We haven't neglected action titles, either, for those with miniature mice to carry about. There are some classic first-person shooters dating from before the days when the genre became all about cut-scenes.
Want more?Check out our growing collection ofBest on Steam features!
Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition
By 3D Realms - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£6.99)
Duke Nukem won fame for its humorous script and level of gore. But it managed to keep with with a diverse selection of interesting and amusing weaponry that encouraged tactical play.
You can drop pipe bombs on enemies from above, freeze them, even shrink them and stamp them underfoot.
Braid
By Number None - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£6.99)
Another recent game that won't demand much from your hardware, Braid was rightly celebrated for its narrative curveballs and rock-hard puzzle platforming.
You won't find many other games that manage to so demanding on your brain, your emotions and your twitch fingers all at the same time. It's frustrating but, as the designer said, if you manage to beat its challenges, you will feel very good about yourself.
Terraria
By Re-Logic - buy on PC (£6.99)
A bizarre blend of exploration, action and Minecraft, Terreria offers incredible depth and variety for a game that runs on modest hardware.
If it's not enough to explore a procedurally generated world, fight boss monsters and attracting followers, you can even use your imagination to build elaborate machines.
Rome: Total War - Alexander
By The Creative Assembly - buy on PC (£2.99)
Total War hasn't managed to be a fixture on the gaming calendar since 2000 for no reason. Happily for the owners of older systems this entry from 2004 remains one of the very best.
It's a proper real-time strategy game with actual strategy in place of base-building races. Plus some good history too. So a winner all round.
Broken Sword - Director's Cut
By Revolution Software Ltd - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£4.99)
No retro-focused list would be complete without a classic point and click adventure. But on Steam, many of these have been enhanced or revamped to a level where they won't run on modest hardware.
Luckily, one of the best of the lot will. With a compelling plot and a diverse selection of logic and hidden item puzzles, it should keep you occupied for hours.
Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition
By Epic Games, Inc. - buy on PC (£5.99)
This may be the purest distillation of frenzied shooting action ever made. It eschews niceties like narrative in favour of a vast range of maps and game types to play against real people online or skilled AI bots off it.
Plus, it's graced with a wonderful selection of enormous guns and ludicrous power ups.
System Shock 2
![Low Spec Games Low Spec Games](/uploads/1/1/7/7/117765473/575655111.jpeg)
By Irrational Games - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£6.99)
A game this old shouldn't be this scary. You might want to give up during the opening sequence with its ponderous tutorial and dated graphics. But keep at it and you'll be rewarded with one of the most horrifying action games ever made.
It's another older game that regularly shows up in high positions on best of all time lists. And it's not hard to see why. All the limitations of the ancient video engine won't matter a jot when you're lifted out of your seat by a jump scare.
Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition
By Ion Storm - buy on PC (£4.99)
When people compile lists of the best PC games of all time, this regularly comes near the top in spite of having been released in 2000.
It's the combination of the free-form way in which you can complete objectives and the knock-on effects of your choices that make it such a winner. The mix is almost as intoxicating now as it was back then.
FTL: Faster Than Light
By Subset Games - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£6.99)
Most of our picks on this list are older classics. But here's a modern game that's undemanding on hardware, but very demanding on the player.
It's got an addictive and unusual blend of rogue-like, strategy and choose your own adventure. The story is different every time you play, although it commonly ends with the horrible death of your entire crew.
Half-Life
By Valve - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£6.99)
If you're going to try and run a first-person shooter on a limited machine, you might as well start with the best.
Half-Life remains a pivotal moment in the history of video gaming. And it's old enough now both to run on weak hardware and to be unfamiliar to younger gamers. So there's no excuse not to have experienced this genre-changer for yourself.
Sid Meier's Civilization® III Complete
By Firaxis Games - buy on PC (£2.99)
Civilization fans will tell you to play IV or V in the series for challenge and accessibility respectively. However, if you can't run either of those, Civilization 3 still lets you easily connect to network games.
That means you can enjoy playing this incredible strategy franchise against your friends, however aged your device is compared to theirs.
Fallout 2: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
By Black Isle Studios - buy on PC (£7.99)
Everyone's talking about Fallout 4 at the moment. While you wait, why not remind yourself that the popularity of this series started long before Fallout 3 by playing this classic iosmetric RPG.
The interface might feel dated, but the post-apocalyptic setting is just as vivid, exciting and unusual.
X-COM: UFO Defense
By MicroProse Software - buy on PC (£2.99)
A contender for possibly the most-played older game on Steam. This was the inspiration behind the much more recent XCOM: Enemy Unknown and will be instantly familiar to fans.
It's nowhere near as accessible or pretty as its successor game. But it is much more challenging, offering enormous amounts of play hours for a tiny investment.
Torchlight
By Runic Games - buy on PC and Mac (£10.99)
Low Spec Games Reddit
Torchlight isn't all that old, but the devloper made a special effort to make it as portable as possible. It's got a special netbook mode which helps it run like a dream on older machines.
And while it might be tempting to go for the more recent sequel, this original has all the fun and charm which underpins the success of the series.