7 PC Games That Have Surprisingly Low System Requirements

It’s undeniable that PC games are much more versatile than their console counterparts, as they allow players to tweak their settings to their liking and even install mods that can provide.a significantly different experience. There are great PC games for kids, and also interesting offerings for teenagers and adults, so it could be argued that the entire market is covered.

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Unfortunately, many modern titles have considerably high system requirements, which leaves a lot of PC players who own low-end systems out of the game. That said, there are also games that have friendly system requirements, which is always welcome. Here are some PC games that have surprisingly low system requirements. It should be noted that some of the games on the list can be played normally with the minimum requirements, but, naturally, this won’t deliver the absolute best experience possible.

7

Celeste

An Exciting Adventure That’s Friendly To PC Hardware

Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight, hand-crafted platformer from the creators of multiplayer classic TowerFall.

A narrative-driven, single-player adventure like mom used to make, with a charming cast of characters and a touching story of self-discovery
A massive mountain teeming with 700+ screens of hardcore platforming challenges and devious secrets.

Brutal B-side chapters to unlock, built for only the bravest mountaineers
IGF “Excellence in Audio” finalist, with over 2 hours of original music led by dazzling live piano and catchy synth beats.

The controls are simple and accessible – simply jump, air-dash, and climb – but with layers of expressive depth to master, where every death is a lesson. Lightning-fast respawns keep you climbing as you uncover the mysteries of the mountain and brave its many perils.

Released

January 25, 2018

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language

Minimum Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 or newer
• Processor: Intel Core i3 M380
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• Graphics: Intel HD 4000
• DirectX: Version 10
• Storage: 1200 MB available space

As a 2D platform game, it’s not surprising that Celeste is low-end PC-friendly. These types of games typically require a lot less rendering than their 3D counterparts, which is why they can be played on almost any modern system.

The base game consists of eight chapters that are divided into multiple single screen challenges. There are also checkpoints between certain areas of the game and screens. All in all, Celeste is a great platforming game that will keep players entertained for hours on end.

6

Hollow Knight

Visually Stunning Without Sacrificing Performance

Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast, ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Hollow Knight is a classically styled 2D action adventure across a vast interconnected world. Explore twisting caverns, ancient cities and deadly wastes; battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs; and solve ancient mysteries at the kingdom’s heart.

Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward. Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!

Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favourites and make your journey unique! An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.

Over 140 enemies! 30 epic bosses! Face ferocious beasts and vanquish ancient knights on your quest through the kingdom.Chart your journey with extensive mapping tools. Buy compasses, quills, maps and pins to enhance your understanding of Hollow Knight’s many twisting landscapes.

A haunting, intimate score accompanies the player on their journey, composed by Christopher Larkin.

Released

February 24, 2017

ESRB

E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood

Minimum Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 (64bit)
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E5200
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: GeForce 9800GTX+ (1GB)
• DirectX: Version 10
• Storage: 9 GB available space

Hollow Knight is probably one of the most popular side-scrollers of the last 10 years, and it’s honestly not surprising, as it presents players with a compelling story, great areas to explore, and a combat system that leaves nothing to be desired. The game is very challenging and will put players’ skills to the test.

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However, with some good charms that players can get early in the game, things can become a bit simpler. Since this title has a 2D design, it can run on almost any system without hiccups.

5

Fallout 4

Most Of The Boston Commonwealth Is Greatly Optimized

Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, invite you to the ambitious open world of Fallout 4. Do whatever you want in a massive Commonwealth with hundreds of locations, characters and quests.
As the sole survivor of Vault 111, only you can rebuild and determine the fate of the Wasteland. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone – the choices are yours.
From a Power Armor-toting soldier to the charismatic smooth-talker, be whoever you want with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character system and develop your own playstyle from hundreds of Perks.
Experience exciting first- or third-person combat with the dynamic Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., targeting enemies for maximum tactical advantage (and cinematic carnage!) Collect, upgrade and build thousands of items with Fallout 4’s crafting system. Weapons, armor, food and with the right materials, even entire settlements are possible. Welcome home.

Systems

Released

November 10, 2015

ESRB

M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS

Minimum Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit OS required)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-2300 2.8 GHz/AMD Phenom II X4 945 3.0 GHz or equivalent
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or equivalent
• Storage: 30 GB available space

This is where things start getting a little tricky, as it’s time to delve into the territory of games that can be played with the minimum established requirements, but that won’t offer the best experience possible. Now, this is not to say that players who have a low-end PC won’t be able to get a good Fallout 4 experience. It just means that they’ll likely be restricted to 30 FPS and might encounter one or two stutters here and there.

That said, given how massive the Boston Commonwealth is and the number of NPCs and enemies there are throughout the wasteland, it’s honestly surprising that Fallout 4 can still run somewhat decently on lower-end PCs. Players with the minimum requirements should bear in mind that adding weapon mods or any other kind of modification might impact performance considerably.

4

DOOM Eternal

Players Won’t Get A 120 FPS Experience With The Minimum Requirements, But It’s Still Playable

Hell’s armies have invaded Earth. Become the Slayer in an epic single-player campaign to conquer demons across dimensions and stop the final destruction of humanity. The only thing they fear… is you.

Experience the ultimate combination of speed and power in DOOM Eternal – the next leap in push-forward, first-person combat.

SLAYER THREAT LEVEL AT MAXIMUM – Armed with a shoulder-mounted flamethrower, retractable wrist-mounted blade, upgraded guns and mods, and abilities, you’re faster, stronger, and more versatile than ever.

UNHOLY TRINITY – Take what you need from your enemies: Glory kill for extra health, incinerate for armor, and chainsaw demons to stock up on ammo to become the ultimate demon-slayer.

Enter BATTLEMODE – A new 2 versus 1 multiplayer experience. A fully-armed DOOM Slayer faces off against two player-controlled demons, fighting it out in a best-of-five round match of intense first-person combat.

Released

March 20, 2020

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence

Minimum Requirements:

• OS: 64-bit Windows 7 / 64-Bit Windows 10
• Processor: Intel Core i5 @ 3.3 GHz or better, or AMD Ryzen 3 @ 3.1 GHz or better
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti (4GB), GTX 1060 (3GB), GTX 1650 (4GB) or AMD Radeon R9 280(3GB), AMD Radeon R9 290 (4GB), RX 470 (4GB)
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 80 GB available space

This one might raise a few eyebrows, as Doom Eternal looks like it’s a very graphically demanding game. And while it is, it does have some forgiving minimum requirements that can allow players with lower-end PCs to still enjoy the experience of playing it.

Again, players with the minimum required specs won’t be able to slay demons at 120 FPS on the highest settings, but with a few tweaks, it’s perfectly possible to get a decent experience without having to spend +$2,000 on a new gaming rig.

3

The Witcher 3

Surprisingly Good Performance For A Game This Big

You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.

PLAY AS A HIGHLY TRAINED MONSTER SLAYER FOR HIRE
Trained from early childhood and mutated to gain superhuman skills, strength, and reflexes, witchers are a counterbalance to the monster-infested world in which they live.
Gruesomely destroy foes as a professional monster hunter armed with a range of upgradeable weapons, mutating potions, and combat magic. Hunt down a wide variety of exotic monsters, from savage beasts prowling mountain passes to cunning supernatural predators lurking in the shadowy back alleys of densely populated cities. Invest your rewards to upgrade your weaponry and buy custom armor, or spend them on horse races, card games, fist fighting, and other pleasures life brings.

EXPLORE A MORALLY AMBIGUOUS FANTASY OPEN WORLD
Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity. Traverse a fantastical open world: explore forgotten ruins, caves, and shipwrecks, trade with merchants and dwarven smiths in cities, and hunt across the open plains, mountains, and seas. Deal with treasonous generals, devious witches, and corrupt royalty to provide dark and dangerous services. Make choices that go beyond good & evil, and face their far-reaching consequences.

Released

May 19, 2015

ESRB

M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content

Minimum Requirements:

• OS: 64-bit Windows 7, 64-bit Windows 8 (8.1)
• Processor: Intel CPU Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz / AMD A10-5800K APU (3.8GHz)
• Memory: 6 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia GPU GeForce GTX 660 / AMD GPU Radeon HD 7870
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 50 GB available space

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is, without a doubt, one of the best RPGs of the last 10 years, as it presents players with a compelling narrative, likable, complex characters, visually stunning armor sets, and a combat system that, while not everyone’s favorite, is definitely fun.

On top of this, there are some powerful weapons that players can take advantage of to decimate the hordes of monsters spread throughout The Continent, which adds to the experience. Granted, playing The Witcher 3 with the minimum requirements at some of the lowest graphical settings does not provide an experience as immersive as using a higher-end gaming rig that can run this title at Max settings. However, considering that The Continent is so massive and that there are so many NPCs spread throughout it, the fact that it’s possible to play the game with the minimum listed specs is surprising.

2

Hades

An Action-Packed Adventure That Runs Well On Almost Any System

Defy the god of the dead as you hack and slash out of the Underworld in this rogue-like dungeon crawler from the creators of Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre.

BATTLE OUT OF HELL
As the immortal Prince of the Underworld, you’ll wield the powers and mythic weapons of Olympus to break free from the clutches of the god of the dead himself, while growing stronger and unraveling more of the story with each unique escape attempt.

UNLEASH THE FURY OF OLYMPUS
The Olympians have your back! Meet Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, and many more, and choose from their dozens of powerful Boons that enhance your abilities. There are thousands of viable character builds to discover as you go.

BEFRIEND GODS, GHOSTS, AND MONSTERS
A fully-voiced cast of colorful, larger-than-life characters is waiting to meet you! Grow your relationships with them, and experience thousands of unique story events as you learn about what’s really at stake for this big, dysfunctional family.

BUILT FOR REPLAYABILITY
New surprises await each time you delve into the ever-shifting Underworld, whose guardian bosses will remember you. Use the powerful Mirror of Night to grow permanently stronger, and give yourself a leg up the next time you run away from home.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE
Permanent upgrades mean you don’t have to be a god yourself to experience the exciting combat and gripping story. Though, if you happen to be one, crank up the challenge and get ready for some white-knuckle action that will put your well-practiced skills to the test.

SIGNATURE SUPERGIANT STYLE
The rich, atmospheric presentation and unique melding of gameplay and narrative that’s been core to Supergiant’s games is here in full force: spectacular hand-painted environments and a blood-pumping original score bring the Underworld to life.

Released

September 17, 2020

ESRB

T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

Minimum Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 SP1 or newer
• Processor: Dual Core 2.4 GHz
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: 1GB VRAM / DirectX 10+ support
• Storage: 15 GB available space

While Hades is not a 2D side-scroller like Celeste or Hollow Knight, it does use an art style that looks appealing, yet is not very demanding to render. This isometric roguelike has some of the nicest color palettes and visual effects in its genre, which, along with the interesting combat mechanics present, have made it an instant classic.

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Players who are not satisfied with the experience provided by the base game, or those who have already completed it and want something fresh, can try some of the best mods out there for this title.

1

Red Dead Redemption 2

This Is One Of Those Cases When The Minimum Requirements Are Actually The Minimum Requirements

America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.

Released

October 26, 2018

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

Minimum Requirements:

• OS: Windows 10 – 64-bit
• Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-2500K / AMD FX-6300
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 2GB / AMD Radeon R9 280 3GB
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 150 GB available space

Last but not least, there’s Red Dead Redemption 2. This title redefined what the Western genre was in gaming and provided players with an unbelievable level of detail and a narrative that has made more than one fan of the franchise shed a tear.

As it happens with Fallout 4 or The Witcher 3, it’s possible to enjoy Red Dead Redemption 2 with the minimum listed requirements. It won’t be the smoothest experience ever, but the game is playable enough for players to not lose immersion and make their way through 18th-century America finding all the game’s grave locations, NPC interactions, and stores.

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