Best Modern Games That Run Well On A GTX 1060

With the RTX 5080 and 5090 touted as beasts at the time of their release, gamers will likely be thinking of how to integrate these powerful graphics cards into their machines to play the latest games. However, gamers who have yet to be able to make the switch can still play decent titles in older devices. That is, at least, if they know what titles they’re looking for with their specific graphics cards.

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Despite its age, the GTX 1060 is a surprisingly robust graphics card when paired with the right game and the right settings. While certainly lacking in crisp graphics, the GTX 1060 can support a surprising number of games released in the 2020s – allowing players to enjoy fairly modern titles with older devices. However, just what modern games can still run well on a GTX 1060, and how worth the while could the experience be?

10

Marvel Rivals

The Overwatch Killer Straight From The Comics

Third-Person Shooter

Action

Multiplayer

Released

December 6, 2024

Developer(s)

NetEase Games

Engine

Unreal Engine 5

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

When Marvel Rivals was released in a market in a post-Marvel’s Avengers era, players never expected this hero shooter title to give Overwatch a run for its money. Set in the fused universe courtesy of two Doctor Dooms, Marvel Rivals superheroes participate in matches to have a shot at going back to their home universe. That is, if they can cast their differences aside – specifically, if Cloaks and Daggers decide to heal instead of focusing too much on DPS, or if someone actually tries taking down that Iron Fist in the backline.

While certainly not ultra graphics material, Marvel Rivals can run decently on a GTX 1060 – allowing players to zip past destructible environments and participate in team-ups without stressing their PCs. And while Marvel Rivals has compatibility issues it still needs to fix, the right setup with the GTX 1060 should still give players the room to continuously experiment with heroes as they respawn in the match – assuming their teammates don’t flame them for constantly switching roles.

9

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

It’s Skyrim Meets Dark Souls In A Riveting Sequel

RPG

Action-Adventure

Open-World

Released

February 4, 2025

Developer(s)

Warhorse Studios

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Taking place in the early 1400s, players of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 will witness the end of Henry’s story as he prepares to fight King Sigismund of Hungary and Croatia, this time as a seasoned fighter. With two new explorable areas and the same gameplay intensity of the first title, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 offers a riveting story that demands the player’s time and focus – ensuring Henry’s journey is a story players can get invested in. Now coming with improved graphics and smoother gameplay, it’s a relief that players with GTX 1060 can enjoy this new title.

While certainly not a graphical masterpiece, Deliverance 2 even at its lowest settings is a decent experience – with luminosity highlighting crisp dirt roads and grass as well as smooth interior textures. Stuttering is evident in Ultra, but not as unplayable as other titles. Playing on High still shows some graphical flaws, but details are included where they matter without smoothness suffering overall.

8

Helldivers 2

A Riveting Co-Op Experience To Save The World

Systems

Released

February 8, 2024

Developer(s)

Arrowhead Game Studios

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

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Released as a sequel to the 2015 sleeper hit Helldivers, players once again take on the role of the eponymous Helldivers in Helldivers 2 to defend Super Earth from Bugs, Cybrogs, and the Illuminate. As with the original entry, Helldivers in Helldivers 2 pursue Operations with a pre-set loadout and special Stratagems to give them an advantage over a never-ending horde of enemies. With a limited time available and select missions in play, Helldivers 2 will test how players coordinate to ensure everyone’s survival.

The game is praised for its engaging gameplay and its reasonable live service components, such as non-expiring battle passes. Not to mention, its “live” feed of Super Earth’s defense against threats that have to be reinforced through live matches gives a spirit of camaraderie among Helldivers. While its 1060 compatibility does mean less flashy visuals, the sheer intensity of Helldivers 2 matches might not even make players feel the difference.

7

Cyberpunk 2077

Fight Megacorporations In A Future With A Rich Story

Released

December 10, 2020

Engine

REDengine 4

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Set over the backdrop of the vast metropolis of Night City, Cyberpunk 2077 puts players in the role of V as they get a bio-chip containing the consciousness of a legendary rockstar and terrorist. Whether players choose to start as a suburban mechanic, an in-city street kid, or a corporate employee, the story of Cyberpunk 2077 will have players tour the city in a mission to ensure this new “presence” doesn’t overtake V’s own consciousness. Thankfully, there’s a lot of ways to pursue this quest: players can enjoy Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay with straightforward combat or even hacking the environment, both of which can be done in a multitude of ways.

Despite the presence of guns, Cyberpunk 2077 combat is enjoyable with the addition of double-jumps, sprints, and even cover. Weapons themselves possess unique attributes that dynamically change the player’s gameplay, allowing them to enjoy taking down foes in a multitude of ways. Although playing with the 1060 means Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t get to impress players with its visual prowess, the dynamic gameplay and vast open world available to explore should still give gamers their fill of a futuristic experience.

6

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

Enjoy Manhattan From A Refreshing Lens

Action-Adventure

Open-World

Systems

Released

November 12, 2020

Publisher(s)

Sony Interactive Entertainment

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Fans who want a fully-immersive open-world Spider-Man experience will appreciate Marvel’s Spider-Man from Insomniac Games, with Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered for the PS5 and PC giving Peter Parker’s eighth year as Spider-Man a fresh new coat – perfect for this universe’s webslinger as he’s just about to meet Doctor Octopus and Mister Negative. Set in a fully-open world version of Manhattan, players can engage in high-octane action featuring Spider-Man dishing out different web-based attacks, acrobatic maneuvers, and awesome dodging with his Spider Sense – all under the player’s direction.

The game perform on the higher 40s and 50s FPS on Very High with the GTX 1060, giving quite the deluxe experience. Details are definitely not as crisp up close, but web-slinging across New York doesn’t seem to have any problems even on detail-oriented places like foliage and parks. Although graphics evidently suffer on lower settings, actions were evidently smoother at High and especially at Medium, although the latter does suffer with the lack of details like window reflections.

5

Call Of Duty: Warzone

Killstreaks Perfect For Battle Royale Thrill-Seekers

First-Person Shooter

Battle Royale

Released

March 10, 2020

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Expand

Players who want a battle royale experience featuring straight-up weapon-on-weapon action will appreciate the thrill of Call of Duty: Warzone, especially when its gameplay features not just up to 150 players divvied up in solos or squads (of 2, 3, 4), but also spicing up loadouts with field upgrades and franchise-staple Killstreaks. The latter is an especially crazy addition to the battle royale, as this incentivizes hardcore fights. And thanks to the post-game Gulag, players who encounter their first death have a chance to get back into the match.

Playing with the GTX 1060 on Low certainly demonstrates some stuttering, but can potentially reach the upper 70s in term of FPS. Graphics remain crisp at a distance, with evident graphical limitations up close – but not to the point where it matters, considering the nature of the fast-paced battle royale. The game surprisingly performs well on High, with the consistent ~60 FPS ensuring crisp aim while maintaining a certain graphical flair.

4

Valorant

Play With Powerful Abilities In Team-Based FPS

Released

June 2, 2020

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Unlike other FPS titles that often rely on weapon choice and gadgets to secure the victory, players of Valorant also add physics and map mechanics into the mix. Thanks to the game’s unique approach to environments, players can launch abilities from halfway across the map or use lineups to secure kills from different vantage points. And the fun part? They get to do it with Agents who have special abilities – whether this involves launching smoke screens, deploying smart cameras, throwing mollies, or even indestructible walls!

The flashiness of Valorant and its mechanics make it one of the most popular FPS titles since its 2020 release, and its low-demand nature make it a great game to play with the 1060. Its replayability and vast roster of Agents to use means players can have quite a lot of fun playing with friends, relish in the trashtalk as they defeat enemies, or rage at fury-inducing teammates.

3

Elden Ring

An Open World Love Letter To Dark Souls

Released

February 25, 2022

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Considered the spiritual successor to the Souls series, Elden Ring is an enjoyable open-world experience that carries familiar challenging gameplay with a vast environment just waiting for players to explore… and maybe stumble upon quite the challenging variety of foes. Set in the Lands Between, players take on the role of a Tarnished tasked to repair the Elden Ring. And while much of its lore is tucked beneath elements in its open world, its core worldbuilding is made courtesy of George R. R. Martin, giving players a somewhat elevated storytelling experience.

Similar to Dark Souls, players can choose a starting class and expand their playstyle with an intermix of weapon combos, dodging, and spells. Mechanics like staggers and criticals, getting Ashes of War from weapons to access new abilities, and even stealth add variety of the Elden Ring experience. Despite its fair recency, Elden Ring is playable with the 1060 using the right setup. While the 1060 certainly doesn’t promise ultra graphics, the engaging gameplay of Elden Ring can more than make up for its missing visuals.

2

Counter-Strike 2

A Must-Try Modern Take On The Fan-Favorite Classic

Systems

Released

September 27, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

When Valve suddenly released Counter-Strike 2, fans were divisive as to whether this upgrade to 2012’s Global Offensive was worth the try. And considering the title’s updated graphics over the title’s classically straightforward but riveting gameplay, some say this was well worth the wait. Thanks to the move to Source 2, Counter-Strike 2 not only made graphical improvements to the game but also technical enhancements, as well as overhauling some maps. Its sub-tick gameplay also places player input in better sync with the rest of the game, resulting in more accurate shots.

These improvements to Counter-Strike 2 make it a thrilling ride to try with the 1060. The game’s undemanding requirements will allow the 1060 to showcase graphical improvements across fan-favorite maps, while new features such as volumetric smoke clouds enhance immersion for maximum enjoyment across gunfights.

1

Monster Hunter Rise

A More Mobile Outing Of Monster Hunter

Released

March 26, 2021

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

With the success of Monster Hunter: World comes the fast-paced hunting of Monster Hunter Rise, this time introducing the Palamute mount as well as Wirebugs that add a fresh dose of verticality to the hit franchise. Gameplay is now vastly different with the two elements in mind, with the Wirebug interacting differently with each weapon while the Palamute can fight alongside Palicoes when engaging in monsters. Combined altogether, Rise offers a mobile-heavy alternative to the more heavy-duty Wilds.

While the GTX 1060 isn’t robust enough to let players enjoy a rousing round of hunting in Monster Hunter Wilds, it’s more than capable of satisfying players who want a fast-paced experience in Monster Hunter Rise. Playing with the 1060 at 1080p on Low and Medium does make some graphical limitations obvious on the textures while making up for stellar work on water, foliage, and general effects. FPS drops from mid-100s to around the high 70s on High, but the game does compensate by giving players more of a visual treat that better transitions basic textures into moving elements.

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