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 ofgreatlow-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 ofAAA gamesthat 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 thebest PC games for low-end PCscan be quite challenging. As such, let’s highlight a few of them.
Updated July 16, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Two more of thebest low-spec PC gameshave been added as recommendations: Deltarune and Resident Evil 7. The latter just released two new chapters, while the former is just an all-around great horror game.
What Constitutes A Low-Spec PC Game?
The definition of “low-spec” varies from person to person. For some folks, a desktop with a GTX 1050 Ti and a 9th-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.
Systemrequirementslabis a useful resource to check whether a computer can run a game.
Undertale’s spiritual successor,Deltarune, has been around on PC since 2018, which marked the launch of its first chapter. Since then, the game’s momentum has been somewhat stop-and-start due to infrequent releases, but 2025 is now the best time to jump into this universe as the first four chapters are all available. Thestory is not quite done yet since chapter 5 is on the horizon, but there is more than enough content to keep someone busy for a fairly long time.
Similar toUndertale,Deltaruneis a turn-based RPG that takes quite a few risks with the genre, delivering an experience that has very few peers. With top-notch storytelling, simple but effective visuals, and ambitious ideas, Toby Fox’s project should be played by everyone, regardless of their PC’s specs.
Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit)
64-bit Processor
2 GB
128 MB minimum
1 GB
Ultrakill
Steam User Rating: 97%
Steam is stuffed with modernboomer shooters, most of which use old-school visuals that make them easily workable on most decent systems. As fun as most of these games are, they do have a habit of blending together, creating an undecipherable blob of shotguns, pixilated body parts, and gore. Despite adhering to this trend,Ultrakillsucceeds in standing out from the crowd, providing an experience that is both unique and representative of the FPS genre at its best.
The goal of the game is not just to kill but to do it in style, to the point of containing a point system reminiscent ofDevil May Cry. In fact,Ultrakillcombines the thrill of fast-paced shooters with the player-based reward system of character action games, a completely harmonious marriage. As long as somebody doesn’t mind high difficulty and early access releases, they should addUltrakillto their library.
Windows 10 (64-bit)
2.4GHz (Min)
4 GB
GTX 560 or equivalent
3 GB
Well, this game came out of nowhere and instantly jumped up the Steam charts, becoming one of the platform’s biggest hits of 2025 (so far). Putting aside everything else,Schedule 1’s success can at least partially be credited to its relatively low specs for a modern release that is not a side-scroller, granting it access to a pretty wide audience right out of the gate. Although still in early access, the project is already robust enough to provide a satisfying experience, and its roadmap is also encouraging.
So, what isSchedule 1? Well, VGS has put together a management sim, albeit one that focuses on crafting a crime empire by selling drugs.Schedule 1players mix recipes, sell products, turn a profit, and attempt to stay away from the cops. The concept has certainly caught the attention of the PC gaming scene, and the project seems set to remain a Steam staple for a while.
3GHz 4-Core (Min)
8 GB
GTX 1060 or RX 580 (3072 MB Video RAM)
One of thebest low-spec gamesfor multiplayer,Don’t Starve Togetherhas aged beautifully over the last decade, largely thanks to a timeless art style and simple but addictive gameplay. Now, if somebody is craving a single-player survival game, they should pick upDon’t Starve, another fantastic title that has stood the test of time. However, if they would prefer to join forces with a couple of friends as they try to survive and thrive in an extremely harsh wasteland, they will want to pick up this multiplayer-only spin-off.
Rather than focus on a story,Don’t Starve Togetheris all about gameplay, with lore bits being dropped sporadically. Players are dropped into an unwelcoming world and challenged to explore, farm, and grow, all the while dealing with some pretty dangerous threats. Replayable and just plain old fun, this game is a classic by this point.
1.7GHz (Min)
Entering early access toward the end of February 2025,R.E.P.O.was pretty much an instant hit, and its presence only grew as positive word of mouth spread. In the last few years, co-op horror games with roguelike elements have become fairly common, and semiwork’s project is certainly reminiscent of other popular titles likeLethal Company. However,R.E.P.O.does a pretty great job of setting itself apart from the crowd, both in terms of gameplay and tone.
As always, players will travel through Headman Manor searching for valuables that will help them reach their quota. Naturally, accomplishing this task requires staying away from awhole host of monsters, including a few genuinely nightmarish creatures. While certainly capable of inspiring a scream or two,R.E.P.O.has a comedic edge, largely thanks to the design of the playable characters. Any group of friends looking for a relatively low-spec co-op horror game should check this out; that said,R.E.P.O.will likely require a dedicated GPU.
Intel Core i5-6600 3.30GHz
GTX 970
Earning a nomination forbest game of 2024 by the Game Awards,Balatrois an incredible achievement, especially considering it was made by a one-person development team. Inspired by Poker but not featuring any real gambling,Balatrois 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.
Balatrois 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,Balatromight 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.
1 MB
A short and creepy 2.5D adventure,Little Nightmaresbrings 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 Nightmaresgets 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 meanLittle Nightmareslooks cheap or bad. In fact, the graphics have aged pretty darn well asthey are stylishrather 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.
Windows 7 64-bit
6 GB
10 GB
In 2024’s early months, the PC scene welcomedPalworld,Enshrouded,Dragon’s Dogma 2,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth,Tekken 8,Horizon Forbidden West,Unicorn Overlord, andPersona 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 Wellis a stunning and fresh entry in a genrethat 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 Wellfocuses 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-brainteaser, 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.
64-Bit Processor 1 GHz
40 MB
One of 2023’s nicest surprises,Dave the Diveris a pixelated delight. Restaurant and fishing sims are not particularly uncommon, but very few games combine the two and also create something that feels genuinely unique. Despite sharing many similarities with other projects,Dave the Diveris one of a kind. As Dave, players find themselves owning anew 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 Divergrants 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.
Windows 7 (64-bit)
Hotline Miamifollows 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 Miamicontains 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 Miamiis not just one of thebest low-end PC gamesbut also one of the greatest projects of all time.
1.2GHz processor
512 MB
Graphics Card
DirectX 8-compatible graphics card with at least 32MB of video memory
250 MB
