Games To Play For Hours Without Your PC Sounding Like A Jet Engine
Games To Play For Hours Without Your PC Sounding Like A Jet Engine
So many games out there, especially the newer ones, require a lot of power in order to play them – with their stunning graphics and whopping amounts of required storage space, they’re certainly impressive, but not accessible for everyone. Luckily, there are still plenty of games out there that can be played on a low-end PC. We’ve compiled a list of our favorites for you, including:
So let’s get started! All of these games have their system requirements listed at the bottom of their Steam store page, allowing you to check for yourself just to be sure (or you can use PCGameBenchmark to automatically detect your hardware and tell you if a game is playable).
Released in February 2024, Balatro has reached stunning amounts of success – and it’s easy to see why. Perfect for fans of Slay the Spire and Inscryption, this deckbuilder roguelike is addictive from the moment you launch it (it’s a good thing it’s not real gambling!). The game encourages players to find ways to break it, combining real poker cards with over 150 unique Joker cards, as well as tarot cards, planet cards, and more. Balatro has minimal system requirements, playable for just about anyone with a low-end PC.
Almost ten years ago, UNDERTALE took the gaming world by storm – and now it’s DELTARUNE’s time to shine. Set in a world of monsters, players take control of a new main character, though some familiar faces may appear in strange new places. Inspired by games like Touhou and Chrono Trigger, enjoy bullet-dodging combats with some very unique mechanics sprinkled in (and lots of great music). Laugh and cry your way through four released chapters (two of which are available in a free demo), but worry not, subsequent chapters will be added as free updates. Whether you played UNDERTALE back in the day or this is your first foray into Toby Fox’s heartfelt world, you’re sure to be enchanted.
Perfect for fans of difficult games like Dark Souls and Darkest Dungeon, Fear & Hunger is a harsh, unforgiving dungeon crawler with beautiful art and haunting music. To survive as you delve into the bowels of the fortress requires creativity and an iron will, and turn-based combat is met with a unique mechanic – you target individual limbs of your enemies, learning on the go how best to take down each enemy. However, they can also dismember you, requiring you to choose between limping or crawling your way further, or giving up and starting a new run. Fear & Hunger is meant only for mature audiences, carefully yet unflinchingly tackling themes of gore, substance use, sexual violence, self-mutilation, and more.
Most likely, you’ve already heard of Stardew Valley – it’s one of those games where you say it can’t possibly be worth that much hype, and then… it is. Infinitely playable, Stardew Valley is a labor of love that’s still regularly updated (for free), and features hundreds of hidden secrets. Whether you take it day by day or make spreadsheets to maximize your progress, Stardew Valley lets you into a deceptively simple new world, introducing you to charming worldbuilding and even more charming characters. Mine, farm, fish, decorate, and if you find yourself getting bored or stuck, mod the game to your heart’s content. Stardew Valley can require a bit more juice from your PC if you use mods, but the base game has very minimal system requirements.
Equal parts silly and sob-inducing, In Stars And Time is perfect for found family lovers – but it’s not as cozy as you think. Tackling themes of trauma, death, and more, In Stars And Time has players control Siffrin, member of a band of heroes facing down an evil king. Trapped in a time loop and forced to relive the day of their final confrontation over and over, players must build a better future, while combating a growing feeling of apathy. Gifted with the ability to speed through repeated text, it can be easy to block out what your friends have to say, but unforeseen consequences lurk everywhere. In Stars And Time boasts a unique rock-paper-scissors based combat system, a stunning world and story, lovable characters (many of whom are canonically queer), and so much more.
🎮 Buy In Stars And Time on Steam
Cook, Serve, Delicious is one of those games that has legitimately triggered the Tetris Effect for me – it’s just that addictive (and as someone who’s worked in years of food service, it’s scary accurate to how working in a restaurant feels). A deceptively simple typing game, players open their own restaurant, and strive to improve it. Design your daily menu and take and make orders, pressing different keys to add desired ingredients, but watch out: the clock is ticking, and it’s very easy to mess up a dish, ruining that perfect streak. The game introduces optional challenges throughout, emailed to you by patrons and fellow chefs alike, but you’ll have to find them amongst the (very funny) spam emails. And if single player isn’t your vibe, the free expansion CSD: Battle Kitchen allows you to play in several different local multiplayer modes.
🎮 Buy Cook, Serve, Delicious! on Steam
That wraps up our list of the best games for low-end PCs on Steam! We hope you’ve found a new favorite (or several!) to dive into.
