Games You Can Play on Low-End Computers

Of course, all the big gaming companies want you to get the latest consoles, but it’s not all about money-grabbing.

15:05 01 April 2022

Playing video games doesn’t mean you have to have high-end technology. Of course, all the big gaming companies want you to get the latest consoles, but it’s not all about money-grabbing.

 

Graphics, processors, loading speeds – it all advances, and it makes for a smoother playing experience, so it makes sense to get a new Xbox when your Xbox One is on its last legs.

 

It’s even worse for PC players who need to constantly upgrade their system to meet the demands of new releases.

 

But thankfully, there is a range of great games that you can play on your computer without having to get a new graphics card! Games that don’t hog all the resources, that are still smooth to play, and you can still enjoy online. We’ve put together a list of some of the very best.

 

Minecraft
To be honest, Minecraft just has to be top of the list. The blocky game came out to huge fanfare and is still hugely popular today. Kids enjoy it because of the ease, while adults can show off their creations by building mega towns.

 

The sim aspect of the game is fun, as are the co-op missions. The fact that Minecraft doesn’t have cutting-edge graphics is part of its charm. It’s like Lego on a video game (yet even more Lego-ey than the Lego games!).

 

What makes it even better is that most computers set up for gaming should be able to run it without any lag or buffering. As an endless game, you can enjoy it for ages and not have to worry about upgrading your computer any time soon.

 

Stardew Valley

 

 

Picture a game where you can inherit a farm, grow crops, and interact with the locals in glorious 8-bit action. That’s what you get on Stardew Valley. You can enjoy it however you like, from chilling out and going for a fishing trip or building up the farm into a town and thirsting for money in a tyrannical rule.

 

Play in two-player mode or yourself, and don’t worry about your graphics card failing!

 

Don’t Starve
That’s the name of the game, not an instruction from us. This game sees you learning how to survive in an eerie, paper-designed world. It’s certainly no Paper Mario, but instead, it’s all about learning to…well…to not die.

 

The simple graphics mean you can play it on a low-end computer, but that doesn’t detract from the fun. As you play through, you’ll learn about the threats that face your world, which will help after you die and go through it again, using your learned knowledge to advance further in the game.

 

Poker
You don’t need a high-end computer to play the best poker online, and there are many places to enjoy the game and hone your poker skills.

 

Online poker provides thrills and spills, but you really should read up on the basics of poker strategy first – otherwise, your results won’t be that good. Do that, though, and you can try your hand at online poker. Who knows what the results will be? And if you win playing on an old computer, that’s another victory in itself.

 

Hotline Miami
Forget about your computer’s specs because you don’t need to worry about them when you can enjoy some top-down shooting on Hotline Miami.

 

Think back to the old GTA games, with the view and the violence (but forget about the cars). The focus of the game is mainly on violence. Destroy a location, smash down the doors, pull out a gun and take down all the baddies. Once you’ve finished, you can bask in the devastation. Bleak, but sometimes that’s just what you need.

 

We’re pleased to say that visiting Miami in person is not nearly so dangerous.

 

Moonlighter
Not only is Moonlighter a great dungeon-crawler, but it’s also a fun sim game when it comes to the shopkeeping element.

 

Yup, you read that right. As much as you can explore dungeons and collect wealth like Link did on the old SNES Zelda games, it’s actually what you do with the loot that’s more fun. You can stock it in your store, decide on the placement and then set the price. Open the doors and watch the customers come in. You can gauge their interest and get the right price for an item.

 

Collect enough and build up your character, upgrade your store and keep your business running. It’s a fun twist on the traditional dungeon exploring the game, and you’ll want to keep on grinding to make your store as successful as it can be.