Summary

• Many PC games don't require dedicated graphics cards and can be played on budget-friendly systems, offering deep gameplay and interesting stories.
• Games like Terraria, DOOM, and Stardew Valley can be enjoyed with low-end hardware, offering fun and engaging experiences.
• Titles with low system requirements enable access to a wide range of gaming genres.

Getting into PC gaming can sometimes seem like a costly endeavor, but plenty of great games are playable without needing dedicated graphics cards or high-end equipment. Graphics cards or GPUs seem to be getting more costly as the years go on, with some top-tier cards on the market fetching upwards of $1,500 or more. That's a huge sum just to be able to play video games at the highest resolution and frame rate, and it's understandably a deal-breaker for many. However, getting into PC gaming doesn't have to break the bank.

Integrated graphics, rather than dedicated GPUs, utilize the computer's U or processor. While this technology has been frowned upon by hardcore PC gamers, in reality, many PC games don't necessarily need a dedicated graphics card to run. In fact, budget-friendly requirements can even be a blessing in disguise, as while they may not be known for the best graphics, many less graphically intense games include deep and interesting stories, compelling character development, or interesting gameplay mechanics.

20 Terraria (2011)

Developer: Re-Logic

Terraria is a game available via Steam that only requires 200MB of hard drive space. Praised for its complex gameplay, Terraria can be played single-player or online with friends and is akin to 2D Minecraft with its own unique mechanics and aesthetics. In the game, players mine deep into the ground to discover new treasures and resources to build interesting equipment, weapons, and structures. Best of all, the game can run on various low-end systems, including mobile devices, because of its simple pixel graphics.

19 Balatro (2024)

Developer: LocalThunk

A unique but highly addictive roguelike poker game, Balatro was a surprise smash hit when it was originally released in February of 2024. In Balatro, players are dealt eight cards and must build the best five-card hand in roguelike fashion against an AI opponent. With strong ive bonuses in the form of the game's Joker cards, it's an innovative take on the typical roguelike title.

Combining traditional playing cards, Tarot cards, and unique packs and decks similar to other roguelike deck-builders, the game seems simple on its face but is actually incredibly deep and replayable. The simplistic animations and art style, melded with simple but satisfying audio, make the game stand out among other digital card games.

18 DOOM (1993)

Developer: id Software

DOOM is one of the most well-optimized games of all time, even if it's not really the first FPS game; as such, id Software's seminal 1993 first-person shooter DOOM was made with a large install base in mind. Far ahead of the popularization of discrete graphics cards, DOOM could run on even relatively basic systems back in the day, and its file size under 2 MB meant that memory space wasn't as much of an issue as it was with other DOS titles.

An enhanced version with slightly higher requirements was released in 2019 and is now playable on the Epic Games Launcher and Steam.

Today, any computer that can run Windows can run DOOM. In fact, the Steam store page lists Windows XP/Vista compatibility as the bare minimum requirement. Considering that DOOM is even playable inside another DOOM copy, Valve's DRM services are likely more taxing on a PC than id's hit game.

17 Darkest Dungeon (2016)

Developer: Red Hook Studios

Darkest Dungeon initially debuted in 2015 into Early Access as a fairly barebones horror roguelike affair, but it eventually blossomed into a complex title. Darkest Dungeon requires party management and strategy as a tale of desperation and depravity sees the players wager long odds in a grizzly war against a Lovecraftian horror.

Darkest Dungeon takes on the same roguelike deck-building foundations and builds upon it with unique heroes that possess unique advantages and disadvantages. Though the game isn't for everyone, it was certainly made to run on just about every PC. With the only real stipulation being OpenGL compliance, this title can run on pretty much anything.

16 Stardew Valley (2016)

Developer: Concerned Ape

Stardew Valley accomplishes what other farming simulation games can't in a 2.5D pixel world. Praised for its fun and relaxing gameplay, the cozy farming simulator runs light on the system resources while including a huge amount of content within the title. In Stardew Valley, characters can grow crops, raise farm animals, or craft different equipment while managing relationships with people in the Valley. With both single-player, split-screen, and online co-op, Stardew Valley can be enjoyed alone or with a group of friends.

15 Minecraft (2011)

Developer: Mojang Studios

Renowned for its almost impossibly vast, randomly generated worlds, Minecraft seems like it would be fairly taxing on most PCs despite its simplistic aesthetic. While that might be true for those who enjoy installing mods that heavily alter the game's visuals, Minecraft's Java edition can run on practically anything.

The Minecraft alpha first became publicly available in 2009, and while installing the best Minecraft mods in 2023 might prove too demanding for lower-end systems, its base requirements are still reflective of its age. Performance can certainly be improved with the now relatively inexpensive eighth-gen gaming consoles, but just about anyone with a working laptop can still give Minecraft a go.

14 Slay The Spire (2019)

Developer: Mega Crit

When it comes to indie-developed deck builders, perhaps no other title is more well-known among the tight-knit community than Slay the Spire. A roguelike deck building dungeon-crawler, players must navigate the Spire while making card selections after each enemy. An inspiration to other roguelike deck builders that followed it Slay the Spire laid the foundations of what would eventually become a thriving indie roguelike scene.

Slay The Spire 2 is slated to release sometime in 2025.

Although the game has fairly simple graphics, the complex card synergies and interesting strategic approaches to its varied enemies are addictive and deep. With four characters to choose from and over 350 different card variations, there are endless possibilities for any single run.

13 Undertale (2015)

Developer: tobyfox

Those looking for less violence in their games should turn to Undertale, the quaint but memorable pixel-art RPG where, many of the times, it's best to have a meaningful conversation over a deadly battle. Undertale does that and more in this unique take on the genre, where conversation takes center stage.

Wholly unique in its approach to storytelling, Undertale is an often overlooked game with very low system requirements but a witty and compelling story that will have people coming back to complete the campaign.

12 Hotline Miami (2012)

Developer: Dennaton Games

Those who enjoy the visceral violence of shooter titles may not be able to experience many of them without a video card. After all, most of the newest shooters out there require powerful hardware, but that's where a game like Hotline Miami differs. Shown from a top-down perspective reminiscent of the original Grand Theft Auto games, the high-octane pixel action set in the seedy 1989 Miami underworld is a unique blast to play. It does have a larger RAM requirement because of all the things on screen, but most modern systems should be able to handle it.

Hotline Miami received rave reviews when it was originally released and currently maintains an Overwhelmingly Positive review rating on Steam with nearly 80,000 reviews and counting. The sequel, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, is almost as good as the original and also has low graphics requirements, but the initial Hotline Miami stands out as one of the better and more unique video games to come out of the 2010s.

11 Cuphead (2017)

Developer: Studio MDHR Entertainment Inc.

Although the co-op action game Cuphead does feature colorful, eye-catching visuals and impressive animations, the frenetic side-scrolling action game doesn't actually require much to run. The Geforce 9600 GT was released back in 2008, with many onboard HD integrated graphics hardware beating it today. In addition to superb and crisp gameplay and a great visual style, Cuphead also has a catchy 1930s soundtrack to go along with it.

Based on The Cuphead Show!, Cuphead "Don't Deal with the Devil" maintains an 86% rating on Metacritic and an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam. Great for all ages with split-screen co-op, the title manages to be appropriate for a younger audience while still being fun for adults.