💻 Gamer without an upgrade: mission possible
Not everyone has RTX, liquid cooling and 32 GB of RAM under their desk. But this is not a reason to refuse pleasure. Even if you have a laptop with an i3, 4–8 GB of RAM and integrated graphics, there are still many cool games that you can play comfortably.
Here are the top best games of 2020–2025 that can actually run on weak PCs — without freezes, lags and nerves.
🎯 Selection criteria
✔ Excellent optimization
✔ Low system requirements
✔ Gameplay that will drag you on for hours
✔ Current releases (last 5 years)
🕹️ 1. Loop Hero (2021)
A pixel RPG with roguelike and strategy elements. Visually simple, but incredibly addictive. Will work even if you have an office PC from 2012.
Minimum requirements:
- CPU: 1.2GHz
- RAM: 2 GB
- GPU: any integrated
🧠 2. Inscryption (2021)
A stylish card thriller with unexpected twists. The game combines card mechanics, horror and puzzles. The atmosphere is great!
Minimum requirements:
- CPU: 2GHz
- RAM: 4 GB
- GPU: with DirectX 10 support
- It runs even on an old laptop
🧙♂️ 3. Hero’s Hour (2022)
The little brother of Heroes of Might and Magic is a turn-based strategy with automatic battles. Simple graphics, rich gameplay and a sea of factions.
Minimum requirements:
- CPU: 2.0 GHz
- RAM: 2 GB
- GPU: integrated, 512 MB
🤖 4. Brotato (2023)
A top-down indie action game where you’re a potato with guns, fighting off waves of enemies. Fun, energetic, and doesn’t require anything.
Minimum requirements:
- CPU: 1.0 GHz
- RAM: 2 GB
- GPU: integrated, OpenGL support
🌍 5. Papers, Please (old release, but still on top in 2020–2025)
🧪 7. Slay the Spire (still relevant!)
Minimum requirements:
- CPU: 1.5 GHz
- RAM: 2 GB
- GPU: any
⚔️ 6. Dome Keeper (2022)
Retro shooter + base defense. You defend the dome, dig down, find resources and repel attacks. The graphics are pixelated, but very stylish.
Minimum requirements:
- CPU: 1.8 GHz
- RAM: 4 GB
- GPU: Intel HD 4000
🧪 7. Slay the Spire (still relevant!)
A card roguelike that gave birth to an entire genre. Hundreds of strategies, leveling up, unique builds. Runs on everything.
Minimum requirements:
- CPU: 2 GHz
- RAM: 4 GB
- GPU: any
🧩 8. The Case of the Golden Idol (2022)
A 90s-style detective game where you solve mysterious murders. The graphics are simple, but the puzzles are up to par.
Minimum requirements:
- CPU: 1.6 GHz
- RAM: 2 GB
- GPU: with OpenGL 2.0 support
💣 9. Terraria (not aging, supported in 2024–2025)
A 2D sandbox where you can do everything: dig, build, fight. It is still being developed and runs smoothly even on a weak PC.
Minimum requirements:
- CPU: 2.0 GHz
- RAM: 2.5 GB
- GPU: any, 128 MB
🐉 10. Rogue: Genesia (2023)
A roguelike with elements of Vampire Survivors. Large crowds of enemies, dynamic upgrades, pixel graphics. Very light.
Minimum requirements:
- CPU: 2 GHz
- RAM: 4 GB
- GPU: integrated, 1 GB
📌 What else?
Here are a few more games that deserve attention:
- Undertale
- Celeste
- Dead Cells
- Hades (on minimum settings – also works!)
- Stardew Valley
🧠 Tips for weak PCs
Play in windowed mode with low resolution — it reduces the load.
Turn off shadows, lighting, anti-aliasing — FPS increase +30%.
Use FPS Unlocker or Razer Cortex — for optimization.
You can enjoy games even on a computer that can barely handle a browser. The main thing is to choose the right projects. And, as practice shows, it is not the graphics that make a game interesting, but the gameplay.