You don’t need a powerful graphics card to play amazing games. Many of the best titles ever made run happily on older laptops and computers with integrated graphics (graphics built into the processor).
Before you buy, always check the minimum requirements on the store page. Our guide on how to check your PC specs shows you how.
Light and brilliant
1. Stardew Valley
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, mobile · Released: 2016
A farming and life-sim game with simple pixel graphics. It runs on almost anything.
You inherit an old farm, grow crops, raise animals, go fishing and get to know the people of a small town. There is no rush and no real way to fail, so it suits quiet evenings.
Best for: anyone who wants a calm game to return to every day.
2. Terraria
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, mobile · Released: 2011
A 2D sandbox adventure with mining, building, dozens of bosses and thousands of items. It offers hundreds of hours of content.
At first it looks like a side-on Minecraft, but it is much more about combat and gear. Each boss you defeat changes the world and unlocks new materials.
Best for: players who like long-term goals and building with friends.
3. Undertale
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch · Released: 2015
A short, clever role-playing game that runs on nearly any computer.
Its big idea is that you never have to kill anyone. Every fight can be solved by talking, joking or showing mercy, and the story remembers how you behaved. A first run is short enough for a weekend.
Best for: players who enjoy funny writing and surprising ideas.
4. Celeste
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch · Released: 2018
A tight, challenging platformer with great music. It’s very light on hardware.
Madeline climbs a mountain while dealing with anxiety, and the story treats that topic with care. The levels are hard, but checkpoints come often. An Assist Mode can slow the game down if a section feels impossible.
Best for: players who like precise controls and a heartfelt story.
5. Balatro
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, mobile · Released: 2024
A card roguelike built around poker hands (no real money involved). It needs very little power.
You build scoring hands, then buy Joker cards that bend the rules in strange ways. Every run is different, and discovering a powerful combination is the main thrill.
Best for: puzzle fans who like breaking a system.
6. Vampire Survivors
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, mobile · Released: 2022
Simple controls, endless monsters, and very low requirements.
You only move. Your weapons fire on their own, and each level-up adds more, until the screen fills with light and numbers. A standard run lasts around half an hour. If heavy effects slow your laptop late in a run, the options menu lets you reduce flashing effects and damage numbers.
Best for: short sessions when your brain is tired.
7. Slay the Spire
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, mobile · Released: 2019
A card-battling roguelike, perfect for laptops, even on battery.
You climb a tower, add new cards to your deck after each fight and pick your route on a branching map. Everything is turn-based, so a slow machine never costs you a battle.
Best for: strategy fans who enjoy planning every move.
8. Into the Breach
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, mobile (via Netflix) · Released: 2018
A short-session strategy game where you defend cities from giant monsters. Every turn is a puzzle.
The enemy always shows you what it will attack next, so the challenge is to push, block and redirect those attacks. A free Advanced Edition update added new squads, weapons and a harder difficulty.
Best for: chess-like thinkers who want quick, clever battles.
9. Papers, Please
Platforms: PC, PS Vita, mobile · Released: 2013
Check passports at a border in a fictional country. The graphics are simple, but the story is powerful.
Each day the rules get stricter, and you must choose between following orders and helping desperate people. It sounds dull on paper, but it quickly becomes tense and morally difficult.
Best for: players who want a game that makes them think.
A bit more demanding (but still friendly)
10. Hollow Knight
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch · Released: 2017
Beautiful 2D art that runs well on modest hardware.
You explore a huge ruined insect kingdom full of hidden paths, tough bosses and new abilities that open earlier areas. It is long and often hard, but every shortcut you find feels like a reward.
Best for: fans of exploration and demanding combat.
11. Hades
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch · Released: 2020
Fast action that runs well on many older laptops when you lower the settings.
Zagreus tries to escape the underworld again and again, and each failed attempt moves the story forward. Greek gods offer new powers, so every run plays differently. If it stutters, try a lower resolution first, because the hand-painted art still looks good.
Best for: action fans who want a story with their combat.
12. Dead Cells
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, mobile · Released: 2018
A smooth 2D action roguelike with great combat.
Levels change on every run, and you unlock new weapons permanently as you progress. Fights are quick and reward learning enemy patterns.
Best for: players who like fast, skilful fights.
13. Portal 2
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch · Released: 2011
An older game, so it runs on most machines, and its puzzles are still some of the best ever.
You solve test chambers with a gun that creates linked portals, while a sarcastic computer comments on every mistake. The separate two-player co-op campaign is a highlight, so it is worth sharing with a friend.
Best for: puzzle lovers and anyone who enjoys sharp comedy.
14. Left 4 Dead 2
Platforms: PC, Xbox 360 · Released: 2009
Classic four-player zombie co-op that runs on very modest PCs.
The game’s “Director” changes where enemies and items appear, so the same campaign rarely plays the same way twice. Teamwork matters, because special zombies grab and pull away anyone who wanders off alone.
Best for: groups of friends who want chaotic co-op. More ideas in our best co-op games.
15. RimWorld
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One · Released: 2018
A colony simulator full of stories. The graphics are simple, but very large colonies can slow down older processors.
You manage crash-landed colonists, each with their own skills, moods and relationships. Raids, illnesses and odd events create stories nobody planned. To keep it smooth on an old processor, keep the number of colonists and animals modest.
Best for: players who love management games and unplanned drama.
Good to know: Steam lets you request a refund within 14 days of purchase if you’ve played for less than two hours. That gives you a safe way to test whether a game runs well on your laptop. Use that time to try the lowest settings and a lower resolution before you decide.
Quick picks
| You want… | Play |
|---|---|
| Something relaxing | Stardew Valley |
| Endless building and bosses | Terraria |
| A short, clever story | Undertale or Papers, Please |
| Quick turn-based strategy | Into the Breach |
| “One more run” all evening | Balatro or Slay the Spire |
| Fast action | Hades or Dead Cells |
| Co-op with friends | Left 4 Dead 2 or Portal 2 |
Tips to get the most out of an old laptop
- Plug in the charger while you play
- Close your browser and other apps
- Lower the resolution if a game stutters
A few more changes can make a real difference:
- Pick a performance power mode in Windows settings. Battery-saving modes hold the processor back.
- Update your graphics driver from Intel, AMD or NVIDIA. New drivers often fix problems in specific games.
- Keep the laptop on a hard, flat surface. Blankets and cushions block the air vents, and a hot laptop slows itself down.
To understand what each option does, see PC graphics settings explained.
More tips: how to make games run faster on a weak laptop.
From PixelAlex: You don’t need expensive hardware to enjoy great games. Many titles on this list are built to run smoothly even on modest machines.
Read next: How much RAM you need for gaming
Quick answers
Can a laptop with integrated graphics play games?
Yes. Every game on this list can run on typical integrated graphics, although the games in the second group may need lower settings. 2D games such as Stardew Valley, Balatro and Celeste are the lightest.
What free games run on a low-end PC?
Team Fortress 2 and Dota 2 have modest requirements and cost nothing. Our best free PC games list has more.
Why does a game stutter when my PC meets the minimum requirements?
Minimum requirements usually mean the lowest settings. Plug in the charger, close background apps and lower the resolution before changing anything else.
Do these games work on handheld PCs?
Most of them suit handhelds well because they are light. Our handheld gaming PC comparison explains the options.
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