Summary

  • Gaming on a laptop is possible with these best laptop games, no need for a high-end PC or newest consoles.
  • From RPGs to city builders, these games have low system requirements and are perfect for a casual gamer.
  • Don't miss out on the fun - try these laptop-friendly games, updated for a fresh audience in 2024.

Not all of us can shell out for the newest consoles or save up for a gaming PC. But chances are you probably have a laptop, whether it's for work, school, or to binge Netflix at the end of a long day. So the real question is, can you game on your laptop?

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The good news is that, in a world of next-gen graphics and ray-tracing, publishers are still producing games that can run on a laptop without a good graphics card. So here is a nice variety of the best laptop games you can play on old hardware without feeling like you're gaming in 2001.

Updated on June 2, 2024, by Mohamed El Ouardighi: Gaming is for everyone, even those with lower-end laptops looking for entertainment at home or on the go. We've spruced up this article to reach a fresh audience, and we're thrilled to present our latest recommendations to you.

Pentiment

Pentiment

Adventure Released November 15, 2022 Developer(s) Obsidian Entertainment Publisher(s) Xbox Game Studios Powered by Expand Collapse

While the sci-fi fun of The Outer Worlds and the shrunken survival of Grounded isn't in the cards, Pentiment is an intriguing 2D RPG of Obsidian's that's the most laptop-friendly game next to Fallout: New Vegas. Though it does need a more hefty storage space of 12GB, it only requires 4GB of RAM.

Pentiment is a striking game both visually and narratively. Its watercolor art style and font choices are reminiscent of the scriptures from the historical era it's set in: early 1500s Bavaria. It has a detailed story surrounding a murder mystery at an abbey where choice-based decisions come into account. Investigating it all is protagonist Andreas Maler, an illustrator of 16th-century manuscripts.

Signalis

Say you're into survival horror with a classic Resident Evil design, pixelated graphics, an inventory management system, and the like, but your laptop can't possibly run Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil 4 Remake. Signalis may just be the option for you. At max system requirement, you only need 2GB of free space and 4GB of RAM to launch it.

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Signalis combines the genres of horror, sci-fi, and anime, having you play as an android Replika named Elster, who must navigate an off-world facility where a mysterious outbreak has occurred.

This is also a good substitute for the Dead Space Remake, as the atmospheric lighting, sound design, and cosmic horror creatures play a big part in the experience.

Darkest Dungeon

Darkest Dungeon

RPG Released January 19, 2016 Developer(s) Red Hook Studios Publisher(s) Red Hook Studios Powered by Expand Collapse

A unique turn-based roguelike with the difficulty of Elden Ring and the Gothic horror flair inspired by Lovecraft that's perfect on a laptop is Darkest Dungeon. At a minimum, all you'll need is 2GB of RAM and available storage space. With a band of adventurers in this RPG, you'll venture into dark nightmarish settings to battle enemies equally fitting such a description.

The game's hand-drawn art style aesthetic and excellent variety of hero classes you can recruit make for compelling gameplay. The combat system is already quite an intense challenge, but it's also coupled with the Affliction system, which allows your characters to become stressed when you run out of light.

Pizza Tower

Pizza Tower

Platformer Released January 26, 2023 Developer(s) Tour De Pizza Publisher(s) Tour De Pizza Powered by Expand Collapse

There have been many amazing underrated 2D platformers over the years, and the original and wacky quality of Pizza Tower will certainly join their ranks. The cartoon style feels reminiscent of Cuphead, but the mechanics and level design take inspiration from Wario Land.

Its system requirements also hardly pose any detriment to your storage, only requiring 512MB of Ram and 300MB of space.

An Italian restaurateur comically named Peppino Spaghetti must dash and fight through levels of the titular Pizza Tower that brings strange monsters threatening his business. Along the way, you'll also receive letter ranks based on points and actions you take to clear the levels, with a stellar soundtrack in the background of it all.

Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors

Roguelike Released December 17, 2021 Developer(s) Luca Galante Publisher(s) Luca Galante Powered by Expand Collapse

There are games where you can play vampires, but Vampire Survivors has you going up against them in a bullet-hell rogue-lite fashion. The lore of this game is as minimalist and straightforward as its gameplay, centered on a fictional 2021 Italy, where the sinister Bisconte Draculó summons waves of evil forces you must survive based on time.

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You'll be able to select from a roster of heroic characters and defeat giant hordes across different locations in a pixel art top-down style. The reputation of Vampire Survivors and the hype it's been getting is a credit to its core loop, and you only need 1GB of Ram and 400MB of space to enjoy it.

Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight

Metroidvania Released February 24, 2017 Developer(s) Team Cherry Publisher(s) Team Cherry Powered by Expand Collapse

Believe it or not, Hollow Knight doesn't demand high system requirements, making it playable on your laptop with just 4GB of RAM and 9GB of free space. That's not too shabby for a game that'll likely keep you hooked for longer than expected, due to its challenging nature.

As a 2D Metroidvania Souls-like game, expect unique design and levels packed with challenging enemies bosses. It might not be the easiest game to play, but it's definitely worth it and does not require a high-end PC to enjoy this masterpiece, making it accessible for many.

Blasphemous

If you loved Hollow Knight, why not give Blasphemous a shot? It falls into the same genre, but this time you'll explore a stunning pixel art gothic world inspired by Spanish folklore as the Penitent One.

As you battle your way through using various weapons and abilities you can unlock, each area is packed with enemies to conquer and secrets to unveil. Plus, its system requirements are similar to, if not lower than, Hollow Knight's, so don't miss out on this thrilling and haunting adventure!

Age Of Empires 2: The Age Of Kings (1999)

A classic real-time strategy game is Age of Empires, and it can run on almost any laptop. Originally released in 1999, its longevity proves its compatibility with a wide range of laptops, requiring only 200 MB of disk space and 32 MB of RAM.

While there is a Definitive Edition of the game, the original Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings remains a classic, evoking a nostalgic feeling.

In this game, you can choose a civilization, build your empire, and enhance it by constructing towns, gathering resources, and creating armies to defeat opponents. Alongside the campaign mode, the game supports multiplayer over the Internet or via LAN. It's a great way to enjoy it either by yourself or with friends to determine the last empire standing.

Townscaper

Sometimes, you just want to build a cute little town atop the sea, no strings attached. Townscaper is a quaint city builder game minus the typical labor of city management. Instead, you just click, and up pops a house. Click again, and now you've got a two-story brownstone.

There is no 'end goal' in Townscaper, only a desire to build something beautiful for the sake of building it, and there is something special about that. Townscaper is available on Steam and only requires 1 GB of disk space and 4GB of RAM.

Alternatively, the incredibly generous demo of Townscaper can still be played in your browser of choice.

Isleward

Isleward prides itself on being the world's only "open-source, moddable, roguelike MMO," but most importantly, it is completely free and played entirely in your browser.

Initially launching on itch.io, and still technically in beta, this game blends old-school graphics and the nostalgia of text-based adventures with strategic turn-based battles against enemies. With options for PVP and even permadeath modes, Isleward is a surprisingly uncommon take on the MMORPG genre.

As a result, it's the best laptop game for MMORPG fans working within a budget.