By what a weak machine can run · ranked

Best games for a low-end PC: 25 ranked

Compiled by the GamingPickz team · Last updated 19 October 2026 · Free to read, nothing here is paid for

Every game here has modest requirements across the board: a low minimum on RAM and a weak, entry-level or integrated graphics card, so an old laptop or budget desktop can run it. Ranked by the GamingPickz Score, so the best-received sit at the top rather than just the lightest. This is the minimum to launch and be playable, not a promise of high settings.

The low-end PC games on a map

Compare the whole catalogue

The same 25 games, plotted rather than listed. The two axes below are the ones the ranking is built from, so a game sitting high and right is a game the formula placed near the top. Change either axis to see the field a different way. Where we hold a publisher wordmark, the game is drawn as its mark rather than a dot.

Horizontal

Vertical

Platform

25 games have both

Axes are fitted to these 25 games rather than the full 0 to 100 scale, because a filtered list shares a narrow band and would otherwise sit in one corner. End values are marked. A point on the left edge is the lowest of thesegames, not a low score.

Players. The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.

Popularity. A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.

Mobile
Multi-platform
PC
Xbox

Every point links to that game's entry. The value map and the reception map are fixed views of the same data.

How positions are decided

No paid placement, no favouritism, live third-party data

Placed by the published method, not by us. Every coordinate is computed from the axis definitions and weights printed on this site. Nobody moves a point. See the axes.
Nothing here is paid for. No sponsored placements, no promoted slots, no arrangement of any kind affects a position. If that ever changes it will be labelled and sit outside the ranking.
No favouritism, including our own. The 16 games we have written full reviews of are scored by exactly the same formula as the other 1,510, from the same third-party inputs, and they land where it puts them. Our own opinion of a game does not enter its coordinates.
A position is not an endorsement. It says how a game was received and what it costs, not that we recommend it. Where we do recommend something, it carries a written review with a name on it.
Fetched from live third-party data. Player sentiment from Steam, critic aggregates as published on store pages, prices checked hourly, attention from Wikipedia. Each figure carries its source and the date it was read, and we do not adjust any of them.

The short version

Top pick: Portal 2, GamingPickz Score 9.1/10 from 466,026 player reviews and a critic aggregate of 95.
42 score 8.5 or above out of 596 ranked low-end PC games.
Price range free to $59.99, median $14.99, with 79 free to play.
193 are Steam Deck Verified by Valve's own testing.
42 declare six or more accessibility features. Listed per game below.

At a glance

The top 12 side by side. Full entries below.

Top ranked low-end PC games
#	Game	Minimum	Score	Players	Price
1	Portal 2	2 GB RAM · Video card must be 128 MB	9.1	99% (466,026)	$9.99
2	Hades	4 GB RAM · 1GB	9.0	98% (308,085)	$24.99
3	Half-Life 2	0.5 GB RAM · DirectX 8.1 level Graphics Card (requires support for SSE)	9.0	98% (278,618)	$9.99
4	Hollow Knight	4 GB RAM · GeForce GTX 560 Ti (1GB)	8.9	97% (559,290)	$14.99
5	People Playground	4 GB RAM · Graphics card with DX10 (shader model 4.0) capabilities	8.9	98% (317,401)	$9.99
6	Left 4 Dead 2	2 GB RAM · Video card with 128 MB	8.8	98% (1,055,804)	$9.99
7	Stardew Valley	2 GB RAM · 256 mb video	8.8	98% (1,035,189)	$14.99
8	Bloons TD 6	4 GB RAM · OpenGL 2.0 compatible	8.8	97% (394,354)	$13.99
9	Undertale	2 GB RAM · 128MB	8.8	96% (338,731)	$9.99
10	The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	2 GB RAM	8.8	95% (317,769)	$19.99
11	Slay the Spire	2 GB RAM · 1Gb Video	8.8	97% (217,947)	$24.99
12	Terraria	2.5 GB RAM	8.7	97% (1,550,032)	$9.99

25 best low-end PC games, ranked

Ordered by GamingPickz Score. Every figure links back to the source that produced it.

Sort by

1
Portal 2
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
9.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Portal 2 at a glance
Released 2011 Studio Valve
Player sentiment 99% positive of 466,026 Critics 95/100
Price $9.99 Steam Deck verified
Install size 8 GB Accessibility 7 declared features
Raw 99% shrinks to 99.0 on 466,026 reviews, then blends with the 95 critic aggregate, giving 9.1.
What the data supports
- 99% positive across 466,026 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
PC
Full entry Games like this Mods Store page
2
Hades
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
9.0GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Hades at a glance
Released 2020 Studio Supergiant Games
Player sentiment 98% positive of 308,085 Critics 93/100
Price $24.99 Steam Deck verified
Install size 15 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature
Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 308,085 reviews, then blends with the 93 critic aggregate, giving 9.0.
What the data supports
- 98% positive across 308,085 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
PC
Full entry Games like this Store page
3
Half-Life 2
Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist
9.0GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Half-Life 2 at a glance
Released 2004 Studio Not recorded
Player sentiment 98% positive of 278,618 Critics 96/100
Price $9.99 Steam Deck verified
Install size 6.35 GB Accessibility 9 declared features
Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 278,618 reviews, then blends with the 96 critic aggregate, giving 9.0.
What the data supports
- 98% positive across 278,618 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 9 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first
- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
Android Android Tablet PC PlayStation 3 Xbox Xbox 360
Full entry Games like this Mods Store page
4
Hollow Knight
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.9GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Hollow Knight at a glance
Released 2017 Studio Team Cherry
Player sentiment 97% positive of 559,290 Critics 87/100
Price $14.99 Steam Deck verified
Install size 9 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature
Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 559,290 reviews, then blends with the 87 critic aggregate, giving 8.9.
What the data supports
- 97% positive across 559,290 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 9 GB.
PC
Full entry Games like this Store page
5
People Playground
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.9GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
People Playground at a glance
Released 2019 Studio mestiez
Player sentiment 98% positive of 317,401 Critics No aggregate
Price $9.99 Steam Deck playable
Install size 0.34 GB Accessibility 0 declared features
Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 317,401 reviews, giving 8.9. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports
- 98% positive across 317,401 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 0.34 GB.
Worth checking first
- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
PC
Full entry Games like this Mods Store page
6
Left 4 Dead 2
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Left 4 Dead 2 at a glance
Released 2009 Studio Not recorded
Player sentiment 98% positive of 1,055,804 Critics 89/100
Price $9.99 Steam Deck verified
Install size 13 GB Accessibility 8 declared features
Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 1,055,804 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports
- 98% positive across 1,055,804 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 8 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first
- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
PC Xbox 360 Steam Deck
Full entry Games like this Mods Store page
7
Stardew Valley
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Stardew Valley at a glance
Released 2016 Studio ConcernedApe LLC
Player sentiment 98% positive of 1,035,189 Critics 89/100
Price $14.99 Steam Deck verified
Install size 0.49 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature
Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 1,035,189 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports
- 98% positive across 1,035,189 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 0.49 GB.
iOS Android iPad Android Tablet PlayStation Vita PC
Full entry Games like this Store page
8
Bloons TD 6
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.8GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
Bloons TD 6 at a glance
Released 2018 Studio Ninja Kiwi
Player sentiment 97% positive of 394,354 Critics No aggregate
Price $13.99 Steam Deck playable
Install size 2 GB Accessibility 0 declared features
Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 394,354 reviews, giving 8.8. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports
- 97% positive across 394,354 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 2 GB.
Worth checking first
- Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.
PC
Full entry Games like this Store page
9
Undertale
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Undertale at a glance
Released 2015 Studio 8-4
Player sentiment 96% positive of 338,731 Critics 92/100
Price $9.99 Steam Deck playable
Install size 0.2 GB Accessibility 0 declared features
Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 338,731 reviews, then blends with the 92 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports
- 96% positive across 338,731 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 0.2 GB.
PlayStation Vita PC PlayStation 4 Xbox One Xbox Series X and Series S Nintendo Switch
Full entry Games like this Store page

Portal 2 at a glance
Released	2011	Studio	Valve
Player sentiment	99% positive of 466,026	Critics	95/100
Price	$9.99	Steam Deck	verified
Install size	8 GB	Accessibility	7 declared features

Hades at a glance
Released	2020	Studio	Supergiant Games
Player sentiment	98% positive of 308,085	Critics	93/100
Price	$24.99	Steam Deck	verified
Install size	15 GB	Accessibility	1 declared feature

Half-Life 2 at a glance
Released	2004	Studio	Not recorded
Player sentiment	98% positive of 278,618	Critics	96/100
Price	$9.99	Steam Deck	verified
Install size	6.35 GB	Accessibility	9 declared features

Hollow Knight at a glance
Released	2017	Studio	Team Cherry
Player sentiment	97% positive of 559,290	Critics	87/100
Price	$14.99	Steam Deck	verified
Install size	9 GB	Accessibility	1 declared feature

People Playground at a glance
Released	2019	Studio	mestiez
Player sentiment	98% positive of 317,401	Critics	No aggregate
Price	$9.99	Steam Deck	playable
Install size	0.34 GB	Accessibility	0 declared features

Left 4 Dead 2 at a glance
Released	2009	Studio	Not recorded
Player sentiment	98% positive of 1,055,804	Critics	89/100
Price	$9.99	Steam Deck	verified
Install size	13 GB	Accessibility	8 declared features

Stardew Valley at a glance
Released	2016	Studio	ConcernedApe LLC
Player sentiment	98% positive of 1,035,189	Critics	89/100
Price	$14.99	Steam Deck	verified
Install size	0.49 GB	Accessibility	1 declared feature

Bloons TD 6 at a glance
Released	2018	Studio	Ninja Kiwi
Player sentiment	97% positive of 394,354	Critics	No aggregate
Price	$13.99	Steam Deck	playable
Install size	2 GB	Accessibility	0 declared features

Undertale at a glance
Released	2015	Studio	8-4
Player sentiment	96% positive of 338,731	Critics	92/100
Price	$9.99	Steam Deck	playable
Install size	0.2 GB	Accessibility	0 declared features

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim at a glance
Released	2011	Studio	Bethesda Game Studios
Player sentiment	95% positive of 317,769	Critics	94/100
Price	$19.99	Steam Deck	playable
Install size	Not stated	Accessibility	1 declared feature

Raw 95% shrinks to 95.0 on 317,769 reviews, then blends with the 94 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.

What the data supports

95% positive across 317,769 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.

Worth checking first

Flagged for mature content on its store page.

Full entry Games like this Store page

11
Slay the Spire
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Slay the Spire at a glance
Released 2019 Studio Mega Crit
Player sentiment 97% positive of 217,947 Critics 89/100
Price $24.99 Steam Deck verified
Install size 1 GB Accessibility 6 declared features
Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 217,947 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports
- 97% positive across 217,947 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 1 GB.
PC
Full entry Games like this Mods Store page
12
Terraria
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Terraria at a glance
Released 2011 Studio 505 Games
Player sentiment 97% positive of 1,550,032 Critics 83/100
Price $9.99 Steam Deck verified
Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature
Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 1,550,032 reviews, then blends with the 83 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports
- 97% positive across 1,550,032 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
Worth checking first
- Players rate it well above critics, 97 against 83. Usually a sign it improved after launch, or that it delivers something reviewers undervalued.
Nintendo 3DS iOS Android iPad Android Tablet PlayStation Vita
Full entry Games like this Store page
13
Team Fortress 2
Best for: Trying the genre without spending anything
8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Team Fortress 2 at a glance
Released 2007 Studio Not recorded
Player sentiment 91% positive of 1,248,892 Critics 92/100
Price Free Steam Deck playable
Install size 15 GB Accessibility 6 declared features
Raw 91% shrinks to 91.0 on 1,248,892 reviews, then blends with the 92 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports
- 91% positive across 1,248,892 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Free to download, so trying it costs only time.
Worth checking first
- Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.
- Multiplayer only. There is no solo mode to fall back on.
PC PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 Steam Deck
Full entry Games like this Mods Store page

Slay the Spire at a glance
Released	2019	Studio	Mega Crit
Player sentiment	97% positive of 217,947	Critics	89/100
Price	$24.99	Steam Deck	verified
Install size	1 GB	Accessibility	6 declared features

Terraria at a glance
Released	2011	Studio	505 Games
Player sentiment	97% positive of 1,550,032	Critics	83/100
Price	$9.99	Steam Deck	verified
Install size	Not stated	Accessibility	1 declared feature

Team Fortress 2 at a glance
Released	2007	Studio	Not recorded
Player sentiment	91% positive of 1,248,892	Critics	92/100
Price	Free	Steam Deck	playable
Install size	15 GB	Accessibility	6 declared features

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition

Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition at a glance
Released	2019	Studio	FromSoftware, Inc.
Player sentiment	95% positive of 354,898	Critics	88/100
Price	$59.99	Steam Deck	verified
Install size	25 GB	Accessibility	1 declared feature

Raw 95% shrinks to 95.0 on 354,898 reviews, then blends with the 88 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.

What the data supports

95% positive across 354,898 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.

Worth checking first

Flagged for mature content on its store page.

Full entry Games like this Store page

Tomb Raider Game of the Year

Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence

Tomb Raider Game of the Year at a glance
Released	2013	Studio	Crystal Dynamics
Player sentiment	96% positive of 269,396	Critics	86/100
Price	$2.99	Steam Deck	verified
Install size	Not stated	Accessibility	1 declared feature

Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 269,396 reviews, then blends with the 86 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.

What the data supports

96% positive across 269,396 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.

Worth checking first

Flagged for mature content on its store page.

Full entry Games like this Store page

16
ULTRAKILL
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.7GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
ULTRAKILL at a glance
Released 2020 Studio Arsi "Hakita" Patala
Player sentiment 97% positive of 242,150 Critics No aggregate
Price $29.99 Steam Deck verified
Install size 3 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature
Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 242,150 reviews, giving 8.7. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports
- 97% positive across 242,150 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 3 GB.
Worth checking first
- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
PC
Full entry Games like this Store page

ULTRAKILL at a glance
Released	2020	Studio	Arsi "Hakita" Patala
Player sentiment	97% positive of 242,150	Critics	No aggregate
Price	$29.99	Steam Deck	verified
Install size	3 GB	Accessibility	1 declared feature

Sid Meier's Civilization V

Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence

Sid Meier's Civilization V at a glance
Released	2010	Studio	Firaxis Games
Player sentiment	96% positive of 210,613	Critics	90/100
Price	$29.99	Steam Deck	playable
Install size	Not stated	Accessibility	0 declared features

Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 210,613 reviews, then blends with the 90 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.

What the data supports

96% positive across 210,613 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.

Full entry Games like this Store page

18
Dead Cells
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Dead Cells at a glance
Released 2018 Studio Motion Twin
Player sentiment 97% positive of 183,007 Critics 89/100
Price $24.99 Steam Deck verified
Install size 0.49 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature
Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 183,007 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports
- 97% positive across 183,007 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 0.49 GB.
Worth checking first
- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
PC
Full entry Games like this Mods Store page

Dead Cells at a glance
Released	2018	Studio	Motion Twin
Player sentiment	97% positive of 183,007	Critics	89/100
Price	$24.99	Steam Deck	verified
Install size	0.49 GB	Accessibility	1 declared feature

Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition

Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category

8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence

Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition at a glance
Released	2009	Studio	PopCap Games, Inc.
Player sentiment	98% positive of 155,468	Critics	87/100
Price	$4.99	Steam Deck	unsupported
Install size	Not stated	Accessibility	0 declared features

Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 155,468 reviews, then blends with the 87 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.

What the data supports

98% positive across 155,468 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.

Worth checking first

Valve rates it Unsupported on the Steam Deck.

Full entry Games like this Store page

20
MiSide
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
8.7GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
MiSide at a glance
Released 2024 Studio AIHASTO
Player sentiment 98% positive of 141,903 Critics No aggregate
Price $14.99 Steam Deck playable
Install size 2 GB Accessibility 0 declared features
Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 141,903 reviews, giving 8.7. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports
- 98% positive across 141,903 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 2 GB.
Worth checking first
- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
PC
Full entry Games like this Store page
21
Garry's Mod
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.6GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
Garry's Mod at a glance
Released 2006 Studio Not recorded
Player sentiment 97% positive of 1,261,793 Critics No aggregate
Price $9.99 Steam Deck playable
Install size 10 GB Accessibility 6 declared features
Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 1,261,793 reviews, giving 8.6. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports
- 97% positive across 1,261,793 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Cloud saves and cross-platform play, so progress follows you between machines.
- Small install at 10 GB.
PC
Full entry Games like this Mods Store page
22
Among Us
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.6GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Among Us at a glance
Released 2018 Studio Innersloth
Player sentiment 92% positive of 746,102 Critics 85/100
Price $2.99 Steam Deck playable
Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature
Raw 92% shrinks to 92.0 on 746,102 reviews, then blends with the 85 critic aggregate, giving 8.6.
What the data supports
- 92% positive across 746,102 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
Worth checking first
- Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.
- Multiplayer only. There is no solo mode to fall back on.
PC
Full entry Games like this Store page
23
Risk of Rain 2
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.6GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Risk of Rain 2 at a glance
Released 2020 Studio Hopoo Games
Player sentiment 94% positive of 352,120 Critics 85/100
Price $8.24 Steam Deck playable
Install size 4 GB Accessibility 6 declared features
Raw 94% shrinks to 94.0 on 352,120 reviews, then blends with the 85 critic aggregate, giving 8.6.
What the data supports
- 94% positive across 352,120 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 4 GB.
PC
Full entry Games like this Store page
24
Slime Rancher
Best for: Sinking a long time into one world
8.6GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Slime Rancher at a glance
Released 2017 Studio Monomi Park
Player sentiment 98% positive of 156,780 Critics 81/100
Price $19.99 Steam Deck playable
Install size 1 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature
Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 156,780 reviews, then blends with the 81 critic aggregate, giving 8.6.
What the data supports
- 98% positive across 156,780 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 1 GB.
Worth checking first
- Players rate it well above critics, 98 against 81. Usually a sign it improved after launch, or that it delivers something reviewers undervalued.
PC
Full entry Games like this Store page
25
Inscryption
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
8.6GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
Inscryption at a glance
Released 2021 Studio Daniel Mullins Games
Player sentiment 97% positive of 148,199 Critics 85/100
Price $19.99 Steam Deck playable
Install size 3 GB Accessibility 0 declared features
Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 148,199 reviews, then blends with the 85 critic aggregate, giving 8.6.
What the data supports
- 97% positive across 148,199 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 3 GB.
PC
Full entry Games like this Store page

MiSide at a glance
Released	2024	Studio	AIHASTO
Player sentiment	98% positive of 141,903	Critics	No aggregate
Price	$14.99	Steam Deck	playable
Install size	2 GB	Accessibility	0 declared features

Garry's Mod at a glance
Released	2006	Studio	Not recorded
Player sentiment	97% positive of 1,261,793	Critics	No aggregate
Price	$9.99	Steam Deck	playable
Install size	10 GB	Accessibility	6 declared features

Among Us at a glance
Released	2018	Studio	Innersloth
Player sentiment	92% positive of 746,102	Critics	85/100
Price	$2.99	Steam Deck	playable
Install size	Not stated	Accessibility	1 declared feature

Risk of Rain 2 at a glance
Released	2020	Studio	Hopoo Games
Player sentiment	94% positive of 352,120	Critics	85/100
Price	$8.24	Steam Deck	playable
Install size	4 GB	Accessibility	6 declared features

Slime Rancher at a glance
Released	2017	Studio	Monomi Park
Player sentiment	98% positive of 156,780	Critics	81/100
Price	$19.99	Steam Deck	playable
Install size	1 GB	Accessibility	1 declared feature

Inscryption at a glance
Released	2021	Studio	Daniel Mullins Games
Player sentiment	97% positive of 148,199	Critics	85/100
Price	$19.99	Steam Deck	playable
Install size	3 GB	Accessibility	0 declared features

How to choose between these

25 entries, six things that separate them

The ranking answers "which is best received". It cannot answer "which is best for you", because that depends on things no formula knows. Here is what actually separates these 25 low-end PC games, in the order worth thinking about it.

Check the sample size before the score
A score is only as good as the evidence under it. 25 of these have more than 50,000 player reviews, which makes their number very hard to move.
Look at where critics and players disagree
The widest gap here is Slime Rancher, where players sit above critics by 17 points. A gap that size usually means the game changed after launch, or that it does something critics undervalue. It is worth reading why before deciding which number you trust. The disagreement map plots this across the catalogue.
Decide what you are actually willing to spend
The median here is $14.99, and the cheapest paid entry is Tomb Raider Game of the Year at $2.99. Prices move constantly, so a game a place or two down the list is often the better buy this week. Filter by price below rather than assuming the top pick is the right purchase.
Match it to the hardware you own
12 of these are Steam Deck Verified by Valve's own testing, and install sizes vary by more than an order of magnitude. If you are choosing for a handheld or a drive that is nearly full, that narrows the field faster than any score.
Check it supports how you want to play
Solo, with a friend online, or two people on one sofa are different requirements, and a well-reviewed game that does not support yours is the wrong game. The filters below answer this directly.
Look for the things a score hides
7 declare six or more accessibility features, and 3 carry in-game purchases. Neither shows up in a review score, and both change the experience substantially. Each entry lists its own.

Choose one if…

Tick what matters to you. This filters the ranking above rather than reordering it, so the order you see is still the order the formula produced, minus the games that do not fit. Every filter reads a field from the game's own store listing.

Nothing selected, so all 25 low-end PC games are shown below. Pick one or more above to narrow it.

The best low-end PC games for a specific need

The ranking answers "which is best overall", which is rarely the actual question. These are the answers to the narrower ones, computed from the same scores, so a single pick is named for each.

What is the best cheap low-end PC game?: Portal 2, top of 19.
What is the best co-op low-end PC game?: Portal 2, top of 8.
What is the best low-end PC game for the Steam Deck?: Portal 2, top of 12.
What is the best low-end PC game for a small hard drive?: Portal 2, top of 18.
What is the best accessible low-end PC game?: Portal 2, top of 7.
What is the best low-end PC game to play with a controller?: Portal 2, top of 15.
What is the best offline low-end PC game?: Portal 2, top of 20.
What is the best cheap co-op low-end PC game?: Portal 2, top of 8.
What is the best single-player offline low-end PC game?: Portal 2, top of 19.
What is the best cheap low-end PC game for the Steam Deck?: Portal 2, top of 7.
What is the best Steam Deck co-op low-end PC game?: Portal 2, top of 4.
What is the best highly rated cheap low-end PC game?: Portal 2, top of 19.
What is the best accessible single-player low-end PC game?: Portal 2, top of 6.

Why trust this list

Most "best games" lists are either one person's taste presented as fact, or an affiliate feed with the highest commission at the top. This is neither. It is a ranking of 596 low-end PC games computed from two third-party signals we did not generate, using a formula printed below.

Our team has played and reviewed games for over twenty years, somewhere around 3,000 titles across every generation since the PS1. That experience is what lets us tell you which of these numbers are worth trusting, but it is not what set the order. The formula did, and that is the right way round: a list ordered by one person's memory you have to take on trust, and this one you can check line by line.

The order comes out of the grid. Every game in the catalogue is placed on measured axes, each a number read from a named source rather than an opinion: player sentiment and its sample size, the critic aggregate, review volume, Wikipedia language editions, price, install size, Steam Deck rating, accessibility features. A ranked list is that grid collapsed to one dimension. The map on this page plots these same 25 games on two of those axes, so you can check the ranking against where each game actually sits.

None of the entries on this page carry a full written review from us yet. The score reflects how other people received the game. Where we do publish a review, it is marked and linked.

How the ranking works

This ranking is a projection of the same axes the grid plots, not a second scoring system. A game cannot be high on the grid and low here for a reason nobody can point at, because both read the same values. Every ranked game gets a GamingPickz Score out of 10, a weighted blend of the axes below, read directly from the code that computes the ranking so the published formula cannot drift from the applied one.

Score weights
Component	Weight	What it is
Players	52%	The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.
Critics	23%	Metacritic and OpenCritic aggregate, normalised to 0 to 100.
Popularity	20%	A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.
Reader likes	5%	How many GamingPickz readers tapped the heart on the game, log-scaled to 0 to 100. This is the only signal here that comes from our own readers rather than a third party, so it carries a deliberately small weight and is a snapshot taken at the last build, not a live figure. A per-browser flag stops the same person liking twice; it is a popularity reaction, not a verified poll.

Shrinkage is the part that matters most. Without it a game with nine reviews at 100 percent outranks a classic with 278,000 at 98. Player sentiment is pulled toward the catalogue average of 84 using a 400-review prior, in proportion to how thin the evidence is. Games with fewer than 50 reviews are excluded outright. No paid placement, no sponsored slots dressed as editorial, no hidden weighting.

games for a low-end PC by the numbers

The figures below describe all 596 entries on this page together, not the top pick. They are recomputed on every build, most recently on 19 October 2026, from 41,227,797 player reviews.

$14.99Median price79 free · $0.49 to $59.99

89%Median player sentiment5 pts above the catalogue average

70 ptsSpread, best to worst293 at 90% or better · 69 under 70%

2015Median release year44 from the last five years · oldest 1979

65Discounted right nowaveraging 70% off list

193Steam Deck Verified11 GB average install

What the pricing looks like

474 of the 596 carry a listed US price, with a median of $14.99 and a mean of $17.71. The mean sitting above the median tells you the field is pulled up by a few expensive outliers. The cheapest is Puzzle Galaxies at $0.49, the most expensive Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition at $59.99. 79 are free to download. 72 carry in-game purchases on top of whatever they cost. Prices are read hourly from the US Steam storefront and move constantly.

How much this field agrees with itself

Player sentiment spans 70 points across these 596 entries. That is a wide band, which means the position of an entry here genuinely matters rather than splitting hairs. 340 carry a critic aggregate, averaging 80 out of 100. Players rate this field 8 points higher than critics on average, which is worth knowing before you weigh either number. See where the two diverge.

Who makes them, and what they overlap with

The studios appearing most often here are Capcom (13), Feral Interactive (Mac) (7), Telltale Games (7), Traveller's Tales (7) and Feral Interactive (Linux) (6). The genres these entries also sit in are strategy (203), rpg (202), open-world (189), simulation (158), horror (117) and survival (114), which is a fair map of what you are actually choosing between.

Which way attention is moving

We track Wikipedia pageviews over 28 days for 162 of these. 44 are gaining attention and 64 are losing it, with the rest flat. Attention is not quality, and we do not feed it into the ranking. The full monitor shows the movements across the catalogue.

The other 571 low-end PC games

The 25 above are the top of the ranking. These 571 are the rest: games that ranked below the cut, and games with too few reviews or no store listing to be ranked at all.

Also catalogued

571 more low-end PC games, not yet reviewed

None of these carry a review yet. The rest are catalogue records: title, year, studio and platforms, sourced from Wikidata. They are not indexed by search engines, because a record is not a review.

Dota 22013 · Action RPG, Role-Playing · PC, Steam Decksource
War Thunder2012 · Gaijin Entertainment · MMORPG, Simulation · PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5source
The Forest2018 · Endnight Games · Horror, Open World · PCsource
Payday 22013 · Overkill Software · First-Person Shooter, Simulation · PC, Nintendo Switch, Steam Decksource
Dying Light2015 · Action Adventure, Action RPG · PCsource
Dark Souls III2016 · FromSoftware · Action RPG, Open World · PC, Xbox One, Steam Decksource
Subnautica2014 · Unknown Worlds Entertainment · Action Adventure, Horror · iOS, Android, iPadsource
Hearts of Iron IV2016 · Paradox Development Studio · Open World, Sandbox · PCsource
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice2019 · FromSoftware · Action Adventure, Open World · PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox Onesource
Paladins2018 · Evil Mojo Games · First-Person Shooter, MMORPG · PCsource
Borderlands 22012 · Gearbox Software · Action RPG, First-Person Shooter · Android, Android Tablet, PlayStation Vitasource
Tomb Raider1996 · Core Design · Action Adventure, Platformer · iOS, Android, iPadsource
Tomb Raider2013 · Crystal Dynamics · Action Adventure, Platformer · PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4source
VRChat2017 · VRChat Inc. · Horror, MMORPG · PCsource
Fallout: New Vegas2010 · Obsidian Entertainment · Action RPG, First-Person Shooter · PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360source
SCP: Secret Laboratory2017 · Northwood Studios · First-Person Shooter, Horror · PCsource
Doki Doki Literature Club!2017 · Team Salvato · Horror, Action Adventure · PCsource
Human Fall Flat2016 · No Brakes Games · Open World, Platformer · PCsource
鬼谷八荒 Tale of Immortal2023 · 鬼谷工作室 · Action Adventure, Action RPG · PCsource
Cuphead2017 · Studio MDHR · Platformer, Soulslike · PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox Onesource
Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete EditionRockstar North · Open World, Racing · PCsource
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition2020 · Rockstar North · Open World, Racing · PCsource
theHunter: Call of the Wild2017 · Expansive Worlds · First-Person Shooter, Open World · PCsource
Balatro2024 · LocalThunk · Roguelike, Strategy · PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Steam Decksource
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition2019 · World's Edge · Strategy · Xbox Series X and Series S, Steam Decksource

546 not shown

Common questions

What is the best low-end PC game?

Portal 2 ranks first, with a GamingPickz Score of 9.1 out of 10 drawn from 466,026 player reviews and a critic aggregate of 95. That is a statement about how it was received, not a claim that it is the one you personally will enjoy most.

How is this ranking calculated?

The GamingPickz Score is 52% player sentiment adjusted for sample size, 23% the critic aggregate published on the game store page, 20% popularity, from review volume and Wikipedia language editions, 5% popularity, from review volume and Wikipedia language editions. Player sentiment is pulled toward the catalogue average of 83.7% using a 400-review prior, so a game with a handful of reviews cannot outrank one with hundreds of thousands. Nothing on this page is paid for and no placement can be bought.

How many low-end PC games are ranked here?

596 of them qualify. A game needs at least 50 player reviews to be scored, which excludes titles with too little evidence to place fairly.

Why is a game I love missing?

Three likely reasons. It has fewer than 50 player reviews, so it is excluded rather than ranked on noise. It has no Steam listing at all, which is normal for console and Nintendo exclusives. Or it is not in the catalogue yet.

Do you get paid for these placements?

No. Positions are computed from the formula above and nothing else. The site carries advertising, and advertisers can neither see nor influence this page. A position is not an endorsement, it is a measurement of reception.

How current is this?

Recomputed on every build from source data read on a stated date. This page was last rebuilt on 19 October 2026. Player review counts move daily, so positions in the middle of the list shift more than those at the top or bottom.

Will these run smoothly on a weak PC?

They meet the minimum to launch and be playable, not to run at high frame rates or high settings. Integrated performance varies a lot between an old Intel chip and a recent AMD one.

What is the best cheap low-end PC game?

Portal 2 is the best cheap low-end PC game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 19 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

What is the best co-op low-end PC game?

Portal 2 is the best co-op low-end PC game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 8 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

What is the best low-end PC game for the Steam Deck?

Portal 2 is the best low-end PC game for the Steam Deck, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 12 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

What is the best low-end PC game for a small hard drive?

Portal 2 is the best low-end PC game for a small hard drive, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 18 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

What is the best accessible low-end PC game?

Portal 2 is the best accessible low-end PC game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 7 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

What is the best low-end PC game to play with a controller?

Portal 2 is the best low-end PC game to play with a controller, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 15 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

What is the best offline low-end PC game?

Portal 2 is the best offline low-end PC game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 20 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

What is the best cheap co-op low-end PC game?

Portal 2 is the best cheap co-op low-end PC game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 8 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

What is the best single-player offline low-end PC game?

Portal 2 is the best single-player offline low-end PC game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 19 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

What is the best cheap low-end PC game for the Steam Deck?

Portal 2 is the best cheap low-end PC game for the Steam Deck, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 7 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

What is the best Steam Deck co-op low-end PC game?

Portal 2 is the best Steam Deck co-op low-end PC game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 4 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

What is the best highly rated cheap low-end PC game?

Portal 2 is the best highly rated cheap low-end PC game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 19 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

What is the best accessible single-player low-end PC game?

Portal 2 is the best accessible single-player low-end PC game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 6 of the 25 low-end PC games qualify.

Reader comments

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All ranked lists

Games for integrated graphicsGrouped by graphics card instead Games for 8 GB RAMGrouped by memory instead Compare on any criteriaPrice, accessibility, hardware, audience and more The reach and reception mapSee the whole field at once

Best games for a low-end PC: 25 ranked

The low-end PC games on a map

How positions are decided

The short version

At a glance

25 best low-end PC games, ranked

How to choose between these

Check the sample size before the score

Look at where critics and players disagree

Decide what you are actually willing to spend

Match it to the hardware you own

Check it supports how you want to play

Look for the things a score hides

Choose one if…

The best low-end PC games for a specific need

Why trust this list

How the ranking works

games for a low-end PC by the numbers

What the pricing looks like

How much this field agrees with itself

Who makes them, and what they overlap with

Which way attention is moving

The other 571 low-end PC games

Also catalogued

Common questions

Reader comments

Get the weekly rundown

Related