Starcraft: Brood War

Starcraft: Brood War for PC - Starcraft: Brood War PC Game - Starcraft: Brood War Computer Game
Release Date: Nov 30, 1998
Starcraft: Brood War is a goodie, but clearly an oldie. The game requires almost nothing in terms of processing power, and it should run well even on laptops. The game has no resolution settings, or detail settings to speak of, so even onboard graphics shouldn't have any trouble running it. The Brood War expansion requires the original Starcraft game, but you can find both for bargain prices these days.
Full Review >>

Guild Wars

Guild Wars for PC - Guild Wars PC Game - Guild Wars Computer Game
Release Date: Apr 26, 2005
If you want to get your MMO on in the low-end PC environment, it will have to be with Guild Wars. World of Warcraft runs well on slower CPUs and four-pipe video cards, but you'll need more than 256MB of system memory to get Azeroth in a playable state. Guild Wars bogged down our systems at standard settings, but we got the game to run decently well once we dropped the resolution down to 1024x768 and reduced the quality of the texture and terrain settings.
Full Review >>

Civilization IV

Civilization IV for PC - Civilization IV PC Game - Civilization IV Computer Game
Release Date: Oct 25, 2005
Civilization IV is a fairly new game, but it worked fine on our test systems. We dropped the texture settings down to minimum levels to smooth out the frame rates. Load times were on the lengthy side and we encountered some hitching, but gameplay didn't suffer too much since the game is turn-based. The game's minimum specifications only call for 256MB of memory, but going up to 512MB would probably help.
Download the Demo | Full Review >>

Half-Life: Counter-Strike 1.6

Half-Life: Counter-Strike for PC - Half-Life: Counter-Strike PC Game - Half-Life: Counter-Strike Computer Game
Release Date: Nov 8, 2000
It might be seven years old, but Counter-Strike still has a huge online community playing the game every single night. Our Radeon 9250 and GeForce 6200 cards ran the game fine at 1024x768. We also got CS: Source running at 30-40 frames per second on our systems with minimal eye candy. The upgraded version was playable, but we recommend going with 1.6 because you'll need as many frames as you can get in a shooter like Counter-Strike.
Full Review >>

We only listed a few of the great games that don't require great hardware. Can you recommend more great games with forgiving system requirements?

857 Comments

  • hollow56771

    Posted Feb 19, 2009 11:25 am PT

    They are missing 2 games....... FALLOUT 1 AND 2

  • ajabshir

    Posted Jan 29, 2009 8:32 am PT

    I have ati 9250 and these are some of the great games that i have played using this card.
    Mafia-GTA SA-Civilization IV-Galactic Civilization 2-Tomb raider anniversary
    Brothers in arms 1-Fable the lost chapters-World of goo-Indigo prophecy-
    Prince Of Persia series-Freedom force vs the third reich-Never Winter Nights 1
    Sam & Max season 1-Shadow of Destiny-Syberia 1,2-The Godfather-Silent Hunters 3
    battle for middle earth 1-Ground control 2-Star Wars Empire At War-Star Wars KOTOR1
    Monkey Island series-Sherlock Holmes The Awakened-Guild Wars-Act of War Direct Action-C&C Generals-Black and White-Call of Duty-Hitman 1,2,3-Splinter Cell 1,2
    Beyond Good and Evil-Bad Mojo-Perimeter-Empire Earth 2-Disciples 2-Nexus
    Broken Sword 2,3-Myst 3,4-Silent Hill 4-Grandia 2

  • Rovelius

    Posted Dec 28, 2008 4:20 pm PT

    @Xavier_12

    My old computer (P4 1,8Ghz, 512 RAM and GeForce 6200) couldn't run BF 1942 at all, even on Low. I wouldn't really recommend it on this post.

    However, there are more great games that should've been listed here. I would add :

    -Diablo 2
    -Soul Reaver 1 (even the sequel can run fine on a 900Mhz+ CPU)
    -Max Payne
    -Halo 1 (even better, Custom Edition)
    -Ragnarok Online
    -Resident Evil 1,2 and 3 if you're running on 95/98 (won't work on 2000/XP)
    -Half-Life 1
    -Phantasy Star Online PC
    -Age of Empires 2
    -Neverwinter Nights
    -Morrowind + Tribunal & Bloodmoon
    -Aliens vs. Predator 2 (AWESOME GAME and runs VERY well on 500Mhz+)
    -Any PS1 games on an emulator runs flawlessly even on a 500Mhz P3

  • yaataa

    Posted Aug 7, 2008 9:57 am PT

    Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War runs on 256mb RAM
    but graphics settings must all be set at low
    it still looks good and a very good RTS game

  • lanan3

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 8:10 pm PT

    u can run gothic 2 with those settings ,too. i play with everything maxed out on a p4 3ghz, 512mb ddr ram, and radeon 9250 pci with 256mb ddr ram

  • dinopoke

    Posted Dec 16, 2007 4:51 pm PT

    dumdum32: You're graphics card is letting you down. I have a similar system: P4 1.5 Ghz , 256mb Ram, but my graphics card is a ATI 256mb Radeon 9250. I can run GTA: SA pretty smoothly with everything on low at 640*480. Just upgrade your graphics card and you will do fine! ;-)

  • cyrusazad

    Posted Nov 10, 2007 3:34 am PT

    Halo For The PC is also great witonly a 733 mhz processor,1.2 gig of hd and 128 meg of ram

  • barney_calhoun_

    Posted Jun 15, 2007 11:57 am PT

    polo_747, you can play oblivion with a 6200...

  • dumdum32

    Posted Jun 12, 2007 1:57 am PT

    Cool but GTA SA won't work on my system - 1.6ghz P4, 256mb ram, geforce2mx 200 64mb, 200gb hdd - whats my prob?

  • Polo_747

    Posted May 5, 2007 11:50 am PT

    Yeah, this needs no introduction 4 me. Im wat u call an old-skool gamer. I don't hav enough money 2 upgrade 2 a kickass system so im just happy with good ol' classics.It just so happens that i have a 6200. And that I play warcraft and counter strike every 2nd friday at a lan with my friends. I've got one of the best computers in my clan, with the best graphics card. As for San Andreas, clocked it, and it was one of the best games iv ever played. Same goes for Starcraft. Im quite content with my old-skool rig. ciao

  • sonofashrub

    Posted Mar 18, 2007 7:01 pm PT

    these games don't require good hardware???!?!?! the only game in that list that meets that requirement is starcraft. i'm looking for a list that nonspoiled unrich kids can use.

  • Xavier_12

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 8:56 pm PT

    I love this thread. My list includes:
    Half Life 1 Game of the Year Edition
    Warcraft III/Frozen Throne
    Starcraft/ Brood War
    America's Army
    Civ Series
    Warhammer 40,000 RTS
    Grim Fandango
    Pirates!
    World of Warcraft
    Battlefield 1942

  • linkthewindow

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 9:20 pm PT

    Somebody's already said this, but what about BF:Vietnam and BF: 1942.
    They both run fine with my 512MB RAM, 64MB VRAM and 3.2 Ghz processer computer.
    With all the mods, its a million games in one!

  • evolutionex

    Posted Nov 1, 2006 11:34 am PT

    Some Nice games that won't kill you system

    Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory
    Painkiller
    Quake III Arena
    Age of Empires II
    Age of Mythology
    Need for Speed: Underground
    Hitman 2: Silent Assasin
    Battlefield 1942
    No One Lives Forever 2
    007: Nightfire

    Well there are plenty of other great titles, but only these came into mind right now all of above games will work smoothly on a 1.8GHz CPU with 256MB of Ram and a GeForce FX5200 64MB offcourse having a 128MB FX5200 is much better

  • Zeroshift

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 10:40 am PT

    I have a 2.8 Ghz Pentium 4 with a GB of RAM with a 256 Radeon 9250 and it runs most games pretty well. I can play Far Cry on 1280x1020 medium resolution with it running at 20-40 FPS. I set it all on its lowest settings and it can play at around 80 FPS. I'm satisfied with what I got so far.

  • UT_Killer

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 7:15 pm PT

    I've played Indigo Prophecy (aka Farenheit) very well on a Celeron 2.13Ghz, 256 MB DDR 333Mhz and an intel 82865G Integrated Graphics card.
    Other 'light' and good games are:

    Alien vs Predator 2 (great for multiplayer)
    Silent Hill 2 (i've played with an Riva TNT2!!)
    Tom Clancy's Rainbox Six and Ghost Recon
    and many others

  • AARONRULZ1

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 11:32 am PT

    Rise of nations (the orignial and T&P).
    Medieval total war.

  • KrilleBurner

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 8:49 pm PT

    Well i say the best ufo game ever made was Ufo:defense:us.Version, ufo enemy unknown.European.Version
    But i lost my original many years tryed buy it but i cant seem to find it that sucks its a great game but they making a new one that was realesed oct 17.
    And that maked me very happy.
    Called: Ufo Extraterrestrials.
    The PC version is not the same fealing and its no god some research made the game Crash so im hoping to get my hands on a original PS Version
    Well later all

  • dsattam

    Posted Sep 25, 2006 12:05 pm PT

    Why nobody mentioned STARCRAFT!?!?!? Simply the best!!!
    Emperor: Battle for Dune...
    No One Lives Forever 1 & 2...
    Unreal Tournament 1...
    C&C Tiberian Sun, Red Alert, ...

  • Jdcrofts

    Posted Sep 23, 2006 9:07 am PT

    Darwinia, Darwinia, Darwinia. The ultimate game for anyone who doesn't have a good computer but still wants a deep experience. Any other game by Introversion will probably run well too, including the upcoming Defcon.

  • JohnnyCastaway

    Posted Sep 22, 2006 10:19 pm PT

    Grim Fandango

    Well... that's all you really need but there's always

    Monkey Island Games
    Psychonauts
    Settlers 2
    Narbacular Drop
    Uplink
    Darwinia

  • bareham

    Posted Sep 21, 2006 11:11 am PT

    i do like red alert 2

  • AdMordem

    Posted Sep 21, 2006 10:09 am PT

    i have a tnt2 and like 128 ram on a p3 borrowed Max Payne off a friend...
    runs great, fun game, nice twisted story

  • janekaleszczyk

    Posted Sep 17, 2006 12:07 am PT

    heroes of might and magic 3!!!!!!and i dont need anything else + random map generator.The best game ever

  • jack_masters

    Posted Sep 16, 2006 5:37 pm PT

    i'm surprised that nobody mentioned :
    Postal (1+2);
    Fable: the lost chapter; Darwinia; Gothic(1+2);
    Sniper elite;
    lego star wars(1+2);
    Call of cthulu(really low graphic settings).

  • zeeduckieez

    Posted Sep 10, 2006 4:20 pm PT

    gregor101 you are 100% right! Adn plus you could still play oblivion with a 6200, just not at max settings

  • gegor101

    Posted Sep 10, 2006 8:11 am PT

    wheres morrowind + Tribunal and Bloodmoon? its the greatest RPG hmmmmmmm...ever

  • yeuj

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 8:24 pm PT

    RISE OF NATIONS!!!!!!!! (original and expansion, not Rise of Legends)

  • SoberWarock

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 12:08 am PT

    But that is like two games only.

  • squiben666

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 1:56 pm PT

    i hate that all mmop's cost a monthly fee to play id love to game on them but i don't have that kinda money. but games like diablo 2, any rts that runs on the battle net server and also guild wars are games that won't strip your budget so u can still save up for that 360 ^_^

    Schwimwaggon
    Oh, and can't forget DOOM 95. As the first, FPS it is still entertaining today.:

    doom was not the first fps. im not old enough to know the first but i do know that wolfstien 3d came out first

  • CivicGSR

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 11:40 pm PT

    No one mentioned Rise of Nations (and the Thornes and Patriots expansion). This was one of my favorite RTS's ever, and runs fine on my laptop with built-in graphics. I also play Diablo 2 and Starcraft on it.

  • unleashed_dw

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 7:37 pm PT

    i stopped hardcore pc gaming eversince doom 3 was slowing down on my computer.but atleast i can play halo and the multiplayer is awesome. pc gaming is just to expensive for my wallet.

  • jamie15

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 4:21 am PT

    Well the 2 of the greatest games ever run on my crappy dell 3100c they are dungeon keeper 1+2 and baldurs gate.

  • azureel

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 1:19 am PT

    Delta Force [good ol days]
    Fifa '97 [musics are awesome. they rock!]
    Fifa 2002 [buggy but still nice]
    Soldier of Fortune [GHOUL technology rules]
    Dune 2000
    Zeus, Pharaoh, Caesar 3
    Civilization II
    Civ 3 + Conquest
    CnC Tiberian Sun + Firestorm [in the name of Kane]
    Half Life [this game is written to this topic for the 10th time i suppose (;]
    Medieval Totalwar
    Quake III Arena
    SimCity 3k
    Might and Magic IX

  • depeare

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 11:26 am PT

    All Tomb Raiders (except maybe TR III, so so Dark). Coming off of a PS ONE and PS2 to finally do all my gaming on the PC ( very expensive other wise), of course I have TR Legend and it's G R E A T.
    Anyway, Excellent job on your part to come up with replay possibilities. Any one know where to get any of these old platters?

  • Telcontar00

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 12:02 am PT

    Warcraft III: Reign Of Chaos and the Frozon Throne are the best RTS games I've ever played.. And Counter Strike is always fun when you have enough players online..

  • ender009

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 5:58 am PT

    I think the first Empire Earth was a pretty good game giving that my computer wasnt top notch.

  • satyanjoy

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 11:16 pm PT

    What about >>
    Call of Duty
    The Sims 1 & 2
    X-men legends 1 & 2

  • overcode

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 7:42 pm PT

    Mmmmm, Warcraft 3! Still haven't played an RTS I liked more.

  • crithon

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 11:22 am PT

    although I do have a direct X 9 3d card, I do enjoy simple games.
    I usually play majority of the Lucas Arts graphic adventure games using the SCUMMVM emulator.

  • JN_Fenrir

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 11:05 am PT

    I don't know if anyone has posted either of these yet, but I didn't see them in at least the past few pages.

    Warrock
    - Multiplayer FPS
    - Pentium 3, 800 Mhz / 512MB of RAM / Radeon 8500LE, Geforce MX400 or better
    - http://www.warrock.net/ (Currently in free beta)

    Soldat
    - Side-scrolling multiplayer shooter
    - 333MHz CPU, DirectX 8.1-compatible graphics card
    - http://www.soldat.pl/

  • knoakh

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 9:10 am PT

    That's really a load of games not requiering new hardware.

  • softcloud

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 8:35 am PT

    Not too sure of the system requirements but I know Unreal 2004 is an awesome game that I've been playing since last generations pcs.

  • KayDash

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 2:53 am PT

    I think what their asking is what games will run smooth on hardware specs such as P4 2.4 without HT,512 mb ram, 40 gb HD and a video card such as a 6200.

    Quake 4
    Age Of Mythology
    Half Life 2
    Dungeon Siege 2
    Warhammer 40k: Dawn of war
    Fifa 06
    Tony Hawk's: American Wasteland

  • chettyharish

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 12:09 am PT

    I Played VIETCONG on maximum settings on my old pc and it ran fine but sometimes the game looked stuck but at low settings the game ran excellent.The game is also one of the best.

  • slickr

    Posted Aug 27, 2006 7:50 pm PT

    GTA 3, GTA 3:VC, Splinter cell, Splinter cell 2, HL 2(DX , HL 2:EP 1(DX , Godfather: the game, Riddick, Doom 3, Civilisation 3, The suffering.
    All the games above will run smooth on a system with Intel P4 2.6GHz and/or AMD equalent processor, 768-1024mb ram, Nvidia FX and/or ATI 9xxx series

  • alucard1137

    Posted Aug 27, 2006 5:58 pm PT

    castlevania dracula x vampires kiss and rhondo of blood can play on almost every computer has some trouble on macs

  • Schwimwaggon

    Posted Aug 27, 2006 4:56 pm PT

    Oh, and can't forget DOOM 95. As the first, FPS it is still entertaining today.

  • Schwimwaggon

    Posted Aug 27, 2006 4:52 pm PT

    Wolfenstein: ET
    Halo: Combat Evolved
    Panzers: Phase 1

    I mean these are kick*** games that run on my prehistoric desktop.

  • SpaceSnail

    Posted Aug 27, 2006 4:07 pm PT

    Yes, of course! One of the greatest titles with great graphics but less eye-candy on purpose was

    THIEF - The Dark Project
    THIEF II - The Metal Age and
    THIEF 2x - Shadows of the Metal Age*

    These work great on a standard P3 system and will get you deeply involved for sure.

    *The last one is especially worth to mention, as this is an unofficial expansion with the scale and quality of a superb standalone title.

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Great Games That Don't Require Great Hardware

Not all PC games require the newest and most expensive hardware to run. We put together a list of ten great games that you can play on less than stellar systems.

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