Top 10: Best Games for Low-End PCs of 2023

TOP-10: Best Games for Low-End PCs of 2023

The past year saw a plethora of unoptimized games that were demanding on hardware. With the advent of DLSS and FSR, studios stopped meticulously polishing their projects, leaving users to deal with performance issues and problems on their own. Moreover, not every gamer has the financial means to purchase powerful graphics cards and processors, and without them, it's impossible to even launch most major games. Fortunately, such users were not left without entertainment: there are still developers in the industry who try not to overdo it with trendy effects.

In this compilation, we have gathered 10 games released in 2023 that will easily run on PCs that are five or even ten years old. Many of these projects are among the top-rated games on Steam, which means you have the chance to catch up with the cool new releases of the past year!

BattleBit Remastered emerged out of nowhere and within a matter of days, it gathered a record number of players on Steam. The project was dubbed a «Battlefield killer,» and the number of positive reviews has exceeded a hundred thousand. And this is while BattleBit is a low-poly shooter that can run smoothly on any PC. There are 3 modes in the game, which can simultaneously accommodate 64, 128, or 254 players. Matches are found very quickly by the system, so you won't have to wait for the server to fill up. All the key features of Battlefield are in place: large-scale battles, a variety of vehicles, destructible environments, and a stable connection.

If the above is not enough for you to decide whether to play BattleBit Remastered, we have a detailed opinion where we thoroughly discussed all the pros and cons of this creation.

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We can say with one hundred percent certainty that Turbo Overkill is the best boomer shooter of 2023. An incredible and jaw-dropping action game in the spirit of classic '90s games with a mix of modern projects like Ghostrunner, Doom Eternal, and Apex Legends. Turbo Overkill has everything a modern gamer needs: a stylish environment, diverse enemies, a stunning soundtrack, weapon customization, various abilities, vehicles, and even full-fledged first-person cutscenes.

Turbo Overkill represents what shooters aspired to before the advent of Halo and Call of Duty: a challenging, dynamic, spectacular, and fun action game that doesn't let go until the final credits. With a score of 91 on Metacritic and 96% positive reviews on Steam, if you love shooters and intense action games, this is one you absolutely cannot miss.

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Surely you didn't think we'd only gather indie projects in this top list? Diablo 4 is a magnificent continuation of the iconic series that will surely appeal to newcomers and please fans. Without a doubt, Blizzard has created an engaging game with a vast amount of content, a good plot, a dynamic combat system, and incredibly detailed gothic locations. Yes, the game is not without its flaws, but it improves with every new patch and generates a substantial amount of content.

Blizzard has made an effort to make the game as accessible as possible, so it runs smoothly on most configurations that are far from top-of-the-line. You won't need DLSS for optimization, and the frame rate even on medium settings rarely drops below the standard 60 frames. Diablo 4 has many locations with additional loading, but even from a regular hard drive, they load quite quickly.

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Sea of Stars is one of the best role-playing games of 2023. According to most major publications, the project has become the benchmark for turn-based role-playing games with superb battles, charming characters, and an amazing soundtrack. Sea of Stars is executed in a traditional 2D style, which perfectly complements the beautifully written story and engaging gameplay. A worthy competitor to Baldur's Gate 3, which can be run even on a relatively low-end PC.

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Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a benchmark in stealth tactics from the creators of the superb Desperados 3 and Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun. Each mission in the game is strategically distributed across meticulously designed locations, offering a dozen ways to complete. In addition to engaging gameplay, the project boasts high-quality voice acting, an interesting story, extravagant humor, and vibrant graphics. Shadow Gambit is one of the few games you can dive into headfirst and replay several times without encountering the same scenarios. The replayability is indeed huge.

Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is both beautiful and not too demanding on hardware. A real treat for those who like to flex their brain muscles and exhibit creativity. Unfortunately, Mimimi Games closed down immediately after the release, so this project is definitely not one to miss. We may not receive anything like it again.

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Dredge is one of the best indie games of 2023. It's the perfect blend of role-playing, fishing, puzzle-solving, and horror. The project has a magnificent style, a pleasant atmosphere, and a creepy story imbued with the spirit of Howard Phillips Lovecraft's tales. Dredge is well-suited for an audience that loves relaxing games where you can take a break from everyday tasks. In addition to fishing and exploring the watery depths, you'll be scouring sunken ships, interacting with locals, completing orders, and collecting books. It's an incredibly atmospheric game that's a pleasure to be immersed in.

Dredge features a unique artistic style that does not require expensive hardware from the player but still showcases a stylish picture. Dredge will run perfectly fine even on a modest laptop. For fans of Lovecraft and fishing, we highly recommend checking it out!

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Lethal Company is a first-person horror game set in the distant future. You will embark on expeditions to unknown planets in search of valuable resources. This dangerous cooperative adventure keeps you on edge and generates countless random situations. Don't get hung up on the primitive graphics; the charm of Lethal Company lies in its extensive functionality and variety of mechanics. Gather your friends and head out on an adventure that is sure to end in complete chaos.

Currently, the game has 98% positive reviews on Steam. A true phenomenon played by hundreds of thousands of people daily. Gamers are thrilled with the game design, while streamers and bloggers attract tens of thousands of viewers to their broadcasts. Thanks to modest system requirements and simple graphics, you can get acquainted with Lethal Company without extra spending on PC components.

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Shadows of Doubt is another phenomenon of 2023 that you might have missed. It's a procedurally generated immersive sim with astonishing freedom in game design. As a detective, you'll be searching for clues, interrogating witnesses, piecing together fragments of the puzzle into a coherent picture, and surviving within the environment of a virtual society. Shadows of Doubt is hard to sum up in a few words: it needs to be experienced, whether you love immersive sims or not. This project will surely surprise you with its originality, uniqueness, and thoughtful event generation.

Shadows of Doubt features a simplified graphic style and runs smoothly on standard PCs. And thanks to a multitude of details, the game doesn't look like a cheap indie craft. We recommend every gamer check out this project, regardless of whether you have powerful hardware or not.

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Darkest Dungeon 2 is the sequel to the hardcore Dungeon Crawl that doesn't just develop the formula of the original but completely changes it, offering an entirely new game. Fans who enjoyed suffering in the first part will find a lot of new content in the sequel and will take pleasure in the evolution of the original combat system. Meanwhile, newcomers will experience the hardcore nature of Darkest Dungeon without the «stuffy» wanderings through the monotonous dungeons of the first part. In 2023, the game left early access with polished balance and a wealth of content.

The developers of Darkest Dungeon 2 have maintained the visual style of the first part but have transitioned all the art into full 3D. The game looks much better now, without demanding powerful hardware. In short, it's one of the best indie games of 2023, and we highly recommend checking it out.

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Blasphemous 2 is an excellent sequel to the 2D souls-like action game with metroidvania elements. The sequel has amplified the strengths of the original in almost every aspect. The developers have significantly improved the combat system by adding new types of weapons. The soundtrack has been enriched with memorable compositions. The puzzles have become more ingenious. The previously extreme difficulty is a thing of the past. Battles in Blasphemous 2 have become easier, which will undoubtedly please players who skipped the original due to its unbearably tough bosses.

It remains a visually stunning game that can appeal not only to Dark Souls fans but also to lovers of hardcore platformers with intense battles. Thanks to pixel art and the absence of trendy effects, the game runs perfectly on «ancient» hardware. The only downside might be the unimpressive cutscenes, which have been implemented in anime style. They stand out unpleasantly against the overall visual aesthetic.

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Of course, these are not all the exciting games of 2023 that you can play without an expensive PC upgrade. But we tried to highlight the most notable projects that, in our opinion, every gamer should try. If you have your own option in mind that will run on GTX graphics cards and provide an interesting gaming experience, write in the comments!