Lately, it seems like PC gaming is pointless without a high-end build. Demanding new releases "stutter" on devices where they should run smoothly. Last year even saw a list of the worst-optimized games compiled.
But games that you can fully enjoy on a weak PC or laptop are still being released. We've put together a list of the best releases that will run at least on minimum settings, even if your graphics card hasn’t been upgraded in a decade. All of these games were released in 2024 and received high ratings on Steam.
Last summer saw the release of the absurd comedy Thank Goodness You're Here! The game impressed both players and critics at launch. It boasts a 98% positive rating on Steam. The premise is classic—you help the residents of the small town of Barnsworth solve their problems. But the further you go, the stranger and more eccentric the tasks become.
The town and its inhabitants gradually change based on the player's actions. Thanks to its unique visual style, which doesn’t aim for realism, Thank Goodness You're Here! can run on almost any machine.
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Supermarket Simulator is as simple as its name. It’s a classic simulation game, this time about managing an ordinary supermarket. As a middle manager, you stock products, set prices, hire staff, and deal with various challenges, such as shoplifters or online orders.
Players loved this gamified work experience — Supermarket Simulator has nearly 60,000 reviews on Steam, with 93% being positive. Its modest graphical demands mean it can run even on a 10-year-old setup.
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Tiny Glade lacks both a storyline and diverse gameplay mechanics. It’s a charming and meditative game about building whimsical castles. Before its release, it was the third most anticipated project on Steam, and after launch, it won the hearts of thousands of gamers—currently boasting a 97% positive rating.
In Tiny Glade, you build your own estate. The only goal is to make it beautiful. The construction simulator is incredibly simple, so you can feel like a genius architect even if your only experience is building a dirt hut in Minecraft. A true oasis of cuteness and calm, and it’s also relatively undemanding. Enthusiasts even recreate locations from other titles—like scenes from The Witcher.
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Fields of Mistria is still in early access, but it already offers a wonderful cozy experience. Met with overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam, this farming sim is full of whimsy and nostalgia.
The game has a classic premise — you start a new life, building a farm of your dreams near the town named Mistria. The developers call their creation the spiritual successor to the Farm-Sim RPGs of the late 90s & onward, and it shows. Thanks to pixel graphics Fields of Mistria is able to run on pretty much any device.
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Last spring, The Planet Crafter exited early access. This space survival game features an open world, building, crafting, and no violence. You play as a peaceful scientist colonizing and terraforming a new planet.
You can build your base solo or in co-op mode, with up to 10 players joining your cosmic odyssey. The game looks great, and you don’t need a high-end PC to enjoy it.
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The strategy game Infection Free Zone launched in early access. You lead a group of survivors to create an autonomous settlement that must fend off infected attackers at night.
It might seem like a standard zombie apocalypse game, but it has a unique feature—you can choose almost any city in the world as your survival location, even the one you live in. This doesn’t significantly impact system requirements.
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The metroidvania ANIMAL WELL made waves last year. Both gamers and journalists praised it, and it was even nominated for 2024’s Game of the Year at the Indie Game Awards.
What makes it special? Without spoiling, it’s a deeply engaging game filled with puzzles and secrets—sometimes eerie but always beautiful. Its charm fully unfolds even on an old laptop, thanks to its pixel art style.
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The surreal "game within a game" MiSide was a standout conclusion to 2024. This Russian anime horror game was released in mid-December and quickly became one of Steam’s top new titles.
The premise is simple—you play a dating simulator, wooing a charming girl named Mita. But at some point, she pulls you into her world. What seems like a dream come true soon turns into a nightmare. The game features multiple endings and secrets—earlier, we explained how to unlock them.
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Persona is a cult series, and 2024 saw the release of a modern reimagining of its legendary third installment on Steam. This classic Japanese RPG takes you to an alternate reality.
PC players can now experience a classic that was once console-exclusive. On low settings, the game will run on relatively weak machines.
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The roguelike card game Balatro swept up awards in 2024: a Game of the Year nomination at The Game Awards, a Steam Awards nomination, and being named the best PC game by PC Games. On Steam, the release boasts a 98% positive rating.
Why all the hype? The developers combined poker principles with unique mechanics and roguelike elements. The result is an incredibly addictive and hypnotic game that doesn’t require a top-tier PC.
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