Best Online Games for Low Spec PCs
As technology is improving, computer hardware is getting better and better. Along with this improvement, videogames are getting visually and graphically better because game developers are no longer have limitations when it comes to hardware. Big game development companies can now produce graphically intensive, visual marvels because they know that their target audience will most likely have the hardware to run it
Having the latest and greatest hardware is not always possible for everyone and, high-end computer hardware can get expensive. For example, currently, an i5-10600K will set you back about 214.90 USD. According to these prices, even a mid-range PC build will cost you up to 1000 USD.
We understand that not everyone finds it convenient or feasible to spend up to 1000 USD for a new gaming PC build. Spending this much money seems like an even more unappealing option for people who are not yet into gaming but are looking to try it. Some aspiring gamers might have an old PC lying around and would like to play games on just that.
Best Online Games for Low to Mid Range PCs
The idea of playing online with your friends in a video game sounds great and is exactly what gets most people onboard in the world of gaming. The whole concept of a multiplayer/online game is exciting. As discussed above, getting into multiplayer games might seem appealing but, spending tons of money is not everyone's cup of tea.
It's not all bad news for gamers or people looking to get into online gaming that only have access to low spec PCs. There are tons of online multiplayer games in the market that are highly optimized to get as much FPS as possible. This is especially true for E-Sports competitive titles because, for competitive players, nothing is more important than getting high FPS. For this reason, these games are one hundred percent playable on low spec hardware.
We have compiled a list of the top online multiplayer games that you can play on your old computer or even a midrange laptop. Keep in mind that these recommendations are given under the assumption that your computer has a minimum of 4 GB of RAM, an i3 4th gen processor, and 1 GB of VRAM. The best part is that most of these games are free to play.
Warface
Warface is an online multiplayer, first-person shooter. This game is free to play and was developed by the same people who gave us the Crysis series, Crytek. You can choose from tons of game modes in Warface, including team deathmatch, plant the bomb, free for all, and even a battle royale mode. If you get tired of playing PVP, hop into a PVE match with your friends and complete missions against AI enemies. Get to experience a wide range of weapon options including, assault rifles, shotguns, snipers, etc., with an easy-to-learn weapon attachment system.
Warface was released in 2013 and can run on almost all low spec computers. To run Warface with an average fps of 60, you'll need 4 GB of RAM, a Core i3-530, and a GeForce 250 GTS or a Radeon HD 4850. Warface is a great game to get into multiplayer gaming.
Rocket League
Ever wondered what you'd get if you combined Fifa with cars that can jump and have a jet engine giving them an insane boost? You get Rocket League, or in technical terms, you get a vehicular soccer video game. Rocket League was released in 2015 and became free to play in 2020.
In Rocket League, you have a selection of cars to choose from that can jump and boost. It is a team-based game with a maximum team size of 8. The main objective is to drive your car on a soccer field while trying to push a giant ball into the goal that the opponent team is trying to defend. To run Rocket League, all you need is an Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz, 4GB RAM, and an Nvidia GTX 2060v2.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)
Counter-Strike GO needs no introduction to someone familiar with sports or videogames in general. The legacy of Counter-Strike began with Counter-Strike 1.6 in 2000. The latest in line of Counter-Strike titles is CS GO. CS GO is highly competitive and has a massive e-sports scene with many professional players and teams competing to become the best
CS: GO was initially released in 2012 and became free to play in December 2018. The most popular game mode of CS GO is "plant the bomb", where the terrorists try to plant the bomb on specified locations and the counter-terrorists try to defend these locations. If all the members of one team are killed, the other team wins. The counter-terrorists and terrorists switch places after a certain number of rounds. CS GO is highly optimized and requires 2 GB of RAM, 512 MG of VRAM from a GT 630, and an Intel Pentium Dual-Core.
Valorant
Initially being released on the 2nd of June, 2020, Valorant became one of the most popular free-to-play first-person hero shooters. This game is inspired by the gunplay and movement of CS GO and the hero system of Overwatch. Just like CS GO, valorant is extremely competitive.
With a similar movement and gunplay system as CS GO, the main game mode of Valorant consists of two teams, Attackers and Defenders. The attackers try to plant the bomb in specified locations, and the defenders try to defend these locations. Just like CS GO, attackers and defenders switch sides after a certain number of rounds. Unlike CS GO, both attackers and defenders have a selection of heroes, characters with abilities, to choose from.
Heroes in Valorant have a set of abilities that are unique to each hero that the player can use within each round of a match to help their team win. Examples of these heroes and their abilities include Phoenix, who is a hero that can shoot a curved ball of fire that blinds enemies, and Sage, who is a healing hero with the ability to heal teammates and herself. These heroes also have ultimate abilities; for example, Sage can revive teammates, and Sova can fire up to three energy blast arrows that can cross through walls and move across the entire map dealing massive damage to enemies that come within the energy blast's radius.
Final Words
These are just some of the very best online multiplayer games that you can play freely without having to worry about your computer and its specs. Now, the experience of playing these games on higher-end PCs will be smoother, but that doesn't mean you still can't play them on low-end PCs.
The developers behind these games have done a brilliant job in optimizing them for low-mid range computers, making them easily playable regardless of how much money you have invested into your gaming build.
