So, you got a gaming computer and aren’t sure where to start? Waiting to upgrade to a newer system and currently running on an older or cheaper gaming PC? Trying to save money? AAA titles are expensive, and often will need higher PC specs to run well. Here are some games that won’t break the bank and are easy to run.
To start with, there is a litany of free games you can download.
League of Legends – The biggest MOBA around. Grab some friends and go head-to-head in this 5v5 game, slowly growing and leveling up while you stand your ground and take objectives going up and down the various lanes of the map.
Teamfight Tactics – While being in the same launcher, and featuring the same characters as League of Legends, the gameplay is nothing like it. Assemble your team and equip them with items to fight by themselves and defeat your enemies in this auto battler.
Hearthstone – If you like card games like Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh, or Magic the gathering then this may be the game for you. The standard game modes you choose a class and hero then construct a deck of cards to go head-to-head with your opponent.
CSGO – A classic, competitive shooter that can be run with ease.
Valorant – A new take on the previous entry. Still easy to run, classic shooter with your characters getting additional abilities to freshen things up.
Overwatch 2 – First person shooter with many different characters with a wealth of different abilities and playstyles. Go 6v6 fighting over various objectives which can change match to match.
Rocket League – Play a fast-paced game of soccer in a car, drive full speed and score as many goals as you can while fending the opposing team off of your own goal.
Genshin Impact – Explore a large, ever expanding open world with various characters. Fighting enemies and solving puzzles to gain items to enhance your characters and weapons. Progressing through the main and side stories throughout the game.
Something else to watch for is on occasion some game distributors such as Steam and Epic Games will have games available for free for a limited time. Epic generally has a couple free games every few weeks, and normally has special events around the holidays providing more. When steam provides paid games for free it seems to be a lot more random.
Low Budget Games
Stardew Valley – A cozy game about building up your grandfather’s old farm. Sit back, relax, and enjoy decorating your new land and home.
Slay the Spire – Ascend the spire building a deck of cards unique to the character you’re using to defeat enemies in turn-based combat and encounter events that are either helpful or detrimental to your journey.
Minecraft – Build whatever you like in this blocky sandbox. You can slowly work and gather your resources on your own in survival, or you could hop into creative mode and use as much of whatever materials like. Play alone or hop in one of the many servers supporting both standard gameplay, and various minigames.
Portal/Portal 2 – A couple of puzzle platformers, use portals to navigate through the levels using physics trying to escape from a facility controlled by a deadly robot.
Undertale – Explore the underground world you’ve fallen into. Interacting with the monsters you find underground that want to take your soul to break what is trapping them and escape. Making friends with some along the way.
Subscription
Another option is Microsoft’s subscription service, Xbox Game Pass for PC. This gives you access to hundreds of games to play while you’re subscribed for $11.99/month. If you have an Xbox as well and already have Xbox Game Pass, it’s $19.99 for access on it for both PC and Xbox. However, the games can be removed from game pass over time, then you would lose access to that game requiring you to purchase it if you want to continue. They’re constantly adding and removing games, even new AAA titles.
Hopefully this all helps finding games you’d want to play for whatever budget you have!
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