The Best FPS Games for Low-End PCs

There is something to be said about a flagship laptop or a PC that can answer questions like, "Can it run Crysis?" With a resounding yes. However, gamers vying for a good story or excellent gameplay need not limit themselves to modern games with daunting requirements. In fact, there is no dearth of games that work perfectly well on low-end systems, too.

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That's not all; the choices are not just limited to games with a linear story progression. Instead, many FPS games offer diverse multiplayer modes or an open world with lots to explore. Some are so engaging that they'll have players practicing unique mechanics like wall running for hours. We've come up with a list of 10 such FPS games that run great on PCs with modest specs and non-gaming laptops.

A low-end PC doesn't mean a machine that runs only on integrated graphics. No, the idea is a PC that is two or three generations behind the current standard system requirements. Every title on this list runs at a smooth 60+ fps on an Intel Core 2 Duo and a GeForce GTX 680; most require even less.

Updated December 12, 2024, by Hamza Haq: FPS games are always a go-to for players looking for something their low-end PCs can handle. Traditionally, FPS games tend to have a lower hardware requirement than other genres, allowing budget gamers to enjoy excellent titles without breaking the bank. Competitive shooters tend to religiously cater to the lowest common denominator in the player market, ensuring their game is playable by as large of a player base as possible. Indie FPS titles are also among the best options for someone with a low-end PC as they tend to eschew realistic graphics in favor of style and substance, preferring to wow with gameplay instead of graphics.

15 Neon White

Speedrunning Bliss for Low-End PCs

Neon White is a fast-paced first-person shooter that's equal parts Doom Eternal and Mirror's Edge, with puzzle platforming as the main focus of the game on top of the gunplay, of course.

It features slick movement, precise controls, and an extremely addictive gameplay loop built from the ground up for speedrunning. The content is split into levels, where players need to figure out how to get to the finish line using platforming mechanics while blasting enemies out of the way. Weapon swapping is done through cards players pick up as they defeat enemies, with each one having limited ammo and a one-time-use special ability.

There are collectibles and currency items sprinkled across the levels, rewarding players with the potential for a perfect run. Best of all, Neon White runs butter-smooth on low-end PCs, requiring very little from the machines. Of course, there are options to crank up the graphics, but the white, oddly demo-like level-design has very little in the way of details that would demand a lot from a PC in terms of hardware.

14 I Am Your Beast

All Gas, No Brakes on Low Specs

I Am Your Beast is a bite-sized, fast-paced FPS based on clearing levels in the fastest time possible. The core gameplay loop involves running into an open battlefield filled with enemies, punching one to death, picking up his pistol to down a second one, throwing the empty gun at the third one, hurling a knife at the fourth one, and picking up a new weapon to start again.

There is no reloading in I Am Your Beast, and all of the weapons the protagonists must find are picked off of the corpses of the soldiers he kills along the way. After a gun runs out of bullets, it can only be used as a makeshift throwing weapon to take out an enemy. While it's possible to take the slow approach and think about every move, all of the fun to be had in I Am Your Beast is in frenetic combat that's all gas, no brakes.

The level design is simplistic, and the enemy variety is low, which makes for an FPS that runs extremely well on low-end PCs. Cell-shaded visuals give the game a stylized look and make identifying enemies easier.

13 DUSK

Fast, Frantic, and Fantastic

DUSK is a curious mix of Doom (1993) combat and enemy variety and the blistering fast movement of Quake, combined to form a throwback to the '90s-era shooters with all the good and bad that comes with them.

It's a retro horror FPS with weapon variety as a main focus. Players can obtain everything from run-of-the-mill pistols and shotguns to grenade launchers. While DUSK does use a fair bit of modern lighting tools to punch up the look and feel, its low-poly graphics and simplistic design philosophy ensure that even the weakest PCs can comfortably run the game at a stable 60 fps, even when blood sprays and particle effects cover the whole screen.

12 FEAR 3

Psychic Combat, Smooth Performance

FEAR 3 is a superb shooter with some psychological horror elements. Although its plot can leave gamers wanting more, the game makes up for it with its fun, high-octane combat involving various guns, melee skills, and powerful abilities like Telekinesis or bolts of psychic energy.

The game’s story puts brothers Point Man and Paxton Fettel on the run from ATC, a criminal organization notorious for responsible for conducting unethical experiments on the protagonists. This, in turn, grants the brothers some special abilities, which players can use to get an edge in the gunfights. Although the brothers are escaping from ATC’s clutches together, they both have hidden agendas. The game ends with players having to choose one of two endings and further either Point Man or Paxton Fettel’s objectives.

11 Valorant

PvP Precision for Every PC

One of the biggest issues with older multiplayer games is the lack of an active player base. Conversely, modern multiplayer shooters often require beefy PCs. Thankfully, Valorant is an exception to the rule. The game is designed to run on PCs with integrated GPUs, and it can comfortably produce respectable FPS at low settings.

The game is a PvP shooter with a variety of weapons and agents, each with a distinct tactical and ultimate ability. These abilities range from enhancing the player’s speed to helping them fortify a spot or blinding the opposition with flashes and smoke. If that sounds like a lot, then fret not. The game offers a slurry of game modes, too, and players fond of gunplay can simply join a Deathmatch, which restricts the use of abilities.

10 Borderlands 3

A Loot-Filled World That Won’t Break Your Rig

FPS games usually have short campaigns but Borderlands 3 is an exception to the rule. The game offers hundreds of hours of content and the main campaign can take players anywhere between 25-30 hours to complete, too. This can be attributed to the game’s expansive playing areas and excessive loot, which can be utilized to craft incredibly unique weapons.

In fact, the game offers millions of gun combinations, which should help players narrow down their preferred loadout. The game’s story is quite engaging, too, and it follows four new Vault hunters who have joined Crimson Raiders, a rebel group opposing those in the Children of the Vault’s cult. The new recruits have been tasked with investigating the cult and its leaders. Throughout the campaign, they must take on various quests, fight bosses, collect loot, and stop the Cult leaders from gaining access to the Alien vaults.

9 Counter-Strike 2

The Definitive Competitive FPS

Counter-Strike 2 is the successor to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. It is also one of the more demanding games on this list, as it features new and improved lighting, volumetric smokes, and enhanced textures. It is one of the most challenging PvP shooters and requires a good know-how of the vantage points

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Players must also learn how to get information at a glance by peeking the opposition properly. There are a lot of other mechanics that can enhance a player's ability to bring down enemies swiftly, all of which, combined, should keep gamers glued to their screens. That, and the fact that the game has a fantastic selection of weapons, allows for a wide range of play styles.

8 Superhot

Minimalist Graphics, Maximum Impact

Superhot is unlike any other first-person shooter on this list. In the game, time only moves when the player moves. Players must strategically navigate each level, fighting enemies and avoiding bullets in a slow-motion, Matrix-like sequence. For the most part, players will have to use long-range weapons like pistols and assault rifles.

However, the game allows players to throw guns to disorient enemies that are close or even punch them. The game has a short campaign, though, and it can be completed in under five hours.

7 Far Cry 4

A Vibrant Open World Ready For Low-End PCs

Far Cry 4 received rave reviews when it launched. Like other titles in the series, the game features a massive open world. At the start of the game, most of the map is shrouded in a mist. However, players can unlock bits of the map by uncovering Bell towers.

In the game, players take on the role of Ajay Ghale, who is caught in a war between two factions: Kyrat’s Royal Army, spearheaded by a tyrannical king, and a rebel group called Golden Path. Although the game is a couple of years old, it is still somewhat taxing. However, toning down the settings and dropping the resolution can help achieve playable FPS on laptops and PCs with low-end hardware.

6 Titanfall 2

Wall-Running Thrills

There aren’t many FPS games that leverage movement as effectively as Titanfall 2. Developed by Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind the popular BR Apex Legends, Titanfall 2 is a sci-fi first-person shooter with an engaging albeit short campaign.

The game features an assortment of weapons and numerous movement techniques, such as wall running, to deliver a high-octane combat experience. Additionally, players can leverage Titans, which are massive, controllable robots throughout the campaign as well as in various online multiplayer modes.