There are games that are pretty strict when it comes to playstyles. You can only complete them by playing in one specific way, and the path to an end, if there is one, feels fairly linear. That's usually the case with a lot of action-adventure titles that don't introduce any choice mechanics. On the other side of the spectrum, you have sandboxes and more flexible games of all kinds, where two people will have a completely different experience going through the game.
Best PC Games With Low Specs (Low-End & Old PCs)
You don't need a monstrous PC to see some of the best the platform has to offer. Today, let's cover the best low-end PC games.
Personally, I find the latter category a little more interesting to talk about. It's kind of nifty to share gameplay experience in these games with friends, only to realize that they did something in a completely different way. You could argue you also get more bang for your buck with titles like these, because you can approach them in a handful of ways.
The Sims 4
Play A Wholesome Family, Or Remove The Pool Ladder
Considering it's the ultimate life simulator, it's no surprise to find The Sims 4 here. It's one of those games that doesn't give you an exact, clear goal, and there's no pressure to do everything "right," because there is no right way. A perfectionist might spend all their time ensuring everyone's needs are always green, and a family's legacy goes on for years, while someone more chaotic might build basements full of painting slaves led by a cult leader called Jim Pickens (if you know, you know).
But it gets deeper, still. There are players who barely ever see Live Mode, who do most of their gameplay in CAS. They might have tons of custom content to play around with, and are perfectly satisfied with just creating nice-looking Sims to put in the Gallery. You also have your builders, the Simmers who rarely see either CAS or Live Mode, but instead enjoy the game for its incredibly robust building sandbox.
RimWorld
A Chill Colony Sim, Or A Descent To Madness
There are a few reasons why RimWorld has become so big: the freedom, the diversity of gameplay options and styles, and graphics that aren't demanding. No matter what your gaming background is, you'll find some degree of enjoyment out of this charming colony sim. It's technically possible to reach an ending in RimWorld, and while there are players who do that, there are also many who never attain them, either by choice or by accident.
The tone of the game is the biggest differentiator between playstyles. RimWorld can be incredibly chill and wholesome, and almost Sims-like. It can also be absolutely crazy, with slaves and cannibals thrown into the mix. If this sounds a lot like something you've seen in the wildest Sims playthroughs, then you understand why RimWorld has earned its spot on this list. No two playthroughs will ever look the same, especially between different players.
Project Zomboid
A Grueling Zombie Survival Tale, Or Lonely Sims
Recently, I jumped into Project Zomboid after years of eyeing the game for its charming retro The Sims art style, and I was surprised by the variety of playstyles the game supports. You can tailor a playthrough's settings to your liking, even going as far as determining the kind of zombies you want in your world, if you want them at all. That's right: you can completely remove the zombies, and just wander a silent, quiet world and explore.
Great Games Where Your Decisions Truly Matter
The following games stand out for forcing players to make tough decisions that can drastically change the story.
Or, you can be like me and decide to jump into a super chill and easy version of a zombie apocalypse to practice at first, with cute farm animals to tend to. The zombies are slow, can barely hear or see you, and you stand a fighting chance. It's been a surprisingly relaxing experience that borders more on a looter for me. On the other hand, you have some incredible players who engage in Zomboid's hardcore side: one bite, and you're done, game over for your character. Zombies are incredibly smart; they see you from across the neighborhood, and there are a ton of them everywhere. Overall, the customization is what makes it such a fantastic game that will appeal to players from all walks of life.
Prey
Using Alien Powers Will Have A Major Gameplay Impact
Of course, I needed to mention an immersive sim when discussing different playstyles, and while they're a bit more limited than sandbox survivals, for instance, or simulators, they're a genre that's growing thanks to the freedom and creativity they grant players. Prey is one of the coolest examples of playstyle directly affecting your experience, because choosing to use a bunch of Neuromods to unlock alien powers in the game will have the space station's security turn on you.
And, as you might expect, the other human survivors will become hostile towards you if they spot you using your new alien powers. Aside from alien powers, a bunch of choices you make during the run of the game affect the tone of your ending as well, so the quests you finish, people you help, and so on are all quietly tracked in the background.
Fallout: New Vegas
Your Choices, Stats, And Skills Affect Everything
RPGs are a classic example of playstyles changing how the game feels, and I can't think of a better example than Fallout: New Vegas. It really cranked up the RPG aspect of the Fallout franchise to 200%, with little details like really low stats in certain attributes affecting dialogue choices and how NPCs react to you. Certain skills also open up dialogue and quest choices that would otherwise be locked.
For example, being able to fix something or persuade someone will give you a bit of extra content. And of course, your standing with the factions, who you side with—all of these are layers in an onion of choices, actions, and consequences that make New Vegas, in my humble opinion, one of the most RPG of RPGs (if that makes sense). A goodie-two-shoe Lucy MacLean might finish the game in pacifist style, while another player can just solve everything by pulling out their gun, and that's keeping it simple.
Undertale
Your Actions Have Surprisingly Deep Effects
Speaking of pacifist and genocidal tendencies, we have Undertale. Next to New Vegas, it's a very different game, a highly quirky and inventive indie RPG that pushes the limits of storytelling and delivery. How you solve and handle different encounters in Undertale, without the game ever explaining to you that you even have the option to choose a specific path, will greatly influence the ultimate ending you'll receive.
RPGs With The Most Impressive Customization Options
Some RPGs let players go crazy with their customization options. These are by far the most impressive.
You can spare everyone (yes, everyone!) And complete the game, or you could choose to kill absolutely every character in your path. The tone of each playthrough is staggeringly different the further you go into it, and the genocidal path will even carry over to subsequent playthroughs if it's your first chosen approach. In all honesty, it was a game way ahead of its time, and definitely a conversation starter among friends when comparing playthroughs, even years after its release.
Baldur's Gate 3
Murder Hobo Or Kill No One, And Everything In Between
Still within the realm of RPGs, one game that does a great job of varying playstyles is Baldur's Gate 3. Like New Vegas, it's a bit like an onion, with multiple layers to what affects a single run. It all starts in character creation. You could be the Dark Urge, and either succumb or embrace your nature, or you could choose to go through the game as one of the premade characters, too, which I personally highly recommend trying at least once. Even how you solve fights, from running the most broken, overpowered Honour Mode ready builds to classic and timeless Barrelmancy, adds a ton of flavor to each unique run.
Even if you go the original Tav route, your class, background, race, and in-game choices will significantly narrow down what and how much you can do. It almost feels a bit sandboxy at times. For example, a simple act like not killing Minthara in Act 1 will give you a chance to have her as a companion in Act 2. Your companions will also have choices to make, and as the main character, you can help them choose depending on how much they approve of you. You could turn Shadowheart down a dark path and take advantage of Shar's forces in the final fight. Or, you can say "screw Wyll" and romance Mizora despite the unfair deal she's given to him. If you can think it, you can probably do it, and like a true TTRPG, everyone's going to have their own signature style and unique story to tell afterward.
Elden Ring
Become A Master Of The Bonk, Or A Glintstone Connoisseur
Elden Ring, unlike New Vegas and Baldur's Gate 3, isn't big on choices. Sure, there are a few quests you can do, and depending on how those get resolved, you might unlock alternative endings, but the game doesn't telegraph this to you. The reason I featured Elden Ring here isn't because of the story, but rather the buildcrafting. It's a game where, depending on the types of weapons and stat choices you make, you'll have a drastically different experience going through its dungeons and boss fights.
The classic divide is between melee and magic characters. One can deal devastating damage upfront and even apply some powerful conditions like Bleed on enemies. The other will prefer to fight from afar and often needs to be on top of their dodging game, as they're a bit more of a glass cannon than their melee counterparts. There are also Ashes of War and summons that spice up the gameplay even further, so it's essentially buildcrafting heaven for anyone who's more into that over story choices.
No Man's Sky
Explorer, Survivor, Builder
Earlier, I mentioned the customization that Project Zomboid provides, and I want to return to that with No Man's Sky, because it's another game that grants a lot of freedom in that regard. This is the ultimate space sandbox game. It doesn't impose any goals, and you can go anywhere you like and do whatever you wish, from gathering resources to exploring or flying to another star system.
You can go as hard as you like, with permadeath as an option, or you could hop into creative and just build these massive, complex space outposts without having to worry about surviving and the costs. I could have also mentioned Minecraft here, because it's essentially the same mindset. Everyone's No Man's Sky will be vastly different. Some might be happy just taming adorable alien pets, while others might head to the stars and raid freighters.
7 Best Games to Play If You Like Baldur's Gate 3
These games will all appeal to BG3 fans with deep narratives, impactful choices, and expansive worlds. Expect to make some tough decisions.