3 Gorgeous Games That Run on Potato PCs (One Still Looks Like a Work of Art)

With so many of the most exciting new games hitting Early Access on Steam these days, a gaming PC is all but essential for keeping up with new releases. But not all gaming PCs are created equal, and not everyone can afford the most state-of-the-art rig. That’s why finding a game that’s well optimized and looks great on more affordable so-called “potato PCs” is an important skill. Thankfully, not every great game needs the beefiest system to look great.

I’ll be honest about my credentials here. Despite writing about games for a living, my gaming PC is closer to the potato range than a high-end model. I’ve always preferred consoles, and that’s where my investment has gone. Cozy games like The Sims 4 run just fine on my mid-tier PC, and the computer I had before this upgrade, well… let’s just say, potato PC owners, I know you. I was you. So if you’re looking for a game that will look good and run well on an older gaming computer, I’ve got you.

3. Terraria

If you like pixel art, Terraria offers a visually stunning experience without the need for inZOI-level specs. This open-world sandbox survival game uses vibrant colors and detailed pixel art to render a variety of beautiful, detailed environments for players to explore. It’s got an Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam and regularly tops the concurrent player charts despite being over 14 years old.

That age doesn’t just show that the game is tried and tested. It also means the specs are oh so far from demanding. Terraria‘s recommended specs require just 4GB of RAM, with the minimum being 2.5GB. This thing will still run on Windows Vista. Trust me, your potato PC can run Terraria, and it’ll look good doing it.

2. A Short Hike

The art style of A Short Hike has been called “watercolor” and honestly, it fits. I played this gorgeous game on my old grad school laptop, and let’s just say she was fit for running Microsoft Word but not so much for gaming. But even on that aging dinosaur laptop, A Short Hike’s vibrant colors and beautiful scenery shone through. You can get lost just flying around the landscape, and it’s not a bad way to spend some time.

A Short Hike came out in 2019, but as a well-optimized pixel art indie, its spec requirements aren’t too demanding. The game’s minimum requirements ask for 2GB RAM and 500 MB of available storage space. It’ll run on Windows 7, and it’ll run just fine. It’s a short game, but it’s a beautiful one, with a heartwarming story and the ability to run on almost any PC.

1. Cuphead

Whether or not you like the art style of Cuphead will depend on taste, but there’s no denying it’s unique. This game’s hand-drawn cartoon style is a true work of art, with a clear callback to the early days of hand-drawn cartoons. Despite its whimsical appearance, Cuphead is a pretty challenging platformer that’ll put you to the test and keep you engaged. Your PC, though? It won’t need to work too hard.

Though it has the most demanding minimum specs on our list, it’s not by much. Cuphead needs 3 GB of RAM to run and can throw it back as far as the Intel Core2 Duo processor. That means you can take on this beautifully rendered, hand-drawn world without needing a fancy new gaming PC to do it.

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