The best laptop games to play in 2025

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PC gaming isn’t just a pastime reserved for individuals with expansive, high-priced battle stations. In fact, this platform offers an immense range, considering both technical needs and genres. Even the top laptop games demand relatively less power to operate, yet they deliver the same level of entertainment.

These games, crafted by many of the most skillful independent developers within the gaming sector, typically don’t demand high-end systems to run smoothly, yet offer countless hours of enjoyment. They can usually be played on devices like Steam Deck or alternative handheld systems as well.

As a gamer, I’ve discovered some laptop games that rank among the highest-rated titles ever on platforms like Steam. This proves that, with a bit of ingenuity, you can create an incredible gaming experience even under the constraints of minimal technical resources.

Is that tea all done then? Excellent.

Honkai: Star Rail

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 6 GB
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650
  • CPU: Intel Core i3-2120
  • File Size: 20 GB

Stepping into the cosmos, I discover Honkai: Star Rail – the new turn-based RPG from the makers of Genshin Impact. This game takes me on an adventure through a vibrant space universe brimming with charismatic male characters and captivating females. Best of all, it’s completely free to play! The narrative is engaging, the characters are unforgettable, and the combat system is easy to grasp yet thrilling to master.

Stardew Valley

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 2 GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 3000
  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
  • File Size: 500 MB

In Stardew Valley, a quaint, vibrant village filled with unique residents, you’ll cultivate crops, fish in its river, explore mysterious dungeons, and forge relationships within the local community – all while managing your inherited farm. This game offers an exceptionally calming experience as it allows you to shape your own destiny over the changing seasons and years. Break boulders, clear weeds, and construct a thriving agricultural domain that’s yours to call home.

Into the Breach

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 1 GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 3000
  • CPU: Intel Pentium 4 1.70GHz
  • File Size: 400 MB

Check out this new twist on strategy games! Instead of chess with usual pieces, you’ve got Into the Breach, where giant mechs and kaiju take center stage instead. The queen in this game can even deliver an uppercut that slices through mountains to weaken other pieces. Who needs traditional chess after that?

RimWorld

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 4 GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 3000
  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
  • File Size: 500 MB

If you’ve struggled with the complexity of Dwarf Fortress, RimWorld might be more your style. It shares similar mechanics but offers a vast planet for colonization. The game allows for some morally questionable actions, though it’s important to note that not everyone may find these appealing – such as harvesting organs from prisoners and consuming the rest of their body, which is just one example among many. Despite its basic graphics, RimWorld is a comprehensive simulation with numerous features that defy summary; you’ll need to delve into it yourself to truly understand its depth.

Hearthstone

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 3GB
  • GPU: ATI Radeon HD 2600XT
  • CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2
  • File Size: 3GB

Nearly single-handedly reviving the computer-based collectible card game market, Hearthstone paved the way, inspiring numerous other games to follow in its footsteps over time. Yet, none have managed to capture the appeal and meticulous design that Blizzard infuses into its cards, which are based on the beloved Warcraft universe. You can engage with this game on your computer or mobile device, exploring its diverse game modes. Transitioning into ranked play might initially seem intimidating, but there are numerous methods to obtain powerful cards without requiring heavy investment.

Wildermyth

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 3 GB
  • GPU: ATI FireMV 2260
  • CPU: Intel Core i3-2340UE
  • File Size: 2 GB

In this independent role-playing game, the graphics evoke the charm of hand-drawn characters and maps found in traditional pen-and-paper RPGs. The narrative style mirrors those classic adventures. You’ll be able to select from predefined storylines or dynamically generated landscapes, encounters, and foes. Build your band of warriors, hunters, and mages, rid the world of rampaging monsters, and establish a lasting reputation. Be prepared for characters from past journeys to reappear later as wise guides, while you fill the world with generations of heroes.

Gunpoint

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 1 GB
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 510
  • CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.00GHz
  • File Size: 700 MB

In essence, Gunpoint is somewhat misleading as it’s not primarily a shooting game; rather, it involves knocking out individuals with doors or leaping upon them like a panther, then pounding your fist into their face. The unique aspect of this game is that every electronic item can be reconfigured to serve another purpose, enabling you to create intricate traps to elude the guards in each 2D stealth puzzle.

Terraria

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 2.5 GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 3000
  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T5750
  • File Size: 200 MB

First Released in 2011, Terraria continues to receive updates even today, much to the surprise of many who thought its development had concluded. Initially, it might seem like a 2D version of Minecraft, but that’s where the similarities end. While mining, crafting, and building are integral aspects of this game, it transcends beyond being just a sandbox title. It is, in fact, an immersive open-world RPG offering a vast array of items to gather and non-player characters (NPCs) to meet. By 2021, Terraria had sold over 35 million copies, making it one of the most successful indie games ever produced.

Disco Elysium

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 2 GB
  • GPU: AMD Radeon HD 5450
  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo Q6867
  • File Size: 20 GB

In Disco Elysium, instead of the usual heroic quests like battling deities or rescuing planets, you’re tasked with unraveling a murder mystery that intertwines with labor disputes. However, there’s an unusual twist: you can’t recall your identity, your location, or the whereabouts of your missing shoe. What sets Disco Elysium apart is its immersive storytelling, as it narrates your adventure through the perspective of your character’s subconscious thoughts, encompassing their limbic system, reptilian brain, and various inner workings of their body and mind.

Slay the Spire

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 4 GB
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 8300 GS
  • CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.00GHz
  • File Size: 1 GB

Regardless if the phrase “card game” doesn’t excite you, I recommend giving Slay the Spire a try. It’s both compelling and tough, requiring you to progress through a series of challenging bosses while enhancing your decks. The game keeps you hooked with its gradual unlocking of new cards, items, and unique characters who offer distinct playstyles.

Loop Hero

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 2 GB
  • GPU: AMD Radeon HD 4650
  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
  • File Size: 200 MB

In this roguelike deck-building game, the apocalypse is mostly over, but not quite finished. Remarkably, you’ve survived! Now, it’s your task to piece together the shattered fragments of reality. Choose from a warrior, rogue, or necromancer as your character, who will traverse the same daily loop while battling monsters automatically to earn experience and new equipment. Along the way, gather resources that can be used later to expand and fortify your camp – a small sanctuary you and your allies have managed to preserve in this chaotic world.

Instead of traditional roguelikes relying on randomness for replayability, Loop Hero offers a unique approach by allowing you to customize each loop extensively via a card-building system. These cards symbolize various terrains and structures that determine the types of resources and adversaries spawned within the loops. So if you prefer challenging yourself with hordes of spiders or vampires, simply tailor your deck accordingly.

Minecraft

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 2 GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 4000
  • CPU: Intel Core i3-3210
  • File Size: 1 GB

In today’s gaming landscape, Minecraft stands out as a significant catalyst for the surge of survival games. Initially starting with nothing, you find yourself struggling to create a life amidst a world constructed from blocks, constantly threatened by spectral creatures. At first, it seems like you’re fighting against nature itself. However, as the game progresses, you transform this world into your personal domain. The only boundary is your creativity, effectively making it a digital version of Lego.

Cult of the Lamb

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 4 GB
  • GPU: GeForce GTX 560 Ti
  • CPU: Intel Core i3-3240
  • File Size: 4 GB

Imagine a scenario where Hades and Animal Crossing collaborated on a baby project with a dark twist. The result is a game where you play as both a sacrificial lamb and a cult leader. You’ll delve into roguelike dungeons filled with challenging boss fights, each one offering fast-paced, engaging combat. Once you’ve conquered the dungeons, return to your base and oversee your cult. Manage daily tasks such as cleaning up endless messes, brainwashing animals, and sacrificing followers to the gods. And yes, it’s a stunningly beautiful game!

Papers, Please

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 2 GB
  • GPU: ATI FireGL T2-128
  • CPU: Intel Pentium 4 1.50GHz
  • File Size: 100 MB

In this moral dilemma scenario, you’re faced with the challenging situation of providing for your hungry family while grappling with compassion for others. You step into the role of a border agent for an imaginary Eastern Bloc nation, where your duty is to either admit or deny entry based on their documents and stories. Listen closely to their tales and make your choices, knowing that your decisions will have repercussions.

FTL: Faster Than Light

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 1 GB
  • GPU: Intel HD 3000
  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
  • File Size: 175 MB

As a devoted gamer, I find myself commanding my very own starship in a desperate bid for freedom, delegating tasks to engineers, gunners, medics, and other crucial departments. I’ve learned the hard way that a timely airlock activation can thwart an unwelcome boarding party, while a well-aimed shot can disable an enemy’s weapons systems. FTL: Faster Than Light immerses me in the role of a master tactician… but only until overconfidence leads to my ship becoming cosmic rubble. Despite the game’s infamous difficulty, every attempt is packed with exhilarating fun! I may never conquer this challenging laptop game, but I can’t wait to keep trying!

Don’t Starve

Laptop requirements:

  • Memory: 4 GB
  • GPU: AMD Radeon HD 5450
  • CPU: Intel Pentium 4 1.70GHz
  • File Size: 500 MB

Explore and manage various characters in a world resembling a Tim Burton-style fantasy dreamscape, filled with challenges such as colossal cyclops birds, pigmen, oversized spiders, hunger, and madness. Each time you perish, you’ll start anew, but at least you’ll know to avoid the red mushrooms next time. To help you survive, there’s a cooperative mode where you can play with friends!

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2025-05-01 15:18