You don’t need a monster PC to find great games. These ten are light on hardware and easy to overlook.

1. Cave Story

A free 2D action platformer from 2004, made by one person. It’s tiny, tight and still holds up.

2. Into the Breach

Turn-based tactics on small grids, from the makers of FTL. Every move is a puzzle, and it runs on almost anything.

3. Loop Hero

A 2D game where you place the tiles of a looping map while a hero walks it automatically. It’s an odd mix of strategy and RPG that works.

4. Baba Is You

A puzzle game where the rules are blocks you can rearrange. Breaking the rules is how you win.

5. Dusk

A retro-style first-person shooter built like the 90s classics. Fast, loud, and happy on old hardware.

6. Starsector

A space game about fleet combat, trading and exploration. It’s still in development, but it’s deep and doesn’t ask for much from your PC.

7. Cultist Simulator

A narrative game played entirely with cards. Strange, dark and surprisingly gripping.

8. Tales of Maj’Eyal

A free roguelike with a huge number of classes and builds. It has a steep learning curve and a lot of replay value.

9. Gunpoint

A short stealth puzzle game where you rewire buildings to sneak past guards. Smart and stylish.

10. Heroes of Might and Magic III

A turn-based fantasy strategy game from 1999 with a community that’s still active. It runs on nearly everything.

Check before you buy

I haven’t tested these on every machine, so check each game’s minimum requirements on its store page before you buy. If you’re unsure, try the free ones first: Cave Story and Tales of Maj’Eyal.

Got a lightweight favorite that’s missing from the list? Tell me on the Discord server and I might add it.