Not your typical mob game, Mafia: The Old Country rewinds the clock back to early 1900s Sicily—a time when loyalty was everything, betrayal was personal, and a stiletto in the ribs meant you probably said the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time.
You play as Enzo Favara, a young man with nothing to lose and everything to prove as he tries to earn his place in the feared and revered Torrisi crime family. But Enzo’s path isn’t just about power—it’s about survival, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Instead of an open-world crime spree like Mafia III, Mafia: The Old Country is a story-driven third-person action game focusing on stealth, close-quarters combat, and some pretty intense shootouts. And from what we’ve seen so far, the gritty tone and period authenticity of this latest instalment look bang on point.
Due to launch on August 8th, the question isn't whether or not to experience this brutal, movie-like mob saga (that's a definite yes!) But, do you stick with the base game, or is the Mafia: The Old Country Deluxe edition worth the extra investment? Let's take a look at what's on offer.
Let's not beat around the bush—the base game already looks good. But for just a bit more, the Deluxe Edition takes things up a notch with a suite of digital extras to fully embrace the game’s stylish, dramatic, and deadly vibe:
You’ll also get the Soldato Pack for preordering, which includes additional cosmetics and a charm, regardless of edition.
Honestly? It depends on what kind of player you are.
If you just want to play the story, enjoy the gameplay, and call it a day, you’re good with the standard edition, as the story and gameplay aren’t locked behind the Deluxe wall.
But if you want to look and feel the part while navigating the gritty world of betrayals, vendettas, and hard choices, then the Deluxe Edition is the real deal. The exclusive outfits, unique weapons, and access to the art and music that shaped the game’s world fit the period perfectly, making you feel like the mob king you were born to be.
And with 2Game discounts if you pre-order today, now's the perfect time to embrace your new life of crime, deluxe style! Just remember: in Mafia: The Old Country, family takes sacrifice.
Embrace your inner-mobster, deluxe style.
While it'd be silly to say that the age of big, global-scale publishing companies is over, it is a fact of the matter that we now have way more small publishers operating in the gaming industry than ever before. Heck, we've been on a bit of a bender discussing them here at 2Game: Hooded Horse, Giants Software... the list is bound to grow further still as we go!
In fact, why not continue the trend right here and now? Today, we're talking about Private Division: a company that you might've already heard of, if you enjoy smaller, more focused and experimental gaming experiences.
Broadly, the Private Division of today had fallen on some hard times as of late, but the good news is that it's back up-to-speed and eager to rebuild its game roster. And if you're still wondering what that roster is, you've come to just the right place.
Private Division is best known for publishing The Outer Worlds and the original Kerbal Space Program, respectively, and these games remain absolute high-points for their respective producers and PD itself. Aside from these well established and critically acclaimed hits, though, Private Division has also pushed a variety of stranger, more out-there titles that we're very fond of as well. Here are some of them!
Penny's Big Breakaway is easily the best modern 3D platformer available on PC. It's precisely the kind of game you remember from the early days of 3D gaming, except spruced-up and with astonishingly good (and inventive) graphics. This one's a plainly excellent fit for anyone looking to celebrate this particular era of gaming, and particularly so if you're a fan of handheld PCs!
A stranger adventure game than most, After Us takes place way, way after the end of human existence. As the last living animals die out, players step into the shoes of the personification of Earth as it attempts to revive and retain whatever remains. It's a striking and memorable experience both from a visual and from a gameplay point of view, and it's been sorely overlooked by the wider gaming community.
The Humankind Odyssey did receive a bunch of attention when it was new back in 2020, but it has sadly fallen by the wayside since. We say "sadly" because there's literally nothing else like it on the market: this is a game where you take control over the human evolutionary tree, leading us from the earliest apes down towards the kind of creature we are today. Great fun, this, but it sure as heck does veer into horror at times!
An unlikely Halo competitor, Disintegration attempted to truly, genuinely innovate the FPS genre and move it forward beyond boots-on-the-ground gameplay we've become so accustomed to. Obviously, this didn't end up materializing when all was said and done, but that's not for the lack of trying. Disintegration's vehicular combat focus does have much going for it, and the light tactical elements come into their own in the campaign mode. We recommend it, if you're in the market for an FPS that's not afraid of being weird and, perhaps, slightly uncomfortable at times.
The nature of these games is such that not everyone might enjoy them. Yet, if you're even remotely interested in the concept, they all come highly recommended even if only for their unique twists and turns of the core gameplay formula(s). Stay tuned for more Private Division content, right here at 2Game!
Need a game you haven’t played before? Private Division!
If you’ve got a soft spot for Dreamcast-era brawlers, or just appreciate a good uppercut with style, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 could well be your next gaming obsession.
Dropping May 16, this eight-game bundle resurrects some of the most long-lost fighting gems of the early 2000s, with modern upgrades to make them feel fresh, accessible, and tournament-ready for 2025.
Basically, if you’re looking for revitalised old-school fighting, this collection is where it’s at!
More than just a trip down memory lane, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a carefully curated celebration of Capcom’s eclectic fighting game history. Here's what you get:
What do you think? With a mix of 2D precision, 3D chaos, and tag-team mayhem, this collection of classics should tick the boxes for every type of brawler.
A retro package for the masses; for newbies, you get simplified controls, new difficulty settings, and one-button specials to ease you into the fight.
For veterans, there's plenty of depth: We're talking visible hitboxes in training mode, multiple display filters (including CRT-style visuals), and toggleable game versions for titles like CvS2. It's everything you know and love, only more refined.
Crossplay isn't in the mix, we'll put that right out there.
But what you do get is online play across all eight games, including ranked and unranked matchmaking, training tools, and rollback netcode. The best part? If Capcom’s recent track record is anything to go by, this should be pretty solid.
If you're a fan of game history, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is the real deal.
Some of the titles have been notoriously difficult to find, with some never having had an official American release until now! This collection doesn’t just make them accessible; it gives them the revamp they deserve.
Complete with original and arranged soundtracks, Japanese and English versions, and a packed gallery of concept art and assets, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 delivers preservation with polish.
From the high-school hijinks of Project Justice to the chaotic, item-filled madness of Power Stone 2, this isn’t your typical “every game plays the same” compilation.
We're talking tag-team mechanics, weapon-based combat, ratio-based team building, and even mini-games built into super attacks (think Plasma Sword).
So, whether you're in it for deep mechanics or just some fun four-player chaos, there’s at least a game or two (or 8) in this lineup ready to hook you. Or uppercut you.
To sum up: Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a love letter to a golden era of fighting games, and exactly what you'd want from a remastered old-school bundle.
If you’ve got a soft spot for Dreamcast-era brawlers, or just appreciate a good uppercut with style, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 could well be your next gaming obsession. Dropping May 16, this eight-game bundle resurrects some of the most long-lost fighting gems of the early 2000s, with modern upgrades to make them feel fresh, accessible, […]
In most games, you find legendary weapons. Or buy them. In Blades of Fire, you forge them. By hand. Under the watchful eye of a planet-sized god, in a realm that feels like a mix between a volcano’s core and a cathedral ceiling.
But here’s the twist: metal is banned in this world. Queen Nerea turned all steel to stone. So, to survive the blood-soaked path to her palace, you’ll need to get creative and pick up a hammer.
Sounds straightforward? Wait. This isn’t some loot screen with stats and sliders. You literally build your blade in a rhythm-based minigame. Intrigued? Then read on.
At the heart of weapon crafting in Blades of Fire is the sacred hammer—a divine heirloom that lets protagonist Aran De Lira defy Nerea’s ban by creating magic-resistant gear. As implied earlier, there are no shops. No chest loot. If you want a new weapon, you forge it yourself at ancient anvil shrines, mixing materials and assembling components in a fever-dream type minigame that feels like Final Fantasy X’s lightning dodging.
And this crafting isn’t just for show. The handle, core, and materials you choose directly affect how your weapon swings, how long it lasts, and what kind of chaos it unleashes. Designing a spear? Adjust its pole length for more range, or tweak the head’s shape to favor slashing over stabbing. You can also pick a heavier metal for more damage, but then you'll have to be ready to burn more stamina. Every choice shapes how your weapon behaves.
Forging starts at a Forger’s Anvil, an altar watched over by a colossal cosmic blacksmith. You pick your blueprint and parts, then get dropped into a rhythm game where your hammer strikes must match a rising-and-falling waveform.
Now things get weird. A bouncing cursor tracks a wavy line. Land your hits on the peaks and your weapon quality improves. Or… doesn’t. Each hammer strike shifts a set of vertical bars, and your job is to match them to a curved target line. Nail it in fewer hits, and you’ll earn a higher star rating, letting you repair the weapon more times before it breaks for good. The whole thing feels like a ritual, like you’re decoding some divine blacksmithing rhythm scrawled by a cosmic trickster.
How do you get the blueprints for your desired tool? You earn them by defeating enemies who use those weapons. Want a spear? Go take down a few spearmen. Want a giant warhammer? Hope your reflexes are sharper than the guy wielding it!
It’s a tight loop: spot an enemy with a cool weapon, survive the encounter, earn the blueprint, forge your own, and test it on the next monstrosity. It's a satisfying 'hunt, learn, improve' rhythm where every battle becomes part of your crafting journey.
The end result? Crafted weapons are designed to feel great. Blades have weight. Spears let you dance. Hammers hit like trucks and each one supports multiple stances—stab, slash, cleave. And even if your forge session wasn’t perfect, you’re rarely stuck with junk.
Just be warned, weapons dull with use, so you’ll need to sharpen them mid-fight, like in Monster Hunter. And when they finally shatter? You can either repair them, if you've earned enough forge stars, or melt them down and start again.
Oh, and there's another kicker: if you die, you drop your weapon. That one you poured your heart—and hammer—into? Gone. Better win that next fight.
Will the forging system hold up over time? That remains to be seen. But is it memorable? Without a doubt. In a genre overflowing with loot drops and cookie-cutter +2 longswords, Blades of Fire dares to be different, making you earn your blade—every swing, strike, and star.
And that’s the magic. MercurySteam hasn’t just added crafting, they’ve transformed it into a ritual, a rhythm, a risk. It’s not a menu. It’s a moment.
We’re genuinely excited to see how this all plays out. And with the May 21st, 2025 launch just around the corner, we won’t have to wait long to forge our own legends!
It’s like guns, but with sharp edges instead!
One of the things we've come to appreciate the most about the modern gaming industry is how it's no longer beholden purely to large, cumbersome publishing companies and their investors. Certainly, we've come a very long way since the days of Fez and Braid, but much has changed since the earliest onset of mainstream indies. Now, for example, we get indie-tier publishers, and as dirty of a term as that might seem, it's way more sensible than you might think.
Take Hooded Horse, for example, one of our favorite small(er)-scale publishing operations! Hooded Horse has basically specialized in supporting independent strategy and tactical games, rapidly building up a roster of frankly ridiculously promising titles. Both Early Access and not! You've absolutely heard about many of them already: Manor Lords, Xenonauts 2, Breachway... the list goes on. Today, we're highlighting some of Hooded Horse's work to give them the spotlight that they so obviously deserve.
Hooded Horse's official website describes the company as a "publisher of games featuring strategic and tactical depth," which is actually more meaningful than you might think. Indeed, even though the vast majority of Hooded Horse games are straight-up strategy titles, they also often go well beyond the usual scope of the genre.
Manor Lords, for one, lets you walk around your villages and townscapes to your heart's content. Cataclismo goes in heavy on its LEGO-style building block mechanics. The upcoming Mars Tactics, finally, leans towards its obvious Red Faction inspiration to deliver fully destructible terrain across the board. With Hooded Horse-published games, there's practically always a catch and a twist, and what this means is that this company is basically spearheading the modern strategy game revival.
The kicker to keep in mind is that many of Hooded Horse's games go through an Early Access stint before getting their well-deserved 1.0 release. Cataclismo, for one, went through this exact process, but it's also an excellent example of how to do Early Access well. The developer, Digital Sun, followed its outlined plan to a T and delivered an awesome game with precisely the promised scope, so there's no EA concern to be had with Hooded Horse operations.
Really though, if you're a strategy game fan, you owe it to yourself to go through Hooded Horse's catalogue here at 2Game. Virtually every tactics niche has already been covered to some extent, and the company is simply stellar at identifying the right developers and the right projects. From XCOM-style squad hijinks all the way to large-scale warfare, from base and city-building to interstellar fleet command, Hooded Horse has got you covered.
Heck, we're particularly excited about Hooded Horse's collaboration with the widely renowned Amplitude Studios. Indeed, Hooded Horse is going to publish the hotly anticipated Endless Legend 2, and we're huge fans of that particular franchise in all its forms. Is there a publishing partner better suited for Amplitude's ambitions? Not that we're aware of, honestly!
And this really should tell you where the real deal is for PC strategy gamers in this day and age. It's taken us decades to reinvigorate the genre with genuinely fresh ideas and concepts, and that resulted in Hooded Horse, where they all come to a head. May this long stay the case!
If you'd like to check out some of Hooded Horse's finest-ever titles, you don't need to look far at all:
These obviously aren't all the Hooded Horse games we have in store here at 2Game, but if you'd like to learn more, we recommend checking this link out, instead. Brevity and all that!
Do stay tuned for the various deals and discounts we often run here at 2Game. Hooded Horse titles don't get discounted that often, but when they do, the deals are absolutely phenomenal. If you're even remotely interested in somewhat strange, off-beat strategy games, nobody goes harder in this respect than Hooded Horse. Stay tuned!
Hooded Horse, because horses’ ears get cold, too.
Few grand strategy games have been as genre-defining and long-lasting as Hearts of Iron 4. This classic World War 1 wargame is basically the go-to option if you're interested in this particular era, but the funny thing is that, over the years, it's been substantially upgraded to basically feature parity with any other cutting-edge grand strategy released in the past few years.
The kicker, of course, is that not all of these upgrades are free, and are instead bundled in as part of paid expansion packs/DLCs. The publisher and developer, Paradox Interactive, has made an impressive business out of platform-type game development, and Hearts of Iron 4 is one of its crowning jewels. What this means in practice is that you're going to want to upgrade your base experience in some way, shape, or form. That's where this guide comes into the picture!
Hearts of Iron 4 has got no less than 12 standalone expansion packs as of May 2025. That's just the big, meaningful DLCs, mind, as we're not counting graphics packs or soundtrack bundles into this particular equation. Purchasing all of these expansions is no mean feat, and the odds are good you're going to want to specifically target certain experiences instead.
Knowing which DLCs to purchase is a huge deal, with that in mind, and that's why this handy little list is going to be extremely useful for HoI4 newcomers. We've picked out exactly five of the very best Hearts of Iron 4 expansion packs to add to your experience as soon as possible. Heck, if you're particularly keen, we recommend you check out the full roster of HoI4 content right here at 2Game: we often stock deep discounts for these products, and bookmarking this link is the best way for you to stay on top of that!
With that all out of the way, let's finally take a look at Hearts of Iron 4's finest expansion packs:
La Résistance is notable specifically because it's a massive expansion to Hearts of Iron 4's espionage and occupation mechanics. What you're getting here is basically a total rework of intelligence and resistance progression systems, with a lean towards spy, commando, and guerilla-style units and combat. In comparison, HoI4's baseline espionage mechanics are extremely simplistic and uninteresting, and we cannot recommend this DLC enough if you're into this type of gameplay.
With a focus on Nordic nations, Arms Against Tyranny adds substantial depth to each of these countries. The focus, as history buffs might've expected, is on customizable spec-op units that allow you to fine-tune your operational approach in a way the base Hearts of Iron 4 experience simply cannot accommodate. Crucially, Arms Against Tyranny also grants you weapon manufacturer and kit customization, which is extremely fun in its own right.
Man The Guns adds some much-needed nuance and complexity to a variety of gameplay features and resources. It separates oil from fuel, for one, which then ties into the rather excellent Ship Designer functionality. Arguably the single most important feature found in this entire DLC, we'd say! Man The Guns also offers the option to run a government from exile, which is entirely missing from the base game, and adds more depth to several fan-favorite nations all at once.
Focusing primarily on the broader Eastern Europe and Soviet cultures, No Step Back is a must-have for players even remotely interested in any of these nations. The Tank Designer is an obviously massive boon, but railway guns, armored trains, dedicated railroad positioning, and a variety of fancy new Focus Trees makes this DLC an excellent addition even if you're not into the eastern flank of the European continent.
The final major "designer" type feature focused on aircraft comes as part of the By Blood Alone DLC. On that note, this expansion also massively upgrades the plane-type unit roster with a whopping 67 new aircraft to choose and customize from. Players can now also give out medals to units, opt to demilitarize areas, conduct peace talks, and even issue out embargoes, each of which is a hugely important non-combat wartime asset building upon other tools in your toolbox. By Blood Alone is a high-point for Hearts of Iron 4's DLC collection, and it comes highly recommended!
Iron alone is never enough.
Gather 'round, kindled souls, and rejoice — 2Game’s 50% discount on some of the greatest Dark Souls PC titles has been extended! From Ashes of Ariandel to The Ringed City, this is a rare chance to claim greatness at half the cost.
Sales like this don’t come often (when was the last time you saw Dark Souls: Remastered at 50% off?)—so if you’ve been waiting to return to Lordran in HD glory, this is the sign you've been looking for. But act fast—deals end May 15th, and once they’re gone… well, you know how this cycle goes.
This isn’t just any sale—it’s a true rarity. With 50% off iconic titles from the Dark Souls franchise—including the elusive Dark Souls: Remastered—this is the kind of event you shouldn’t ignore.
Truly, whether you're lighting your first bonfire or cruising through NG+7, now’s the time to bolster your inventory. And of course, 2Game has you covered with official PC keys and instant delivery.
But like all things in Lordran, this Sale won’t last forever. You’ve got until May 15th to claim these half-price deals—and you'll kick yourself harder than a failed parry if you miss out.
So: no Hollow excuses. For all gluttons for punishment, this is your chance to kindle your collection. Take it!
Don’t Miss Out!
There's much to be looking forward to later in 2025 if you're a racing game fan, what with Project Motor Racing about to make its grand debut. Alternatively, the odds are good that you're just waiting for Assetto Corsa EVO to polish up its Early Access build to make it the real deal, too.
And that's all well and good, but what about the games that are actually out right now? Of the ones relevant on PC, it's generally slim pickings, with Forza games being the cream of the crop, as it were. As far as Forza Horizon 5 is concerned, that's perfectly fine, as Playground Games delivered precisely what they were supposed to. With Forza Motorsport, the equation was a tad more complicated.
You see, Forza Motorsport sadly didn't kick things off right. With a relatively small track roster, curious blindspots in the vehicle roster, and a wealth of technical issues, its first year was rather rough. Many players were on the fence at the time, and you might've been as well, and that's why the new Forza Motorsport 20th Anniversary Update is such a big deal. In the broadest sense possible, this is the game we've been hoping for all along, and now's the time to start playing. Let us explain why!
Slowly but certainly, Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 has been chipping away at the game's weakest links over the past two years or so. We've had a number of chunky updates in that time, but none of them are quite as game-changing as the new 20th Anniversary Update is. Celebrating two full decades of Forza, this update adds one of the most hotly requested tracks of all time - the revered Fujimi Kaido - alongside a bevy of new cars, features, and functionalities.
If you're a newcomer, this is easily the most polished and content-rich Forza Motorsport has ever been. If you're a returnee, expect a highly polished experience with a number of unexpected additions, not the least of which is Track Day! Yep, you read that right: Track Day Meetups are back on the menu, and that really is just the start of it.
To break it all down, here's a somewhat truncated list of 20th Anniversary Update features you can access right this instant in Forza Motorsport:
Again, that's a fairly inexhaustive list of all the balancing changes and feature additions. You can read more on the official forum, if you're interested in the nitty-gritty of it.
On our end, though, new cars are where it's really at, and we're thrilled to report that the 20th Anniversary Update has a very impressive list in tow. For starters, here's a handful of new Showroom vehicles available for purchase:
On top of these, completing the new Racing Tours will net you the following rides:
Note that the fancy NISMO build of the Z is a timed vehicle, so you're going to want to unlock it before June 18, 2025. No word on its availability after June 18th, but FOMO is what it is.
On top of all of that, Forza Motorsport has also just received its very first non-Car Pass DLC. The aptly titled Forza Motorsport Racing Heroes Car Pack comes loaded with fan-favorite legendary racing vehicles for just USD $4.99 | EUR €4.99 | GBP £3.99:
A heck of a list, but Mazda Furai in particular deserves a mention, and we think this DLC is going to be extremely popular even if only for its introduction to Forza Motorsport.
Now, all of the above is phenomenal. From finally being able to drive the iconic Mazda Furai to the introduction of Fujimi Kaido - which may be our favorite track of them all - there's a huge chunk of fancy new content to play through here. Thing is, the importance of this all pales in comparison to the new Drivatar AI.
That's right, folks: Turn 10 has finally pushed out an AI update to Forza Motorsport, and it's a game-changer. Don't misunderstand, it's still entirely possible to outplay the AI as you learn the ins and outs of its behavior, but the new multi-line system upgrades make Drivatars far more aggressive and pushy when it's necessary. Further, they no longer glue themselves to the single optimum driving line for the duration of the race, and will edge after you if you perform a successful pass.
You can read more about what Turn 10 has done here at the official blog post, but the gist of it is that Forza Motorsport's single-player modes now feel livelier and more interesting than ever before. Still a long way to go before we get to the level of Gran Turismo 7's Sophy AI, mind, but we appreciate Turn 10's work regardless!
Obviously, we're all extremely excited for the inevitable announcement of Forza Horizon 6. We've written about that already, in fact, with some of our own theorycrafting on the how, the what, and the why of it. Yet, there's no denying that Forza Motorsport is fundamentally more grounded and realistic in what it sets out to deliver. To say nothing of the differences in vibe and atmosphere, as the two titles really couldn't be more apart in that sense.
Keeping that in mind, we would now happily recommend Forza Motorsport to those who want to play more Forza, but have had enough of FH5's fictionalized Mexico setting. Forza Motorsport still isn't perfect by any measure, but it is now a genuinely fascinating and compelling racing experience that can finally go toe-to-toe with genre greats. And best of all, the 20th Anniversary Update is just the start of things to come. So, it only gets better from this point on.
Now’s the time.
Looking for low-spec PC games? I mean, odds are that you, too, have noticed that the GPU market just isn't letting up. Even though there's been a slight price reduction thanks to a mild crypto crash that happened recently, and even though Nvidia's own RTX 3050 is now out, it's still a right and proper mess, and it's not going to let up anytime soon. Enter the ultimate low-spec PC games list on 2Game, then!
Sure, it's not exactly ideal that the latest "low-spec" GPU has an MSRP of $250, only to be selling or about twice as much. Nor is it all that great that some of us need to stick with downright ancient hardware just to keep trucking along.
But, there's precious little we can do about that, and it's not like we're going to stop playing games anytime soon. Here at 2Game, we're pretty dedicated to the low-spec gaming niche, from assembling hardware optimization guides to preparing comprehensive game recommendation lists.
With this piece, though, we're not going to be looking back. Here, you'll find a grand (and growing!) list of awesome low-spec PC games that you, too, can play in 2025 . Simple as that.
An exceedingly low-spec new twin-stick roguelite title, Odinfall has just about everything you could possibly wish for in an Early Access title. Best of all, it's absolutely going to run on anything you could cram it into!
One of our favorite management franchises of all time is back with a vengeance. Two Point Museum is easily the best of the three release Two Point titles so far, and it offers an incredible range of activities and gameplay loops to get stuck in. Runs very, very well on a wide range of hardware, to boot!
A genuinely phenomenal return-to-form for Sonic, this massive upgrade to the 2006 classic shows everyone how it's done. With an Overwhelmingly Positive review rating on Steam, this is the one Sonic game you shouldn't miss out on. And, hey, it's great news that it's going to run on just about any old rig you install it on! Nice!
A direct follow-up to the awesome Forgive Me Father, this sequel is a logical step forward in all the ways that matter. Whereas most cosmic horror games set you up with some fairly ordinary weaponry and make you severely underpowered in the grand scheme of things (as it ought to be in this genre, don't get me wrong), Forgive Me Father 2 outright lets you wield eldritch horrors against other such ilk. Runs amazingly well on low-spec rigs, too.
An astonishigly spooky side-scrolling survival game, Edge of Sanity takes place in a remote Alaskan wilderness that's actively being mutated by an ominous presence. Combining classic Lovecraftian tropes with the more modern Vandermeerian Area X goodness, Edge of Sanity runs on anything and everything, and it gets the heart pumping.
One of the finest horror games to have released in 2024, Conscript re-envisions the classic WW1 aesthetic as a source of sheer terror. This game is like Resident Evil without any zombies or, say, supernatural elements. Instead, it's just you, your guns, and the front, and it is bad. Good thing, though, that Conscript runs on anything and everything!
An unexpectedly awesome combination of the hack 'n' slash and tower defence genres from Capcom, Kunitsu-Gami also ended up being a delightfully performant game, to boot. We spent most of our time with it on the Steam Deck, in fact, where the only real drawback was poor battery life. Good thing, then, that this isn't a concern on your desktop PC!
Now, to be perfectly fair, Norland can get quite heavy as you approach its endgame and build out a pointedly oversized medieval colony just for the heck of it. For the vast, vast majority of gameplay, though, Norland is a perfect match for some truly sordid PCs, going all the way back to Nvidia's humble GTX 550Ti for its minimum spec requirements! Now that's what we like to call impressive.
Subterrain: Mines of Titan is a relatively major step away from the original Subterrain's real-time true top-down view survival horror into a turn-based ordeal, but it pans out all the same. An Early Access experience (for the time being), Mines of Titan still has a long way to go, but we recommend it for the spooks all the same!
An astonishingly phenomenal 2.5D beat 'em up reviving an ancient and niche franchise, Slave Zero X is the way to go if you love the usual assortment of character action games, like Devil May Cry. Slave Zero X is also a biopunk experience, shoving players knee-deep into cutting up amalgamations of flesh and machine the likes of which even Evangelion wouldn't be ashamed of. Do we recommend it? Hell yeah!
One of Bandai Namco's latest anime-themed 3D combat games, Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash is a thrilling exercise in character action, all the while performing phenomenally well on low-end rigs. For those who are in the mood for high-octane punch 'em-up action that'll work on your grandpa's '90s gaming rig, this is the ticket.
A classic adventure game, the Monster Hunter series always guarantees a great time, and Rise is nothing short of incredible. What makes it particularly interesting for us today, though, is the fact that this is a Nintendo Switch port video game. Naturally, it's been spruced up a fair bit for its PC release, but it's still effectively a native-level port of a decidedly low-spec experience. What this means is that it's going to run flawlessly on some really old hardware.
For most players, Expeditions: Rome came a bit out of the left-field because the Expeditions series never got much in the way of mainstream attention. The thing is, though, that this is a downright phenomenal adventure RPG strategy game, the likes of which you'll find nowhere else. One of the best games in its genre, even though most of the pre-release hype centered around the game's turn-based strategy features, Expeditions: Rome isn't as close to being an XCOM close as we thought it might be. Expeditions: Rome is an awesome game with RPG elements that's easy on the hardware, making it a top choice for this list of quality low-spec games.
In Song of the Evertree, players are tasked with planting magical worlds and then growing them to their fullest extent. This premise of nurturing something is amped up to its limit in this game, as there's not much in the way of combat to speak of.
The best way we've seen Strange Horticulture described so far, is that it's Papers, Please with plants. Indeed, this puzzle/adventure game is all about managing your plants and handling the requests of whatever NPCs might drop by your shop at a given time. What can we say, it's a brilliant game!
An early access horror sidescroller, Hidden Deep may as well be a land-based offshoot of Barotrauma, for what that's worth. Here, players are in control of a small security team that manages defensive operations for a large digging company. Predictably, the underground tunnels quickly become infested with a whole bestiary of forgotten horrors, making this one of the top low-end PC survival games.
Here's a weird one! One-Hand Clapping will run on downright ancient PCs, sure, but the kicker is that it's a game about singing, humming, beatboxing, and generally producing sounds. To that end, you're going to be needing a microphone for this one.
Do you enjoy cooking? Or, at least, the idea of cooking? Well, if so, and if you're on the lookout for decidedly low spec PC games to fiddle around with, consider Epic Chef! This surprisingly funny 3D delight isn't exactly perfect, but it's a hoot to play, and that's what matters the most.
Though there's been a bit of a revival of the skateboarding subculture in video gaming, we still simply can't get enough of it. OlliOlli World is here to help us along, though, as the single most fun and inventive new release of 2022 - so far. Make no mistake here, World is a revamp of almost everything you know about the series, and for the better.
This delightful low-spec life-sim RPG puts you into the shoes of an expert alchemist who suddenly need to integrate with a traditionalist community of villagers. It will run on even the ancient GTS 250, and still look downright phenomenal while doing so.
OlliOlli developers' second 2023 smash hit, Rollerdrome may be an almost entirely different game, but it's just as much fun, and most importantly, it still remembers its low-spec roots. Running this game won't take much juice at all, and its phenomenally athletic combat and innovative gameplay mechanics won't leave anyone hanging.
Does cleaning exceedingly horrific crime scenes sound like a good time? Well, uhhh, if it doesn't, Serial Cleaners will make you reconsider. This game is a real hoot in motion, and it only takes the equivalent of a meager GTX 950 for it to run, making it an excellent choice for this feature.
Imagine getting to play thirteen classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games from Konami for less than the price of one modern game. Oh, wait, you don't have to imagine, and you don't even need to have a PC from this decade to enjoy it!
And there you go, that's what 2022 (and late 2021) has had for us so far in terms of the best low-spec games. Now, the important bit to remember is that we'll keep this article updated through 2022. Possibly even beyond, if worse comes to worst. After all, the sheer supposed ridiculousness of the upcoming RTX 4000 and AMD's own RDNA 2 architectures isn't worth all that much if you can't buy it in the first place, no?
So, if you, too, are stuck with out-of-date hardware that just can't handle all the latest games, here's a list of titles that you can play with minimum fuss.
If you'd like to check out some of our older low-spec content, here's a shortlist:
Stay tuned for lots more on this topic, of course, but we're keeping track of cutting-edge PC gaming developments, too! Find out more at the 2Game Community Hub!
Low-spec, but not low-end.
Looking for some family fun to break up the never-ending "what's for dinner?" sagas? PC party and co-op games have got your back!
No XP grinding. No life-or-death moral choices. No saving the world (well… maybe by accident) - Just pure, unfiltered fun. Expect crazy chaos, questionable teamwork, and plenty of yelling (hopefully the happy kind!)
Here are our top picks for family-friendly PC party and co-op games full of madness and magic - perfect for tiny humans, fun-loving grownups, and anyone with a sense of humor and the willpower not to rage-quit too many times!
Number one on the PC party games list, if you’ve ever wanted to feel like a headless chicken in a kitchen, this is the game for you.
Dodge fires, moving platforms, and the occasional chaos gremlin, as you and your fellow chefs work together to prepare dishes in absurdly chaotic kitchens. Overcooked! is frantic, funny, and a true test of teamwork (or how loud your family can yell at each other while still laughing!)
Exploding sheep. Banana bombs. Tactical chaos. Worms W.M.D is a turn-based party game for those who dream of controlling a team of worms armed with outrageous weapons.
Full of hilarious backstabbing and dramatic comebacks, it's perfect for families who love playful competition and cartoon-style explosions.
Old-school Sonic speed meets modern multiplayer mayhem—race, dodge enemies, and collect rings with up to four players!
Bright, energetic, and ideal for younger players and retro fans alike, Sonic Superstars is the definition of family fun.
Packed with goofy humor, bite-sized missions, and easy co-op play, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes brings familiar faces and silly super powers to your living room!
Nine films. Hundreds of characters. One big brick-filled adventure. A happy place for long-time fans, it's also set up perfectly for quick co-op sessions, letting you and your family embrace silly Star Wars romps whenever the Force calls.
Prefer more imaginative, slower-paced family play? This whimsical musical adventure will be right up your street. Explore nature, solve light puzzles, and enjoy a soothing story, it's ideal for winding down after some of the louder stuff.
Customize and play with adorable blob-like Morps, complete mini challenges, and tinker around together in a relaxed, open-ended world full of possibility. Time to Morp is a quirky sandbox sim all about creativity, discovery, and teamwork. A perfect match for those wanting to avoid family beef!
Why spend family nights competing for high scores when you can work together to dodge banana bombs, deliver digital sushi, and chill out with a Morp?
With these PC party and co-op picks, you’ll find plenty of shared laughs, creative chaos, and opportunities for wholesome bonding/shouting matches. So, what are you waiting for? Grab some controllers (or just a shared keyboard), rally the crew, and get ready for some family fun!
PC fun for the family!