Are you too attached to that old PC you grew up with? Or are you appalled at the latest and greatest hardware pricing but don’t want to feel left out when the whole squad is having a game night? Well, look no further! In this article, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best PC multiplayer games that are sure to run buttery smooth even on the potato-est of PCs!
We’ve scoured the internet and tested countless games to bring you a selection of titles that offer fun and engaging multiplayer modes that you can experience in their full glory without a rig that costs an arm and a leg. Our criteria for inclusion on this list were simple: the games had to be popular, enjoyable, and perform well on low-spec hardware.
Whether you’re an FPS fan or someone that likes to play creatively, there’s something on this list for you. From classic titles that have stood the test of time to the newer indie games, all the mentions on this list offer lots of entertainment whether you want to fool around with friends or solo-queue a serious tactical shooter match with randoms.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into our collection of the 6 best multiplayer games for your potato PC!
1. Minecraft
Yep, you knew it was coming. What would the best lightweight multiplayer games list be complete without a mention of Minecraft? None! So let’s start with the iconic game that has been a fan favorite for over a decade now, allowing players to create their own worlds, explore them, and collaborate with others to survive and thrive.
If you have a PC or laptop, high or low-end, and you haven’t tried Minecraft yet, what are you doing with your life?! With all the possibilities Minecraft brings for building, crafting, and exploration, you’re only depriving yourself of truly unique experiences you’ll rarely ever get in any other videogame. Minecraft lets you create your own world, home, and community with your favorite people.
Oh, and if all the possibilities in Minecraft still don’t feel enough, check out the modding community built around the game. It’s an ever-active community that delivers us a near-infinite amount of new content to explore. These can include new mobs, biomes, and even new game modes! The Minecraft modding scene is a testament to the creativity and dedication of the game’s community.
Minecraft’s cute blocky graphics are something everyone has come to love and the best part? Even a toaster wouldn’t break a sweat rendering them.
Minimum System Requirements
- Processor: Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 (K8) 2.6 GHz
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics Card: Intel HD Graphics 2000, NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT, or ATI Radeon HD 2400
2. Garry’s Mod
While Minecraft can be a great way to unleash your creativity, don’t worry if it’s not your type, it’s not the only game to let you do that. Garry’s Mod is equipped with everything it needs to let your creativity run wild and have hours of fun with friends. This sandbox game lets you manipulate objects and props from other games and create your own unique experiences. From building intricate structures to staging elaborate scenarios, the possibilities in Garry’s Mod are limited only by your imagination.
The game also has tons of user-created content waiting to be downloaded. In addition, it has a robust workshop system where players can upload and download custom mods, maps, and add-ons. So download them and play all sorts of games with your friends virtually! Garry’s Mod’s offerings are far too many to be listed in one place, so give yourself a treat and download it now! From roleplaying communities to mini-games and competitive modes, there’s always something to do in Garry’s Mod.
Thanks to the simplistic graphics and its physics-based engine, even with a humble setup, you can enjoy hours and hours of building, exploring, and fooling around with friends in the game.
Minimum System Requirements
- Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E4300 or AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3600+
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics Card: DirectX 9 level Graphics Card (requires support for SSE)
3. Age of Empires
Age of Empires is a classic real-time strategy (RTS) game that the gaming community has enjoyed for over two decades. In this game, you take on the role of civilization and work to build your empire, expand your territory, and conquer your enemies. Imagine playing a game of chess, but with more civilizations and lesser castling. That’s what it’s like to play Age of Empires!
With multiple game modes and maps to choose from, you could replay this game repeatedly and yet always find a new challenge. The game also has a huge and active multiplayer player base that can help you can compete with. While Age of Empires requires strategy and critical thinking, don’t worry, you don’t need a degree in logic to play. Just keep an eye on your resources and enemies, and you’ll be on your way to building a mighty empire in no time.
Age of Empires is a fun but challenging game that has aged well over the years. It’s a blessing we don’t need a supercomputer to build your own virtual empire unless you’re planning to attempt building a real-life empire while you’re at it!
Minimum System Requirements
- Processor: 1.8 GHz+ Dual Core or greater i5 or AMD equivalent
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics card: Intel HD 4000 or greater (16 or more Execution Units), AMD or NVIDIA GPU scoring 500 or more on Passmark G3D Mark
4. Rocket League
Rocket League is a fast-paced arcade soccer game, but here’s the catch, you kick the ball with cars because playing soccer with your feet just isn’t as thrilling! In this game, you get to control a high-power car and score goals on a beautiful, futuristic soccer field. In addition, the game offers several online game modes, such as 1v1s, 2v2s, 3v3s, and 4v4s, with the options to play with or against your friends or join the queue in the matchmaking system to cooperate and compete with players from all over the world.
It would be a huge understatement to say that Rocket League is incredibly fun to play. The game has received high praise for its gameplay that’s so easy to get hooked on. In addition, a spectacular combo of sound and visuals further enhances this immersive gameplay in rocket league. It features some bangers in the background music and some of the most pleasing visuals, even on the lowest settings, despite not requiring any expensive GPUs.
If you feel like you’ve missed a lot of fun in this game, don’t feel too bad about it. In 2020 the game went accessible on all platforms, and now you can get all of this fun without spending a penny! So what are you waiting for? Lower those graphics settings, fasten your seatbelts for this insanely bumpy ride, and score some goals!
Minimum System Requirements
- Processor: 2.5 GHz Dual-core (Intel Pentium Gold G6400 / AMD Ryzen 3 3200G or better).
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 760, AMD Radeon R7 270X, or better
5. Brawlhalla
If you’re looking for a game that combines the thrill of fighting games with the fun of multiplayer action, look no further than Brawlhalla. This free-to-play game features an ever-expanding “Legends” roster, each with unique moves and playstyles, battling it out in various arenas.
Brawlhalla’s fast-paced action and competitive gameplay are straight-up addictive. No, seriously, stay away from this game if you have any self-control issues because Brawlhalla is the kind of game that will have you glued to your screen for hours if you’re not careful.
With Brawlhalla, you can jump straight into the action because the goal is very simple: Don’t fall off the map! However, while the game is easy to learn, it is challenging to master. Brawlhalla is also cross-platform, which means you can call on the extended console fam to come to battle it out!
Whether on a potato PC or a high-end gaming rig, you can enjoy the same intense action and competitive gameplay as everyone else.
Minimum System Requirements
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 or AMD Phenom II X2 555
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 or ATI Radeon HD 6870
6. Team Fortress 2
Don’t think we forgot all of you FPS gamers out there: Team Fortress 2 is a classic team-based first-person shooter (FPS) that has stood the test of time. The game features a cast of memorable characters, each with unique weapons and abilities, and various game modes to choose from. Team Fortress 2 puts players in situations that force them to focus on teamwork and strategy as they work together to outsmart and outplay their opponents.
If you haven’t tried Team Fortress 2 yet, you’re missing out on the fun of playing as a pyromaniac, a rocket-jumping soldier, or a sneaky spy as you shoot down enemies in all directions and execute strategies built on the fly. In addition, the game is backed by a lively and dedicated community, with regular updates and events that will surely keep you engaged.
TF2 runs surprisingly well on low-end hardware. Its colorful, cartoonish graphics will keep both you and your PC happy!
Minimum System Requirements
- Processor: Intel Pentium 4 processor (3.0GHz, or better) or AMD Athlon 64 (3200+, or better)
- Memory: 512 MB RAM
- Graphics Card: ATI Radeon X1600 or NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 or better
Conclusion
Multiplayer games are a great way to connect with friends and strangers alike. A low-end PC doesn’t have to stop you from getting the multiplayer experience you deserve; there are plenty of games out there that our potato PCs are more than capable of running!
From the fast-paced action of Brawlhalla and Rocket League to the cooperative gameplay of TF2, there is something for everyone on this list. So what are you waiting for? Boot up your PC
