The very best PC video games of 2025 (that do not want a graphics card)

For seven years I’ve been gathering the most effective PC video games yearly that don’t want a graphics card, monitoring down video games for these of us with older computer systems or laptops. And I really like doing it a lot (and there are simply so many freakin’ video games on the market) that I made a decision ten new video games a yr simply isn’t sufficient. That is now a biannual function — you’re welcome, 5 individuals who requested for it.

These video games can run on a toaster, as long as that toaster runs Home windows. They’re additionally nice picks for a Steam Deck or just about some other handheld PC. Oh, and it certain doesn’t damage that every one of those video games are underneath $20 at full worth, and plenty of include demos. And would you have a look at that, this roundup simply occurs to be operating concurrently the Steam Summer time Sale, which begins as we speak.

Listed here are my picks, in no explicit order. Need much more? Then take a look at the identical article from 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.

9 Kings

I’ve been hooked on 9 Kings for a number of weeks. It’s nominally a base-builder, whereby you lay down buildings and items on a really small variety of tiles and create a military from the consequence. However the randomized nature of your enemies, and the playing cards you get from them to energy up your items and constructions, feels loads like carving out a run in Balatro.

The interaction of the buildings and tiles, and the way the completely different ones you may acquire from the completely different opponent kings, are essential. Discovering all of the useful mixtures and creating your personal technique to maximise them is the way you go from 10 injury in a “yr” to 10 million, and the method makes this an extremely satisfying, bite-sized technique sport.

9 Kings is in early entry, presently $15 on Steam.

Pipstrello and the Cursed Yoyo

Y’all children won’t know this, however the Recreation Boy Advance may be the most effective 2D console of all time. And this sport is a love letter to a few of its finest. Pipstrello and the Cursed Yoyo lloks like a colourful tackle ye olde top-down Zelda, however the place all of the weapons and traversal powers revolve across the titular yoyo. However the colourful world and nice tunes (offered by famed sport composer Yoko Shimomura) make me assume extra of an previous Cartoon Community manufacturing.

It will possibly’t be overstated how exhausting this sport goes on the yoyo schtick, displaying off an unimaginable quantity of allure and creativity. Actual-time fight and puzzles will problem your reflexes and timing, however there’s an curiously sarcastic undertone to all of this that works effectively with the anthropic mafioso baddies. Completionists may have a enjoyable time with the surprisingly broad and deep world, too.

Pipstrello and the Cursed Yoyo is $20 on Steam. It’s additionally out there on Epic, PlayStation, Xbox, and Change.

So to Communicate

The phrase “edu-tainment” would possibly make you cringe for those who bear in mind Mavis Beacon, however gamified language studying is about nearly as good because it will get for those who don’t have entry to full immersion. Enter So to Communicate, a puzzle sport that teaches you the fundamentals of Japanese vocabulary in an interface that makes Dulingo look positively pedestrian. It’s an enormous assist if, like me, you’re helpless relating to kanji characters.

Progressing via the sport will allow you to transfer from primary phrases to phrases and full sentences, with a give attention to guests and journey. However you’ll additionally get a pleasant style of some Japanese tradition if that’s what you’re in search of. The setup right here is sensible — effectively, at the very least I feel so — and I’m excited to see if the developer can develop it into different languages.

So to Communicate is $18 on Steam.

The Roottrees are Lifeless

Who would have guessed that clerical video games can be a factor after the success of Papers Please? In The Roottrees are Lifeless, you’re an investigator making an attempt to piece collectively the aftermath of a small airplane crash that took out a household of billionaires. Utilizing a mountain of proof and exploring a fictional, late-90s model of the web, you’ll uncover the darkish secrets and techniques hiding simply beneath the veneer of wealth and energy.

That is an extremely distinctive setup, a type of genealogical whodunnit that may tickle the drama fancies of anybody who’s ever gasped at a cleaning soap opera parentage reveal. Initially launched as a free browser sport, this full model will get remastered visuals and audios, plus full voice performing whenever you uncover related tapes and different proof, plus some bonus mysteries.

The Roottrees are Lifeless is $20 on Steam.

Solid N Chill

I don’t assume I’ve ever seen pixel artwork this attractive…and I say that as somebody who’s so freakin’ uninterested in pixel artwork as shorhthand for indie. Solid N Chill does what it says on the field, providing an intriguing mixture of primary 2D fishing that wouldn’t be misplaced on the NES with some unimaginable ambiance. In case you have no precise curiosity in fishing, you won’t get loads out of the mechanics, except the improve grind will get its hooks into you. No, I’m not apologizing for that pun.

You possibly can catch and doc 50 completely different sorts of fish, 13 of that are legendary. However I believe a sure type of participant will miss a number of them, simply watching the designated boat canine.

Solid N Chill is $15 on Steam.

Wizordum

Magical DOOM. That’s it, that’s the sport. Whereas Wizordum isn’t the primary sport to adapt quick first-person shooter mechanics to slinging spells as an alternative of blasting bullets, it’s benefiting from a number of current work within the boomer shooter area of interest. 2.5D graphics imply a number of pixel artwork on show, whilst goblins and skeletons are wizzing previous your head at about 40 miles an hour. I’m digging the epic fantasy tunes, too.

That is very a lot a single-player affair, however speedrunners can publish their occasions to a web based leaderboard. The true lasting influence of the sport may be its built-in degree editor, which helps you to make and share challenges in a really Minecraft type of means. I wager it’ll attraction to you for those who’re uninterested in rolling for initiative and simply need to blast some baddies.

Wizordum is $20 on Steam.

Glass Cannon

A “glass cannon” is a time period for somebody or one thing that may dish out a number of injury, however not take a lot in return. This little physics puzzler takes issues slightly extra actually. It’s a mixture of puzzle and motion with a physics-based setup and a roguelike development system. And if that sounds too technical, simply go by this: shoot all of the dangerous guys (or dangerous shapes) with as few bullets as doable.

Rigorously selecting your angle to benefit from bounces and maximizing your upgrades for injury and unfold are the keys to victory. The randomized ranges and comparatively low number of enemies might sound limiting at first, but it surely’s the mix of upgrades that’ll preserve you coming again for an optimum run.

Glass Cannon is $5 on Steam.

City Delusion Dissolution Heart

Think about if Management got here out within the 80s and was extra involved in Japanese horror than on-line copypasta, and also you’ve acquired City Delusion Dissolution Heart. You play a psychic ghostbuster in coaching who’s a part of the titular group, monitoring down clues to resolve spooky instances and interacting with a wealthy assortment of characters.

This one’s positively on the creepy facet of issues, with a direct attraction to followers of each retro video games and anime. Followers of Doki Doki Literature Membership would possibly really feel proper at residence with all of the hidden intrigue and deep characterization, however for those who can’t deal with the psychedelic pixel artwork cinematics, I couldn’t blame you.

City Delusion Dissolution Heart is $18 on Steam. It’s additionally out there on PlayStation and Change.

Chronicles of the Wolf

Do you just like the mechanics of Castlevania, however you’re extra of a Workforce Jacob sorta gamer? Then Chronicles of the Wolf is what you’ve been ready for. This side-scrolling motion sport is about on the backdrop of the legendary (and at the very least nominally actual) Beast of Gévaudan assaults in 18th-century France. Oh, and simply in case the truth that a wolf hunter is operating round a medieval citadel as an alternative of the woods didn’t clue you in, there’s a number of cameos from some well-known gamers within the style, too.

The entire sport is shamelessly riffing on Symphony of the Evening, and that’s in no way a foul factor. There’s a bit extra polish in play than you would possibly anticipate from the setup, with some attractive artwork and voice-over in addition to some tunes that’ll make you marvel the place you left your PS1 reminiscence card.

Chronicles of the Wolf is $20 on Steam. It’s additionally out there on PlayStation, Change, and Xbox.

Desktop Survivors 98

Okay, I do know a few of you weirdos are gonna be into this one. Vampire Survivors has impressed an entire demonic hoard of comparable “stroll round, keep away from assaults, improve your stuff” video games, however I wager you’ve by no means seen it play out with the notorious Clippy as a foremost character. The sport mechanics are acquainted, however the visuals — a sure blissful inexperienced hill and a number of gray home windows — are much more so.

However don’t assume this sport is nothing however a nostalgia play (although it definitely is). Little hooks into different “packages” from ye olde Home windows will add in goofy sport parts you’re not anticipating. For those who’ve ever misplaced hours to customizing your Home windows theme, you’ll discover one thing to like right here.

Desktop Survivors 98 is $5 on Steam.