For seven years I’ve been amassing the very best 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 12 months simply isn’t sufficient. This is now a biannual characteristic — you’re welcome, 5 individuals who requested for it.
These video games can run on a toaster, as long as that toaster runs Windows. They’re additionally nice picks for a Steam Deck or just about another handheld PC. Oh, and it positive doesn’t damage that each one of those video games are below $20 at full worth, and plenty of include demos. And would you have a look at that, this roundup simply occurs to be working concurrently the Steam Summer Sale, which begins at this time.
Here are my picks, in no specific order. Want much more? Then try the identical article from 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
9 Kings
I’ve been hooked on 9 Kings for just a few weeks. It’s nominally a base-builder, whereby you lay down buildings and models on a really small variety of tiles and create a military from the consequence. But the randomized nature of your enemies, and the playing cards you get from them to energy up your models and buildings, feels rather a lot like carving out a run in Balatro.
The interaction of the buildings and tiles, and the way the totally different ones you may acquire from the totally different opponent kings, are essential. Discovering all of the useful combos and creating your individual technique to maximise them is the way you go from 10 injury in a “year” to 10 million, and the method makes this an extremely satisfying, bite-sized technique sport.
9 Kings is in early entry, at the moment $15 on Steam.
Pipstrello and the Cursed Yoyo
Y’all children won’t know this, however the Game Boy Advance is likely to be the very best 2D console of all time. And this sport is a love letter to a few of its greatest. 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. But the colourful world and nice tunes (offered by famed sport composer Yoko Shimomura) make me assume extra of an outdated Cartoon Network manufacturing.
It can’t be overstated how arduous this sport goes on the yoyo schtick, exhibiting off an unbelievable quantity of allure and creativity. Real-time fight and puzzles will problem your reflexes and timing, however there’s an curiously sarcastic undertone to all of this that works nicely with the anthropic mafioso baddies. Completionists can 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 Switch.
So to Speak
The phrase “edu-tainment” may make you cringe when you bear in mind Mavis Beacon, however gamified language studying is about nearly as good because it will get when you don’t have entry to full immersion. Enter So to Speak, a puzzle sport that teaches you the fundamentals of Japanese vocabulary in an interface that makes Dulingo look positively pedestrian. It’s a giant assist if, like me, you’re helpless relating to kanji characters.
Progressing by way of the sport will allow you to transfer from primary phrases to phrases and full sentences, with a deal with guests and journey. But you’ll additionally get a pleasant style of some Japanese tradition if that’s what you’re on the lookout for. The setup right here is sensible — nicely, no less than I feel so — and I’m excited to see if the developer can increase it into different languages.
So to Speak is $18 on Steam.
The Roottrees are Dead
Who would have guessed that clerical video games could be a factor after the success of Papers Please? In The Roottrees are Dead, you’re an investigator making an attempt to piece collectively the aftermath of a small airplane crash that took out a household of billionaires. Using 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.
This is an extremely distinctive setup, a form of genealogical whodunnit that may tickle the drama fancies of anybody who’s ever gasped at a cleaning soap opera parentage reveal. Originally launched as a free browser sport, this full model will get remastered visuals and audios, plus full voice appearing whenever you uncover related tapes and different proof, plus some bonus mysteries.
The Roottrees are Dead is $20 on Steam.
Cast N Chill
I don’t assume I’ve ever seen pixel artwork this attractive…and I say that as somebody who’s so freakin’ bored with pixel artwork as shorhthand for indie. Cast 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 unbelievable environment. If you don’t have any precise curiosity in fishing, you won’t get rather a lot out of the mechanics, except the improve grind will get its hooks into you. No, I’m not apologizing for that pun.
You can catch and doc 50 totally different sorts of fish, 13 of that are legendary. But I believe a sure form of participant will miss lots of them, simply watching the designated boat canine.
Cast N Chill is $15 on Steam.
Wizordum
Magical DOOM. That’s it, that’s the sport. While Wizordum isn’t the primary sport to adapt quick first-person shooter mechanics to slinging spells as a substitute of blasting bullets, it’s benefiting from lots of current work within the boomer shooter area of interest. 2.5D graphics imply lots 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.
This may be very a lot a single-player affair, however speedrunners can publish their instances to an internet leaderboard. The actual lasting influence of the sport is likely to be its built-in degree editor, which helps you to make and share challenges in a really Minecraft form of approach. I guess it’ll attraction to you when you’re bored with 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 lots 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 attainable.
Carefully selecting your angle to make the most of 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, nevertheless it’s the mixture of upgrades that’ll hold you coming again for an optimum run.
Glass Cannon is $5 on Steam.
Urban Myth Dissolution Center
Imagine if Control got here out within the 80s and was extra desirous about Japanese horror than on-line copypasta, and also you’ve obtained Urban Myth Dissolution Center. You play a psychic ghostbuster in coaching who’s a part of the titular group, monitoring down clues to unravel spooky instances and interacting with a wealthy assortment of characters.
This one’s undoubtedly on the creepy facet of issues, with a direct attraction to followers of each retro video games and anime. Fans of Doki Doki Literature Club may really feel proper at dwelling with all of the hidden intrigue and deep characterization, however when you can’t deal with the psychedelic pixel artwork cinematics, I couldn’t blame you.
Urban Myth Dissolution Center is $18 on Steam. It’s additionally out there on PlayStation and Switch.
Chronicles of the Wolf
Do you just like the mechanics of Castlevania, however you’re extra of a Team 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 no less than nominally actual) Beast of Gévaudan assaults in 18th-century France. Oh, and simply in case the truth that a wolf hunter is working round a medieval fort as a substitute of the woods didn’t clue you in, there’s just a few cameos from some well-known gamers within the style, too.
The entire sport is shamelessly riffing on Symphony of the Night, and that’s in no way a nasty factor. There’s a bit extra polish in play than you may anticipate from the setup, with some attractive artwork and voice-over in addition to some tunes that’ll make you surprise the place you left your PS1 reminiscence card.
Chronicles of the Wolf is $20 on Steam. It’s additionally out there on PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox.
Desktop Survivors 98
Okay, I do know a few of you weirdos are gonna be into this one. Vampire Survivors has impressed a complete demonic hoard of comparable “walk around, avoid attacks, upgrade your stuff” video games, however I guess you’ve by no means seen it play out with the notorious Clippy as a essential character. The sport mechanics are acquainted, however the visuals — a sure blissful inexperienced hill and lots of gray home windows — are much more so.
But don’t assume this sport is nothing however a nostalgia play (although it definitely is). Little hooks into different “programs” from ye olde Windows will add in goofy sport components you’re not anticipating. If you’ve ever misplaced hours to customizing your Windows theme, you’ll discover one thing to like right here.
Desktop Survivors 98 is $5 on Steam.