The best free-to-play games for low-end PCs are the ones whose publishers list modest minimum specs: Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, Fortnite, War Thunder and Apex Legends all qualify, although Apex asks for the most. Each is free to download and play, and each lists hardware requirements that an older desktop or an entry-level laptop can often meet. Valorant and Fortnite are the two that list an integrated graphics chip in their minimum spec, which makes them the safest starting points if your computer has no dedicated graphics card. Below, the official numbers sit next to a short note on what each game is like to play, so you can choose one before you install anything and avoid a download of 70 GB or more that your PC cannot run.
What "Low-End" Means Here
A minimum spec is the publisher's stated floor for running a game at all, not a promise of smooth play at high settings. In this list, "low-end" means a PC or laptop that meets those floors but not the recommended specs, such as an older desktop with a basic graphics card or a laptop with integrated graphics. Riot's page for Valorant, for example, labels its minimum tier as 30 FPS and its recommended tier as 60 FPS, which is a useful reminder that minimum hardware gets you a playable game rather than a fast one. Treat the figures below as a starting point, then lower the graphics settings and close background programs, as our guides to fixing Valorant FPS drops and Fortnite Performance mode explain.
A game that lists an integrated graphics chip in its minimum spec can usually run without a dedicated graphics card. Valorant and Fortnite both do this. Counter-Strike 2, War Thunder and Apex Legends list graphics cards, so a laptop with only basic integrated graphics may struggle with them.
Valorant: The Lightest Competitive Shooter
Riot Games lists the following minimum for Valorant on PC: an Intel i3-540 or AMD Athlon 200GE processor, an Intel HD 4000 or AMD Radeon R5 220 graphics chip, and 4 GB of RAM. Riot attaches a 30 FPS expectation to that tier. For 60 FPS it lists an Intel i3-4150 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 with a GeForce GT 730 or Radeon R7 240, and for 144 FPS it lists an Intel i5-9400F or Ryzen 5 2600X with a GTX 1050 Ti, Radeon R7 370 or Arc A310.
One requirement catches people out: on Windows 11, Riot requires TPM 2.0 and UEFI Secure Boot. Windows 10 has no such requirement listed. If Valorant refuses to start on a recent Windows 11 PC, that is the first thing to check in your BIOS.
Valorant is a round-based tactical shooter with stylized graphics, which is part of why it runs on modest hardware. Start with our Valorant game profile and the beginner's guide.
Counter-Strike 2: Heavier, but Still Modest
According to its Steam page, Counter-Strike 2 is free to play and lists a minimum of 4 hardware CPU threads (an Intel Core i5 750 or better), 8 GB of RAM and a DirectX 11 graphics card with 1 GB or more of video memory and Shader Model 5.0 support. It also needs 85 GB of free storage, the largest storage requirement listed here.
The requirements are low for a modern shooter, but the 8 GB RAM floor and the storage space are worth checking before you start the download. If you want to compare it with Valorant, see our list of the best free-to-play shooters.
Fortnite: Runs on Integrated Graphics
Epic Games lists a minimum of an Intel Core i3-3225 at 3.3 GHz, 8 GB of RAM and either an Intel HD 4000 or an AMD Radeon Vega 8 for Fortnite on PC. For the recommended tier, Epic lists a GeForce GTX 960 or Radeon R9 280 class card, 16 GB of RAM and an NVMe solid-state drive.
Epic's own page says that at minimum specs Fortnite will run, but probably not on the highest settings. In practice that means low settings and a lower resolution, which our Fortnite Performance mode guide covers step by step. The Fortnite game profile explains how the game modes work.
War Thunder: The Most Forgiving Hardware List
War Thunder's Steam page lists the lowest numbers of the five. The Windows minimum is a dual-core 2.2 GHz processor, 4 GB of RAM, a DirectX 11 class graphics card such as an AMD Radeon 77XX or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 at a minimum of 720p, and 70 GB of storage. The recommended tier is an Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB of RAM and a card such as a GeForce GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 570.
Its vehicle combat is generally more deliberate than a twitch shooter, so frame rate matters a little less. Optional paid content and in-game purchases are available, but the game is free to play. See the War Thunder game profile and our beginner's guide.
Apex Legends: The Most Demanding Pick
EA lists the minimum for Apex Legends as 64-bit Windows 10, an Intel Core i3-6300 at 3.8 GHz or AMD FX-4350 quad-core processor, 6 GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 950 or Radeon HD 7790 with DirectX feature level 12_0 and 2 GB of video memory. It also needs 75 GB of storage. The recommended tier, aimed at smooth 60 FPS play, asks for a GTX 970 or Radeon R9 290 and 8 GB of RAM.
Apex is the one game here that effectively needs a dedicated graphics card, but a GTX 950 is an older card. See our Apex Legends beginner's guide and the movement guide if you try it.
Which One Should You Start With?
If your PC has only integrated graphics, start with Valorant or Fortnite, because both list an integrated chip in their minimum specs. If you have an older desktop with a basic dedicated card, War Thunder and Counter-Strike 2 are the easiest next steps. Keep Apex Legends for a system that meets its graphics card requirement.
Whichever you choose, install the game on an SSD if you have one, since Intel's support guidance for Valorant lists that as a fix for frame rate drops. For a broader look at how to pick a genre and what free really costs, see our Free-to-Play Games in 2026 guide.
FAQ
Can I play free games on a laptop without a graphics card? Yes, for some of them. Riot's Valorant minimum lists an Intel HD 4000 graphics chip and Epic's Fortnite minimum lists an Intel HD 4000 or AMD Radeon Vega 8. The other games on this list name specific graphics cards, so a basic integrated chip may not be enough.
Is it worth upgrading just to play these? Usually not. If the minimum specs already run the game, lower settings and a clean install are cheaper first steps. When an upgrade makes sense, our complete gaming PC build and upgrade guide and the budget build guide show what to buy first.
Do minimum specs guarantee a smooth experience? No. They describe the lowest hardware the publisher says can run the game. Riot's own table ties its minimum to 30 FPS, so expect to lower settings on a low-end PC.
Sources: Intel — VALORANT performance on Intel graphics, Riot Games Support — Minimum & Recommended PC Specs for VALORANT, Steam — Counter-Strike 2, Epic Games — System requirements for Fortnite on PC, Steam — War Thunder, EA — Apex Legends PC system requirements
