Shooters are very dynamic games that require sharp reflexes from the player, but also… fast hardware.
Especially newer titles with great graphics might demand a modern, high-end computer with an excellent graphics card and a powerful processor to ensure smooth gameplay without delays, which can hinder the experience, especially online.
But what if your hardware is past its prime, or you only have a work laptop? That’s where we come in! We won’t let you give up your hobby just because you have a weak computer. Today, we’ve prepared a list of the best FPS games for low-spec PC!
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Borderlands 2 GOTY | 2012-09-20 | Action & Shooter | Gearbox Software |
 | Stalker Clear Sky | 2008-09-15 | Adventure | GSC Game World |
 | Fear | 2005-10-17 | Horror | Monolith Productions |
 | Borderlands GOTY Enhanced | 2009-10-26 | Action & Shooter | Gearbox Software |
 | Counter Strike 2 Prime Status Upgrade | 2012-08-21 | Action | Valve |
 | Far Cry 3 | 2012-11-28 | Adventure | Ubisoft Montreal |
 | Stalker Call Of Pripyat | 2010-02-11 | Horror | GSC Game World |
 | Serious Sam Hd The First Encounter | 2009-11-24 | Action & Shooter | Croteam |
 | Bioshock The Collection | 2016-09-15 | Adventure | Irrational Games |
 | Bioshock | 2007-08-21 | Action & Shooter | 2K Australia |
 | Fear 3 | 2011-06-23 | Adventure | Day 1 Studios |
 | Bioshock 2 | 2016-09-15 | Action & Shooter | 2K Australia |
 | Stalker Shadow Of Chernobyl | 2007-03-20 | RPG | GSC Game World |
 | Dishonored Definitive Edition | 2012-10-11 | Action | Arkane Studios |
 | Fear 2 Project | 2009-02-12 | Adventure | Monolith Productions |
 | Ultrakill | 2020-09-03 | Action | Arsi "Hakita" Patala |
 | Half Life 2 | 2004-11-16 | Action & Shooter | Valve |
 | Serious Sam Hd The Second Encounter | 2010-04-28 | Action & Shooter | Croteam |
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
| Release date: | 2012-08-21 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | Valve |
Commonly known as CS:GO, it is one of the most popular multiplayer shooters, whose origins trace back to another game. The first Counter-Strike appeared as a modification of the cult Half-Life and was released in 1999.
CS:GO has been a staple in e-sports tournaments for years, and for good reason. It’s designed for low-end gaming, and its simple gameplay, focusing on the battle between a group of terrorists and a special forces team trying to stop them, will appeal to any player!
The game offers four modes of play and seven maps, as well as a rich arsenal of weapons and several character archetypes to choose from.
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F.E.A.R.: First Encounter Assault Recon
| Release date: | 2005-10-17 |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Developer: | Monolith Productions |
First Encounter Assault Recon is the first installment of a fan-favorite series that combines shooter and horror elements. The game has had two major expansions, two sequels, and a free-to-play online game developed by Inplay Interactive.
In the game, you play as a member of a titular group of soldiers dealing with paranormal phenomena. Your target is Paxton Fettel’s terrorist group, consisting of telepathically communicating clones. As it turns out, the main villain is not Paxton, but a mysterious little girl named Alma.
The game combines typical first-person shooter mechanics with survival horror elements. Despite being nearly 20 years after its premiere, the game features decent graphics, high-quality special effects, excellent physics, and well-developed enemy AI.
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Left 4 Dead 2
| Release date: | 2009-11-16 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | Valve |
Another game from Valve, this time the sequel to the great cooperative shooter Left 4 Dead, released a year earlier. Both games were available only on computers and Microsoft consoles.
Like its predecessor, L4D2 is set in a world overrun by mutated zombies. You play as one of four available characters: Nick the gambler, Ellis the mechanic, Rochelle the TV reporter, or the former football coach, known simply as the Coach. These characters are among the few survivors immune to the zombie virus, trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
The game focuses on cooperation but can also be played solo with computer-controlled allies. The rich arsenal of weapons and dynamic encounters with enemies are impressive.
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ULTRAKILL
| Release date: | 2020-09-03 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Arsi "Hakita" Patala |
ULTRAKILL is a relatively unknown – but highly praised – action game inspired by old shooters from the 90s and slashers like Devil May Cry. The game is still in early access, with no known official release date.
This title takes us to an alternate reality where humanity is extinct and Earth is taken over by robots. Interestingly, these robots are powered by… blood. Unfortunately, due to the lack of humans, the resource has run out. You play as one of the robotic hunters who ventured into Hell to find the resource. In this place, there’s plenty of blood but also representatives of a race more dangerous than humans, demons. You fight hordes of demonic beasts.
The game features both smaller, numerous enemies and large demonic creatures serving as bosses.
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Quake Live
| Release date: | 2010-08-06 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | id Software |
id Software is known for its cult shooters such as Doom and Wolfenstein. Another popular FPS series is, of course, Quake, whose origins date back to 1996. Quake Live is a free, revamped version of Quake III: Arena from 1999 along with the Team Arena expansion.
The gameplay focuses on multiplayer battles on familiar series maps. The game offers many modes, including Duel (1vs1), Free For All, Capture The Flag, and classic Deathmatch. An additional advantage is a wide range of weapons, armour, and bonuses collected during the game.
This title has a community aspect – the developers even created a special website gathering the Quake Live community.
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Bioshock
| Release date: | 2016-09-15 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | 2K Australia |
Bioshock is the first installment in a series currently consisting of three parts (a fourth has been announced, but its release date is unknown). It is an action game that implements perfectly elements of first-person shooter, survival horror, and RPG.
Bioshock takes us to the 1960s and tells the story of the underwater antiutopia – the city of Rapture, which, cut off from the rest of the world, was inhabited by the most intelligent and distinguished people. The city enjoyed rapid technological development, mainly based on genetic engineering. This used two main resources – Adam (stem cells from a mysterious species of sea snails) and Eve (a substance that allowed the use of plasmids, intended to be a panacea for all ailments and give superhuman abilities). At one point, genetically modified girls called Little Sisters began to be used for Adam’s production (always accompanied by their protectors, Big Daddies).
At some point, however, Rapture was struck by a civil war, and the metropolis began to fall. In the game, you play as a plane crash survivor, Jack, who reaches Rapture after finding a bathyscaphe. On site, you receive two different orders from two different people – kill Little Sisters to extract Adam from them and save the girls using a special plasmid. As it quickly turns out, Jack’s visit to Rapture is not accidental, but… a return home.
The game has a very interesting and complex storyline, thanks to which even now, 17 years after its release, it is highly rated and appreciated.
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Half Life 2
| Release date: | 2004-11-16 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | Valve |
Another game on our list from Valve. This time, it’s a title belonging to the previously mentioned, best-selling Half-Life series, specifically its second instalment.
Due to failed experiments conducted at the Black Mesa Research Facility (from the first part), the gates between dimensions were opened, and dangerous aliens called Xen began to infiltrate our world, eventually taking over the Earth as the so-called Combine. In this title, you once again play as Dr. Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physics doctor who, along with other scientists and allies, tries to neutralize the invaders.
This title continues to enjoy high ratings to this day and has won the Game of the Year award 35 times in 2004. The game has become so iconic that players have been eagerly awaiting a third instalment for almost two decades, which Valve still has not confirmed is in production.
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Summary
Our list includes quite a few cult games, right? As you can see, to play an interesting, engaging, and above all challenging shooter, you don’t need the most modern computer! It turns out some of the best FPS games ever were actually made for low-spec PCs!