Minimum or recommended? Reading PC requirements properly
Every PC game lists two sets of hardware. They are useful, but they are not promises, and publishers do not all mean the same thing by them.
What the two columns mean
Minimum is the lowest hardware the publisher expects the game to start on and stay playable, usually at low settings and modest resolution. It is a floor, not a comfortable place to live, and big updates can quietly raise it.
Recommended is the publisher's idea of a good experience. Some say exactly what that means, such as a resolution and a frame rate; many do not. If a page gives a target, trust that target more than the word "recommended".
The parts that decide it
- Graphics card. The most common bottleneck by far. Compare your card with the one listed, and check its video memory: newer games increasingly ask for 6 GB or 8 GB.
- Processor. Matters most in busy online matches and big simulations. A processor several generations older than the one listed will usually hold a game back before a slightly weaker graphics card does.
- Memory. 16 GB is the normal recommendation now; 8 GB is only enough for lighter games.
- Storage. Watch for "SSD required". A game installed on an old hard drive can load slowly or stutter even when everything else is fine.
- Operating system. Almost everything asks for 64-bit Windows 10 or 11. Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025, so expect more games to list Windows 11 over time.
Finding your own specs
On Windows, open Settings, then System, then About, for your processor and memory. For graphics, open Task Manager, choose Performance and select GPU: the card's name is at the top right. On a Mac, choose About This Mac from the Apple menu.
Our twelve, from lightest to heaviest
The classes below are the ones Kit Check uses. Class A means integrated graphics can cope; class D means a recent, strong graphics card.
| Game | Minimum graphics | Class | Minimum memory | PC install |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dota 2 | Graphics that support DirectX 11 | A | 4 GB | 60 GB |
| Fortnite | Intel HD 4000 or AMD Radeon Vega 8 | A | 8 GB | 60 GB |
| Minecraft | Bedrock: Intel HD 4000 or Radeon R5. Java: Vulkan 1.3 card with 2 GB, such as a GTX 950 | A | Bedrock 4 GB; Java 8 GB (12 GB on integrated graphics) | 4 GB |
| Stardew Valley | 256 MB video memory, Shader Model 3.0 | A | 2 GB | 500 MB |
| VALORANT | Intel HD 4000 or Radeon R5 220 | A | 4 GB | 50 GB |
| Apex Legends | GeForce GTX 950 or Radeon HD 7790 (2 GB) | B | 6 GB | 75 GB |
| Baldur's Gate 3 | GeForce GTX 970, Radeon RX 480 or Arc A380 (4 GB video memory) | B | 8 GB | 150 GB |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, Radeon RX 580 8GB or Arc A380 | B | 12 GB | 70 GB |
| Elden Ring | GeForce GTX 1060 3GB or Radeon RX 580 4GB | B | 12 GB | 60 GB |
| Final Fantasy XIV | GeForce GTX 970 (4 GB) or Radeon RX 480 | B | 8 GB | 140 GB |
| Helldivers 2 | GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or Radeon RX 470 | B | 8 GB | 23 GB |
| Marvel Rivals | GeForce GTX 1060, Radeon RX 580 or Arc A380 | B | 16 GB | 70 GB |
Figures are each publisher's own minimum requirements as listed on the date shown at the top of this note. Full minimum and recommended lists are on every game page.