The Most CPU-Intensive PC Games
Simulation, strategy and open-world titles where the processor, not the graphics card, sets your frame rate. Upgrade priorities differ for these.
18 games in this list · updated 2026
Covers the 36 titles whose graphics features we have verified. Steam publishes no DLSS, FSR or ray-tracing field, so support for the rest is unconfirmed rather than absent.
Palworld
Satisfactory
Baldur's Gate 3
HELLDIVERS™ 2
Path of Exile 2
Monster Hunter Wilds
Rust
World of Warcraft: The War Within
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS
VALORANT
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Minecraft: Java Edition
Team Fortress 2
Apex Legends™
No Man's Sky
Rocket League®
System requirements at a glance
| Game | Year | Genre | Min RAM | Rec RAM | Min VRAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palworld | 2026 | Action | 16 GB | 32 GB | 6 GB | 40 GB |
| Satisfactory | 2024 | Adventure | 8 GB | 16 GB | 2 GB | 20 GB |
| Baldur's Gate 3 | 2023 | Adventure | 8 GB | 16 GB | 4 GB | 150 GB |
| HELLDIVERS™ 2 | 2024 | Action | 8 GB | 16 GB | 4 GB | 135 GB |
| Path of Exile 2 | 2024 | Action | 8 GB | 16 GB | 3 GB | 100 GB |
| Monster Hunter Wilds | 2025 | Action | 16 GB | 16 GB | 6 GB | 75 GB |
| Rust | 2018 | Action | 12 GB | 16 GB | 4 GB | 45 GB |
| World of Warcraft: The War Within | 2024 | MMO | 8 GB | 16 GB | 3 GB | 128 GB |
| PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS | 2017 | Action | 8 GB | 16 GB | 2 GB | 40 GB |
| VALORANT | 2020 | Shooter | 4 GB | 4 GB | 1 GB | 35 GB |
| The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition | 2016 | RPG | 8 GB | 8 GB | 1 GB | 12 GB |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 2012 | Action | 8 GB | 8 GB | 1 GB | 85 GB |
| League of Legends | 2009 | MOBA | 2 GB | 4 GB | 1 GB | 12 GB |
| Minecraft: Java Edition | 2011 | Sandbox | 4 GB | 8 GB | 0 GB | 1 GB |
| Team Fortress 2 | 2007 | Action | 1 GB | 1 GB | GB | 15 GB |
| Apex Legends™ | 2020 | Action | 6 GB | 8 GB | 2 GB | 75 GB |
| No Man's Sky | 2016 | Action | 8 GB | 8 GB | 3 GB | 15 GB |
| Rocket League® | 2015 | Action | 4 GB | 8 GB | GB | 20 GB |