Nvidia and AMD routinely launch new graphics cards; however, Steam’shardware survey highlightsthat most gamers are clinging to older GPUs. For a large part of the population, this limits the number of games they can access if they can’t afford the latest cutting-edge technology. Thankfully, gamers saving up for their next custom PC don’t have to miss out on playing games. In fact, there are a multitude of compelling games that run perfectly well on older hardware.
Racing games, in particular, can run well on PCs with modest hardware. We’ve shortlisted eight titles that offer a compelling driving experience and also come with other unique game modes and features. Those with a non-gaming laptop or PC, take note.
Low-end PCs are something of an evolving concept, as technology is constantly improving and newer, shinier PC parts redefine what a high-end vs. a low-end PC is each year. For this list, a low-end PC ranges from a Core 2 Duo with integrated graphics to an i5 Intel 4th generation PC with GT 750 or equivalent. None of the games featured here require anything more than that.
Updated May 27, 2025, by Hamza Haq:Racing games have fallen out of favor from the mainstream sphere, with RPGs, open-world games, and shooters taking up much of the industry’s attention. But as with any gaming genre that goes overlooked by the big studios, smaller indie developers are always waiting in the wings to take a crack at it, especially if they themselves are fans. For low-end PC owners, this is a blessing in disguise as indie devs typically cater their games to a wider audience, and their games are much more likely to run well on a potato PC than a AAA title.
Re-Voltdelivers asplash of nostalgiaas players control remote control cars through a myriad of fun and interesting tracks. The cars must navigate around real-world objects like toys, chairs, tables, and more to reach the finish line. Players can choose from 28 different RCs and race them on 13 tracks spread across museums, supermarkets, and more.
The game has a simple but fun combat system that allows players to collect power-ups like rockets and more to disrupt the opposition.Re-Voltis the least demanding title on this list, and should run well on PCs and non-gaming laptops with old CPUs and GPUs.
13WRC 7 FIA World Rally Championship
WRC Action for Every PC
Fans of the Dirt series will enjoy the WRC 7 FIA World Rally Championship, which is centered around the 2017 World Rally season. The game offers a variety of modes, including a quick match that lets players jump into the action straight away, as well as a career mode, where players start their journey behind the wheel of a rally car as a junior WRC racer.
The game features a range of official cars, beautiful courses, andtop-notch physicsthat make each race more challenging. It also features Epic stages, which comprise long races with around 15 minutes of playtime. While it is designed with the utmost realism in mind, the game does offer assisted controls for novice gamers. Do note that the game is somewhat taxing; however, it should run well on most modern non-gaming laptops, albeit at low graphics settings.
Post-Apocalyptic Biker Chaos
There are many destruction-focused racing games on this list, but none fit the bill better thanRoad Redemption. The game takes inspiration fromRoad Rash,and follows the story of a group of bikers in a post-apocalyptic world. When the leader of a weapons cartel is assassinated, a large bounty is placed on the killer. Players must venture into the enemy territory, hunt down the assassin, and reap the rewards.
Unlike other racing games on this list,Road Redemption’s campaign has a choice of bikes up for grabs. Players can level up their stats and choose from a range of permanent upgrades that affect their character’s health, strength, and the bike’s performance. The game is designed to work on low-powered machines with 2GB VRAM GPUs.
11Assetto Corsa
Real Racing, Low Specs
Assetto Corsais an incredibly popular racing simulator released in 2013. It aims to provide players with realistic, physics-based car handling, with excellent variations between different types of cars. Everything, from how the tires interact with the asphalt to how temperature changes the way the car moves, is updated in real-time, giving racing buffs a taste of the real thing.
There are over 170 different cars available to players, though a good majority of them are locked behind DLC. A huge selling point ofAssetto Corsais that all cars in the game are true to their real-life counterparts. An F1 car will handle exactly like it would in reality, and handling it like a regular race car will only result in a loss.Assetto Corsais a game for true racing enthusiasts, and those hoping to jump in for a quick bit of arcade fun should look elsewhere. The biggest reason whyAssetto Corsaistheracing simulator to play is the online multiplayer. With an average player count of 15,000 active players, matchmaking is fun, fast, and, most importantly, fair.
Descendersis a downhill bike racing game with a twist. Every racing track is randomly generated. When players start a new campaign, the game generates a world map filled with multiple nodes, and each node is aprocedurally generated racing coursewith a unique level design. Players are given the cliff notes of what the track offers, like the steepness level and the curves, but little else. Since each new map is unique,Descendersoffers a ton of replay value.
Each track can be completed by simply reaching the finish line, but to earn points, players are encouraged to do stunts like front and backflips. Points can be exchanged for crew members, who provide passive buffs in subsequent tracks. Failing to land a stunt typically results in a wipeout, which counts as a death. Each run allows for a limited number of wipeouts before it fails completely.Descenders' biggest appeal is its ability to convey a very realistic sense of momentum when racing downhill. The feeling of barely managing to control the bike as it hurtles down a steep slope, pulled more by gravity than by the player, is conveyed with stark clarity. On top of that, tracks inDescendersdon’t have a timer. Points are mainly awarded for performing stunts, which makes it the ideal game for players who enjoy the feeling of dirt rally-style racing but hate being timed.
Need for Speed: Most Wantedis an iconic racing game, and its 2012 iteration is one of the best open-world racing adventures. Unlike the original,Need for Speed: Most Wanted(2012) doesn’t have an overarching story. Instead, the game isset in an open worldwhere players are free to race however they please. Another stark difference from other games in the franchise is that players can unlock every car in the game within the first few hours of playtime.
In fact, the game’s brimming repository of fast cars is hidden in its open-world setting. To unlock a car, players must simply find it and add it to their garage. The game has all the hallmarks of a classicNFSgame, including adrenaline-fuelled cop chases, high-octane races with massive jumps and shortcuts, luxurious cars, in-depth vehicle customization, and more. As it is quite old, the game should run comfortably on most non-gaming laptops and older PCs.
7Motor Town: Behind the Wheel
Drive, Explore, Relax
Gamers looking for a relaxing driving game should wishlistMotor Town: Behind the Wheel. Although the game is in Early Access, it has a lot of content that can be enjoyed even today. It should be noted that this is not technically a racing game. Instead, it’s a driving simulator of sorts where players can do different jobs associated with various vehicles. For instance, if using a cop car, players will be able to take on the duties of a cop.
Unlike other racing games, players can hop in and out of their vehicles, and even speed up time by entering their homes. The game has realistic driving mechanics and can even be played with a racing wheel. While there is no overarching story, the game does have a race mode where players can compete with AI on different tracks. The game is designed to run well on PCs and laptops with modest specs.
Art of Rally’s beautiful, albeit simple, low-poly art style may give the impression that it’s acasual racing game. On the contrary, the game has a slick learning curve and incorporates various driving mechanics unique to Rally racing. These include tricks like the Scandinavian flick, counter-steering, left-foot braking, and more.
The game has over 70 different racing venues inspired by real-world locations. Players can use the game’s photo mode to snap their adventures in Italy, Finland, Tokyo, and many other countries. Coupled with its relaxing OST,Art of Rallyis among the best racing games, and it runs quite well on low-end machines.
5Wreckfest
Destruction Derby Reimagined
Wreckfestis a destruction racing game that comes at a time when there is a serious dearth of these types of games for fans of titles likeFlatOutto try out. Instead of competing for who can get the fastest time in a circuit, players compete to see who can muscle out the other cars in the race through balls-to-the-walls, deliciously violent vehicular carnage.
The cars are customizable, ranging from new paint jobs to a completely new engine and everything in between. It’s a fun, mindless brawler that plays beautifully on even the lowest-end PCs because of its low system requirements. And since it is a stark departure from the traditional racing games, it serves as a great palate cleanser.
