Need good, cheap, low spec games for my laptop. Suggestions?

[wiggler]

At home I have a computer which can decimate any feeble game which dare offends it with their puny specs. It ran Witcher 2 on top specs, obliterated Crysis without a blip. However, I have reached college age, and so I'm off to university.

My computer is not coming with me.

I bought myself a decent 300 quid laptop to take with me to uni, it's primary purpose being for work, essays, word docs, so on so forth. However, I need a few games to play in the downtime between parties and work, and judging by the fact I am a bloated nerd-beast, there may be a fair deal of downtime.

The laptop is by no means awful, it can run Dues Ex: Human Revolution, on low settings if running on full power (though it needs to rest every two hours or so) but I want nice, low spec games that don't cripple my machine.

I discovered a nifty site called good old games, and I'm considering giving the legendary Baldur's Gate or Planescape a shot, but I fear they will be to me like bladerunner was, ruined and cliche thanks to all the stuff I've already played that ripped them off.

So, basically, I need games that are cheap, replayable/long, low spec and fun! I already have Project Zomboid, Minecraft and Terraria (and have clocked offensive numbers of hours in each) so other suggestions please!

 

[Logodaedalus]

If you're into multiplayer games you could try League of Legends, it runs on anything and keeps you busy for ice-ages. Just make sure you play with friends because playing with random people can be hazardous for one's mental health.

Also Starcraft 2 is worth a go if you haven't done it already.

 

[New Troll]

Steam is full of cheap, low-end games that are still very good. I'd also recommend PopCap if you don't mind a more casual experience. Other than that, you're already shopping at a good spot in GoG.

 

[wiggler]

Is there anything on GoG you'd particularly recommend? All of these games are wayyy before my time (For an example of the kind of games I started with, Warcraft III and Age of Mythology) and I'm just not sure which are best, they all seem well priced. As for pop cap games, I already have peggle.

 

[Irridium]

Valve games can generally run on a very wide variety of systems. Some of those would be good choices.

As for GoG, well what genre's do you usually play in? I could just list something from everything, but I'd like to keep it short and focus on what you like.

Oh, also Deus Ex is on Steam. Buy that.

 

[foxtrot64]

X-COM, Deus Ex, Source games, Terraria, Minecraft, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Doom 3, and Starcraft to name a few...

Also, Zork.

 

[Qitz]

On top of all the others named, some of the older games are still fun as hell and usually don't require too burly of a system.

Torchlight is epic if you like ARPG dungeon crawlers.

Borderlands and Fallout for ARPG shooters.

Team Fortress 2 for some good, mindless, destruction.

Age of Mythology for some goofy RTS play, hell you could put in a cheat to get Flying Purple Hippo's.

Now if only I could either find my old CD's for it and the Titan expac or a place to buy it again cause I want to play it again.

 

[wiggler]

I love Age of Mythology, I will try and hunt that down, so many fond memories. I just played Dues Ex Human Revoltuion, and loved it, so I will give the original a shot. I loved Oblivion, but the graphics of morrowind was always a turn off, however, now I don't have a choice, I figure I'll give that a roll.

Generally I prefer Rpgs (action and regular), strategy and sandbox games

 

[Qitz]

I love Age of Mythology, I will try and hunt that down, so many fond memories. I just played Dues Ex Human Revoltuion, and loved it, so I will give the original a shot. I loved Oblivion, but the graphics of morrowind was always a turn off, however, now I don't have a choice, I figure I'll give that a roll.

Generally I prefer Rpgs (action and regular), strategy and sandbox games

If you do, gimme the link, I want to summon evil camels with a Priest of Seth again.

Also, if you like the old school RPG's have you checked out C'thulu Saves the World? That's gotten some great reviews.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/107310/?snr=1_200_200_253_103_1

 

[Irridium]

I love Age of Mythology, I will try and hunt that down, so many fond memories. I just played Dues Ex Human Revoltuion, and loved it, so I will give the original a shot. I loved Oblivion, but the graphics of morrowind was always a turn off, however, now I don't have a choice, I figure I'll give that a roll.

Generally I prefer Rpgs (action and regular), strategy and sandbox games

Well then, have I got the selection for you! Well, except Sandbox games. Those seem to be lacking on GoG which sucks, but thankfully other games there more than make up for it! Especially if you like RPG's.

RPG's:
Baldur's Gate [http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/baldurs_gate_the_original_saga]
Baldur's Gate 2 [http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/baldurs_gate_2_complete]
Planescape: Torment [http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/planescape_torment]
Fallout 1 [http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/fallout]
Fallout 2 [http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/fallout_2]
Arx Fatalis [http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/arx_fatalis]
Icewind Dale [http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/icewind_dale_complete]
Icewind Dale 2 [http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/icewind_dale_2]

Strategy:
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri [http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/sid_meiers_alpha_centauri]

I could sit here and tell you why all these games are amazing, but if I did this would be one HELL of a wall of text. But yeah, these games are amazing. And I suggest browsing through GoG's RPG [http://www.gog.com/en/catalogue#rpg/] and strategy [http://www.gog.com/en/catalogue#strategy/] sections and just give everything a looksie.

Or hell, browse all the games there. Definitely plenty of great games from all the genres.

 

[faspxina]

Install an Snes, GBA, N64 and PS1 emulators and you're set for life. xD

 

[kane.malakos]

Nethack will keep you occupied for quite a while if you get into it, and it's free. You can waste some time with Spelunky as well. Team Fortress 2 will run on most machines, and it's probably the best FPS out there (in my opinion).

 

[Mr. 47]

Diablo series, The other Deus Exs, KOTOR (II), Half Life, the Hitman series, Terraria, Minecraft, Any of Valve's games, Maybe the first two F.E.A.R games (which run shockingly well on my lower end laptop) If you DO NOT HAVE an integrated graphics card, maybe Amnesia or Magicka. Amnesia has integrated Issues, Magicka is 100% impossible to run on integrated cards, it has optimization issues.

 

[Wayneguard]

Gog is the best place to start. Deus Ex is another must have. Unfortunately, gog does not have it. On a side note, has anyone played Shogo Mobile Armor Division? I saw it on gog for 5 bucks and it looks right up my alley. Is it good or shit?

 

[StrixMaxima]

I second GoG. There are tons of amazing games, there, and you can get a good idea if the game is too old for your liking simply by reading the specs and the peer reviews.

I suggest Heroes of Might and Magic 3, Fallout 1 and 2, Alpha Centauri, Temple of Elemental Evil and all Bioware/Black Isle titles, such as the Baldur's Gate series.

But, there are lots of sleeper gems in there, such as Age of Wonders. Explore a bit, and you won't regret it.

EDIT: Ah, how could I forget Cthulhu Saves the World??? It's perfect for laptops!

 

[Stealthygamer]

KotOR

Just do it

 

[AndrewC]

Peggle, Minecraft, Magicka and TF2. Those are good entertainment

Honestly Peggle will entertain you for hours on end xD

 

[Cogwheel]

Planescape hasn't been ripped off, really. Too unusual. Can't speak for BG2, never got it to run on my computer.

I'd also like to suggest Iji [http://www.remar.se/daniel/iji.php] and The Spirit Engine 2 [http://www.frostclick.com/wp/index.php/2010/11/03/the-spirit-engine-2-near-perfect-rpg-game/], which has no connection to TSE1. Both are free and amazing.

 

[Tallim]

Nothing rips Planescape off in terms of story. It's just too good and you really owe it to yourself to play it although it does tend to make every other RPG plot seem really badly written.