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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Among the horror games compared here, Amnesia: The Dark Descent has the lowest published minimum requirements, but its Steam listing warns that integrated graphics and very low-budget cards may not work. That makes it a candidate to investigate—not a guaranteed fit. Compare your PC with each game’s current official listing before buying; a listed minimum does not promise smooth play or a particular frame rate.
Which horror games have the lowest listed requirements?
The figures below are minimum requirements shown on the cited Steam listings, not results from tests on low-end PCs. They are useful for narrowing options, but they do not establish that a particular laptop or integrated GPU will run a game well.
| Game | Minimum OS and CPU | Minimum memory | Minimum graphics | Other requirements and caveats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amnesia: The Dark Descent | Windows XP/Vista/7; 2.0 GHz processor | 2 GB | Radeon X1000 or GeForce 6 | 3 GB storage. Steam’s listing warns that integrated graphics and very low-budget cards might not work. These are legacy game requirements, not a guarantee for modern integrated graphics or a statement of current Steam client support. Steam store listing |
| Darkwood | Windows 10 64-bit; Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD Phenom II X2 565 | 4 GB | GTX 460 1 GB or Radeon HD 5770 1 GB | 10 GB storage. Recommended requirements rise to 8 GB RAM and GT 660/Radeon HD 7870-class graphics. Steam store listing |
| Phasmophobia | Windows 10 64-bit; Core i5-4590 or Ryzen 5 2600 | 8 GB | GTX 970 or Radeon R9 390 | DirectX 11; 21 GB storage. The support listing says its minimum specs are for VR and that lower specs may work for non-VR; do not treat the listed baseline as a non-VR guarantee. Steam support listing |
| Aliens: Dark Descent | Windows 10 or 11; FX-6300 or Core i3-6100 | 8 GB | Radeon R9 380 or GeForce GTX 960; 3 GB VRAM | DirectX 12; 60 GB storage. The listing specifies a minimum target of 30 FPS at 1920×1080 on Low, making this a more demanding reference point rather than an obvious low-end choice. Steam support listing |
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
This first-person survival horror game has the smallest listed baseline among these examples. Its explicit warning about integrated graphics is important: low-looking CPU and memory figures do not override a GPU caveat. The Windows XP/Vista/7 entry describes the game’s listed minimum, while Steam separately says its client supports Windows 10 and later. Those are different compatibility questions, so check the current store page and your installed Windows version.
Darkwood
Darkwood is a top-down survival horror option with a substantially higher listed graphics and memory baseline than Amnesia. A PC with weak integrated graphics should not be assumed suitable just because the game is not presented from a first-person viewpoint.
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Phasmophobia
Its published minimums need the VR qualification attached. The support listing says lower hardware may work for non-VR, but does not specify a lower non-VR baseline in the cited information, so there is no exact reduced requirement to compare against.
Aliens: Dark Descent
This provides a useful contrast with the lower-baseline examples: its stated target ties the minimum to 30 FPS at 1920×1080 on Low, alongside a 3 GB VRAM requirement and 60 GB of storage. That specification is not evidence that a machine below it will achieve the same result.
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How to check whether a game fits your PC
Steam says requirements appear on a game’s store page. Compare the whole configuration, not just one headline number; a match on RAM does not compensate for a GPU or operating-system mismatch. Steam also cautions that meeting the listed requirements does not guarantee high FPS. Steam Support: performance and system requirements
- Identify your Windows edition and architecture. Check whether the game requires a particular Windows version or 64-bit Windows, then compare it with your installed system. Treat legacy game OS entries separately from the requirements of the current Steam client.
- Check the exact processor and RAM. Compare your CPU model with the named minimum where one is given, and check installed memory. Leave room for other running applications: Steam notes that insufficient available memory can lead to disk swapping and reduced FPS.
- Identify the graphics processor and video memory. Compare the actual GPU model and VRAM with the listing rather than relying on a general “integrated graphics” label. Steam notes integrated GPUs are generally weaker than dedicated GPUs; the Amnesia listing specifically warns that integrated graphics may not work.
- Check free storage and graphics API. Confirm that the drive has enough free space for the listed storage requirement and that your system supports any required DirectX version. Steam cautions that DirectX support by itself may not ensure the pixel shader capability a game needs.
- Confirm the intended play mode. Look for VR-specific qualifications. In Phasmophobia’s case, the listed minimum is for VR, while the support listing only says lower specs may work for non-VR; it does not provide a precise alternate threshold.
- Recheck the official listing before purchase. Requirements and platform details can change. Use the current listing for the version and platform you intend to play rather than treating a figure copied elsewhere as permanent.
What to try if your PC is close to the minimum
If a game launches but runs poorly, lowering resolution or graphics settings may help, although available options differ by game. Steam’s guidance for integrated-graphics users includes trying low shader detail and windowed mode. These are troubleshooting options, not a promise that a game with unsupported or inadequate graphics hardware will become playable. Steam Support troubleshooting guidance
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- Lower the resolution and graphics quality where the game provides those settings.
- Try low shader detail and windowed mode on integrated graphics.
- Close applications you do not need so more memory is available to the game.
- If the listing explicitly warns that a graphics class may not work, treat settings changes as an experiment rather than a compatibility fix.
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