So, you have a laptop with Intel Graphics and you’re not sure what kind of games you can run on it? Perhaps you’ve played some old games from the 2010s and you’re not sure if your laptop can handle more modern games? Or perhaps rising GPU prices have left you unable to get your hands on a Graphics Card for your newly built desktop?
Well, those are the kind of questions we’d like to answer in this article. Before we begin, there are a few tips you need to get the best out of your Intel processor.
- Dual Channel Ram: This is very important as using two identical ram sticks gives much better performance than a single stick. Need more convincing? You can check out this comparison video.
- Intel HD 620 or better: The intel HD 4000 – 5000 series had a good run, but most modern Intel processors typically come with better-performing integrated CPUs, so those are what we will focus on in this article.
- Power Plan Settings: You can squeeze some extra performance out of your CPU. To do this, you need to right-click on your battery icon, click on power options, change plan settings on your currently used battery profile, Change advanced power settings, Intel(R) Graphics Settings, Intel (R) Graphics Power Plan, then changed the ‘plugged in’ option from ‘balanced’ to ‘high performance.’
With that out of the way, here are some of the best games to play with Intel HD Graphics.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
Release Date: 10th November 2020
Recommended Settings: 1280x720p, Low settings. 30-60FPS
Sakuna: of Rice and Ruin is a Side-Scrolling action platformer with some 3D elements mixed in.
The story revolves around Sakuna, a spoiled harvest god who gets banished and sent to an island overrun with demons. There she must defeat the demonic forces and regain her identity as a warrior goddess.
She is joined by a group of humans who were banished alongside her, and together they must work to tame the demons and cultivate the land.
The best graphics setting for an enjoyable experience is to put all options to low and reduce the resolution to 1280 x 720p.
Genshin Impact
Release Date: 28th September 2020
Recommended Settings: 1280×720, Low settings. 30-40FPS
Genshin Impact is a free-to-play open-world action RPG.
You and your sibling get isekai’d to a beautiful fantasy world known as Teyvat. You get separated upon your arrival and are stripped of your powers.
Thus your journey begins. To find answers you must travel across the land looking for the gods of each element. There’s no rush to do this, however, as you’re free to take your time exploring the world and meeting its various characters.
The minimum recommended GPU to run this game is a GT 1030, but it’s very possible to run this game with integrated graphics. Just set the resolution to 720p and all graphical options to the lowest.
Desperadoes III
Release Date: 16th June 2020
Recommended Settings: 1280x720p, Low Preset, Texture resolution(full). 30-40FPS
Desperadoes III is an Isometric tactical stealth game.
You take control of a group of five outlaws on a quest for redemption which will take them across the wild west.
Each character has a particular set of skills that you can utilize and combine in various different ways. The game supports multiple playstyles. You can go in guns blazing, utilizing explosives and traps or you can play stealthily, distracting your enemies while you take them down one at a time.
The game has a slow pace so high frames aren’t particularly needed. Setting the graphical options to low with the exception of the texture resolution makes for a smooth experience.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Release Date: December 3rd, 2019 – November 17, 2020
Recommended Settings: 1280x720p, Performance Mode. 40-60FPS
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is the culmination of 20 years of Halo.
The collection features 6 games.
- Halo: Reach
- Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
- Halo 2: Anniversary
- Halo 3
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo 4
The minimum requirements list a GTS 450 which is pretty ancient at this point and not much higher than the Intel HD 620 in terms of performance.
Psychonauts 2
Release Date: 25th August 2021
Recommended Settings: 1280x720p, Very Low preset, Render Resolution(65%). 30-40FPS
Psychonauts 2 is a 3D platform adventure game.
The story centers around Razputin “Raz” Aquato, a powerful Psychic and acrobat expert. He joins a psychic espionage organization known as The Psychonauts. He quickly realizes all is not steady within the organization as the leader has been unstable since he got rescued from being kidnapped, and there’s talk of a mole hiding amongst the agents.
It’s up to Raz to uncover these mysteries as he uses his psychic powers to jump into peoples’ minds to battle their inner demons, unlock hidden memories, and resolve their emotional baggage.
The game is fairly demanding with a GTX 1050 as the minimum requirement, but it’s still very possible to have a playable experience using integrated graphics.
Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection
Release Date: 10th June 2021
Recommended Settings: 1280x720p, Low Settings. 40-60FPS
Ninja Gaiden: Master collection is the much-anticipated PC port of the much-beloved Ninja games from the 2000s. The collection contains the 3 Ninja Gaiden games:
- Ninja Gaiden Sigma
- Ninja Gaiden Sigma II
- Ninja Gaiden III: Razor’s Edge
The minimum lists a GTX 970 to attain 60FPS at 1080p but it’s possible to play on integrated graphics if you bump the resolution down to 720p and reduce the graphics options to their lowest.
Monster Hunter Rise
Release Date: 12th January 2022
Recommended Settings: 1280x720p, Low Settings. 30-60FPS
Monster Hunter: Rise is the sixth installment in the extremely popular monster hunter series.
The game features just about everything you already love about these games plus much more! New awesome impractically oversized weapons, new monsters to slay which you get to do alongside man’s best friend and various other gameplay tweaks.
The game was originally released for the Switch but is now on PC. Being a Switch game, it’s not very demanding and perfectly playable with integrated graphics.
Nobody Saves The World
Release Date: 18th January 2022.
Recommended Settings: 1600x900p, Low Settings. 60FPS
Nobody Saves The World is an action RPG Dungeon Crawler.
You play as Nobody, a featureless character who stumbles across Merlin’s wand which gives you the ability to transform into over 15 different forms.
An Ancient Calamity reawakens and threatens the land. With the mysterious disappearance of the Grand Wizard, it’s up to Nobody to use its newfound powers to stave off evil.
The minimum requirements only state a GPU compatible with Shader Model 5.0 which is just about every modern GPU.
Phantom Breaker: Omnia
Release Date: 15th March 2022.
Recommended Settings: 1920x1080p, 60FPS.
Phantom Breaker Omnia is a fast-paced 2D anime fighting game.
A mysterious man appears in Japan and manipulates teenagers into fighting each other. He gives them each a unique weapon known as ‘Fu-Mension Artifacts” and promises to grant a wish to the one who survives in the end.
The 2D graphics aren’t very demanding so it’s possible to reach 60FPS even with integrated graphics.
Tunic
Release Date: 16th March 2022
Recommended Settings: 1920x1080p, Low Settings. 50+ FPS
Tunic is an isometric action RPG.
You play as a little fox stranded on a mysterious island. Legend says there is a great treasure hidden somewhere within these lands just waiting for a brave adventurer to stumble across.
Engage in a skill-based combat system. Block, dodge, and parry enemy attacks and unlock various techniques to aid your prowess in combat.
The minimum requirements are quite forgiving and it is possible to attain high frames even at 1080p.
