Many people don’t bother buying games for computers these days on the assumption their computer isn’t fast enough – even if the computer is brand new. Are they right? Most of the time, yes they are.
One could quickly come to the conclusion of, “I’ll just run older games then!” That’s not always an option because of compatibility issues with Windows 7, so what then?
At that point you look for older titles that have been ported correctly (or patched for compatibility) to modern Windows 7 64-bit.
The two places you go to get games like this are GOG and Steam. The easier of the two is GOG because it specifically caters to older titles.
Before listing off the RPG titles you’d like, here are the unofficial 3 rules of finding games that will work with your computer on either of those two sites (just in case you want to pick another genre besides RPG):
1. Stick to pre-2006 titles only
An example of this is Flatout (racing game). This is a 2005 release and will run smooth as silk even on the lowest-end 2-core CPU (or high-end single-core) even if you only have a video card with 64MB video memory on it. Heck, it will even run on a 2-core laptop with shared video memory with no problem at all.
When you stick to games that are 7 years old or older, your modern or PC will run them easily.
And remember, there is a difference between “added to catalog” per the site the game is listed on and the original game release date. Concentrate on the game release date.
2. Avoid titles that heavily concentrate on the MMO experience
Some of you upon read of the above will probably think, “Yeah, that’s basically everything, right?” It basically is if you’re concentrating on nothing but new titles. Older titles – specifically the ones roughly pre-2004 and earlier – do have great single-player modes.
3. Always read reviews of games to check for compatibility issues
Both Steam and GOG have reviews and forums to discuss compatibility issues with older titles, and it’s always a good idea to read them before purchasing an older game. Generally speaking, just about all the games listed will work in Win7 64-bit – but – you may have to perform some custom modification settings for some titles.
An example of this is Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, a 1997 release. At the bottom of that page, you’ll see “Note: Due to the age of the title, users may run into a few compatibility issues from use of current hardware. Please see the forums for more information”, and will point to this thread.
With that said, here are the games:
Ultima VII: The Complete Edition
If you wanted something that has everything and the kitchen sink that will take you a long, long time to get through (in a good way), Ultima VII is it. Ridiculously immersive, and comes with not one but three manuals, two play guides, two reference cards, a cluebook and three maps. It might look old-school but it will take you a good long while to beat this game.
Not bad for 6 bucks.
Deus Ex: Game Of The Year Edition
A 2000 release, and has won 40 game of the year awards. It’s a big download for an older title at 403MB, but totally worth it.
For those of you into “dark” sci-fi stories with a very immersive story, Deus Ex is it.
10 bucks.
Fallout and Fallout 2
Two games here, both 6 bucks each. Released 1997 and 1998. Both routinely labeled as two of the best RPGs ever created. Fantastic storyline, fantastic gameplay, great-looking and just totally amazing all-around.
If of this list you were riding the fence on which game to get, you should probably get these two first.
Sid Meier’s Pirates!
If the medieval and sci-fi stuff isn’t your thing and you want something that’s just plain fun in an RPG-style package, this is the title you want. It’s a 2005 release and is a bit “heavier” on resource requirements compared to the titles above, but it’s a blast to play.
10 bucks for this title.
Get it here.
Which older games would you recommend from GOG or Steam?
Got any favorites? Post a comment and let everyone know.
Like what you read?
If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below:
