My PC is old enough that new releases are a joke. Instead of chasing hardware, I changed what I play. Here’s what works.

Play older games

Games from the 2000s and early 2010s run great on weak hardware, and many are still brilliant. Vice City is a good example. It looks rough by today’s standards, but it plays fine and has a huge community around it.

Pick lightweight modern games

Not every new game needs a monster PC. Small indie games and stylized 3D games often run well on low-end machines. Mega Bonk is one I recently started, and it’s the kind of game that doesn’t ask for much.

Turn the settings down first

Before giving up on a game, try these:

• Lower the resolution. This helps more than anything else.
• Switch shadows, reflections and anti-aliasing to low or off.
• Close your browser and other programs before playing.

Check before you buy

Look up the minimum requirements on the game’s store page and compare them with your PC. If your graphics card is below the minimum, skip it and save your money.

Don’t forget the mods

Some community mods make games lighter, with smaller textures and fixes that remove lag. Those can bring a borderline game into reach.

An old PC isn’t a dead end. It just means you get to know your games better.