So you have just recieved your new netbook. Of course, the prime use for a netbook is for working, and for using simple applications such as MS Word and surfing the web. However, there is often more power crammed into these tiny things than you might expect. So, although you will probably be working on your new home or office computer, I’m sure that at some point you may feel the need to let off some steam with a little gaming. Choosing games that are good, don’t feature severely dated visuals, and run smoothly on a netbook are hard to find. However, we have tested hundreds of games on 3 different computers (specs below) and picked out a delectable selection for you to choose from.
9- Year Old Hewlett-Packard Desktop
- Cpu: 1.6 ghz Intel Pentium 4 (Single Core)
- RAM: 256 MB- DDR 400 mhz
- Graphics: GeForce 2 MX, 32mb video memory
2- Year Old Dell Inspiron Laptop
- CPU: 2.1 ghz Intel Core 2 Duo (Dual Core)
- RAM: 2 GB- DDR2 667 mhz
- Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD, 384 MB video memory (shared)
New MSI Wind Netbook
- CPU: 1.6ghz Intel Atom N270 (Single Core)
- RAM: 1 GB – DDR2 667 mhz
- Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950, 128 MB video memory (shared)
These are the computers we will be using to evaluate the performance of our 100 games. For each game I will give a short low down on performance experienced.
N.B. Shared video memory indicates memory that is utilized from system RAM, and some computers may not be able to use that much, it depends on the amount of RAM. The number stated indicates max possible video memory.
Before we get started just check out this key
- Smooth = Average 35+ FPS
- Playable = Average 24-34 FPS
- Unplayable = Average 0-23 FPS
Also, sometimes only the sequel game is listed. If you see this, assume that the original game performs as well as or better than the sequel. *
Shooter Games
Shooters were some of the earliest form of games, and it is safe to say that this is one genre that has only improved with time. As such, the games here may not match up to the action found in the latest releases, but they will provide some decent stress busting to break up your workload.
America’s Army
- HP: Playable, choppy at times (low settings)
- Dell: Smooth (mostly high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (med settings)
F.E.A.R
- HP: Did not run
- Dell: Smooth (low settings)
- MSI: Playable, choppy (low settings)
Left 4 Dead
- HP: Did not run
- Dell: Mostly smooth (low settings)
- MSI: Unplayable
Project I.G.I
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Quake 3
- HP: Playable (med settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Quake Arena
- As above
DOOM 3
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Playable, very choppy
- MSI: Unplayable
No One Lives Forever 2
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Counter Strike Source
- HP: Unplayable
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Playable (low settings)
Max Payne 2
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Medal of Honor Allied Assualt
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Call of Duty
- HP: Smooth (high-med settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Call of Duty 4
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Smooth (low settings)
- MSI: Unplayable
Far Cry
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Playable, choppy (low settings)
- MSI: Unplayable
Freedom Fighters
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth, some graphical glitches possibly due to hardware (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Grand Theft Auto Vice City
- HP: Very sluggish, unplayable
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (med settings)
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Smooth (low-med settings)
- MSI: Playable (low settings)
Half Life 2
- HP: Unplayable
- Dell: Playable (high settings)
- MSI: Unplayable
Mafia
- HP: Playable (low settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Playable, sometimes choppy (high settings)
Operation Flashpoint
- HP: Playable (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory
- As above
Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix
- HP: Smooth, sometimes choppy (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
System Shock 2
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Deus Ex
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Unreal Tournament 2004
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Smooth (med settings)
- MSI: Unplayable
Battlefield 1942
- HP: Smooth (med settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Hitman Contracts
- HP: DNR (Hitman Silent Assassin works fine)
- Dell: Smooth (med settings)
- MSI: Smooth (low settings)
Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield
- HP: Smooth, occasionally choppy (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
RPG Games
The RPG genre, in many people’s minds, has become somewhat delapidated as time has gone by. Some of the all-time classics are the older ones in this category. Sure, there are modern greats like Dragon Age: Origins or Fallout 3, but if you want to play RPG games on your netbook, you are getting the best or the rest.
Baldur’s Gate II
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Diablo II
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Gothic 2
- HP: Playable (med settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (med-high settings)
Fallout 2
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Knights of the Old Republic
- HP: Unplayable
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Playable (low settings)
Final Fantasy XI Online
- HP: Playable (low settings)
- Dell: Smooth (med settings)
- MSI: Playable (med settings)
Planescape: Torment
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
World of Warcraft
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Playable (low settings)
- MSI: Unplayable
Sims 3
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Smooth (low settings)
- MSI: Unplayable
Mount and Blade
- HP: Playable (low settings, DX7 mode)
- Dell: Smooth (med settings)
- MSI: Playable (low settings)
Neverwinter Nights
- HP: Unplayable
- Dell: Smooth (med settings)
- MSI: Playable (low settings)
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
- HP: Smooth (med settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Vehicle- Based Games
The games that fall into this category are simply any game that requires sole use of vehicles throughout the game. Racing games, like shooters, have improved with time, but don’t let that stop you from having a good race. Pedal to the metal!
IL2 Sturmovik
- HP: Smooth (highsettings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Combat Flight Simulator 3
- HP: Smooth (highsettings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Colin McRae 3
- HP: Smooth, occasionally laggy (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Colin McRae Rally ’04
- HP: Smooth (med settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Crimson Skies
- HP: Smooth (highsettings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
FlatOut 2
- HP: Unplayable
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (low settings)
Ford Racing 3
- HP: Playable (low settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (med settings)
Lego Racers 2
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Motorcross Madness 2
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Need For Speed Underground 2
- HP: Unplayable
- Dell: Smooth (med settings)
- MSI: Playable (low settings)
Trackmania
- HP: Smooth (med settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Driver
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Crazy Taxi
- HP: Smooth, although many consistent frame rate issues (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth, although many consistent frame rate issues (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth, although many consistent frame rate issues (high settings)
Virtual Skipper 5
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Smooth (low settings)
- MSI: Playable (low settings)
The Simpsons Hit and Run
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
NASCAR Racing 4
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Carmageddon II
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Strategy Games
Fortunately, the old strategy games do tend to be the best. Although it’s hard to resist the photo realistic graphics seen in some of the newer strategy games, the best is commonly found by taking a look back at around the year 1998…
Starcraft
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Dawn of War
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Playable (med settings)
- MSI: Smooth (Safe Mode)
World of Goo
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Anno 1404
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Unplayable (although almost bearable after you get used to it)
- MSI: Really is unplayable
Homeworld
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Command and Conquer: Red Alert 2
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Playable (low-medsettings)
- MSI: Playable (low settings, shader must be set to Low)
Empire Earth
- HP: Smooth (med settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Playable (high settings)
Age of Empires 2
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Europa Universalis 2
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Hearts of Iron
- HP: Unplayable
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Civilization III
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
The Settlers IV
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Commandos 3: Destination Berlin
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Sudden Strike II
- HP: Smooth (med settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Silent Storm
- HP: Playable, choppy (low settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Soldiers: Heroes of World War 2
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth, sometimes choppy (med settings)
Praetorians
- HP: Smooth (med settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Rome Total War
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Playable (low settings)
- MSI: Playable (low settings)
Jagged Alliance 2
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Total Annihilation
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Ground Control
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Rise of Nations
- HP: Smooth (medsettings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Warcraft III
- HP: Smooth (med settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Dune II
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Simcity 4
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Theme Hospital
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Theme Park World
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Majesty
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Black and White
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Adventure Games
Many of you will probably be familiar with the Assassins Creed games. Although these recent ones won’t work on our test computers, there are a ton of older games out there that will give you a similar experience. By similar experience, I mean something that isn’t overtly shooter related, but something that maybe requires platforming, or stealth. Sure, these games might not have the scope or size of newer games, but hey- they are a lot of fun.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
- HP: Unplayable
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (med settings)
Tomb Raider II
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Trine
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Smooth (low settings)
- MSI: Smooth (low settings)
Splinter Cell
- HP: Playable (low settings, shadows off)
- Dell: Smooth (medsettings)
- MSI: Smooth (low settings)
Theif: Deadly Shadows
- HP: Playable (low settings, but with shadows off, and Theif with shadows off is rubbish)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Playable (high settings)
Oddworld: Abe’s Exodus
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Rayman 2
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
The Curse of Monkey Island
- HP: Smooth (high settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
- HP: DNR
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Playable (med settings)
Beyond Good and Evil
- HP: Playable (med settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Smooth (high settings)
Second Sight
- HP: Playable (low settings)
- Dell: Smooth (high settings)
- MSI: Playable (medsettings)
Well there you go, 100 games to play on your netbook. Admittedly, a lot of the games are pre-2001, and won’t have such pretty graphics. However, shouldn’t gameplay come first?
We have tried our best to get you as many games as possible, and we’re sorry if your favourite game isn’t here. However, if you want a game to be tested, tell us in the comments below!
So finally, whether you own a netbook or a top-end gaming rig, these are 100 games you should try.
*Except Call of Duty/4 and Command and Conquer 3/RA 2
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April 24, 2010
#1
Will Kenny, 3/4 of those games do not run at what you state them to run at. Lots of false statements in your article. Ive tested almost all these games. Most of them hardly ran. I have the Dell with a clean install of windows 7 ultimate. 2GB. 256 shared video memory. Intel 950 GMA. With little research ive come across many people having settings really low or it doesn’t run at all. I don’t know your level of knowledge on computers but your information is wrong. You are misleading people. There is more then one person telling you this. I will save this and see if mine gets deleted as well but your post are false and misguiding people. Iam recording this post as iam typing and will be keeping this on record and posting it on youtube probably about my own research on netbooks that ive been working on.
Iam glad you posted this, (quote)
“Before we get started just check out this key
* Smooth = Average 35+ FPS
* Playable = Average 24-34 FPS
* Unplayable = Average 0-23 FPS” (unquote)
I want to say again, most of these or three quarters of these games will not run or run at very low settings with poor frame rates. There are some that well like the quake series all run great at high settings, Elder scrolls: morrwind hardly runs even with GMA booster. Which increases frame rates slightly, as will as a frame rate optimizer just for elder scrolls.
Iam not going waste to much time, as most people have already discovered your very much inaccurate information and horrible homework on researching the netbooks capabilities. Another famous quote of yours. . (quote)
“However, it is possible that data was either mistyped, mis-recorded or whatever at some point in the process. I tried hard to avoid this, but it is possible it slipped through. ” (unquote)
I find this to be quite funny. I showed this to a few people. They cant believe what they just read.
May 4, 2010
#2
Point: I know that vista, for one thing, has incredible difficulties playing games based on older OS’s. I have 6 gigs of ram, 512mb of video ram, and a duel core 2.4 ghz processor. Games like Red alert 2, sacrifice, ect, are all INCREDIBLY glitchy on this same laptop. This has little to do with the hardware, and much to do with the Operating System. Now,windows 7 has an xp emulator, but even if it was implemented well, it cannot hope to compare with a computer running xp- when playing games made for xp.
July 23, 2010
#3
Trying playing games on Win7 = EPIC FAIL.
April 27, 2010
#4
I diasgree with the statement made by Falsestatements.
I have a new laptop from Compaq that only has 128 MB of dedicated video ram ( up tp 1 gig shared) and 2 gigs of system ram. (both DDR2) It uses an ATI HD 4200 on board graphics chip and it can play such high end games as Oblivion, Gothic 3. Alpha Prime, Prey and Stalker SOC flawlwssly.
All of my games are better than the ones on the list above.
Todays laptops have higher bus speeds and better CPU and GPU processors and thus make better use of little Video ram.
Most of the older games I play like Star Trek Elite Force 2, Star Wars Jedi Knight Outcast and Jedy Academy. Half Life 2, Virtual Pool 3 can even be played on all high settings.
Sure they are a little older but great looking games with lots of nice graphics.
Falsestatements, perhaps your Dell is just a peice of junk?
My Laptop only cost $350.00 from Wal-Mart. To play all these nice games as good as it does I could not be happier.
April 29, 2010
#5
hahaha,
topic of discussion =FAIL! lol
July 6, 2010
#6
John Phoenix, your gaming computer knowledge is really inaccurate because you compare onboard GMA adapter with dedicated ATI Radeon 4200. Performancewise they are like white and black. Falsestatements have written truly. A netbook can’t even startup these games.
July 9, 2010
#7
“false statements” guy is an idiot… He’s talking about testing these games on his computer WITH WINDOWS SEVEN !
That’s clearly a sign he’s a moron, and makes all histalk moot…
July 10, 2010
#8
It’s actually very much possible to run HL2 smoothly on a netbook. -dxlevel 70. Set the priority to high. Granted, your netbook will heat up to the point of insanity, but STILL…
July 10, 2010
#9
i would like to share my mind and wat ever i can do to add to the entertainment world.
July 13, 2010
#10
Well “Falsestatements” should reconsider his views AFTER running it on XP and NOT Win7.. Win7 prolly couldn’t run the DOS version of Mario..
July 15, 2010
#11
I have a Asus Seashell w/ Intel Atom N450 1.66Ghz, 2Gb RAM, Intel 3550 integrated graphics. Dawn of War works fine for me w/all graphics options on High.
July 19, 2010
#12
My head hurts when I eat cheese but I like cheese.
August 3, 2010
#13
you say warcraft 3 works on the msi wind, btu the wind dosent have a optical drive. how do i get it on to my wind?
August 5, 2010
#14
So the best netbook to go with is dell?
August 9, 2010
#15
you missed gta 4….
August 12, 2010
#16
Are you in agreement sharing these games to me ?
September 1, 2010
#17
@hazard Just copy the CD content to a USB memory and then connect it to the netbook…