How to read a game's system requirements

A specification sheet is short, but each line answers a different question. This guide takes the lines one at a time, then works through a complete example against a real-world style computer.

Prepared by the BHP CONSULTING editorial team. Last reviewed 1 October 2026.

Why the sheet looks the way it does

Developers publish requirements to set expectations and to reduce support requests. The minimum list describes the least capable hardware they have tested and are prepared to support. The recommended list describes what they consider a comfortable experience. Neither list promises a particular frame rate, and neither accounts for whatever else is running on your computer at the same time.

It also helps to know that requirement lists are written once and updated rarely, while the game itself is updated often. An online game that has been running for years may have grown more demanding since its requirements were first published. When the sheet and the vendor's current help pages disagree, the help pages are usually more recent.

The lines, one at a time

Operating system

This line tells you which systems the developer supports, and often which versions. A game listed for "Windows 10 64-bit" or later will not be supported on an older 32-bit installation. A Mac listing may specify a minimum macOS version and may separate Apple silicon and Intel Macs. If Linux is not mentioned, assume it is not supported. Compatibility tools exist, but the publisher will not help if something goes wrong, and anti-cheat software is a common reason they do not work.

Processor (CPU)

Processor names are hard to compare because model numbers mean different things across brands and generations. The most reliable approach is to search for your exact processor model alongside the one listed and read a comparison from a source that tests both. A processor that is several generations newer than the listed one is usually fine even if its model number looks smaller.

Memory (RAM)

This is the easiest line to check: compare the gigabytes in your computer with the gigabytes listed. Remember that a web browser with many tabs can use several gigabytes on its own. See RAM.

Graphics (GPU) and video memory

The graphics line names a card and often an amount of VRAM. Computers with integrated graphics, common in thin laptops, share system memory instead of having their own. Many games run on integrated graphics at low settings, but if the listing names a dedicated card, treat integrated graphics as a step below it unless the vendor says otherwise.

Storage

The figure is the size of the installed game. Updates often need extra room while they download and unpack. If an SSD is listed, installing on a hard drive may cause long loading times or, in some games, problems loading the world in time.

Network

Online games list "broadband internet connection" or similar. Two things matter more than raw speed: stability, and latency to the game's servers. Wi-Fi works for most players, but a wired connection reduces the chance of brief drop-outs during a match.

DirectX, Metal and drivers

On Windows, a "DirectX" version refers to the graphics interface the game uses; on a Mac the equivalent is Metal. In practice, keeping the operating system and graphics driver up to date satisfies this line on any reasonably current computer.

Finding your own specifications

Menu names change slightly between versions of each operating system. If one of these paths does not match what you see, searching the system settings for "about" or "storage" will find it.

A worked example, line by line

The following sheet is illustrative, not taken from any particular game. It is typical of what an online PC game publishes.

MINIMUM
OS:       Windows 10 (64-bit) / macOS (recent version)
CPU:      quad-core processor, 2.5 GHz
RAM:      8 GB
GPU:      dedicated card with 2 GB VRAM
Storage:  60 GB available
Network:  broadband connection

RECOMMENDED
RAM:      16 GB
GPU:      dedicated card with 4 GB VRAM
Storage:  60 GB available on SSD

And the computer we are checking: a three-year-old Windows 11 laptop with a quad-core processor, 16 GB of RAM, integrated graphics, and a 512 GB SSD with 90 GB free.

Laptops, power settings and heat

Laptops add a complication: the same processor or graphics chip can run at very different speeds depending on power and cooling. Many laptops reduce performance when running on battery, so plug in before judging how a game runs. If performance drops after a few minutes of play, heat is a likely cause; a hard, flat surface and clear air vents make a real difference.

The Windows power mode, found under Settings > System > Power & battery, can also be set to favour performance while you play. Macs manage this automatically, though Low Power Mode, if turned on, will reduce performance.

What to watch out for

• "Runs on any PC" or similar claims on third-party sites. Rely on the vendor's own requirements instead.
• Download links for a game from sites other than the vendor or a recognised storefront. Unofficial installers are a common way for malicious software to be spread, and the Australian Cyber Security Centre advises installing software only from trusted sources.
• "Optimisation" or "booster" tools that claim to make a computer meet requirements it does not meet. They cannot add hardware.
• Requirement lists for a different edition. Console, mobile and desktop versions of similarly named games can have nothing in common.

Common questions