GPU names look like someone smashed a keyboard: GTX 1060, RX 5600, RTX 3060. Good news: the big free-to-play games of 2026 only ask for a handful of cards. We pulled the official minimum and recommended GPUs from our game guides and sorted them into four tiers.
This is a map of what publishers officially ask for, not a benchmark. We have not tested these cards yet, and we do not recommend a card to buy until we have.
The four tiers
| Tier | Example GPUs | What it runs (official specs) |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1: potato-friendly | Intel HD Graphics 4400, GTX 460 class | Minimum for Star Trek Fleet Command and Project Entropy |
| Tier 2: entry gaming | GTX 970, GTX 1060 6 GB | Minimum for Zenless Zone Zero (GTX 970) and Arknights: Endfield (GTX 1060 6 GB) |
| Tier 3: the sweet spot | GTX 1660, RX 5600, RTX 2060 | Recommended for ZZZ (GTX 1660) and Endfield (RTX 2060); minimum for NTE |
| Tier 4: max it out | RTX 3060, RX 6700 | Recommended for NTE, the most demanding game in our list |
Where is Raid: Shadow Legends? It does not name a card at all: any GPU with DirectX 11 or Vulkan support will do. That covers nearly every PC sold in the last decade.
Tier 1: potato-friendly
If you are on an older laptop or office PC with integrated graphics, you still have options. Star Trek Fleet Command lists Intel HD Graphics 4400 as its PC minimum, and Project Entropy asks for a GTX 460-class card. Strategy games do not need to push millions of polygons, and it shows.
Tier 2: entry gaming
A GTX 970 or GTX 1060 gets you into the action games. Zenless Zone Zero's minimum (GTX 970) targets 1080p at 30 fps on low settings. One trap: Arknights: Endfield asks for the 6 GB version of the GTX 1060, so the 3 GB model is below the line. Check your VRAM before you download 60 GB.
Tier 3: the sweet spot
The GTX 1660 family, the RX 5600 and the RTX 2060 are where free PC gaming feels good. The GTX 1660 is ZZZ's recommended card, aimed at 1080p and 60 fps on high. The RTX 2060 is Endfield's recommended card and comfortably clears NTE's minimum (GTX 1660 or RX 5600).
Tier 4: max it out
NTE runs on Unreal Engine 5 and recommends an RTX 3060 or RX 6700, with DirectX 12. If you want its city at its best, this is the tier. Remember that NTE also recommends 32 GB of RAM: a big GPU will not save you if memory is the bottleneck. See 16 GB vs 32 GB RAM.
How to check your GPU
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, open the Performance tab and click GPU 0: the card name is in the top right. For VRAM, press Windows + R, type dxdiag, and look at the Display tab. Step by step: Can your PC run it?
Bottom line
A GTX 1660-class card clears the minimum of every game in our list and matches the recommended spec for Zenless Zone Zero. Want NTE maxed? Aim for RTX 3060 territory, and pair it with enough RAM and an SSD. Stuck on integrated graphics? Strategy games like STFC and Project Entropy have your back.
FAQ
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// Sources
