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





