Gaming is expensive. It can also be inconvenient. If we’re on the move or trying to save our pennies, we might not justify buying a console or upgrading a PC outright. Moreover, sometimes these can break, and unless the repair comes easily, a replacement might take a while to get. There are good handholds out there, but again, the good ones cost a decent chunk these days.
All that said, being priced out of traditional gaming – for a while or just for now – doesn’t mean missing out on gaming culture entirely, especially if you take some steps to see what other options are on offer. The gaming world has grown into something much bigger than just consoles and gaming PCs, and there are plenty of ways to stay in the loop without paying through the nose for it.
So, let’s consider how to stay in touch even if you have no console or graphics card for gaming:
Try Geforce NOW & Cloud Gaming Options
Cloud gaming has developed quite a bit since its shaky beginnings and the failure of Stadia. Geforce NOW lets you stream games you already own on Steam, Xbox Game Pass, GOG or Epic, and it allows you to enjoy games you might not have had the power for, with pretty low latency if your internet connection is reliable.. The free tier might have queues, but it’s perfectly playable. The service handles all the heavy lifting for the most part too, meaning you can play demanding games without expensive hardware and some people who could afford new PC’s are just using this service because it works out cheaper and remains so convenient. Just remember that a stable internet connection matters more than processing power here.
Consider Online Minigames
Browser gaming isn’t just about match-three puzzles anymore, while flash might be out, there are many excellent games you can play. Even casinos with a no deposit bonus offer some pretty fun gaming experiences or classics like Poker. Some surprisingly sophisticated games run right in your web browser too, such as point and clicks with still backgrounds. Many indie developers release their early projects as browser games, such as Fallen London which has become Sunless Sea/Skies, and some classic games have been preserved in browser-friendly formats too. Why not check them out?
Watch/Read Gaming Content
Gaming culture has grown well beyond just playing games. Speedrus, let’s plays, secret finding or achievement guides, commentary and video essays have become their own form of entertainment for gamers. You get to enjoy that as well. Between those live streams, game reviews, and deep dives into gaming history, there’s enough content to keep anyone entertained. Sites like ours also try to keep the torch burning with interesting commentary and news updates. Engaging in all this can be fun in itself, such as how a movie lover doesn’t just watch movies all the time, but loves engaging in criticism that helps them feel more inspired.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily engage with gaming culture even if you have no console or graphics card to play with.