The gaming industry has evolved dramatically over the years. Have you recently purchased a new gaming setup or computer? Do you want to see how strong and capable it is? Games such as the CPU Intensive Games are solutions for such purposes. CPU intensive games are one of the finest options because they make use of everything, including RAM, ROM, and graphics. To put it another way, games can be the most effective method to push your PC to its limits.
However, not every game is capable of such effective checking. To do so, you’ll need to play a lot of CP-intensive games that require a lot of components to run well. People frequently want to examine their computer’s speed and capability, but standard software isn’t the ideal option.
There is no way to predict how things will turn out in gaming. When game developers bring a game to the market, they make every effort to offer benchmarks for certain systems. These metrics demonstrate the game’s credibility and long-term viability.
But when comes to in-game functionality and FPS, games nowadays rely far more significantly on the GPU. Nonetheless, there are a few games that place similar demands on the CPU as they do on the GPU.
We have reviewed the top 10 most CPU-intensive games for you in 2022. We have done these reviews so that you may know the system requirements for these 10 most CPU-intensive games in 2022 beforehand.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Most CPU Intensive Games in 2022
The following section will take a deeper look at some of the most CPU-intensive games available, as well as a few notable CPUs that are more than capable of handling the load.
1. Assassin’s Creed Origin

The Assassin’s Creed series is the best RPG game in the industry and one of Ubisoft’s best-selling titles. However, of all the gaming series, Assassin’s Creed Origin was the most well-known. Assassin’s Creed Origin is set in ancient Egypt, near the Giza Pyramid, and features characters such as Cleopatra.
The game’s visuals are beautiful, bringing a touch of Assassin’s Creed to the Ptolemaic era. Explore ancient Egypt’s breathtaking magnificence, wandering through deserts and lakes while trying to keep your family alive in the face of a harsh monarch.
The Assassin’s Creed Role-Playing Theme is fantastic, but it is extremely CPU intensive. The game’s early release resulted in crashes on major quad-core processors. Let’s say it was initially unoptimized. Even with fewer updates and fixes, the CPU is still under a lot of stress. The game engine and physics put a lot of strain on the CPU.
The physics computations are difficult enough, but adding another tier of the DRM system puts a lot of strain on the CPU. Denuvo DRM software was notorious for its excessive CPU consumption, which made even the most powerful CPUs sweat at the time.
The game was initially unoptimized, leading the CPU to underperform, with only 60% utilization. The games’ CPU utilization rose after the update and the Denuvo DRM software, stressing the Core i7 8700K. Even if things have now calmed down, Assassin’s Creed Origin still requires a lot of CPU power to run.
The script and images are breathtaking, however, the engine is taxing on the CPU when playing, so boost your processor or upgrade to a newer generation CPU. So if you like the AC franchise and RPG games, this is a game you should not miss. If you’re experiencing latency in-game, try lowering some settings to get a playable or higher FPS.
Requirements for Assassin’s Creed Origin:
- CPU: AMD FX 6300, Ryzen 3 1200 or Intel i5 – 2400
- GPU: 2 GB DirectX 11(AMD Radeon R9 285 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 660)
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 46 GB or More
- Genre: Action Role-playing / Open World
2. Civilization 6

Civilization 6 is a stunning 4x strategy game from Sid Meier. The primary goal of this game is to expand your civilization while stomping on other civilizations. The game challenges players to use technology to enhance their civilization, compete for assets, and demolish rival cities. Immerse yourself in the pre-existing great civilization’s past.
It’s a lot of fun to fight your way through ancient civilizations and impose your control. However, as the game proceeds, your CPU will become increasingly taxed. Because of its gameplay, aesthetics, and mechanics, the game appears to be more enjoyable to play. However, if you continue through the level and seek more difficulty, your CPU will speed up. Consider it a game of chess.
Every action must be exact, requiring the User and the AI to think constantly. Not only that, but as the maps grow in size, the game is already putting a lot of strain on the CPU. The addition of AI computational power increases the already large map game’s load.
The game’s AI is entirely dependent on your processor. To keep the fun rolling, the AI is constantly running in the background. It also consumes more CPU power to make decisions and calculate the results of each action. It can take up to ten minutes for the AI to complete a maneuver. That’ll be a challenging contest for both professionals and die-hard Civilization aficionados. This isn’t ideal for low-end CPUs, but a mid-tier or cheap Quad-Core CPU will be able to handle the game’s demanding workload.
Requirements for Civilization 6:
- CPU: Intel Core i3 2.5 GHz or AMD Phenom II 2.6 GHz or greater
- GPU: 1 GB Direct X 11 (AMD 5570 or Nvidia 450)
- RAM: 4 GB RAM
- Storage: 12 GB or more
3. Crysis 3

Is your computer capable of running Crysis? Yes, This inquiry became a social meme, as it asked if your new gaming computer could handle this difficult game. Crysis, especially Crysis 1, was a game that was ahead of its time. Crysis 1 boasted excellent graphics and a cutting-edge gaming engine, but its hardware couldn’t keep up. However, the latest Crysis 3, despite its age, continues to stress mid-range to high-end PCs.
The Crysis game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world in which you, as a soldier, must survive the events of Crysis 1 and 2. The player is attempting to resolve a major alien crisis and prevent an alien invasion of Earth. The game, which is based on a first-person shooter, is colorful and has a lot of gaming concepts to learn. The suit’s fighting and stealth mechanics are outstanding, while the firing and targeting mechanisms have been fine-tuned. However, you may wonder why an old game still makes mid-range and high-end games sweat.
The game’s engine, the Cryengine, is quite large and consumes a lot of resources. Furthermore, the game physics are practically lifelike, requiring the CPU to calculate taxes. The CPUs are pushed to their limits by bullet drop distance, fall velocity, NPC AI, and hostile AI. If you don’t have a compatible processor, you may find yourself struggling with the game and experiencing frame drops. Crysis 1 was recently remastered, and it still consumes a lot of CPU power, exactly like the original. However, with the inclusion of Ray-Tracing and aesthetic enhancements, the GPU takes the brunt of the blow.
Requirements for Crysis 3:
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64 x2
- GPU: 1 GB VRAM DirectX 11 (Nvidia GTS 450 or AMD Radeon HD5770)
- RAM: 3 GB
- Storage: 17 GB or More
- Genre: First-person Shooter
4. Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V is a must-have for everyone who enjoys open-world games. Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto V is an open-world game. Even though it has been seven years since its release, it continues to attract a large number of players due to its gameplay update and additional DLC content.
GTA is a simulation game that has captivated a large number of people. You should have a powerful enough computer to run the game at its highest settings while maintaining a good frame rate. Furthermore, open-world games present a system with a large world to represent.
The open-world concept games, particularly GTA V, are a huge hit with gamers. The game’s open-world architecture is already a resource drain. Every NPC is controlled by the AI, and every resource on the enormous terrain is loaded in advance. The CPU processes the data by decompressing and compressing, which requires a lot of work, thus looking at the large map contains a lot of information. Going online necessitates the use of greater resources, i.e., more computing power.
GTA V is a brilliant open-world video game, but it becomes much more enjoyable when you add mods to it. The mod adds a slew of new features to the game. Introducing Tony Stark’s Iron Man costume, ravaging the streets of Los Santos, or even improving the aesthetics brought the game’s realism to a new level. This game allows for infinite modding.
However, adding mods to games allows the CPU to put more on the table. The mod places more processing chores on the CPU’s plate, adding to the load already placed on it by the open-world environment. So, if you want to do a lot of customizations, you should improve your CPU or even overclock it.
Requirements for GTA V:
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 or AMD Phenom 9859 Quad-Core
- GPU: 1 GB DirectX 11 (Nvidia 9800GT or AMD HD 4870)
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 100 GB or More
- Genre: Open World / Role Playing
5. Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Square Enix produces some of the industry’s top Triple-A games. The Tomb Raider is one of Square Enix’s most well-known series. From its graphics to its gameplay, Rise of the Tomb Raider was already a classic. Despite this, Shadow of the Tomb Raider surpasses all expectations and emerges as the best Triple-A game on the market.
The game is an action-adventure role-playing game in which you play Lara Croft, who explores the gorgeous open world’s ruins and tunnels. Square Enix attempted to outperform the last game. However, if you want to run it at 144Hz or higher, you’ll need a more powerful PC. If you want to play at 60 frames per second, the Quad Core processor will suffice.
The game’s open-world environment puts a lot of burden on the CPU as it decompresses the entire globe and looks after the NPCs scattered throughout the map. The visuals are spectacular as always, but the mechanics and dynamics aren’t as demanding for the higher-end CPU, but they still outperform the future Quad Core processors.
The power of the numerous cores is used in Shadow Of The Tomb Raider. The impact on single-core performance is alleviated by multi-core processing. The workload can be distributed among numerous cores by concentrating on the CPU’s performance overall. The majority of game engines rely on single-core processors for heavy work, whereas Square Enix’s foundation engine makes the most of multi-core processors with six to twelve cores.
Requirements for Shadow of the Tomb Raider:
- CPU: Intel Core i3 – 3220 or AMD Ryzen 1200
- GPU: 2 GB DirectX 11 ( Nvidia GTX 660 / AMD Radeon HD 7770)
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 40 GB or More
- Genre: Action-Adventure Game
6. Far Cry 5

Ubisoft has a slew of Triple-A titles, and Far Cry 5 is one of them. Far Cry has long been a favorite of Ubisoft fans, and it lives up to its moniker. Both Far Cry New Dawn and its predecessor run on the same Dunia engine. The game transports you to Montana’s Hope County, where you must fight your way through. Hope County has been taken over by a pastor, and you must save the people while also redeeming yourself.
The game’s open-world experience is comparable to that of the franchise. Anyone yearning for action should pick up a first-person shooter. The Dunia Engine is a well-developed gaming engine, however, it consumes a lot of CPU power. The engine makes use of multiple cores to increase performance, however, it is dependent on the CPU’s single-core capabilities.
In addition, it’s an open-world game. With its AI, it will strain the CPU to its limits. The game dynamics and the NPCs do take a toll on the system. The game engine uses a lot of CPU resources for each geometry calculation and physics computation.
Unlike Assassin’s Creed Origin, there is no DRM mechanism. When compared to Origins, it uses fewer resources. When recapturing territories, though, make sure you have plenty of processing capacity on hand. The outposts contain a lot of enemies, which necessitates the usage of AI and additional CPU power.
Kindly use the benchmark tool in the settings to determine your CPU limit. Pre-checking your settings ensures that the graphics and game are optimized to your system’s specifications.
Requirements for Far Cry 5:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 – 2400 or AMD FX – 6300
- GPU: 2 GB VRAM ( Nvidia GeForce GTX 670 or AMD R9 270)
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 40 GB or More
- Genre: First Person Shooter / Action-Adventure Game
7. Red Dead Redemption 2

If you enjoy the wild west, then Red Dead Redemption 2 is for you. Red Dead Redemption 2 is the follow-up of Red Dead Redemption. The RDR2 is an action-adventure game that can be played in the first or third person. It features an open-world gaming style with a diverse range of vegetation and creatures. Close combat, guns, and a variety of explosives are used to confront foes in the open world, which can be played online or in single-player campaign mode.
Apart from its aesthetics, Red Dead Redemption 2’s environment is enormous and puts a lot of strain on the CPU. Because the prior game was only available on the console, it’s difficult to compare the two. However, the open-world area, numerous NPCs, and enemy AI consume a significant amount of CPU resources. On occasions, the game’s physics can be a little wacky.
Nevertheless, it’s a fantastic game that requires a lot of processing power to run. The difficult title necessitates a powerful CPU such as a Core i5 9th generation or perhaps a Ryzen 7 3800X. Red Dead Redemption is fantastic, especially when you have a fast CPU with 6–8 cores and a great GPU to back it up.
Requirements for Red Dead Redemption 2:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 – 2500K or AMD FX – 6300
- GPU: 2 GB DirectX 11 (Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 or AMD Radeon R9 280)
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 150 GB
- Genre: Action – Adventure Game
8. Counter-Strike Global Offensive

It’s a great test for low- and mid-range CPUs. Valve’s Counter-Strike Global Offensive is a first-person combat simulator. The title has a straightforward goal that even the most inexperienced individual may comprehend. The game runs on Valve’s old Source engine, which is quite outdated and in need of a refresh in preparation for Valve’s new Source engine 2.
In the Esports community, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the most popular game. Ten participants are split into two teams. The goal is simple: the terrorists must place and guard the bomb, while the counter-terrorist must destroy or prevent the bomb from being set. The game is simple to pick up and play, with a variety of weaponry to choose from. The intensity is increased by the addition of throwables and a round economy.
The Source engine is pretty old, yet it still performs admirably. There is no FPS cap in Counter-Strike Global Offensive. In-game, the Framerate can be restricted, however, releasing it allows the CPU to push its framerate even farther. It is not a problem for higher-end CPUs, but benchmarking lower-end and budget CPUs is necessary.
Everything, from the gameplay mechanics to bullet tracking and hitbox detection, is handled by the CPU because it doesn’t require a GPU. Counter-Strike is a wonderful test game for older and lower-end processors if you have an old Dual-Core or even older AMD processor laying around the house.
Requirements for Counter-Strike Global Offensive:
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 or AMD Phenom X3 8750
- GPU: 256 MB or Higher
- RAM: 2 GB
- Storage: 15 GB or More
- Genre: First Person Shooter
9. Total Warhammer 2
The longest-running title in the Total War series is Total Warhammer 2. The game, which was released in 2016, is a roll strategy game in which you use your troops and empire to conquer the planet. Command your empire and assets while keeping an eye on your troops as they prepare to take over the planet. You attempt to handle your army, ration them, and combat your foes in this game based on the Warhammer universe.
On an elevated difficulty level, the roll system puts a lot of strain on the CPU. The calculations and engine of AI consume a lot of computing power. Although the player interface is simple, the game engine and graphical design require a significant amount of computing power.
The game’s graphics aren’t particularly impressive, and the performance is centered on the CPU. So, to run Total Warhammer 2 on a 1080p medium with a higher FPS gain, you’ll need at least a Quad-Core processor.
Because it is a roll/turn-based strategy game, the CPU consumes a significant amount of computing power. The AI in the game takes a long time to make a decision, sometimes up to 5 minutes. Total Warhammer 2 is, on the other hand, a fantastic game on its own, and we suggest bringing down the settings for more FPS games.
Requirements for Total Warhammer 2:
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
- GPU: 1 GB DirectX 10 ( Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 or AMD Radeon HD 5770)
- RAM: 5 GB
- Storage: 60 GB or More
- Genre: Real-Time Tactics
10. Rainbow Six Siege
Rainbow Six Siege is a unique take on the first-person shooter genre. The shooting game expands on the action provided by Counter-Strike and improves it. The operator-based action shooter adds plenty of fully explorable landscapes to the FPS genre, giving it a unique spin. Yes, the majority of the objects in the game can be destroyed, allowing more places to infiltrate regions. Not only that, but you’ll have a plethora of options for defending your position.
Rainbow Six Siege may appear to be a typical first-person shooter. It does consume a lot of CPU power. The game may appear to be visually appealing, but the CPU is put to a massive effort to run the game engine. Many CPU resources are used by the bullet trails, hitboxes, destructible environment, character gadgets, and so forth.
The single-core and its boost clock are the hardest affected in Rainbow Six Siege. To play it well, you’ll need a powerful single-core performance CPU. If you’re looking to play Rainbow Six Siege, think about Intel. It has a faster single-core clock and performs better on single-core tasks. For the game, we recommend the newest Core i3 9th generation or a higher-end i5.
It’s incredible to see a single-core game that’s so simple to play. Rainbow Six Siege is one of the best competitive first-person shooter games available. It features fantastic physics and a destructible world, and the ragdoll mechanics are incredible to see.
Requirements for Rainbow Six Siege:
- CPU: Intel Core i3 – 560 or AMD Phenom II X4 945
- GPU: 1 GB DirectX 11 ( Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 or AMD Radeon HD 5770)
- RAM: 6 GB
- Storage: 61 GB or More
- Genre: First-Person / Tactical Shooter
Conclusion
A CPU-intensive game consumes a lot of RAM as well as graphics to handle the visuals. High-definition audio is used in these games to make the game more realistic and entertaining. By playing intensive games & looking at what fps category they are running, you can determine your system’s capabilities.
We have provided you with a brief review and system requirement of the top 10 most CPU-intensive games in 2022. Readers and gaming enthusiasts are recommended to keep these reviews and guidelines in mind.