What Games Are CPU Intensive? Ultimate Guide

While playing games, I noticed some pushed my CPU hard. After some research, I found strategy and simulation games are the most CPU-intensive. Let me share what I learned.

What Games Are CPU Intensive? (short answer)
Yes, CPU-intensive games rely on powerful processors for tasks like physics simulations, AI, and large environments. Titles such as Microsoft Flight Simulator Total War Warhammer and Cities Skylines are known for being CPU-heavy. A strong multi-core CPU enhances performance in these games.

In this article, we will discuss what games are CPU Intensive.

Table of Contents

What Is A CPU-Intensive Game?

A CPU-intensive game relies heavily on the processor to handle tasks like AI, physics, large-scale simulations, and background computations. These games typically involve complex environments, multiple characters, or real-time strategy, requiring significant CPU power to run smoothly.

Examples

include Microsoft Flight Simulator
Cities: Skylines, and
Total War series

What The CPU Does In A Gaming PC?

The CPU in a gaming PC handles tasks like processing game logic, controlling AI, managing physics calculations, and coordinating data between components like the GPU and memory. It ensures smooth gameplay by executing instructions and managing background processes.

What Makes A Game CPU Intensive?

A game becomes CPU-intensive when it relies heavily on the processor for tasks such as AI, physics simulations, pathfinding, and managing large, complex environments. Games with detailed simulations, real-time strategy elements, or extensive open worlds often demand more from the CPU to handle these processes efficiently.

Benchmark Testing Your CPU For Gaming

Benchmark testing your CPU for gaming helps measure its performance under heavy loads. Tools like Cinebench, Geekbench, or 3DMark test your CPU’s ability to handle gaming tasks, such as physics, AI, and processing, ensuring smooth gameplay and identifying potential bottlenecks.

What Games Make More Use Of CPU Than GPU?

Games that rely more on the CPU than the GPU typically involve complex simulations, AI, or large-scale environments. Examples include the Civilisation VI Total War series, Cities Skylines, and Football Manager. These games depend heavily on CPU power for smooth performance.

Welcome to Bottleneck City: These Titles Put More Strain On Your CPU Than Most

1. Star Citizen

Star Citizen is a highly CPU-intensive game known for its detailed space simulations, dynamic AI, and expansive universe. It demands significant processing power to manage its complex interactions and large-scale environments, often putting heavy strain on CPUs.

2. Arma 3

Arma 3 is another CPU-intensive game due to its large, open-world environments and detailed simulations. It requires substantial processing power to handle its complex physics, AI behaviours, and massive player counts, putting significant strain on your CPU.

3. Total War: Warhammer 2

Total War: Warhammer 2 is known for being CPU-intensive because it handles large-scale battles with numerous units, complex AI, and detailed simulations. The game’s expansive maps and real-time strategy elements demand significant processing power from your CPU.

4. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is CPU-intensive due to its expansive open world, detailed environments, and complex AI interactions. The game relies on a strong CPU to manage its vast landscapes, numerous characters, and dynamic systems, ensuring smooth gameplay.

5. No Man’s Sky (PC or VR)

No Man’s Sky is highly CPU-intensive due to its vast, procedurally generated universe, which requires significant processing power to create and manage in real time. The game demands a strong CPU for smooth performance, especially in VR, where both the CPU and GPU must be top-notch to handle the game’s complexities.

6. Watch Dogs: Legion

Watch Dogs: Legion is highly CPU-intensive, demanding strong processing power due to its complex AI and detailed city environments. Even with a powerful GPU, you’ll need a robust CPU to handle the game’s high demands and ensure smooth performance.

7. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (PC or VR)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is extremely CPU-intensive, both on PC and in VR. Its detailed, real-time simulations of vast, procedurally generated landscapes require substantial CPU power. A high-end CPU is essential for smooth performance and handling of the game’s complex data.

8. Far Cry 5

Far Cry 5 is CPU-intensive due to its open-world environment, complex AI, and large-scale dynamic elements. The game demands significant processing power to manage its detailed world and numerous interactions, requiring a strong CPU for optimal performance.

9. Dcs World (PC or VR)

DCS World is highly CPU-intensive, both on PC and in VR, because of its detailed flight simulations, complex physics, and numerous real-time calculations. It requires substantial CPU power to handle its intricate systems and provide a smooth, immersive experience.

10. Boneworks (Vr)

Boneworks is CPU-intensive in VR due to its advanced physics, complex interactions, and detailed environments. The game demands significant processing power to manage its realistic mechanics and provide a smooth, immersive VR experience.

11. Blade and Sorcery (Vr)

Blade and Sorcery is CPU-intensive in VR because of its detailed physics, dynamic combat, and interactive environments. The game requires strong CPU performance to handle its realistic physics simulations and provide a smooth, immersive VR experience.

12. Monster Hunter: World

Monster Hunter: World is CPU-intensive due to its large, detailed environments, complex AI, and extensive multiplayer interactions. The game demands significant processing power to manage its intricate systems and ensure smooth performance during hunts and exploration.

13. Cities: Skylines

Cities: Skylines is highly CPU-intensive because it involves managing a large, detailed city with complex simulations and numerous simulations. The game relies on a strong CPU to handle its extensive data and ensure smooth performance as your city grows.

14. Battlefield V

Battlefield V is CPU-intensive due to its large-scale battles, detailed environments, and complex multiplayer interactions. The game requires a strong CPU to manage its dynamic elements and maintain smooth performance during intense combat scenarios.

15. Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is CPU-intensive due to its vast, detailed open world, complex AI, and numerous interactions. The game requires substantial CPU power to handle its dynamic environments and ensure smooth gameplay, especially in densely populated areas.

16. Civilisation Vi

Civilisation VI is CPU-intensive because it involves managing complex simulations, AI-controlled civilisations, and large-scale strategic decisions. The game demands significant processing power, especially in later stages with many cities and units on a detailed map.

17. World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft is CPU-intensive due to its large, dynamic world, numerous simultaneous players, and complex interactions. The game requires a strong CPU to handle its detailed environments, extensive AI, and ongoing updates, ensuring smooth performance during gameplay.

18. Mods of Half-Life: Alyx (Vr)

Mods for Half-Life: Alyx in VR can be CPU-intensive due to their complex interactions and additional content. These mods often enhance the game with detailed physics, new environments, and advanced features, requiring a strong CPU for smooth performance in VR.

19. Modded Minecraft

Modded Minecraft is CPU-intensive because mods add complex mechanics, detailed environments, and numerous additional features. The game requires a powerful CPU to manage the increased processing demands from these mods and ensure smooth gameplay and performance.

20. Modded Skyrim (PC or VR)

Modded Skyrim is CPU-intensive on PC and in VR due to the additional content, complex mods, and enhanced graphics. These mods introduce detailed environments, advanced AI, and numerous interactions, requiring a strong CPU to handle the increased demands for smooth performance.

21. Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone is CPU-intensive because of its large, detailed maps, complex AI, and fast-paced multiplayer action. The game requires significant CPU power to manage its dynamic elements, ensuring smooth performance and responsiveness during intense combat.

22. Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty* is CPU-intensive due to its fast-paced real-time strategy mechanics, complex AI, and large-scale battles. The game requires substantial CPU power to handle numerous units and detailed simulations, ensuring smooth gameplay and strategic depth.

Can You List Which Games Are Heavily Cpu-Based Heavily Gpu-Based Or Both?

Heavily CPU-based games include Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Cities Skylines. GPU-heavy titles like Cyberpunk 2077 focus on graphics. Games like *Red Dead Redemption 2 and *Half-Life: Alyx require both strong CPU and GPU for smooth performance.

Which Games Are Generally GPU Intensive, And Which Are CPU Intensive?

GPU-intensive games focus on graphics and visuals, such as Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Red Dead Redemption . These games demand a powerful GPU for high-resolution textures, lighting, and effects.

CPU-intensive games rely on the processor for tasks like AI, simulations, and physics, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 Cities Skylines and Total War: Warhammer II. These titles need a strong CPU to manage complex computations and large-scale environments.

CPU-based games

CPU-based games rely on the processor for handling AI, physics, and large-scale simulations. Examples include Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, Cities: Skylines, Total War: Warhammer II, and Civilisation VI, all of which demand strong CPU performance for smooth gameplay.

Most CPU-intensive games in 2024

The most CPU-intensive games in 2024 include:

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
Star Citizen
Total War: Warhammer III
Cities: Skylines II
Baldur’s Gate 3
DCS World
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Football Manager 2024
Civilisation VI
Starfield

These games require significant CPU power for complex AI, large simulations, and dynamic environments.

CPU-intensive games vs GPU intensive games

Cpu-intensive games

CPU-intensive games focus on tasks like AI, physics, and simulations, demanding more from the processor. Examples include Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, Cities Skylines, and Total War: Warhammer III. These games rely heavily on the CPU to manage complex computations and large-scale environments.

GPU-Intensive Games

GPU-Intensive Games prioritize visual elements, such as detailed textures, lighting, and high-resolution effects, demanding more from the graphics card. Examples are Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. These games require a powerful GPU for smooth rendering and visual fidelity.

Some games, like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, require strong CPU and GPU performance for the best experience.

Free CPU-intensive games

Here are some free CPU-intensive games that require significant processing power:

Dota 2 – A complex MOBA with heavy CPU usage for managing AI, physics, and large-scale battles.
League of Legends – Another popular MOBA that relies on CPU for managing real-time strategy and multiple players.
War Thunder – a military MMO that requires a strong CPU for handling large maps, vehicles, and detailed physics.
Path of Exile – an action RPG with complex in-game systems and large-scale environments that demand CPU power.
Team Fortress 2 – A fast-paced multiplayer shooter with CPU-heavy physics and player interactions.

These games may be free, but they still demand solid CPU performance for smooth gameplay.

CPU intensive tasks

CPU-intensive tasks require significant processing power to handle complex calculations or large amounts of data. Examples include:

Video rendering and editing – Processing high-resolution videos.
3D rendering – Creating detailed models and animations.
Gaming – Especially with AI, physics, and large open-world environments.
Data analysis and simulations – Running extensive datasets or simulations.
Virtualization – Running multiple virtual machines simultaneously.
Software development – Compiling large codebases.
Scientific computing – Tasks like weather modeling and genetic sequencing.

These tasks require a strong CPU to perform efficiently without lagging or slowing down.

FAQ,s

1. What Games Use CPU The Most?

Games that use the CPU the most include Microsoft Flight Simulator, Cities: Skylines, and Total War: Warhammer III, which require extensive processing for complex simulations, AI, and large-scale environments.

2. What Games Use A Lot Of CPU Cores?

Games that use a lot of CPU cores include:

Microsoft Flight Simulator
Total War: Warhammer III
Civilisation VI
Star Citizen
Cities: Skylines

These games benefit from multiple cores to handle complex simulations, AI, and large-scale environments effectively.

3. What Is Considered CPU Intensive?

CPU-intensive tasks need a lot of processing power. These include managing complex game environments, running detailed simulations, or handling many background processes, requiring a strong CPU for smooth performance.

4. What Games Are Gpu-Intensive?

GPU-intensive games focus on high-quality graphics, detailed textures, and complex visual effects. Examples include:

Cyberpunk 2077
Red Dead Redemption 2
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Metro Exodus

These games demand powerful GPUs to deliver high-resolution visuals and smooth performance.

5. What Makes A Game CPU-Intensive?

A game is CPU-intensive when it requires significant processing power for tasks like complex AI, detailed simulations, real-time calculations, and managing large environments. Examples include managing numerous characters, physics interactions, and dynamic events.

6. Do games use 100% CPU?

Yes, games usually don’t use 100% of the CPU. They often use a lot of CPU power, but not always fully. High-demand games might come close, but it’s rare for constant 100% usage.

7. What CPU Can Run Every Game?

No, single CPU can run every game perfectly, but high-end processors like the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X or Intel Core i9-13900K are capable of handling most modern games with ease. Choosing a CPU depends on the specific game requirements and overall system balance.

8. How Many CPU Cores Does GTA 5 Use?

GTA V can use up to 8 CPU cores, but it usually performs well with 4 to 6 cores. More cores help handle complex tasks and improve overall performance.

9. Is Cyberpunk 2077 CPU-Intensive?

Yes, Cyberpunk 2077 is CPU-intensive. It needs a strong CPU to manage its complex AI, detailed world, and many in-game calculations for smooth performance, especially in busy scenes.

10. What Apps Are CPU-Intensive?

CPU-intensive apps require a lot of processing power. Examples include:

Video editing software – like Adobe Premiere Pro.
3D rendering tools – like Blender.
Virtual machines – such as VMware.
High-end games – like Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Data analysis programs—like MATLAB.

These apps use the CPU heavily for complex tasks and calculations.

11. Is GTA 5 CPU or GPU intensive?

GTA V is both CPU- and GPU-intensive. It requires a strong CPU for managing AI, physics, and large environments, while a powerful GPU is needed for detailed graphics and high resolutions.

Conclusion

CPU-intensive games require powerful processors to run smoothly, especially as gaming continues to evolve. Whether you’re building cities in Cities: Skylines II or flying across the world in Microsoft Flight Simulator, a strong CPU is essential for an immersive experience. Make sure to choose the right hardware to get the most out of your gaming.