Games That Are Cpu Intensive – A Comprehensive Guide Of 2024!

Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and the Total War series are CPU-intensive, requiring powerful processors for their complex calculations and extensive AI management.

Games That Are CPU Intensive:

Regarding gaming, most players focus on the graphics card (GPU) as the main component driving performance. However, the central processing unit (CPU) also plays a crucial role in gaming performance, especially in titles that require extensive calculations, handle large numbers of non-playable characters (NPCs), or simulate complex physics. In this article, we will explore various games known for being CPU-intensive and what makes them demand more from your processor.

What Makes a Game CPU Intensive?

Certain types of games tend to be more CPU-intensive due to various demanding features. First, games with complex calculations often have intricate mechanics or physics engines that require real-time processing, placing a significant burden on the CPU. 

Additionally, titles featuring large game worlds—such as open-world games—need constant data processing to manage expansive environments and maintain smooth gameplay. Another factor is AI management, where games with many non-playable characters (NPCs) utilize advanced AI behaviors, requiring substantial CPU power to simulate interactions and decisions. Finally, multiplayer functionality in online games adds to the CPU’s workload, as it must continuously process each player’s actions and movements, especially in matches involving numerous players.

Is Fortnite GPU or CPU Intensive?

Fortnite is generally more GPU-intensive, as it features colorful graphics, effects, and fast-paced gameplay that benefit from a powerful graphics card. However, it still requires a decent CPU to manage the game’s physics, building mechanics, and player interactions effectively. Overall, a balanced system with a good GPU and CPU will provide the best performance in Fortnite.

Read More: Will My Cpu Bottleneck My Gpu – A Guide Of 2024!

Is GTA V CPU or GPU Intensive?

GTA V is generally considered to be more GPU-intensive due to its high-quality graphics, detailed environments, and extensive open-world design. However, it does also utilize CPU resources for tasks like AI, physics, and handling in-game activities. The game’s performance can vary depending on the hardware configuration, with a strong GPU being crucial for achieving high frame rates and visual fidelity.

Is Cyberpunk 2077 a CPU Intensive Game?

Cyberpunk 2077 is known for being CPU-intensive, particularly due to its complex AI systems, extensive NPC interactions, and dynamic world events. While it also demands a powerful GPU to handle its stunning visuals, the game’s performance heavily relies on CPU capabilities, especially during intense scenarios with many characters on-screen. As a result, players may experience bottlenecks if their CPU is not up to par, even with a high-end graphics card.

Top CPU Intensive Games:

Civilization VI:

The turn-based strategy game Civilization VI requires significant CPU resources, especially in the later stages of a game when many civilizations are interacting. Each turn involves complex calculations regarding diplomacy, resource management, and AI decisions, which can challenge even high-end processors.

Microsoft Flight Simulator and Total War Series:

Both Microsoft Flight Simulator and the Total War series are known for their impressive visuals and detailed mechanics, but they are also highly CPU-intensive due to their reliance on real-time calculations and large-scale simulations.

 Microsoft Flight Simulator demands significant processing power for real-time calculations involving aerodynamics, weather patterns, and AI-controlled traffic, all while rendering a massive, open world.

Similarly, the Total War series, including titles like Total War: Warhammer II and Total War: Three Kingdoms, requires a powerful CPU to manage massive armies, complex AI behavior, and dynamic, large-scale battles. Both games test the limits of a CPU’s ability to handle intricate simulations and large amounts of data simultaneously, making them particularly demanding on processors.

Grand Theft Auto V, ARK Survival Evolved, and Dwarf Fortress:

Games like Grand Theft Auto V, ARK: Survival Evolved, and Dwarf Fortress are known for their high CPU demands due to their complex systems and simulations. Grand Theft Auto V features a massive, open-world city with active NPCs, traffic systems, and dynamic events, requiring significant CPU power to manage its AI routines and physics.

Similarly, ARK: Survival Evolved involves a vast world filled with dinosaurs, other players, and complex survival mechanics, making it highly CPU intensive due to its AI interactions and world-building features.

Despite its simple graphics, Dwarf Fortress stands out for its intricate simulation of ecosystems, character behaviors, and world mechanics, which heavily tax the CPU to track and process multiple variables simultaneously. Each of these games pushes the limits of a CPU’s capabilities, making them particularly challenging for processors.

Factorio, World of Warcraft, and The Sims 4:

Games like Factorio, World of Warcraft, and The Sims 4 can place heavy demands on your CPU due to their complex simulations and real-time calculations. In Factorio, the CPU is responsible for managing and scaling vast factory operations, processing numerous items, automation routes, and entities, making it more demanding as the game progresses. 

World of Warcraft, though often considered GPU-intensive, requires significant CPU power during large-scale raids, PvP encounters, and crowded in-game areas where numerous calculations for character interactions and environment changes are handled. Similarly, The Sims 4 relies on the CPU to simulate intricate AI-driven behaviors, interactions, and social dynamics, especially in large households or when using mods and expansions.

Read More: Is World Of Warcraft Cpu Or Gpu Intensive – A Guide Of 2024!

Skylines, Elite Dangerous, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider:

Games like Cities: Skylines, Elite Dangerous, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider push CPUs to their limits due to their complex simulations and in-game dynamics. In Cities: Skylines, the CPU manages intricate city simulations, including traffic flow, resource management, and citizen behavior.

As cities expand and mods are introduced, the demand for your processor grows, making a powerful CPU essential for maintaining smooth gameplay. Elite Dangerous presents an expansive universe with space exploration, combat, and trading. Its simulation of star systems and the AI of ships and space stations require constant CPU processing, especially during combat or when navigating busy spaceports.

Meanwhile, Shadow of the Tomb Raider combines visually intense graphics with CPU-heavy AI behavior, particularly in action-packed sequences or during exploration, where the CPU handles enemy movements, environmental interactions, and physics-based puzzles.

Battlefield Series, PUBG, and Rainbow Six Siege:

The Battlefield series, PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds), and Rainbow Six Siege are famous for their demanding multiplayer experiences that significantly tax CPU resources. In Battlefield, the CPU processes player movements, vehicle physics, and AI in large-scale battles, making it challenging for weaker processors, especially in multiplayer modes. 

PUBG similarly requires robust CPU power to handle real-time player interactions and environmental changes in its vast open world, particularly during intense moments like firefights. Rainbow Six Siege adds a tactical element, where the CPU must manage enemy AI behavior and complex physics for environmental destruction. A strong processor is essential in all these games to ensure smooth performance in high-pressure scenarios.

Importance of Balancing CPU and GPU:

While it’s clear that many popular games require substantial CPU power, it’s also important to consider the balance between your CPU and GPU. A powerful GPU paired with a weaker CPU can lead to a bottleneck, where the CPU limits the performance of the GPU, preventing you from fully enjoying the graphical capabilities of the game. Conversely, a high-end CPU paired with an outdated GPU can result in poor graphical performance and lower frame rates.

Upgrading Considerations:

When considering upgrades, think about your gaming habits. If you frequently play CPU-intensive games, investing in a higher-performance processor can yield significant improvements in gameplay smoothness and responsiveness. Look for CPUs with multiple cores and threads, as modern games often utilize multi-threading capabilities to manage complex tasks efficiently.

Moreover, always check for compatibility with your existing motherboard and other components. Upgrading to a more powerful CPU might require a new motherboard or even other components like RAM to maximize performance benefits.

What Games Use the Most CPU?

Some games that are known for being CPU-intensive include:

• Microsoft Flight Simulator: Requires significant CPU power for real-time physics and simulations.

• Total War Series: Handles complex AI and numerous units on-screen, demanding high CPU performance.

• Civilization VI: Utilizes CPU resources for AI calculations and turn-based gameplay mechanics.

• The Sims 4: Manages multiple characters and intricate interactions, leading to higher CPU usage.

• ARMA 3: Features large open worlds and many simultaneous players, resulting in high CPU demands.

FAQs:

1. What makes a game CPU intensive?

Games become CPU-intensive due to complex calculations, large game worlds, advanced AI management, and multiplayer functionality that require significant processing power.

2. Is Fortnite CPU or GPU intensive?

Fortnite is generally more GPU-intensive but still requires a decent CPU to manage physics, building mechanics, and player interactions effectively.

3. What are some examples of CPU-intensive games?

Examples include Microsoft Flight Simulator, Civilization VI, GTA V, and ARK: Survival Evolved, all of which demand high CPU performance for their mechanics and simulations.

4. How can I improve performance in CPU-intensive games?

Upgrading to a higher-performance CPU with multiple cores and ensuring a balanced system with a capable GPU can improve performance in CPU-intensive games.

5. Why is balancing CPU and GPU important for gaming?

A mismatch between CPU and GPU can lead to bottlenecks, where one component limits the performance of the other, hindering the overall gaming experience.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, CPU-intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and the Total War series demand powerful processors due to their complex calculations and extensive AI management. As gaming technology evolves, the importance of balancing CPU and GPU capabilities becomes paramount to achieving optimal performance. Upgrading to a high-performance CPU, especially for those who frequently engage with demanding titles, can significantly enhance gameplay experience and responsiveness.