My strictly-for-work laptop can still handle these 5 classic games

I love traveling while I work, and it's not because of the obvious reasons. In fact, being away from my dedicated gaming rig and console actually gets frustrating, but it does come with two major benefits. My work laptop, which isn't powerful, sleek, or made for anything remotely fun, does make sure I do two things. First, I can't play too many modern titles on it or carry progress over from my PC's games, which means that second, I have no option but to finish my work on time.

On the days that I do get ahead of the deadlines, though, I decide to play some classic games on it. Because, well, classics are the only games it can run well, considering it's got just 4GB RAM, a six-year-old 2.11 GHz Intel i5, and 2GB onboard UHD graphics. But every now and then, when I'm stuck in an airport lounge or pretending not to doomscroll between tasks, I boot up some classics I grew up with, that, for some reason, I just wouldn't engage with on my desktop. They're comfort food, nostalgia vaults, and time capsules that run flawlessly even on this boring, no-nonsense machine.

Need For Speed II: SE

Never too old for a quick split-screen bout

This is about as classic as a classic gets. One of my first-ever racing games and games in general, Need for Speed II: SE was a joy to behold, regardless of which device I played it on — the local internet café, my first HP PC, or even through a PS1 emulator on a friend's computer. Even today, there really is nothing wrong with it, which makes playing the game all the more fun while I'm waiting for boarding at my terminal. It's quick, it's non-committal, and I can just use my controller this time around to have more of a relaxed experience while ramping up the difficulty and playing the way my younger self never could.

NFS 2 SE's graphics are from a time when, looking back now, the graphics aren't "old" or "aged." They're just classic — no complaints. The game's got plenty of great maps to pick from, some rather outlandish cars, each of which holds a special memory in the minds of everyone who played it, and, of course, some of the greatest cheat codes my toddler-self ever memorized. Plus, it's got split-screen, which means I can always load up a quick race or two with my partner if our flight is ever delayed. Never a dull moment (or memory) with this classic Need for Speed game. Only makes me pray harder for the franchise's revival and good health going forward.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003)

The magic this original title holds is unparalleled even today

There's something magical about playing the original Sands of Time that modern action-adventure games still chase, and rarely catch. Even I myself have been unable to relive my original experience of playing The Sands of Time on several other modern titles. And playing it on a device where the GPU feels almost era-appropriate, everything comes together to feel clean, purposeful, and beautifully-executed. There was a time when this game wouldn't run on my home's desktop PC, after which I needed to move to an ATI Radeon HD 5670. Now, it's my laptop that can tank the game and make it feel more intuitive and responsive than my PC ever did.

Plus, there's also a lot of excitement involved here — replaying The Sands of Time in 2025 feels rather meaningful because the remake is almost here now. Ubisoft's certainly had a rollercoaster of a time with it — delays, restarts, and studio changes — but at least we know that the Prince if returning. Until then, the 2003 classic is more than enough for me. It's a brilliant example of "one more run before boarding" on my laptop before Ubisoft finally graces us with the modern remake in all its glory.

The original Deus Ex (2000)

A quarter-century old gem that hasn't lost its shine

I have a rather strange relationship with this one. My first Deus Ex game was 2011's fantastic Human Revolution, followed by Mankind Divided. It was after the third part of the trilogy was canceled that I realized my Deus Ex itch needed immense scratching, and so, I finally decided to play the original 2000 RPG. However, this was back in 2023, and I had a long vacation coming up, so I decided to install it on my laptop instead. "It's a 23-year-old game, so of course it'll run well," I'd thought. And run well it did. However, since 99% of my waking hours are spent on my desktop PC and PlayStation 5 now, I still haven't finished the damn game.

A week ago, however, when I played it during a 3-hour cab ride to the airport, it felt amazing. I was returning to a world I knew, characters I'd almost forgotten, and a gameplay system that feels rich, even a quarter-of-a-century later. Now, with the official remaster in development and just three months away, still being a part of the populace that's engaging with the original game, it feels like I'm brushing up on sacred scripture. After all, it's the gold standard, and it runs effortlessly on any machine that doesn't immediately burst into flames when you open Chrome. Play it on your lunch break, lose yourself in the music, and remind yourself why this franchise, despite its present status in limbo, left such a crater in gaming history.

The Simpsons: Hit & Run (2003)

The quickest hit of serotonin on a work device

The one is pure joy. Simpsons: Hit & Run is still my go-to "I need 20 minutes of serotonin" game. Boot it up, roam around Springfield, run over a few traffic cones, hear Homer yell something about donuts, and bask in the warm happiness you've got. It's absurdly lightweight, barely sips any of my already-few MBs of RAM, and it still feels shockingly good to play. On a work laptop, it's even better, because your brain is too fried to handle anything heavier. As someone who had a recent conference canceled and was left with nothing to do for five hours in a hotel room with nothing but a small flat-screen TV, an HDMI cable and Simpsons: Hit & Run felt like the perfect combination to play before going to sleep.

Until the day someone greenlights a remake for this absolute masterpiece, the original remains incredible fun. The best part is that it boots instantly, it runs flawlessly, and it never once complaints that your laptop doesn't have a graphics card. Until then, I'll make do with Epic Games' version of the town of Springfield that Fortnite has so brilliantly crafted.

Max Payne 1 and 2 (2001 and 2003)

There's still nothing quite like these games, until the remake comes around

You haven't felt melancholy until you've booted up Max Payne 2 at 3AM on a flight with all the cabin lights off. To this day, the first two Max Payne games remain some of the most traumatic experiences my younger self ever went through. The comic-panel storytelling, the bullet time, the trenchcoat desolation — the Max Payne games introduced me to a whole new genre of noir and tragedy, and today, these games run like they were born to live on underpowered laptops. They're short, punchy, stylish, and so deeply atmospheric. The action and shooting in these games is still incredible, 25 years later, and the writing? It's immortal — and it always will be.

Remedy's upcoming remake of the first two Max Payne games is one modern remake I simply cannot wait to play, because it'll mean we won't have to live in nostalgia forever. The remake is now in full production, and I'm hoping to catch a glimpse of it at the upcoming Game Awards. Until Sam Lake kicks the doors down again, and I hear the late great James McAffrey's voice talking about whiskey, bullets, and painkillers, I have something to live for, and something to relive it all on my own little laptop.

These are classics I won't (or can't) play on my PS5

On my work device, there's no battle passes, 200GB installs, or live-service shenanigans.

It's not like my work laptop is unable to render websites or run Photoshop when I need it to, but it's still a tiny little device that can only do the bare minimum, which is what a work device should be. And yet, the medium of gaming itself is just so transcendental in nature, that even 20-year-old classics can make me feel something, without the risk of thoughts like "aging" or "obsolete" creeping into my mind.

Once the work's done, I'm happy to engage with classics I wouldn't (or couldn't) play on my PS5. Without the battle passes, without the 200GB installs, and without any live-service shenanigans. Just great games that respect your time, you gave them the respect they deserved all those years ago, not letting them fade into obscurity.