There's this idea that a gaming PC is inherently this giant tower of metal and plastic that takes up so much space that you need to have a dedicated desk to handle it. These days, though, you don't need a massive space hog of a tower to get incredible gaming performance. Instead, the best mini PCs can take up as little space as a cable box.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Mini PCs for Gaming:
- Asus ROG NUC – Best mini gaming PC
- MINISFORUM Venus Series UM773 – Best budget mini gaming PC
- Zotac ZBox Magnus One – Best with desktop graphics
- Mac Mini M2 – Best Mac
There are inevitably some downsides when going with a mini gaming PC instead of a full tower, however. For one, the smaller form factor means there's simply less space for high-end graphics cards and CPU coolers. As such, you probably won't find many mini gaming PCs out there with an RTX 4090 and an Intel Core i9-14900K, at least not at a price that doesn't rival a down payment on your house.
Different PC manufacturers deal with the space constraints in different ways. For instance, Asus recently bought out the NUC (next unit of computing) brand from Intel – desktop PCs that use mobile hardware to fit into extremely small cases. Other companies, like Zotac, will find a way to shove powerful desktop-class hardware into a tiny chassis. They'll be inherently harder to service or upgrade than other towers, and also much more expensive, but hey, at least they're tiny.
Contributions by Kegan Mooney
1. Asus ROG NUC
Best Mini PC for Gaming
When I first opened up the Asus ROG NUC, I was surprised by how small and light it was. Sure, it's using all mobile-class hardware, but for something I'm hooking into my TV, it has surprisingly little heft to it. Couple that with the fact it looks exactly like a cable box, and this is a mini gaming PC that's perfect for blending into a living room. It's great for a media center PC already, but the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 means it's no slouch when it comes to gaming. Up to a point at least.
The wall I kept running into again and again when I reviewed the Asus ROG NUC is that the mobile-class hardware is always a limiting factor, especially when it's connected to a 4K TV. Don't get me wrong: The ROG NUC absolutely can power through any PC game on the market, including demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong – at 1080p. If you connect this to a 4K TV, though, you will have to turn down some settings in some of the flashiest games if you want to maintain a solid framerate.
It is still quite a bit more powerful than the PS5 even with its limitations though, and the Nvidia graphics do allow it to use DLSS to narrow the gap at 4K. Just keep in mind that you're not going to be maxing out Black Myth: Wukong with full ray tracing or anything, and you should be fine. To be clear, with how tiny the Asus ROG NUC is, there's no way a full desktop-class graphics card would even fit inside.
The Asus ROG NUC is probably one of the best mini gaming PCs you're going to find anywhere, but just like any mini gaming PC, you'll have to do some calculus about whether or not it's worth just going with one of the best gaming laptops instead.
2. MinisForum Venus Series UM773
Best Budget Mini PC for Gaming
If you're on the hunt for a wallet-friendly mini PC that doesn't skimp on performance, then the MinisForum Venus Series UM773 is worth considering. Despite its budget-friendly price tag, the UM773 packs a punch with an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, with dedicated AMD graphics. There isn't a discrete GPU, but the integrated AMD Radeon 680M GPU can rival some lower-end dedicated graphics cards, especially in esports games.
Stepping into the next generation, the UM773 features 16GB of speedy DDR5 RAM and a generous 512GB SSD. You may need to consider an upgrade later down the line, but for now, it will definitely serve you well for just $450.
3. Zotac ZBox Magnus One
Best Mini PC with Desktop Graphics
The Zotac Magnus One doesn't look like much, but its tiny chassis is hiding a beefy RTX 3070 GPU. This graphics card is a powerhouse, delivering solid 1440p gaming performance. While the CPU is quite old, it’s still a solid performer that won't bottleneck the GPU, ensuring you get the best gaming experience possible. While 16GB of RAM might seem a bit modest compared to some other mini PCs on the market, it's more than enough for gaming and general use.
In terms of pricing, the Zotac Magnus One is on the more expensive side. You could arguably get a more powerful full-sized gaming PC for the same amount of money. However, if you're looking for a compact, space-saving solution without sacrificing gaming performance, the Magnus One is worth every penny. Its sleek design, impressive specs, and solid gaming performance make it one of the best mini PCs for gaming enthusiasts who value form factor and functionality.
4. Mac mini M2
Best Mini PC for Mac
You might not think of gaming when you think of the Mac mini M2, but it delivers surprisingly good performance, allowing you to play a wide range of games at a decent frame rate. Given its cost, it’s hard not to consider the Mac mini M2 as a capable gaming mini PC. With a noticeable performance increase over the M1 chip, the M2 chip comes with eight CPU cores and 10 GPU cores, supporting strong performance, whether you're playing games or getting work done.
Thanks to the plethora of ports, the Mac mini M2 supports up to two 4K displays at 120Hz, and because the M2 natively supports Thunderbolt, you can even back it up with an external GPU later down the line. It also comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, so if you plan to game online, you won’t be disappointed. Yes, for pure gaming performance, a Windows PC is a better option, but if you want a Mac and want to dabble with playing games here and there, it’s an affordable option. See our round up on the best monitors for Mac Mini when you're ready to pick a display to pair it with.
How to Pick the Best Mini PC for Gaming
Just like with any gaming PC, finding the best mini PC for gaming is all about what games you're looking to play, and at what resolution. Mini PCs are much smaller compared to desktop PCs, and even some laptops, and size constraints naturally limit the components included.
If you want to play the latest titles without any hiccups, you'll want to aim for a mini PC with a solid GPU. Look for models that come equipped with modern graphics like the NVIDIA RTX series or AMD Radeon cards, rather than integrated graphics. However, if you’re on a budget and you’re not fussed about playing games that have just been released, you could get away with something less powerful.
A good CPU is crucial for gaming performance and overall system responsiveness. Aim for mini PCs with mid-to-high-end CPUs, ideally with around four cores, eight threads and a high clockspeed – around 4.0GHz or higher – just so your computer doesn't grind to a hault when you're trying to multitask. Similarly, you’ll need a decent amount of RAM (at least 16GB) and storage (at least 512GB SSD) to run and store your games smoothly.
Once you’ve nailed down the specs, make sure the mini PC has enough ports for your peripherals, as well as HDMI or DisplayPort outputs for connecting to external monitors or TVs. Thunderbolt ports are also a nice bonus if you plan on connecting high-speed external storage or other devices.
Mini PC FAQ
Are mini PCs good for gaming?
Yes, mini PCs are capable enough of offering gamers decent performance in a small and compact package. However, due to their size, mini PCs will never be capable of achieving the same levels of performance as a full-sized desktop PC.
What is better: mini PC or PC?
Full-sized PCs tend to be more powerful, allow more room for upgrades, and often are more future-proof. However, mini PCs take up much less room, can still offer plenty of power, and can be upgraded.
What are the downsides to a mini PC?
Because mini PCs are smaller, upgradability can sometimes be a problem. Depending on the CPU and GPU you want to run, you might not be able to fit it all into a mini PC. They are designed to be compact, meaning there’s less room overall.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra
