When it involves PC gaming, there are dozens of gaming laptops and desktops to select from, however what many individuals do not know is that the fitting mini PC can value quite a bit much less whereas not taking over as a lot room and nonetheless offer you stable gaming efficiency.
If you did not already know, Cloud gaming, with companies like NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming, makes it doable to play on a much more reasonably priced mini PC whereas nonetheless getting excessive FPS (frames per second) within the newest and best titles. Of course, there are additionally devoted gaming mini PCs with highly effective internals in case you do not need to go the cloud gaming route.
Quick list
Best gaming mini PC general
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HP managed to create a small AI pc that also packs loads of energy to deal with native AAA gaming. What’s extra, it does not value almost as a lot as most different devoted gaming mini PCs which are on the market proper now. There are a number of configurations, however I like to recommend getting the Ryzen AI Max Pro with a Radeon 8040S, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD. In addition to its small-but-mighty efficiency, this system has loads of ports, together with a wired Ethernet port.
Best funds mini PC for gaming
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We’ve been impressed with Beelink in our opinions and particularly suggest the EQR6 for anybody in search of a cheap mini PC that is supreme for cloud gaming. It presents a very good vary of ports, together with two Ethernet ports to facilitate a powerful wired connection. Its small measurement additionally permits it to be tucked out of sight for a really minimalist desktop setup. Despite its low value, this mini PC nonetheless presents an AMD Ryzen 7 processor with AMD Radeon 680M graphics, 32GB LPDDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD.
ASUS ROG NUC (2025) Gaming Mini PC
Best premium gaming mini PC
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ASUS ROG presents an honest-to-goodness gaming mini PC line with a number of completely different configurations to select from. This specific mannequin options an Intel Core Ultra 9 (Series 2) CPU with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 cellular GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 2TB NVMe SSD to maintain up together with your gaming wants regionally. This mini PC prices across the similar as a full-blown gaming desktop with an identical processor and a full RTX 5080, however with the comfort of coming in a a lot smaller kind issue.
Best for work and cloud gaming
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Geekom is certainly one of my favourite mini PC manufacturers, and this specific possibility is a stable AI PC that may simply deal with faculty, work, and private workflows. It’s additionally a super possibility for enjoying less-demanding video games regionally or cloud gaming titles. There are a number of configurations, however I recommend the 14th Gen Intel Core Ultra 9 U9-185H with Intel Arc graphics, 32GB RAM, and a whopping 2TB SSD. Plus, these twin Ethernet ports will let you select between utilizing handy Wi-Fi or dependable wired web.
Best gaming handheld
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While the Xbox Ally X is technically labeled as a Windows gaming handheld, it is mainly a mini PC that occurs to have controllers, a display screen, and a battery constructed into it. The Xbox Ally X is presently probably the most highly effective gaming handheld in the marketplace and is right for enjoying every little thing from 2D platformers to AAA titles, so long as it meets a sport’s system necessities. It makes use of the most recent AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme handheld processor with 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD, a 7-inch show, and ergonomic grips.
Best funds gaming handheld
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The Steam Deck is a bit outdated and is not all that highly effective in comparison with different handhelds and mini PCs on the market. However, it stays a wonderful funds PC gaming system. People additionally love the SteamOS interface, which isn’t solely far simpler to navigate than Windows handhelds but additionally does not have as a lot bloatware to sluggish it down both. If you are going to get one, I like to recommend the Steam Deck OLED with 512GB storage so it might higher sustain together with your gaming library and native sport recordsdata.
Get the mini PC that matches your gaming wants greatest
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If you want to save a lot of money, you can get a relatively simple Windows mini PC like the Beelink EQR6. It can run graphically simple games like some 2D platformers and some pixel art games. You can also play more graphically demanding AAA games on it via cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW or Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Meanwhile, if you’re more interested in a compact computer with a powerful GPU that can play AAA games locally, devices like the HP Z2 Mini (G1a) and the ASUS ROG NUC (2025) make for some of the best mini PCs that suit your needs. Note that dedicated gaming mini PCs tend to be expensive, but part of what you’re paying for is the compact form factor in addition to the solid gaming performance.
Of course, if you want a device that you can play on the go, the Xbox Ally X is the device to consider. It’s basically a Windows 11 mini PC that has a 7-inch display, built-in controllers, and a battery. If you don’t mind having a less powerful option that may or may not play every AAA game, the Steam Deck OLED is another handheld to consider.
Are mini PCs good for gaming?
Not only are many mini PCs perfect for cloud gaming, but there are also dedicated gaming mini PCs with powerful graphics cards if you want to play more graphically-intensive games locally. You just need to make sure to get the right device for your intended use case.
Can mini PCs be used for AAA gaming?
Yes, but the kind of gaming you can do will depend on the mini PC and the internals it utilizes. Most mini PCs are better used for cloud gaming, so you can stream AAA games that way. You can also get one of the few mini PC with a GeForce RTX GPU to handle AAA gaming locally.
What is the best mini PC for gaming?
The HP Z2 Mini (G1a) is our choice for the best gaming mini PC. It’s far more powerful than most mini PCs due to the fact that it can have up to a Ryzen AI Max Pro processor and up to an Radeon 8040S GPU. If you’re looking for a reliable cloud gaming device, we recommend the Geekom GT1 Mega mini PC.
What are the best cloud gaming services?
There are quite a few, but my favorite cloud gaming services are NVIDIA GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming. GeForce NOW lets you play your own library of compatible PC games on a distant, powerful server, while Xbox Cloud Gaming (via Xbox Game Pass) lets you play compatible games included in a subscription.
Do mini PCs work with NVIDIA GeForce NOW?
Yes, NVIDIA GeForce NOW pairs very well with mini PCs as long as you can get a stable internet connection. For this reason, it’s best to play with a wired connection rather than relying on Wi-Fi.
Should I get a mini PC or a gaming handheld?
This depends on what you want to do with the computer. A handheld is great for being able to take something on the go, but it might not offer as powerful CPU performance as a mini PC. Meanwhile, mini PCs are great for creating a minimalist computer area that still offers a solid cloud gaming experience.
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