Best Hack and Slash Games for Computers with Modest Specifications

Video games have the capacity to address mental health issues without it needing to be presented as a clinical lecture. In certain instances, feelings such as loneliness, guilt, grief, and anxiety are incorporated into the plot; in others, they are integrated into the game's mechanics themselves, allowing the player to experience some of the dilemmas faced by the characters.

This selection features seven titles, ranging from Life is Strange to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, which tackle this theme in various ways. It is important to note that these works are fictional and do not serve as medical diagnoses, and some contain sensitive subjects such as abuse, violence, self-harm, and suicide.

In Life is Strange, mental health is integrated into the dynamics between characters. The story of Max Caulfield and Chloe Price explores themes like depression, isolation, bullying, abuse, and grief, illustrating how emotional difficulties can remain hidden even among people who interact daily. A notable moment involves Kate Marsh, who suffers from cyberbullying and harassment, forcing Max and the player to recognize signs that might have been overlooked. The game emphasizes the importance of listening to and paying attention to those around us, going beyond providing simplistic solutions.

In Celeste, climbing a mountain serves both as a literal goal and a metaphor for Madeline's internal struggle. The protagonist deals with insecurity, low self-esteem, panic attacks, and anxiety—feelings personified by a darker version of herself called Badeline. A relevant aspect is the evolution of the relationship between the two: Madeline initially tries to eradicate this part of herself, but soon realizes she cannot simply reject her negative feelings. The focus shifts to understanding these feelings and learning to move forward alongside them.

Gris builds its experience around the process of grief and pain without relying on lengthy dialogues. The setting, which begins devoid of color and almost empty, gradually recovers tones and abilities as the protagonist progresses. Although the interpretation of the journey is intentionally open, its phases are often linked to the emotions felt during a loss. Instead of explaining the character's feeling to the player, Gris uses colors, music, scenery, and movement to convey emotions, making the protagonist's psychological state the explored environment itself.

In Night in the Woods, mental health is connected to the uncomfortable feeling of not knowing which direction to take one's life. Mae Borowski leaves college and returns to her hometown, where she reunites with old friends pursuing different paths while trying to understand her own problems. Depression, anxiety, dissociation, and emotional challenges arise in casual conversations about careers, family, friendship, and the future. The game also demonstrates that these conflicts do not occur in isolation, as financial problems, family expectations, and the city's economic decline directly impact the characters' well-being.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is perhaps the most direct title on this list when it comes to addressing mental health. Senua experiences episodes related to psychosis, including voices and changes in the perception of reality. For the game's development, Ninja Theory collaborated with researchers, specialists in the field, and people with lived experience of psychosis. Binaural audio is crucial in this process, as the voices seem to emanate around the player, potentially criticizing, guiding, contradicting, or questioning their choices. The intention is not to reduce Senua's condition to a mere horror element, but rather to center her perception within the narrative and experience.

Hotline Miami addresses the theme in a much less direct and considerably more disturbing way. The protagonist receives mysterious phone calls ordering him to commit massacres, while the fragmented narrative mixes hallucinations, trauma, identity, and distorted perception of reality, blending with violence. The game deliberately confuses what actually happened with what might be imagined or reconstructed by the character. More than representing a specific clinical picture, Hotline Miami prompts the player to reflect on their relationship with violence, questioning the willingness to continue after turning brutal murders into a fast and almost addictive sequence of trials and errors.

Despite its apparent humor and visual simplicity, Undertale features characters marked by feelings of guilt, loneliness, hopelessness, insecurity, and grief. These issues are presented in a particularly interesting way because the game allows the player to avoid violent confrontations and seek to understand what each character yearns for or fears. The choices made by the player profoundly modify the meaning of the experience, lending mechanical weight, not just narrative, to empathy, responsibility, and consequences. Rather than treating mental health as a topic separate from the adventure, Undertale uses its characters to demonstrate how knowing someone's vulnerabilities can completely alter the way we relate to that person.

These seven games demonstrate that there is no single way to incorporate mental health into video games. Celeste translates anxiety into a mountain to climb; Gris communicates grief through colors; Hellblade brings the player close to Senua's perception using audio and narrative; and Night in the Woods embeds its themes in the everyday conversations and struggles of adult life.

The common thread lies in the use of video games' differential: active player participation. Instead of merely watching a character go through an experience, the player can walk alongside them, make decisions, face their obstacles, and, in some cases, realize that overcoming a problem does not always mean making it disappear.

Choosing the ideal gaming notebook directly depends on the performance requirements imposed by the user's preferred games. While entry-level and mid-range models are suitable for popular titles like League of Legends and Valorant, heavier games utilizing Ray Tracing demand more advanced technical specifications.

To aid in this decision, Tecnoblog compiled a selection of the best gaming notebooks on the market, covering renowned brands such as Asus, Lenovo, Dell, and Acer, presenting the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16

This model stands out in the guide by offering a powerful combination of high performance and visual fluidity. It is equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, which features 24 cores and 24 threads, along with 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD, allowing it to run complex tasks and demanding games without difficulty.

Graphics processing is handled by the RTX 5070 graphics card, which has 8 GB of VRAM, ensuring the necessary support for contemporary games. This graphical capability is maximized on a 16-inch IPS LED screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and a refresh rate of 240 Hz, providing extremely smooth motion and detailed images.

To maintain thermal stability under intense use, the notebook incorporates an 89-blade 3D fan, optimizing air circulation and cooling crucial components. Despite weighing 2.7 kg, its structure includes a 5,850 mAh battery, Wi-Fi 6E support, and Purified Voice 2.0 technology, which minimizes background noise in the microphone for clearer calls.

Lenovo Legion 5i

The Lenovo Legion 5i is suggested for users looking for a portable notebook capable of delivering high performance in both gaming and demanding tasks. It combines the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX processor, with 20 cores, and the 8 GB RTX 5070 graphics card, guaranteeing top-tier graphics power.

Its system features 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB M.2 SSD, offering high speed and adequate space as listed in the Guide. A major attraction of this model is the 15.1-inch WQXGA OLED screen with a 165 Hz refresh rate, which provides color fidelity and significantly superior contrast compared to traditional LCD panels.

To maintain stable operation without generating annoying noise, the device uses the Legion Coldfront: Hyper cooling system, which employs 3D copper heat pipes silently. Connectivity is also a strong point, supporting Wi-Fi 7, which ensures very low latency online connections. Despite being robust, the model weighs only 1.9 kg, and it has an 80 Wh battery, making it ideal for those who need to combine high processing capacity with daily mobility.

Asus ROG Strix G16

The Asus ROG Strix G16 is recommended for those seeking advanced performance in games that require high fluidity and fast visual response. This equipment comes equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, 16 GB of RAM, and the 8 GB RTX 5060 graphics card, delivering high processing power.

Its biggest highlight is the 16-inch LCD screen, which features a 2.5K resolution and a 240 Hz refresh rate, ensuring extremely fluid images. To keep the system stable during prolonged use, the notebook has strategically designed vents for airflow and a dedicated vapor chamber for efficient cooling.

The set includes Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and an integrated webcam with Full HD recording capability. However, it should be noted that it comes from the factory with a 512 GB SSD, which may be insufficient to install several current games, requiring a possible upgrade. Additionally, it is a heavier product, reaching 2.6 kg.

Dell Alienware 16 Aurora

The Dell Alienware 16 Aurora is indicated for those who want balanced performance in games that are not excessively demanding. It is supplied with the Intel Core 7 240H processor, which has 10 cores and 16 threads, 16 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and the 6 GB RTX 4050 graphics card.

The 16-inch LCD screen offers WQXGA resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate, providing a good visual experience in games. It is important to note that the display has a maximum brightness of 300 nits, which can reduce visibility in outdoor environments under direct sunlight.

To ensure continuous stability during use, Dell implemented a cryogenic chamber focused on cooling the system without compromising hardware performance. The model also adopts the Wi-Fi 7 standard, standing out by offering more stable network connections with lower latency. With a weight of 2.57 kg and a 60 Wh battery, the Alienware 16 Aurora manages to balance a solid build with an efficient technical setup for its category.

Asus TUF Gaming F16

The Asus TUF Gaming F16 is recommended for those looking for a gaming notebook with a good balance of performance and prioritizing high durability for daily use. It comes equipped with the Intel Core 5 210H processor, which has 8 cores and 12 threads, 16 GB of RAM, and the 6 GB RTX 4050 graphics card.

Its 16-inch LCD screen features Full HD+ resolution and a 144 Hz refresh rate, ensuring smoother gaming sessions. To control overheating during matches, the chassis has four air outlets and two 84-blade Arc Flow fans for constant cooling. The set includes Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, a 56 Wh battery, and a 512 GB SSD, which is a point of attention due to the possibility of quick filling with heavy games. The model weighs 2.20 kg and is distinguished by MIL-STD-810H military resistance certification against temperature variations, vibrations, and impacts.

Acer Nitro V15

The Acer Nitro V15 (model ANV15-52-778T) is a gaming notebook aimed at beginner or casual players. It is equipped with the i7-13620H processor (with 10 cores and 16 threads), 8 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD, while the dedicated graphics card is the RTX 4050 with 6 GB of VRAM.

The 15.6-inch LCD screen has a Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution but offers good fluidity thanks to the 165 Hz refresh rate. Internally, the dual fan system draws cool air through the keyboard area and expels hot air through the side and rear vents. Other specifications include Wi-Fi 6, a 3,574 mAh battery, and the Linux operating system installed from the factory. The total weight is 2.1 kg.

Asus TUF Gaming A16

The Asus TUF Gaming A16 is recommended as an entry-level option, ideal for running light to moderate intensity games. It is equipped with the AMD Ryzen 7 170 processor, which has 8 cores and 16 threads, 8 GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD, and the 6 GB RTX 4050 graphics card.

Its 16-inch screen features WUXGA resolution and a 144 Hz refresh rate, ensuring fluid images. Despite this good frame rate, the display has a more restricted color coverage (45% NTSC), which is a detail to consider when viewing media. To support performance without overheating, Asus integrated two Arc Flow fans, optimizing airflow during continuous use. The laptop weighs 2.2 kg, supports Wi-Fi 6, and is powered by a 56 Wh battery.