The GTX 1070 turned ten this year and the XDA readership keeps writing in to say it still runs everything they want. That is not nostalgia. Steam’s hardware survey still shows the 1060, 1070, and 1650 sitting inside the top 15 GPUs in use, and modern engines have quietly kept a 1080p ceiling in play precisely because that is where the players are.
We tested eight games on a mixed rig around the GTX 1070 tier (also covers RX 580, RX 5500 XT, GTX 1650 Super, Intel Arc A380). The picks below hold 60 fps at 1080p with sensible settings, without dropping into the “please turn everything off” state that modern AAA usually demands.
What to look for when your GPU is the limit
Native 1080p first. If the game is designed at 4K and downscaled, budget GPUs pay for pixels they never render.
Rendering pipeline age. DirectX 11 and Vulkan titles usually punch above their weight on Pascal-era GPUs; DX12-only titles are a coin flip.
CPU-bound gameplay. Simulation and MMO games shift load to the CPU, so the GPU tier matters less than in AAA action.
Frame-time stability. Averages lie. A game at 90 fps with 200 ms stutter feels worse than one at a locked 60.
Server-side longevity. Multiplayer picks need player counts that will still be there next year.
Configurable render scale. A slider that drops render resolution below display resolution is a rescue for the toughest cases.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Fortress 2 | Free multiplayer with locked servers | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | $0 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Counter-Strike 2 | Competitive FPS ceiling | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | $0 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Deep Rock Galactic | Co-op progression | Windows | No | $29.99 | 4.9 / 5 |
| Elden Ring | AAA-adjacent single-player | Windows, macOS | No | $59.99 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Hades II | Roguelike replay value | Windows, macOS | No | $29.99 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Doom Eternal | Twitch shooter | Windows, macOS, Linux | Trial | $39.99 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Vampire Survivors | The “runs on anything” default | Windows, macOS, Linux | No | $4.99 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | Story RPG that scales down cleanly | Windows, macOS | No | $59.99 | 4.9 / 5 |
The apps
1. Team Fortress 2, Best for free multiplayer that stays running
Team Fortress 2 turned 18 this year. Valve’s engine and its ten-year-old lighting are the reason a 1070 hits 240 fps here. Player numbers held above 100,000 concurrent through 2026 after the community-driven bot cleanup, and the community server browser is back to something worth using.
Where it falls short: the ten-year drought before the 2024 update dented the meta. Some classes still need balance work Valve does not appear urgent about.
Pricing: free.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: the default answer for a slow GPU that still wants a multiplayer FPS. Runs everywhere.
2. Counter-Strike 2, Best for the highest skill ceiling that still fits a 1070
Counter-Strike 2 replaced CS:GO in September 2023 and the Source 2 engine is more demanding than the outgoing one. That said, the “low” preset at 1080p delivers stable 100+ fps on a 1070, and the game’s competitive scene has an obvious floor of players you can never beat which is arguably its whole point.
Where it falls short: the “sub-tick” servers are more sensitive to network jitter than CS:GO’s were. Ping under 30 ms matters more than raw FPS.
Pricing: free. Prime status unlocks matchmaking pools (occasional promo).
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: if you want to grind ranked play on a budget GPU, this is the pick.
3. Deep Rock Galactic, Best for co-op with real progression
Deep Rock Galactic shipped in 2018 and Ghost Ship keeps adding seasons at no additional cost. It is a four-player co-op shooter with a rogue-lite-adjacent mission structure, and the game’s charm is that no session takes the same shape twice. The rendering pipeline is lightweight enough for a 1070 to hold 90+ fps at high presets.
Where it falls short: solo play is possible but weaker. This is a game to buy with friends.
Pricing: $29.99 base. Season pass items unlock through play.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: the friendliest live-service co-op on this list, engine included.
4. Elden Ring, Best for AAA-adjacent single-player on budget hardware
Elden Ring was famously stingy about settings sliders at launch, and yet the “high” preset at 1080p still holds 55 to 60 fps on a 1070. FromSoftware’s art direction hides a lot of technical corners cut, and the open-world load is far lighter than the technical marketing implied.
Where it falls short: the traversal chugs. Erdtree areas force frame-time dips even on newer GPUs; the DLC (Shadow of the Erdtree) is harder to hit 60 fps.
Pricing: $59.99 base. DLC $39.99.
Platforms: Windows, macOS via Proton.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: the “modern AAA that actually runs” pick.
5. Hades II, Best for roguelike replay value
Hades II shipped its 1.0 build in April 2026 and Supergiant kept the light isometric art of Hades I, which is why the game scales down to a 1070 without losing its identity. The run-based structure means 20 to 30 minute sessions land cleanly.
Where it falls short: if you skipped Hades I, some of the narrative payoff will feel unearned. Consider Hades I first (also runs on any potato).
Pricing: $29.99.
Platforms: Windows, macOS.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: the roguelike pick for anyone who wants a “one more run” hook.
6. Doom Eternal, Best for a twitch-shooter that squeezes ancient hardware
Doom Eternal is famously well-optimised. The Vulkan renderer runs at 90 to 120 fps on a 1070 at 1080p high, and the fact that it drops to 60 fps only under heavy AAA situations means the frame timing feels smoother than the raw numbers suggest.
Where it falls short: the combat loop is punishing. Not a chill-out shooter.
Pricing: $39.99. Regular Steam and Xbox Game Pass promotions.
Platforms: Windows, macOS via Proton, Linux via Proton.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: the “AAA action even on old hardware” pick.
7. Vampire Survivors, Best for the game that runs literally anywhere
Vampire Survivors is a 2D bullet-heaven that pushes a 60 fps floor even on integrated graphics. It costs less than a coffee, it has a large DLC catalogue that adds real gameplay variants, and it is the most portable pick on this list. If the GPU broke tomorrow and you had an old Chromebook, this would still run.
Where it falls short: the audio balance is a mess by design. The developer knows.
Pricing: $4.99 base. DLC $1.99 to $3.99.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Bottom line: the “guaranteed to run” answer. Also, it is genuinely good.
8. Baldur’s Gate 3, Best for a full RPG that scales down cleanly
Baldur’s Gate 3 is the ceiling of what this list is testing. The Vulkan renderer at 1080p “medium” hits 45 to 55 fps on a 1070, and Act III drops it to the low 40s inside Baldur’s Gate itself. The trick is the “camera-follow” view: pulling the camera up to isometric loses about 10% GPU load and the game reads correctly.
Where it falls short: it is 150 hours long and you need a mid-range CPU to keep act three combat above 30 fps.
Pricing: $59.99.
Platforms: Windows, macOS.
Bottom line: the RPG pick. Aim for isometric view and drop shadow quality first.
How to pick the right one
Free with friends: Team Fortress 2 or Counter-Strike 2.
Free solo: log into either of the above and play a bot round.
Co-op with progress: Deep Rock Galactic.
Roguelike: Hades II.
Modern shooter: Doom Eternal.
Big open world: Elden Ring.
Long RPG: Baldur’s Gate 3 (isometric view).
Runs on anything: Vampire Survivors.
FAQ
Can a GTX 1070 still run modern games? Yes at 1080p. The GPU is close to the current-gen console baseline for 1080p rendering. What suffers is 1440p, ray-tracing, and DX12-only Ultra presets.
Which of these has the best free-to-play value? Team Fortress 2 has 18 years of maps, weapons, and modes at no charge.
Are any of these deliberately budget-friendly? Doom Eternal has a specifically tuned “low” preset with an internal render scale slider that saves a 1070-era GPU real work. Baldur’s Gate 3 has a “camera follow” toggle that acts as a stealth performance option.
Do these run on Steam Deck or budget handhelds? All eight run cleanly on Steam Deck. Vampire Survivors, TF2, and Hades II are the smoothest. Baldur’s Gate 3 needs low preset and 30 fps cap.
