Intoduction

When you are building or upgrading your PC the first thing that you question yourself will be How much RAM do I need, being one of the most crucial part of the gaming PC set up. The modern games today are becoming more and more heavier on the size as well as the consumption of RAM.

Random Access Memory plays a crucial role in ensuring that you are getting smooth gameplay experience, increase the speed of loading time and ofcourse handle multitasking seamlessly. But with so many guides and opinions out there you are still left with the same question of how much RAM is actually enough? Should you be buying the popular setup table with 8GB, 16GB, 32GB or go for even more?

In this blog our team will make sure that you are able to clear out all your doubts about how much RAM do you actually need to play your favourite game as we go through most popular games and their RAM requirements rather than the minimum requirements but actual tested values.

Check out here How to choose Best Motherboard for you PC here

Why Does RAM Matter in Gaming?

Before we dive into the Informative part of the blog, let’s quickly look into what actually is this RAM. RAM the short-term memory of your PC is responsible for storing temporary data that your processor needs quick access to, like a closet to your clothes, you have all the frequently worn dresses towards the front end and keep the not so frequently worn dresses tucked in deep towards the end. The more RAM you have, the more data your system can handle at once which means you have more room for you to store your clothes and that means it will lead you to faster performance and reduced lag.

While the RAM doesn’t really impact FPS like a graphics card or the processor does, having the right amount of RAM prevents bottlenecks and improves gaming experience with more room for the PC to push back the system functions towards the back of the closet.

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Gaming RAM Requirements by Game Type

Now with all that out of the way, we can focus on the main part of the blog where we discuss how much RAM is actually needed for you to actually play the modern games. Well since all games don’t require the same amount of RAM and power, we have decided to segment the need of RAM in three categories with 8GB as the minimum requirement.

Games that are not so heavy on the system do not really rely much on the RAM as it will only be using it during the loading of files, meanwhile heavier games which depend heavily on the hardware will require you to have more RAM to be able to load quicker between scenes, maps and stories.

Casual & Indie Games (8GB RAM is Enough)

The first segment that we are choosing is the Casual Games, if you enjoy games like Minecraft, Stardew Valley, Terraria or Among Us then the 8GB of RAM is generally sufficient for you to play without really facing any problems like lagging, freezing, etc.

These games usually have really low system requirements and don’t use a lot of memory which makes them an ideal choice for gamers who like to sit back and relax, while also keeping budget builds in mind.
Recommended RAM: 8GB
Best for: Casual gamers, older systems, budget builds
Some games that can run with no problems: Minecraft, Stardew Valley, Terraria or Among Us
Recommended RAM Models: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB, Kingston Fury Beast 8GB, Crucial Ballistix 8GB

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Esports & Competitive Gaming (16GB for Smooth Gameplay)

This segment is where our majority of viewers actually search for to build a PC as the world has shifted really fast towards the crazy hype of Esports and Competitive gaming lobbies. Games like the CS2, Valorant, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Apex Legends recommend having atleast 8GB on their minimum system requirements page, but we suggest that to experience these games with smooth interface atleast 16GB of RAM should be installed.

While these games don’t require a ton of memory, having extra RAM allows for better multitasking (e.g., running Discord, OBS for streaming, or background apps) as these games rarely provide direct in game voice options and many like to showcase their gameplay and support their hobbies with streaming donations.
Recommended RAM: 16GB
Best for: Competitive gamers, streamers, high refresh rate monitors (120Hz+)
Recommended games: CS2, Valorant, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Apex Legends
Recommended RAM Models: G.SKILL Ripjaws V 16GB, Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16GB, Crucial Ballistix 16GB

AAA & Open-World Games (16GB Minimum, 32GB for Future-Proofing)

In this segment we are diving into games that pack a serious punch like the visuals of Cyberpunk 2077, or exploring the space with games like Starfield or maybe getting lost in the insane realism of Red Dead Redemption 2 and casting spells in the magical halls of Hogwarts Legacy. Now these games are power hungry, like I mean seriously hungry for power not only for RAM but the CPU and the GPU. These games are worlds with intricate details, complex AI integration and massive environments.

Like said in the last segment the minimum that we expect from any Gaming PC build is 16GB of RAM. You will be able to play and survive with 16GB of RAM in these games, but you’ll be dealing with loads of stutters and slowdowns, heck even freeze when the files are taking too long to load. Now, if you’re like me and you want your rig to handle whatever the future throws at it right so 32GB is what we suggest if you plan to play these games. Think of it as insurance for your gaming experience.

With 32GB, you’re giving your system plenty of breathing room to load those massive open world maps, ensuring smooth gameplay and keeping those loading times to a minimum.
Recommended RAM: 16GB – 32GB
Best for: High-end gaming, 4K resolution, future-proofing
Some demanding games: Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, Starfield
Recommended RAM Models: Corsair Dominator Platinum 32GB, G.SKILL Trident Z RGB 32GB, Kingston Fury Renegade 32GB

VR Gaming & Modded Games (32GB+ for a Smooth Experience)

This next segment has started coming into play in the few recent years of technological advancements in the gaming industry. The option to be in a VR game or even a simulation has really been one of the heaviest games in the industry, top that off with the pretty much modded game like Skyrim and yes you will require the absolute beast of a RAM for running these games without any issue and loading times.

The VR platform, with its dual displays and need for consistent high frame rates, pushes your system to its absolute limits. And modded games, especially those with extensive texture packs, custom scripts, and complex overhauls, can quickly devour system resources.

You need to understand that RAM isn’t just a suggestion rather it’s a critical component if you are serious about playing these kinds of games. Having more RAM for these kin d of Games will be useful for avoiding stutters and ensuring a smooth, seamless, and enjoyable experience.

Recommended RAM: 32GB+
Best for: VR gaming, mod-heavy games, game developers
Some VR/stream-heavy games: Half-Life: Alyx, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Elden Ring (while streaming)
Recommended RAM Models: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB, G.SKILL Trident Z Neo 32GB, Patriot Viper Steel 32GB

How Much RAM is Future-Proof?

So, let’s cut to the chase if you’re building a gaming PC then you definitely want it to last for atleast the next 3 or 5 years right, while RAM is something you can always upgrade anytime depending on your requirements without really having to worry about the motherboard as much as you would have to wonder for changing the CPU or the GPU. While we are in the topic of how much RAM is needed for gaming, we should also address the question of how much will be needed in future gaming sessions.
In 2025, the baseline for most gamers is hovering around 16GB.

That’s the sweet spot for running the majority of today’s games and competitive scene. But if you were to shift from just gaming in the mid -tier games and wander into the world of AAA titles like the popular games like the Dead Redemption or Black Myth: Wukong then you will require 32 GB if you want to stream along with the game.

Now after all these you might be tempted to go beyond 32GB thinking that more is always better and while that’s true for certain professional workloads, like heavy video editing or 3D rendering, it’s not always the case for gaming. Anything beyond the 32GB mark you’ll be seeing diminishing returns which simply means that you’ll be paying for extra memory that your games simply won’t be utilizing. It’s like buying a sports car and only driving it in a school zone.

So the sweet spot for Future proofing your PC build, we recommend the 32 GB mark.

Final Verdict: How Much RAM Do You Really Need?

Game Type Recommended RAM
Casual & Indie Games : 8GB
Esports & Competitive Games :16GB
AAA & Open-World Games : 16GB – 32GB
VR & Modded Games : 32GB+

For most gamers in 2025, 16GB of RAM is going to run without any problems paired up with equally powerful CPU and GPU, but like mentioned in the previous segment if you want to future-proof your setup then you should be installing the 32GB RAM. Anything more than 32GB is only necessary for professional work like video editing or game development and hence not really recommended by our team for Gaming exclusively.