The Long Dark
To run The Long Dark (2017) on PC you need at least a Dual-Core Intel i5 CPU @ 2GHz+ processor and a Intel 4xxx Series w/ 512MB VRAM or better, with 4GB of RAM and 7GB of free storage. For higher settings and frame rates, the recommended specs are a Intel i7 CPU @ 2.6GHz or higher and a nVidia GTX 555 w/ 1GB VRAM or better with 8GB of RAM. Check your exact PC against The Long Dark with our free Can I Run It tool, estimate your frame rate with the FPS Estimator, or see the best GPU for The Long Dark.
System Requirements
Minimum
- CPU: Dual-Core Intel i5 CPU @ 2GHz+
- GPU: Intel 4xxx Series w/ 512MB VRAM or better
- RAM: 4
- Storage: 7
Recommended
- CPU: Intel i7 CPU @ 2.6GHz or higher
- GPU: nVidia GTX 555 w/ 1GB VRAM or better
- RAM: 8
- Storage: 7
Building a PC to play The Long Dark at its best
Meeting the The Long Dark minimum requirements (a Intel 4xxx Series w/ 512MB VRAM or better) is enough to launch the game, but it won't give you high frame rates at 1440p or 4K. The recommended nVidia GTX 555 w/ 1GB VRAM or better is a solid target, and stepping up to a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080 or Radeon RX 9070 XT gives you the headroom for ultra settings, ray tracing and high-refresh play. On mid-range cards, DLSS 4 and FSR frame generation can lift The Long Dark's frame rate substantially, while a flagship RTX 5090 drives 4K at maximum settings.
The processor matters just as much: pairing your graphics card with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D or an Intel Core Ultra, at least 8GB (ideally 32GB) of DDR5 RAM and a fast Gen5 NVMe SSD removes the stutter and long load times that can hold The Long Dark back. For modern textures at 4K, aim for a GPU with 12–16GB of VRAM so you never run short.
The same premium components also decide whether your rig is VR ready: if you game in virtual reality on a Meta Quest 3, Valve Index or PlayStation VR2, a strong GPU and CPU are what hold a steady 90 FPS. Check your exact setup against The Long Dark with the free Can I Run It tool, or see the best GPU for The Long Dark.
The Long Dark — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the minimum requirements for The Long Dark?
The Long Dark needs at least a Dual-Core Intel i5 CPU @ 2GHz+ CPU and a Intel 4xxx Series w/ 512MB VRAM or better graphics card, 4GB of RAM and 7GB of storage.
What are the recommended specs for The Long Dark?
For a smooth experience, The Long Dark recommends a Intel i7 CPU @ 2.6GHz or higher and a nVidia GTX 555 w/ 1GB VRAM or better with 8GB of RAM.
How much RAM does The Long Dark need?
The Long Dark requires 4GB of RAM as a minimum, with 8GB recommended.
What GPU do you need to run The Long Dark?
The minimum graphics card for The Long Dark is a Intel 4xxx Series w/ 512MB VRAM or better, while a nVidia GTX 555 w/ 1GB VRAM or better is recommended for higher settings. Check any GPU against this game with our Can I Run It tool.
