Best PC Games for GTX 980

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The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 may be an older graphics card, but it is still a capable GPU for 1080p gaming. Released as a high-end card, the GTX 980 can still handle many popular PC games smoothly when paired with a decent CPU, enough RAM, and the right graphics settings.

Compared to cards like the GTX 960 and GTX 970, the GTX 980 gives stronger performance in many games. It is a good choice for older AAA games, esports titles, racing games, open-world games, RPGs, horror games, and well-optimized modern titles.

In 2026, the GTX 980 is not ideal for new heavy AAA games at high settings, but it can still run many games at 1080p low, medium, or high settings, depending on the title. For newer demanding games, you may need to use 900p or 720p low settings for smoother gameplay.

In this article, we will look at the best PC games for GTX 980, including recommended settings, game categories, performance expectations, and FPS improvement tips.

Can GTX 980 Still Run Games in 2026?

Yes, the GTX 980 can still run many PC games in 2026. It is especially good for older AAA games, esports games, racing games, RPGs, horror games, and optimized open-world titles.

The GTX 980 usually comes with 4GB GDDR5 VRAM, which is still enough for many older and optimized games at 1080p. However, modern heavy games often need more VRAM, so ultra textures are not recommended.

For the best experience, use:

1080p resolution for older and optimized games
900p or 720p resolution for demanding games
Medium or high settings in older AAA games
Low or medium settings in newer games
Medium textures instead of ultra textures
16GB RAM recommended
SSD storage for faster loading
Updated NVIDIA graphics drivers

The GTX 980 is still a good budget gaming card if you choose the right games and settings.

GTX 980 Gaming Performance in 2026

The GTX 980 is best for 1080p budget gaming. Many older titles can run smoothly at high settings, while newer games may need low or medium settings.

Game Type	GTX 980 Performance
Esports Games	Very good
Older AAA Games	Very good
Open-World Games	Good with optimized settings
Racing Games	Good
RPG Games	Good
Modern Heavy AAA Games	Low settings recommended
Ray Tracing Games	Ray tracing not supported
1440p Gaming	Possible in light games, not recommended for heavy games

The GTX 980 is still a good choice for players who want smooth 1080p gaming without upgrading to a newer GPU.

Recommended PC Specs for GTX 980 Gaming

Component	Recommended
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
VRAM	4GB GDDR5
CPU	Intel Core i5 / Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 3 / Ryzen 5
RAM	8GB minimum / 16GB recommended
Storage	SSD recommended
OS	Windows 10 64-bit / Windows 11 if supported
Best For	1080p low/medium/high gaming depending on game

For newer games and open-world titles, 16GB RAM is strongly recommended. An SSD also helps reduce loading times and texture loading delays.

Best Graphics Settings for GTX 980

Use these general settings for smoother gameplay:

Graphics Option	Recommended Setting
Resolution	1920×1080 for most games
Texture Quality	Medium
Shadow Quality	Low or Medium
Anti-Aliasing	Off, FXAA, TAA Low, or Medium
Ambient Occlusion	Off or Low
Reflections	Low or Medium
Motion Blur	Off
V-Sync	Off
Post Processing	Low or Medium
Ray Tracing	Off
Display Mode	Fullscreen
FPS Limit	30 FPS or 60 FPS

If a game feels laggy, reduce shadows, textures, reflections, anti-aliasing, and resolution first. These settings usually give the biggest FPS improvement on GTX 980.

Best PC Games for GTX 980

1. Grand Theft Auto V

Genre: Open-world, action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p High/Medium mix
Performance: Smooth

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the best open-world games for GTX 980. The PC version is well-optimized and offers a large city, story missions, vehicles, online gameplay, heists, and many side activities.

GTX 980 can run GTA V very well at 1080p with high and medium mixed settings. For better FPS, reduce grass quality, shadow quality, reflection quality, and advanced graphics options.

Why GTA V is good for GTX 980

Very well-optimized PC version
Huge open-world map
Great story mode
Online gameplay support
Many graphics settings

2. Red Dead Redemption 2

Genre: Open-world, action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium or 900p Medium
Performance: Playable with optimized settings

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a demanding open-world game, but GTX 980 can still run it with optimized settings. The game has a huge western world, emotional story, hunting, horses, realistic weather, and detailed missions.

For smoother gameplay, use low to medium settings, medium textures carefully, lower reflections, and a 30 FPS target. Avoid ultra settings because the GTX 980 has 4GB VRAM.

Why Red Dead Redemption 2 is good for GTX 980

Amazing story
Huge open world
Realistic western setting
Playable with optimized settings

3. Cyberpunk 2077

Genre: Open-world, RPG, action
Best Settings: 720p/900p Low
Performance: Playable with reduced settings

Cyberpunk 2077 is a very demanding modern open-world RPG. GTX 980 can run it only with low settings and ray tracing turned off. For smoother gameplay, use low textures, low crowd density, low shadows, and lower resolution.

This game is recommended only if you are comfortable with reduced visuals and a 30 FPS target.

Why Cyberpunk 2077 is good for GTX 980

Futuristic open world
RPG character builds
Story choices
Playable on low settings

4. Far Cry 3

Genre: Open-world, FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p High/Ultra mix
Performance: Very smooth

Far Cry 3 is one of the best open-world shooting games for GTX 980. It has a tropical island, outposts, hunting, crafting, stealth, and a memorable villain.

Because the game is older and optimized, GTX 980 can run it very smoothly at 1080p.

Why Far Cry 3 is good for GTX 980

Smooth performance
Beautiful island setting
Great story and villain
Fun shooting and exploration

5. Far Cry 4

Genre: Open-world, FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p High/Medium
Performance: Smooth

Far Cry 4 runs very well on GTX 980. It offers a large mountain-based map, vehicles, wildlife, outposts, and action missions.

For better FPS, reduce shadows, vegetation, anti-aliasing, and post-processing.

Why Far Cry 4 is good for GTX 980

Large open-world map
Good shooting gameplay
Beautiful mountain setting
Smooth with optimized settings

6. Far Cry Primal

Genre: Open-world, survival, action
Best Settings: 1080p Medium/High
Performance: Smooth

Far Cry Primal is a unique open-world survival game set in the Stone Age. You use bows, spears, animal companions, crafting, stealth, and melee weapons to survive.

GTX 980 can run Far Cry Primal well at 1080p with medium or high mixed settings.

Why Far Cry Primal is good for GTX 980

Unique Stone Age setting
Survival gameplay
Animal companions
Good open-world action

7. Far Cry 5

Genre: Open-world, FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable and smooth with optimization

Far Cry 5 is more demanding than Far Cry 4, but GTX 980 can still run it with low to medium settings. It offers a large open-world map, vehicles, guns, missions, and co-op gameplay.

For smoother FPS, reduce shadows, textures, reflections, and environment details.

Why Far Cry 5 is good for GTX 980

Large open world
Fun shooting gameplay
Co-op support
Playable at 1080p optimized settings

8. Far Cry New Dawn

Genre: Open-world, FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable

Far Cry New Dawn is based on the Far Cry 5 world but has a colorful post-apocalyptic setting. GTX 980 can run it on low to medium settings.

For better performance, lower shadows, textures, reflections, and volumetric effects.

Why Far Cry New Dawn is good for GTX 980

Colorful open world
Fun shooting gameplay
Crafting and upgrades
Playable with optimized settings

9. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

Genre: Open-world, action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Smooth

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is one of the best pirate-themed open-world games. You can sail ships, explore islands, fight enemies, hunt treasure, and enjoy naval battles.

GTX 980 can run Black Flag smoothly at 1080p with high settings.

Why Black Flag is good for GTX 980

Pirate open-world adventure
Naval battles
Great story
Smooth performance

10. Assassin’s Creed Rogue

Genre: Open-world, action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Assassin’s Creed Rogue is another great Assassin’s Creed game for GTX 980. It has naval combat, stealth, exploration, and a different story perspective.

The game is not very demanding compared to newer Assassin’s Creed titles, so it runs very well on GTX 980.

Why Assassin’s Creed Rogue is good for GTX 980

Good optimization
Naval gameplay
Interesting story
Smooth open-world gameplay

11. Assassin’s Creed Unity

Genre: Open-world, action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable

Assassin’s Creed Unity is demanding, but GTX 980 can run it with optimized settings. The game features a detailed Paris map, parkour, stealth, combat, and large crowds.

For better FPS, reduce crowd density, shadows, environment quality, and anti-aliasing.

Why Assassin’s Creed Unity is good for GTX 980

Beautiful Paris setting
Good parkour gameplay
Stealth and combat
Playable with optimized settings

12. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

Genre: Open-world, action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable and smooth with optimization

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is set in London and offers open-world exploration, parkour, stealth, combat, and carriage driving. GTX 980 can run it well with low to medium settings.

Why Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is good for GTX 980

Large London map
Fun stealth gameplay
Good story missions
Playable with optimized settings

13. Assassin’s Creed Origins

Genre: Open-world, action RPG
Best Settings: 1080p Low or 900p Medium
Performance: Playable

Assassin’s Creed Origins is more demanding than older AC games, but GTX 980 can run it on low settings. The game has a large Egyptian open world, RPG systems, stealth, combat, and exploration.

For smoother gameplay, lower shadows, volumetric clouds, textures, and anti-aliasing.

Why Assassin’s Creed Origins is good for GTX 980

Beautiful ancient Egypt setting
RPG-style gameplay
Large open world
Playable with optimized settings

14. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Genre: Open-world, action RPG
Best Settings: 900p/1080p Low
Performance: Playable with reduced settings

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a heavy open-world game, but GTX 980 can run it with low settings. The game has a massive Greek world, naval gameplay, RPG choices, and long story content.

For best results, use low graphics settings and a 30 FPS target.

Why Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is good for GTX 980

Huge open world
Ancient Greece setting
RPG choices
Playable with low settings

15. Tomb Raider

Genre: Action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Tomb Raider is one of the best action-adventure games for GTX 980. It has exploration, puzzles, combat, survival elements, and cinematic story moments.

GTX 980 can run Tomb Raider smoothly at high settings. Turn off heavy hair effects if you want higher FPS.

Why Tomb Raider is good for GTX 980

Great story
Smooth performance
Good graphics
Fun action and exploration

16. Rise of the Tomb Raider

Genre: Action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p Medium/High mix
Performance: Smooth with optimization

Rise of the Tomb Raider is more demanding, but GTX 980 can run it well at 1080p with medium settings. The game has beautiful environments, tomb exploration, crafting, and strong action gameplay.

For better FPS, use medium textures and low or medium shadows.

Why Rise of the Tomb Raider is good for GTX 980

Strong adventure gameplay
Beautiful locations
Good story
Smooth with optimized settings

17. Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Genre: Action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is demanding, but GTX 980 can run it on low to medium settings. The game includes jungle exploration, tombs, stealth, combat, and cinematic moments.

For smoother gameplay, use low shadows, medium textures, and lower resolution if needed.

Why Shadow of the Tomb Raider is good for GTX 980

Beautiful adventure locations
Strong exploration
Good stealth and combat
Playable on optimized settings

18. Sleeping Dogs

Genre: Open-world, action
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Sleeping Dogs is a stylish open-world action game set in Hong Kong. It includes driving, fighting, shooting, and a strong crime story.

GTX 980 can run Sleeping Dogs smoothly at high settings, making it one of the best GTA-style games for budget PCs.

Why Sleeping Dogs is good for GTX 980

Great hand-to-hand combat
Stylish city environment
Strong story
Smooth performance

19. Mafia II

Genre: Open-world, crime, action
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Mafia II is a story-driven crime game with a classic gangster atmosphere. It includes driving, shooting, and emotional story missions.

GTX 980 can run Mafia II very smoothly at high settings.

Why Mafia II is good for GTX 980

Excellent crime story
Classic atmosphere
Smooth performance
Good for older PCs

20. Mafia III

Genre: Open-world, crime, action
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable

Mafia III is more demanding than Mafia II, but GTX 980 can still run it with low to medium settings. The game has a large open world, driving, shooting, and a revenge-based crime story.

For smoother gameplay, lower shadows, textures, and post-processing.

Why Mafia III is good for GTX 980

Large open-world city
Strong crime story
Driving and shooting gameplay
Playable with optimized settings

21. Max Payne 3

Genre: Third-person shooter, action
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Max Payne 3 is a cinematic third-person shooter with intense gunfights and bullet-time gameplay. It still looks good and runs very well on GTX 980.

Why Max Payne 3 is good for GTX 980

Excellent shooting mechanics
Cinematic action
Strong story
Smooth gameplay

22. Batman: Arkham City

Genre: Action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Batman: Arkham City is one of the best superhero games for PC. It includes open-world exploration, stealth, combat, detective missions, and a strong Batman story.

GTX 980 can run Arkham City very smoothly.

Why Arkham City is good for GTX 980

Great combat system
Strong superhero story
Smooth performance
Fun open-world gameplay

23. Batman: Arkham Origins

Genre: Action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Batman: Arkham Origins is another excellent Batman game that runs well on GTX 980. It has a winter city setting, boss fights, stealth gameplay, and smooth combat.

Why Arkham Origins is good for GTX 980

Good story
Great combat
Smooth performance
Works well on older hardware

24. Batman: Arkham Knight

Genre: Open-world, action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable with optimized settings

Batman: Arkham Knight is more demanding than older Batman games, but GTX 980 can run it well with optimized settings. For smoother FPS, reduce smoke effects, shadows, texture quality, and NVIDIA GameWorks effects.

Why Arkham Knight is good for GTX 980

Beautiful Gotham City
Great combat and stealth
Batmobile gameplay
Playable with optimized settings

25. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Genre: Open-world, RPG, fantasy
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Skyrim is one of the best RPG games for GTX 980. It offers a huge fantasy world, dragons, magic, weapons, quests, and character customization.

The original version runs very well. Skyrim Special Edition is also playable with adjusted settings.

Why Skyrim is good for GTX 980

Huge open world
Many quests
Great RPG experience
Smooth performance

26. Fallout 4

Genre: Open-world, RPG, survival
Best Settings: 1080p Medium/High mix
Performance: Smooth with optimization

Fallout 4 is a great open-world RPG with exploration, crafting, settlements, shooting, and story choices. GTX 980 can run it well at 1080p with medium or high mixed settings.

For smoother FPS, reduce god rays, shadows, and draw distance.

Why Fallout 4 is good for GTX 980

Large open world
RPG choices
Settlement building
Good performance with optimized settings

27. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Genre: RPG, fantasy, action
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Smooth if UberSampling is off

The Witcher 2 is a story-rich fantasy RPG with strong characters and beautiful visuals. GTX 980 can run it very well, but UberSampling should be turned off because it can heavily reduce FPS.

Why The Witcher 2 is good for GTX 980

Strong story
Deep RPG gameplay
Beautiful fantasy world
Good performance with correct settings

28. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Genre: Open-world, RPG, fantasy
Best Settings: 1080p Medium/High mix
Performance: Smooth with optimized settings

The Witcher 3 is one of the best RPG games ever made. It has a huge open world, excellent quests, memorable characters, monsters, magic, and deep storytelling.

GTX 980 can run The Witcher 3 well at 1080p with medium or high mixed settings. Turn off NVIDIA HairWorks and reduce shadows for better FPS.

Why The Witcher 3 is good for GTX 980

Huge open world
Excellent story
Deep RPG gameplay
Playable at 1080p optimized settings

29. Dragon Age: Inquisition

Genre: RPG, fantasy, action
Best Settings: 1080p Medium/High
Performance: Smooth with optimization

Dragon Age: Inquisition is a fantasy RPG with large maps, party-based combat, story choices, and exploration. GTX 980 can run it well with medium or high mixed settings.

Why Dragon Age: Inquisition is good for GTX 980

Large fantasy world
Party-based RPG gameplay
Strong story choices
Good performance

30. Dark Souls III

Genre: Action RPG
Best Settings: 1080p High/Medium
Performance: Smooth

Dark Souls III is a challenging action RPG with boss fights, dark fantasy environments, and deep combat. GTX 980 can run it very well at 1080p.

Why Dark Souls III is good for GTX 980

Excellent combat
Strong boss fights
Dark fantasy world
Smooth performance

31. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Genre: Action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable and smooth with optimization

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a fast action game with sword combat, stealth, boss fights, and beautiful Japanese-inspired locations. GTX 980 can run it with low to medium settings.

Why Sekiro is good for GTX 980

Excellent sword combat
Fast action gameplay
Beautiful environments
Playable with optimized settings

32. Nier: Automata

Genre: Action RPG
Best Settings: 1080p Medium
Performance: Smooth with optimization

Nier: Automata is a stylish action RPG with emotional storytelling, fast combat, and unique gameplay changes. GTX 980 can run it well with optimized settings.

Why Nier: Automata is good for GTX 980

Great story
Stylish combat
Unique gameplay
Smooth performance

33. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Genre: Open-world, stealth, action
Best Settings: 1080p High/Medium
Performance: Very smooth

Metal Gear Solid V is one of the best optimized open-world games for GTX 980. It offers stealth missions, tactical freedom, weapons, vehicles, and a large mission-based world.

Why MGSV is good for GTX 980

Excellent optimization
Open-world stealth gameplay
Smooth performance
Great mission variety

34. Watch Dogs

Genre: Open-world, action, hacking
Best Settings: 1080p Medium
Performance: Playable and smooth with optimization

Watch Dogs is an open-world action game with hacking mechanics, driving, stealth, and shooting. GTX 980 can run it with optimized settings.

For better FPS, lower shadows, reflections, and anti-aliasing.

Why Watch Dogs is good for GTX 980

Unique hacking gameplay
Open-world city
Driving and stealth missions
Good for action fans

35. Watch Dogs 2

Genre: Open-world, action, hacking
Best Settings: 1080p Low or 900p Medium
Performance: Playable

Watch Dogs 2 is more demanding than the first game, but GTX 980 can run it on low settings. It has a colorful open world, hacking tools, stealth, driving, and modern-style missions.

For smoother gameplay, reduce shadows, textures, reflections, and geometry quality.

Why Watch Dogs 2 is good for GTX 980

Fun hacking mechanics
Large open world
Stylish missions
Playable on optimized settings

36. Just Cause 2

Genre: Open-world, action
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Just Cause 2 is a fun open-world action game with explosions, vehicles, parachutes, and a huge map. GTX 980 can run it very smoothly at high settings.

Why Just Cause 2 is good for GTX 980

Huge open world
Fun destruction
Vehicles and stunts
Smooth performance

37. Just Cause 3

Genre: Open-world, action
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable

Just Cause 3 is more demanding than Just Cause 2, but GTX 980 can run it with low to medium settings. The game has a large open world, explosions, wingsuit flying, and chaotic action.

For better performance, reduce textures, shadows, water quality, and anti-aliasing.

Why Just Cause 3 is good for GTX 980

Big explosions
Wingsuit gameplay
Large open world
Playable with optimized settings

38. Mad Max

Genre: Open-world, action, driving
Best Settings: 1080p High/Medium
Performance: Smooth

Mad Max is a well-optimized open-world action game with car combat, desert exploration, melee fighting, and vehicle upgrades. It runs very well on GTX 980.

Why Mad Max is good for GTX 980

Smooth performance
Fun car combat
Open-world exploration
Good action gameplay

39. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

Genre: Open-world, action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p High/Medium
Performance: Smooth

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a great action game with sword combat, stealth, open-world missions, and the Nemesis system. GTX 980 can run it well at 1080p.

Why Shadow of Mordor is good for GTX 980

Excellent combat
Unique Nemesis system
Open-world missions
Smooth performance

40. Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Genre: Open-world, action, adventure
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is more demanding than Shadow of Mordor, but GTX 980 can run it with low to medium settings. It has large battles, fortress attacks, orc armies, and an improved Nemesis system.

Why Shadow of War is good for GTX 980

Large battles
Improved Nemesis system
Open-world missions
Playable with optimized settings

41. BioShock Infinite

Genre: FPS, story, action
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

BioShock Infinite is a story-driven first-person shooter with a unique world, emotional story, and stylish combat. It runs very well on GTX 980.

Why BioShock Infinite is good for GTX 980

Great story
Unique art style
Smooth gameplay
Good FPS performance

42. Borderlands 2

Genre: FPS, RPG, looter-shooter
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Borderlands 2 is a fun looter-shooter with colorful graphics, many weapons, and co-op gameplay. GTX 980 can run it very smoothly.

Why Borderlands 2 is good for GTX 980

Many weapons
Fun co-op gameplay
High replay value
Excellent performance

43. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

Genre: FPS, RPG, looter-shooter
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Smooth

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is another good choice for GTX 980 users. It has similar gameplay to Borderlands 2 with new environments, weapons, and low-gravity movement.

Why Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is good for GTX 980

Fun shooting gameplay
Co-op support
Many weapons
Smooth performance

44. Borderlands 3

Genre: FPS, RPG, looter-shooter
Best Settings: 900p/1080p Low
Performance: Playable

Borderlands 3 is much more demanding than Borderlands 2, but GTX 980 can run it on low settings. The game has many weapons, co-op gameplay, colorful worlds, and fast shooting action.

For better FPS, use low textures, low shadows, and lower resolution if needed.

Why Borderlands 3 is good for GTX 980

Huge weapon variety
Co-op gameplay
Fast shooting action
Playable on low settings

45. Crysis 2

Genre: FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Smooth

Crysis 2 is a visually impressive FPS game with suit powers, action missions, and strong graphics. GTX 980 can run it very well.

Why Crysis 2 is good for GTX 980

Great FPS action
Good graphics
Fun suit abilities
Smooth on GTX 980

46. Crysis 3

Genre: FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p Medium
Performance: Playable and smooth with optimization

Crysis 3 is still a demanding game, but GTX 980 can run it with optimized settings. The game has excellent visuals, bow combat, stealth, and action gameplay.

For better performance, lower anti-aliasing, shadows, textures, and post-processing.

Why Crysis 3 is good for GTX 980

Impressive graphics
Fun FPS gameplay
Stealth and action mix
Playable with optimized settings

47. Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Genre: FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Call of Duty: Black Ops II is one of the best COD games for GTX 980. It includes campaign, multiplayer, and zombies mode.

Why Black Ops II is good for GTX 980

Great campaign
Zombie mode
Smooth FPS
Good replay value

48. Call of Duty: Ghosts

Genre: FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p High/Medium
Performance: Smooth

Call of Duty: Ghosts can run well on GTX 980 with medium to high settings. It offers cinematic missions, action gameplay, and multiplayer modes.

Why Call of Duty: Ghosts is good for GTX 980

Cinematic campaign
Smooth action
Good FPS gameplay
Playable on optimized settings

49. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Genre: FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p Medium
Performance: Smooth with optimization

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is more demanding than older COD titles, but GTX 980 can run it well with optimized settings. The futuristic movement, weapons, and campaign make it fun for FPS fans.

Why Advanced Warfare is good for GTX 980

Futuristic combat
Fast movement
Good campaign
Playable at 1080p optimized settings

50. Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Genre: FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable

Call of Duty: Black Ops III is heavier than Black Ops II, but GTX 980 can run it with low to medium settings. It includes campaign, multiplayer, and zombies content.

For smoother performance, reduce texture quality, shadows, and anti-aliasing.

Why Black Ops III is good for GTX 980

Zombies mode
Futuristic weapons
Fast FPS gameplay
Playable with optimized settings

51. Call of Duty: WWII

Genre: FPS, action, war
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable

Call of Duty: WWII is a good choice for GTX 980 users who enjoy war shooters. It has a cinematic campaign, multiplayer, and classic World War II-style combat.

For smoother FPS, use low shadows, medium textures, and reduced effects.

Why Call of Duty: WWII is good for GTX 980

World War II campaign
Classic COD shooting
Multiplayer modes
Playable on optimized settings

52. Battlefield 3

Genre: FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Battlefield 3 is a great military shooter with cinematic missions, large battles, vehicles, and multiplayer gameplay. GTX 980 can run it very smoothly.

Why Battlefield 3 is good for GTX 980

Large-scale battles
Vehicle combat
Good graphics
Smooth performance

53. Battlefield 4

Genre: FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p High/Medium
Performance: Smooth

Battlefield 4 is a great FPS game for GTX 980. It offers large maps, vehicles, destruction, and strong multiplayer gameplay.

For better FPS, reduce effects and anti-aliasing.

Why Battlefield 4 is good for GTX 980

Large maps
Vehicle combat
Good multiplayer action
Smooth with optimized settings

54. Battlefield Hardline

Genre: FPS, action
Best Settings: 1080p Medium/High
Performance: Smooth

Battlefield Hardline is a police-themed Battlefield game with campaign missions, vehicles, and multiplayer action. GTX 980 can run it well.

Why Battlefield Hardline is good for GTX 980

Police vs criminal theme
Smooth FPS gameplay
Vehicles and large maps
Good performance

55. Battlefield 1

Genre: FPS, action, war
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable and smooth with optimization

Battlefield 1 is more demanding than Battlefield 4, but GTX 980 can run it with low to medium settings. The game has large war battles, vehicles, weapons, and cinematic visuals.

For smoother gameplay, use low lighting, low effects, and medium textures.

Why Battlefield 1 is good for GTX 980

Large battlefield action
Great atmosphere
Vehicles and weapons
Playable with optimized settings

56. Battlefield V

Genre: FPS, action, war
Best Settings: 900p/1080p Low
Performance: Playable

Battlefield V is more demanding than Battlefield 1. GTX 980 can run it on low settings, but performance depends heavily on CPU and RAM.

For best results, use low settings, no ray tracing, and lower resolution if needed.

Why Battlefield V is good for GTX 980

Large war battles
Good gunplay
Multiplayer action
Playable on low settings

57. Metro 2033 Redux

Genre: FPS, survival, horror
Best Settings: 1080p Medium/High
Performance: Smooth

Metro 2033 Redux is a dark atmospheric FPS with survival horror elements. GTX 980 can run it well with medium or high settings.

Why Metro 2033 Redux is good for GTX 980

Strong atmosphere
Good FPS gameplay
Survival horror elements
Smooth performance

58. Metro: Last Light Redux

Genre: FPS, survival, horror
Best Settings: 1080p Medium/High
Performance: Smooth

Metro: Last Light Redux is another excellent FPS game for GTX 980. It has a dark story, tense combat, stealth, and beautiful underground environments.

Why Metro: Last Light Redux is good for GTX 980

Great atmosphere
Strong story
Good stealth and shooting
Smooth performance

59. Dying Light

Genre: Open-world, zombie, survival
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable and smooth with optimization

Dying Light is a zombie survival game with parkour, melee combat, crafting, and an open world. GTX 980 can run it well with low to medium settings.

For better FPS, reduce view distance, shadows, and post-processing.

Why Dying Light is good for GTX 980

Parkour movement
Zombie survival gameplay
Open-world exploration
Playable with optimized settings

60. Resident Evil 2 Remake

Genre: Survival horror, action
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Smooth with optimization

Resident Evil 2 Remake is a great survival horror game with modern graphics, tense gameplay, puzzles, and action. GTX 980 can run it well if texture memory usage is controlled.

Use medium textures carefully and avoid settings that exceed 4GB VRAM.

Why Resident Evil 2 Remake is good for GTX 980

Excellent horror atmosphere
Good story and puzzles
Playable on optimized settings
Great single-player experience

61. Resident Evil 3 Remake

Genre: Survival horror, action
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable

Resident Evil 3 Remake is more action-focused than Resident Evil 2 Remake. GTX 980 can run it with low to medium settings.

For smoother FPS, keep textures and shadows at safe levels.

Why Resident Evil 3 Remake is good for GTX 980

Action-horror gameplay
Good visuals
Short but exciting campaign
Playable with optimized settings

62. Resident Evil 7

Genre: Survival horror, action
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Smooth with optimization

Resident Evil 7 is a first-person horror game with strong atmosphere, exploration, puzzles, and survival gameplay. GTX 980 can run it well with optimized settings.

Why Resident Evil 7 is good for GTX 980

Strong horror experience
Good performance
Great atmosphere
Interesting story

63. Alien: Isolation

Genre: Survival horror, stealth
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Alien: Isolation is one of the best horror games for older PCs. It has excellent atmosphere, stealth gameplay, and a terrifying alien enemy.

GTX 980 can run it very smoothly at high settings.

Why Alien: Isolation is good for GTX 980

Excellent horror atmosphere
Stealth-based gameplay
Smooth performance
Great single-player experience

64. Valorant

Genre: Competitive FPS
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Valorant is one of the best modern competitive games for GTX 980. It is very well-optimized and does not require a powerful GPU.

Why Valorant is good for GTX 980

Free-to-play
Well-optimized
Competitive gameplay
Smooth on budget PCs

65. Counter-Strike 2

Genre: Competitive FPS
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable depending on CPU and RAM

Counter-Strike 2 is more demanding than older Counter-Strike games, but GTX 980 can run it with low or medium settings. Performance depends heavily on CPU, RAM, and graphics settings.

For smoother gameplay, use low shadows, low effects, and performance-focused settings.

Why Counter-Strike 2 is good for GTX 980

Competitive FPS gameplay
Popular multiplayer game
Playable with optimized settings
Good for esports fans

66. Fortnite

Genre: Battle royale, shooter
Best Settings: 1080p Performance Mode or Low
Performance: Smooth with optimized settings

Fortnite can run well on GTX 980 if you use Performance Mode or low settings. It is a good choice for players who want a modern multiplayer game on older hardware.

For better FPS, use low shadows, low effects, and lower view distance if needed.

Why Fortnite is good for GTX 980

Free-to-play
Popular battle royale
Performance Mode available
Good for multiplayer gaming

67. Apex Legends

Genre: Battle royale, FPS
Best Settings: 900p/1080p Low
Performance: Playable

Apex Legends is more demanding than Valorant and Fortnite, but GTX 980 can run it with low settings. For smoother performance, use low textures, low effects, and lower resolution if needed.

Why Apex Legends is good for GTX 980

Fast FPS gameplay
Battle royale action
Team-based characters
Playable with low settings

68. PUBG: Battlegrounds

Genre: Battle royale, shooter
Best Settings: 900p/1080p Low
Performance: Playable

PUBG can run on GTX 980 with low settings, but performance depends on CPU, RAM, and game updates. Lower shadows, effects, foliage, and view distance for smoother gameplay.

Why PUBG is good for GTX 980

Battle royale gameplay
Tactical shooting
Large maps
Playable with optimized settings

69. League of Legends

Genre: MOBA
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

League of Legends is lightweight and runs very smoothly on GTX 980. It is perfect for players who enjoy competitive online games.

Why League of Legends is good for GTX 980

Low system requirements
Smooth performance
Popular multiplayer game
Good for long-term play

70. Dota 2

Genre: MOBA
Best Settings: 1080p High/Medium
Performance: Smooth

Dota 2 can run well on GTX 980. For smoother performance during big team fights, lower shadows and effects quality.

Why Dota 2 is good for GTX 980

Free-to-play
Deep strategy gameplay
Good performance
High replay value

71. Minecraft

Genre: Sandbox, survival, creativity
Best Settings: 1080p High without heavy shaders
Performance: Smooth

Minecraft runs very well on GTX 980 as long as you avoid very heavy shaders and high-resolution texture packs. It is a great choice for survival, building, and modding.

Why Minecraft is good for GTX 980

Creative freedom
Survival gameplay
Lightweight
Huge modding community

72. Euro Truck Simulator 2

Genre: Simulation, driving
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Smooth

Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a relaxing driving simulation game that runs well on GTX 980. You can deliver cargo, customize trucks, and drive across Europe.

Why Euro Truck Simulator 2 is good for GTX 980

Relaxing gameplay
Good optimization
Large driving map
Great for casual gamers

73. Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Genre: Racing
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Smooth

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is a fun arcade racing game with fast cars, open-world driving, and police chases. GTX 980 can run it smoothly.

Why Most Wanted is good for GTX 980

Fast racing action
Police chases
Smooth performance
Great for budget PCs

74. Need for Speed: Rivals

Genre: Racing
Best Settings: 1080p Medium
Performance: Smooth with optimization

Need for Speed: Rivals is a more demanding racing game, but GTX 980 can run it with medium settings. It offers fast races, police chases, and beautiful roads.

Why NFS Rivals is good for GTX 980

Fast cars
Police vs racer gameplay
Beautiful map
Playable with optimized settings

75. Forza Horizon 4

Genre: Open-world racing
Best Settings: 1080p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable and smooth with optimization

Forza Horizon 4 is a beautiful open-world racing game. GTX 980 can run it with low to medium settings. For the best results, use medium textures carefully and lower shadows and reflections.

Why Forza Horizon 4 is good for GTX 980

Beautiful open-world racing
Many cars
Fun driving gameplay
Playable with optimized settings

76. Forza Horizon 5

Genre: Open-world racing
Best Settings: 900p Low or 720p Low/Medium
Performance: Playable with reduced settings

Forza Horizon 5 is more demanding than Forza Horizon 4, but GTX 980 can run it on low settings. Use low textures, low shadows, and lower resolution for a more stable experience.

Why Forza Horizon 5 is good for GTX 980

Beautiful Mexico map
Many cars
Fun racing gameplay
Playable on low settings

77. Dirt 3

Genre: Racing, rally
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

Dirt 3 is a great rally racing game that runs very smoothly on GTX 980. It still looks good and offers fun off-road racing.

Why Dirt 3 is good for GTX 980

Very smooth performance
Good rally gameplay
Nice graphics
Great for older PCs

78. GRID Autosport

Genre: Racing
Best Settings: 1080p High
Performance: Very smooth

GRID Autosport is a great racing game for GTX 980. It offers touring cars, street racing, endurance races, and strong driving gameplay.

Why GRID Autosport is good for GTX 980

Smooth racing performance
Multiple race types
Good car handling
Great for older gaming PCs

79. Rocket League

Genre: Sports, racing, multiplayer
Best Settings: 1080p High/Medium
Performance: Smooth

Rocket League is a fun competitive game that combines football and cars. It runs very well on GTX 980 and is great for online multiplayer.

Why Rocket League is good for GTX 980

Fast and fun gameplay
Online multiplayer
Smooth performance
Easy to play, hard to master

More Good Games for GTX 980

Here are more PC games that can run well on GTX 980:

Batman: Arkham Asylum
Hitman: Absolution
Hitman: Blood Money
Hitman 2016
Hitman 2 on low settings
Saints Row: The Third
Saints Row IV
Dead Space
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 3
Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 6
Resident Evil Revelations
Resident Evil Revelations 2
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Mirror’s Edge
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst on low settings
Team Fortress 2
Warframe
Terraria
Stardew Valley
Don’t Starve
Limbo
Inside
Burnout Paradise
GRID 2
Alan Wake
Sniper Elite V2
Sniper Elite 3
Sniper Elite 4 on low/medium settings
The Evil Within
The Evil Within 2 on low settings
Dishonored
Dishonored 2 on low settings
Payday 2
Paladins
Brawlhalla
Control on low settings
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order on low settings
Monster Hunter: World on low settings
Hollow Knight
Hades
Cuphead

Best Open-World Games for GTX 980

If you like open-world games, these are some of the best choices:

GTA V
Red Dead Redemption 2 on low/medium settings
Cyberpunk 2077 on low settings
Far Cry 3
Far Cry 4
Far Cry Primal
Far Cry 5
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin’s Creed Rogue
Assassin’s Creed Unity
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
Assassin’s Creed Origins on low settings
Sleeping Dogs
Skyrim
Fallout 4
The Witcher 3
Mafia II
Mafia III on low settings
Watch Dogs
Watch Dogs 2 on low settings
Metal Gear Solid V
Just Cause 2
Just Cause 3 on low settings
Mad Max
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Middle-earth: Shadow of War on low settings

These games are great for exploration, missions, driving, combat, stealth, and long gameplay hours.

Best Shooting Games for GTX 980

For FPS and shooting game fans, try these titles:

Valorant
Counter-Strike 2
Fortnite Performance Mode
Apex Legends on low settings
PUBG on low settings
Battlefield 3
Battlefield 4
Battlefield Hardline
Battlefield 1
Battlefield V on low settings
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Call of Duty: WWII
Crysis 2
Crysis 3
BioShock Infinite
Borderlands 2
Borderlands 3 on low settings
Metro 2033 Redux
Metro: Last Light Redux
Left 4 Dead 2

These games offer strong action and can run well with adjusted settings.

Best Racing Games for GTX 980

For racing lovers, these games are recommended:

Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Need for Speed: Rivals
Forza Horizon 4
Forza Horizon 5 on low settings
Dirt 3
GRID 2
GRID Autosport
Burnout Paradise
Euro Truck Simulator 2
Rocket League

Most older racing games can run smoothly at 1080p, while newer racing games may need low settings and lower resolution.

Best RPG Games for GTX 980

If you like RPG games, try these:

The Witcher 3
The Witcher 2
Skyrim
Fallout 4
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dark Souls III
Nier: Automata
Assassin’s Creed Origins on low settings
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey on low settings
Cyberpunk 2077 on low settings

These games are good for long story campaigns, exploration, character progression, and replay value.

Best Horror Games for GTX 980

For horror game fans, these are good choices:

Resident Evil 2 Remake
Resident Evil 3 Remake
Resident Evil 7
Alien: Isolation
The Evil Within
The Evil Within 2 on low settings
Metro 2033 Redux
Metro: Last Light Redux
Dead Space
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 3

Many horror games are well-optimized and can run nicely on GTX 980 with the right settings.

Best Free Games for GTX 980

If you want free games, try these:

Valorant
Fortnite
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Dota 2
Team Fortress 2
Warframe
Brawlhalla
Roblox
Paladins
Rocket League
PUBG: Battlegrounds on low settings
Apex Legends on low settings

Free-to-play games are a good option for GTX 980 users because many of them are optimized for a wide range of PCs.

GTX 980 vs GTX 970 for Gaming

The GTX 980 is stronger than the GTX 970 and can provide better FPS in many games. It is better for 1080p gaming, especially in older AAA titles and optimized open-world games.

GPU	Gaming Performance
GTX 970	Good for 1080p low/medium gaming
GTX 980	Better for 1080p medium/high gaming in older games

If you have a GTX 980, you can usually use slightly higher settings than GTX 970 in many games.

GTX 980 Limitations in Modern Games

The GTX 980 is still useful, but it has some limitations:

It has 4GB VRAM, which is low for many modern games.
Ultra textures are not recommended in newer titles.
Ray tracing is not supported.
Some modern AAA games may need 720p or 900p.
Newer games may require very low settings.
CPU and RAM strongly affect performance.
Some newer games may need modern GPU features.

For best results, focus on 1080p low to medium settings and avoid ultra graphics options.

Tips to Improve FPS on GTX 980

Use these tips to improve performance:

Update your NVIDIA graphics driver.
Close unnecessary background apps before gaming.
Use fullscreen mode.
Lower shadows and reflections.
Turn off motion blur.
Disable heavy anti-aliasing.
Use medium textures instead of ultra textures.
Use 900p or 720p resolution for demanding games.
Install games on SSD for faster loading.
Keep your PC clean from dust.
Avoid heavy mods, shaders, and high-resolution texture packs.
Limit FPS to 30 in heavy open-world games for stable gameplay.
Turn off NVIDIA HairWorks in supported games.
Reduce view distance in open-world games.
Turn off ray tracing in all supported games.
Use performance mode in competitive games when available.
Keep Windows background tasks low while gaming.

These small graphics changes can make a big difference on older GPUs like GTX 980.

Is GTX 980 Good for Gaming in 2026?

Yes, the GTX 980 is still good for budget gaming in 2026 if you play the right games. It is especially good for older AAA games, esports titles, racing games, RPGs, horror games, and optimized open-world games.

It is not recommended for modern heavy AAA gaming at high settings, but it can still run many demanding games at low settings. If you are okay with 1080p low/medium settings or 900p in heavier games, the GTX 980 can still provide a fun gaming experience.

Safe Download and Installation Note

Always download or install games from official and trusted platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Ubisoft Connect, EA App, Battle.net, or the official game website. This helps avoid malware, unsafe installers, corrupted files, and broken game versions.

Before installing any game, check the minimum system requirements and make sure your PC has enough RAM, storage space, and driver support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can GTX 980 run GTA V?

Yes, GTX 980 can run GTA V smoothly at 1080p using medium or high mixed settings. For better FPS, reduce shadows, grass quality, reflections, and advanced graphics settings.

Can GTX 980 run Red Dead Redemption 2?

Yes, GTX 980 can run Red Dead Redemption 2 with low to medium settings. For smoother gameplay, use 1080p low or 900p medium settings and target 30 FPS.

Can GTX 980 run Cyberpunk 2077?

Yes, GTX 980 can run Cyberpunk 2077 on low settings, but it is a demanding game. Use 720p or 900p, low textures, low shadows, low crowd density, and no ray tracing.

Can GTX 980 run The Witcher 3?

Yes, GTX 980 can run The Witcher 3 well with medium or high mixed settings. Turn off NVIDIA HairWorks and lower shadows for better performance.

Can GTX 980 run Battlefield 1?

Yes, GTX 980 can run Battlefield 1 with low to medium settings. Performance depends on CPU, RAM, and multiplayer map size.

Can GTX 980 run Forza Horizon 4?

Yes, GTX 980 can run Forza Horizon 4 with low to medium settings. Use medium textures carefully and lower shadows and reflections for better FPS.

Can GTX 980 run Forza Horizon 5?

Yes, GTX 980 can run Forza Horizon 5 on low settings, but lower resolution may be needed for smoother gameplay.

Can GTX 980 run Valorant?

Yes, Valorant runs very smoothly on GTX 980. It is well-optimized and does not need a powerful GPU.

Can GTX 980 run Counter-Strike 2?

Yes, GTX 980 can run Counter-Strike 2 with low or medium settings. Performance depends heavily on CPU, RAM, and graphics settings.

Is GTX 980 good for 1080p gaming?

Yes, GTX 980 is still good for 1080p gaming in older and optimized games. For newer heavy games, low settings or 900p may be better.

How much RAM is recommended with GTX 980?

8GB RAM is the minimum, but 16GB RAM is recommended for open-world games, newer games, and smoother multitasking.

Is GTX 980 better than GTX 970?

Yes, GTX 980 is better than GTX 970. It gives stronger performance and can run many games at slightly higher settings.

Is GTX 980 still worth using in 2026?

Yes, GTX 980 is still worth using for budget gaming if you mainly play older AAA games, esports games, racing games, RPGs, and optimized titles. For modern heavy games, a newer GPU is recommended.

Conclusion

The GTX 980 is still a strong budget graphics card for 1080p gaming in 2026. Games like GTA V, Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Sleeping Dogs, Tomb Raider, Skyrim, Fallout 4, Battlefield 4, Metal Gear Solid V, Valorant, Forza Horizon 4, The Witcher 3, and Red Dead Redemption 2 on optimized settings can run well with the right configuration.

For the best experience, use low or medium graphics settings in demanding games, avoid ultra textures, keep your drivers updated, and lower the resolution when needed. If you choose optimized games, the GTX 980 can still provide a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience on a budget PC.

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