Nine Sols PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum for Nine Sols lists an AMD Athlon X4 or Intel Core i5 4460 for the processor, an Nvidia GTX 950 or AMD R7 370 for graphics, 8GB of RAM and 15GB of storage. In our tier terms, the minimum CPU sits at the very old entry level, roughly comparable to an Athlon 64 X2 6000+, and the minimum GPU roughly matches a GTX 670 in the older entry band. This is a fairly undemanding 2D action platformer, so even older systems have a reasonable chance of running it.
The recommended tier asks for an AMD Ryzen 3 or Intel i5 Skylake processor and an Nvidia GTX 970 or AMD RX 570 graphics card, again with 8GB of RAM and 15GB of storage. The recommended CPU lands roughly between a Core i3-3220 and a Core i5-4570, and the recommended GPU is roughly comparable to a GTX 1650 4GB. The gap between the two tiers is not huge; the main step up is the graphics card, which gives more headroom for art and effects.
The official list does not state an SSD requirement (it is marked as not required). The publisher lists 8GB as the only RAM option, and treats the requirements as reference values rather than a guarantee of any particular resolution or frame cap. Your actual experience depends on the rest of your system and its condition.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build suits players who want to run the game well on a modest budget. Good graphics options include a GTX 1650 4GB, GTX 1650 Super, GTX 1660 or RTX 3050 6GB, paired with a newer quad-core or better CPU such as a Ryzen 3 3100, Core i3-10100F or Ryzen 5 3500X. Aim for at least 16GB of RAM so that a browser, a stream or other background apps do not crowd things out.
The mainstream build is for players who want a comfortable 1080p experience without constantly lowering settings. The GPU range is wider here, from a GTX 1660 Super up to an RX 5600 XT, and the CPU can step up to a Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i5-10400. The advantage is headroom: if you later want higher settings or upscaling, you already have the margin.
The high build suits players who want the best visuals and do not plan to upgrade for several years. Options include an RTX 2070 Super, RTX 4060, RX 7600 or RTX 3060 Ti, with a Ryzen 5 5600 or Core i5-12400 as the processor. For this game that is already generous; the extra performance mainly shows up as a higher visual ceiling and steadier multitasking rather than making the game playable at all.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In a 2D action platformer like this, the settings that usually cost the most are post-processing effects such as depth of field, blur and volumetric haze, along with particle and effect density, shadow quality, and render resolution. Post-processing and effects tend to hit the GPU hardest, while shadow cost depends on how the game implements them. If your hardware sits near the recommended tier, lower these first and keep character and level clarity intact.
View distance and scene object density rarely need to be maxed out, since level layouts in this game are fairly contained. If the game offers vertical sync or a frame cap, turning one on usually gives a smoother result and less tearing, which often matters more for how the game feels than squeezing out extra visual detail.
Upscaling technologies such as DLSS, FSR and XeSS render at a lower internal resolution and reconstruct the image at your target resolution, which can ease GPU load with an acceptable loss in image quality. Check the in-game menu and your graphics card to see what is supported. High-cost effects like ray tracing, if offered, are unlikely to add much to this title and can be turned off.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop graphics chips often share names with desktop parts (for example, RTX 3050 Laptop GPU), but their power limits and cooling are usually lower, so real performance varies a lot between models. When judging whether a laptop is enough, look at the rated graphics power (TGP) and the cooling design rather than the model name alone. A desktop card with the same name is generally stronger than its laptop version.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally are low-power devices, and they can generally run a 2D game like this at lower settings and resolutions. We do not have Steam Deck verification data for this title, so the advice here is general: prefer a lower render resolution, turn off unneeded post-processing, and keep the device plugged in to avoid clock throttling. Test for yourself to see how it performs.
If your laptop or handheld is close to the official minimum, start at the lowest settings with upscaling enabled. If it gets too hot or throttles, adjust the power and fan settings before lowering quality further.
Storage and memory
The official minimum and recommended RAM are both 8GB, but we suggest at least 16GB in practice, ideally in dual-channel configuration. Dual-channel gives more memory bandwidth, which helps when the CPU or integrated graphics are under load. A single 8GB stick can run the game, but it is easier to run short of memory when other programs are open.
The game needs 15GB of storage, and installation plus later updates require extra room, so keep several gigabytes free. The official list marks SSD as not required, but an SSD noticeably shortens loading times and makes moving between areas feel snappier. A traditional hard drive will still work; loading waits will just be more noticeable.
Overall, 16GB of RAM and an SSD with comfortable free space is the least troublesome combination today.