No Rest for the Wicked PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum for No Rest for the Wicked lists an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 for the CPU, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 or AMD Radeon 5600 XT for the GPU, 16GB of RAM, 46GB of storage, and an SSD. On our tier chart, the i5-8400 and Ryzen 5 2600 sit in the older mainstream range, while the GTX 1080 is a mainstream part aimed at 1080p.
The official recommended level is an Intel Core i7-11700K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, 32GB of RAM, the same 46GB of storage, and an SSD. The i7-11700K and Ryzen 7 5800X are modern mainstream CPUs, and the RTX 2060 and RX 5700 XT are also mainstream GPUs. The gap between minimum and recommended is mostly about RAM capacity and CPU generation: the minimum will run the game, while the recommended level gives you more headroom in busy scenes and online co-op.
The publisher does not list any settings below the minimum or any higher-end tier beyond the recommended one. Storage requirements are the same at both levels, so a bigger drive does not change the listed need, but an SSD is required either way.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build suits players who want to get into the game on a tighter budget and accept more conservative settings. For the GPU, an RTX 2060 6GB, RX 5700 or RTX 3060 8GB class card works, paired with a Ryzen 5 3500X or Core i5-10400F and 16GB of RAM. This sits near the edge of the official recommended requirements, so expect to lower some graphics options.
The mainstream build is the most practical choice for most players. Pick an RTX 2060 Super, RX 5700 XT or RTX 3060 8GB class GPU, a Ryzen 5 5600 or Ryzen 7 5700X, and 32GB of RAM. This meets the official recommended level and leaves room for higher settings with steady behaviour.
The high-end build is for players who want higher image quality, longer sessions, or who run streaming and other apps alongside the game. An RTX 4070 or RX 6800 XT class GPU, a Ryzen 7 7800X3D or Core i7-14700K, and 32GB of RAM give you plenty of room to push settings. The point is not that the game needs it, but that you have more freedom to adjust visuals and scene complexity.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In an action RPG like this, shadows, volumetric lighting and fog, vegetation and crowd or simulation density, and view distance usually cost the most. If you want a smooth experience on a mid-range card, lowering shadows and volumetrics to medium is often the most effective change.
Ray tracing, if offered, is generally one of the heavier options. Unless you have a newer GPU, it is sensible to leave it off or use its lightest setting. View distance and detail level should be judged against your resolution: at 1080p, very high view distance adds little visible benefit but costs noticeable performance.
Upscaling technologies such as Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR and Intel XeSS render at a lower internal resolution and scale the result up, which reduces GPU load. If your card supports one of them, a quality mode is usually a good balance between sharpness and performance.
Laptops and handheld PCs
A laptop GPU with the same name as a desktop card is not equivalent to it. Power limits and cooling in laptops are tighter, so real performance is often lower. When judging a laptop, look at its actual power and thermal configuration rather than the model name alone. Running on battery or in a power-saving mode will also hold back performance, so plug in and switch to a performance profile.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally are portable Windows or Linux machines. In general, start with a lower resolution and medium-to-low settings, and use built-in upscaling or scaling options where available. We have no Steam Deck verification data for this game, so we cannot give it a specific rating. Battery life and heat also affect long sessions, so adjust the power limit to suit what you want.
Storage and memory
Official RAM requirements are 16GB at minimum and 32GB recommended. Make sure your memory is running in dual-channel mode, which gives better bandwidth. 16GB will run the game, but it gets tight if you also have a browser, chat app or streaming software open, so 32GB is more comfortable for multitasking.
Storage needs 46GB at both levels. The SSD requirement exists because the game reads a lot of assets, and an SSD cuts load times and reduces stutter during area transitions. A traditional hard drive will be slow and may not meet the official requirement. Leave more room than 46GB to cover updates and temporary files.