Key Highlights:
- Sons of the Forest requires at least 12GB of RAM, a GTX 1060 3GB or RX 570 4GB, and a 64-bit version of Windows 10.
- Endnight recommends 16GB of RAM with a GTX 1080 Ti or RX 5700 XT for a stronger overall experience.
- The game requires 20GB of available storage and uses DirectX 11, while an SSD is officially preferred.
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Sons of the Forest requires a minimum Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X processor, 12GB of RAM and an Nvidia GTX 1060 3GB or AMD RX 570 4GB graphics card.
Endnight’s official requirements also list 64-bit Windows 10, DirectX 11 and 20GB of available storage. An SSD is preferred at both the minimum and recommended hardware tiers.
Meeting the minimum requirements should allow you to run Sons of the Forest, but settings and performance will depend on your complete system. The recommended specifications provide more processing power, memory and graphics performance for the game’s detailed environments, changing weather, AI-controlled characters and extensive building systems.
Minimum Sons of the Forest PC Requirements
| Component | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X |
| Memory | 12GB RAM |
| Graphics card | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 3GB or AMD Radeon RX 570 4GB |
| DirectX | Version 11 |
| Storage | 20GB available space |
| Additional note | SSD preferred |
These are Endnight’s official minimum requirements rather than a guaranteed frame-rate target.
The listed GTX 1060 and RX 570 cards can run the game, but players using minimum-level hardware may need to reduce graphics settings to maintain steadier performance. Resolution, active enemies, weather effects, multiplayer activity and the size of player-built bases can all affect how smoothly the game runs.
Recommended Sons of the Forest PC Requirements
| Component | Recommended requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X |
| Memory | 16GB RAM |
| Graphics card | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT |
| DirectX | Version 11 |
| Storage | 20GB available space |
| Additional note | SSD preferred |
The recommended requirements raise the processor, memory and graphics-card targets substantially.
Endnight does not attach an official resolution, graphics preset or frame-rate target to this hardware. However, the recommended tier provides more headroom for higher settings and more demanding situations than the minimum configuration.
Independent testing of the final PC release found that Sons of the Forest can place additional pressure on system memory as a playthrough develops and more structures are constructed. This makes the recommended 16GB of RAM particularly relevant for players building large bases or hosting multiplayer worlds.
Does Sons of the Forest Require an SSD?
Sons of the Forest does not strictly require an SSD, but Endnight lists one as preferred for both the minimum and recommended configurations.
The game can therefore be installed on a mechanical hard drive, provided it has at least 20GB of available space. An SSD remains the better option for reducing loading times and helping the game retrieve environmental assets more quickly.
A SATA SSD is sufficient to gain the main practical benefits over a traditional hard drive. Endnight does not specify that an NVMe drive is required.
How Much RAM Does Sons of the Forest Need?
Sons of the Forest requires at least 12GB of system memory, while the recommended specification increases that requirement to 16GB.
Players close to the 12GB minimum should avoid running unnecessary applications in the background. Web browsers, recording software and other active programs can consume memory that would otherwise be available to the game.
The 16GB recommendation is more suitable for longer saves, large construction projects and multiplayer sessions. Independent testing found that memory use can increase as more structures are added to the world.
How Much VRAM Does Sons of the Forest Need?
Endnight does not list a separate universal VRAM requirement. Instead, the official specifications name particular graphics cards with different amounts of video memory.
The minimum GPUs are:
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 with 3GB
- AMD Radeon RX 570 with 4GB
The recommended GPUs are:
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti with 11GB
- AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT with 8GB
This means 3GB represents the lowest officially listed graphics-card configuration, but it should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every 3GB GPU can run the game. Graphics architecture and processing performance matter alongside video memory.
Can You Play Sons of the Forest on a Low-End PC?
You may be able to play Sons of the Forest on hardware close to the minimum requirements by lowering the resolution and reducing demanding graphics options.
Settings affecting draw distance, shadows, ambient occlusion, textures and visual effects are reasonable places to start. Using an upscaling option can also improve performance by rendering the game internally at a lower resolution.
Hardware below the official GTX 1060 3GB or RX 570 4GB minimum is not guaranteed to provide a stable or playable experience. Results will depend on the processor, graphics card, available memory and chosen settings.
Does Sons of the Forest Work on Windows 11?
Sons of the Forest can run on Windows 11, although the official Steam requirements only name 64-bit Windows 10.
The game uses DirectX 11. DirectX 12 is not listed as a separate rendering option, so players should not expect to select between DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 when launching it.
Keeping Windows and graphics drivers updated can help prevent compatibility problems, but the game’s performance will still depend primarily on the installed hardware.
Sons of the Forest is also playable on Valve’s handheld, although its demanding open world requires carefully selected settings. Our Steam Deck settings guide explains the recommended display and performance adjustments.
For survival advice, progression routes, equipment locations, building help and technical coverage, visit our complete Sons of the Forest guide.
