common-game-graphics-settings

Which graphics settings should you include in your next game? Let's talk about common game graphics settings.

Table of contents:

• Anti-Aliasing (AA)
• Texture Quality
• Texture Filtering
• Shadow Quality
• Screen Space Ambient Occlusion (SSAO)
• Bloom
• Refraction
• V-Sync (Vertical Synchronization)
• Resolution
• Window Mode
• Frame Rate Limit
• Depth of Field (DoF)
• Motion Blur
• Anisotropic Filtering (AF)

Let's go!

Anti-Aliasing (AA)

• Why? Anti-aliasing reduces jagged edges (aliasing) on objects and textures.
• Options: Common choices include FXAA, MSAA, TAA and off.
• Impact: Higher AA settings improve visual quality but may reduce performance.

Texture Quality

• Why? Determines the resolution and detail of textures.
• Options: Low, Medium, High, Ultra (can also be: Quarter, Half, Full).
• Impact: Higher texture quality enhances visuals but requires more VRAM.

Texture Filtering

• Why? Enhances texture clarity at oblique angles.
• Options: Anisotropic Filtering (AF) levels (e.g., 2x, 4x, 16x).
• Impact: Higher AF improves texture sharpness but slightly affects performance.

Shadow Quality

• Why? Controls the detail and smoothness of shadows.
• Options: Low, Medium, High, Ultra.
• Impact: Higher shadow quality provides realistic shadows but can be demanding.

Screen Space Ambient Occlusion (SSAO)

• Why? Simulates ambient lighting occlusion in real-time.
• Options: On and off.
• Impact: SSAO adds depth and realism but may impact performance1.

Bloom

• Why? Creates a soft, glowing effect around bright objects.
• Options: On and off or bloom levels.
• Impact: Bloom enhances visual appeal but can be toned down for performance.

Refraction

• Why? Handles light bending through transparent materials.
• Options: On and off.
• Impact: Refraction adds realism but may require additional GPU power.

V-Sync (Vertical Synchronization)

• Why? Synchronizes the frame rate of the game with the refresh rate of the monitor.
• Options: On/Off.
• Impact: Enabling V-Sync prevents screen tearing but may introduce input lag.

Resolution

• Why? Determines the display resolution of the game.
• Options: Common resolutions include 1920x1080 (Full HD), 2560x1440 (Quad HD), and 3840x2160 (4K).
• Impact: Higher resolutions provide sharper visuals but require more GPU power.

More about resolutions you can find here: Common Game Resolutions

Window Mode

• Why? Defines how the game window appears on the screen.
• Options: Fullscreen - The game occupies the entire screen. Windowed - The game runs in a resizable window. Borderless Window - Similar to windowed mode but without borders.
• Impact: Fullscreen offers better performance, while windowed modes allow multitasking.

Frame Rate Limit

• Why? Caps the maximum frame rate to a specific value.
• Options: Customizable (e.g., 30 FPS, 60 FPS, 120 FPS).
• Impact: Limiting the frame rate can reduce GPU load and prevent overheating.

Depth of Field (DoF)

• Why? Simulates camera focus effects.
• Options: Low, Medium, High, or Off.
• Impact: Higher DoF adds realism but may affect performance.

Motion Blur

• Why? Creates a blur effect during fast camera movements.
• Options: On/Off.
• Impact: Motion blur enhances cinematic feel but can be disabled for competitive games.

Anisotropic Filtering (AF)

• Why? Improves texture clarity at oblique angles.
• Options: Levels (e.g., 2x, 4x, 16x).
• Impact: Higher AF settings enhance texture sharpness.