Dying Light 2 Resolution, Quality, and Performance Mode: Which Is Best?

Dying Light 2 is an action role-playing game from Techland and it's the sequel to 2015's Dying Light. In the game, you find yourself in one of the last human settlements in a world where a new variant of the Harran Virus rules. Even though you have your own goal, you end up getting tangled up in the problems of The City and its residents.

From dealing with conflicts between the factions to trying to keep the Infected at bay, you're constantly battling something and you're always on the move. There is also a vast map for you to explore that's full of detailed environments too. Naturally, you'll want to play this game in the mode that ensures your version is running at the highest quality possible.

We're going to walk you through everything you need to know about Resolution, Quality, and Performance Mode. Then, we're going to let you know which one we think is the best for experiencing the world of Villedor.

Resolution Mode

Resolution Mode displays your game at 4K, but to do this it reduces the overall framerate. This means that if you're playing a new release game, like Dying Light 2, this is one of the best ways to ensure you're getting a high-quality game experience. When the game is being played in this mode, the visual details of the various environments across The City are crisp and clear. The shadowing and light details are stable enough to be enjoyable but not always smooth. Even one of the smallest details of leaves falling from a tree while you are fighting an enemy is high quality. That being said, the reduced framerate can mean the quality of your game can become unstable when you're moving quickly.

However, this mode is only as good as your system and screen set-up. Most modern Resolution Modes work best at a 4K level. Therefore, if your screen or system are not suited to that sort of performance, it may detract from the overall quality of your game.

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Quality Mode

Quality Mode is mainly focused on Ray Tracing. To do this, it sacrifices some of your framerate. In the modes presentation video released by PlayStation, it seems that Quality Mode for Dying Light 2 focuses heavily on environmental details and lighting. When you're interacting with an NPC, it seems that their features can become slightly blurred. This does give the game a sense of realism as not everyone has flawlessly chiseled faces, but if you're looking for that in a game then maybe this mode isn't for you. Also, face-paced action sequences seem to lose clarity when they happen during the day.

That being said, the darkness is where the Quality Mode shines. The reflection that the flashlights and UV flashlight only allows you a glimpse of everything else going on in the dark. The details of objects in the dark such as cars or old kitchen surfaces are clear, which can make finding hidden items slightly easier.

Quality Mode is a sensible choice if you know that your system or screen is not able to cope with stronger graphical demands.

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Performance Mode

Performance mode lets you have 60fps in your game, but it will cost a small amount of visual quality. That being said, performance mode is a really good way of experiencing Dying Light 2. Having a high FPS setting will give you a smoother in-game experience, which is kind of important in a game where you're constantly on the move. Running across rooftops, climbing up buildings, and performing general Parkour tricks are extremely clear. These are key aspects of the game, so the fact that this mode makes them even more enjoyable is a bonus. Also, faced-paced action sequences maintain their clarity in both dark and light situations.

Light and shadow details are incredibly crisp, even at the mid-points where the day is turning slowly into night. The overall performance is very stable. However, as with Resolution Mode, what you get out of this mode will depend on your system and screen. If they are capable of keeping up with the demands of this mode then it's worth using. If you know that they cannot keep up with the mode, you'll not experience the full benefit of it.

Which Mode Is the Best?

Ultimately, the best mode is the one that your system can run without damaging itself or detracting from your overall gameplay experience. That being said, if your system can manage it, then we've found that performance mode is the one we prefer out of the three. However, all the modes for this game perform well, so you'll still have a good experience with any of them.

There are a lot of things for you to face during your time in Dying Light 2. If you're a streamer and are thinking of sharing some of your game with others, take a look at our guide on how to turn on streamer mode. This will help you to avoid getting into unforeseen issues while broadcasting the game. Your Flashlight tool assists you when it comes to exploring dark areas and it lowers the risk of you getting slightly spooked by a suspicious-looking coat. However, can enemies see your flashlight? Read our guide to find out!