There’s no Nintendo Switch or iPad version of Baldur’s Gate 3 on the horizon, but with the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Steam Deck settings, you can still take the title on the go. In the months after its launch, the game has seen many updates that bring new content, characters, and sometimes introduce bizarre speedrunning opportunities.
Having said that, due to the power and graphic limitations of the Steam Deck, trying to run the game in 4K resolution at 240 FPS will be impossible, or even cause explosions galore. There is a way, however. So long as you keep the hardware limitations of the system in mind, you’ll be able to net solid performance in this expansive title without much worry.
For more on the game, be sure to check out if you can play Baldur's Gate 3 solo, as well as how to use rope in the RPG. You can also get some build tips with our Baldur's Gate 3 race tier list and class tier list!
Baldur’s Gate 3 Steam Deck - Best settings
Like most games on the Deck, a stable performance is achieved by keeping settings on a level that the Steam Deck is capable of. The good thing is that you won't have to sacrifice absolutely everything thanks to the Steam Deck’s relatively low resolution of 1280 x 800.
click to enlargeToday’s 4K gaming expectations push systems to their limits, with 1080p still largely being the sweet spot for those who prefer smooth frame rates. 800p keeps overheads low, leaving room to bump up some fancier visual effects without causing any major slowdowns.
So, if you wish to try what the users have discovered to be the best Steam Deck setting for Baldur's Gate 3, check out all the information below. A quick notice though: this game will drain your battery pretty quickly, so take precautions by keeping brightness low, carrying a charger, or keeping a Deck-compatible power bank handy.
Steam Deck Performance Menu
- Use per-game profile: On
- Frame Rate - 40
- Refresh Rate - 40
- Allow tearing - No
- Half Rate Shading - On
- Thermal Power Limit - 10-12
- Scaling Filter - Linear
Baldur's Gate 3 Video Menu
- Resolution - 1280 x 800
- Frame Rate Cap - On, 20-30 FPS (same as Steam Deck settings)
- Model Quality - Medium
- Shadow Quality - Low
- Cloud Quality - Low
- Texture Quality - Medium
- Texture Filtering - Anisotropic x8
- Instance Distance - Low
- Fog Quality - Low
- Detail Distance - Medium
- Animation Level of Detail - Medium
- FidelityFX Sharpening - Off
- Anti-Aliasing - SMAA
- Ambient Occlusion - Off
- Depth of Field - Gaussian
- Depth of Field Quality - Quarter
- God Rays - Off
- Bloom - Off
- Subsurface Scattering - Off
- Slow HDD Mode - On
- Dynamic Crowds - Off
You can also access the Interface menu in the Steam Deck settings and change the Dialogue & Overhead text to 57px. This will result in better viewability, which can be a hassle for some Steam Deck gaming experiences. It’s not an FPS-increasing exercise, but it’ll certainly boost your personal experience.
We encourage you to mix-and-match settings as you see fit, too - performance may be impacted, but making one setting lower provides some wiggle room to make another higher.
So now that you know the best settings for your Steam Deck device, carry your charger and locate the nearest outlet in every building you plan to visit. It’s not known for its long battery life. But while you're running around Faerun, be sure to check out our guides on solving the Thorn Mausoleum puzzle, and decide whether you should take the Mountain Pass or Underdark route to Moonrise Towers!
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Baldur's Gate 3 page.