Rise of the Ronin Performance vs Graphics Mode Explained

Most modern console games give you the choice between favoring performance or visual fidelity, and Rise of the Ronin is no exception. This guide will break down the Rise of the Ronin Performance vs Graphics Mode differences, and explain which one you should choose.

Rise of the Ronin Performance vs Graphics Mode differences

• Performance Mode:
  • Performance Mode achieves a higher frame rate, aiming for a smooth 60fps experience. Impressively, it seems to consistently hit this mark in nearly every area of the game, especially in combat. The only minor hiccups I observed were moving into crowded spaces resulting in brief stutters that swiftly resolved themselves. Otherwise, it maintains a pretty smooth framerate with no complaints from me.

• Graphics Mode:
  • Graphics Mode prioritizes visual fidelity, maintaining a steady frame rate that seemed to sit between 30fps and 60fps during gameplay. The game allows you to uncap the framerate in this mode. Because of this, it did feel a bit smoother than a traditional 30fps fidelity mode. While there are slight graphical enhancements over performance mode, the disparity isn’t a huge leap.

• Ray Tracing Mode:
  • Ray Tracing Mode essentially lowers the graphics mode’s resolution to incorporate ray tracing. While there isn’t a significant drop in performance, in fact it actually performed close to if not the same as performance mode, I couldn’t see a ton of visual improvements either. Despite toggling the mode for hours, noticeable ray tracing effects were sparse, mainly around small patches or bodies of water. While these effects looked good, they weren’t sufficient to justify the resolution drop. Though appreciated, I found the mode’s utility lacking and seldom used it.

Which Graphics Mode should you choose in Rise of the Ronin?

You’re free to experiment with any of these modes as you please. However, I see little reason to choose the ray tracing mode. Throughout my experience, I never stumbled upon an area in the game where the effects enhanced the visuals an amount worth discussing. Certainly not enough to justify the resolution trade-off.

Your main options in Rise of the Ronin boil down to graphics or performance mode. Personally, I advocate for performance mode. While I’m usually not too hung up on framerate, I find that it’s the best option For Rise of the Ronin. Given the game’s more modest visuals, opting for performance mode doesn’t even actually sacrifice much in terms of visual quality.

The boost in frames from performance mode also proves invaluable during combat, delivering a smoother and more satisfying gameplay experience compared to the minor visual improvements of graphics mode. Ultimately, it’s worth experimenting with both modes to find what suits your playstyle best.

Rise of the Ronin is available exclusively on the PS5.