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On a standard PS5, choose Performance for smoother, more responsive play; Quality for more image detail at a 30 fps target; or Ray Tracing if ray-traced lighting is your priority. With a 120 Hz display, Balanced and Ray Tracing Balanced target 40 fps. The October 1, 2026 update also adds QSSR, an image-reconstruction option you can compare on your own screen.
Which graphics mode should you choose?
| Your setup or priority | Starting choice | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Standard PS5, smoother motion and responsive combat | Performance | Targets 60 fps, with lower dynamic resolution than Quality. |
| Standard PS5, maximum image detail | Quality | Targets 30 fps; reported dynamic resolution is slightly below 4K. |
| Standard PS5, ray-traced lighting | Ray Tracing | Targets 30 fps, with reported resolution around 1440p. |
| 120 Hz display, balance of smoothness and detail | Balanced | Targets 40 fps. |
| 120 Hz display, ray-traced lighting at a balanced frame rate | Ray Tracing Balanced | Targets 40 fps and favors ray tracing over Performance’s higher frame-rate target. |
| Considering sharper reconstruction | Compare QSSR on and off | Sony says it improves detail and stability; early third-party reporting found little performance difference in the game’s 60 fps dynamic-resolution modes, with small dips noted in an uncapped VRR scenario. |
The frame-rate and resolution figures are approximate reports of Digital Foundry testing relayed by a technical guide. They are not fixed native-resolution guarantees: the game uses dynamic resolution, so output varies with the scene. Performance and Quality figures here refer to standard PS5, not PS5 Pro.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Ghost of Yōtei PS5 | $53.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Ghost of Yotei (PS5) | $52.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut | $43.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Merge Games Let's Build a Zoo PS5 | $20.65 | Buy on Amazon |
What the standard PS5 modes trade
Performance: prioritize motion and combat response
Performance has a 60 fps target and lower dynamic resolution than Quality. It is the practical starting point if you value fluid motion and responsive action more than the sharpest image. A technical summary of Digital Foundry measurements describes resolution as closer to 1080p, but it varies by scene rather than remaining at a fixed resolution.
Quality: prioritize image detail
Quality targets 30 fps. The reported dynamic resolution is slightly below 4K, making this the option for players who prefer more image detail and are comfortable with the lower frame-rate target.
#1 Best Overall
- Stunning graphics and gameplay, explore the wild and striking lands around Mount Yotei on foot or horseback. Travel picturesque parts of northern Japan through grasslands, snowy ridges, fields of wildflowers, and more.
- Discover renegade combat, engage in lawless katana combat and battles with adversaires. Train with various sensei as you find and learn to use each new weapon.
- An unconventional story and journey, take in the cultural beauty of Japan, bathe in an onsen, visit shrines to pray, try Sumi-e painting, and so much more.
- Choose your weapon, battle Atsu's opponents as you see fit, with levelled-up dual katanas, odachi, kusarigama and other new weapons.
Ray Tracing: prioritize lighting effects
Ray Tracing also targets 30 fps. Technical reporting places its variable resolution around 1440p. Choose it when ray-traced lighting matters more to you than the higher frame-rate target of Performance.
When to use Balanced modes
Patch 1.100, released November 24, 2025, added VRR support and Balanced graphics modes. Sucker Punch’s patch notes specify that Balanced requires a 120 Hz display; technical reporting attributes a 40 fps target to both Balanced and Ray Tracing Balanced.
Rank #2
- Discover a bold, new story of a warrior in Japan who is on her own mission of vengeance.
- Set 300 years after the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is a standalone experience set in 1600s rural Japan. The story follows a haunted, lone mercenary named Atsu. Thirsty for revenge, she travels through the beautiful, rugged landscapes of northern Japan, hunting those who killed her family many years earlier.
- Sixteen years after her family’s death, Atsu’s quest across Ezo brings her to unexplored lands in search of a gang of six outlaws, but she finds much more than vengeance. Throughout her journey, Atsu will discover unlikely allies, and greater bonds than she could have imagined.
- Balanced: a middle ground between Performance’s 60 fps target and Quality’s emphasis on image detail.
- Ray Tracing Balanced: a 40 fps target with ray-traced lighting, for players who prefer those effects to Performance’s higher target.
A 60 Hz display does not meet the stated requirement. On that screen, use Performance for smoother play or Quality if image detail is more important to you.
How VRR affects your choice
VRR is useful only with a compatible display, and it must also be enabled on the console. Technical reporting specifies an HDMI 2.1 VRR-capable TV or monitor and the PS5 path Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output to enable VRR. The game’s VRR choices will not take effect unless system VRR is enabled.
Rank #3
- Beyond war, ancient beauty endures: Roam vast countryside and expansive terrain to encounter rich characters, discover ancient landmarks and uncover the hidden beauty of Tsushima.
- The rise of the Ghost: Seek support from old friends and new unlikely allies to reclaim Tsushima.
- Mud, Blood and steel: challenge opponents with your katana for an immersive Samurai combat experience.
- Become legends together: play with friends or via online matchmaking in a series of two-player story missions or four-player wave-based survival missions in the legends online co-op
- A whole new island to explore: Travel to Iki Island to investigate rumors of a Mongol presence in a brand-new story with deeply personal stakes.
An uncapped VRR option is not a dedicated 120 fps mode: its frame rate can vary. Without a compatible display and working VRR, prefer a capped option to avoid judder.
What QSSR changes, and how to decide
On October 1, 2026, Sony announced QSSR as an additional graphics option for Ghost of Yōtei on PS5. Sony describes it as a way to improve fine detail and temporal stability; Sucker Punch Lead Rendering Engineer Jasmin Patry said it resolves fine detail in characters and environments with greater temporal stability. These are the developer’s stated benefits, not a guarantee that every player will prefer the result. Read Sony’s announcement.
Rank #4
- Build your own zoo with over 500 different animals at your disposal, then splice together over 300,000 different animal combinations
- Keep your animals and your itors happy, with hundreds of buildings, foliage, path and enclosure decorations
- Hire the perfect employees to deal with a variety of life events
- Control everything that happens in your park, from what your animals eat to what eats your animals…
- Decide whether you want to run your Zoo above board... or break the law and pocket the extra cash
Early third-party reporting of Digital Foundry analysis found little performance difference with QSSR in the game’s 60 fps dynamic-resolution modes, while noting small dips in an uncapped VRR scenario. That assessment is preliminary and may be refined by later analysis or updates. Try QSSR on and off in the mode you actually play, and judge fine detail, stability, and motion on your own display; the evidence does not establish one universally best choice.
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Secondary technical coverage reports additional PS5 Pro modes and resolution improvements, including Ray Tracing Pro with a 60 fps target. These are summaries of Digital Foundry measurements, not official fixed-output specifications. The standard-PS5 resolution estimates above should not be used as Pro specifications; choose from the options shown on your console and weigh the same priorities of frame rate, detail, and lighting.
Accessibility settings that can improve play
These options do not improve graphics quality, but they may make the game easier to read or control. PlayStation’s accessibility guide documents:
- Subtitle backdrops, speaker names, color options, and larger text.
- Enhanced wind visibility and off-screen detection indicators.
- A persistent center dot, which PlayStation says may help reduce motion sickness.
- Enhanced combat cues, aim assist, and a projectile indicator.
- Simplified button holds, rapid presses, forging, and campfire controls.
Patch v2.0 became globally available October 1, 2026, or October 2 in some territories, and adds a high-contrast accessibility option. Sucker Punch’s announcement also lists Beauty of Yōtei mode, Watanabe Mode tracks, and an option to keep one armor set’s appearance while using another set’s stats.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
