Dead by Daylight PC Settings: FPS Cap, Resolution and Visibility

Dead by Daylight isn't the most demanding game around, but that doesn't mean the defaults are right. Plenty of players are still running at 60 FPS without realising they can go higher, or have resolution scaling set in a way that makes everything look soft. Whether you mostly play Survivor or Killer, a few changes make chases feel noticeably smoother.

Unlock the higher frame rate cap

On PC, Behaviour Interactive lets you raise the FPS limit to 120. In the graphics settings, set the FPS Limit to 120 if your PC can hold it. On a high-refresh monitor this is the single biggest improvement you can make; chases and 180° turns feel far smoother.

If your frame rate jumps around between 80 and 120, it can actually feel better to cap lower at a number you can hold steadily.

Resolution and scaling

• Display mode: Fullscreen.
• Resolution: Your monitor's native resolution.
• Resolution scale: 100%. Lowering it gives more frames but makes the image blurry, which is a real problem when you're looking for scratch marks or a Survivor hiding in tall grass.

Graphics quality

DbD's quality presets change several things at once. Two points worth knowing:

• Lower quality presets reduce foliage and some lighting detail. Many competitive players run lower settings for this reason. It isn't a guaranteed advantage on every map, but it often makes the environment less busy.
• Higher presets look much better and add atmosphere. If you play for fun and your PC holds the frame rate, there's nothing wrong with enjoying the game at higher quality.

Pick based on how you play. If you do lower quality, keep the resolution scale at 100% so the image stays sharp.

Audio is half the game

For Survivors, the terror radius and the Killer's footsteps are your early warning. For Killers, grunts of pain, heavy breathing and generator sounds give Survivors away. Use headphones, keep the music reasonably low, and check you're using a stereo setup that gives clear left/right direction.

If you get stutter

1. Update your graphics driver.
2. Install the game on an SSD, which helps with map loading and in-match hitches.
3. Close heavy background apps.
4. After big updates, the first match or two can hitch while the game prepares shaders; give it a moment.

Recap

Raise the FPS cap to 120, keep resolution scale at 100%, and pick a graphics preset that matches how you play. Good headphones do the rest. For something very different, our Marvel Rivals settings guide covers a fast team shooter, and there's plenty more on the PentaSharp blog.