We Benchmarked 35 GPUs in Black Myth Wukong

Quality Presets

So before we get into the data, let’s look at the quality presets and what that means in terms of visuals. Even on lower settings, players using older hardware can still enjoy a smooth and visually appealing experience.

However, switching to the medium preset significantly enhances the visuals. Lighting becomes more realistic with deeper shadows and richer reflections, particularly noticeable in dynamic elements like running water.

Textures also see a boost, giving objects like rocks a more pronounced three-dimensional quality but depending on your GPU, you may suffer in the performance side of things in favour of getting those visuals.

Applying the high preset amplifies these improvements further, especially in distant elements. The environment feels more detailed, with far-off objects like trees rendered with greater clarity and precision, adding depth to the landscape.

The balance between performance and visual quality at this setting will appeal to the vast majority of gamers though you may need to use upscaling to boost that performance to a more reasonable level.

Next, the very high setting offers a modest enhancement over the high setting but presents a stark improvement compared to low and medium. Shadows and highlights exhibit greater contrast, while distant details are rendered with remarkable sharpness. The world feels that little bit more vibrant and immersive, but the cost in frames per second may not be worth the negligible improvement unless you’re willing to use upscaling or frame generation if your GPU supports it.

Finally, the cinematic preset delivers a breath taking visual experience. Shadows and highlights reach their peak contrast, and every detail, near or far, is rendered with extraordinary precision. However, this level of fidelity comes at a cost, demanding significantly more from your hardware. For those with powerful systems, it offers the most immersive and lifelike experience, perfectly capturing the realism of Wukong’s ancient China forest setting but, you’ll see exactly what that means for your GPU because it’s a pretty demanding game to give you that level of visual fidelity.