Skip to main content
Ryujinx offers several graphics enhancements that go beyond the Nintendo Switch’s native capabilities, allowing you to play games at higher resolutions and with improved visual quality.

​
Available Enhancements

Ryujinx provides six major graphics enhancement categories:

Resolution Scaling

Render games at higher resolutions for sharper visuals

Anti-Aliasing

Smooth jagged edges with FXAA and SMAA

Scaling Filters

Intelligent upscaling with FSR and other filters

Anisotropic Filtering

Sharper textures at oblique angles

Aspect Ratio

Custom aspect ratios beyond 16:9

Disk Shader Cache

Eliminate shader compilation stuttering
All enhancements can be toggled individually in the GUI, allowing you to find the perfect balance between visual quality and performance.

​
Resolution Scaling

One of the most impactful visual improvements:

​
How It Works

// From GraphicsConfig.cs
public static float ResScale { get; set; } = 1f;
Resolution scaling renders the game at a higher internal resolution than the Switch’s native 1280x720 (handheld) or 1920x1080 (docked).

​
Scale Options

​
Native Resolution (1x)

Switch Native:
  • Handheld: 1280x720 (720p)
  • Docked: 1920x1080 (1080p)
Native resolution provides the most accurate representation of how games look on real Switch hardware.
Performance: Fastest Visual Quality: Original

​
Resolution Scaling Benefits

  • Sharper Image: Reduced pixelation and blurriness
  • Better Details: Small textures and UI elements appear clearer
  • Reduced Aliasing: Fewer jagged edges even without AA
  • Modern Displays: Better match for 1440p/4K monitors

​
Anti-Aliasing (AA)

Smooths jagged edges on geometry:

​
Anti-Aliasing Options

// From AntiAliasing.cs
public enum AntiAliasing
{
    None,
    Fxaa,
    SmaaLow,
    SmaaMedium,
    SmaaHigh,
    SmaaUltra,
}

​
No Anti-Aliasing

  • No edge smoothing
  • Sharpest image
  • Visible jagged edges
  • Best performance
When to use: Maximum performance, or when using high resolution scaling (which reduces aliasing naturally)

​
Anti-Aliasing Comparison

MethodPerformanceQualityBlurRecommended For
NoneBestWorstNoneHigh-res scaling, weak GPUs
FXAAExcellentGoodSomeBudget GPUs, 1080p
SMAA LowVery GoodBetterMinimalMid-range GPUs
SMAA MediumGoodGreatMinimalMost users
SMAA HighFairExcellentNoneStrong GPUs
SMAA UltraPoorBestNoneHigh-end GPUs

​
Scaling Filters

Intelligent upscaling when rendering above native resolution:

​
Filter Options

// From ScalingFilter.cs
public enum ScalingFilter
{
    Bilinear,
    Nearest,
    Fsr,
    Area,
}

​
Bilinear Filtering

Standard smooth scaling:
  • Interpolates between pixels
  • Smooth gradients
  • Slight blur on sharp edges
  • Very fast
Best for: General use, games with smooth art styles

​
Anisotropic Filtering (AF)

Improves texture quality at oblique angles:

​
Configuration

// From GraphicsConfig.cs
public static float MaxAnisotropy { get; set; } = -1; // -1 = game default

​
Anisotropy Levels

LevelDescriptionPerformance
Game Default (-1)Uses game’s original settingNone
2xMinimal improvement~1%
4xNoticeable improvement~2%
8xSignificant improvement~3%
16xMaximum quality~4%
Anisotropic Filtering is highly recommended. It dramatically improves texture clarity with minimal performance cost.

​
What AF Does

  • Sharper Textures: Floor and ground textures look much clearer
  • Distance Quality: Far-away surfaces maintain detail
  • Angle Correction: Textures at steep angles don’t blur
  • Minimal Cost: Very little performance impact even at 16x
Set AF to 16x for best quality. The performance impact is negligible on any modern GPU.

​
Aspect Ratio Adjustment

Change the display aspect ratio:

​
Aspect Ratio Options

  • 16:9 (Native Switch): Standard widescreen
  • 21:9 (Ultrawide): For ultrawide monitors
  • 32:9 (Super Ultrawide): Extreme ultrawide
  • 4:3: Classic 4:3 ratio
  • Custom: Any ratio you specify
Aspect Ratio Warning: Changing aspect ratio can cause UI elements to appear stretched or positioned incorrectly. Not all games handle non-16:9 ratios gracefully.

​
Ultrawide Benefits

  • Wider FOV: See more of the game world
  • Immersive: Better peripheral vision
  • Modern Displays: Matches 21:9/32:9 monitors

​
Potential Issues

  • UI may stretch incorrectly
  • Cutscenes may have black bars
  • Gameplay advantages in competitive games
  • Some games crop instead of extending FOV

​
Disk Shader Cache

The most important “enhancement” for gameplay experience:

Learn More About Shader Caching

Detailed information in the GPU Emulation section

​
Benefits

  • Eliminates Stuttering: No shader compilation during gameplay
  • Instant Loading: Pre-compiled shaders load immediately
  • Smooth Experience: Consistent frame rates after first run

​
Performance Considerations

Understanding the performance impact of each enhancement:

​
GPU Load Comparison

EnhancementPerformance ImpactVisual ImpactRecommended
Resolution 2xHighVery HighYes (mid+ GPU)
Resolution 4xExtremeExtremeOnly high-end
FXAAVery LowMediumBudget GPUs
SMAA MediumLowHighMost users
FSR FilterLow-MediumHighYes
16x AFVery LowHighAlways
Aspect RatioNoneVariesPersonal pref
Start with 2x resolution, SMAA Medium, FSR, and 16x AF for a great visual upgrade with reasonable performance requirements.

​
Budget GPU Settings

GPU Examples: GTX 1050, RX 560, Integrated GraphicsRecommended:
  • Resolution: 1x (Native)
  • Anti-Aliasing: FXAA or None
  • Scaling Filter: Bilinear
  • Anisotropic Filtering: 8x-16x
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Focus on stable performance at native resolution. Enable shader cache for best experience.

​
Combining Enhancements

How enhancements work together:

​
Synergistic Effects

Resolution + FSR

FSR sharpens high-resolution output for crystal-clear visuals

Resolution + Less AA

Higher resolution needs less anti-aliasing (better performance)

AF + Resolution

Both improve texture clarity from different angles

SMAA + FSR

Smooth edges with sharp details

​
Conflicting Effects

  • High AA + High Resolution: Diminishing returns, high cost
  • Multiple Upscale Filters: Only use one scaling filter
  • Extreme Settings + Weak GPU: Will cause frame drops

​
Technical Implementation

Key source locations:
  • Graphics Config: src/Ryujinx.Graphics.Gpu/GraphicsConfig.cs
  • Enhancement Enums: src/Ryujinx.Common/Configuration/
  • FSR Shaders: src/Ryujinx.Graphics.*/Effects/FsrScalingFilter.cs
  • Scaling Filters: src/Ryujinx.Graphics.*/Effects/

​
Troubleshooting

  • Lower resolution scaling (try 1.5x or 2x instead of 4x)
  • Use FXAA instead of SMAA
  • Switch to Bilinear instead of FSR
  • Reduce anisotropic filtering to 8x
  • Check GPU usage and temperatures
  • Enable FSR scaling filter
  • Disable anti-aliasing (it may blur)
  • Check display output resolution matches
  • Verify resolution scale is actually applied
  • Some games apply internal resolution caps
  • Reset to 16:9 aspect ratio
  • This is a game limitation, not fixable
  • Some games support ultrawide, others don’t
  • Check community patches for ultrawide support
  • Disable resolution scaling temporarily
  • Try different anti-aliasing modes
  • Switch graphics backend (Vulkan ↔ OpenGL)
  • Update GPU drivers
  • May be game-specific rendering issue
Graphics enhancements are optional quality-of-life features. If you encounter issues, you can always reset to native settings.

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get started for freeTalk to us