Mortal Kombat 1: Ultimate Guide to Optimizing Steam Deck Graphics Settings

Despite Mortal Kombat's cartoonish gore, Netherrealm Studios has consistently pushed the boundaries with their graphics in the long-running series. Even the 3D games from the late 90s and early 2000s, which served as inspiration for Mortal Kombat 1, showcased the studio's capabilities at the time, despite the visuals not aging gracefully.

However, MK1 sets a new standard not only for the series but also for gaming as a whole. The campaign features animations and models that are remarkably lifelike, surpassing anything seen in previous Mortal Kombat games. Additionally, the gameplay itself is stunning, rivaling the closeup shots of Johnny Cage. One might assume that this level of graphical prowess would hinder its performance on the Steam Deck. Surprisingly, Mortal Kombat 1 runs and looks even better on the Steam Deck than the official Nintendo Switch version of the game.

MK1 In-Game Graphics Settings For 60 FPS

In Mortal Kombat 1, there are two in-game menus that allow players to modify the game's graphics. The first one is the Video & Audio menu, accessible from the main menu on the home screen. The second one is the Advanced Graphics menu, which only appears when prompted within the Video & Audio screen.

To access the Advanced Graphics menu, players need to press their Start button (or equivalent) as it is not normally visible. By adjusting the options in this menu, players can ensure the game runs smoothly at a stable 50 to 60 FPS without needing to make any changes to the external Steam Deck settings.

Alternatively, players can try using the Auto-Configure setting, allowing the game to select the appropriate options. However, it is worth noting that this setting may default to Low graphics, even though the Steam Deck has the capability to handle higher settings.

Graphics

Video Mode: Borderless

Screen Resolution: 1200x800

V-Sync: Off

System Cursor: Off

Upscaling Method: FSR 2Quality: Balanced

Sharpness: 50%

Advanced Graphics

Texture Quality: Medium

Shadow Quality: Low

Anisotropic Filtering: 4x

Bloom: Off

Ambient Occlusion: Off

Reflection: Off

Chromatic Aberration: Off

Particle Density: Medium

Mortal Kombat 1 Steam Deck Settings, Optimized

Though Mortal Kombat 1 is already well-optimized and requires minimal adjustments, making a few tweaks in the Steam Deck menu can significantly enhance its performance. The recent 3.5 OS preview has resolved several backend issues with the Steam Deck, leading to improved overall game performance. Additionally, there are other settings within the Steam Deck that can greatly contribute to the game's compatibility and performance.

To access the Steam Deck settings menu, simply press the three-dot button located on the right side of the device. From there, navigate to the Performance section, where you will find various customizable settings.

FPS Limit: 60

Refresh Rate: 60

Allow Tearing: Off

Half-Rate Shading: Off

TDP Limit: Off

Filter Scaling: Linear

Manual GPU Clock Control: Off

Proton Layer: Proton GE 8-15 (After downloading Preview for OS 3.5)

Mortal Kombat 1 is available for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.