Best Returnal settings for the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) (2026)
On a Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) (paired with a balanced AMD Ryzen 3 3300X-class CPU), Returnal runs at roughly 61 FPS at 1080p with our optimized settings — up from about 27FPS with everything maxed. Here's the configuration and what each setting costs.
| Resolution | All-High FPS | Optimized FPS |
|---|
| 1080p | 27 | 61 |
| 1440p | 16 | 37 |
| 4K | 8 | 18 |
🚀 Biggest free win: enable FSR (Balanced) — about +55% FPS for a small sharpness trade.
Recommended settings
Upscaling — FSRBalanced+55% FPS
Returnal (Unreal Engine 4) supports DLSS, FSR and Nvidia frame generation - a big help with its heavy effects.
Ray Tracing (Reflections / Shadows)Offsaves FPS
Ray-traced reflections and shadows. Heavy in a fast bullet-hell shooter - keep Off for high FPS.
Effects QualityLow+11% FPS
Bullet-hell particles and explosions - the heaviest setting given how much fills the screen. High smooths intense fights.
Shadow QualityLow+9% FPS
Shadow resolution and range. High is the value pick.
Post ProcessingLow+6% FPS
Bloom, motion blur and depth of field. Cheap; set to taste.
Foliage QualityLow+5% FPS
Alien plant density on Atropos. A small, safe gain when lowered.
View DistanceLow+5% FPS
How far detail renders before fading. Mild pop-in when lowered.
Anti-AliasingOff+4% FPS
Edge smoothing. Medium/High keeps the image clean cheaply.
Texture QualityEpic-1% FPS
Surface sharpness - cheap if it fits your VRAM.
⚡ Fine-tune this for your exact CPU & target FPS →
Other games on the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU)
Frequently asked
What FPS does the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) get in Returnal?
With FrameCoach's optimized balanced settings, the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) averages around 61 FPS at 1080p in Returnal — up from about 27 FPS with everything on High.
Can the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) run Returnal at 1440p?
At 1440p with optimized settings, the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) averages roughly 37 FPS in Returnal; turn on upscaling or aim for a locked 60 for the best feel.
What are the best Returnal settings for the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU)?
Turn on FSR (Balanced), keep ray tracing off for maximum FPS, and ease the heaviest options like Effects Quality and Shadow Quality down a notch. The full per-setting breakdown is above.
FPS figures are estimates from a generalized model (hardware tier × game load × per-setting weights), not live benchmarks — real performance varies by scene, drivers and game version.