Frame rate wars: Is 60fps always better than 30fps? 

Video game frame rate discussions have been heating up on X again. This time the debate was triggered when it was confirmed that upcoming action RPG Dragon’s Dogma 2 will run at 30fps on consoles. A post stating that “most people can’t tell the difference between 30fps and 60fps unless they are told beforehand” led to a barrage of comments agreeing and disagreeing on the matter. We weigh in on this contentious topic.  

Is 30fps enough for gaming? 

First, let’s go over the basics. Frame rate is the measurement of how many images are shown per second when you are playing a game or watching a video. If something is running at 30fps, then you will get an average of 30 frames per second, if it’s 60fps, then you will get twice as many frames. If the frame rate is consistent and high, then you will perceive on-screen movement as smooth. If the frame rate is too low, then the experience will feel “choppy.” Frame rate tends to be most important for intense, fast paced action games and competitive FPSs.  

A post criticizing the trend for calling 30fps unplayable went viral on X last week. The poster also made the claim that “95% of you can’t tell the difference between 30fps & 60fps unless you’re told beforehand.” It could be argued that games running at 30fps are sometimes unfairly given lower ratings based on that factor alone. 

The OP’s insinuation that “30fps is enough for games” has received a huge response with over 2600 replies and 1700 retweets at the time of writing. Some people agree with the original poster that it isn’t possible to tell the difference between 30fps and 60fps. However, others argue that there are no 30fps titles in modern gaming. Among the conflicting opinions, the most prominent response is that there is a clear difference between 30fps and 60fps. 

The big difference between 30fps and 60fps 

In fact, there is a considerable difference in rendering between 30fps and 60fps. Although you can only sense this difference intuitively when playing, it is a lot more obvious when tools are used to compare frame rates. On the Blur Busters’ motion test page shown below, you can see the differences between 15, 30 and 60fps.  

Although it depends on your visual perception, you should be able to see that 60fps is more clearly rendered than 30fps. This test can be run on both PC and mobile devices, but please note that a compatible browser and a monitor capable of rendering at 60hz or higher are required. 

The Community Note added to the X post cites three scientific studies that go against the OP’s claims that people can’t tell the difference between 30fps and 60fps, and that framerate doesn’t matter. One in a 2015 study that found that most people can discern the difference between the two frame rates. The other two studies cited concluded that frame rate has a significant effect on players’ performance (i.e. a higher framer rate equals better player performance, especially when shooting) and overall enjoyment of the game. Our Blur Busters’ test and the results of this research suggest that the difference between 30fps and 60fps is easily perceived by players. 

But some critically acclaimed modern games run at 30fps 

Many commenters explained that, although they can clearly tell the difference between 30fps and 60fps, this doesn’t mean that 30fps games are bad or boring. Although gaming at higher frame rates results in a smoother experience, these opinions partially agree with the OP’s assertion that 30fps games aren’t unplayable and that a good game at 30fps is still a good game. 

A notable example of an acclaimed game that runs at 30fps is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which currently has a Metascore of 96 out of 100 and a user score of 8.4 out of 10 on Metacritic. Framerate checks by the media have shown that ToK runs at a maximum of 30fps despite being an action game . 

Other well-received action games that adopted 30fps by design include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land. These games provide proof that the assertion that “30fps games are unplayable” is too extreme. 

Another interesting example is the open world game Sable, which dared to cap its framerate at 30fps to create the 2D look that it wanted to achieve. The maximum frame rate that a game can run at is probably decided based on factors such as game console performance and the overall experience that the developer wants to give the player. It is true that 60fps gives players a smoother experience, however 30fps can be acceptable if it is not too noticeable by the player. Although it may seem obvious, whether a game is enjoyable is the most important factor. However, if frame rate impacts players’ enjoyment of the game, then such debates are likely to get stirred up again. This includes recent media analyses and debates which found that running Final Fantasy VII Rebirth at 60fps as opposed to 30fps results in resolution issues. 

Written by. Verity Townsend based on the original Japanese article (original article’s publication date: 2024-03-11 18:05 JST)