FloringeIT | NVIDIA DLSS 3.5: The Top 5 Games That Showcase Its Power

NVIDIA DLSS 3.5: The Top 5 Games That Showcase Its Power

NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) has revolutionized gaming by delivering stunning visuals while maintaining high performance. With the release of DLSS 3.5, NVIDIA has taken ray tracing and upscaling to the next level, introducing Ray Reconstruction—a groundbreaking AI-powered technique that enhances lighting, shadows, and reflections in real time.

But which games truly demonstrate the power of DLSS 3.5? In this post, we’ll explore the top five games that leverage DLSS 3.5 to deliver unparalleled visual fidelity and performance. Whether you’re a PC gamer, a tech enthusiast, or a developer, this guide will help you understand how DLSS 3.5 works and why these games are must-plays for showcasing its capabilities.

Cyberpunk 2077: The Ultimate DLSS 3.5 Showcase

Cyberpunk 2077 was already a graphical powerhouse, but with DLSS 3.5 and Ray Reconstruction, it has reached new heights. Night City’s neon-lit streets, dynamic weather, and hyper-detailed reflections now look more lifelike than ever.

Why Cyberpunk 2077 Benefits from DLSS 3.5

Ray Reconstruction Enhances Lighting & Shadows – Traditional ray tracing struggles with noisy reflections and inaccurate lighting. DLSS 3.5’s AI-driven Ray Reconstruction smooths out these imperfections, making Night City’s neon signs and car headlights glow realistically.
Performance Boost Without Sacrificing Quality – Even on high-end GPUs, full ray tracing can tank FPS. DLSS 3.5 allows players to run Ultra RT Overdrive Mode at 4K with playable frame rates, something previously impossible.
Temporal Stability Improvements – Older DLSS versions sometimes introduced ghosting or flickering. DLSS 3.5 reduces these artifacts, making motion smoother, especially in fast-paced combat.

How to Enable DLSS 3.5 in Cyberpunk 2077

Update Your Drivers – Ensure you have the latest NVIDIA Game Ready drivers (version 546.09 or newer).
Enable Ray Tracing – Go to Settings > Graphics > Ray Tracing and set it to Ultra or Overdrive.
Activate DLSS 3.5 – Under Settings > Graphics > DLSS, select DLSS 3.5 (Quality or Balanced Mode) and enable Ray Reconstruction.

Best Settings for Maximum Visual Fidelity

Resolution: 4K (or 1440p for higher FPS)
DLSS Mode: Quality (for best visuals) or Balanced (for a mix of performance and quality)
Ray Tracing: Overdrive (if your GPU can handle it)
Texture Quality: Ultra
Volumetric Fog & Lighting: Ultra

Pro Tip: If you’re on an RTX 4090, try DLSS 3.5 with Frame Generation for an extra performance boost while maintaining sharpness.

Alan Wake 2: A Masterclass in Ray-Traced Horror

Alan Wake 2 is one of the most visually stunning games of 2023, and DLSS 3.5 plays a crucial role in making its eerie, rain-soaked environments feel alive. The game’s real-time ray tracing is demanding, but DLSS 3.5 ensures smooth performance without sacrificing detail.

How DLSS 3.5 Enhances Alan Wake 2

Improved Reflections & Shadows – The game’s dark, reflective surfaces (like puddles and windows) benefit immensely from Ray Reconstruction, reducing noise and improving clarity.
Better Performance in Ray-Traced Scenes – Without DLSS, Alan Wake 2’s ray tracing can drop below 30 FPS at 4K. DLSS 3.5 pushes it to 60+ FPS on high-end GPUs.
Reduced Ghosting in Motion – Previous DLSS versions sometimes caused smearing in fast camera movements. DLSS 3.5 minimizes this, making combat and exploration smoother.

Step-by-Step: Enabling DLSS 3.5 in Alan Wake 2

Install the Latest Patch – Ensure you’re running version 1.0.8 or newer (DLSS 3.5 support was added in a post-launch update).
Enable Ray Tracing – Go to Settings > Graphics > Ray Tracing and set it to High.
Activate DLSS 3.5 – Under Settings > Graphics > Upscaling, select DLSS 3.5 (Quality or Performance Mode) and toggle Ray Reconstruction on.

Optimal Settings for Alan Wake 2

Resolution: 4K (or 1440p for higher FPS)
DLSS Mode: Quality (for best visuals) or Performance (for higher FPS)
Ray Tracing: High
Reflections & Shadows: Ultra
Film Grain: Off (unless you prefer the cinematic look)

Pro Tip: If you’re using an RTX 4080 or 4090, try DLSS 3.5 with Frame Generation for an extra 30-50% FPS boost without noticeable quality loss.

Portal with RTX: A Free DLSS 3.5 Demo

If you want to see DLSS 3.5 in action without spending a dime, Portal with RTX is the perfect showcase. This free remaster of the classic game replaces the original’s simple lighting with full path-traced global illumination, and DLSS 3.5 makes it run smoothly.

Why Portal with RTX is a Must-Try for DLSS 3.5

Path Tracing Without Performance Sacrifice – Path tracing is even more demanding than standard ray tracing, but DLSS 3.5 keeps FPS high while maintaining crisp visuals.
Ray Reconstruction for Cleaner Reflections – The game’s shiny surfaces (like the Aperture Science labs) look noise-free thanks to DLSS 3.5’s AI denoising.
Great for Benchmarking – Since it’s a free game, it’s an excellent way to test DLSS 3.5 on different GPUs.

How to Enable DLSS 3.5 in Portal with RTX

Download the Game – Available for free on Steam or NVIDIA’s website.
Enable Path Tracing – Go to Settings > Graphics > Path Tracing and set it to On.
Activate DLSS 3.5 – Under Settings > Graphics > Upscaling, select DLSS 3.5 (Quality Mode) and enable Ray Reconstruction.

Best Settings for Portal with RTX

Resolution: 1440p or 4K
DLSS Mode: Quality (for best visuals) or Balanced (for higher FPS)
Path Tracing: On
Reflections & Shadows: Ultra
Motion Blur: Off (for sharper gameplay)

Pro Tip: If you’re on an RTX 3080 or 4070, try DLSS 3.5 with Frame Generation to hit 60+ FPS at 4K with path tracing enabled.

Microsoft Flight Simulator: DLSS 3.5 for Ultra-Realistic Skies

Microsoft Flight Simulator is already a visual marvel, but DLSS 3.5 takes it to another level by improving performance in dense cities, weather effects, and long-distance rendering. Whether you’re flying over New York or the Swiss Alps, DLSS 3.5 ensures smooth gameplay.

How DLSS 3.5 Improves Microsoft Flight Simulator

Better Performance in Dense Areas – Cities like Los Angeles and Tokyo are incredibly demanding. DLSS 3.5 helps maintain 60+ FPS even at 4K.
Sharper Terrain & Clouds – Previous DLSS versions sometimes softened distant details. DLSS 3.5 retains sharpness, making landscapes look more realistic.
Reduced Stuttering in Long Flights – The game’s dynamic loading can cause stutters, but DLSS 3.5’s temporal stability helps smooth out the experience.

Enabling DLSS 3.5 in Microsoft Flight Simulator

Update the Game – Ensure you’re running the latest version (DLSS 3.5 was added in Sim Update 13).
Enable DLSS – Go to Options > Graphics > Upscaling and select DLSS 3.5 (Quality or Balanced Mode).
Adjust Render Scaling – Set Render Scaling to 100% (DLSS will handle the upscaling).

Recommended Settings for Microsoft Flight Simulator

Resolution: 4K (or 1440p for higher FPS)
DLSS Mode: Quality (for best visuals) or Balanced (for smoother performance)
Terrain Level of Detail: Ultra
Cloud Quality: Ultra
Traffic & AI: Medium (to reduce CPU load)

Pro Tip: If you’re using an RTX 4080 or 4090, enable DLSS 3.5 with Frame Generation for an extra 20-30% FPS boost in heavy areas.

Diablo IV: DLSS 3.5 for Smooth Action RPG Gameplay

Diablo IV is a fast-paced ARPG, and smooth performance is crucial for an enjoyable experience. While the game isn’t as ray-traced as others on this list, DLSS 3.5 still provides significant benefits, especially in crowded battles and large-scale effects.

Why Diablo IV Benefits from DLSS 3.5

Higher FPS in Crowded Battles – When dozens of enemies and spells fill the screen, DLSS 3.5 helps maintain 144+ FPS at 1440p or 4K.
Sharper Visuals in Motion – Previous DLSS versions sometimes caused blurring in fast movements. DLSS 3.5 reduces this, making combat feel more responsive.
Better Performance on Mid-Range GPUs – Even RTX 3060 Ti and 4070 users can enjoy Ultra settings with DLSS 3.5 enabled.

How to Enable DLSS 3.5 in Diablo IV

Update the Game – Ensure you’re running the latest patch (DLSS 3.5 support was added in Season 2).
Enable DLSS – Go to Settings > Graphics > Upscaling and select DLSS 3.5 (Quality or Performance Mode).
Adjust Render Scale – Set Render Scale to 100% (DLSS will handle the rest).

Best Settings for Diablo IV

Resolution: 1440p or 4K
DLSS Mode: Quality (for best visuals) or Performance (for highest FPS)
Shadow Quality: High
Effects Quality: Ultra
Population Density: High (for more enemies)

Pro Tip: If you’re on an RTX 4070 or higher, enable DLSS 3.5 with Frame Generation for an extra 30-50% FPS boost in chaotic battles.

Final Thoughts: Is DLSS 3.5 Worth It?

NVIDIA’s DLSS 3.5 is a game-changer, especially for ray-traced and path-traced games. The top five games we’ve covered—Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, Portal with RTX, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Diablo IV—demonstrate how DLSS 3.5 improves visual fidelity, performance, and stability.

If you own an RTX 40-series GPU, enabling DLSS 3.5 should be a no-brainer—it allows you to push settings higher while maintaining smooth gameplay. Even RTX 30-series users can benefit from DLSS 2.0 (with Ray Reconstruction in some games).

Key Takeaways:

✅ DLSS 3.5 + Ray Reconstruction = Better Ray Tracing (less noise, sharper reflections).
✅ Frame Generation + DLSS 3.5 = Higher FPS (great for 4K gaming).
✅ Works best in ray-traced games, but still helps in non-ray-traced titles like Diablo IV.

What’s your favorite DLSS 3.5 game? Let us know in the comments!