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Is 60 FPS a Must-Have for Gaming in 2025?

By / Tech / July 8, 2025

According to tech media and some gamers, 60 FPS is a must-have in gaming. Is 30 FPS that bad, or is it still acceptable? Let’s find out.

Picture of God of War running at 4K 30 FPS vs 1080p 60 FPS
God of War running at 4K 30 FPS vs 1080p 60 FPS (Image via Jacob Terkelsen on YouTube)

If you ask tech YouTubers and gaming influencers, they would say 60 FPS is a must-have for gaming. If you ask competitive gamers, they would argue 120 FPS is the bare minimum. Yet, some budget gamers believe 30 FPS is still a viable way of playing games, even in 2025.

The question is who’s right, and is 60 FPS a must-have for gaming in 2025? The short answer is, they are all correct, and yes, 60 FPS is indeed a must-have in gaming. Let us explain in detail what we mean by that.

Note: The article is subjective and reflects the writer’s opinion.

60 FPS vs 30 FPS in Gaming: Explained

Picture describes Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice running at 30 FPS on the left vs 50 FPS on the right
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice running at 30 FPS on the left vs 50 FPS on the right (Image via Jacob Terkelsen on YouTube)

When you play games at 30 FPS, your PC will display 30 frames per second. Your PC takes about 33.33 milliseconds to render each frame on your screen. Therefore, there is a considerable time gap between each frame, which is noticeable. On the other hand, your PC takes only about 16.67 milliseconds to render each frame in 60 FPS, so the time gap between each frame is half of 30 FPS and practically impossible for an average user’s eyes to notice. Therefore, 60 FPS in motion appears smoother than 30 FPS, since we do not notice the time gaps very well.

Similarly, gaming at 120 FPS feels even smoother, as the time gap between each frame is only 8.33 milliseconds. However, the jump in smoothness from 60 FPS to 120 FPS is not as noticeable as it is from 30 FPS to 60 FPS. That’s because our eyes are less sensitive at higher FPS, which is why many users believe 60 FPS is enough for most users. Not to mention, you will also need a really powerful CPU and GPU to drive 120 FPS or higher compared to 60 FPS.

This is why 60 FPS is universally acceptable for gaming. Due to the smoother motion of 60 FPS gaming, everything appears sharper with higher detail levels compared to 30 FPS. The input latency from the mouse & keyboard or controller is also lower when gaming at 60 FPS. The lower input latency, the perceived motion smoothness, and higher detail levels are the reasons why 60 FPS is recommended as a bare minimum by everyone.

When Is 30 FPS Acceptable?

You need a decently powerful system to get 60 FPS or higher. If you have a system with a modern GPU, your PC will be able to deliver 60 FPS in most games. However, if you have an older GPU, chances are your PC will struggle to reach 60 FPS. In those cases, we recommend playing at 30 FPS. Gaming at 30 FPS locked is better than playing at a fluctuating 40-50 FPS.

However, 30 FPS is only recommended if you have an older GPU that is not capable of delivering 60 FPS. However, you can try lowering the game settings and using upscaling technologies to reach 60 FPS.

Is 60 FPS Compulsory for Gaming?

Yes, 60 FPS is a must-have for gaming in 2025. If you are in the market for a new or used GPU, you must check if it can deliver 60 FPS in most modern games at your desired resolution. If you are buying a new budget GPU in the hope of playing modern games at only 30 FPS, then that is not acceptable. We would rather advise you to wait and save some money to get a better GPU.

However, if you already have a GPU that can mostly play games at 30 FPS, then 30 FPS is acceptable. We would recommend upgrading the GPU later, if possible, because the perceived visual difference between 30 and 60 FPS is huge. You will be able to see higher visual fidelity, more details, higher clarity, and an overall better experience when playing at 60 FPS.

If you are presented with the option to play at 4K with 30 FPS or 1080p with 60 FPS, we would ask you to choose the latter, as that will deliver a much better experience. The same is also true for playing with ray tracing at 30 FPS and non-ray tracing at 60 FPS. Gaming at 60 FPS is a must.

We provide the latest news and “How To’s” for Tech content. Meanwhile, you can check out the following articles related to PC GPUs, CPU and GPU comparisons, mobile phones, and more:

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