Cladun X3 PC port impressions, Steam Deck recommended settings, ROG Ally, and more

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NIS America will release Cladun X3 in Western regions next week for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC (via Steam). The game initially launched in Japan earlier this year. I’ve been testing the PC version on Steam, and also tried the demo on Switch and PS5, to bring you a review. This article is a bit shorter than my usual PC port reports, as there are a few things I’m hoping the developers will address with the launch version or in a future update.

The popular pixel art action RPG series from NIS is back with Cladun X3, after an eight-year hiatus. From what I’ve played, this new installment builds significantly on the original game, offering much more in-depth customization options. The Western release of Cladun X3 includes all the content updates and patches that were previously released in Japan. You can find details about those updates here.

Cladun X3 PC port features and graphics options

Cladun X3 on PC is a simple port of the console game, but it offers more flexibility. You’ll find graphics and display settings split between two menus: Settings and Screen Settings. The Settings menu controls things like volume and gameplay visuals, and also lets you enable a pixel smoothing filter or create a tilt-shift effect by blurring the top and bottom of the screen. You can also customize the game further with options to add character outlines, sort items, choose different fonts (pixelated or smooth), and switch between modern and retro music.

In the Screen Settings, you can customize how the game looks. You can switch between fullscreen and windowed modes, choose your resolution (options include 720p, 800, 768p, 1080p, 1440p, and 4K), turn on anti-aliasing and v-sync, adjust the brightness, and set your desired frame rate (60 or 120). Keep in mind that even though 800p is listed as a resolution, the game is designed for a 16:9 aspect ratio. Also, while you can try to set the frame rate to 120fps, the game will notify you that it’s not supported.





Cladun X3 offers flexible controls, letting you use either a controller or a keyboard and mouse. However, the mouse primarily works for navigating menus. You can customize the controls in two different sections – one for gameplay within dungeons, and another for menus and editing – and these customization options are available for both controllers and keyboard/mouse setups.

Cladun X3 Steam Deck impressions

Cladun X3 runs well on the Steam Deck right away. It doesn’t support 16:10 aspect ratios, but it fully supports controllers and Steam Cloud – I tested the Cloud feature on several devices over the past week. The game does have some general scrolling problems that appear in all versions. It’s similar to the scrolling issue in the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, where the background doesn’t always keep pace with your character, especially when moving diagonally. However, this is more apparent on the console versions, which I tested on PS5 and Switch. When playing on the Steam Deck OLED with the 120fps target, I experienced occasional performance dips during intense moments. The biggest issue, though, is inconsistent frame pacing – it’s not terrible on PC, but I’m hoping it can be improved, as this issue is particularly noticeable in games like this one.






I also occasionally saw the GPU usage jump up, but I couldn’t consistently make it happen. Considering the game’s roots in the *Cladun* series, it feels perfect for handheld play. I haven’t experienced any problems running it on either my Steam Deck OLED with the official SteamOS or my original Steam Deck LCD with the preview version of SteamOS.

Cladun X3 Steam Deck recommended settings

Cladun X3 runs well without any adjustments, but I suggest turning off the pixel smoothing filter. If you’re playing on the Steam Deck while docked, enable the higher resolutions in the game’s settings. However, I wouldn’t recommend playing at 4K, as I experienced performance issues at that resolution. Despite its simple graphics, Cladun X3 can be surprisingly demanding on PC handhelds.






Cladun X3 ROG Ally impressions

Cladun X3 runs better on the ROG Ally than the Steam Deck when aiming for 120 frames per second. While the game warns it’s unsupported, I wouldn’t recommend playing at 60fps on the Ally unless you first change the device’s screen refresh rate to 60Hz – otherwise, it feels sluggish. I found the 120fps mode at 1080p worked really well, with only occasional, minor stutters. The Ally’s variable refresh rate screen likely helps smooth things out, making the experience more consistent than on the Steam Deck. You can also get excellent performance by using the ROG Ally’s silent, 10W power mode.

I’m hoping the problems with how the game runs – specifically the choppy movement and issues when moving diagonally – can be fixed. However, since these issues still exist in the console versions even months after release, I’m not confident they will be. While I don’t have access to the console versions sold in Western markets, Cladun X3’s short, quick gameplay is perfect for handheld devices. I’m planning to buy the Switch version, and I expect it will work well on the next Switch console when it’s released.

Cladun X3 will be available digitally on September 26th for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. It’s already released in Japan for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.

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2025-09-19 15:57