Dark Ages
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Estimated FPS across quality settings and resolutions
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Dark Ages FPS by GPU
Estimated framerates for 14 reference GPUs · pick a resolution and quality
Full benchmark grid · 14 GPUs × 4 qualities × 3 resolutions
1080p performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 838 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 884 fps | 718 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 999 fps | 974 fps | 779 fps | 633 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 999 fps | 947 fps | 758 fps | 616 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 999 fps | 895 fps | 716 fps | 582 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 999 fps | 816 fps | 653 fps | 530 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 921 fps | 737 fps | 589 fps | 479 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 789 fps | 632 fps | 505 fps | 411 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 572 fps | 458 fps | 366 fps | 298 fps |
1440p performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 898 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 847 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 999 fps | 999 fps | 979 fps | 795 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 999 fps | 967 fps | 774 fps | 629 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 999 fps | 829 fps | 663 fps | 539 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 913 fps | 730 fps | 584 fps | 475 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 888 fps | 711 fps | 568 fps | 462 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 839 fps | 671 fps | 537 fps | 436 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 765 fps | 612 fps | 489 fps | 398 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 691 fps | 553 fps | 442 fps | 359 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 592 fps | 474 fps | 379 fps | 308 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 429 fps | 343 fps | 275 fps | 223 fps |
4K performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 884 fps | 707 fps | 575 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 821 fps | 657 fps | 534 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 921 fps | 737 fps | 589 fps | 479 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 868 fps | 695 fps | 556 fps | 452 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 816 fps | 653 fps | 522 fps | 424 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 645 fps | 516 fps | 413 fps | 335 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 553 fps | 442 fps | 354 fps | 287 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 487 fps | 389 fps | 312 fps | 253 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 474 fps | 379 fps | 303 fps | 246 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 447 fps | 358 fps | 286 fps | 233 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 408 fps | 326 fps | 261 fps | 212 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 368 fps | 295 fps | 236 fps | 192 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 316 fps | 253 fps | 202 fps | 164 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 229 fps | 183 fps | 147 fps | 119 fps |
Where to buy
Dark Ages
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Genres
About
Dark Ages, released in 1991, is an action platform game developed for MS-DOS by Apogee Software. Notable for being the first shareware title to support the AdLib sound card, Dark Ages immerses players in a fantasy world divided into three episodes: Prince of Destiny, The Undead Kingdom, and Dungeons of Doom. The game's engaging gameplay and unique graphics set it apart in the early days of PC gaming.
In terms of performance, Dark Ages is quite accessible, requiring just an entry-level GPU with a minimum score of around 600 to achieve steady FPS. With only 2 GB of RAM necessary, even older hardware can run this game smoothly, making it a suitable choice for various PCs. Players can easily adjust graphics settings to maintain optimal performance while enjoying the game's nostalgic charm and fluid gameplay.
If you're a fan of classic action platformers, Dark Ages is definitely worth playing. Its engaging levels and retro appeal resonate well with enthusiasts, making it a notable addition to any gaming library. With its solid ratings and historical significance, this game captures the essence of early '90s gaming.
Performance profile
Released in December 1991, Dark Ages predates modern GPU acceleration as we know it today. It runs effortlessly on virtually any current hardware, including integrated graphics and entry-level laptops — framerate is limited by the engine, not the GPU.
Action titles like Dark Ages reward high framerates for visual clarity during combat. A mid-range modern GPU at 1440p 60–120 FPS is the practical sweet spot; VRR (G-Sync/FreeSync) smooths out drops during heavy effects.
Extremely light — Dark Ages runs at 60 FPS 1080p on any integrated GPU (Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon Graphics) or a decade-old discrete card like the GTX 1050. A current-gen RTX 4060 pushes 4K Ultra without effort.
Storyline
The player controls the prince and heir to the land’s greatest kingdom (referred to as the Great Kingdom). When the prince was a child, Garth, a power hungry wizard of immense power and greed, killed his father and took the throne. Rather than kill the prince he sent him to be raised by peasants, but even Garth’s evil magic could not foresee his mistake, since the very peasant he delivered him to was once the Kingdom’s greatest hero, and as the prince grew he was taught the ways of a master fighter. One of the things he learned well was how to use magic as a weapon. In the years after Garth’s conquest, the kingdom had fallen into ruin and despair, with no hope of returning to the times of happiness and prosperity. Garth ruled with an iron fist and terrorized the population with undead creatures. The player's quest is to find Garth and rescue the Kingdom from the Dark Ages it’s trapped in. The difficult journey takes the player through badlands, castles, dungeons, caves, forests and finally to the Great Kingdom itself, with Garth’s army of undead creatures attacking at every turn. The final episode ends with a confrontation between the prince and Garth. After killing Garth, the prince's destiny is fulfilled, having freed the kingdom from the Dark Ages of fear and tyranny. The prince assumes his rightful place as the peaceful King and Leader of the Kingdom. The Great Kingdom is once again free to prosper and grow without fear.
