PCGameBenchmarks
Defend the Highlands

Defend the Highlands

70/100
1 ratings2015Easy to run

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Estimated FPS across quality settings and resolutions

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Defend the Highlands 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

Defend the Highlands estimated FPS at 1080p across 14 GPUs and 4 quality presets
GPUlowmediumhighultra
RTX 5090999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4090999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RX 7900 XTX999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 5080999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4080 Super999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4070 Ti999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4070999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RX 7800 XT999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 3080999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4060 Ti999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 3070999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4060999 fps999 fps999 fps929 fps
RTX 3060999 fps999 fps980 fps796 fps
GTX 1660 Super999 fps888 fps710 fps577 fps

1440p performance

Defend the Highlands estimated FPS at 1440p across 14 GPUs and 4 quality presets
GPUlowmediumhighultra
RTX 5090999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4090999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RX 7900 XTX999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 5080999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4080 Super999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4070 Ti999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4070999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RX 7800 XT999 fps999 fps999 fps920 fps
RTX 3080999 fps999 fps999 fps895 fps
RTX 4060 Ti999 fps999 fps999 fps846 fps
RTX 3070999 fps999 fps949 fps771 fps
RTX 4060999 fps999 fps857 fps696 fps
RTX 3060999 fps918 fps735 fps597 fps
GTX 1660 Super832 fps666 fps533 fps433 fps

4K performance

Defend the Highlands estimated FPS at 4K across 14 GPUs and 4 quality presets
GPUlowmediumhighultra
RTX 5090999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4090999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RX 7900 XTX999 fps999 fps999 fps929 fps
RTX 5080999 fps999 fps999 fps876 fps
RTX 4080 Super999 fps999 fps999 fps822 fps
RTX 4070 Ti999 fps999 fps800 fps650 fps
RTX 4070999 fps857 fps686 fps557 fps
RX 7800 XT944 fps755 fps604 fps491 fps
RTX 3080918 fps735 fps588 fps478 fps
RTX 4060 Ti867 fps694 fps555 fps451 fps
RTX 3070791 fps633 fps506 fps411 fps
RTX 4060714 fps571 fps457 fps371 fps
RTX 3060612 fps490 fps392 fps318 fps
GTX 1660 Super444 fps355 fps284 fps231 fps

Minimum Hardware

Graphics Card
Minimum required

256 MB Shader Model 3 Compliant Graphics Card

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Processor
Minimum required

2 GHz Single core processor

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Memory
Minimum required

1 GB

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Genres

About

Defend the Highlands, released in 2015, is an engaging indie strategy game that uniquely blends tower defense and real-time strategy elements. Set in a vividly imagined Scotland, players must construct defenses, enlist Scotsmen, and manage vital resources like porridge to fend off the British invasion. The game's charm lies in its quirky blend of historical context and whimsical gameplay mechanics, making it a notable title.

In terms of PC performance, Defend the Highlands is highly accessible, suitable for a wide range of hardware configurations. With a minimum GPU requirement of an entry-level graphics card (minimum score around 200), players can expect smooth gameplay at decent settings. Most modern GPUs, even those on the lower end of the spectrum, should provide satisfactory FPS benchmarks, ensuring that the game runs well without demanding high-end components.

Given its steady rating of 70/100 and the engaging mix of strategy genres, it's worth playing for fans of indie games or tactical gameplay. If you enjoy games that challenge your strategic thinking while delivering a fun, light-hearted experience, Defend the Highlands will likely be a satisfying addition to your library.

Performance profile

Released in November 2015, Defend the Highlands sits in the DirectX 11 generation. Comfortable on any modern mid-range GPU at 1440p; even an RTX 3050 or RX 6600 typically delivers 4K60 at High settings.

As a strategy title, Defend the Highlands is typically CPU-bound rather than GPU-bound — single-thread CPU performance dictates framerate during large-scale battles, end-game saves and late-game AI turns. A fast modern 6-core will help more than a GPU upgrade.

Extremely light — Defend the Highlands 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.

Screenshots

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