From 720p to Ultrawide (and 4K): Running Darkstone on higher resolutions

Learn how to run the game in higher resolutions and apply some command lines to fix graphical issues.

Disclaimer (read this first!)

As other players have pointed out in the comments, you can lose your characters if you have a game (or several) going on, so remember to backup your characters, just in case:

If you're on Windows: <path-to-game>\save
If you're on Linux / Steam Deck: <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/320320/pfx/

This issue has been reported two times in the comments (as of October 2024), so it's best advised to only start playing after using the modified executable (needed for higher resolutions).

It's also worth mentioning that Darkstone doesn't support Steam Cloud, so always backup your saves when possible.

Supported resolutions (for this quick workaround)

First of all: Here's a list of resolutions that are ready to play, with no need to edit the executables:

• 1280x720
  
• 1280x1024
  
• 1360x768
  
• 1680x1050
  
• 1920x1080
  
• 2560x1080
  
• 3440x1440
  
• 4800x900
  
• 5760x1080

You can play the game in any other resolution in fact, but it will require a much more advanced and difficulty workaround: editting the Hex files from the game's executable. I can't help you on those, but if you're feeling brave, check these links:

• Hex Editing: First Steps[www.flexhex.com]

• Common Hex Values[www.wsgf.org]

• Darkstone Widescreen[www.wsgf.org] - check the "Baseline (Widescreen) Solution & Issues" section

Replacing the executable to your desired resolution

• Access this link[www.wsgf.org] - it's from a website specialized in widescreen hacks for old games

• Download the file Darkstone_resolutions.[www.wsgf.org] You'll need the 7-Zip software[www.7-zip.org] to open the zipped files

• Open the folder with your desired resolution and copy the executable (Darkstone.exe) from it

• Go to the game's folder. To do so, right-click on Darkstone in your Steam library > Properties > Local Files > Browse Local Files > paste the executable there and choose to overwrite the original Darkstone.exe file

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Now you can play the game in the desired resolution. If tha game have some graphical glitches, check below how to fix them with some command lines:

Fixing graphical glitches with launch command lines

TL;DR aka "Let's do it already!":

• Right-click on Darkstone in your Steam library > under the General tab, click on Set Launch Options > paste this: -nocolorkey -sortbyz -nointro -32bit > click OK > Launch the game.
  
  Yep, it's fixed :D

What every command line fixes:

-nocolorkey : fixes texts with black backgrounds
-sortbyz : fixes invisible textures and blank textures on trees
-nointro : skips the intro of the game for a faster start
-32bit: better perfomance on higher resolutions (no more stuttering), since this is a 32-bit application

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Note: With these higher resolutions, the User Interface (UI) will be messed up on some menus, but that's normal. Unfortunately, there's no fix for this as far as I know.

Bonus: remapping the arrow keys to WASD...

...For a more comfortable experience, of course!

This workaround is very simple. Check my other guide on how to do it - that guide is for other game, but this workaround works for any game that uses arrow keys. You only need to follow the first two sections.

Enjoy your game!

⚔️ Have fun with Darkstone ⚔️

[TXIEKO]

Anyone else having issues with the 7Zip resolution exes being Corrupted?
If so how did you fix or what other solutions did you find?

[Gnome]

Sorry to hear. Have you tried verifying the game files and seeing if the saves are working on vanilla Darkstone? Maybe they aren't compatible with the modified executable. Just in case - backup your saves first:

If you're on Windows: <path-to-game>\save
If you're on Linux / Steam Deck: <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/320320/pfx/

Thanks for the heads-up about this issue. I'll add a note about it in the guide. I have started playing only after applying the patch, so I haven't seen how it behaves with an older save.

Sorry again for this issue, and I hope you can at least get the saves working again after verifying the game's files. For future playthroughs, starting a new game after applying the modified executable would be ideal.

[TrueAlkash]

changed to 1080p, but now it does not see my saves or characters

[Torlee/Ohka]

Helped a lot. I'm not a computer person.

[Gnome]

[1/3]

Hi,

The 'Darkstone_resolutions' [zipped] file contains folders with the resolutions:

* 1280x720
* 1280x1024
* 1360x768
* 1680x1050
* 1920x1080
* 2560x1080
* 3440x1440
* 4800x900
* 5760x1080

You will open one of those folders (with the desired resolution) and then you will drop the 'Darkstone.exe' file there on the game's folder and overwrite it.

[Gnome]

[2/3]

So let's say you want to play in 1080p: you will open the 1920x1080 folder from the 'Darkstone_resolutions' file and extract the 'Darkstone.exe' file to the game's folder (and overwrite it). If you want to change to another resolution you'll need to extract other 'Darkstone.exe' file from other resolution folder (like 1280x720 if you want to play in 720p, for instance) and overwrite the executable on the game's folder. There's no way to change the resolution in-game; the only way to change it is by using those modified executables (or changing it yourself with an hex editor, but that's beyond my knowledge to explain). And if you want to restore the original resolution, just verify the game's files and the executable provided by the developer will be restored.

[Gnome]

[3/3]

Oh, and if you (or anyone that is reading this) want to play Darkstone on the Steam Deck, you'll need to use GE-Proton (formerly known as Proton-GE). More info here: https://www.xda-developers.com/steam-deck-custom-proton-ge-why-how/

I hope it helps!

[Torlee/Ohka]

Hi.
you said that the same was ready to play in 1280x720 But how to I make that change? From ready to play resolutions you went straight to giving links. When I try to play there are no options for different screen size settings.

[Jinx]

Truth!

[Gnome]

No problem. Unfortunately the UI gets messy indeed. This game would benefit a lot from a remaster. It's much needed!