A few years ago, NVIDIA introduced NVIDIA Reflex, a revolutionary suite of technologies that gave PC gamers better responsiveness and lower latency. For competitive games, that resulted in faster target acquisition, quicker reaction time, and superior aim precision. It did this by measuring and optimizing system latency.

For the uninitiated, latency is essentially the time between an action and its result. There are several different forms, though. For example, network latency happens in online play and is the delay between the game client and multiplayer server. You probably know this as “ping.” PC latency, on the other hand, is the time it takes your input to make its way through your PC. Basically, this is a combo of how long it takes your CPU to process input and your GPU to render the new frame. End-to-end system latency is the time between when you press a button and actually see the related action reflected on your screen.

This all translates to one simple idea: You want latency to be as low as possible. That’s where NVIDIA Reflex changes the game. Reflex’s Low-Latency Mode streamlines processes and allows games to be more responsive. To activate it, all you need to do is update your NVIDIA drivers to the latest version and then turn on the Reflex setting of whichever compatible game you’re playing. The Reflex setting is usually located within the graphics settings of the game. Once you’ve activated it, you’re good to go and can feel the benefits of reduced latency. Even if you can’t feel the difference in input lag, lower latency can help with improved hit registration and peeker’s advantage. To measure latency for yourself, you can download NVIDIA Frameview and check out the built-in PC Latency (PCL) metric, which updates in real time like a FPS counter in compatible titles.

Lowering latency is helpful regardless of what kind of game you’re playing, and NVIDIA Reflex is now reducing system latency in over 100 games. That includes single-player hits like Cyberpunk 2077, Diablo IV, God of War, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Red Dead Redemption 2, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered. But Reflex really shines in competitive multiplayer games, where a millisecond can be the difference between victory and defeat. It’s compatible with popular titles like Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Call of Duty: Warzone, Naraka: Bladepoint and The Finals.

Without further ado, here are the five games that benefit most from NVIDIA Reflex:

Rainbow Six Siege players know that crouching, leaning, environment destruction, and utilizing cover are key parts of the gameplay. That makes quick reaction time and responsiveness extremely important. When you’re sledgehammering your way into a room that has an enemy waiting, even a millisecond delay in getting your gun back out can mean death. Having Reflex on results in an up to 30% reduction in latency, which can make the difference in getting the jump on your opponent.

Maybe more than any other game, Counter-Strike 2 places a premium on each life. In most game modes, if you die even once, you’re done for that round. It makes for a unique gameplay experience, but also means that a split-second delay can make for an early exit. With Reflex turned on, CS2 gets up to a 33% reduction in latency, giving you a leg up on the competition. Hitting your AWP shots will be more consistent than ever, and peeker’s advantage won’t be nearly as strong for your opponents.

With its combination of gunplay and agent abilities, Valorant gameplay is measured in milliseconds. It is absolutely key for the experience to be as smooth as possible, so you can focus on your next task rather than wondering whether your shot actually just landed. Valorant was one of the original adopters of Reflex technology and remains one of its biggest beneficiaries, with a latency reduction of up to 50%. This results in more accurate flick shots, hit registration, and punishing those pesky peekers.

The king of the battle royale genre, Fortnite is still going strong nearly seven years after release and remains one of the most popular games in the world. It was also one of the first adopters of Reflex technology and features one of the best integrations. It sees a latency reduction of up to 57%, giving you an advantage as you aim to be the last one standing.

Overwatch 2 has a staggering latency reduction of up to 61% with Reflex. It is the most significant difference of any game currently available and provides a level of smoothness and responsiveness that is unmatched. In a game when a well-timed ultimate is crucial, Reflex provides the boost needed to carry your team to victory.