Risk of Rain Black Screen Fix Tutorial

Many players of the popular action platformer Risk of Rain have encountered a frustrating issue — launching the game only to be met with a blank black screen. This problem can prevent the game from loading, leaving fans stuck and seeking quick solutions. This tutorial will walk through several tried-and-tested methods to fix the Risk of Rain black screen issue on Windows-powered PCs.

Understanding the Black Screen Issue

The black screen typically occurs shortly after launching Risk of Rain. While the game seems to be running in the background (you may hear audio), nothing appears visually. This problem is usually related to graphics issues, outdated drivers, or software conflicts.

Step-by-Step Fix Tutorial

1. Update Graphics Drivers

The most common cause of the black screen is outdated or incompatible GPU drivers. Make sure to update your graphics drivers from the official NVIDIA or AMD websites.

Go to the official driver page respective to your GPU.
Select your GPU model and operating system.
Download and install the latest available drivers.
Restart your PC after installation.

2. Run in Compatibility Mode

Sometimes Risk of Rain doesn’t play well with newer versions of Windows. Running it in compatibility mode can often resolve startup issues.

Right-click on the Risk of Rain shortcut or executable file.
Click on “Properties” and go to the “Compatibility” tab.
Check “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” and choose Windows 7 or Windows 8.
Click “Apply” and “OK”. Try launching the game again.

3. Adjust Screen Resolution in Config File

If the game tries to start in a resolution your monitor doesn’t support, it can result in a black screen. Modify the resolution settings manually.

Navigate to the game’s configuration file, usually located in Documents/My Games/Risk of Rain or steamapps/common directories.
Open the config file using Notepad.
Find the resolution fields and set them to match your screen size, such as:
- width=1920
- height=1080
Save the file and relaunch the game.

4. Disable Fullscreen Optimization

Fullscreen optimization can sometimes interfere with older games like Risk of Rain. Disabling it is simple:

Right-click on the game executable.
Select “Properties” → “Compatibility” tab.
Check “Disable fullscreen optimizations”.
Click “Apply” and try launching the game.

5. Verify Integrity of Game Files (Steam)

If you’re playing via Steam, corrupted or missing files might be the culprit. Here’s how to verify and repair them:

Open Steam and go to your Library.
Right-click on Risk of Rain and select “Properties”.
Under the “Installed Files” tab, click “Verify integrity of game files”.
Steam will scan and replace any damaged or missing files.

6. Update DirectX and Microsoft Visual C++

Ensure your system has the latest DirectX and Visual C++ Redistributables installed. These are essential for many games to run correctly.

Download the latest DirectX from the official Microsoft website.
Install the latest supported Visual C++ packages (2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015-2022).

Additional Tips

Try running the game in windowed mode using launch options in Steam. Right-click the game > Properties > General > Launch Options, and add: -windowed
Temporarily disable antivirus software, as it may be falsely quarantining game files.
Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements for Risk of Rain.

FAQ

Q: The black screen only appears after the intro video. What should I do?

A: Try skipping the intro video by launching the game with the -nosplash option in Steam. Go to Launch Options and enter the command.

Q: Will reinstalling the game fix the black screen?

A: In some cases, yes. If the installation is corrupt or missing key files beyond repair, reinstalling can help. Be sure to delete all leftover files before reinstalling.

Q: How can I tell if my system is causing the problem?

A: Testing the game on another PC or user account can help isolate whether it’s a system-specific issue. Also, check your event viewer for related error messages after crashing.

Q: Is this problem specific to Risk of Rain 1 or 2?

A: The black screen is more commonly reported in Risk of Rain 1, but some Risk of Rain 2 users have experienced similar issues due to resolution or driver problems.

By following these solutions, most players should be able to resolve the black screen issue and jump back into the intense, roguelike gameplay of Risk of Rain in no time.