diff --git a/src/gfxinit.cpp b/src/gfxinit.cpp
--- a/src/gfxinit.cpp
+++ b/src/gfxinit.cpp
@@ -228,25 +228,52 @@ static void LoadSpriteTables()
  */
 static void SwitchNewGRFBlitter()
 {
-	/* Get blitter of base set. */
-	bool is_32bpp = BaseGraphics::GetUsedSet()->blitter == BLT_32BPP;
+	/* Never switch if the blitter was specified by the user. */
+	if (!_blitter_autodetected) return;
 
-	/* Get combined blitter mode of all NewGRFs. */
+	/* Null driver => dedicated server => do nothing. */
+	if (BlitterFactory::GetCurrentBlitter()->GetScreenDepth() == 0) return;
+
+	/* Get preferred depth. */
+	uint depth_wanted_by_base = BaseGraphics::GetUsedSet()->blitter == BLT_32BPP ? 32 : 8;
+	uint depth_wanted_by_grf = 8;
 	for (GRFConfig *c = _grfconfig; c != NULL; c = c->next) {
 		if (c->status == GCS_DISABLED || c->status == GCS_NOT_FOUND || HasBit(c->flags, GCF_INIT_ONLY)) continue;
-
-		if (c->palette & GRFP_BLT_32BPP) is_32bpp = true;
+		if (c->palette & GRFP_BLT_32BPP) depth_wanted_by_grf = 32;
 	}
 
-	/* A GRF would like a 32 bpp blitter, switch blitter if needed. Never switch if the blitter was specified by the user. */
-	if (_blitter_autodetected && is_32bpp && BlitterFactory::GetCurrentBlitter()->GetScreenDepth() != 0 && BlitterFactory::GetCurrentBlitter()->GetScreenDepth() < 16) {
-		const char *cur_blitter = BlitterFactory::GetCurrentBlitter()->GetName();
-		if (BlitterFactory::SelectBlitter("32bpp-anim") != NULL) {
-			if (!_video_driver->AfterBlitterChange()) {
-				/* Failed to switch blitter, let's hope we can return to the old one. */
-				if (BlitterFactory::SelectBlitter(cur_blitter) == NULL || !_video_driver->AfterBlitterChange()) usererror("Failed to reinitialize video driver for 32 bpp blitter. Specify a fixed blitter in the config");
-			}
-		}
+	/* Search the best blitter. */
+	struct {
+		const char *name;
+		uint min_base_depth, max_base_depth, min_grf_depth, max_grf_depth;
+	} replacement_blitters[] = {
+#ifdef WITH_SSE
+		{ "32bpp-sse4-anim", 32, 32,  8, 32 },
+#endif
+		{ "8bpp-optimized",   8,  8,  8,  8 },
+		{ "32bpp-anim",       8, 32,  8, 32 },
+	};
+
+	const char *cur_blitter = BlitterFactory::GetCurrentBlitter()->GetName();
+
+	for (uint i = 0; i < lengthof(replacement_blitters); i++) {
+		if (!IsInsideMM(depth_wanted_by_base, replacement_blitters[i].min_base_depth, replacement_blitters[i].max_base_depth + 1)) continue;
+		if (!IsInsideMM(depth_wanted_by_grf, replacement_blitters[i].min_grf_depth, replacement_blitters[i].max_grf_depth + 1)) continue;
+		const char *repl_blitter = replacement_blitters[i].name;
+
+		if (strcmp(repl_blitter, cur_blitter) == 0) return;
+		if (BlitterFactory::GetBlitterFactory(repl_blitter) == NULL) continue;
+
+		DEBUG(misc, 1, "Switching blitter from '%s' to '%s'... ", cur_blitter, repl_blitter);
+		Blitter *new_blitter = BlitterFactory::SelectBlitter(repl_blitter);
+		if (new_blitter == NULL) NOT_REACHED();
+		DEBUG(misc, 1, "Successfully switched to %s.", repl_blitter);
+		break;
+	}
+
+	if (!_video_driver->AfterBlitterChange()) {
+		/* Failed to switch blitter, let's hope we can return to the old one. */
+		if (BlitterFactory::SelectBlitter(cur_blitter) == NULL || !_video_driver->AfterBlitterChange()) usererror("Failed to reinitialize video driver. Specify a fixed blitter in the config");
 	}
 }