Have you calibrated your display?
If not in 8.1 got to >Control Panel >Color Management >Advanced (Tab) click on Calibrate display or >Windows key >Control Panel >Display >Calibrate Color depending how you have your desktop configured.
Considering your situation I would 1st turn up contrast and brightness on your display before you begin to 80 to 90% for both.
When you complete the calibration routine don't forget to save the profile. You will be asked to do so at the end of the routine so follow it through to the end.
Every time after you restart your computer the profile will be employed without any intervention on your part.
Many of today's games use very dark scenes which require near perfect balance between contrast and brightness to see any detail in dark scenes. Of course this requires a good monitor for best results. Otherwise things tend to get washed/blended together out in very bright or very dark scenes.
It's always best to Calibrate display 1st before changing in game settings but those controls can provide additional tweaks to get the best experience. So you may want to default your in game settings as well before you calibrate. GL
post edited by owcraftsman - 2015/02/27 20:58:09