I tried to add an outline but that just made the text blurry and even harder to read. that might just be a problem with the text size tho
Ah ya I know what you mean. I've had good luck in the past using these pixel fonts https://nimblebeastscollective.itch.io/nb-pixel-font-bundle, and then making the font size a multiple of 16, then they looked clean with the outline. This is with Rockboxcond12 from that bundle at 16 and 32 font size, idk if font size 16 is too big for your game tho, could maybe find a smaller base size pixel font somewhere if 16 is too big.