When Apple unveiled the iPhone 15, it signaled a significant shift in the landscape of mobile gaming. Players are now in an era of playing award-winning AAA console games like Resident Evil 4 Remake on a smartphone—with features like ray tracing. Consequently, gamers now approach the quest for finding mobile games with top-tier graphics with much loftier expectations.

To help with this quest, the titles on this list have been carefully selected to include the best mobile games featuring visual effects that rival those found in console games. For those curious about which next-gen mobile titles could push a phone to its limits, the games listed below should be the go-to options.

Updated April 3, 2024, by Mohsen Baqery: The years 2023 and 2024 have marked a flourishing period for mobile gaming, propelled by advancements in technology. With the emergence of smartphones capable of processing console-level visuals and incorporating AAA technologies like ray tracing, developers are poised to revolutionize the graphics and visuals of the industry. In response to this trend, the list has been updated to highlight some of the most visually stunning mobile games of the recent decade. These titles have pushed hardware to its limits, delivering a gaming experience comparable to top-notch handheld consoles.

26 Fantasian

A JRPG with "OMG" Visuals

Hironobu Sakaguchi is known by many as the creator of the legendary Final Fantasy series, which is more than enough to prove just how amazing this creator really is. After the failure of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Sakaguchi parted ways with the company before indulging in a few projects of his own. His focus eventually shifted to mobile gaming, with Fantasian being the most high-profile game he's made on this console to date.

Fantasian is a gorgeous game that harkens back to the classic era of JRPGs on the original PlayStation, featuring a wealth of dioramas that players can explore in a riveting story that is very much what most fans of the genre would expect. This game has been an Apple exclusive for the longest time, and the fact that so many people are actively begging for this game to be released on modern platforms is proof enough of just how enjoyable this title really is.

25 Call Of Duty: Mobile

K/D Stands for Killer Design

Call of Duty is one of the biggest gaming franchises of all time, and it's easy to see why so many people love engaging in some tight multiplayer matches online as they try to improve their K/D ratio and attain victory at all costs. It was only a matter of time before this franchise would branch out to mobiles, with Call of Duty: Mobile making this transition in a pretty smooth and effective manner.

Coming with its fair share of iconic maps and the classic Call of Duty action that fans have grown to love about this series, the game is a blast to play through from start to end. Perhaps the best thing about Call of Duty: Mobile is just how good it looks, with the game doing a great job of pushing mobile hardware to its very limits with cutting-edge graphics that seemed unthinkable on phones for the longest time. It's one of the most popular mobile games around now and continues to be downloaded to kingdom come even now!

24 Shadowgun Legends

Alien Annihilation for Adrenaline Boost

Shadowgun is a popular shooter game on mobile phones that has become pretty massive in its own right. The aesthetic of the title feels a lot like Gears of War with a unique spin of its own, and fans love the many ways they can tackle the missions in this game.

Of course, the multiplayer component is the biggest aspect of this game and a huge reason why Legends is so popular in the first place. The graphics of this title are truly incredible and look amazing even with the game being five years old at this point.

23 Alien: Isolation

Isolated Humans vs. Aliens

Alien: Isolation is an incredible horror game that combines elements of an immersive to make for a truly engaging experience. Given how beautiful this title looks, many fans were surprised to know that this game actually works on mobile platforms!

Of course, a pretty beefy phone is required to run this game properly, but players who have a good phone can play Alien: Isolation on the go with ease. It's a great game, even if the smaller screen may reduce the impact of some of the scares in this game.

22 Black Desert Mobile

Pretty, But Also Dangerous

Black Desert is a popular MMO that is quite advanced and a blast to play through. The character creation of this title is legendary and translates pretty well to mobile devices, allowing players to create the character of their choice and immerse themselves in this massive fantasy world.

Black Desert Mobile has all the trappings of an MMORPG that one would expect, making it a great title to sink a ton of hours into. Phone players who want a game to scratch their MMO itch will be pretty well-serviced with the gameplay loop of Black Desert Online, with its graphics being pretty impressive as well.

21 Dead Cells

An Unforgettable Dungeon Crawler

Dead Cells is a game that got a ton of promotion courtesy of IGN's notorious plagiarism controversy, so it's great that the game itself is a blast to play through in its own right. The game combines elements of roguelike, Metroidvania, and Soulslike gameplay to make for a delectable and engaging combination.

Dead Cells is available on mobile platforms and looks gorgeous courtesy of its unique art style. It's recommended to use a controller since precise input is downright necessary to get through this tough-as-nails experience. Players who are patient and slowly learn how the game works will be mowing through enemies in no time at all!

20 Life Is Strange

This Game's Visuals Are Stunning

Life is Strange is a great story-driven video game that is a blast to play through, with its characters and story being quite engaging indeed. The ability to rewind time is a godsend, allowing players to make decisions that are more thought-out and less impulsive.

Given the importance of every decision in Life is Strange, it's easy to see why players will be rewinding time more often than not. This game is great for mobile users, allowing them to start up this great-looking game and get a few minutes of gameplay in no time flat.

19 Telltale's The Walking Dead

An Emotional Visual Novel

Telltale's The Walking Dead is a title that not many people would think of when it comes to graphical fidelity. However, a game's visuals are dependent on the art style as well, and The Walking Dead's cel-shaded look helps it look amazing even now!

The story of Lee and Clementine as they struggle to survive in a world overrun by zombies is a riveting tale with an emotional conclusion. Players will find all the decisions in the game to be particularly nerve-wracking, which makes sense given the chilling setting of this title.

18 ARK: Survival Evolved

Surviving Dinosaurs

It's only a given for big-budget titles that release on a bunch of modern platforms including mobile to bag a spot on this list. ARK: Survival Evolved definitely fits in this category.

The visuals are down-scaled for mobile but still look pretty great. This, coupled with the fun survival gameplay, makes for a great time indeed that fans of the genre will have an amazing time with.

17 Real Racing 3

Except It's a Mobile Game

It's amazing what Real Racing has accomplished for the sim racing community. Its accessibility on mobile platforms has let many people access this niche yet exciting genre, where precision is key to securing victory.

Real Racing 3 is the latest game in the series and looks absolutely spectacular on mobile devices. The fact that this game is still regularly updated to this day despite coming out a long time back shows just how active its community really is.

16 Fortnite

Unreal Visuals with Unreal Engine 5

Fortnite is a game that pretty much everyone has heard of by now. This free-to-play battle royale has become all the rage, with its high-profile collaborations and intense gameplay turning it into one of the biggest multiplayer games around.

The game has had a bit of a rocky history with mobile platforms, but its bright and appealing art style makes it a great candidate for this list. Even on mobile, the game looks brilliant and is worth trying out for any fan of battle royale games.

15 Asphalt 9: Legends

Legends of Drifting

It seems that most racing games on mobile platforms really push the bar when it comes to visuals in video games. This can be seen in the Asphalt series, which is easily one of the most popular arcade racers on mobile.

The latest game, Asphalt 9: Legends, looks simply incredible. It's hard to believe that such a good-looking game is somehow running on mobile devices.

14 GRID Autosport

Getting Griddy Behind the Wheel

Anyone who has played GRID Autosport can confirm it is a PC/Console game. So the sheer fact that gamers can enjoy this on handheld devices like iPhone and Android phones is quite unbelievable. Not only does GRID Autosport look good, but it plays like a proper semi-simulator racing game.

The quality of this game is unparalleled to many other racing games on mobiles, which is what makes it stand apart. The best handheld version of GRID Autosport is the one for the iPad Pro, as it runs on high resolution with 120 FPS.

13 Battle Prime

Bring Big Battle to Small Screens

This Epic Modern FPS for mobile devices is one of the best-looking games players can enjoy right now. From the outside, Battle Prime looks similar to Call of Duty. After all, it offers similar gameplay mechanics, maps, and multiplayer modes.

However, the third-person perspective and extremely fluid animations are better than many mobile shooter games. Battle Prime has a colorful, bright, but unmemorable style. However, that doesn't mean it looks bad. This game takes the cake when it comes to visual variety and environments. Battle Prime offers snowy areas, urban jungles, deep forests, and desert maps.

12 Layers Of Fear

Fear Is Like an Onion...

Layers of Fear is a pretty decent Psychological horror single-player game on major platforms. However, on mobiles, it has an edge unlike any. Most gamers would know that it is not easy to find a good horror game on Android or iOS, which is the gap Layers of Fear fills.

The mobile version offers a similar experience to the main game, with predictable graphical downgrades. However, even after being visually inferior to the Windows version, Layers of Fear manages to look excellent on mobiles. The best part about the game is its environment, which is extremely chilling due to how good it looks.

11 XCOM 2 Collection

Tried-and-True Tactical Turn-Based

Who would've thought that the cult-classic turn-based tactics game XCOM would make its way to mobiles? The XCOM 2 Collection is a console game made to work on mobiles and iPads. It has everything that makes the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows versions good, including but not limited to the graphics.

The fans of the series know XCOM 2 Collection is one of the best turn-based tactics & tactical role-playing games one can play. The fact that it is on mobile only makes it more accessible. XCOM 2 Collection can last up to 70+ hours of playtime, and for a $15 price, it is a steal.

10 Genshin Impact

An Impactful Mobile RPG

took the world by storm as it became one of the most-played mobile games ever. But the action role-playing gameplay isn't the only thing fans love about it. This incredibly beautiful game is popular for its anime-like visual style and colorful and bright graphics.

It also stands apart from many other games on this list due to its distinct but repetitive gameplay. Genshin Impact is just the right app for anyone who wants a free yet polished game to play. The best part about Genshin Impact is the fact that it is not only free but incredibly lengthy. According to howlongtobeat.com, this game can take 211 hours to complete.

9 Journey

Silence Is Solitude

When Journey first came out on PS3, it quickly became one of the looking games on the system. Over the years, Journey made its way to platforms such as PS4, Windows, and eventually mobiles without losing the iconic visuals.

Since Journey is an indie adventure game, it focuses on doing more with less. Its visuals make it look like a minimal yet beautiful game. It doesn't imitate other titles and paves its path in the unique dunes of video games. As of now, Journey is a decade-old game, and the fact that it is still one of the best-looking games is truly remarkable.

8 The House Of Da Vinci 2

The Devil's in the Details

Mobile is a hub of puzzle adventure video games, and The House of Da Vinci 2 takes that genre to a new level. Developer Blue Brain Games is known for its impressive adventure puzzle titles, and with this game, they reinvent it further.

The House of Da Vinci 2 has everything good about the first game and a visual style that's extremely detailed. In the game, players will wander off solving puzzles in an environment that appears close to console quality. Apart from the visuals, there's also a great story that players will love to unfold as they progress further.

7 NBA 2K21

Dunk and Dagger

NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition is the best sports game one can find on iPads and iPhones. The reason for that is the overall quality of the game, modes, and details. While the Arcade Edition isn't close to the graphics on PS5, it still manages to look damn good.

Android users can play the NBA 2K Mobile Basketball Game, which is the iPhone version's counterpart. The best part about NBA 2K21 is that it is free on both devices.