Highlights

• As video games continue to evolve, the ones with the best graphics usually also play well, like Alan Wake 2 and Lords of the Fallen.
• Bright Memory: Infinite, developed by a single person, proves that impressive graphics can be achieved on a lower budget.
• Super Mario Odyssey shows that it's not always about realism or processing power, as its stylized art and impressive HD still make for a visually stunning game.

As video games have continued to grow and evolve as both entertainment and art, the games just keep looking better and better. If someone is playing on a high-end PC or the average console, it's hard not to notice when a game stands out a bit more than the rest.

Whether it is the highest fidelity graphics or just a gorgeous art style (or both), games that look good usually also play well. If that much time gets spent in the graphics department they must have something good elsewhere. Here are the games with the best graphics out there.

This article focuses on modern releases and a few post-2000s projects rather than classics from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Genesis, and PS1 eras.

Alan Wake 2

Cinematic Quality

Alan Wake 2 was a long time coming, and the sequel managed to live up to some rather lofty expectations while catering to both returning fans and new players. Split across two campaigns, the story follows Saga as she investigates a murder case that leads her to an unsettling American town with a peculiar populace. In the meantime, Alan finds himself trying to escape the Dark Place, a haunting realm that twists reality into something menacing but familiar.

Although complementary, the two storylines still feel different from each other, and that extends to their detailed and realistic locations. Alan Wake 2 is a technical work of art built using Remedy's own Northlight Engine, which is also responsible for the equally impressive Control and Quantum Break.

Lords Of The Fallen

Unreal Engine 5 Is Here

Epic's Unreal Engine 5 was introduced in 2020, instantly garnering hype for what it could mean for the industry's future. In 2023, a few notable games that utilize the engine were finally released, presenting early examples of its potential. Remnant 2 and Immortals of Aveum are both visually impressive, and the same could be said for ARK: Survival Ascended.

However, at the moment, Lords of the Fallen is probably the most gorgeous UE5 game, although that could change once titles like Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 are released. While not without its issues, the Soulslike game's graphics are certainly not among them. Axiom is a vast and stunning hellscape, one that has quite a bit of variety. The game's lighting and animations are consistently top-notch too.

Bright Memory: Infinite

A One-Person Team

Games and their visuals cannot be analyzed in a vacuum. Context and expectations shape somebody's reaction to an experience, and that is certainly the case with Bright Memory: Infinite. Developed by a single developer, Zeng Xiancheng, this first-person shooter originally debuted in 2020 as Bright Memory, a concept that was expanded for a full release in July 2022. While the overall game has plenty of issues, its graphics are undeniably impressive, comparing favorably with higher-budget titles.

There are plenty of gorgeous indie titles, but the vast majority succeed because they do not try to emulate AAA projects. They strive to do their own thing. Bright Memory: Infinite does the exact opposite, and the game proves that it can be done well.

Hi-Fi Rush

Burst Of Color

Announced and released out of nowhere, Hi-Fi Rush is, so far, 2023's greatest surprise. Tango Gameworks' action game blends hack and slash combat with rhythm-based mechanics, rewarding players for adhering to the beat. Set in a corporate city run by Vandelay Technologies, the title brings to life a vibrant and bustling metropolis filled with unique buildings and NPCs.

As the campaign is linear, Hi-Fi Rush focuses on creating cool environments and backdrops, two things the game absolutely nails. Quite a few stages are predominantly set within samey corridors and indoor areas, but whenever the action heads outside, Hi-Fi Rush really comes alive.

Okami HD

An Animated Painting

There aren't many games that have been able to graphically stand the test of time as well as Okami has. Originally released in 2006 on consoles like the PlayStation 2 and Wii, Okami was able to take advantage of its timeless style to make the most out of the hardware it was on.

However, playing Okami on those consoles today shows just how much the original systems were holding it back, which is where the HD version comes in. On the PS4 and Switch, Okami's classical Japanese art style looks absolutely stunning in just about every area of the game.

Heavenly Sword

Motion Capture Showcase

Most of Ninja Theory's bigger games boast stellar visuals and character designs, however, Heavenly Sword gets the nod because it was the studio's first proper graphical showcase. More impressively, the early PS3 game still looks beautiful today, an achievement that should be largely credited to the project's use of motion capture technology.

The cut-scenes steal the show and could easily pass for a mid-budget animated flick, with Andy Serkis' performance as King Bohan ranking among the best in any era of gaming. During gameplay, Heavenly Sword is also a treat for the eyes and senses, particularly in its lavish environments.

Killzone: Mercenary

Console Quality On A Handheld System

Regardless of their quality, all the Killzone games are graphical showcases. Despite being a launch title, 2013's Shadow Fall is still among the most visually impressive games on the PS4. As stunning as Guerrilla's mainline entries are, Killzone: Mercenary deserves a special mention due to its hardware.

The PS Vita was and still is a reasonably powerful handheld device, one that could replicate home console visuals to a certain extent. No other title highlighted the console's graphical potential better than Killzone: Mercenary, an FPS that would not have looked out of place on the PS3 or even as a budget PS4 project. The fact it is also a decent game does not hurt either.

Super Mario Odyssey

It Is Not Always About Realism Or Processing Power

While combining "Nintendo Switch game" with "best graphics" might seem weird, it's hard to argue that Super Mario Odyssey doesn't make the most of the console's limited processing power. With a combination of stylized art and impressive HD, Mario explores several gorgeous landscapes that might inspire players to sit back and think about how far things have come.

Nintendo has always used fantastical art styles to produce charming and timeless games that don't break the bank on processing. Mario has never looked this good, and sequences like the New Donk City music festival allow the game to shine.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League

For All Its Faults, The Graphics Are Not One Of Them

All of Rocksteady's games push the envelope in terms of visuals, and 2015's Arkham Knight still boasts the most impressive rendition of Gotham in gaming. Its visuals have aged magnificently, and the gameplay is fantastic, even if the overall project is not quite on the same level as Arkham Asylum or Arkham City. After an 8-year wait, Rocksteady made its comeback with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League; unfortunately, the Arkhamverse spin-off garnered a very mixed reception. Focusing on looter shooter action in an attempt to be a live-service experience, Suicide Squad is a fairly confused project that does not seem to play to Rocksteady's strengths.

While many elements warrant criticism, and it can be tempting to dismiss the entire project, the game is not without positives. If nothing else, the graphics are generally top-notch, particularly when it comes to the cutscenes and character designs. When the action gets going, the screen can get rather muddled, but it is not devoid of visual flare either. For all its faults, Suicide Squad certainly looks like a proper AAA project.

Halo: Reach

A Series That Always Pushed Console Graphics To Their Limits

In truth, Reach could be regarded as a stand-in for Halo in general as Microsoft's franchise is consistently pushing console visuals to their limits. In terms of art style, Halo 4 certainly has its fans; when it comes to graphical prowess, Halo 5 and Infinite are unsurprisingly a step above their predecessors. However, Halo: Reach perfected the series' iconic aesthetic of Bungie's era, ensuring the latter's time with the license ended on a high note.

Nowadays, Reach looks its best in The Master Chief Collection, which enhances the visuals in a few subtle but notable ways. That said, the Xbox 360 version holds up well after all these years.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

At Times, Looks (Much) Better Than The Anime

It wasn't until fairly recently that video games hit the graphical fidelity necessary to be able to fully translate animated shows and films into live gameplay, with recent Dragon Ball games being the most shining examples. 2018's Dragon Ball FighterZ was able to take a page out of Guilty Gear's book to make a stunning 2.5D experience, but gorgeous, fully 3D anime games were still a rarity.

Until Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot was released, that is. Taking the Toriyama characters and landscapes that fans know and love, Kakarot turns them into stunning 3D models with some of the most impressive animations and visual effects around.

Lego Star Wars: Skywalker Saga

Detailed & Beautiful

Lego projects might not be as graphically intensive as games with realistic visuals, but they have a unique and clean aesthetic that generally complements their gameplay and tone. Although the franchise's IP adaptations are consistently pleasing to the eyes, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga exists on a whole other level. Covering all the main episodes in the sci-fi film series, the game beautifully recreates some of the most iconic locations in Star Wars, creating worlds that are expansive and detailed.

Undoubtedly the most ambitious Lego title, The Skywalker Saga is the full package, and Traveller's Tales' hard work is evident throughout the experience. While very much designed with younger players in mind, die-hard fans are likely to have a blast regardless of their age; in fact, people who are just searching for an action-adventure romp should check this release out.

Golden Sun

A Gorgeous World To Take On The Go

In terms of raw power, the Game Boy Advance has nothing on the Nintendo DS, let alone something like the Switch; however, that does not mean the classic console's library is devoid of gorgeous games. Golden Sun is a turn-based JRPG set in Weyard, a fantasy world that is refreshingly diverse in terms of environments.

Largely experienced from a top-down perspective, Golden Sun looks like most other old-school JRPGs found on the GBA or SNES, just with its graphics maximized to their full potential. Camelot instilled every town and dungeon with color and personality, while battles come to life with a flurry of effects that are dazzling to behold.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Looks Exactly Like The Show

When adapting an established property to a different medium, concessions usually need to be made. However, exceptions do exist, and South Park: The Fractured but Whole managed to perfectly replicate the show's aesthetic. The RPG looks and sounds exactly like Trey Parker and Matt Stone's legendary animated series, permitting fans to immerse themselves in this world like never before.

Even removed from that context, The Fractured but Whole's visuals are detailed, expressive, and clean. Authenticity did not come at the cost of quality.

Shadow Of The Colossus (2018)

Majesty In Gaming Form

For the most part, this article focuses on modern games rather than titles that were graphical showcases when they debuted. Shadow of the Colossus both follows this rule and is also an exception; while the PS2 version looks dated, the visuals still retain that same sense of wonder and scale that they had when the game originally came out in 2005.

Bluepoint Games' 2018 remake gives Team Ico's classic a modern makeover, and traversing the Forbidden Land in search of majestic colossi remains as haunting of an experience as it was in the PS2 era.

Persona 5 Royal

Oozes Style

As hundreds of games use an anime aesthetic, they start to blend together if they do not inject enough personality into their presentations. Persona 5 Royal does not have this issue. Everything about the game screams "stylish," and that holds true for the social sim and dungeon crawling sections of the campaign. The latter take place in diverse Palaces that are generally vibrant, lively, and gorgeous.

The visuals also do a lot of heavy lifting during battles, elevating what is a rather unspectacular turn-based combat system. Outside of Palaces, P5R unleashes players on a small but dense variant of Tokyo, one brimming with tiny details that enhance the experience.

Persona 3 Reload is quite a looker as well, although its single-dungeon setup restricts variety when compared to Persona 5 Royal's Palaces.

The Last Of Us 2

Gritty Realism & Tremendous Performances

Naughty Dog's games are always on the cutting edge graphically. 2016's Uncharted 4: A Thief's End has barely aged a day since its release, and 2013's The Last of Us was a contender for the most visually impressive game of the seventh generation. Therefore, unsurprisingly, the studio's latest offering, The Last of Us 2, is a powerhouse in the graphics department.

This action-adventure game features realistic visuals and grounded performances courtesy of Naughty Dog using performance capture. Whether players are viewing a rare quiet moment or crawling in the mud to avoid a Clicker, The Last of Us 2 looks incredible. The 2024 remaster enhances the base version even further.

Gears 5

Weather Effects & Environments

The newly titled Gears 5 takes a series that has always looked good and elevates it to the next level. The game's campaign takes place across a wide variety of environments, from a jungle early on to a snowy tundra and red desert landscape.

The snowy tundra and red desert are also the locations for the game's more open exploration sections, giving a chance to explore and take in all the scenery. Gears 5's cutscenes are also gorgeous and the high fidelity extends into all the game's other modes.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Packed With Stunning Vistas

Assassin's Creed Odyssey earns its subtitle over the 60-plus hours it takes to mainline the story; in the meantime, players get to appreciate and take in the beauty of Ancient Greece. While the environments don't vary a ton from Assassin's Creed Origins, the extra trees and seas make for some spectacular views.

With the viewpoints, Odyssey never hesitates to point out just how magnificent it looks. Most of the main characters and side characters also look great, which is impressive based on the quantity.

Hades

Personality & Vibrancy

Supergiant Games has put together some of the greatest indie releases of all time, and the studio's crowning achievement is Hades. The roguelike follows Zagreus' repeated attempts to make the journey from the Underworld to Mount Olympus, a task that proves to be anything but simple for Hades' son.

Hades' visuals are vibrant, thematically consistent, and lively. The game's environments and characters are soaked in mythology and personality, while the particle effects are fantastic and impactful. The only negative is that sometimes there is a bit too much happening on screen.

Cuphead

Perfectly Mimics Classic Cartoons

A unique and eye-catching art style is often more important than sheer graphical prowess, and Cuphead might be the best demonstration of this point. Inspired by cartoons of old, Studio MDHR created a game that uses stunning and dynamic hand-drawn animation to bring to life a colorful world and the beings that exist within it.

Even though they do not get much in the way of backstory, Cuphead utilizes its presentation to get across the personalities of each boss. The art style is also consistent throughout the campaign, allowing for a coherent experience despite most of the characters boasting designs that share very little in common.

Horizon Forbidden West

Scale & Quality

Guerrilla Games somehow managed to outdo Horizon Zero Dawn with its sequel, despite the latter still coming out on the PS4 alongside the console's successor. Horizon Forbidden West finds Aloy exploring a new area of this setting, one specifically inspired by states and cities like California and San Francisco. The result is a gorgeous and vast world packed with lush natural environments that are home to intricate mechanical beasts.

Like most open-world games, Horizon Forbidden West does not always look absolutely fantastic, but its high points are so impressive that they make the more forgettable moments forgivable. While still a beautiful game on the PS4, this 2022 release is, unsurprisingly, at its best on the PS5.

Ori And The Will Of The Wisps

Great Use Of Color & Light

Moon Studios' Ori games are some of the best modern Metroidvanias, and they knock it out of the park in nearly every area. They tell emotional storylines that succeed in fostering not only a connection between the audience and the silent eponymous character but also the world they live in. Gameplay-wise, both games have precise and challenging platforming, while Will of the Wisps also introduces combat to the mix. Although a touch polarizing, the latter nevertheless adds an extra dimension to the overall package.

Last but not least, Ori and its sequel are both visually enchanting. The games' use of color might be among the best in the entire industry, and each environment is a work of art. In the world of side-scrollers, not many projects compare favorably to Ori and the Will of the Wisps in any department, including graphics.

Demon's Souls (2020)

A Beautiful Hell

As mesmerizing as Elden Ring's visuals can be at times, the game's open-world design means they are spread a bit thin; conversely, 2020's Demon's Souls remake consists of almost nothing but stunning areas. Rife with deadly creatures, haunting architecture, and intimidating landscapes, Boletaria is a gorgeous nightmare of a kingdom that is equally likely to leave players in awe or fear.

As a launch title for the PS5, Demon's Souls served as something of a tech demo for the hardware, showing what the next-gen console could accomplish. This is a game that could not exist on the PS4, and even more than 18 months into the PS5's life, Demon's Souls still has some of the best graphics on the system.

Ghost Of Tsushima

Immersive Open-World

Gazing across Ghost of Tsushima's rendition of the Japanese archipelago is quite the sight to behold, as this highly anticipated title has some breathtaking scenery. Tsushima's main graphical focus is on its world, which ends up feeling just as alive as the characters that inhabit it.

The way cherry blossom petals flow in the highly stylized wind, how the sunset illuminates the beautiful countryside, and the many vibrant colors that contrast the violent gameplay make for one beautiful game.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Pixar Quality

Similar to 2016's Ratchet & Clank, Rift Apart's animation is on a whole other level. The franchise's most recent entries tend to be compared to Pixar's movies, which is about as high of praise as any game can receive. Utilizing the full power of the PS5, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart matches top-tier cutscenes with gameplay sections that are packed with detail, moving parts, and depth.

Insomniac created lavish and dense worlds that all have unique flavors that make them exciting to explore. When the action gets going and Ratchet or Rivet scoop up bolts, Rift Apart is as smooth as butter.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is also visually stunning and represents Insomniac at its best. Rift Apart merits the nod due to being among the first PS5 projects to showcase the console's graphical potential, but Spider-Man 2 is as good-looking of an open-world game as they come.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch

Ghibli Quality

Except for Square Enix, Level-5 is arguably the most consistent JRPG developer in terms of visuals. Yo-kai Watch, Dragon Quest 8, and Dark Cloud 2 are all gorgeous, and the latter's art styles are timeless. Level-5's graphical masterpiece is undoubtedly 2013's Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, although the developer got some help as the game's cutscenes were handled by Studio Ghibli.

The anime studio is well-known for its lavish cinematic productions, and Wrath of the White Witch replicates Ghibli's iconic style splendidly. Even if the cutscenes were ignored, Ni no Kuni would still rank among the PS3's most beautiful games.

Resident Evil 2 (2019)

A Remake Done Right

Years of remasters and rereleases have cemented the idea that old games can look better than they did, but not as good as modern ones. Capcom rebuilding Resident Evil 2 from the ground up makes it a modern video game, a fantastic one at that. Leon and Claire have never looked this good and neither have the zombies and monsters terrorizing Raccoon City.

The police station and underground lab look nearly life-like and every scare in the game is extra terrifying with how detailed the monsters are. Even Tyrant looks awesome, in his own terrifying way.

Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4 also look fantastic, but RE2 received the nod as it was the first of Capcom's stint of recent remakes. Resident Evil Village is also stunning.

Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)

The World At The Player's Fingertips

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a jaw-dropping achievement. The flight sim grants players access to the world, allowing them to plan and take trips to Earth's highest mountains, hottest deserts, and greatest metropolises. The game's scope is impressive, and this ambition is more than matched by its technical prowess.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is arguably the most realistic game of all time, with both the planes and locations authentically mirroring their real-life counterparts to the smallest detail.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Reimagined & Still Impressive

Final Fantasy 7 has done it once again. When Square released the PS1 game in 1997, its stunning pre-rendered backgrounds, cutscenes, and battles were the most advanced that a game had ever looked. Needless to say, the Remake had a lot to live up to.

Comparing the two games is night and day, but not simply due to the 23-year difference in age. The Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a fantastically beautiful game with some of the most immersive lighting and environments in all gaming, and the character models for the main cast look a hundred times better than the already good-looking FF7 movie, Advent Children.

To be fair, Square Enix's franchise is almost always on the cutting edge when it comes to graphics. Final Fantasy 13 and 16 are also beautiful games, and the same can be said for most of the older releases. FF7R represents the entire series.

God Of War (2018) & Ragnarok (2022)

A New Era, A New Look

Nothing against the previous installments of God of War, which are all technical showcases in their own right, but the soft reboot of the 2018 sequel and its successor are not only different but also more gorgeous. Exploring the Norse lands to soak up this universe's mythology is spectacular for a number of reasons, including the fact that everything looks great.

God of War captures Kratos and Atreus in a way that gives depth to the former not experienced in previous installments. Unsurprisingly, God of War: Ragnarok maintains the high quality set by its predecessor. Graphically, the sequel does not offer a huge leap forward, but that is a testament to God of War's beauty rather than a criticism of Ragnarok​​​​​.

The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Pushes The Switch To Its Absolute Limit

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom boast vibrant art styles that bring Hyrule to life like never before. However, if someone were to focus on the minute details, they might notice reused or flat textures along with large stretches of empty real estate containing nothing but maybe two enemies and a couple of apples. Compared to some other open-world projects, Nintendo's releases might not be that impressive; however, considering the Switch's underpowered hardware, both games are technical marvels.

Tears of the Kingdom gets the nod as it has more content than Breath of the Wild thanks to the implementation of Sky Islands and the Depths. Pushing the Switch to its absolute limit, the sequel delivers one of the most complete and expansive open-world adventures of all time.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A Dark Fantasy Masterpiece In Nearly Every Way

Known for being one of the greatest games ever made, CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3 is phenomenal for numerous reasons. Not all the monsters or gruff characters are a joy to look at because they aren't meant to be, but the sprawling landscapes are constantly killer.

While the console versions look great (not including the Switch port, which is nonetheless impressive in its own right), The Witcher 3 on PC can hit graphical levels that are almost beyond understanding. The game is worth playing for a ton of reasons besides graphics, but looking good is always a plus. The bathtub scene is worth the price of entry alone.

On the right system, Cyberpunk 2077 is also one of the best-looking games ever.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

A Proper Current-Gen Experience

As the ninth console generation picks up steam, more games will debut that raise the bar for graphics, at least on Sony and Microsoft's hardware. A Plague Tale: Requiem is one of the first games to truly come across as a current-gen experience, an achievement aided by Asobo Studio's decision to not produce PS4 and Xbox One versions.

Boasting brilliant facial animations and photo-realistic visuals, Requiem is awe-inspiring on a technical level. While 2019's Innocence is also a pretty game, Requiem far exceeds its predecessor in this department, particularly when it comes to the presentation of the rats.

Forza Horizon 5

Mexico At The Player's Fingertips

As long as Forza games continue to be made they will continue to be the best-looking games on the market. Forza Horizon 5 isn't just one of the greatest racing games of the last few years, but one of the most gorgeous titles to ever be released for Xbox.

While Forza Horizon 4's British setting resulted in slightly homogenous environments, the sequel's Mexico map is far more diverse, offering 11 biomes that showcase different aspects of the country. While the game looks good on the Xbox One, Forza Horizon 5 is unbelievably gorgeous on PC and the Xbox Series X.

Half-Life: Alyx

The Future Of Gaming?

After more than a decade, Valve finally returned to the Half-Life franchise, albeit with a prequel/sequel rather than a proper third entry. Also, Half-Life: Alyx is a VR game, presumably designed to get people interested in Valve's Index headset. Dropping players in City 17, Alyx not only serves as a showcase of VR technology but is also a proper, substantial addition to the beloved series.

Half-Life: Alyx arguably features the most detailed world in gaming history, and, thanks to virtual reality, one of the most immersive. Although most of the game takes place in underground areas filled with brilliantly designed environments and enemies, Half-Life: Alyx's presentation goes up another level whenever the story heads to the surface.

Red Dead Redemption 2

An Era Captured Fully

Red Dead Redemption 2 is arguably the game with the best graphics of all time, although Rockstar's GTA 5 and L.A. Noire would not be bad shouts either. RDR2 is practically a movie due to how detailed and impressive all the NPCs and landscapes look on both consoles and PC.

Not only does every single frame of this adventure look photo-realistic, but RDR2 is also incredibly long and players will never get tired of the scenery. Arthur Morgan looks and feels like a real human being, and the same extends to every other character within the game. RDR2 is nothing short of art.

Groundbreaking Games From Yesteryear

They Set The Standard

While not quite as regular of a phenomenon nowadays, the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s produced plenty of games that represented the next leap in graphical prowess. Titles like Pong, Asteroids, Super Mario Bros., Super Mario 64, Alone in the Dark, Ocarina of Time, Tomb Raider, Mist, Final Fantasy 7, and Grand Theft Auto 3 were all visual showcases that changed the industry.

Even if some of these projects' graphics have not aged extremely well, that does not diminish their accomplishments or importance. And, plenty of these masterpieces have stood the test of time, especially Nintendo's SNES-era releases.