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.
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Updated on January 9, 2023 by Mark Sammut: What game has the best graphics? The answer to this question seems to change bi-monthly, and upcoming projects like Skull and Bones, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and Final Fantasy 16 will undoubtedly lay claim to the throne. However, successful visuals require more than just a high resolution and the latest technology. In fact, some of the most beautiful games are on outdated hardware.
36 Bright Memory: Infinite
Platform/s: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
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.
RELATED: Things FPS Fans Will Love About Bright Memory: Infinite
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.
Get it on Steam here!
35 Okami HD
Platform/s: PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Switch, PC
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.
Although, playing Okami on those consoles today shows just how much they were holding it back, which is where OkamiHD comes in. On the PS4 and Switch, Okami’s classical Japanese art style looks absolutely stunning in just about every area of the game.
34 Heavenly Sword
Platform/s: PS3
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.
33 Killzone: Mercenary
Platform/s: PS Vita
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.
32 Super Mario Odyssey
Platform/s: Switch
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.
31 Halo: Reach
Platform/s: Xbox 360
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.
30 Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Platform/s: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Stadia
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.
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Until Dragon Ball Z: Kakarotwas 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.
29 Black
Platform/s: PS2, Xbox
Released in 2006, Black garnered near-universal praise for its visuals, which put to shame almost any other console shooter on the market at the time. Nowadays, the game’s graphics might not seem all that amazing, but they could easily pass for a project that debuted a few years later.
In some ways, it is a shame Black came out during the sixth console generation since the FPS would have looked incredible on HD hardware. Criterion’s title will just have to settle for being one of the best-looking games on the Xbox and PS2.
28 Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
Platform/s: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Stadia
Dragon Quest is considered to be the grandfather of modern JRPGs, dating all the way back to 1986. Because of its age, Dragon Quest 11 isn’t the first instance where the series has produced a visually stunning game for its console generation, but it is certainly the most impressive.
Dragon Quest 11’s gameplay and cutscenes are some of the most well-animated in the industry, and this stays consistent throughout DQXI’s 60+ hour main story, which only makes it all the more impressive.
27 Golden Sun
Platform/s: GBA
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.
26 South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Platform/s: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
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.
25 Shadow Of The Colossus (2018)
Platform/s: PS4, PS3, PS2
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.
24 Persona 5 Royal
Platform/s: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
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.
23 The Last Of Us 2
Platform/s: PS4
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.
22 Gears 5
Platform/s: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
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.
21 Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Platform/s: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Stadia
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.
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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.
20 Hades
Platform/s: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
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.
19 Cuphead
Platform/s: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
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.
Get it on Steam here!
18 Horizon Forbidden West
Platform/s: PS5, PS4
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.
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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.
17 Demon’s Souls (2020)
Platform: PS5
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.
