Yeah, we know that a lot of you are going to swear by the gameplay over a game’s graphics, but it doesn’t hurt when they’re both on point now, does it? This year has given us some real beauties on the visual front, bringing immersive worlds to life in ways that make the gameplay feel even better.
It’s hard to believe that we’ve got so many great ones in just the first half of the year, but the current generation of gaming hardware has made developers push the envelope on graphical fidelity, making games that can blur the line between what’s real and what’s not. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite ones of the year, beginning with:
1. Resident Evil Requiem
The RE Engine has always been great at bringing whatever the developer dreams up to life, but this one’s great use of lighting, environmental detail, and excellent photorealistic graphics was the pinnacle of what the studio has achieved over the years. From Leon’s grizzly look to Grace’s raw fear and vulnerability, the character models were brilliant. Even better was how the franchise’s often moody and dark vibe was reflected in the very walls of the Rhodes Hill Care Facility or within the gloomy ruins of Raccoon City.
Of course, it wasn’t all about looks, as the gameplay was made all the more immersive thanks to how smooth the entire thing was, be it Grace running from The Child or taking control of Leon to beat down on zombies that came with superior numbers. All of the blood and gore on display served to underline the horrors of what the two protagonists were facing, while the addition of differing camera perspectives was a very welcome touch.
The developer really cooked with this one.
2. RIDE 6
We really liked how the world and the bikes themselves fed into the illusion that we were right there on the tracks, swinging a leg over those impossibly fast machines in the process. The details on each bike were nothing short of stunning, with Unreal Engine 5 working under the hood to ensure that their metal panels let the light gently glance off of them.
The tracks and the world in general were additional facets of the experience that added to the immersion, and the way things moved once you let your throttle loose is a feeling that only those among us who love riding can describe. This one’s definitely earned its place among the year’s finest on the graphical front, and with good reason.
3. Reanimal
An adventure that’s as emotionally layered as the harrowing one that The Boy and The Girl undertake in Reanimal was always going to rely on the grim and gritty world that acted as its stage. Tarsier Studios definitely had that in mind when crafting this one, and the sense of isolation and despair that the Island brought to the table was definitely a highlight of the experience.
The art direction, cinematic presentation, and the stunning level of detail on offer in this one did well to make the horror side of things stand out, while lending a layer of poignancy to the tale of two lost children looking for a way out of desperate circumstances. From the efficient use of limited light in specific situations to presenting the desolation of a world that’s designed to make you hesitate, this one definitely stands tall among the year’s finest titles.
4. Subnautica 2
While the long wait for this one might not feel as rewarding in terms of the narrative, which is going to take a bit of time to fully present its complexities, the world of Proteus is an entirely different story. It’s crafted to make you feel like a smaller part of a larger landscape, its flora and fauna designed so well that they’re almost calling to you to investigate further. That’s a crucial pillar of this one’s gameplay loop, and to see it implemented as well as it has been is a reason for Subnautica 2 to shine as bright as it does.
Exploring the world gives you a strong feeling of venturing into the unknown, and the graphics do a very good job of selling that sentiment as you try to make sense of what’s been unfolding on the planet before you got there. On the graphical front, Proteas does well to make itself a world that you can’t help but explore, the desire to see more of it stemming from how well it’s presented to you.
5. Pragmata
Hugh and Diana’s time in The Cradle wouldn’t have been as engaging if the darn thing hadn’t been as ethereally beautiful as it was. It’s almost as if the facility was designed to be the perfect backdrop to an adventure that had action and emotion woven in with a sublime balance. It wasn’t just the pristine walls and stunning environments but the way Diana’s hacking minigame was designed and presented, alongside enemy designs that we continue to grin about when we think about them.
This one’s design chops were a very memorable part of the experience it was offering, and it almost made us sad that there wasn’t more of it to go around. Well, there’s every chance a sequel comes along to dazzle us even more sometime in the future, so there’s that. But Pragmata definitely deserves a place on this list thanks to how well the world you’re a part of makes the entire journey even better without taking away from the rest of it.
6. Forza Horizon 6
Japan’s a popular place in modern gaming, and the Horizon Festival’s take on the land, its unique vibe, and, of course, the cars is a very impressive way to make its latest iteration engaging right off the bat. From the bustling streets of its cities to the serene beauty of its open roads and mountains, Japan almost feels like it’s where the Festival has always belonged, although we know that it’s going to move on in the franchise’s next offering.
Nevertheless, this one’s going to have you stopping to just take in the sights more often than not. We even gave up on a race to just admire the scenic beauty of a road high up on a mountain at one point, and that’s a testament to how the game’s weather system and excellent lighting make every inch of Japan a place worth looking into. The graphics are a solid part of why this one feels so special, and it’s going to be interesting to see how Playground tops them in whatever it’s planning next.
7. Crimson Desert
Oh, Pywel. What a place for a fan of fantasy titles to visit. From its well-designed cities to biomes that not just remain visually distinct from each other but constantly seem to be trying to be more impressive than the one you just left, this one’s definitely up there with some of the most visually impressive open worlds there are. And that’s not even factoring in the Abyss and whatever mysteries its sci-fi vibes are hiding.
Lush fields, dense forests, mechanical marvels, dark caves, bright palaces contrast well with desolate ruins, terrifying monsters, and a harsh desert, all of which serve to underline a land that’s as visually diverse as it is on a mechanical level. Yes, this one had a bit of a shaky start, but its problems are now just blips on a very promising horizon thanks to the developer’s efforts to make this a fantasy you can’t get enough of.
8. REPLACED
In our review of this one, we were quite impressed by how detailed its pixel art-style environments could be, and that continues to be a highlight of the experience on offer. It’s never easy to present great detailing and a unique style in a way that communicates desolation and a grim reality for the people exploring worlds like Phoenix City, and Sad Cat deserves credit for crafting environments that make you gape at their melancholic beauty even as the sadness of what’s created such spaces remains as an undercurrent to nudge your emotions a certain way.
The platforming puzzle sections deserve a special mention, and we’re still thinking about how well they’ve been presented in this one. On the graphical front, this one definitely deserves praise for the way in which it brings the world to life, dystopian hellscape vibes and all.
9. 007 First Light
IO Interactive’s take on James Bond’s early trysts with MI6 is as stylish as the man himself. If you’ve seen even a hint of this one, you probably already know why we’ve given it a spot on our list. Lights reflect off surfaces so naturally, while character models and environmental details help sell the story it’s trying to tell so well that it isn’t easy to remember that this one’s a video game and not an interactive film.
It also helps that everything is so polished that it enables the gameplay to better sell a version of Bond who’s brutal in a fight, while being quite the marksman if he’s at range. All in all, this one is a Bond game for the ages, and its visual fidelity is definitely a pillar that props up the experience it offers.
10. Saros
We weren’t really surprised at how visually resplendent Carcosa was after our time with Returnal, but Saros definitely earns its place on this list thanks to how Arjun’s harrowing time in a world that doesn’t make sense to him as often as he’d like is presented. From those almost spellbinding bullet patterns to some truly terrifying enemy designs, this one definitely belongs among the stronger visual feats this year has achieved.
Carcosa itself shouldn’t be discounted, with places like the Shattered Ruins, the Mysterious Depths, and, of course, the Ancient City all standing out as places that you want to learn more about while remaining imposing enough to make you hesitant about indulging that curiosity. This one’s as good as they come, and Housemarque deserves credit for a title that looks this good.
And that’s about it for this one. It’s been a pleasure to dive into the worlds these games have given us, and we’ve no doubt that the rest of the year has more of these visual marvels coming our way. Until then, it’s probably a good idea to give any of these titles a shot if you’re looking for something to cast a spell on you.
