From 8-bit pixels to realistic graphics, PC gaming and the gaming experience have come a long way. Although the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X is capable of impressive graphics, the PC is still the platform to use if you want your gaming system to have the highest possible visual quality. Games with the best graphics may be pushed to their absolute boundaries on gaming PCs thanks to features like an Nvidia graphics card, deep learning super sampling, and DirectX 12 ray tracing.
Today, a visually impressive game is often standard procedure we are looking at the games that stand above the rest, graphics-wise.
#10. Demon Souls
As captivating as Elden Ring’s aesthetics might be at times, the game’s open-world nature means they are spread out; in contrast, 2020’s Demon’s Souls remake is nearly entirely comprised of breathtaking places. Boletaria is a stunning nightmare of a country filled with terrible monsters, frightening architecture, and terrifying vistas that will leave players in wonder or terror.
Demon’s Souls served as a sort of tech showcase for the PS5 as its launch title, demonstrating what the next-generation platform was capable of. This game could not exist on the PS4, and Demon’s Souls still boasts some of the most incredible visuals and one of the most hardcore campaigns on the console almost 2 years later.
#9. Forza Horizon 5
At this point, racing games are always beautiful. Forza Horizon 5, however, takes this to the next level. The game takes place in a vast recreation of Mexico, replete with jungles, towns, and deserts, all of which look incredible.
Forza is a sight to behold when the sun beams down and sends rays through the forest canopies. Obviously, we must emphasize the cars, which are by far the most detailed we’ve ever seen in a video game. There are also over 500 of them in the game, which is rather astounding. Understandably, any unsuspecting bystander may mistake Forza Horizon 5 for real life.
#8. Control
To put it simply, control on a PC is a fantastic experience. The core of Control is Remedy’s Northlight engine, which was previously used to make the breathtaking Quantum Break, which tested the Xbox One’s limits when it first came out. Since Quantum Break, the Northlight engine’s graphical technology has seen numerous improvements, and Control now stands out as a far superior example of what PC visuals are capable of.
DLSS 2.0 is a major factor in why we adore the graphics of Control. To be completely honest, the technical aspects of DLSS are a tad dull. But in essence, DLSS upscales your games using machine learning. For instance, DLSS will render Control at 1080p and then upscale it to 1440p using the A.I.’s references if Control runs at 1440p. The end result is straightforward: Control is a great example of how games may run at more excellent frame rates and resolutions while using fewer system resources.
#7. Resident Evil: Village
Since Capcom bought out the RE Engine for Resident Evil 7 in 2017, their games have looked quite superb. A few games in 2021 used the engine, but Resident Evil Village is the one we wanted to draw attention to. This is the most recent mainstream entry in the Resident Evil series, in which players assume control of Ethan Winters again after Resident Evil 7. Ethan is thrust into a downward spiral where he is forced into a new chaotic mess in a rural community when ChrTo reappears in his life once more.
To determine what is happening, we must investigate this large village, its various residences, lairs, and even a castle. Over the years, Capcom has adding atmospheric touches and a spooky setting to the Resident Evil series. That still applies to Resident Evil Village, which is currently playable on PC and console platforms. Fortunately, if you haven’t played Resident Evil 7, you may watch a recap video to get a quick refresher on the plot.
#6. Final Fantasy XV
Graphical fidelity has never been an issue for Square Enix. Final Fantasy X was without a doubt one of the finest definition PS2 games ever, and Final Fantasy VII advanced the entire medium in terms of CGI and cinematics. Nearly five years after its initial release, Square Enix still has Final Fantasy XV as one of the best-looking PC games, upholding the company’s reputation.
Final Fantasy XV employs the Luminous Engine to create a large open world with insane detail in its nooks and crannies. Final Fantasy XV’s graphics capabilities have plenty of room to breathe thanks to the horsepower of current PCs, as opposed to last-gen consoles, when the technology always seemed confined and shortcuts were struck.
#5. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
The game Assassin’s Creed Valhalla continues to use the same AnvilNext 2.0 engine as Odyssey and Origins used. The three games are fairly comparable in terms of overall visual quality on PC. We’re giving Valhalla this spot not just because it’s one of the greatest Assassin’s Creed games and the most current games but also because it provides a wonderful change of scenery from the games that came before it.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla looks fantastic, as one would expect from a modern, open-world Ubisoft game, but it’s the game’s snowy environment sets it distinct from Origins and Odyssey. Valhalla lacks ray tracing and many of the graphic enhancements that other games on this list offer (Valhalla is using an engine from 2014, after all). Regardless, Valhalla is a visual powerhouse that can compete with any of the games on our list and it is the most visually impressive game in the Assassin’s Creed series yet.
#4. Death Stranding
Regarding the crossover of video games and movies, Death Stranding by Hideo Kojima may be the closest thing to a flawless marriage of the two. Replicating that cinematic experience in a game is difficult, but Death Stranding succeeds thanks to well-thought-out camera work and cinematography in both cutscenes and gameplay.
Death Stranding by Kojima Productions sends players on a trek through a post-apocalyptic America delivering parcels and reconnecting a network. Although other people (and things) are encounter along the road, this journey is distinguishing the mostly by solitude and silence. This framework allows the game’s landscapes to show through, and while there are no vast cities to explore, Death Stranding’s universe is nonetheless full of personality.
#3. God of War
PC gamers rejoiced when God of War finally came to PC. Nothing against the previous God of War games, but the soft reboot of the 2018 sequel is just a significantly different game, but also a stunning one. Exploring Norse countries and mythology through this game is incredibly remarkable because it looks beautiful.
This game captures Kratos and Atreus in a way that gives these characters life and complexity not seen in earlier iterations, at least for the God of War. This is the most immaculate dad simulator available.
#2. Dying Light 2: Stay Human
This may be the most visually demanding game available on PC right now. To play the game at 4K, you’ll need at least an RTX 3080 before you turn on any ray tracing. To play the game with most setups, you’ll need to employ one of the built-in supersampling methods – luckily, the game supports AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR). Dying Light 2 may send even the most expensive hardware to its knees if you wish to enable ray tracing.
#1. Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar never fails to deliver and continuously pushes graphics fidelity boundaries. Red Dead 2 is by far one of the most difficult and visually appealing games available. When I originally played it on PS4, I was surprised at how much better everything looks on PC. Red Dead Redemption can only be seen stretching its legs on PC.
Rockstar’s interpretation of the American southwest differs from previous open-world games. Despite being surrounding by otherwise benign trees, everything is so detailing that you just want to get lost in it. And whether it’s twilight or morning, every moment is a Kodak moment. While I adore ray tracing and will continue to sing its praises, Red Dead 2 demonstrates that superb art direction, mastery of your tools, and a meticulously constructed setting can result in a wonderful-looking game regardless of the technology employed.
We have had some absolutely stunning graphics in video games over the past few years, and the graphics will only improve.
