Graphics are an important part of any video game, but many games go above and beyond, transporting players to a world that feels closer to reality than fiction. Exploring an expansive or inviting world is already pretty immersive, so adding in high-fidelity environments, detailed faces, and more makes the experience even more gripping.
JRPGs With The Best Graphics (For Their Era)
JRPGs are known for their timeless storytelling, but some stand out visually. Here's a list of the best JRPGs graphically for their era.
There are so many great games out there that also come with absurd graphics to round off the experience, allowing it to both look and feel good to play. From futuristic environments to fantasy settings, the graphics have only gotten better over time, and they show no signs of slowing down either.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Breathtaking Environments For One Heck Of A Journey
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a technical masterpiece, delivering one of the most realistic open worlds in gaming. From sweeping landscapes to intimate details like mud on boots and shifting weather patterns, its presentation feels alive, and every aspect of the world captures the essence of a living frontier.
The immersion extends to storytelling, where facial animations and environmental details enhance the weight of the narrative. Every sunset, storm, and shadow is crafted with precision, creating a world that feels authentic and allowing it to remain a benchmark for open-world design, balancing realism with artistry in a way few titles have matched.
God Of War: Ragnarok
The Classic Hero Has Never Looked So Good
God of War Ragnarok
- Released
- November 9, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
God of War Ragnarok expands its mythological world with visuals that embody grandeur and godlike might. Each realm bursts with detail, from frozen wastelands to fiery forges, showcasing a striking use of lighting and scale that enhances NPC interactions and general exploration.
The game blends cinematic spectacle with technical prowess. Seamless transitions between exploration, combat, and cutscenes ensure visual consistency without losing performance. Whether battling colossal foes or traversing serene landscapes, the attention to presentation elevates the experience to the heights it deserves.
Black Myth: Wukong
Cinematic Battles Filled With Action And Intensity
Black Myth: Wukong
- Released
- August 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Game Science
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Black Myth: Wukong has captivated audiences with its stunning demonstration of Unreal Engine 5, which powers the gorgeous mythological environments. The textures, lighting, and particle effects heighten realism, making each scene feel rich and cinematic, combined with a combat system that transports the player into the shoes of the legendary Wukong himself.
The gameplay goes above and beyond in terms of creating a power fantasy. Transformations, spell effects, and enemy designs emphasize the spectacle without losing clarity, and every movement carries weight, blending style with technical precision and perfectly marrying folklore-inspired artistry with cutting-edge graphics in a way that feels groundbreaking.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Walking Across Beautiful Yet Haunting Landscapes
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
- June 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
Death Stranding 2 builds on its predecessor’s hauntingly beautiful visuals with an even more refined aesthetic. The landscapes, vast and desolate, are rendered with incredible detail, capturing the stark beauty of a broken world.
8 RPGs With Better Graphics Than Gameplay
RPGs often rely on both visuals and gameplay to hook players, but sometimes it’s the visuals doing the heavy lifting.
Characters benefit from equally meticulous design, with lifelike models brought to life through advanced performance capture. Their expressions and movements deepen the game’s surreal narrative, allowing the graphics to blur the line between film and interactive art in a striking yet inspiring way.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Artistry On Another Level
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 immediately stands out for its distinctive visual style, blending painterly art direction with cutting-edge rendering. The game’s surreal environments feel like living works of art, with landscapes shifting between dream-like beauty and nightmarish intensity.
The combat and exploration showcase the same visual ambition, with particle effects, lighting, and animation reinforcing the sense of spectacle. Every moment is designed to appear as a moving painting, balancing fluid gameplay with unforgettable imagery, within a universe that is equal parts beautiful and bleak.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Minute Details From The Street To The Skies
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 elevates its visuals by combining photorealism with comic-inspired energy. New York City is recreated with insane detail, from bustling streets to reflective skyscrapers, all enhanced by dynamic lighting and weather, allowing the city to feel alive no matter the moment or time of day.
Upcoming Games With Ridiculous Graphics
Graphical improvements in gaming show no signs of slowing down, as these upcoming titles look like nothing the industry has ever seen before.
The characters and enemies are equally impressive, featuring intricate textures and expressive animations that enhance the story’s emotional impact. Swinging through the city feels cinematic, with technical features like motion blur, ray-traced reflections, and fluid transitions, heightening the realism of its world and cementing it as a triumph in graphical design.
Ghost Of Tsushima
Bloody Battles With Picturesque Backdrops
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Ghost of Tsushima is a visual love letter to feudal Japan, blending realism with artistry in a way that feels familiar yet unique. Its landscapes, from windswept plains to cherry blossom groves, are composed like paintings, with careful use of lighting and color, and the result is an environment that feels both grounded and poetic.
Combat and movement reinforce the same visual philosophy, as blades clash with cinematic sparks, weather shifts mid-battle, and camera angles frame encounters like classic samurai films. The beauty of the island is heightened by small details, such as drifting leaves and dynamic skies, transforming the exploration into a deeply visual experience.
Cyberpunk 2077
The Realistic Futuristic City There Is
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Cyberpunk 2077 delivers one of gaming’s most detailed urban landscapes with its sprawling Night City. Neon-soaked streets, towering skyscrapers, and crowded alleys form a dense environment alive with detail, and the lighting effects and environmental variety give the city its unforgettable atmosphere.
Character models and futuristic tech are equally striking. From cybernetic augmentations to intricate fashion, every aspect reinforces the game’s vision of a gritty cyberpunk future. Despite its rocky launch, the visual ambition is undeniable, and today, with technical improvements, Cyberpunk 2077 stands as one of the most visually immersive and ambitious open-world experiences ever created.
10 Best Games That Run Well On Integrated Graphics
No need for a beastly computer to play these excellent video games. Here's how well they run on integrated graphics.