It’s nice to just sit back, relax, and have some fun and play games with realistic graphics.
Whether it's through straight up 4k hyper realistic resolution or through great art styles and visual designs, these 15 games are the best at what they can offer visually. These are 15 games with beautiful visuals.
15. Borderlands 3 - 2019 (PS4, PC, Xbox One, macOS, Stadia, Xbox Series X/S, PS5)
aaaaaand OPEN
The third installment of the franchise that invented the shoot and loot genre.
Borderlands 3 takes us to the planet of Pandora and beyond to fight the two newest big bads, The Calypso Twins, as we try to stop their insane plans to become the only two stars in the night sky.
Still following the same action-adventure first person shooter playstyle of the previous main entries in the series.
Playing as one of 4 new playable characters where you can play either single or multiplayer, you’re tasked through different missions in the vast open world.
Created in its trademark cell shaded art style but with better framerates and resolutions made for hardware beasts like the PS5 it's hard to not be mesmerized by the enormity of the playable area and also the design of the characters in it. Lilith, Pandora, and Tiny Tina never looked so good
Borderlands 3 - Official Cinematic Trailer
14. Control - 2019 (PS4, PC, Xbox One, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia)
Jean Grey without the crazy and all the power
Playing as a telekinesis powered woman named Jesse, you're taken to a building known as “The Oldest House” as Jesse traverses the building,she fights beings from another plane of existence known as “The Hiss”
Released back in 2019 and played in a third person perspective, you battle corrupted building employees and the otherworldly entities with an experimental gun that can transform into any type of firearm.
The game also lets you use your telekinesis at will to defend, sense, and attack your opponents.
Graphics in the game are astounding even though the entirety of this game is played inside a brutalist style building. The particle effects, lighting, and textures of your attacks and the environmental destruction are top notch.
Telekinesis effects on objects such as tables and chairs and flinging them towards your enemies are as satisfying and visually stunning as it can be.
Control - Gamescom 2019 Launch Trailer / PS4
13. Days Gone - 2019 (PS4, PC)
Visual Presentation of what anxiety feels like - zombie apocalypse style
One of the most criminally underrated Sony published games with which its critical consensus did not do it justice, Days Gone is still remembered as an all time great despite the criticisms it got.
Released back in 2019 to much hype surrounding its release due to its main gameplay mechanic being that you can fight enormous hordes of zombies known as “freakers” that come at you like a tidal wave of infected flesh and teeth waiting to rip you apart.
You travel through Oregon as you try to find your lost wife while figuring out what started the plague in the first place and, possibly, to find a cure to stop it.
The visuals of a ravaged Oregon countryside is beautiful and haunting at the same time.
Sights of far away bandit camps and desolate small towns set the tone for a bleak and dangerous world where behind any corner there could be hundreds of the infected freakers waiting for their next victim.
Freaker hordes are the most terrifying things you can see in the game. Just the site of 500 of them barrelling towards you at top speed is enough to give you a mini panic attack.
Days Gone - Story Trailer / PS4
12. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla - 2020 (PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia)
Nothing screams assassin more than a 6 and a half foot tall nordic dude wielding two axes and a shield
Released in 2020 and acting as the twelfth mainline story in the Assassin's Creed Franchise, Valhalla takes us to the Viking conquests and expansions in the British Isles which lasted between 872 to 878 AD.
We take control of Eivor Varinsdottir, a viking raider who is recruited into the assassin brotherhood during her attempt to establish a viking clan in England.
Canonically, Eivor is female but the player can choose Eivor’s gender at the beginning of the game or letting the game alternate genders during key events suitable for whichever gender.
Played in a style similar to the Origins and Odyssey games in the franchise, the play area is enormous, spanning most of the British isles with more than a hundred different locations where the player can go on main and side missions.
The play area of Valhalla is the most highly detailed in all the Assassin’s Creed games and specifically made to coincide with the release of the PS5 where during the synchronization points you can clearly see kilometers of draw distance beautifully rendered.
Character designs and kill animations are especially satisfying and encapsulates the brutality of what viking warfare would’ve looked like.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Cinematic World Premiere Trailer
11. The Order 1886 - (PS4)
Hard to believe that this was a release title made for the PS4
Released as a playstation exclusive back in 2015 published by Ready At Dawn, The Order 1886 surprisingly still holds up today in terms of the graphics.
Played in third person mostly focused on cover-shooting, you're taken to an alternate 1800’s London where you play as Galahad, one of the knights of the round table, as you fight supernatural enemies such as werewolves and vampires and organizations focused on taking down the government.
Released 8 years ago, it still looks spectacular even if it was one of the very first exclusives for the PS4.
The grime and heaviness of 1800’s London can be seen and felt in the saturation of colors in the environment with textures and lighting still holding up well even when played on hardware beasts such as the more advanced PS5.
A criminally underrated game also during release, critics gave mixed to negative reactions to the games story but eventually the game garnered a cult following since its release with players still clamoring for The Order 1887 if it ever comes into fruition.
The Order: 1886 - Announce Trailer (PS4) / E3 2013
10. Mortal Kombat 11 - 2019 (Switch, PS4, PC, Xbox One, Stadia, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
Early defibrillation courtesy of good guy Raiden
The game that started the Entertainment Software Ratings Board or the ESRB as we know it returned back in 2019 for its 11th mainline installment of history’s most beloved blood and murder loving fighting game.
Mortal Kombat 11 still played like the previous Mortal Kombat games as it pits two characters, one controlled by the player and the other either by the computer or a second player.
Fatalities in the game are the most gruesome in the series as you can cut your foes in half with a flaming chain, kick their heads off and cut the head in two, and rip their bodies in half to make them into a sock puppet.
Story mode is surprisingly also great as it continues the story from MKX and even has a story expansion in the Aftermath DLC.
Character models look great with their facial expressions caught accurately with every emotion they make and every wince of pain rendered accurately.
Even the fight stages in the game look stunning and rendered beautifully and can be interacted with by the player to use objects in the background like scythes, saws, and fire.
Mortal Kombat 11 - Official Announce Trailer
9. Spider-Man: Miles Morales - 2020 (PS4, PS5, PC)
Sometimes all it takes is a leap of faith and Adidas sneakers
The follow-up to Insomniac’s stellar 2018 game Spider-Man, we now take control of Miles Morales who played a minor role in the first game.
As the newest Spider-Man in training, Peter Parker leaves the safety of the city in your hands as a new threat rises up led by the mysterious and dangerous Tinkerer.
Traversal in the game is the most satisfying aspect in the gameplay as swinging from building to building while flipping and flopping through the air as if you're still just a hero in training is an oddly satisfying thing to witness.
Combat is fluid and counterattacks still feel as fresh as it was when the original game was released.
Graphics wise, there hasn’t been a better rendition of the city of New York ever in games. New weather effects are introduced in the game like snow as the events of the game happen during December.
Diving through the air while the sunset is shining in the horizon is one of this game's better moments to give you a visual feast tailor made to your own playthrough.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Launch Trailer / PS5, PS4
8. The Last of Us Part 2 (PS4)
About to be turned into a pin cushion in about 1 second
If you follow us here at Gamers Decide then you already know how much we love The Last of Us series and it clearly shows as we have featured this game in a lot of the articles here and for good reason.
Released in 2020 at the tail end of the PS4’s reign at the top of the Sony console list, The Last of Us Part 2 takes us into the lives of Ellie who was present in the 1st game and a new character named Abby who has her own story to fulfill.
Gameplay is gritty and gory with updated kill animations like giblets being blown apart and limbs being cut off and enemies being burned alive in real time.
It is as raw as it can get for a game with a story that snagged it the 2020 Game of the Year award.
But in terms of the graphics, it's absolutely breathtaking visuals are undeniable.
To the rainy city of Seattle to the snowy regions of Wyoming and even the sunny state of California, the player is treated with visuals that show much power the PS4 can still belt out on top of the meticulous and highly detailed character models of the infected and the main characters.
7. Batman: Arkham Knight - 2015 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
He is vengeance. He is the night. He is also looking at a moon about 20 times the size of what the moon actually looks like
There’s something about 2015 games that hit different in terms of the graphics that they offered to players.
The third installment to the Batman Arkham series takes us back again to the city of Gotham as Batman has to contend with the combined forces of Scarecrow and a new threat named The Arkham Knight.
The game's story is a continuation of Asylum and City as Batman is still dealing with the repercussions of The Joker’s death and the cascade it created in Gotham’s hierarchy in crime.
Gameplay is similar to the previous two entries in the series but the game now introduces the famous Batmobile to contend with the hundreds of tanks that have been deployed to take control of Gotham.
Graphics wise for a 2015 game, it still looks like it’s a game that was made for the PS5 rather than a PS4 launch title.
The wet streets and the rain in this game are beautifully made and the neon from the city illuminating the Batmobile and the streets makes it all the more beautiful even beating out the recently released Arkham Knights that was released in 2022 in the graphics department.
Official Batman: Arkham Knight Announce Trailer - “Father to Son”
6. Detroit: Become Human - 2018
28 STAB WOUNDS
David Cage is a video game director known for his games that teeter between profound to absolutely insane.
With titles such as Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls, it gave plenty of talking points of identity and mystery but also gave us memes that will last for a long time. Press X to Shaun, am I right?
With his latest addition to his portfolio of games, Detroit: Become Human is an exception in terms of his history with games.
Released in 2018 and published by Quantic Dream, Detroit Become Human follows the stories of Kara, Marcus, and Connor as they go through their new found sentience or faltering robot consciousness to fulfill their own missions and find out what their life means.
When we talk about the graphics of this game, it still looks like one of the best made for the playstation or for any console in general.
Scenes were filmed with the actors wearing motion capture suits and later animated to be part of the game, every emotion is (or emotionless faces) of the actors are captured as they switch between sentient robot to obedient android.
With human characters also complementing the androids in the game, they give a good look at what a world where androids and humans can or cannot co-exist.
Detroit: Become Human - Launch Trailer / PS4
5. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End - 2016 (PS4, PS4, PC)
The Brothers Drake and the island of Madagascar
Nathan Drake’s last ride came to us back in 2016 with the 4th installment in the Uncharted franchise with A Thief’s End. Published by Sony and developed by Naughty Dog, it brings a close to the rough and tumble life of PlayStation’s premiere plunderer.
We’re taken back in control of Nathan Drake, a world famous treasure hunter and adventurer as we go on one last adventure to find the world's biggest pirate treasure.
Played in a third person perspective and set in a semi open world play area, we go to different play areas such as Italy, Scotland, and the islands of Madagascar and its neighboring areas.
New gameplay mechanics are introduced such as the grappling hook coupled with the same cover shoot mechanics from the previous Uncharted games.
Despite being released in 2016, it still holds up graphically with the play area being as breathtaking as they were back on its launch date. It even holds one of the most beautiful areas in PlayStation history with Madagascar and the chase sequence that happens on the level.
A fitting send off to Sony’s most famous treasure hunter (sorry Lara Croft).
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (5/10/2016) - Story Trailer / PS4
4. God of War: Ragnarok - 2022 (PS4, PS5)
Normal father and son activities back in the day
The dynamic father and son duo returns in this 2022 showcase of stellar graphics and even better story driven gameplay.
Kratos and Atreus return from God of War (2018) as they attempt to survive the Fimbulwinter with the end of the world, called Ragnarok, coming ever closer.
Created as the sequel to the 2018 Game of the Year. God of War Ragnarok leads us through the multiple realms in Norse mythology as Kratos and Atreus go on missions either separately or together as they wait and try to fight the eventual coming of Ragnarok.
Gameplay is similar to the 2018 original with a few gameplay tweaks such as the icing of the leviathan ax for added damage and traversal options such as the dog sled used in the game.
But the real clincher in this game is the absolutely stunning graphics it brings to the players. Even on the PS4 the game looks as stunning as it can be.
The surrounding areas are crafted down to the smallest detail, light reflections and shadows are accurate to the light source, and enemy and character designs are truer to life as it can be.
God of War Ragnarok - Playstation Showcase 2021 Reveal Trailer / PS5
3. Horizon Forbidden West - 2022 (PS4, PS5)
Death to the robot danger chicken
The sequel to one of Sony’s homegrown masterpieces, Horizon Zero Dawn. Forbidden West takes us to, well, the west where Aloy returns to try and find a missing piece of tha GAIA systems to help save the planet's dying biosphere.
Played in a third person perspective and employing RPG elements in the gameplay, Forbidden West is a worthy successor to its 2017 counterpart.
New enemy machines are introduced such as a robot Pterodactyl you can ride to giant robot elephants. New factions are also introduced, both benevolent and evil, that Aloy meets along her journeys.
Playing the game on a native PS4 or the PS5, either one still looks beautiful with beautifully rendered draw distance, lighting and shadows that look like the real thing, and particle effects after hitting a machine with your hardpoint arrows is satisfying as it is beautiful to behold.
Horizon Forbidden West - Announcement Trailer / PS5
2. Red Dead Redemption 2 - 2018 (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia)
“This game makes you feel like a cowboy” - Gamers Decide 10/10
The magnum opus of Rockstar Games as of the time of writing with details and gameplay secrets that are still being discovered to this day.
RDR 2 is the absolute pinnacle of what happens if a developer truly loves and cares for their game and their fans.
Set in 1899 we follow the tale of Arthur Morgan, the right hand man of the notorious Dutch van der Linde as he and the whole van der Linde gang live and try to make ends meet by either doing honest jobs or the good old fashioned train or bank robbery.
By hook or by crook, the van der Linde gang stays true and honest… or will they?
Gameplay is mostly focused on horseback riding in terms of traversal and gunplay is fast and accurate with the quickest draws being the deadliest.
Hand to hand combat is more of like a fight club style kind of combat with blocks and punches being implemented with visible damage seen during these melee sections.
The absolute deal maker of it all is the scope and beauty of the whole playable area. Snowy mountains, dry deserts, lush grasslands, thick forests, foggy swamps, populated cities to rural small towns, this game has it all.
Every playthrough is unique where you can go around robbing people or sitting on the edge of a cliff and overlooking the sheer beauty of the game.
RDR 2 is a godsend from the gaming gods and not many compare to the beauty it brings to us players. But there is only one game we can think of that can top RDR 2 and that is.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Trailer
1. Ghost of Tsushima - 2020 (PS4, PS5)
If you played this game, you know that this title card gave you goosebumps
Rarely does a game impact you in a way that it stays with you forever. Important events in gaming such as Aerith’s death in FF7, Samus Aran’s gender revealed in Metroid, and Slippy Toad’s constant annoyance in Starfox.
But almost NEVER has the intro of a games title card give you goosebumps and make you remember the emotion it invoked in you forever.
Sucker Punch Studios after a 7 year hiatus returned to give us Ghost of Tsushima.
A story centered around a samurai warrior named Jin Sakai who is forced to learn tactics that go against the samurai code to help save his island of Tsushima and Iki.
Not only is the gameplay satisfying and addicting with parries being utilized along with bombs, bows, and kunai.
The real main attraction is the beauty of the environments in this game. It makes you feel like you're inside a painting. A real work of art made into a game.
Riding through golden autumn forests, visiting pampas grass fields, or overlooking the whole of Tsushima high up a mountain is one of the many sights in this game that will give you a sense of peace and duty that puts you in the shoes of Jin himself.
The beauty of the island and all of its inhabitants make you feel like it’s your own home, and you have to defend it by any means necessary.
Ghost of Tsushima - Official Story Trailer
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