Some people claim that video game graphics have plateaued. We suppose this is true, to an extent. Graphics are not getting the same sorts of improvements they have had in years past, partly because the tech is not advancing that rapidly, and it costs a whopping amount to develop graphics. Still, some games have gone all out on the graphics front. We’ll take a look at some of the best of the new games (and yes, if you’re interested, Crysis still looks amazing all these years later, but we won’t talk about that one).
We’ll be focusing on games from 2024 and 2025 here. Some of them may not seem all that new to you. Do bear in mind that we will also be concentrating purely on the graphics. We’ll tell you a little bit about the gameplay, but the point of this page isn’t to tell you what the best games in the world are – it’s about telling you which games have the best graphics.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Most lists are putting Indiana Jones and the Great Circle at the top of the list of best video game graphics. Released for Xbox and PC (although it will be coming to PlayStation eventually), this Indiana Jones-themed game relies heavily on ray tracing to deliver one of the most realistic and best-looking video games we’ve ever seen. The world is fantastic, with you travelling through cities, jungles, and desert regions. Every one of them has been designed with a huge amount of detail. The facial animations are tremendous too (just look at the younger Harrison Ford!)
This game isn’t just about the graphics, though. Many people claim that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle could easily have been the Game of the Year if it had been released a little earlier. The story and the gameplay are just that good. If you’re looking for a new Indiana Jones adventure and you’ve become a bit tired of the movie franchise, then play this today.
Flight Simulator 2024
Flight Simulator 2024 is another Microsoft game, available on both Xbox and PC right now. Again, the PlayStation version is coming at a later date.
Flight Simulator 2024 is the only game that simulates the entire world. Yes, you read that right. The entire world, on a real scale, is your map. Relying on map data, the team behind Flight Simulator have been able to serve up a 1:1 view of the world. Buildings are where they should be. Nature is where it should be. You can even fly over your home. The game looks amazing. If that wasn’t enough, the game even uses real-time weather data, meaning that if it is raining where you live right now, it will be raining in the same place in the game.
The aircraft are stunningly well-developed. While we know that this is not going to be a game for everybody, since most people don’t quite have the patience to fly an aircraft for dozens and dozens of hours with not a whole lot happening, Flight Simulator 2024 is a technical marvel. Unfortunately, other games will struggle to get close to the quality of graphics that Flight Simulator 2024 offers, since FS24 relies on cloud computing to serve up the graphics. There isn’t a consumer computer around that can store all of the data needed to create the most realistic world in a video game.
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 came out early in 2024. Even at the end of 2024, Digital Foundry was listing this as one of the top video game graphics experiences for the year. It’s hard to argue with them. Helldivers 2 is a multiplayer co-op game that will take you onto some awesome battlefields, with tremendous, futuristic explosions happening around you, while you and your team work to tackle various objectives, most of which will require you to blast away some aliens. It is a fun experience too.
Star Wars: Outlaws
We know that Star Wars: Outlaws didn’t receive the best reviews in the world. This is because many people were getting quite tired of the open-world Ubisoft formula. That, and the experience was rather bland. However, even Digital Foundry was happy to say that Star Wars: Outlaws was one of the best-looking games of the year. While you will not have the best gameplay experience when you dive into Outlaws, we promise you that if you want something that accurately pulls you into the Star Wars universe, then you’re not going to get anything better. It’ll feel like you’re in the movie!
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is the sequel to the first Hellblade (yes, we know this is obvious). The first Hellblade was regarded as one of the best games of its generation, although most people didn’t play it. This is because this story-focused game, which isn’t much more than a glorified walking simulator, isn’t to everybody’s taste. Still, if you want a game that is one of the best technical games ever, then Hellblade II is worth checking out. It is light on the gameplay elements, but the world is stunning and the story is even better. It needs to be checked out!
Black Myth: Wukong
This action role-playing game will put you in the shoes of a monkey. You’ll then be fighting all sorts of difficult enemies and bosses. Think of it as the Chinese version of Elden Ring – or something. The world is stunning, and playing this game will help to teach you Ancient Chinese mythology (the game is steeped in it). The gameplay is awesome and it was regarded as one of the best games of 2024.
Casino Games Are Levelling Up Visually
The online casino industry has also made huge strides in visual quality. Gone are the days of simple, static slot machines. Today’s top titles have come on leaps and bounds. Developers are increasingly using cinematic storytelling and 3D effects to enhance the player experience.
Take games like San Quentin 2: Death Row, Tarasque, Sweet Bonanza 1000, and Kenneth Must Die—these titles showcase just how advanced slot game visuals have become. If you’re interested in exploring more, Online Slot UK offers a variety of visually stunning slot games that demonstrate how far the industry has come.
Final thoughts
As you can see, some awesome-looking games are coming out still. We reckon 2025 will be even better for good-looking games, with Monster Hunter Wilds, Avowed and a few other games just around the corner. We can’t wait to see what developers serve up next to us, because games are now looking better than ever before. Although, do bear in mind that we probably won’t see huge graphical leaps for a long time – the tech isn’t quite there yet.
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