Graphics alone do not make a great game but they do go a long way, and 2020 had a lot of great video games. Graphics and Art Direction are a big factor in the hearts of many players who are looking to enjoy a title for the first time. The way a game approaches its visuals can leave a lasting impact on how players not only enjoy the title, but how they remember it after they have long since finished it.
With the launch of the next generation of consoles in the form of the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X, some games pushed consoles and PCs to their limits to create breathtaking environments and stunning scenes. Other developers used unique art styles to capture fans’ hearts and engross them in their game. Whether its for impressive graphics or beautiful art style, here are the most beautiful games of 2020 (and rather than try to rank these in some order, they are simply listed here in no specific order).
10 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Not only did Assassin’s Creed Valhalla feature some of the best characters of 2020, it also featured some of the best scenery and graphics of the year as well. Valhalla has three distinct map areas to explore, though the primary one is England. Players start the game in the breathtaking mountains of Norway which illicit heavy Breath of the Wild vibes when scaling the mountains. The northern lights cascading overhead while the player trudges through the snow is truly a sight to behold. However, players spend the majority of their game in England, and it is not lacking in the visual department either. England has a surprising variety of landscapes to see, ranging from foggy and mysterious marshes to beautiful green rolling hills.
The other domain players get to visit in Valhalla is accessed through vision quests, and these are the gorgeous and mythical lands of Asgard and Jotunheim. Each of the three main areas has a unique visual style that really helps them stand out from one another. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla also does a great job at utilizing the next-gen consoles to their fullest potential. Thanks to a recent update, players can now choose to run in either framerate or resolution mode, so if players really want to experience the beauty of these landscapes, it is available to them.
9 Demon’s Souls Remake
Bluepoint’s Demon’s Souls Remake is one of those rare cases where a remake is built from the ground up, receiving a major graphics overhaul in the process. Demon’s Souls features some fantastic levels that are both incredibly frustrating and beautiful, all at the same time. Being one of the PlayStation 5’s first console exclusives, Demon’s Souls really utilizes everything the PlayStation 5 has to offer, and it really leaves a lasting impression for those new PS5 owners, with each world featuring fresh new horrors and beautiful landscapes to experience. Demon’s Souls is the perfect balance between stunning scenery and hair-pulling difficulty.
8 Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Much in the same vein as Demon’s Souls, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a masterclass in rebuilding a game from the ground up. Remaking such a beloved and iconic game such as the 1997 classic Final Fantasy 7 is a daunting task, but Square Enix delivered something that took everyone by surprise. While rumors of the remake circled for years, the remake was officially confirmed in 2015. Five years later, Final Fantasy 7 Remake showed that Square Enix was not only revamping the iconic story of the classic game, but also giving it a glorious makeover—making one of the best RPGs of 2020 in the process.
While Final Fantasy 7 Remake does not feature all of the original game’s areas, the locales that are on display are absolutely gorgeous. Even exploring the grimy subway tunnels and dusty Mako Reactors can be impressive, especially for those players who have a vivid memory of how those areas looked back in 1997. Yet, everything down to the character models is an absolute delight to behold, even for those who do not have prior experience with the classic game.
7 Ghost of Tsushima
Sucker Punch’s new IP, Ghost of Tsushima, was a large departure from anything the studio has done prior, and it was a massive success. Not only did it win the Player’s Voice award at the 2020 Game Awards, it was also nominated for several other Game of the Year awards as well. The island of Tsushima was beautifully crafted by the team at Sucker Punch, and it is easily one of the most visually stunning areas ever created in a video game. From the rolling fields of white flowers to the tall snowy peaks in the norther sections of the map, Tsushima has plenty of breathtaking landscapes for players to take in while they explore the island.
Not only that, but Ghost of Tsushima has an impressive photo mode that lets players truly capture beautiful moments in game or orchestrate their own amazing effects. It’s a really phenomenal system. If players want to really feel like a samurai straight out of an old samurai flick, the Kurosawa mode is also available, as this mode ups the film grain tremendously and turns the game monochrome. It retains the game’s beauty, but in a completely different way. No matter which mode players choose to embrace (and they can be switched between on-the-fly), Ghost of Tsushima will be sure to take players’ breath away.
6 Hades
Supergiant Games always goes out of its way to make games with iconic and visually stunning art. Hades is certainly no exception to this practice. Hades not only revolutionizes the rogue-like genre, but it also moves the needle for what fans expect in regards to art direction. It’s no question that the characters in Hades are beautiful. Everyone is drawn in such a remarkable and iconic style that fans can’t help but fall in love with all of these characters, and that infatuation is only helped further along by the strong character and story writing that Supergiant has brought to the game. Every aspect of the game oozes style and beauty, so it’s hard not to lose track of time when planning Zagreus’ big underworld escape.
5 The Last of Us Part 2
The Last of Us Part 2 is one of the most popular and successful games of 2020, bringing home several Game of the Year awards including the coveted Game Awards trophy for Game of the Year. Not only was The Last of Us Part 2 a riveting and well-performed narrative, but it also managed to be a visually stunning game to experience. Naughty Dog really nailed the collapsed and overrun look that Seattle has in-game, with the beautiful nature overtaking all the man-made structures leaving players in awe, especially those familiar with the areas first-hand.
Of course, the game does not take place entirely in Seattle, but as Ellie and Abby’s journey takes them elsewhere, the environments still maintain their beautifully haunting atmosphere. Of course, The Last of Us Part 2 tends to keep players on-edge as they explore, so sometimes it’s hard to stop and smell the flowers, but players should definitely take some time to stop and appreciate the beautiful landscapes Naughty Dog has put together for the next leg of Ellie’s journey.
4 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
2019’s Spider-Man was already a visually stunning game, but thanks to the PS5’s hardware and a change of seasons, New York is brought to life in an entirely new way in Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Players get to explore New York City right around Christmas time, and Insomniac truly captures the beauty of the city well in Miles Morales. The game features three gameplay modes to choose from: Fidelity, Performance, and Performance RT.
Fidelity lets players experience the game in stunning 4K with raytracing, which makes the city really pop in the winter. Performance trades some of the glitz and glamour for a stable 60 FPS. However, thanks to a recent update, the Performance RT mode allows players to maximize framerate while also getting to experience the beauty of raytracing. Regardless of mode, nothing beats exploring New York City as snow gently falls, especially while swinging from tall buildings.
3 Ori and the Will of the Wisps
While some games on this list stunned players with impressive graphics, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is one of the few games that really took the spotlight due to their beautiful art style. The Ori series has always featured beautiful art styles, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps only improves upon the already amazing framework in place from Ori and the Blind Forest. This 2D platformer captures the hearts of those who play it thanks to its cute and lovable style, and keeps them enthralled thanks to its phenomenal Metroid-Vania gameplay. Ori and the Will of the Wisps revolves around exploring every corner of the map, and players are constantly rewarded with beautiful scenery at every turn. It’s also a great title for those wanting to see what the Xbox Series X can do now that Ori and the Will of the Wisps is optimized for the new hardware.
2 Spiritfarer
Spiritfarer is one of the more underground hits of the year that may have gone unnoticed to many players, but those who have played the game know full-well that Spiritfarer has one of the most gorgeous art styles of any game released this year. The game looks as if it is playing out in a picture book or animated film. Spiritfarer is the story of Stella, who takes over the roll of Charon as the guide for spirits on their way to the afterlife. Spiritfarer is the perfect game for those looking for a slower, more narrative-driven experience that not only is beautiful to look at, but also beautiful to experience in terms of the narrative and character writing.
1 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is one of the most unique games released in 2020. This game jumps between several different storylines, all while shifting between what is essentially a visual novel and an RTS game. This odd pairing of game genres works surprisingly well overall, and while the RTS sections of the game lack any spectacular visual elements, the side-scrolling narrative-driven sections of the game are really something to behold. This beautiful mash-up from Atlus and Vanillaware has such a distinct art style that feels very anime, but with a very unique style spun into it. Once players get past the jumping between different gameplay styles, it’s easy to see why this is one of the best games this year that many players may have missed.
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