The 10 Most Graphically Impressive PS5 Games
“Gran Turismo 7” (2022)
All 9 Gran Turismo Games Ranked
Polyphony Digital has always been on the cusp of realism when it comes to their renowned Gran Turismo series, and with Gran Turismo 7, they might have finally achieved the photo realism they’ve been chasing since the days of the PS1. Every car is lovingly crafted with so much detail, car magazines could use screenshots of the game and only the most ardent of car enthusiasts would be able to tell the difference. Watching the light perfectly reflect off your shiny speed machine is breathtaking every time, and the game’s realistic weather effects even affect the way your car handles on the track. This attention to detail is reflected in the game’s many tracks as well, although you’d be hard pressed to notice all the minor details as you whip around at breakneck speeds. If Polyphony ever nails down the human NPCs, you’d be hard-pressed to tell these races aren’t real.
“Fort Solis” (2023)
The most recent game on our list as well as the only one to make use of the insanely powerful Unreal Engine 5, Fort Solis represents a great proof of concept for what developers of any caliber can accomplish with Epic’s newest tech. The world of Fort Solis feels real and lived in, with much of the old base coming apart at the seams and clearly seeing better days having weathered the many storms on the surface of Mars. Fort Solis also features some of the most realistic facial animations we’ve ever seen in a game, perfectly conveying every character’s emotion and facial twitches. The game might be on the shorter side and oftentimes feel like an interactive movie, but the attention to detail and realistic design of the base and as well as its look at life on Mars is undoubtedly one of the most visually impressive experiences this year.
“Resident Evil 4” (2023)
10 CENSORED Moments in Resident Evil Games
The original Resident Evil 4 graphically still holds up pretty well today but what Capcom was able to accomplish with their impressive RE Engine is nothing short of remarkable. Managing to maintain what made the original so iconic while also making the world vastly more detailed and in some cases, more horrific, the Resident Evil 4 Remake instantly became one of the standout releases on the PS5. Watching the Las Plagas parasite mutate its hosts into grotesque forms is shocking every time and the environments Leon finds himself exploring are appropriately unsettling and foreboding. Lighting effects have also been greatly overhauled with Leon’s flashlight oftentimes being the only light source cutting through the darkness. Character models received significant upgrades, Ashley in particular, but Capcom didn’t dare mess with Leon’s luscious locks which look better than ever in 4K. Now THAT is a beautiful man.
“Spider-Man: Miles Morales” (2020)
Top 10 Easter Eggs in Spider-Man Miles Morales
Insomniac’s 2018 entry into Spidey’s lore was already impressive with its wide-open New York for Spidey to freely swing around in, along with some very impressive motion capture and updates to classic characters, but only two years later, Insomniac managed to surpass their impressive debut. Miles Morales gave players a new and visually distinct district with Miles’ move to Harlem and made full use of the PS5’s new features to improve reflections as well as smoother character animations and a new blazing sense of speed as Miles swung through the skyscrapers of the New York skyline at breakneck speed. Miles’ new powers, in particular his lightning venom ability, are a visual treat each time and watching Miles disappear right in front of enemies never gets old. The neon-soaked weapons and outfits of the antagonist group the Underground also just feels like Insomniac flexing their graphical capabilities and we’re all here for it.
“Horizon Forbidden West: The Burning Shores” (2023)
The 10 BEST Open World Switch Games
While the base game Horizon Forbidden West is no slouch and also a visual stunner on the PS5, we’re choosing to focus on the recent PS5 exclusive DLC, The Burning Shores. Without the last gen PS4 holding Guerilla back, The Burning Shores gives players a glimpse at what the Decima Engine is truly capable of when it’s set loose. The environments feel more densely populated and character models, even the background NPCs have more detail to them and Burning Shores features some of the most beautiful water graphics we’ve ever seen in a video game. New and familiar machines got a facelift and featured even greater designs for players to dismantle. Not to mention that final and long-awaited encounter with the Horus remains grander in scope and scale than anything in the series thus far.
“Demon’s Souls” (2020)
10 Things To Remember Before Playing Demon's Souls On PS5
The masters of the remakes and remasters, Bluepoint games held nothing back in updating FromSoftware’s PS3 classic that launched a franchise Demon’s Souls. A launch title for the PS5, many more recent titles still haven’t been able to compare with the updated Boletaria. Formerly low-resolution boss encounters are now spectacles full of disgusting attention to detail and the game’s lighting effects have almost no equal on the console even almost 3 years later. Although a from-the-ground-up remake, Bluepoint managed to maintain the feel of the original game much like they did with their other recent remake Shadow of the Colossus but give it a fresh beautiful upgrade befitting of the title’s place in FromSoftware’s growing catalog.
“Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” (2021)
Ratchet And Clank Rift Apart Review
Insomniac is back again, living up to their studio mantle, and only a year after their impressive PS5 debut with Miles Morales. Ever since the early days of the PS2, Insomniac had been chasing the “Pixar” quality graphics and as the film studio continued to master their craft, so too did Insomniac and with Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, they may have even surpassed the benchmark. Each world is visually distinct and full of character, from glowing neon signs to dusty forgotten mining planets and even one that has players jumping back and forth through time, the studio’s brilliant world building and art direction reflect just how capable the studio is. It doesn’t hurt that every character has also received a massive upgrade as well to help convey the studio’s emotional tale, and the game’s titular rift mechanic that allows players to seamlessly jump between worlds is endlessly entertaining.
“Final Fantasy XVI” (2023)
The 10 HARDEST Final Fantasy Games To Complete
There was quite a lot of discourse around the fact that Final Fantasy 16 was going to be a PS5 only title (even though we’re almost 3 years in at this point) but once players got their hands on the title, it made a lot more sense. The PS4 just simply couldn’t run it. The scale of some of the encounters Clive and his companions encounter is unlike anything seen in the series and the fact that all these sections are playable is still mind blowing. With a gorgeous world to explore full of incredibly designed enemies as well a more grounded take on even the most fantastical elements of the game, Final Fantasy 16 not only plays unlike any other mainline Final Fantasy game, but its uniquely detailed world and characters make it a stunner in a series known for its graphics. And all those seemingly impossible climactic boss battles? Chef’s kiss.
“God of War Ragnarok” (2022)
10 PS5 Games That BEST Use The DualSense Controller
God of War 2018 was already a stunner on the PS4, and somehow even with Raganrok on the horizon, Kratos’ second Norse adventure managed to be even more impressive. With Fimbulwinter freezing over the Lake of Nine, the endless blizzard gave way to some of the most stunning vistas in the series to date as Kratos and Atreus travel to realms untouched by the prophesied Ragnarok and boss fights that called back to the enormity of the Greek saga. Every new area the father/son duo explores is more jaw dropping than the last with Ironwood and the Spark of the World being true standouts. Kratos and Atreus and the rest of their companions all received significant upgrades as well, better conveying their emotions down to the smallest detail and lending further gravitas to the unfolding events of Ragnarok. Not even the PS4 could hold back the true power of the God of War.
“The Last of Us: Part 1” (2022)
10 Predictions For The Last of Us Part 3
While many bemoaned Naughty Dog remaking a game that was barely 10 years old, there’s no denying The Last of Us Part 1 is a visual showcase for not only the studio but also the PS5. With the updates to character models, Naughty Dog was able to better capture the performances of Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson and bring their characters to life in a way the PS3 and even the remaster couldn’t. The world Joel and Ellie explore feels more weathered and overgrown with plants reclaiming roads and buildings and the true weight of a world in decline is on full display. Updates to the lighting as well as the infected themselves make exploring the world even more unsettling and hearing the faint chirping of the Clickers in the distance of a pitch black room is enough to make even the more seasoned player’s blood run cold. Which PS5 game’s graphics blew you away? Boot up your PS5 and let us know down in the comments.
