Top 10 Best Looking Video Games of the 7th Generation

Released exclusively for the PlayStation 3, “Killzone 3” is a first person shooter and serves as the 3rd Killzone game if you’re not counting the PSP spinoff. The graphics packed a powerful wallop; never before had a “Killzone” game looked so beautiful and perfect, and it was subsequently praised for its stellar graphics. The game is also presented in stereoscopic 3D, meaning anyone with a 3D TV could play the game in all its three dimensional glory, effectively putting the player into the thick of the action. Sure, the buttery-smooth framerate was sacrificed in favor of the extra dimension, but it was still nice to experiment with something different.

Sure, there are certainly better, more realistic looking games out there, but nothing beats the sheer majesty of gazing upon Columbia for the first time as you sail weightless above the clouds. The game’s colors pop with startling clarity, and many of the set pieces are detailed, extravagant, and absolutely awe-inspiring to absorb. Irrational Games has an innate ability to transport players to other worlds, and their talents are on full display in this game. Columbia feels like a real city, and we love every moment that we are able to spend in it, even if we're forced to behead some minions in between the beautiful locations.

Well, we can certainly say without hesitation that Lara Croft looks a little better than she did before. This reboot of the classic video game series sees Lara stumble upon an island off Japan, and the scenery that the island provides leaves the player breathless. From gigantic shipwrecks to burning villages, the settings are always amazing and always glorious. The characters themselves also look great, most notably Lara herself. Her facial expressions in cutscenes are always discernible, and her movements throughout the game are realistic and fluid. Never before has raiding tombs and shooting an arrow through someone's eyeball looked so good.

While many fans were warry of 343 Studios’ first attempt at a Halo game, not only was the final product itself a worthy addition to the series, but the graphics were also fantastic. Character models looked fluid and Master Chief received a visual overhaul, giving more weight to his signature green armor. On top of that, 343 got some help with their cutscenes by the folks over at Blur Studio, allowing for realistic looking FMV interludes between the bombastic action. Perhaps the best addition to the game were the Prometheans. Their orange neon glow gave the game an artistic edge, and their contrast with the dark settings helped boost the game’s futuristic vision and dystopic tone.

“Metro: Last Light” shares the same universe with “Metro 2033” and its sequels, a series of books written by Russian novelist Dmitry Glukhovsky. It is set in a post-apocalyptic Moscow after atomic bombs destroyed the city, and the game perfectly captures the sense of dread and fear that would come with such a setting. The visuals are breathtaking to behold, whether you're exploring the dark and damp underground tunnels of Moscow or fighting enemies above ground amid the ruins of the city. This all helps to immerse the player in the game’s dark and imposing atmosphere, something which is maybe not so welcome when you're surrounded by things that want to eat your face.

Naughty Dog certainly knows how to make a stellar looking video game, and this third installment of the continuously praised “Uncharted” series proves that in spades. One of the best things about these games are the stunning locations, and “Drake’s Deception” has plenty of memorable set pieces. Whether it's wandering the vast Rub’ al Khali desert in search of water, walking the crowded streets of Colombia, or holding on for dear life as a cargo plane explodes around you, the game is always up to the arduous visual task. These games are often compared to high-budget Hollywood blockbusters, and with detailed and life-like graphics like these, we can certainly see why.
Sony Interactive Entertainment

Coming in at the end of the seventh generation of consoles, this game certainly pushed the 360 and PS3 to their limits. We can say without hesitation that this game is a visual masterpiece. Los Santos is massive and intricately detailed, ranging from the bustling and dense city to the sprawling Northern California desert to the rocky edges of the Pacific coast. The lighting effects are also top notch; there's nothing like witnessing a Los Santos sunset over the calm blue ocean. Never before in a video game has a city looked this good, this busy, and this detailed. To think that this was all accomplished on seventh generation hardware is simply mindboggling.

Here we visit Naughty Dog again, this time in a slightly darker and more depressing experience. That's not to say that the game is in any way lessened, as the experience it provides to players is unforgettable. Character models are beautifully rendered as Joel and Ellie come to vivid life, helping players connect with them on an emotional level. The world of “The Last of Us” is also a beautiful depiction of decay, featuring realistic depictions of what a neglected city would look like, including toppled buildings and greenery in the city streets. There's no denying that the game presents to us a harsh, ugly, and uncompromising world that we hate spending time in, but that's part of the graphical magic.

While some may complain about the game’s constant crashing upon release, there's no denying that it looks marvelous and beautifully chaotic.. Perhaps what the game is most well known for are its destructible environments, and for good reason. The FrostByte engine allows an amount of scope and destructibility that few other games can even contented with. On top of that, there’s also the evolution effects, which, while not dynamic, are amazing set pieces to witness in a multiplayer game. There's simply nothing quite like watching a skyscraper topple to the ground, throwing shards of glass and debris in every direction as a dust cloud envelopes your field of vision. There's a lot of detail in this game, and it comes across as natural and engaging.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Sleeping Dogs” (2012)
“L.A. Noire” (2011)
“Red Dead Redemption” (2010)

“God of War: Ascension” (2013)
“Alan Wake” (2010)

This third and final installment of the “Crysis” trilogy blended the forest environment of the first game and the urban setting of the second to create an unparalleled visual experience. Facial animations are top notch (verging into uncanny valley territory), water flows naturally, and the environments are simply stunning. It really isn't far-fetched to declare this as the best looking video game of all time, as there are few, if any, contenders. Although the first Crysis was famous for melting PCs, by the time CryEngine 3 rolled around, crytek seemed to have found an engine that allowed them the graphical fidelity that gamers had come to expect, but this time at framerates that could be enjoyed by a wider audience.

Do you agree with our list? What seventh generation game do you think had the best graphics? For more thrilling top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to Watchmojo.com.