With every passing year, game developers continue to push the boundaries of what the current generation of hardware is capable of, especially when it comes to just how breathtaking games can be. The current generation of consoles is becoming more readily available, and PCs continuing to evolve with new parts; as a result, video game graphics have never been better. While graphics are what many see as the defining feature of what makes a beautiful game, there are also plenty of games that strike their own path with a unique art direction and style that may not be the most graphically impressive but are beautiful nonetheless.
In 2022, players saw a wide variety of games of many different styles and levels of graphics that truly were awe-inspiring, from massive AAA hits tostellar indie gamesthat took players by surprise. The year was filled with stunning titles, and there are plenty of other beautiful-looking games on the horizon for 2023. In the meantime, however, players can take a look back atthe most beautiful games of 2022 below, listed in no particular order.
RELATED:The 10 Best Video Game Villains of 2022
A Plague Tale: Requiem
Asobo Studio and Focus Entertainment released the critically acclaimed sequel toA Plague Tale: Innocencethis year, and it is easy to see why it is seen as one of the most beautiful games of the year. Not only do the environments and character models appear stunningly realistic, but the realism also makes the swarms of iconic rats all the more unsettling.A Plague Tale: Requiemhas earned many accolades and has made its way onto many Game of the Year lists due to its graphics, phenomenal writing, and gripping gameplay. It is also one of thebest horror games of 2022that players should not pass up if they are looking for a thrill that will also take their breath away with beautiful scenery. In a year of stand-out hits,A Plague Tale: Requiemis a cut above many other titles this year.
Cult of the Lamb
Massive Monster’sCult of the Lambtook the internet by storm following its release thanks to the surprising combination of its cute art style with dark writing and violence. In terms of gameplay,Cult of the Lambearned its place as one of the best indie games of 2022 with its unique combination of rogue-like dungeon crawling mixed withAnimal Crossing-like village buildingwith a cult-themed twist. The art direction forCult of the Lambis a major selling point for many, as there are very few games that can be so cute and also so disturbing and dark, and its particular style makes sure fans' eyes stay on it.
Elden Ring
FromSoftware’s smash hitElden Ringis the studio’s first real venture into a true open-world title, and one thing is certain with The Lands Between: the scenery is beautiful, if sometimes in disturbing ways like Caelid or the Lake of Rot. The world that FromSoftware created for players to explore as they please is filled with beautiful vistas, treacherous enemies, and plenty of secrets to uncover. From the moment that players first reach The First Step Site of Grace, they are hit with a sweeping view of Limgrave and its rolling hills and trees. From then on, players can choose where in The Lands Between they wish to explore, whether they want to climb the toweringStormveil Castleor venture south into the Weeping Peninsula. Regardless of where their journey takes them, this game is filled with moments that are sure to be breathtaking.
God of War Ragnarok
God of War Ragnarokwas easily one of the most anticipated games of 2022, especially for those who own a PlayStation. The 2018 release ofGod of Warset incredibly high expectations for graphics, andGod of War Ragnarokeasily rose to the challenge. In this new installment to theGod of War series,Kratos, Atreus, and other memorable characters from the 2018 game venture through the Nine Realms, and each realm is stunning in its own right. Midgard is being hit hard by snowstorms brought about by Fimbulwinter, so players spend their time there traversing frozen landscapes by sled,Vanaheim’s tropical junglesfeature beautiful and deadly plant life, and few areas feature quite as many colorful encounters as Jotunheim. The landscapes inGod of War Ragnarokalone are impressive enough, but when factoring in the character models, the various cutscenes, and so on, it’s easily one of the most beautiful games of the year.
Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden Westis another of PlayStation’s big releases of 2022, and just likeGod of War Ragnarok,Horizonhas a heavy focus on beautiful scenery and visuals that are truly remarkable.Horizon Zero Dawndid not skimp in the graphics department, and the same remains true withHorizon Forbidden Westas Aloy explores another massive open world map filled with beautiful scenery and magnificent mechanical beasts to fight.Horizon Forbidden Westtakes the great foundation thatHorizon Zero Dawnlaid out as the first entry in the new franchise and expands upon it with a strong focus on exploration and even more fantastical mechanical beasts to fight. This is further emphasized thanks to the game’s spectacular photo mode that allows players to capture fun or cinematic pictures whenever they like. Fans can also expect more beautiful scenery fromHorizon Forbidden Westwhen its upcoming Burning Shores DLC launches next year exclusively on PS5.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Games in theKirbyfranchise have a record for being very stylized games, whether that be the belovedCanvas Curseor perhapsKirby’s Epic Yard.Kirby and the Forgotten Landfeatures a very clean, crisp cartoonish style that really encapsulates the spirit of the beloved pink hero. While thelevels inKirby and the Forgotten Landare typically fairly linear, this allows HAL Laboratory to focus its efforts on making these levels absolutely gorgeous and full of fun things to explore as Kirby. Everything from the grass to the particle effects for Kirby’s powers is perfectly crafted to makeKirby and the Forgotten Landsa cute and delightful experience that is perfect for all ages.
RELATED:The 10 Biggest Video Game Controversies of 2022
Pentiment
When it comes to stylized games,Pentimentis perhaps one of the most artistically styled games of the year. Obsidian’s storybook-inspired game presents itself exactly like that: a storybook. This narrative adventure game may not be as action-packed as some of Obsidian’s other hit games, butPentiment’s writingis some of the best of the year and the art style is truly one-of-a-kind. It is just like if a person was reading an animated storybook while trying to solve the mystery within. While there may be a lot of reading to do and a lot of important decisions to make, players should take their time and truly soak up the beauty and novelty thatPentimentbrings to the table as it is truly unique.
Return to Monkey Island
Return to Monkey Islandis the sixth installment of theMonkey Islandseries, but the first with this unique picture book-inspired art style and user interface. Reviving a series and changing its iconic look so far after its previous release is almost unheard of, but in the case ofReturn to Monkey Island, it is perhaps the best possible decision as it fits perfectly with the style of the series and, to some players, is even more beloved than the original point-and-click games were. Much likePentiment,Return to Monkey Islandis great for those looking to use more thinking in the games they play, andReturn to Monkey Islandwill guarantee players have a great time while enjoying the beautiful art that has been crafted for Guybrush Threepwood’s latest adventure.
Scorn
“Beautiful” is perhaps not a word most people would use to describeScornat first, but it is undeniable thatScornhas a visceral art style that is gross in the best of ways. Ebb Softwaretakes heavy inspiration fromiconic artist H.R. Gigerwhen it comes to its designs of almost every aspect ofScorn, from the creatures in the game to the very floor the player walks on. WhileScornmay not have scored incredibly well among critics, it cannot be understated how impressive and frankly upsettingScorn’s art design is, and that alone is worth looking into at least just to experience it firsthand.
Signalis
Signalistakes heavy inspiration from PS1-era horror games likeResident Evil,and it is hands-down one of the best spiritual successors to that genre. Not only isSignalisa spectacular andchallenging horror gamein the same vein as the originalResident Evil, but it also captures the unique, pixilated style of older PS1 games. However, instead of just making the game look dated, the designs are so deliberate that the entire game comes off far more stylized than the old games do. It is a perfect example of games “looking like how one remembers” instead of actually looking like a PS1 game, as itresembles it enough to emulate the feel, and that is a hard thing to get down just right. However,Signalisdoes it perfectly.
Stray
Strayquickly took the internet by storm after its announcement back in 2020, as not many games let players explore the world as just a regular cat. Even fewer games let players explore a beautiful, robot-filled, cyberpunk city with heavy Japanese inspirations while solving puzzles and platforming as a cat. The city that the player explores inStrayis truly beautiful. It captures the beautiful neon lights of a cyberpunk world while also honoring its Japanese inspirations through robot designs and architecture. While a relatively simple concept,Strayscored incredibly welland even took home Best Indie at The Game Awards. It’s a beautiful and short experience that players can enjoy in just a sitting or two, and the scenery does not disappoint during that short time.
Tunic
Tunicwas one of the many surprise indie hits of the year, especially considering the game was predominantly created by one developer.Tunicwears its old-schoolLegend of Zeldainspirationsproudly on its sleeve, and it follows a cute fox protagonist as they explore an incredibly dangerous and punishing world following only their instincts and an NES-styled guidebook that the player must piece together. The art style forTunicis truly unique, and it features vibrant colors that really pop in contrast to the simplicity of many of the surrounding designs within the game. Not enough can be said for the attention to detail that was poured intoTunic,especially when it comes to the guidebook that players uncover, as it truly does feel like a booklet one would find in an old NES case. When it comes to unique style and beauty,Tunicis certainly hard to top this year.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Xenoblade Chronicles 3is a perfect example of what the Nintendo Switch can truly do with properly designed and optimized games.Xenoblade Chronicles 3is not only one of thebest Switch games of 2022, but it is also one of the most beautiful games of the year. This beloved JRPG not only does so many things right in terms of game design and strong story writing, but it also features a very stylish anime art style that is common in JRPGs (yet taken to the next level).Xenoblade Chronicles 3crafts an open world that is truly beautiful to wander around in while exploring, recruiting heroes, or building characters. It is truly a prime example of what the Nintendo Switch can do when games are properly optimized and designed for the hardware.
