Summary
- Big-budget developers enhance open-world games with stunning graphics that elevate the gaming experience.
- Beautiful visuals in games like GTA 5, Death Stranding, and The Witcher 3 compensate for any gameplay shortcomings.
- Games like Forza Horizon 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 offer visually stunning open worlds that captivate players.
Open-world games are a blast to play, with players loving the sheer amount of fun they can have exploring massive sandboxes. It helps when big-budget developers with a ton of resources enhance the feeling of exploring these worlds, courtesy of the incredible graphics. Looks aren’t everything, but they can certainly boost a gaming experience.
Some games are so pretty that players don’t even mind if the combat may not live up to the same quality standards as the visuals. The powerful tech behind these open-world games has helped players enjoy some beautiful sandboxes and explore some gorgeous virtual settings.
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8 Grand Theft Auto 5
The Graphics Have Improved With Each Re-release
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the best video games ever made, with its tech being groundbreaking and still holding up more than ten years after its release. The rise of GTA Online means that Rockstar has re-released the game several times across three gaming generations. Fans may have mixed opinions about this, but there’s no denying that GTA 5 looks amazing on modern-day tech. The gameplay might not have evolved much, but the visuals are so pretty that most fans won’t mind.
7 Death Stranding
Gaze At The Beautiful World While Delivering Packages
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
Death Stranding is a game that prides itself on its visuals. The central gameplay loop is unique, but it might become rather formulaic and repetitive after a point. Thankfully, players can always stop and appreciate how beautiful this sandbox looks when they’re not being chased by looters or hiding from BTs. The graphics of this game play a major role in making moment-to-moment exploration stand out, making it clear why so many fans are hyped about the sequel once this title grows on them.
6 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Next-Gen Update Made The Visuals Better Than Ever
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was already gorgeous when it came out, but that was a while ago. So, when CD Projekt Red announced a free next-gen patch for the game, fans couldn’t wait to see how incredible this updated version of the game would look.
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The end result didn’t disappoint, with improved texture quality and ray tracing enhancing this title’s visuals to help it reach new heights. The gameplay may be largely similar (barring a few much-needed tweaks), but the visuals do the heavy lifting in the next-gen patch and make The Witcher 3 look like a brand-new game.
5 Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
Generic Gameplay, But Immaculate World Design
When Ubisoft’s Avatar game came out, the similarities to Far Cry were so evident that people couldn’t help but be disappointed by the overall package. However, even the loudest critics of Frontiers of Pandora had to agree that the work done to create the Western Frontier is astounding.
The game looks beautiful and is jam-packed with greenery. The visuals alone are enough of a reason for players to eliminate human camps and help the planet breathe again. If players are seeking a pretty open-world game with serviceable gameplay, then Frontiers of Pandora will be right up their alley.
4 Final Fantasy 15
The Combat Is A Bit Too Easy, But The Beautiful World Makes Up For It
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Language, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence
Combat in Final Fantasy 15 is flashy, but it has its issues. It’s a bit too easy at times, and players will find it mundane to deal with the game’s toughest threats after a point. However, the game’s visuals hold up to this day and look jaw-droppingly good. Monster designs are off the charts, and the open world’s design is so detailed that even Final Fantasy 16 doesn’t hold a candle to its predecessor’s visuals, despite being the more recent release.
3 Forza Horizon 5
As Great As Racing Feels, The Visuals Are In A Class Of Their Own
- ESRB
- E for Everyone // In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
Most players are already familiar with the gameplay loop of Forza Horizon. The fifth mainline entry features scintillating racing action, although the random progression curve means that players may get the best cars in the game without putting in any work at all.
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This may be off-putting for some, but one look at Mexico’s gorgeous environment will be enough for players to sink in a ton of hours in this game. Forza Horizon 5‘s graphical beauty is off the charts, as one would expect from a series that prides itself on its visuals.
2 Red Dead Redemption 2
Some Hate The Weighty Movement, But The Open World Is Worth It
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Red Dead Redemption 2 is easily one of the most beautiful open-world games ever made. The environments, character models, and visual effects are incredible and make the game feel cinematic, even when players are just moving from point A to point B. The gameplay is realistic and engaging, although the clunky movement and dated shooting can be a bit hard for some players to appreciate. Even here, the game’s visual design does the heavy lifting, especially when a slow cam is triggered that focuses on Arthur’s last victim as they breathe their last.
1 Cyberpunk 2077
Night City Looks Beautiful As V Struggles To Save Their Body From The Engram
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Cyberpunk 2077‘s gameplay was originally somewhat lacking when it came to the graphics. This was fixed with numerous content updates and the release of Phantom Liberty, which made the combat system more engaging than ever.
However, CD Projekt Red also went above and beyond for the game’s visuals, adding an Overdrive Ray-Tracing Mode that is unbelievable to behold. When Cyberpunk 2077 is hailed as the best-looking game out right now, even the best gameplay loop might have to take a backseat.
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