Key Takeaways
- The PS5 shines with visually stunning games that push the console’s capabilities to new heights.
- Developers like Insomniac Games and Square Enix deliver breathtaking graphics and engaging gameplay experiences.
- Titles like
Demon’s Souls
and
God of War Ragnarok
set the bar high for immersive storytelling and top-tier graphics.
The PS5 has been in high demand since its release. Anyone who owns one can attest that it offers some of the most beautifully developed games available on the market. The graphical abilities of this machinery far exceed the competition, leading to fantastically real gaming experiences. However, the system can only be as good as the software developed for it. With the technology made available to them, many developers have risen to the challenge. More and more stellar games with the most desirable visuals are being released on the platform.
Players who love the console for its visual aspects won’t go wrong when they choose one of the many best-looking games on the PS5. These titles push the console to its limits and show how photorealistic gaming visuals have become. Players love enjoying high-end visuals in their video games, and these titles showcase exactly how big a leap the PS5 is in terms of technical performance. The console may have its detractors, but no one can speak against the graphical fidelity of this ninth-generation console.
Updated on October 4, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: The PlayStation 5 may not be a huge leap from its predecessor in terms of hardware barring the inclusion of an SSD, but that should take nothing away from the visual fidelity of its best games. The best-looking PS5 games are a joy to play through, showing how far the industry has come from the early days when 3D graphics were new and a few polygons were all it took for people to be bowled over by the amazing visuals of their games.
29 Astro Bot
Charming Visuals And Stellar Gameplay Help This Title Stand Out As One Of The PS5’s Best Games
No one expected Astro Bot to establish itself as one of the best PlayStation 5 games of all time. The amazing platforming gameplay takes a lot of cues from stalwart titles in the genre like Super Mario Galaxy, with players controlling Astro as he locates the other Bots after his spaceship crashes.
The sheer number of imaginative levels and references to popular PlayStation IPs make Astro Bot a joy to play through for fans of the series. It helps that this game manages to be one of the best-looking PS5 games courtesy of its charming visuals.
28 Black Myth: Wukong
Beautiful Visuals And Stellar Presentation Make This Action-Packed Game’s Combat Come To Life
One of the highest-selling games of 2024, no one expected Black Myth: Wukong to be such a massive hit when it launched. The game is full to the brim with awe-inspiring boss fights and engaging combat that’s fun to master, with the visuals helping this adventure inspired by Journey to the West stand out even more.
It’s no secret that Black Myth: Wukong is one of the best-looking PS5 games players can get their hands on. The sheer amount of fun players can have as they explore massive levels and take on numerous challenges without breaking a sweat is immense and goes a long way in showing why this title became such a phenomenon upon launch.
27 Resident Evil Village
Unnerving Visuals That Are Beautiful Yet Terrifying At The Same Time
Resident Evil Village continued the modern story of this series with Ethan Winters at the helm, letting players experience an action-packed adventure for the ages. The horror elements may be a bit more muted when compared to its predecessors, but that should take nothing away from this game’s incredible atmosphere.
The visual design plays a huge role here, to the point where Resident Evil Village is comfortably one of the best-looking PS5 games players can get their hands on. The graphical fidelity is off the charts and helps players get immersed in this action-focused horror game that feels like an homage to games like Resident Evil 4.
26 Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
The Biomes Of Pandora Are Colorful And Brimming With Life
After a lengthy development period, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora was finally released to generally positive reviews. The game’s similarities to the Far Cry series, coupled with a lack of innovation in the open-world department, were criticized by many and are things that can turn off many players from enjoying this game. However, if players decide to give this game a fair chance, then one aspect of the game that will excite them quite a bit is its beautiful visuals.
Pandora is a visual treat for the ages, with the biomes present in this open world being breathtaking to behold. The artistic vision behind the open world is impressive and one of the biggest strengths of the overall package, making it clear why fans of Avatar will have a great time playing through this breathtakingly beautiful open-world game.
25 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
A Viking Assassin’s Creed With Stunning Landscapes
When considering the graphics of the game, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla may very well be the definitive installment in the series. Since the launch of the PS5 and in the following years, no other title in the series has matched its graphical presentation.
With the next-gen technology of the PS5, players will feel like they’re physically within the world of the game, with characters so lifelike they could almost reach out and touch them. All the details pop out so much more with this game because of the rendering of shadows and lighting that work in perfect combination to create one of the most realistic visuals.
24 Kena: Bridge Of Spirits
Pixar-esque Visuals Look Amazing On The PS5
The first thing anyone noticed about Kena: Bridge of Spirits was the amazing visual quality of the game. As the game is played in the third person, players can experience the animation of the main character as well as the surrounding environment.
It’s clear how much dedication went into the creation of the animation and all of the little details that make the world feel so alive. The game is not open-world like many of the most popular titles, but with the way that it looks and plays, no one is complaining.
23 Stellar Blade
Eve’s Action-Packed Adventure Is, Fittingly Enough, Packed With Stellar Visuals
It’s easy to write off Stellar Blade, given how it tries to appeal to the male gaze in a less-than-subtle way, but players should give the game credit for being a fun action title with numerous memorable encounters that make it a blast to engage with. Sure, the narrative and character writing could’ve used some work, but the spectacular battles that players can engage with make Stellar Blade‘s flaws easier to ignore.
The game’s visuals are a major highlight that shows off just how powerful the PS5 hardware is. Everything from the flashy effects in combat to the amazing environments stand out and make Stellar Blade a great title for players to check out if they want to see what the PS5 hardware can achieve when developers push its graphical power to the very limit.
22 Astro’s Playroom
A Charming Game That Highlights The Strengths Of The PS5, Both Visually And Otherwise
Astro’s Playroom is a video game that shows off what the DualSense controller is capable of. Players can engage in a wealth of unique actions where the next-gen controller comes to life and displays technical fidelity at a level most players have never experienced before. Of course, this is not the only area where Astro’s Playroom excels, with the visuals also being pretty excellent.
Despite the lack of the realistic graphics that most people have come to expect from most PS5 games, this free title more than makes up for it with an eye-catching art style and some amazing post-processing effects that make the visuals pop out in the best way possible. It’s a ridiculously charming game that players will fall in love with in no time, especially with the many references to beloved PlayStation classics.
21 Hogwarts Legacy
The Magical World Of Hogwarts And The Scottish Highlands Is Full Of Awe-Inspiring Visuals
Hogwarts Legacy is a game that many people were hyped for, with the title managing to deliver on that, for the most part. Players wanted to explore Hogwarts once again, and this game allowed them to achieve that dream.
The game’s visuals are quite breathtaking and make the act of roaming through the hallways of Hogwarts quite exciting indeed. The depth of the title’s mechanics may not be all that impressive, but the visuals make up for this.
20 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
An Intergalactic Adventure With Out-Of-The-World Visuals
The disappointing release of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor on PC has been documented extensively, proving to be another chapter in the massive book of disappointing PC ports this generation. However, while this poor technical performance should be criticized, the game runs fairly well on the PS5 and is a pretty gorgeous game to book.
Respawn Entertainment has done a great job with this title, proving that they’re masters of both first-person shooters and third-person action titles. While the game is still pretty janky and far from a perfect experience, the story of Cal Kestis as he comes into his own as a Jedi is a splendid one with many twists and turns.
19 Death Stranding: Director’s Cut
A Melancholic Beauty Pervades The Game World
Only Hideo Kojima could develop a game that was marketed through the roof but still kept fans in the dark when it came to the core gameplay. When the title was released, many people felt like Death Stranding’s gameplay was too barebones and the systems didn’t make for a compelling gameplay loop. However, as the years have passed, more and more people have come to appreciate the title’s understated brilliance.
The story of Sam Porter as he transports packages in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by mysterious creatures makes for a great time, with Death Stranding‘s story easily being one of its strongest aspects. The game has been called an elaborate walking simulator by many, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It takes real guts to try something new and experimental in a AAA game, and no one can fault Kojima for letting his creativity be expressed without any limits in this unique open-world game that looks gorgeous to boot.
18 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
New York Looks Beautiful In The Winter
Most people scoffed at the idea of a standalone expansion to Marvel’s Spider-Man, believing that Miles Morales wouldn’t cut it as a short experience. Despite its steep price, there’s no denying that the adventures of Miles without Peter guiding him end up being a marvelous spectacle that fans will have a great time with.
It helps that Miles’ new powers make his gameplay feel fresh and engaging, with the emphasis on stealth addressing one of the biggest complaints from the base game. Finally, the visuals are truly exemplary, and the game’s lighting looks even better with ray tracing on!
17 Returnal
A Sci-Fi Roguelike Full Of Diverse Biomes On An Alien Planet
It’s refreshing to see Sony working on a game that is genuinely challenging and will give players a run for their money. The roguelike gameplay of Returnal is tough as nails but the game is well worth playing through for the sense of satisfaction it provides.
The story is quite brilliant as well, but one thing that wows players to no end is the amazing graphics of this title. The biomes present in the game look unique and enthralling in their own right, and players who want some breathing room after a particularly challenging encounter will love gazing upon Returnal‘s brilliant visuals.
16 Cyberpunk 2077
Night City And Its Surroundings Boast Impressive Urban Landscapes
While Cyberpunk 2077 didn’t exactly deliver on all its promises and was rushed through development, it’s still one of the most amazing titles to look at on the PS5. Night City features amazing contrast between the neon glow and dark shadows that lend it a one-of-a-kind appearance that players will not soon forget.
Initially, many failed to fully enjoy the story due to technical problems, but the updates for the next-gen systems have made some serious improvements. With the enhancements made to the game, players will love just how beautiful it looks on the PS5 and perhaps get more enjoyment out of it.
15 Gran Turismo 7
One Of The Most Beautiful And Realistic-Looking Racing Games Of The Modern Era
The Gran Turismo series is one of PlayStation’s exclusive racing franchises and has always pushed the bar in terms of graphics. Gran Turismo 7 is no exception in this regard, with the game looking gorgeous on the PlayStation 5.
While players have their fair share of justified complaints regarding this series and its direction, there’s no denying that this franchise has always pushed the boundaries when it comes to graphical fidelity. Players who want a title to show off the graphical capabilities of the PS5 should look no further than this one.
14 Final Fantasy 16
A Dark Fantasy World Full Of Incredible Visual Flair
Final Fantasy 16 is another chapter in a long-running series that needs no introduction. The game brings with it some serious changes that can be hard to swallow for fans who loved the party-based approach and tactical combat that earlier titles in the series were known for… but most people couldn’t deny that Final Fantasy 16‘s emphasis on spectacle paid off with a new approach.
It helped that the game looked gorgeous, and the cinematics made things even more engaging. Everything from the regular battles to the boss fights is a blast to get through, although the side quest design can be a bit too simplistic for people used to modern games with the most fleshed-out content in this department.
13 Ghost Of Tsushima Director’s Cut
A World Rife With Color And Immersive Visual Design
While originally released for the PS4, the developers revamped Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut to be even more exciting for the PS5, taking full advantage of the system’s processing power. No expense was spared on the finest of details, right down to the behaviors of the foliage.
Features such as blood spray were rendered in absolute 4K resolution for the most profound effects. The Director’s Cut takes the gameplay a step further and adds to the story, too. Even without this edition, though, Ghost of Tsushima would still have been one of the best-looking games on the PS5.
12 Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart
Shows Off The Strength Of The PS5 In Both The Technical And Graphical Departments
One of the best available PS5 games for both its visuals and smooth play, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is the 16th installment in the popular series. It’s got great load times and tight gameplay, but what wins over players the most is how good it looks and the heartfelt story behind it.
Exclusive to the PS5, it looks like something straight out of a hot ticket box office animated movie. The game comes with three different graphic settings for players to experience, depending on what kind of visual experience they want to have.
11 The Last Of Us Part 1
A Beautiful Remaster Of One Of The Greatest PlayStation Games Ever Made
The Last of Us Part 1 is a remake that many people questioned for even existing in the first place. After all, the game had just received a remaster a while back and looked gorgeous enough as things were.
Well, it turns out that Naughty Dog could still up its game when it came to the visual department. The game still looks gorgeous to this day, providing fans of the series with a chance to relive Ellie and Joel’s epic adventure in style.
10 Horizon Forbidden West
A Beautiful Post-Apocalyptic Game Rife With Impressive Visuals
Horizon Forbidden West built up everything great about the first installment in the series, making an even more breathtaking masterpiece. It features stunning visual effects, detailing battles down to the finest aspects.
Everything from the first game was expanded upon, including customizations of weapons and armor, a larger variety of machines, and a bigger cast of NPCs. In addition to how beautiful the game is, players also had a lot more collectibles to go after.
