Yes, graphics aren’t everything, and we still have the pad stuck between two generations. But the year 2022 has been marked by big visually impressive games and we now know which are the most successful games, with supporting evidence.
We know them for their countless video game autopsies every time a big title comes out on consoles and PC, the little guys from DigitalFoundry have compiled a ranking of the most impressive and visually successful games, each time based on their previous analyses.
The most beautiful games of 2022
Among the big finalists in this ranking of the most beautiful games of the year, we find (out of order) Dying Light 2, which, despite its bugs, achieved a very good performance on PC, in particular where the game is frankly beautiful under ray. tracing. There is also A Plague Tale Requiem which can also boast of having nice graphics in addition to offering a very nice artistic direction. Digital Foundry argues that the game has a staggering amount of detail and a modeling of elements that commands respect, especially since we are often invaded by thousands of rats on the screen.
Warhammer 40K: Darktide, The Left 4 Dead-like is also present and gets away with the horrors by offering attractive graphics and here too an inspired artistic direction. Need for Speed Unbound, is also praised for its graphic and technical performance which manages to compile detailed environments, very clean modeling, nice special effects and unfailing fluidity.
The very first game under Unreal Engine 5.1 is also honored in this ranking, it is Fortnite which recently got a makeover taking advantage of the latest technologies from Epic. Light effects, finer particles, incredible modeling and display distance… the free-to-play battle royale acts as a real technical showcase for the new graphics engine. Finally, the PS5 is in the spotlight with Gran Turismo 7 and The Last of Us Part 1, two huge technical monsters that enjoy sumptuous graphics and a real attention to detail.
Digital Foundry still wanted to award an honorable mention to the new gen patch of The Witcher 3 which, despite still shaky performance, offers absolutely sumptuous visuals, which are also strongly supported here by ray tracing which does an impeccable job.
And the big winners are…
But Digital Foundry still managed to decide and three games won the podium places. In third place is Portal RTX, the true/false remaster that served as a technology showcase for Nvidia’s new software. Here, Valve’s game becomes simply superb and ray tracing once again works miracles by offering detailed reflections and impeccable lighting effects.
In second position, we find the survival horror The Callisto Protocol which, despite its few optimization problems, particularly due to the famous Denuvo, turns out to be a real visual success. Detailed and terribly well modeled, Glen Schofield’s game pleases the retina whether on PC, PS5 or Xbox Series.
Finally, the big winner is none other than the exclusive PlayStation Horizon Forbidden West and it will be difficult to contradict the verdict. Visually, it’s a real slap in the face on all levels, not to mention the artistic direction. Colors, details, light effects, modeling… it’s all there. Guerrilla’s game is a real technical and visual monster, a worthy representative of the new generation of Sony consoles, now our current gen.
Next year, many games should also come to our retinas such as Dead Space Remake, Final Fantasy 16 or perhaps Forspoken. Little by little, console games are freeing themselves from their PS4 and Xbox One versions, which allows studios to express the full potential of their titles. At least that’s what most developers say, but note thatHorizon Forbidden WestTHE big winner of this ranking of the most beautiful games of the year, is also available on old gen.
Final ranking of the most beautiful games of 2022 according to Digital Foundry
- Horizon Forbidden West
- The Callisto Protocol
- Portal RTX
Finalists (mess)
- Dying Light 2
- Need for Speed Unbound
- Fortnite EU 5.1
- A Plague Tale: Requiem
- Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
- The Last of Us Part I
- Gran Turismo 7
Honorable mention
- The Witcher 3 (PS5, Xbox Series and PC patch)
And you, which game gave you a real slap?
