Game of the Year: Best PS5 Art Direction of 2025

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Okay, so we’ve already done our big Game of the Year list and everyone on the Push Square team has shared their personal favorites. Now we’re diving deeper and giving awards for specific things games did really well in 2025. Today, I’m focusing on the games that had the absolute best art style on PS5 – the ones that just looked incredible.

Bronze Trophy: Ghost of Yotei

Ghost of Yotei’s landscapes were so beautiful we constantly found ourselves stopping to admire them. The game even seems aware of its own beauty, subtly pulling the camera back when you get near a cliff’s edge to give you a better view.

Go on, take a screenshot of that view…

Like the game before it, Yotei is beautifully presented with bright colors and appealing lighting, creating stunning environments. It’s a visually delightful game – even when things get messy and violent.

Silver Trophy: Dispatch

Dispatch is visually stunning, clearly influenced by the bright, energetic style of comic books and cartoons.

The instantly recognizable character designs are a big plus, and it’s hard not to be impressed by how well Dispatch works as a complete experience – it’s something you enjoy watching as much as playing.

Getting this right is complex – things like how scenes are directed become crucial when the player can’t control the camera. Luckily, AdHoc Studio and their animation team got it perfect right from the start, beginning with the first episode.

Gold Trophy: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Death Stranding 2 is a visually stunning game, not just technically impressive, but also beautifully crafted with a strong artistic vision.

Staying true to Hideo Kojima’s style, Death Stranding 2 is a visually stunning and incredibly detailed game. The world is beautifully rendered, often looking like real life, and everything from the characters to the vehicles is designed with amazing care. It’s a truly rich and artistic experience.

No matter how long you spend with it – even after many hours – there’s always something fresh to discover.

Platinum Trophy: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

While it doesn’t have the same visual polish as some of Sony’s biggest games, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 truly stands out thanks to its incredibly imaginative design.

The game features constantly changing and broken landscapes, unexpectedly creative enemies, and a striking visual style with bold colors and dramatic effects. While it has a dark and atmospheric tone, it avoids relying on dull, muted colors.

The game has a unique and captivating art style that perfectly complements its mysterious and unusual setting as you explore the unknown. Visually, everything feels unified and well-designed, even though it’s full of strange and quirky details.

Expedition 33 is shaping up to be a truly memorable game, one that many players will cherish for years to come. Its unique visual style will likely still stand out and impress people even decades from now.

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2025-12-25 23:07