30 Graphically Impressive Games You Can’t Miss in 2026

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Okay, so PC prices are kinda rough right now, but there’s good news for us gamers! The coolest-looking games coming out this year actually won’t need a super expensive rig to run. Last year had some amazing graphics, but 2026 is shaping up to be just as impressive, and we’re only at the beginning of the year! I’ve found a list of 30 games that are really pushing the visual boundaries, so check them out!

The Blood of Dawnwalker

Okay, I gotta admit, when I first saw the game, I immediately thought, “This feels really like The Witcher!” And that makes sense, considering the team behind it worked on The Witcher 3. But honestly, the way they use dark and light in this game is even more striking. You play as Coen, trying to rescue his family, and the difference between day and night isn’t just visual – it actually impacts how you play and the choices you make. The lighting looks great, sure, but it’s how it feels and how it changes things up that really grabbed me.

Control Resonant

Remedy is already known for its amazing visuals, but with Control Resonant, they’re pushing things even further. The game builds on the original’s striking brutalist architecture, eerie lighting, and overall artistic style. It not only looks like a polished action game with incredibly creative enemies, but it feels much more surreal and mind-bending than the first Control, and we’re excited to see what else they reveal.

Resident Evil Requiem

All the work we’ve shown culminates in this. The incredible detail – from realistic hair and skin to sweat and lighting – creates a truly impressive survival horror experience. We still have more to reveal, including gameplay with Leon, which is expected to feature larger, more open environments compared to Grace’s tense, claustrophobic sections. With release just under two months away and another showcase planned, we won’t have to wait much longer to see it all.

Marvel’s Wolverine

Like Insomniac’s previous games such as Ratchet & Clank and Marvel’s Spider-Man, the impressive technology isn’t the main draw—it’s how they use it. Marvel’s Wolverine features incredibly detailed visuals, like realistic arm hair and perfect reflections on Wolverine’s claws, as well as stunning visual effects like blood splatters. Beyond that, the game world is highly interactive and destructible, letting you smash through objects or even throw enemies into lava.

Beast of Reincarnation

Fans used to Game Freak’s Pokémon games might be surprised by this new project, and in a good way. It looks fantastic! The game features detailed, weathered robots, a unique and atmospheric post-apocalyptic world with lush plants, and environments that can change quickly – it’s almost dreamlike. This is likely the studio’s most visually impressive game yet, and we’re eager to see what’s next.

Ontos

Frictional Games is known for its incredible lighting and shadows, and this title is no exception. Just look at the way Stellan Skarsgård’s character is lit by the chandelier, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in the reception area. But, as a game inspired by Soma, you can also expect plenty of disturbing and frightening imagery – realistic gore, and a world that breaks apart before your eyes. It all comes together to create a truly terrifying and surreal experience.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis

It’s rare to get truly excited about a remake built in Unreal Engine 5, but Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog have done something special with Legacy of Atlantis – and this is based on early, unfinished footage! The remake takes us back to the beginning of Lara Croft’s story with stunningly detailed environments and a massive sense of scope. Even the small things, like realistic dirt and Lara’s movements, look better than ever before.

Saros

Calling Saros a spiritual successor to Returnal basically means you’re getting the same fast-paced, challenging bullet-hell gameplay you enjoyed before, but with more developed rogue-lite elements. And that’s perfectly okay, considering how captivating the original game was. Visually, Saros is stepping things up with realistic physics for its numerous bullets, plus dynamic lighting and particle effects. The story is also getting an upgrade, featuring better camera work, more cutscenes with motion capture, and improved character facial expressions.

Gears of War: E-Day

The Coalition hasn’t released much beyond the initial trailer for their new game this year, but they’re generating a lot of excitement. If you thought Gears 5 looked amazing – and many considered it one of the best-looking games of its generation – E-Day is promising to take things to a whole new level. They’re claiming over 100 times more detail in the environments and characters, plus features like ray tracing for realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections. On top of that, they’ve completely rebuilt the game in Unreal Engine 5 with revamped destruction and new animation technology. While some studios have struggled with the engine, The Coalition seems to be making the most of it, and this could be a truly stunning visual experience.

Grand Theft Auto 6

The visual detail in Grand Theft Auto 6 is incredible. The trailers showcase a huge number of characters, each with realistic movements and skin, plus amazing long-distance views, especially from the air. The facial expressions are remarkably nuanced, and that’s just from a couple of trailers! Even with more gameplay footage to come, it’s clear this could be one of the most visually stunning games ever made.

007 First Light

Even with some motion blur in the PS5 gameplay, IO Interactive’s new 007 game looks fantastic – and that’s high praise considering their work on the Hitman series. This game, featuring a young James Bond before he became 007, offers more than just beautiful locations and fast-paced chases. It focuses on stealth, using your surroundings to your benefit – showcasing the game’s detailed visual effects – and thrilling action sequences where quick thinking is just as important as brute force. Whether you’re playing for the stunning scenery or the exciting action, 007 First Light delivers a great experience.

Phantom Blade Zero

Phantom Blade Zero creates a uniquely immersive atmosphere, reminiscent of the Souls-like genre. This feeling comes from the lonely, ruined buildings of Pang Town, the muted color palette in some areas, and the way its fantastical enemies look surprisingly realistic. However, it quickly establishes itself as a strong action RPG with its fluid animations and incredibly fast-paced combat, promising a truly exceptional blend of kung fu and cyberpunk.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties

RGG Studio deserves praise for not only recreating a beloved Yakuza game, but also for building a fresh experience around a fan-favorite villain. As always, the game looks fantastic, with updated character models and environments powered by the still-impressive Dragon Engine. It’s the kind of game you can easily spend over a hundred hours enjoying and taking in all the details.

Crimson Desert

If you’re looking for a game to truly lose yourself in – one that could easily occupy you for over a hundred hours – this new open-world fantasy RPG delivers. The world of Pywel is incredibly immersive, featuring vast mountains, lush forests, and sprawling plains, complete with intriguing floating islands. And if all that doesn’t grab you, there’s also an epic battle against a massive mechanical dragon.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Fans have been waiting a long time for a new Onimusha game, and Way of the Sword delivers more than just a pretty face. The game is visually stunning, perfectly recreating the dark, fantastical mood of past Onimusha titles, while making the demons (Genma) more terrifyingly detailed than ever before. Beyond the graphics, it includes everything you’d expect from an Onimusha game – a compelling hero, stylish sword fighting, and impressive visual effects and animations.

Replaced

I could tell you about the difficult development process of Replaced, especially considering Sad Cat Studios is based in Ukraine. Or I could explain how the game’s 2.5D pixel art is truly groundbreaking. But one comment on the release date trailer perfectly captures it: “Every scene is wallpaper worthy.” After years in the making, we’re excited to appreciate every detail – from the beautifully hand-drawn animations and intense chases, to the bleak portrayal of this alternate version of America.

Fable

Playground Games is famous for the Forza Horizon series, but there’s been some doubt about their new game, Fable, because it’s been in development for a long time and has faced several delays. However, recent early footage looks promising, with beautiful graphics that capture the feel of a classic fairytale while still appearing technically impressive. Hopefully, 2026 will be the year we finally get to play it – we just need official confirmation and a longer look at the gameplay.

Fatekeeper

Paraglacial immediately impressed us with its first trailer and has quickly become a game we’re excited about. The game’s detailed environments – lush outdoor areas and atmospheric interiors filled with intricate creatures – are remarkable, especially considering it was created by a small team of just 12 people.

Valor Mortis

One More Level’s newest game, Valor Mortis, is a challenging, action-packed title inspired by the ‘Souls-like’ genre. Unlike their previous game, Ghostrunner, which was set in a cyberpunk future, Valor Mortis takes place in a dark and gritty 19th-century Europe plagued by disease. Despite the grim setting, the game is visually striking, with a unique art style created by a blend of detailed textures, special effects, and haunting environments. The enemy designs are equally impressive, ranging from elegant to truly terrifying.

Pragmata

It took a long time to perfect the unique gameplay – surprisingly, a blend of hacking and shooting – and honestly, Pragmata didn’t need to look as good as it does. But it does! The realistic animations, like the way Diana’s hair moves, are so advanced that the technology was also used in Requiem. Beyond that, the game is full of great details, from the sci-fi design of the dangerous lunar base to the intricate enemy models, showing exposed machinery when you hack them successfully. While Onimusha represents the past and Requiem the present, Pragmata is a stunning glimpse into the future of gaming.

Directive 8020

Though Supermassive Games has used Unreal Engine 5 before, their latest project, Directive 8020, really shows how much more comfortable they’ve become with the technology. The game combines a gripping survival story set on the Cassiopeia with the studio’s well-known storytelling style. It features beautiful alien plants, impressively detailed and unsettling body horror, and fantastic lighting and shadows, all brought to life with incredible facial animations.

Nioh 3

Team Ninja has been steadily expanding the scope of its games – from the wider areas in Wo Long to the open world of Rise of the Ronin, and the dark fantasy setting of Nioh. It was inevitable they’d eventually combine these elements, resulting in Nioh 3. The game features large, open levels that are visually impressive, with detailed landscapes and roaming enemies. While you might be too focused on the action to fully appreciate it, the environments are truly stunning.

Ride 6

Even though Milestone doesn’t have the same financial resources as developers like Polyphony Digital or Playground Games, their Ride series has become known for its realistic graphics. The latest installment, Ride 6, launching this February, takes things a step further by using Unreal Engine 5 to create even more lifelike tracks and motorcycles. While the riders themselves could look a bit more detailed, the overall visual experience is impressive.

The Duskbloods

It’s hard to say if it’s the artistic style, but The Duskbloods looks fantastic, with a lot of impressive details. The game features both terrifying bosses and decaying environments, all built around some truly remarkable architecture – especially on the Nintendo Switch 2. While it might not be as expansive as Elden Ring, it’s looking like another visually stunning game from the studio, perfectly suited for its blend of player versus environment and player versus player combat.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra

Although the release was initially expected beyond early 2026, there’s still a chance Skydance New Media’s first game could come out this year. So far, we’ve only seen impressive cinematic trailers that hint at a team-up between Captain America and Black Panther in World War II Paris. But with Amy Hennig leading the development, the team is well-equipped to create a thrilling action-adventure game.

Squadron 42

After raising over $1 billion in funding, Star Citizen is still several years from its official launch. However, its single-player companion game, Squadron 42, is expected to release this year, despite past delays. Despite the ongoing debates surrounding the project, it continues to impress, and the promise of a massive space opera with over 70 missions and a stellar cast is incredibly appealing. Now, the big question is whether it will finally meet its release date.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve looks incredible thanks to the power of Unreal Engine 5 – the planes are the best they’ve ever been. The game also features detailed, multi-layered clouds, promising exciting and visually stunning aerial combat. Even the characters and story cutscenes have been greatly improved, making the game much more realistic than previous installments.

Halo: Campaign Evolved

Despite a few minor glitches in early gameplay, the new remake of the classic first-person shooter, Halo: Combat Evolved, is shaping up nicely. The updated cutscenes look fantastic, the enemy animations are smooth and faithful to the original game, and the textures and weapon designs are all very polished. While some concerns remain, the game is definitely visually impressive.

Arknights: Endfield

Beautiful video games are becoming more and more common, with titles like Where Winds Meet and Wuthering Waves leading the way. Arknights: Endfield is another visually stunning addition, offering diverse areas to explore despite not being a fully open world. The game’s sleek sci-fi style blends seamlessly with the lush plant life of Talos 2, and the unique, ethereal Aggeloi characters are just as impressive as the human designs.

Forza Horizon 6

Okay, as a Forza fan, I’m already blown away by what I’ve seen of Forza Horizon 6. Seriously, like with Gears of War: E-Day, it’s clear this game is going to be stunning. Playground Games consistently delivers amazing graphics, and the way they’re handling the Japanese setting is incredible. They’re promising Tokyo City will be their most detailed environment yet, but it’s the little things – like wind chimes and the overall peaceful vibe – that really get me hyped. Plus, they say this is their biggest and most expansive map ever, so Forza Horizon 6 could genuinely raise the bar for open-world racing games.

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2026-01-09 17:47