Sony is renowned for producing games for their consoles that are both polished and beautiful. PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 exclusive games often take the top spots in all PS4 and PS5 games with best graphics rankings. This is no different in our compiled list. When choosing the PS4 and PS5 games with the best graphics, we were forced to accept that the majority of places would be filled by “exclusives”, but thankfully there were a few items from elsewhere that delight the eye no less than the hits of the PlayStation Studios-affiliated teams. In the following is a ranking of PS4 and PS5 games, which stand out for their supremely attractive graphic design!
Why are graphics important in video games?
Graphics are an important aspect of video games because they help to create a sense of immersion and make the game world more believable and enjoyable for the player. Good graphics can also help to convey important information to the player and make gameplay more intuitive.
In addition, good graphics can help to make a game more visually appealing and attract a larger player base. However, it’s important to note that graphics are not the most important aspect of a video game, and a game with mediocre graphics can still be enjoyable if it has strong gameplay and a compelling story.
Top PlayStation games with the best graphics
All of us know that the visuals aren’t the most important thing in games, however, if there’s an opportunity to play PS4 / PS5 games offering the best graphics, which in addition offer a whole lot of gameplay, one would regret not taking advantage of it. The following is our selections of of PS4 and PS5 games with best graphics where the visuals are as enjoyable as the gameplay.
10- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5)
For many people, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the most beautiful PS5 game released so far. Developers themselves have claimed that this title could not have made it to the previous generation, because of the rift system, which enables you to move between different dimensions.
The PS4 drive would have simply been too slow. And yes, we have no loading screens, the possibility to play with ray tracing enabled in dynamic 4K and 60 frames, and many graphical fireworks. There’s solid gameplay behind the attractive visuals, so we shouldn’t worry that we’re buying a blowout in pretty paper.
9- Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (PS5)
Final Fantasy VII remake is a brand new version of one of the most popular jRPGs in the history of computer games. Square Enix is behind the project, and the company decided to split the original story into three parts to prevent the omission of important events. For the moment, we have received the first of them.
While the remake itself is more than 2 years old, in July 2021 an improved version dedicated to PS5 consoles was released, featuring boosted visuals and 4K resolution. The difference between the old and new release is huge. Not only does Integrade include graphical and QoL improvements, but also a story add-on with Yuffie Kisaragi, taking an extra few hours to complete.
8- Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (PS5)
The sequel to the story of Dmitry Glukhovsky’s Metro trilogy was launched a few years ago, however, the developers at 4A Games had not forgotten about their fans and last year they released a free Enhanced Edition update that polished the already lovely game. Improvements were made to textures, objects, locations and visual effects.
Noteworthy features included a stable 60 frames per second and ray tracing, which made exploring modestly lit spaces extra flavorful. Should you be interested in FPS and feel like reaching for the PS4 and PS5 games with best graphics, Metro Exodus would be the best choice.
7- Demon’s Souls (PS5)
A remake of the protoplast of the soulslike genre released in 2009 has only and until now been released at the launch of the latest generation of consoles. Bluepoint Games was up to the task, offering us exactly the same game as the original, only brought up to current standards. High-resolution textures and new animations were taken care of.
The play of lights and shadows can cause jaws to drop. It was the most beautiful PS5 game on the day of its release (also due to little competition), but it still deserves a top position even now.
6- Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut (PS4 / PS5)
Following years of unsuccessful requests for Assassin’s Creed in Japanese climates, salvation came from an unexpected side. Formerly known mostly for the InFamous series, the Sucker Punch team introduced us to the action RPG Ghost of Tsushima in 2018. Following the release, it became clear that so far the most beautiful PlayStation 4 and PS5 games (here we are talking about the Director’s Cut edition) can go into hiding! Its colorful visuals were already enchanting on the eighth generation of consoles, and thanks to the improvements made in the Director’s Cut version, it only got better.
When playing Ghost of Tsushima, it is necessary to reach for the Kurosawa mode, that completely changes the perception of the game. The developers made an effort to reflect the atmosphere of the works of the acclaimed director as accurately as possible, so we got not only black-and-white graphics, but also the film grain that is typical of older titles, and accentuated sounds of blowing wind and rustling leaves. Thanks to all these, Ghost of Tsushima fully deserves its place in our list of PS4 and PS5 games with best graphics.
5- The Last of Us Part II (PS4 / PS5)
Easily one of the most controversial titles of recent years, The Last of Us Part II certainly deserves the title of one of the most beautiful PS4 games. Development studio Naughty Dog allowed itself to make some bold decisions that gave TLOUII’s storyline a path not necessarily the way gamers wished, which resulted in a huge storm in online comments.
Nevertheless, let’s leave this topic behind and proceed to our focus in this article, which is the visuals. And that one is downright phenomenal. The flooded streets of a deserted city, overgrown with vegetation remnants of the highway… The number of sights that would make it onto postcards is gigantic. Plus the brilliantly rendered character facial expressions and those animations…
The Last of Us Part II and is known for its impressive graphics and attention to detail. The game’s environments are highly realistic and immersive, and the character models and animations are top-notch. The game’s graphics are powered by Naughty Dog’s internal engine. Overall, many reviewers and players have praised the game’s graphics as being among the best in the industry, which was the reason why we have included it in this list of PS4 and PS5 games with best graphics.
4- Cyberpunk 2077 (PS5)
Yes, your eyes are not misleading you. Cyberpunk may be accused of a lot, but in terms of visuals, it’s in a class of its own. This is especially true in the next-gen patch version. Night City actually looks absolutely stunning on the PS5, with the neon glow and shadows.
Thus, it’s impossible for our ranking of PS4 and PS5 games with best graphics (okay, playing on a past-generation console can still be a bit painful) to overlook such a beautiful production. The latest patches have considerably boosted the state of CDPR’s game, so if you haven’t yet had a glimpse of Story V and haven’t been discouraged by the release reviews, right now is the best time to check out this title.
3- Horizon Forbidden West (PS4 / PS5)
The follow-up to Guerilla Games’ blockbuster did not let down fans, who received exactly what they were waiting for, just in an even better, more elaborate and prettier version. PS4 and PS5 games with best graphics list have acquired another strong representative. The Forbidden West is impressive in both size and content. The Horizon world has grown noticeably, becoming more authentic and vivid (as much as you can call a post-apocalyptic reality that way).
True, you won’t be able to find any major revolutions here, but in fact we don’t think anyone was expecting them either. It is simply a great, yet safe continuation. And while malicious people say that Aloy in Horizon Forbidden West has become a bit fat, in reality she has never been as beautiful as she is now.
2- Death Stranding (PS4) and Death Stranding Director’s Cut (PS5)
The Death Stranding is a courier simulator and a game that is not for everyone. Okay, given that the obligatory phrases in every statement about Hideo Kojima’s work have already appeared, let’s talk about the sights, some of which are as beautiful as they are depressing.
The American wilderness is stunning in its grandeur, encouraging us every now and then to stop and reflect on the passing of life. This is not safe, however, as the cargo carried by the hero is subject to lurking bandits, monsters and… nature itself, which is doing its best to make life difficult for our courier.
Death Stranding Director’s Cut is made even prettier, and moreover, it laughs at 60 fps! Every detail has been polished, and some new mechanics have been introduced in the process, making this game a must in our list of PS4 and PS5 games with best graphics. Regrettably, it was not without casualties. Sam lost the ability to duplicate himself.
1- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PS4/PS5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTunTURbyUU
PlayStation 5 didn’t have much of a set of launch games available when it hit store shelves in November 2020. But fortunately, quality outweighed quantity. No launch then was as highly anticipated as just Spider-Man: Miles Morales. While there were claims that it was just a big DLC, a sizable portion of gamers couldn’t wait to see the PS5 in action, with a title whose graphics surpassed its stunning predecessor in every way.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that the game still remains one of the best-selling releases for Sony’s latest console to this day. If you want to get know more about this game, you can read our Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales review.
So what would your ranking of PS4 and PS5 games with best graphics look like if visuals were the key factor? What, in your opinion, are the most beautiful PlayStation 4 and PS5 games?
