In DiRT Rally, players get to experience an authentic rally experience, complete with many of the most iconic cars (from past and present) to test your road skills in. With plenty of gorgeous settings to drive through, DiRT Rally offers both thrilling single-player and online multiplayer races. Whether challenging your friends or just racing against the clock, DiRT Rally is an entertaining racing game for everyone!

DiRT Rally boasts amazing graphics, even though racing games usually don’t focus on that particular aspect. The cars all race fluidly through their different environments, lending to the authentic rally experience that the game promotes. To be perfectly honest, the beautiful settings and realistic cars are what give DiRT Rally enjoyment, as the rest of the game doesn’t really stand out too much.

Wolfenstein II is the next chapter in the story of William “B.J.” Blazkowicz, who is a war veteran struggling to liberate his own Nazi-conquered world. A first-person shooter with plenty of added mechanics to allow for player creativity, this latest game in the Wolfenstein franchise is enjoyable in both story and gameplay alike!

It’s impossible not to love the unique setting and characters from Wolfenstein II, as Blazkowicz’s dramatic story unfolds. This game is made all the more engaging by its detailed character and weapon designs. The imaginative world is rather dark, being an alternate universe where Nazis have taken over America, but it doesn’t make the graphics any less impressive. It all adds up to make Wolfenstein II an exciting game, one that players can really get into!

In a brand new narrative-story game, The Council is a classic murder mystery, where players must uncover the truth behind a gruesome tale. With many interesting famous characters as suspects, you play as Louis de Richet, a member of a secret society who is thrust into this drama after an invitation from the eccentric Lord Mortimer…

Though The Council is a newer game on our list, it impresses with the detail given to the environment and characters. Much like other narrative games on the market right now, the actions that you take in The Council will shape the course of the rest of the game. Richet himself has 15 different skills that you can invest in, choosing how to play in your own style. Of course, the draw of this game comes from the detail in characters - the realism of their psyche and appearance lends to your own immersion in the game.

Shadow of the Colossus is the tale of Wander, a young man who travels into a forbidden land. To save the life of a girl named Mono, Wander must traverse this foreign landscape and defeat sixteen colossi.

Though Shadow of the Colossus is a bit older than the other games on our list, it has remained one of the most influential video games ever made. Its rather simple environment is still beautiful to behold, providing an atmosphere matching with the theme of the game. The emotional journey of Wander is made all the more dramatic by the magnitude of his enemies and the foreign world in which he finds himself. Both of these aspects are conveyed well by the graphic design of the game. The colossi are the focal point of Wander’s adventures, and the focus around them is apparent from the style of the world. Shadow of the Colossus even has been remastered for recent consoles, and its appearance in 4k graphics looks amazing!

Far Cry 4 follows the story of Ajay Ghale as he gets unexpectedly involved in a civil war between Kyrat’s army and a rebel group called the Golden Path. Ajay traveled to Kyrat to spread his mother’s ashes in her home country, but becomes embroiled in the conflict of the Himalayan country. Ajay will learn more about his parents and their past, even as he learns who he is. With a few improved mechanics from the previous Far Cry games, like the ability to hide bodies, Far Cry 4 is an open-world adventure of epic proportions. There is even a co-op multiplayer addition to the game called “Guns for Hire,” where players can pair up to take down bases.

Far Cry 4 has one of the most beautiful settings for players to explore in the exotic and dangerous country of Kyrat. Though there are many open-world games with just as interesting settings, we believe Far Cry 4 to be above many of them. This game has the most attention given to its surroundings, encouraging players to explore. Far Cry 4 is a bit lower on our list due to some glitchy mechanics and the lack of detail in other areas (like enemy character designs). That being said, this is still one of the most engrossing settings we’ve seen in gaming, and the graphics certainly do not fail in that aspect!

Assassin’s Creed: Origins takes players back to ancient Egypt, where the Brotherhood of Assassins was born. With plenty of new gameplay mechanics to keep the experience fresh and a brand new setting to explore, Assassin’s Creed: Origins is one of the best installations in the franchise, even as it is the newest.

This latest game in the Assassin’s series continues the tradition of blending the present day and the past in one fluid storyline. For true fans of the franchise, the promise of learning about the Brotherhood’s past is enticing enough. Combine that with the open-world beauty of exploring Egypt! Assassin’s Creed: Origins is exciting for old fans and new players in equal amounts. The graphics have enhanced this experience, putting an attention to detail in the game that draws people in.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is set in a fantasy open-world, where a monster hunter known as Geralt of of Rivia is searching for his missing adopted daughter. His daughter Ciri is a Source, born with magical abilities to spare. But many are out to use Ciri’s power for their own ends… Entering into the interesting magical world of the Continent, players can explore a world of many unusual sights and creatures. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an engrossing story with a world to keep players coming back again and again!

This game is one that is able to draw people in because the world is so realistic, partly because of the story and partly due to the authentic fantasy setting. Geralt’s world is full of interesting people and quests, so there is plenty to explore! With so much to do, it is easy to spend many hours lost in The Witcher 3. And for the most part, the graphics encourage players to stay for a while, with such detail allowing people to be a part of the world themselves. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is truly a fantasy game on another level!

Horizon Zero Dawn takes us into a post-apocalyptic world, one where nature has taken over the ruins of humanity. What remains of the populace has reverted into hunter-gatherer tribes, living off the natural land. Complete with changing weather and a day/night cycle, Horizon Zero Dawn is an immersive experience. Explore humanity’s past as you marvel in the beauty of the present!

As Aloy explores the world of Horizon Zero Dawn, she learns about the mysteries of humanity’s past and why the Machines came to conquer the present world. The alien Machines and the natural beauty of the world are stark contrasts to one another. Yet they both seem to fit in Horizon Zero Dawn. Even the combat in the game is fluid and realistic, lending to the authenticity of the plot. This setting is open to explore and fight as you will, allowing for players to customize their experience to their own taste a bit. And the entire game is gorgeous in every aspect, from the combat to the background to the character’s intricacies. With so much to offer, Horizon Zero Dawn is one of the most enthralling games this year.

Ori and The Blind Forest follows the tale of young orphan Ori, on a journey to save the forest he lives in as he uncovers more truth about the past. A platformer with gorgeous levels to traverse, Ori and The Blind Forest has an emotional story and excellent gameplay mechanics, improved with the release of the Definitive Edition. A lot of effort was put into Ori and The Blind Forest, made evident in the beautifully fluid animation and graphics. Also, the opening sequence to this game is guaranteed to make you cry!

Ori and The Blind Forest has a different style of graphics than many of the other games on our list. The way that Ori and the creatures of the forest move through their world is so natural! Every motion is fluid, from Ori running and jumping, to the way a blade of grass or tree waves in the background. The forest is gorgeous – it is clear how much time and love was poured into this game. Players are able to connect emotionally to the game, even though Ori is an unusual character. Thanks to the beautiful surroundings and the detailed animation, the game’s story can get the full attention it deserves.

Breath of the Wild is the much-anticipated addition to The Legend of Zelda franchise, and the wait for the game was well worth it! It has already won multiple awards in the gaming community, and for good reason. Link returns once again to save his world, but this time, he has a brand new world to explore!

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes every LoZ game up to this point and incorporates the best aspects of everything into the latest project. The animation is detailed and cohesive, reminiscent in many ways of the style in Wind Waker. It is a beautiful blend of 3D style graphics, with a colorful world that makes you want to keep playing. The world is open to explore, with plenty of side quests and dungeons for players to delve into. Though it is a fantasy world, Breath of the Wild is realistic and exciting to play, especially for long-time fans of the LoZ franchise. It is clear why this game was chosen to be among the first for the Nintendo Switch – Breath of the Wild alone is worth the additional cost!