9 Beautiful Video Games You May Never Have Played
As a new season of amazing games arrives to take over all of our free time (I’m looking at you Spiderman), it’s impossible not to marvel at how far video games have come. Watching the stick-figure-style graphics of the Atari move to the pixelated, 16-bit graphics of the SNES era, and then change to new-gen titles with hyper-realistic, almost movie-like graphics- it has been quite the ride. Whether you’ve been a fan from the beginning or are new to the scene, there’s probably a few video games you’ve missed over the years. Maybe you didn’t have the budget, or maybe your mom thought it was too grown up for you. Or maybe in the flood of amazing games on the market, you’ve never even heard of them. There are so many hidden jewels out there! Here’s my top ten visually-stunning games you probably haven’t played (but totally should).
9. RiME (2017): Switch, PS4, XBoxOne, PC
The visuals in RiME are so beautiful, it’s not immediately clear how incredibly dark the game is. You are a young, nameless boy who washes up on a beach, completely alone. The brilliant, colorful scenery shifts and changes with the themes of each level, bringing you ever deeper down the rabbit hole. RiME deals with some very difficult-to-tackle subjects, included grief, pain, and loss, all without uttering a single word. There’s something heart-breakingly beautiful about this silent story that is almost guaranteed to make you cry.
8. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA (2016): PS4, PSV, PC, Switch
While this game might look like another one of those trash games targeted only to weebs, Ys VIII is a stunning reminder that any genre can have beautiful, fun storytelling all wrapped up in a pretty package. Although animated in a generic anime style, Ys brings to the table bright, colorful locations, interesting characters, fun plot twists, and gorgeous cut scenes.
7. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (2017): PS4, PC, XBoxOne
Hellblade is proof that “gory” and “dark” can also mean “beautiful.” This stunning, twisted masterpiece launches us into the murky depths of one woman’s less-than-stable mind. What is real in this world, and what is the product of our mentally unbalanced protagonist? Dealing with the difficult subjects of loss, mental health, and a hero’s journey (of a sorts), Hellblade is a game that will capture 100% of your attention.
6. Baten Kaitos (2008): Gamecube
2008, you say? How on earth is there a pretty game more than a decade old? If you think that, than you have never played Baten Kaitos. One of the prettiest titles ever to be released for the Gamecube, this game is a storytelling masterpiece. With crazy twists and turns, you travel through a world of strange and beautiful creatures and characters. The stunning painted backgrounds of this game give in a lasting beauty that really stuns even today. And you’ll never see the twist coming!
5. King’s Quest (2015): PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PC
King’s Quest is one of the longest-running game series in the world. From their humble beginnings in 1980, these games have captured the hearts of millions with their great story lines, hilarious puns, and cutting-edge graphics. But did you know that a new chapter of King’s Quest was released just a couple of years ago? This stunning game tells the story of King Graham and his family from the beginning, each chapter lovingly created with gorgeous comic-style art. If you loved the old games (or even if you’ve never played them) the new King’s Quest is worth a try, if only for the graphics (and all of those puns about fire will certainly spark your imagination).
4. Folklore (2007): PS3
A dark, twisted, and creepy world lives alongside our own. Folklore explores this beautiful world, breathing life into the local ghosts and ghoulies with stunning detail and picture-perfect backgrounds. The cut scenes are semi-animated in a strange comic-book style that fits the feel of this deeply disturbed story. I’ve never played anything else quite like Folklore; it’s part mystery, part horror story, part Magical Girl anime, part fairy-tale, and all beauty.
3. Journey (2012): PS4, PS3
Journey is truly the prettiest, most interesting game on this list. It’s absolutely stunning, and the story is incredible. You are a nameless, genderless person, journeying through a desert in search of your history. You come across beautiful vistas, mysterious rock carvings, and some spooky (if beautiful) machine things that want to take away your powers. An incredibly short game, Journey will keep you riveted through all three hours of its gameplay, and you’ll want to immediately play it again and again.
2. Never Alone (2014): PS4, Android, Xbox One, PS3, Mac, PC, WiiU, Linux
Never Alone is a masterpiece of Iñupiaq storytelling. Based on a real tale from real tribal lore, this Native Alaskan game is all about a child who asks the spirits for help. You travel through gorgeous, snowy landscapes with your spirit fox friend, solving puzzles together. While I found the controls to be a little wonky, this tale is still worth a play through. It’s amazing, beautiful, historical, and actually made by a real Iñupiaq.
1. Eternal Sonata (2008): PS3
Eternal Sonata is an RPG with a storyline that’s impossible to describe without sounding absolutely crazy (there’s magic but it kills people, and Frederick Chopin is there, and…). But trust me when I tell you that the story is just as beautiful as the graphics. The landscapes are some of the most amazing you’ve ever seen, and each character just leaps out of the screen with their own interesting backgrounds. The story is sweet, but full of betrayals and twists that will leave you reeling.
