The 15 Most Beautiful Games of 2023

Last year we had a lot of fun rounding up the most stunning games we had played throughout 2022. As another year comes to a close, it’s time to look back at the visually impressive games of 2023.

This year was absolutely massive for video games, making it quite hard to keep up with the multitude of incredible titles released. Our good old backlog just kept on growing and growing. From the games we did manage to play, here are our top picks for the most breathtaking gaming experiences of 2023.

Hi-Fi Rush

Hi-Fi Rush is a visually captivating action game with a distinctive art style. The game’s visuals draw inspiration from anime and comic books, and we can’t help but think of ‘Into the Spiderverse’ when we look at its vibrant, dynamic and high contrast scenes.

The game mimics a flat, 2D animation look within its 3D game content, featuring cel-shaded characters with bold outlines and dramatic color schemes. The cartoonish art style immediately stands out, making it a visual treat for players.

Release date: January 25, 2023

Platforms: Windows and Xbox Series X/S

Hogwarts Legacy

Fans of the Harry Potter universe were treated to an unforgettable experience when Hogwarts Legacy was released in early 2023. This immersive, open-world action role-playing game is set in the wizarding world made famous by the iconic series of books and films.

The art style of Hogwarts Legacy is a key element that authentically brings the magical universe to life for players. The game utilizes original concept art, including many never-before-seen pieces, to craft compelling locations. This includes hand-drawn style posters reminiscent of those from the 1940s, but with a lively magical flair.

The game’s art and level design provide a memorable otherworldly experience, immersing players in the magic of the Harry Potter universe.

Initial release date: February 10, 2023

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is an action-adventure game developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. It’s the next chapter in the epic journey of Cal Kestis, featuring an engaging narrative-driven gameplay.

The game’s aesthetic effectively captures the essence of the Star Wars universe, transporting players to an era between the events of the prequel and original trilogy, roughly five years after the events of Fallen Order.

Various planets across the galaxy are beautifully brought to life with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. The art style manages to balance the familiar aesthetics of the beloved franchise with fresh elements, creating an immersive experience for both new and long-time Star Wars fans.

Initial release date: April 28, 2023

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom continues the cel-shaded art style of its highly successful predecessor. Nintendo’s decision to use a non-photorealistic aesthetic is a smart move, as it enables them to craft a vast and visually stunning open world for while keeping the performance smooth on the Switch.

The art book included in the collector’s edition allows player to delve even deeper into the game visuals and discover the amazing concept art, character and location designs developed for Tears of the Kingdom.

Initial release date: May 12, 2023

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Diablo IV

Diablo IV marks a notable shift in the franchise’s art direction, moving away from the more cartoonish style of Diablo III and back to a darker, gothic aesthetic that harkens back to the series’ roots. This is a welcome change that enhances the game’s somber themes and narrative, drawing players into a more immersive experience.

The art style incorporates classical influences, giving the game a timeless quality and evoking traditional paintings in some of its scenes. The updated graphics also introduce new elements such as weather effects and day-night cycles, enriching the game world with added depth and realism.

Initial release date: June 5, 2023

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3, developed by Larian Studios, incorporates an art style that effectively captures the rich essence of Dungeons & Dragons, while also offering a distinctive aesthetic with its iconic and well-developed characters and rich world building.

The game features impressive lighting effects with lush and vibrant environments, and its characters are beautifully rendered and animated with incredible detail.

The art direction strikes a balance between standard fantasy and a hint of darkness, delivering a unique look that contributes to a game that has been recognized as one of the best of 2023.

Initial release date: August 3, 2023

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Mac, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

Sea of Stars

Sea of Stars is a retro-inspired turn-based RPG that pushes the boundaries of pixel art. The game’s visuals draw inspiration from the 16-bit era, but with more advanced graphical elements, making it look like an evolved version of a game you’d find on the SEGA Genesis or SNES.

The pixel art style is gorgeous, featuring adorable characters and a world that is both breathtaking and memorable. Every frame of Sea of Stars is a sight to behold. Through its captivating graphics and storytelling, the game proves that old-school design still has its place in the current gaming landscape.

Initial release date: August 29, 2023

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Series X/S

Starfield

Starfield, the highly anticipated RPG created by iconic game developer Bethesda, is the first new franchise produced by the studio in 25 years. Featuring an art style that has been described as “NASA-punk”, the game combines aspects of retro-futurism and modern space exploration designs, resulting in a distinctive style that sets it apart from others in the space and sci-fi genre.

The game’s beautiful concept art has greatly influenced its finished product, resulting in visuals that closely resemble the early sketches.

Although it hasn’t lived up to the hype of previous Bethesda titles such as Skyrim and the Fallout franchise, Starfield still delivers a memorable experience, with one of the most interesting implementations of New Game Plus we’ve seen to date.

Release date: September 6, 2023

Platforms: Windows, Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Series X/S

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is a new spy-thriller expansion for the open-world action-adventure RPG Cyberpunk 2077. The DLC introduces a new area of Night City, the intriguingly named Dogtown, expanding the game’s already rich universe even further.

In terms of art style, it continues the unique cyberpunk aesthetic of the base game while introducing a few new visual elements. The fortified district of Dogtown exhibits a gritty, dystopian atmosphere, blending the futuristic design with a sense of realism that immerses players in this high-risk espionage adventure. The expansion also features Idris Elba as one of the new characters, adding another Hollywood star to the game, alongside Johnny Silverhand, played by fan-favorite Keanu Reeves.

Release date: September 26, 2023

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S

Cocoon

Cocoon is a puzzle game designed by Jeppe Carlsen, known for his highly-acclaimed previous works Inside and Limbo. The game’s art style is absolutely stunning, with a beautifully grim biomechanical aesthetic. Drawing inspiration from H.R. Giger’s work, combined with a distinctive color palette, this unusual art direction takes players on an adventure across worlds within worlds.

The game’s sound design complements the visual experience, featuring entirely synthetic noises. Cocoon is one of the best puzzle games of 2023, offering a captivating visual journey that should not be overlooked.

Release date: September 29, 2023

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

Sonic Superstars

Sonic Superstars marks an exciting return to Sonic’s 2D origins, but with a cool new modern style. The developers have taken a step away from the traditional pixel art that has graced the original titles and also become synonymous with many recent indie games. In their own words, they believe that pixel art might not be a viable style for Sonic games in the next decade. We agree to disagree.

Instead, Sonic Superstars successfully introduced a cartoony visual style that has been generally well-received. Although there was consideration for a hand-drawn art style, the team decided against it due to the massive undertaking it would require. This new entry in the franchise features a 2.5D art style, probably indicating what we should expect in future Sonic games. The new visuals works incredibly well, with bold colors, smooth animations and an adorable roster of beloved characters.

Release date: October 17, 2023

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

Super Mario Bros.™ Wonder

Super Mario Bros.™ Wonder is a fresh new take on a 2D side-scrolling Mario game, with its fresh and incredibly whimsical art style. Taking a bold step away from the traditional “New Super Mario Bros” style that has been prevalent in every 2D side-scrolling Mario game, the developers have introduced a fun new aesthetic that is both beautiful and charming.

This new entry in the Super Mario franchise is filled with flashy animations and a range of expressive characters to choose from, from Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach to Nabbit and Yoshi.

The refreshed style is more modern and cartoony with surreal elements sprinkled throughout. Super Mario Wonder manages to retain classic elements of the franchise while introducing a sense of whimsy and wonder to its graphics, delivering a striking evolution in the visual language of the Mario series.

Release date: October 20, 2023

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

PS5 exclusive Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is another stunning game released in 2023. The sequel to the 2018 action-adventure game and the 2020 spin-off Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales expands and improves upon its predecessors in every way.

Both Peter Parker and Miles Morales are back in this exciting new adventure, plus Venom! The storyline evolves as the symbiote forces Peter and Miles to face an ultimate test of strength, offering players interesting challenges and an engaging storyline.

This sequel is a phenomenal addition to the PS5 lineup, providing a potent blend of engaging gameplay, excellent narrative and incredible graphics.

Release date: October 20, 2023

Platform: PlayStation 5

Alan Wake 2

Launched almost fifteen years after its predecessor, Alan Wake 2 brings back the dark, eerie and atmospheric tone of the original game. The game’s surrealist style, coupled with a dual narrative, has significantly elevated its art direction, earning it the title of Best Art Direction at The Game Awards 2023.

Inspired by a variety of other art forms, the game draws on experimental fiction and art house cinema, resulting in a sophisticated and eclectic aesthetic. Despite its photorealistic approach, Alan Wake 2 retains a weird and intriguing visual style that adds tension to the storyline, keeping players engaged from start to finish.

Release date: October 27, 2023

Platform: PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S

Jusant

Jusant is a meditative tower-climbing adventure that immediately caught our attention due to its unique art style, blending simple, smooth textures with gorgeous lighting effects. The level design is as clever as it is striking, with challenging climbing sections set against beautiful backdrops that made us stop and admire its beauty every step of the way.

The game’s distinctive pseudo-cartoon aesthetic brings its characters and environments to life, adding even more depth and emotion to this immersive and unforgettable experience.

Release date: October 31, 2023

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S

And that’s a wrap for our 2023 roundup featuring the most beautiful games released this year. We hope you enjoyed the selection. You can check out last year’s picks here, or get even more gaming inspiration right here.

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