Consoles always have a hard time at the beginning of a generation. Most games do not take full advantage of the new hardware's capabilities and there simply are not many options for early adopters. Fortunately, the prior generation is usually still going strong, something we see with the PS4 and PS5.
While PS5 lacks heavy-hitters save for such examples as Demon's Souls and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, plenty of PS4 games look so good, you could fool someone into thinking it was a PS5 release. Play any of these if you have not and you want to experience some breathtaking visual fidelity.
10 Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2 from 2019 left such an incredible impression with how accurately it recreated the feel of the PS1 classic while updating it for modern times. The cinematics and acting were also surprisingly impressive for Resident Evil, which is infamous for comedically atrocious drama. Resident Evil 3 is also a worthwhile game, but Resident Evil 2 set a new standard for remakes few others can match.
9 Ghost Of Tsushima
When it comes to open-world games, few other titles look better than the PS4 exclusive Ghost of Tsushima. It earns extra points for having an innovative, unobtrusive UI that blends the game world into the navigation mechanics. The setting is unique, being one of the few popular historical settings Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise has yet to cover. The recently-added multiplayer mode has also extended the game's life and replay value.
8 Modern Warfare
For some reason, 2019's Modern Warfare reboot still looks better than 2020's Black Ops Cold War. The advancements made to the series' visual presentation created a new level of realism. While a separate product, the same engine is used for Warzone, the free-to-play battle royale mode for Call of Duty.
The game was so well-beloved, many are still spending their multiplayer time with it rather than the newest release. Hopefully, next year's Call of Duty will live up to Modern Warfare's visuals.
7 The Order 1886
Upon release, The Order 1886 caused a big discussion about the value of games. Is a five or six hour linear experience really worth a $60 purchase regardless of the quality of this time? Many felt players were not given enough agency during the campaign and were mostly led by the hand from one location to the other. Still, no one can deny how incredibly gorgeous it looks, especially for 2015. Developer Ready at Dawn has since been bought by Oculus, for which it has been developing games since 2017.
6 Cuphead
It does not take giant triple-A games to make something beautiful. Sometimes a unique art style and dedication to an aesthetic are all a game needs to wow viewers. Cuphead utilizes an art style mimicking 1930s animation and pulls it off perfectly. The gameplay is also incredibly tight, feeling like the next step in side-scrolling shooters like Contra. Initially an Xbox One and PC exclusive, Cuphead has since made its way to the Nintendo Switch and PS4, ensuring as wide an audience as possible can experience its goodness and high difficulty.
5 God Of War
Few IPs have started out as strong as God of War when it first came onto the scene in 2005 on the PS2. The steam subsided during the PS3's later life with God of War: Ascension. It was clear something needed to change, and the 2018 PS4 sequel was just the thing. Not only is it absolutely gorgeous to behold, but the story has no load times and is told through one shot, never cutting away for cinematics.
4 Battlefield V
While not the most-beloved entry in the franchise, no one can deny Dice's expertise with the Frostbite Engine in making some of the most beautiful first-person shooters around. It becomes more impressive during gameplay when you see just how much is going on in any given moment. The engine has also been used for other visually stunning games like Star Wars: Battlefront. Hopefully, the next entry in Battlefield holds a brighter future for the series.
3 Red Dead Redemption 2
It is difficult to believe Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5 run on the same engine. The 2018 open-world western made such incredible advancements on Rockstar's engine that it holds up even against the best-looking linear games around.
The actors' incredible performances also help the graphics shine and vice versa. If Grand Theft Auto 6 looks as good as Red Dead Redemption 2, fans have a lot to look forward to.
2 Death Stranding
Hideo Kojima's games always look dazzling, and Death Stranding is no exception. His games have always had compelling stories, but Death Stranding shows how much he has grown as a writer. While it is still filled with his signature dark humor and ridiculous ideas, the dialogue is a huge improvement over the Metal Gear Solid franchise. The graphics and performance capture also help better bring Death Stranding's wild science fiction world to life.
1 Last Of Us Part 2
The first Last of Us already looked like a PS4 game upon its release, so it is no surprise that Last of Us Part 2 is perhaps the best looking game on the console. This is both a blessing and a curse since the gorgeous vistas make us gaze in awe while the brutal violence makes us wince and cringe. The emotional stakes and wild turns are made all the more impactful by the incredible graphics.