Except for the rise of one thing like Ray Tracing, this class is superior because it has expanded past which recreation can afford the very best new tech to make itself look good. There’s so many nice wanting video games that do fascinating visible design, and here is our greatest of 2025.
Listed here are the nominees for TechRaptor’s 2025 Greatest Visible Design Award for excellent, cohesive aesthetic.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Death Stranding 2: On the BeachHades IIHollow Knight: SilksongGhost of Yotei
Take a look at right here for our different award classes.
Third Place – Hole Knight: Silksong
Developer: Staff Cherry | Launch Date: September 4th, 2025
Written by Andrew Otton
Hole Knight: Silksong is a tough recreation. It calls for precision, and mere millimeters can imply the distinction between success and failure. Due to that, the visible language of the sport is paramount. Fortunately, Silksong is nice at displaying you precisely what it’s essential to see in a fully beautiful means.
The linework is impeccable, the silhouettes of the enemies and managers distinctive and diverse, and the animations are crisp and clear. Each enemy is choreographed splendidly and matches the world of bugs extremely effectively.
And it isn’t simply the technical degree that Silksong excels, both. There are stunning vistas, backgrounds, and amazingly detailed environments in each place you get to discover. It is a beautiful recreation in its personal proper that marries its type completely with the technical wants of the extreme platforming and fight.
Second Place – Hades II
Developer: Supergiant Video games | Launch Date: September twenty fifth, 2025
Written by Andrew Otton
It feels like all time a brand new recreation from Supergiant Video games releases, it’ll find yourself someplace on that 12 months’s listing of gorgeous video games, if not simply outright successful it. That was true with the primary Hades, which gained not solely greatest visible design in our 2020 awards however our general Recreation of the 12 months as effectively.
Hades II simply exhibits Supergiant Video games on the prime of their recreation. Ever since Bastion they’ve proven a excessive diploma of talent in creating superb artwork, animations, and a cohesive visible language that completely matches their video games. Hades II continues that, with simply an extremely excessive degree of polish.
Each new space filled with enemies is beautiful, filled with unimaginable element, and the enemies themselves match its bizarre underworld aesthetic completely. Character portraits in dialogue are pleasant, the superb results on-screen dazzling, and the vistas you are handled to at times really stunning to have a look at.
Hades II is a transparent signal that Supergiant has mastered their craft and strategy to visible design.
Winner – Ghost of Yotei
Developer: Sucker Punch Productions | Launch Date: October 2nd, 2025
Written by Austin Suther
Ghost of Yotei is essentially the most stunning recreation I’ve ever performed, bar none. Earlier than that, I’d’ve stated Ghost of Tsushima, however Sucker Punch Productions simply one-upped itself with Yotei.
At first look, Ghost of Yotei is a practical rendition of the Hokkaido area of Japan. What this title does totally different from different excessive constancy, ultra-realistic video games is there’s an exaggerated magnificence to Ghost of Yotei’s world. The colours are vigorous and the panorama is meticulously crafted so that almost each body seems like its personal portray. The leaves within the air or the ash falling from the sky create an environment few video games can match.
Ghost of Yotei is an exceptionally detailed recreation. Give the photograph mode a try to zoom in on elements of the surroundings to see the assorted wildlife up shut, and even get proper up within the face of Atsu and see the ever-present Mount Yotei mirrored in her eyes.
You should definitely cease by considered one of many Sumi-e Portray places and craft your personal little murals by flicking your finger throughout the Duelsense touchpad. Atsu is kind of an artist herself, see, and so you may see her admiration of the attractive lands of Hokkaido in these work, which she proudly hangs on the wall of her dilapidated household dwelling.
