The most beautiful open world RPG masterpiece

When talking about some of the most visually stunning open-world RPGs, there are a few titles that often get mentioned: Ghost of Tsushima, Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3and Horizon Forbidden Westto name a few. Every frame in these games is absolutely breathtaking, even outside of cutscenes, if they have any. Graphics may not define a game's success, but they can certainly enhance it and make it more appealing to those of us who are a bit more visually particular.

The following games are some of the best examples of studios pushing the boundaries of visuals. Not all of them are highly realistic, but they can provide a very specific aesthetic that makes them an absolute delight. Let's take a look at some of these wonderful open world RPGs. Lots of beautiful shots to follow.

Non-RPG Honorable Mention: Ghost of Tsushima

A breathtaking environment similar to oil paintings

Ghost of Tsushima it's not really an RPG as its gameplay leans much more heavily towards action-adventure with very light RPG elements in the form of gear upgrades and skill trees. That being said, it would be a travesty not to talk about it in the context of visually gorgeous games, given how incredibly iconic its scenery is. Chances are, you've probably seen a photo of Jin Sakai driving through a white or red flower field with a distant light illuminating the sky without playing the game itself.

From lush green bamboo forests to the iconic Field of the Equinox Flower with a torii gate in the distance, this is a game that will have you gasping as you travel from one location to another, stopping in your tracks to take a few photos and appreciate the work of art that nature is. Sucker Punch Productions really didn't have to go that hard with the sets, but they totally killed the atmosphere by putting so much love into it.

Horizon Forbidden West

Visual feast for the eyes in the service of a unique post-apocalyptic environment

Horizon Forbidden West has one of the most unique worlds in a video game. It combines the tribal aesthetic of humanity set back in technological advancement with complex machine creatures that roam the world and have minds of their own. The world is extremely lush, overflowing with detail, and the character design reflects this great attention to even the smallest things. You could easily spend days picking out the little intricacies in Aloy's outfit or exploring the wilderness with its changing weather and multitude of biomes, each reflecting its own 'vibe'.

One thing to note is Forbidden West cutscenes. The mo-cap work is fantastic and the textures on the characters are so incredibly fine and detailed that you can even see the pores, blemishes and little hairs on their faces. The characters you meet really make your skin crawl.

Star field

Regardless of what you think of the game, the environments are amazing

Star field it didn't hit home the way Bethesda wanted it to when it came out. By abandoning hand-crafted worlds brimming with environmental narrative in favor of procedurally generated, largely empty maps, the game strayed too far from what Bethesda was best known for. he said that Star field is a beautiful game. It may be behind in terms of art and character design, but the worlds it has brought are definitely worth celebrating.

The universe is beautiful, and the vast, empty wilderness has its charms as well. That's why the photo mode might be one of the game's greatest triumphs, as the lighting, colors and snappy aesthetic hit the nail on the head. The cities aren't bad either, although they could use more depth. Neon encapsulates that seedy, cyberpunk vibe, while New Atlantis offers the kind of airy, futuristic architecture you might imagine in our near-future cities.

Cyberpunk 2077

A brutally bustling neon den of violence and capitalism

A consistent aesthetic is always key in a game Cyberpunk 2077 proves it. The neon-lit streets of Night City are some of the best places to take photos. Beautiful lights, an abundance of colors and sounds, music, massive skyscrapers and the bottom of the world where garbage accumulates all create this cohesive, hauntingly beautiful world where only the strong can breathe. It's both a city we dream of visiting and a city that would probably smell awful and leave us without hope for the future of humanity.

Each neighborhood also has its own vibe, with Northside leaning more towards an industrial vibe and Pacifica featuring the colorful aesthetic of the abandoned Santa Monica Pier. The same applies to gangs and their territories, as well as the large differences between the city center and its peripheries. In the heart of Night City, everything is bustling, from the clean, efficient Corpo Plaza of Arasaca and beyond to the colorful, seedy back alleys. But it's the Badlands outside. Just sand and desert as far as the eye can see. These clashing styles are the essence Cyberpunk 2077and what makes it so visually memorable.

From autumn crack to snowy paleness

Skyrim it's been out for over fifteen years, but thanks to the visual remaster it released, it still holds up incredibly well. Environments have always been a strong point when it comes to Bethesda's work, and the fifth The Elder Scrolls installment was no different, bringing a very specific and charming aesthetic to northern Tamriel with a focus on the Nords and their home. One would probably expect nothing but snow and more snow, but no; Skyrim has a lot of different biomes.

The Rift is one of the most memorable with its autumnal forests, but there is something to be said for the far north of the Pale and Winterhold with its ice fields. Massive mountains with abandoned ruins, cute cottages and farms, and dense forests teeming with wildlife… Skyrim is the whole experience, a seven-course meal for the visual sense. While the character models are starting to show their age, the weapons, items, enemy designs, and armor still have a lot of appeal in a classic fantasy RPG.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A beautiful, mature and vibrant fantasy world

The Witcher 3like Skyrim, it still holds up incredibly well. At the time of release, many felt that it was way ahead of its time visually, and I tend to agree. The character models in the game are very commendable and play perfectly into the more mature fantasy aesthetic. But there is a world beyond beautiful ladies and handsome Geralt The Witcher 3 is one that will take your breath away.

You have dynamic weather, lush forests and beautiful fields, as well as sprawling cities begging to be explored. The town of Toussaint, the wilderness of Novigrad and the sea views of Skellige Island and more naturally invite you to stop and admire, even when you're busy driving to the next quest or chasing Ciri. Having these different areas is nice to showcase the variety of biomes, weather, and temperatures as well, so you'll never get bored if you're in the same place for too long.

Elden Ring

A visual feast truly unlike anything else

FromSoftware's aesthetic has always been praised for being unique, complex, subtle, but also brutal. Bloody is one game that comes to mind when discussing examples of extremely consistent and gorgeous aesthetics. Unfortunately, it's not an open world RPG. Elden Ringhowever, it fits just as well. While it feels more varied and diverse compared to something like Bloodborne, there's still that familiar undercurrent of FromSoftware's signature aesthetic that's monstrously grotesque and elegant at the same time. Everything in Elden Ring it is made with great thought: the rotten corner that is the Caelid, the dreamy lake region of Liurnia, and the strange, mystical underworld of Siofra.

The vistas are often grand and absurd as you encounter massive dragons on the brink of death or large skeletal corpses perched on forgotten thrones. It's a fall down the rabbit hole into a very strange but visually appealing world where the beauty extends to your character. There's a reason Elden Bling is a thing, right? And all this without even getting to bosses like Malenia, a character disgustingly gruesome yet so beautiful and elegant who reflects the birth of Venus in her scene. There is a lot of classical art that probably inspired it Elden Ringand that's why playing it so often feels like you're walking through an art exhibition.