Jusy my personal opinion so don't be offended by my choices. Artstyle is also considered too not just realism for example crysis 2 is more realistic looking than uncharted 3 (2011) but overall i think uncharted 3 is a much prettier game on consoles. Although games from 2005 to 2012 are running on the same hardware there is definately an improvement being made over time, games series like mass effect have improved on it's visuals with each new installment to such a degree that you start to think how the hell is mass effect 3 running on a 360. By the way i'm am going by western relase dates i know in japan some games released in different years.

UPDATE 1: for those saying that Halo 4 was the best looking in 2012 i have to admit it was extremely close, i just thought that mass effect 3 had mastered the 360 and looked too good to be overlooked. Well after more feedback it seems i'm the only person in the world that thinks mass effect 3 looks better so i have changed it due to popular demand.

UPDATE 2: for some reason i thought god of war 3 came out in 2009 but in fact it released in 2010 so i changed it in place of FFXIII.

UPDATE 3: Iv'e had another look at drive club and changed my mind because it looks stunning.

2000 - Shenmue - DC

2001 - Star wars rogue leader - GC

2002 - Jet set radio future -XB

2003 - F-zero gx -GC

2004 - Chronicles of riddick EFBB - XB

2005 - Kameo EOP - XB360

2006 - Gears of war - XB360

2007 - Bioshock - XB360

2008 - Metal gear solid 4 GOTP - PS3

2009 - Uncharted 2 - PS3

2010 - Final fantasy XIII - PS3 version     God of war 3 - PS3

2011 - Uncharted 3 - PS3

2012 - Mass effect 3 - XB360 version     Halo 4 - XB360

2013 - Ryse son of rome - XBONE

2014 - Infamous second son - PS4     Driveclub - PS4

2015- The order 1886 - PS4

2007 - Crysis
2012 - Halo 4
2013 - Crysis 3

Fixed.

So crysis 3 on xb360/ps3 looks better than ryse on xbox one or killzone SF on ps4? eh?

LMFAO (read thread title)

What's wrong with halo 4?amazing graphics for a 360 game 

imo

Silent Hill 2 in 2001

Resident Evil remake 2002

No Killzone?...

In 2001, 2004 and 2007 they weren't even close to having the best. Halo 4 in 2012 would have been my runner up it was very close but i thought mass effect 3's graphics had been fine tuned to perfection for a 360 game.

No metroid prime?

That game has amazing graphics runing at 60fps on a GC lol

nothing's  wrong with halo 4. But Mass effect 3 was also a 2012 game.