It's really incredible how the visuals on the system have progressed in just 3 years time. In 2013 and at launch, we didn't really see that many graphically-impressive games on the Wii U, other than Super Mario 3D World. Then in 2014, we see releases such as Mario Kart 8, Sm4sh, and Bayonetta 2 which proved the power of the Wii U.

Now that we're in 2015, we're even starting to see games that could pass off as PS4/ Xbone games if there was a few minor improvements made. Fast Racing Neo holds a steady 60fps, has dynamic lighting, ambient occlusion, and physically-based rendering, and could be a PS4 game if it had a resolution bump. Xenoblade Chronicles X is possibly the biggest game on the platform in terms of size and scope, and has impressive visuals to boot. Again, it could look like a PS4/Xbone game if it had had better draw distance, highe-res textures and effects, and an increase in resolution. Splatoon looks great overall as well. I guess my only minor complaint is a low polygon count on some in-game models, but that's about it.

2016 holds even more promise for the Wii U as well! Even though its E3 2015 showing was mediocre, Star Fox Zero has seen a noticeable boost in its graphics. Zelda U is another game with a (supposedly) huge size and scope, and from the 12 seconds of footage we've seen, it may be one of the best looking games on the Wii U.

Digital Foundry Videos on some of the games mentioned above: Fast Racing Neo  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28E1eRy73l4              

Xenoblade Chronicles X  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaYfIdZ-_a0

Mario Kart 8  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip-26T545JE

Splatoon  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrrYtncKGrI

Smash 4  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhl976_xxtQ

Those games would look miles better visually on PS4 and even better on PC.

This.

As a someone who owns a PC more powerful than a ps4, I disagree. But then again, I haven't thought we've had "miles" improvement in graphics since the N64 - Gamecube era. I think every generation since then has increased by a smaller percentage in terms of noticible jump. The Wii U is better than the ps3 in capabilities, and so it isn't even a "full" generation behind the ps4, let alone far enough behind to be miles apart.

I just saw my brother in law play Destiny on the ps4 and it looked actually less satisfying to me than Xenoblade X in terms of visuals. And I don't pay attention to all the specific things that a lot of people on this site pay attention to. I look at one screen and then another and go with an instance, overall gut call.

X is a good game, however, imo it looks no where near in visual quality of destiny. I'm certainly not suggesting Destiny looks great anyway.

Fast racing neo uses its speed to mask its visual shortcomings. Lower than 720p resolution(dynamic, 640 x 720), zero anti-aliasing, some paper trees and foliage, and some low poly environment models. But considering it is a really fast racing game, what you see when you play it is good enough to satisfy.

even if it would, its cool it can look as good as it does on the Wii U.

The graphics have improved but they still fall within the limitations that most of us came to expect. Between certain games being outright cancelled (Project CARS) and seeing the sacrificies that have to be made in games (640 x 720, zero antialiasing in FRN. Static shadowmaps, pop-in, no collision detection and absence of PBR in XBX) its clear that the hardware is not as powerful as some would love to believe despite all the rhetoric.

Well they really havent improved because black flag and watch dogs on wii u look better than all the games you mentioned.

Fast Facing Neo could pass as a ps4 game?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiqRE2E-ChM

I think, you meant ps3.

Maybe you should see what a ps4 game looks like before making silly comments like these. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHQFODsdGDU