Hello and Welcome ·

I'd like to start off by thanking everyone who has stood by these topics for the last 11 years! It helps keep the community buzzin' about a subject that they may not have otherwise cared for and certainly keeps me interacting with you! So, I thank you! ♥

Next, I want to talk about how we're changing the game. In years prior, I would create a topic specific to that year and we'd marginalize the discussion around it. Well, I'd like to try a little experiment, and if it works, we'll keep it this way going forward! Instead of a year, we're going to make this topic about the most technically sound and/or best looking games of the current (9th) gen. That is past games (everything that released in late 2020 or later) current year's games, and everything in the future. Just an all around topic that is all about the current gen, including technically sound Switch games (I'll provide the full details below). 

GUIDELINES ·

PARTICIPATION

• MUST be a current gen release (this can include cross gen)
• Remasters work!
• Modded versions of current gen games are also welcome!
• Fan made PC games work as long as they released in November 2020 or later
• Should follow a general consensus. So, news articles or site threads that have taken note of graphical details and tech
• Can be from any of the current gen platforms (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series S|X)
• Name the game when you post images so people can look it up if need be

CATEGORIES

• Best Animations
• Best Art
• Best Character Models
• Best DLC/Mods
• Best Effects (AA, GI, SSAO/HBAO+, SSR, etc...) 
• Best Environments (Anisotropic Filtering, Texture Maps, etc...)
• Best Graphics Tech Running @ 60fps (Consoles)
• Best Physics
• Best Use Of Ray Tracing
• Overall Best Looking Game (End Of Each Year)
  

Let's make this as fun as we can, since no opinion or viewpoint is wrong. Give feedback in any of the categories above! Remember, this thread doesn't have to be for you, but try to let those who want to participate enjoy what’s here.

By December 1 of each year going forward in the 9th gen, we will have a final 'Game of the Year' type of scenario, showing what games have been nominated throughout the year and then the finale: BEST LOOKING GAME IN 20XX. At that point, everyone will nominate the best looking game from the 5 poll options. So this will be an ongoing thread until 10th generation consoles have launched.  

* NOTE * Because of the ongoing global pandemic, even with a release date, assume all games will see a delay of sorts 

* FINAL NOTE *  When posting, try not to exceed 6 pics or 3 vids per post to avoid clutter.

Thanks guys!

We'll start with this!

PRAGMATA

Hellblade II

The Matrix Awakens 

And here we go again for a great time.

Best looking game I've played is demon. I don't know what blue does but they are good.

Oo a 2022 graphics thread. RE Engine games going to look insane this generation.

_________________

Horizon Forbidden West

Hope to see some GT7 posts here, their replay mode and scapes are out of this world.

Remember when a certain someone said a thing or two about real-time vellus hairs?

Street Fighter 6

RE: Engine (?) with muscle deformation.

I think people STILL don't realize just how advanced CP77's graphics engine really is. Not even talking ray-tracing (some of the best implemented so far), just the texture work is phenomenal and it does this WITHOUT using "cinematic" lighting (read: added lighting to highlight) to help the textures stand out. When you see what people who've been taking the time with CP77's photomode pop off maxed out on PC, it's as damned close to CG in realtime as you can currently get (Rift Apart takes a close second, though!).

And in terms of artstyle, I'm going to have to currently give it to Genshin Impact.  Their BotW influences run strong, and they've begun really growing into their work (music included, though this thread is about graphics).