4 Most Beautiful Games in April 2019

Katana Zero

2D pixel art games continue to be some of the most beautiful games out in the market right now, and Katana Zero is no exception.

Sporting a lovely neon-hued color palette, Katana Zero drips with style, regardless of which angle you’re studying it from. It’s almost reminiscent of Hotline Miami’s retro 80s look, except that the color palette is slightly less varied here, as it’s clear that the developers were going for a very specific look.

The environments are varied enough to keep things fresh, and you’ll find no shortage of breathtaking pixelated scenic views in this one.

Mortal Kombat 11

If you’re into gratuitous violence and gore, Mortal Kombat 11 will likely be the most beautiful game you lay your mortal eyes on this month.

Mortal Kombat X already looked gorgeous on the base PS4, so it was no surprise that MK11 would be easy on the eyes as well. What’s most impressive about MK11 is how expressive all of its characters are.

The game’s story mode plays out like an adrenaline-fueled action movie, with only the 1v1 fights sprinkled in between to break up the cutscenes. Earthrealm and Outrealm continue to look breathtaking, regardless of which angle you’re looking from, not to mention the stunning particles and effects that fly across the screen as you’re pulling off your special moves.

SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech

The SteamWorld games have always been praised for their beautiful graphical and art styles, so it’s really no surprise that SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech would look just as good.

The game plays out on a largely 2D plane, as you move your characters back and forth on a battlefield. Battles are turn-based, deck-building affairs, and Hand of Gilgamech excels in bringing its characters to life with pretty effects.

SteamWorld Quest’s character animations are pretty impressive as well, as their movements perfectly complement their personalities, and that helps make its varied cast of characters feel all the more realistic and lifelike.

Days Gone

Days Gone might not be a very impressive game, especially given how high the bar’s been set for Sony’s first-party PS4 exclusives, but you can’t deny that this sure is a beautiful game.

Set in a post-apocalyptic version of Oregon, Days Gone’s open world is impressive thanks to its dynamic day/night and weather cycle. You’ll notice the tiniest details, from the snow building up beneath the wheels on Deacon’s bike, to the way the rain pools into little mud puddles on the road as you ride on by.

I’d also like to add that Deacon’s leather biker jacket is possibly the most detailed piece of garment or apparel I’ve seen in the entire game. You can literally see the threads on that thing, it’s quite impressive.