5 Most Beautiful Games of September 2018

Most Beautiful Games of September 2018

Dragon Quest XI

September 2018 was certainly packed with some pretty titles, and Dragon Quest XI is easily one of the most beautiful games we saw this past month. Developed by Square Enix and released for PS4 and PC, Dragon Quest XI features a gorgeous graphical style and a lovely backdrop.

While the character models themselves are very clearly anime-inspired, their cel-shaded looks nicely contrast the photorealistic background settings. This isn’t a contrast you always see in video games, but Square Enix absolutely nailed it with this one. Dragon Quest XI is full of varied locations, with vibrant colors that just pop. This game is great to look at, and it certainly helps that it’s such a great JRPG, too.

Most Beautiful Games of September 2018

Spider-Man

Spider-Man was the big exclusive game released for the PS4 last month, and it didn’t disappoint. As you can expect from most PS4 exclusive titles these days, Spider-Man has impressive graphics, and it looks stunning on a 4K setup with a PS4 Pro.

The most incredible thing about Spider-Man is how much effort has been put into the little details of the game. The lighting effects are gorgeous, and it’s always a blast being able to see Spidey’s own reflection in the office windows as you swing past the tall skyscrapers of Manhattan. And if you look a little closer, you can even see the little rips and tears in Spidey’s suit, along with the threads that hold it together.

Most Beautiful Games of September 2018

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

While not as vibrant or colorful as Dragon Quest XI or Spider-Man, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is still beautiful in its own right. This time around, Lara Croft is headed into a deep Peruvian jungle to put a stop to a Mayan apocalypse. The jungle levels are dense in this game, and everything looks pretty in a menacing and morbid kind of way.

For starters, the lighting effects in Shadow of the Tomb Raider are stunning, especially with the way the moonlight hits the water reflections and Lara’s character model in-game. Explosions feel big and bombastic, and the game never fails to impress us with gorgeous vistas and landscapes.

Most Beautiful Games of September 2018

Valkyria Chronicles 4

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is one of the most beautiful games of September 2018 because of its timeless graphical style. Staying true to the series’ roots, Valkyria Chronicles 4 features a bright watercolor palette that never gets old. The character models are all designed with an anime style in mind, but they look good, and the slightly washed out colors fit the game’s aesthetic perfectly.

Because Valkyria Chronicles 4’s story is told through the journal of protagonist Claude Wallace, the way the graphical style fits with the game’s ‘book’ user interface is also impeccable. It might not feature jaw-dropping lighting effects or incredible HDR, but this is still one of the most beautiful games we saw in September 2018.

Most Beautiful Games of September 2018

Life Is Strange 2

Similar to Valkyria Chronicles 4, Life Is Strange 2 isn’t exactly the most graphically demanding game on the market. Even so, it more than makes up for that with a pretty graphical style and warm color palette. Just like the first game and Before the Storm, the environments and characters look like they were ripped out of a comic book or an animated movie, and everything looks good.

As you venture into the forest with Sean and Daniel, you’ll see that Life Is Strange 2 is perfectly capable of delivering on some stunning views and breathtaking sunsets as well. While we were initially skeptical about the change in protagonists, Life Is Strange 2’s debut episode has left quite the impression on us, and we’re excited to see where the story takes us in the end.