The Most Beautiful Games of 2019
Second Runner-Up: Gears of War 5
Guides Editor Chris Jecks: When we talk about the most beautiful video games, it’s typically for one of two reasons: either a) the game immerses its players in part by featuring some sort of unique or outlandish art style; or b), the photorealistic visuals melted minds and we can’t believe we’re actually playing a game.
In the case of Gears 5, I’d argue that it wasn’t actually either of these things, but simply its performance. Don’t get me wrong, the art direction and the visuals themselves in Gears 5 are sublime. The shifting sands of the desert sandbox, or the way the Skiff cuts through the sheet of white snow as you explore Act 2 and 3.
There’s an impeccable level of detail on character models and weapons, too, with the Lancer literally never looking so complex and intricate as it does in close-up cutscenes. On their own, these visuals do look stunning, but it’s the technical performance of Gears 5, especially on an Xbox One X or powerful gaming PC that nabs it one of the spots on this list.
On an Xbox One X or powerful-enough PC, Gears 5 runs in a native 4K resolution at 60FPS, with only minor drops into the mid-50s when things get particularly hectic. It’s because of this silky smooth framerate combined with a 4K resolution and fantastic attention to detail in characters, environments, and weapon models that make Gears 5 a real treat for your eyes.
