Digital Foundry's Best Game Graphics of 2021 - PC, Xbox, PlayStation - Another Amazing Year

Digital Foundry : Join Alex Battaglia and John Linneman for an extended discussion on the best game graphics of 2021. There've been some amazing visuals this year - remarkable achievements from the first year of the 'next-gen' consoles, and all delivered in the Covid era, no less. Please note: Flight Simulator would definitely have made the list, but remember that it was first released in 2020 - and we talked about it in depth in the Best Game Graphics of 2020!

[gravedigger]

Poooooopcorn!

Go, go PS5 games!

[LordoftheCritics]

Games that had wtf lvl of graphical moments for me

1. Ratchet and Clank
2. The Ascent
3. FH5

[Army_of_Darkness]

Totally agree on those choices bro!

As for next year, I have a feeling Sony studios will be competing with each other for best graphics and GOTY.

[Father__Merrin]

The ascent had good colourful detail on backgrounds but that's it

[FATAL1TY]

* Best graphics of 2021 *

Ratchet Clank Rift Apart
Returnal
Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut (PS5)

PlayStation wins again

https://gcdn.pbrd.co/images...
https://thumbs.gfycat.com/F...
https://i.giphy.com/media/L...

[Aeery]

The Ascent.
Ratchet and Clank is awesome too, but my vote goes to The Ascent.
The game looks stunning and alive.

[SweetIvy]

Every time I play the Ascent I'm mind-blown by the amazing and detailed graphics, one of the most impressive out there in both concept and execution + complexity.

[alb1899]

It will be increasingly difficult for Sony to win this and any other line. Next year possibly MS will have Starfield, Hellblade 2, Avowed, Forza Motor Sport, Fable and. Not counting the surprises that may come.

[S2Killinit]

Gotta give credit where its due, and that is on PS5 games.

[PrinceOfAnger]

Btw digital foundry wasn't a reliable source in 2020
😂
Best graphics 2020:

1. Cyberpunk
2. Spiderman Miles Morales
3. Microsoft flight simulator
4. Half life Alyx
5. The last of us part 2
6. Demons souls
7. Doom eternal

First commen't was removed for stating facts
rofl ! 😂
https://n4g.com/news/239392...

[Atticus_finch]

To be fair the best thing about Cyber punk is the graphics.

[--Onilink--]

Dont see any problem with that list. They specifically said at the time it was the PC version of Cyberpunk and that version was pretty amazing graphically (and a diverse set of options to customize too)

[MrChow666]

Not reliable because they are not faboys like you

[AKS]

That's a pretty good 2020 list.

[Atticus_finch]

There's no doubt PS5 is the superior platform. Especially with a lower price than the competition.

[Gaming4Life1981]

Playstation has always focused on graphics more than any other company and that's a good thing. Xbox is starting to focus more on graphics and that's because of Playstation.

We haven't seen what either console can really do so I don't know how your saying ps is the superior platform.(just read your fanboy hate comment below toward xbox and now I know why you said that) One thing for sure is both companies is bringing the heat early this gen.

[Atticus_finch]

PS5 is $100 less and easily graphically outperforming the competition. I don't need to see more.
It's not hate when all xboys praise is focused on renting games.

[Imalwaysright]

??? The only playstation console that you can say had a clear power advantage over the consoles of its generation was the PS4.

[Eonjay]

Price vs performance rank is PS5 DE, Xbox Series X, PS5 and Xbox Series S in that order. If that is what we are saying then yes PS5 DE is the best console. But this is subjective if you play discs imo

[Concertoine]

The only way it is lower is if you get the Digital only version that is even harder to find than a base PS5

[CaptainHenry916]

If 2021 was solid for the PS5, just wait until next year 😳

[autobotdan]

If 2021 was a solid year for the Xbox Series X, just wait untill next year

[gravedigger]

Wait till E3. I'm listening that for Xbox "wait till next year" since 2013.

[autobotdan]

Unlike rhe previous 2 years..Xbox games dominated 2021 in multiple game awards and will only get better next year

[badz149]

@autobotdan

"dominated" LOL

you keep using that word...

[Livingthedream]

Xbox games are out and more are on the way. Day 1 with gamepass it's really amazing value. Right now Sony is the one lagging with games.

[Atticus_finch]

Hopefully more games not worth buying.

[autobotdan]

Badz149 when do I ever use the word dominated? You any I keep using it. I don't see anywhere I use it

[AKS]

Wouldn't it be typical for a second year to be better than the first year for new consoles?

[Elda]

R&C & Returnal. Sony's amazing studios always pushing gaming graphics in their fun games. Small studio games Kena & The Ascent look great as well.

[LoveSpuds]

I think I would have to hand it to Ratchet and Clank this year, what that game achieved from both a technical and artstyle perspective was astounding.

I thought Forza 5 was impressive from a technical standpoint but my favourite looking game on xbox this year was The Artful Escape (this was also probably my favourite game on Xbox this year).

[Gaming4Life1981]

I still haven't gotten around to playing the artful escape yet but I hear it's really good. I'll check it out when I'm off next week.

Yea for me either ratchet and clank or forza horizon 5 for best graphics.

[rlow1]

Here’s what I have to say about which console has superior graphics. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah….. take that blah fanboy…….whew! I’m glad I got that of my chest. Merry Christmas to all.

[EvilCalvin]

I have both consoles, but wow! The Sony fanboy-ism here is at an all time high. High.

[sammarshall102]

Sure you own both consoles 😉

[Pickledpepper]

I also have both but put my ps5 in my retro collection still sealed in the hope years down the line it would be worth quite a bit

[mkis007]

Do you live in some reverse world where the ps5 isnt selling for over 150% its msrp? Its unlikely to ever be worth more than that...

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Switch OLED superiority here 😆

[BenRC01]

Same. My ps5 de hasn't had a look in since October, genuinely thinking of selling it for a profit.

[sammarshall102]

Another liar

[KillaJamm]

Glad to see Metro Exodus get a mention, what they did to a last gen game was unreal, it looks absolutely amazing on current gen hardware.

[1nsomniac]

So many cringe-worthy embarrassing little fanboys on this site. I thought kids were supposed to be growing up faster these days?

Putting me off reading anything on this site. Maybe I’m too old for this now but it’s like a kids nursery in these comment sections.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

I got a death threat in my private messages just because I said that God of War and Horizon got boring for me, lol

[BenRC01]

I'm the same. Have both consoles but any mention of forza, halo or gamepass gets the same pathetic jealous fanboy comments.
Xbox dominates my play time to the point I'm thinking of selling the ps5 de for profit.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

I played them both last year and I think they're both brilliant but they're just not for me. I'm getting a Series X next year for Starfield.

[AKS]

Having a PS5 and PC seems to be a considerably less stressful situation. I enjoy every trailer for exciting new games. Many here seem to get the pitchforks and torches and go to fanboy war. Just enjoy whatever you like.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus
Deathloop
Dying Light (Switch)

[Tedakin]

The games this year that made me go wow were Forza Horizon 5, Ratchet and Clank, obviously that Matrix demo. RE Village had some pretty amazing graphics too.

[AKS]

I hadn't realized just how detailed the graphics were in RE Village until I picked it up for $21 a few days ago. Very impressive and has been reminding me of RE4 in some ways.

[Father__Merrin]

Ps5 wins graphics King 2021 not PC... this is proof that developer mastery and more direct to the metal resources can and will make games look amazing

[BenRC01]

Pretty graphics aren't making me turn the ps5 on, halo and forza are keeping me entertained way more.