Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. It's a highly subjective matter what we consider good-looking or beautiful. Some gamers will look at pixel art games and find them gorgeous for their adorable models and vibrant colors, while others only consider modern, triple-A game graphics to be worthy of the title 'beautiful.' It's hard to agree on something like this, which is why this list of best-looking Steam games is just one perspective from one gamer.
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Open-world games put great emphasis on environments. These games in particular are excellent for exploring the great outdoors.
The games here are all fairly recent, but that isn't to say that older games can't be beautiful. There are many nostalgic titles that work as a snapshot of a time long past, and personally, I can totally see the charm in an old-school N64 game. However, here, I'll focus mostly on fairly new Steam games with great graphics, excellent lighting, and banging art direction.
Ori and the Blind Forest
Hauntingly Beautiful And Magical
The iconic Metroidvania Ori and the Blind Forest had players gasping when it was released over ten years ago. It's an absolutely gorgeous platformer with incredible artwork and an excellent soundtrack to boot.
As Ori, you're on a quest to rescue the forest around you that is dying. The environments are rich, picturesque, and breathing with life. Small, animated details really bring this game together, from light rippling from above in pillars to swaying grass. Even years later, it's hard not to find this game absolutely magical.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
CD Projekt Red's Sweetheart Has Aged Well
Putting aside all the other things that make The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt a fantastic game, it's hard to believe that this is a game that came out over ten years ago. The character models, the environments, and the sheer amount of detail and love put into everything from enemy design to minor NPCs are staggering.
Wandering the forests, the fields, and walking through its towns and cities plunges you headfirst into the universe. It's no wonder many consider it to be the gold standard for open-world RPGs going forward, and it'll be exciting to see just what The Witcher 4 will be able to achieve. With what little gameplay we've already seen, the world is bound to be just intricate, fantastical, and gorgeous.
Horizon Forbidden West
Gorgeous, Vibrant World Of Tech And Tribes
If there's one thing that Horizon Forbidden West and its predecessor absolutely nailed, it was the worldbuilding and the incredible vistas you get to visit with Aloy. What's particularly charming and noteworthy is just how much Forbidden West also improved in terms of character design and detail, with some of the shots of the characters so detailed you can make out individual pores and hairs on their skin.
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While plenty of RPGs have been announced for 2026 and beyond, these upcoming role-playing games are especially exciting.
Beyond that, the art of the game is exceptional. Great games always feature an art style that is consistent and cohesive, with costume design, enemy design, and environments reflective of the lore and the story. It's hard not to appreciate all these details while exploring, from Aloy's unique costumes to how the light sifts in through the leaves and the clouds. No game marries nature and tech as magically as this franchise does.
Alan Wake 2
Next-Level Graphics For A Surreal Game
Winner of the Best Art Direction for 2023's The Game Awards, Alan Wake 2 may have been a niche kind of horror narrative and a surreal game to be understood by the wider audiences, but no one can deny that it did a lot with its graphics. It delivered a visual experience unlike anything else, including technology like full path tracing.
The lighting, the colors, the shadows... Everything works in the service of the highly atmospheric and absurd horror story it delivers. The environments are incredibly detailed, almost to the point where one has to ask: Was it necessary to go this hard on visuals? Absolutely, it was, and the results speak for themselves.
Silent Hill f
Beautifully Gory And Dreadful
Mixing the charm of Showa-era Japan with gore, flowers, and its trademark fog, Silent Hill f delivered a frightening, consistent visual and aesthetically gorgeous experience that's full of symbolism for its layered story. The deep, crimson spider lilies, the blood and veiny growth that slowly takes over Ebisugaoka, the inari statues, and folklore references are something anyone with an appreciation for Japanese history, culture, and religion will immediately fall in love with.
It's definitely one of the most unique art directions we've seen in a horror game in recent years. You won't be able to decide whether you're thoroughly enchanted with its real-world and shadow realm aesthetics, or completely disgusted.
Ghost of Tsushima
Jin Sakai's World Is Photogenic Beyond Belief
Ghost of Tsushima is a cinematic experience. The lights, the environment, and the lushness of it all showcase just how much thought and love were put into the game. One of the most memorable settings is Jin's training against Lord Shimura in the Japanese maple tree yard, with each swing sending red leaves scattering everywhere.
It's such a magical experience, and yet, this is just a tutorial section of the game that teaches you how to fight. The work that was spent on bringing all these nature scenes to life, from the white flower fields to lush bamboo forests make it tough not to get through it without stopping and appreciating all the picturesque, historical Japan has to offer.
Elden Ring
FromSoftware Put Thought And Dedication Into Every Nook And Cranny
FromSoftware's art style has always been lush, full of intricate details that tie into the game's lore. It's a video game version of show-don't-tell, often mixing the horrible with delicate and beautiful. Elden Ring is another testament to it, cranked out to 200% with its massive world. Each area has its distinct feel and aesthetic, from the red, rotting glory of Caelid to the autumnal, golden glow of the Altus Plateau.
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These video games are far from mindless entertainment, making players ponder everything from strategy to philosophical concepts.
Character designs, outfits, and the shape of bosses are also noteworthy. Elden Bling, anyone? Jokes aside, an enemy like Malenia combing both elegant beauty with something gnarly and corrupted, showcases FromSoftware's talent for delivering these completely unique and out-of-the-box universes that leave fans hungry for more.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Belle Epoque Beauty And Grace With A Dash Of Quirky
It's not easy to be good in so many different categories, but miraculously, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was exactly that. Its world design is breathtaking, a type of fantasy that feels both familiar in a good way but also incredibly fresh and new. It has a distinct art style that's easy on the eye, with each character gorgeous and interesting.
And that's all without getting into the design of some of these enemies, which are... Interesting. Think of the Mimes, for example, which grant you the charming and frankly hilarious Baguette Outfit. The Belle Epoque-style French inspiration is a welcome breath of new that justifies, in my opinion, the extreme praise it has been receiving since its release.
Cyberpunk 2077
Neonlit City Of Dreams
The cyberpunk aesthetic is not easy to nail with its vibrant colors, the clash of high-tech with ultra poverty, and the blare of music and neon lights from all angles. That said, CD Projekt Red nailed it. Cyberpunk 2077's setting, its characters, everything, successfully brings to life the untamed world in Mike Pondsmith's TTRPG.
It's a combination of different aesthetics, a blend of all sorts of cultures into one big melting pot where your eye doesn't know where to look. Hypercapitalism, luxurious wealth, scandalous outfits, and intricate cybernetic enhancements... You're going to be thoroughly charmed and mesmerized as soon as you enter Night City.
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Old West's Charm All Around You
Red Dead Redemption 2 is among the best games of all time. Its story, music, gameplay, and graphics are pinnacles of quality, but let's focus on the visuals alone for a second. Not only does everything look amazing, but all that pretty stuff is also alive. That's what sets it apart from so many gorgeous games out there: the fact that you're not just looking at a set piece, but actually witnessing a world that feels real and dynamic go about its routines.
The forests are living and breathing with animals you can hunt, the cities are teeming with NPCs all with their own habits and details, and that's really what looks are about, isn't it? Interaction, and how they flavor the story. Hop in, and watch how the world changes as you progress through Arthur's tale.
The Biggest Open World Games, Based On The Size Of Their Maps
Open-world games are beloved for their massive maps. Here are some of the biggest open worlds that gamers can explore in the genre.