Summary
- Modern RPG animation trends lean towards realism with advanced motion capture techniques.
- Realistic characters and settings tend to dominate in the video game landscape, enhancing immersion and gameplay experiences.
- Games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 set high standards for visual fidelity.
Role-playing video games use several different animation styles, and more artistic ideas like hand-painted cells have been trending in recent years. As developers experiment with various techniques and genres, motion capture and rotoscope have also advanced, and the fashion now seems to be leaning towards more realistic-looking characters and settings.
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It's not just the combat, action, and exploration that have to look real; it's also the cutscenes and details on the characters, like weapons and clothing. These games take place in a variety of settings, some of which are rooted in fantasy and horror, but they still have the design and animation to mimic real life.
7 Baldur's Gate 3
MoCap With A Talented Cast And Stunning Visuals
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The two CRPGs that preceded this one did what they could 20 years ago. The remastered versions of Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast and Baldur's Gate 2: Shadow of Amn look great, too, but they don't compare to the look of Baldur's Gate 3.
One of the greatest things about BG3 is that it was released as a finished game, so it was already impeccably polished animation-wise when it launched, and gamers noticed. A mix of motion capture, facial capture, practical stunts, and voice acting was used to build realistic characters who were based on actual living people. Despite the fantasy setting, it has set the bar incredibly high for any game that wants to look realistic.
6 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
As Realistic As Medieval Bohemia
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Released
- February 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is already set in a real historical place and time, and it follows a story of medieval honor, family, and social standing. It's an RPG without magic, mages, or other fantasy trappings, and the realistic art style matches the grounded aesthetic.
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The protagonist, Henry of Skalitz, is one of the few fictional people in this game, and his search for revenge, honor, and love continues from the first title. Activities like weapon training, horseback riding, and even dancing are part of Henry's daily routine, which also includes medieval weddings, political intrigue, and castle sieges. The story that Henry follows is entirely plausible given the time and place, and the choices he makes are deeply influential to the ending. The fact that the art style is so realistic is simply the cherry on top.
5 Horizon Forbidden West
A Stark Vision Of The Apocalyptic Wilderness
Horizon Forbidden West
- Released
- February 18, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
The sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, which also received accolades for its realistic graphics, voice acting, and exotic settings, Horizon Forbidden West follows in the same tradition but looks even better. The franchise takes place in a post-apocalyptic version of the Western United States, and the protagonist, Aloy, travels to this dangerous place in order to investigate a plague.
Horizon Forbidden West is one of the most expensive games ever produced, and it shows in the final product. The size of the project was so big that Sony needed three teams to handle each section, and it was the World Design Team that was responsible for the immersive, expansive, and incredibly realistic open world of the Forbidden West.
4 The Outer Worlds
Steampunk And Post-Capitalist Art
The Outer Worlds
- Released
- October 25, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The stage was set for this sequel in the first game, which establishes an alternate timeline of humanity's future with a galactic reach, fueled by corporate greed and power. The setting is a planet called Halcyon, which employs a blend of styles that incorporate elements of steampunk, the Old West, and heavy machinery to establish a gritty yet realistic-looking tone.
The Outer Worlds' art aesthetic combines the tradition of futuristic company towns with those resembling the mining settlements of the early 18th century, particularly the gold-rush type of places where competition was fierce. It also uses the element of humor and pop-culture references with some retro designs and corporate ads, which are used for the loading screens.
3 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
An Artistic Alternative History Of The Belle Epoque
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
The Belle Epoque was a historic period in France where stark colors like white and gold, along with rich and sumptuous details, were popular among the artistic and fashionable. Inspired by said period, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 tasks players with going on an expedition to take down an entity known as the Paintress, but some may get distracted along the way by how realistic the game actually looks.
The game uses a a somewhat regular modern design, it but also brings it into a dystopian future. The setting is based on a style that exists in real life, and characters are also equally realistic, made using similar techniques that were used with Baldur's Gate 3, just with a more polished look that's more typical of a JRPG like that of the more recent Final Fantasy entries.
2 New World
A Creative Interpretation Of The Age Of Exploration
New World
- Released
- September 8, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
New World takes place on the fictional island continent of Aeturnum, but the period is intended to be the 16th century, when tall ships were put out to sea in search of conquest and riches. This is the kind of RPG that includes DIY classes like musketeers, pirates, and fur traders, professions that all have their roots in historic fact.
The wilderness of Aeturnum is equally realistic and features many of the dangers explorers would face in the unknown corners of the world. Weapons, armor, and details of the setting, such as architecture, are reminiscent of Colonial styles in Europe and North America. Log cabins, forts, and logging camps are a common sight in the wilderness, too, further adding to the game's realistic nature.
1 Cyberpunk 2077
City And Characters Created Using Realistic Art Styles
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the first big-ticket RPGs to use the genre of Cyberpunk as the main part of the design and gameplay, and many would argue the name was a little too on the nose. The genre has evolved to include streets lined with palm trees, detailed city streets with plenty of capitalist flair, and a thriving underworld of crime and cramped spaces.
There's a detailed history behind the distinct architectural styles that developers built into the city. They include Entropism, a state of chaos and disorder, Kitsch, which is silly, fun, and generally in poor taste, and Neo-Militarism, which glorifies the more authoritarian side of society. The present-day style of Night City is Neo-Kitch, which might not be beautiful, but at least it's interesting.
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