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5 Visually Stunning Games to Play Right Now
267K View2022-05-27
As phones have increased in power, mobile games have grown able to deliver more and more impressive graphics. But this collection isn’t about the super high-end realistic visuals. That stuff can be really great, but there’s something we like even better: when a game surprises us with a visual style we’ve rarely seen or a perspective that blows us away.
In this list, we’ve put together five of our favorite visual stunners from across mobile gaming genres and history. Whether you’re looking for a bloody good action game or an unsettling, thought-provoking adventure or a rollicking fantasy MMO, you’ll find it here. And whatever you choose to check out, you can be guaranteed that it’s going to be a feast for your eyes.
What’s the most beautiful or visually inventive mobile game you’ve ever played? Let us know in the comments!
• Cat Museum | @JB
Right off the bat, there are grotesque manifestations featuring insects and human body parts that pulse and twitch as if they were still alive. But the cats are cute, so enjoy this sharp contrast while you can because unsettling the player most certainly seems to be the bread and butter of this indie game.
Cat Museum is a side-scrolling style of adventure game. Most of the gameplay comes down to tapping the left and right edges of the screen, waiting until you see an icon that is displayed as you approach a searchable point or an object that can be operated, and then tapping the icon to search or operate said object.
To be entirely frank though, Cat Museum seems purposely designed to keep you from ever getting stuck on its straightforward challenges, and this is a good thing in my mind. The brainteasers found here are intuitive on the whole, and honestly, from the outset of this game I felt that somehow I understood how to solve this mystery. That is to say that the puzzles never felt like they were adding to the grotesqueness of this game, and while the outlandish tones can be unforgiving, the puzzles certainly are not.
Ultimately, Cat Museum isn’t a game for everyone, but it is certainly a god-tier game for the players who appreciate both weird peculiarities and felines. I was quite spellbound by its dedication to off-the-wall art design and swift pacing—something you don’t typically find in the adventure game genre.
SCORE: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I couldn’t get over how striking Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds looks. This has got to be one of the best-looking games I've seen on a mobile device. Taking full advantage of the Unreal Engine 4, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds is one of those games that I can push into the faces of my friends who are skeptical of mobile gaming and say, "CAN YOU SEE NOW?" The varied landscapes and vibrant colors all add to the experience. When you combine the talents of legendary Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi, you're naturally going to have a game that kills it purely from the visual and audio level. Judged solely on how it looks and sounds, this is essentially a perfect game. But of course, it’s also important to judge a game based on how it plays, and gameplay is often the area that gets the most criticism for mobile releases. Blessedly, I don't think Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds came up short in that department.
Cross Worlds is an action RPG that flows seamlessly between combat and exploration. Combat gets slowed down just slightly thanks to cooldowns between using abilities, but it’s a far cry from even the faster-paced battles of a JRPG like Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. I found myself firing my bow at will, button-mashing, and dodging enemies pretty aggressively.
While the fights are action-packed, this is where Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds earns some criticism from me. There are so many buttons and prompts to keep track of in games like this that it can almost be overwhelming, and that feeling is only exacerbated by cramming all of those buttons onto a mobile screen. I often hit the wrong move or enemy, not due to any lack of concentration or missteps on my part, but simply because the screen was so cluttered. These issues can often be lightened, if not fixed altogether, via controller support, but as of right now Cross Worlds does not feature any controller support.
Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds offers a lot of quality gaming time and asks for little in return. I legitimately had a good time playing this game. For a free mobile MMORPG, that’s pretty much all I could ask for, especially right at launch. As time goes forward, I hope Netmarble will listen to players and make changes where needed. But even in its current form, Cross Worlds is something worth taking a look at, and one of those games I'll definitely be keeping on my phone to see how it develops.
SCORE: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Though most things about Samurai II: Vengeance are great, it especially shines in its presentation. The game may be old, but it doesn’t look it; the gorgeous cel-shaded art style employed here stands the test of time. With its floating cherry blossoms and giant torii gates, a screenshot from Samurai II could easily be mistaken for one from the Capcom classic Okami—as long as you ignore all the bloodshed, at least.
If anything, the game’s dazzling visual style just made me wish that there were a greater variety of locales making use of it. Daisuke’s journey may be epic, but most of the game’s seven chapters end up following a similar, strictly linear path of mountains, hills, villages, elevators, and so on. The times when the game mixes up the formula—such as when one elevator ride pulls you down towards a massive river of lava—are its standout moments, and I wanted more of them.
Perhaps the short length and lack of variety is the primary place where Samurai II: Vengeance shows its age. If that’s the case, though, it’s not much to be ashamed of. If you had told me that this game came out in 2022, I’d still be impressed; for a title that actually released in 2010, I can barely believe how excellent and high quality it is. If, like me, you missed Samurai II: Vengeance when it arrived years ago, don’t worry. Now is as good a time as ever to jump into this blood-soaked tale of retribution.
SCORE: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• DEEMO II | @Jenn
Stepping into a hazy train station decorated with nostalgic signs on a rainy day, our journey in DEEMO II begins.
DEEMO II takes place in a world where the rain never stops, and creatures who are touched by the rain turn into petals. Taiwanese developer Rayark did a great job in creating such a mysterious yet beautiful atmosphere through the exquisite visuals. This is what I love the most about this game.
DEEMO II is essentially a rhythm game. If you are a rhythm game veteran, you’ll find it rather familiar. If you aren’t, that’s fine. Tap, long press, and swipe, and you are all set. Honestly, the rhythm part of DEEMO II is definitely not a stand-out when compared to games like Arcaea. But Rayark added light RPG elements to the game and turned it into a story-driven musical adventure.
In DEEMO II, there is a map to explore and NPCs to befriend. To make it more like an RPG, there are tasks, events, and even a battle pass-like system for rewards.
Overall, DEEMO II is a unique rhythm game worth trying. Also, I’m a sucker for stunning graphics, so I rate it 5/5.
SCORE: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Limbo | @ShadowWolf
Limbo is an absolute masterpiece. This 2D platform puzzle game is in black, gray and white. A young child embarks on a dangerous journey. The white butterfly is the only hope.
Except a boy need to find his sister. There is no backstory, dialogue or animation. I could only explore the mist with death everywhere. The overall time of the game is not long, it took me 4 to 5 hours to complete. But there are various puzzles in the game, and you need to think about how to move the props in order to move on. The truth is brutal and comes with a kind of shock.
SCORE: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💬 Are any of these fine-looking titles among your favorites to show off how beautiful mobile games can be? Or are there other games that you think have an even more striking style? Let us know what you think in the comments!
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played ni no kuni... graphics and animation is good but the progression is blocked by heavy paywall, can still be fun tho but definitely not for free to plays
2022-05-28
Author likedI agree most ppl said nnk cross worlds is not pay to win but I guess they`re just blind
2022-06-01
I absolutely love games that have beautiful visuals! Some of my favorites: Oxenfree, Sayonara Wild Heart, Device 6.
2022-05-27
Author likedAnd The Red Strings Club!
2022-05-27
T3 Battle Arena i'ts sureal!
2022-05-29
Author likedI’ve been playing t3 arena a lot lately, I’m super impressed!
2022-06-01