No matter what type of person you are, there is a video game for you. Sure you may not be interested in those arcade-type games like Pac-Man or Space Invaders, or infinite world games like Skyrim or Minecraft, but somewhere out there, there is a game for you. Even if you are not into video games now, you might have played some as a kid; Pokémon on the Gameboy console and Super Smash Bros on the Nintendo 64 to name a few were absolute classics. I am not too immersed in video games, but I have played my fair share of side-scrollers, MMORG’s, RPG’s, and console games. Even now I enjoy watching people play, or even play myself. Now, I tend to tune into more beautifully designed video games that are both action-packed, have intense or compelling story-lines, and which are made by the best of the best of designers.
I have been insanely picky when it comes to video games. Sure, old school graphics from games such as Counter-Strike and the old Mario games are horrendous now, but I still appreciate them like the next person. I have only played two of the five video games on this list, but I have watched enough gameplay (aka the whole run through of each game) to see everything there is to see about the game. Sadly, since I do not own any PlayStation consoles, I was not able to play the majority of my favorite games in person. Nonetheless, these games are absolutely beautiful—hats off to these designers.
5. Super Mario Galaxy (2007)
I was an immense Mario fan in elementary school. I loved playing through the old games on my Gameboy, and was so in love with Toad and his other glorious mushroom counterparts that my friends gifted me mushroom shaped objects for one of my birthday gifts. When Super Mario Galaxy came out on the Wii, I got it immediately and played through the entire game (which now seems a little weird since that game was actually kind of hard—how did 10-year-old me do that is beyond me). At this time, this game was at the pinnacle of how beautiful a game can look. Everything from the motions, the actions, the stars, the galaxy, and the way the planets moved alongside the player as they walked forwards and backwards was astounding. It was just SO pretty. I am aware that there is a Super Mario Galaxy 2 that was released a couple years later, but the first one was the most memorable one for me.
4. Flower (2009)
Flower, made by Thatgamecompany, is a very indie sort of game that not many people know about. A full run through of the game is said to be about an hour long, so it really is not that established or lengthy. Yet, it’s higher on my list because of how beautiful the game is. The premise of the game is strange and not fully mentioned: you control a petal that floats. Yes, a petal. Using a gust of wind, you travel along the lands, passing by other petals and maneuvering yourself to gain a faster momentum. It’s self-explanatory, and impossible to fail the game. However, the game itself is full of charming landscapes and magnificently painted backgrounds. Seriously, watching gameplay of this soothes me.
3. Bioshock Infinite (2013)
This game seriously rocked. Everything about this game was beautiful, from the city of Columbia, to the sometimes downright creepy enemies (Boys of Silence? Yeah, no..). It was imaginative, colorful, and so meticulously made that sometimes I could stand on the edges of the city and just stare at the floating blimps and buildings in the distance. I have to admit, a lot of the game was spent with me thrusting the controller towards my friend because 1. I suck at first person shooter games and 2. I get jumpscared easily by almost anything and everything. Yet, I adored the steampunk style of the city and the way everything was filled with detail and color.
2. Shadow of the Collossus (2005)
You have NO idea how much I love this game. It. Is. Beautiful. It is old, rustic, but so very beautiful. The only reason why SoC isn’t number one on this list is because #1 is hands down the most alluring and graphically stunning game I’ve ever seen. SoC makes a very close second as it is both memorable and beautiful.
Played on the Playstation 2, you play Wander, a boy who literally ‘wanders’, looking to destroy 16 huge ancient giants in order to resurrect a girl. For its time, SoC had amazing graphics. And the Collossus’ were big, and I mean BIG. Most took up your entire screen, and some you have to pan out in order to see. It’s seemingly a puzzle and action-packed game in one, and it takes the cake for just being amazing, amazing, amazing.
.jpg)
1. Journey (2012)
Journey. I have no words to describe how you play this game or what goes on. All I know is that this game is just impeccably done. It’s B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L in all aspects of the word. Even if you do not enjoy video games, I urge you to search gameplay videos of Journey on Youtube just to see the little character swerve and sift through the dunes of the desert. The makers of Journey are the same as Flower, and rightly so. Both are encapsulating and keep you very enthralled and entertained, even as simple it may seem. You can even play multiplayer in this game which seems so fun and immersive—seeing little cloaked characters running (gliding?) in the sand is only a quarter of the fun. If you are into puzzle solving, concentration, and immersive gameplay, Journey is a fantastic game to play.
Honorable Mentions:
Life is Strange
Ni no Kuni (Wrath of the White Witch)
Abzu
The Last of Us
Limbo
