20 best high end PC games with stunning visuals to play in 2023

Many excellent games aren't demanding for your PC. We've even prepared a list of the 21 best low-end PC games that run on budget laptops in 2023. But what about those players that simply want to admire the best-looking games out there? Obviously, it’s not always about graphics. However, why settle for lower if you can afford top-notch performance AND crisp graphics? For all of you thinking like that, don’t worry: we got you covered!

Best games for high-end PCs

In this list, we’ll present some of the most visually stunning games available. So, turn your thermostat down, as all those titles listed below will make your computers scorching hot!

A Plague Tale: Requiem (Included with PC Game Pass)

The first pick on our list is a sequel to the critically acclaimed A Plague Tale: Innocence. This time, however, it's prepared only for next-gen consoles and powerful PCs. Once again, we follow Amicia and her younger brother Hugo on their journey to try and cure the little boy of his terrible illness.

A Plague Tale: Requiem is undoubtedly one of the most demanding PC games of 2023. Not without reason, as its visuals are stunning. Beautiful landscapes of medieval France and terrifying floods of rats might make your jaw drop in awe.

Requiem is included in PC Game Pass, a subscription service from Microsoft that gives users access to an ever-growing library of games. Below are the best current offers for a 1-month membership.

God of War (2018)

“Boy!” – who doesn’t know this famous quote from the new God of War game? PC players might have to wait a little longer for the Dawn of Gods (aka Ragnarök) to come, but that doesn’t make the previous entry in the series less enjoyable… and certainly not uglier.

Just look at this game! Isn’t it simply gorgeous? High-End graphics aren’t the only thing it has to offer, but its visuals can make slaying Norse Gods only more fun. So let’s pick Kratos’ Leviathan axe and slay some draugar!

Games from Sony’s consoles tend to have dazzling looks. You can draw some inspiration from our article about the best PlayStation games on PC.

Red Dead Redemption 2

When it first came out in 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 pushed past-gen consoles to their limits. A year later, it became one of the games to show off your gaming PC. That’s how beautiful this Wild West adventure is.

If you play only on PC, don’t worry about the number “2” in the title. It’s a prequel to the original story, so you don’t have to own PS3 or Xbox 360 to understand the whole story. And please believe us, it’s worth following Arthur Morgan in his journey for redemption… or quite the opposite.

Got inspired by the setting? Check out our list of the best western video games on PC.

Marvel’s Spider-man Remastered

Another former PlayStation exclusive is on our list. In this open-world action game, you play as “friendly neighborhood” Spider-man, one of the most beloved superheroes of all time, swinging around New York City and beating the criminals’ butts.

The PC edition contains all the DLC from the console edition and graphical improvements such as NVIDIA DLSS, ray-tracing, and many more. Is it one of the best games for a high-end rig you’ve just bought? No doubt about that.

In case you’ll be striving for more after finishing the base game, stand-alone continuation, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales has just come out. While Peter Parker is out of NYC, a new man is on the job. We get to explore the city in winter, which will instantly lift your Christmas spirit.

Microsoft Flight Simulator (Included with PC Game Pass)

PC Gaming is not only about action games, so let’s fly to the skies above… what’s about, e.g., your hometown? Impossible, you say? Not in Microsoft Flight Simulator!

Talking about the most demanding PC games without at least mentioning this Microsoft exclusive would be blasphemy. It might not contain any kind of story or challenge for anyone who wants to “complete” it. Nonetheless, it focuses on the great feeling of freedom, being able to roam the skies and fly wherever we want… sounds fantastic, don’t you think?

Metro Exodus

Games from the Metro series were always a delight to the eyes, and Exodus is no exception. This 3^rd entry in the Metro series is, without a doubt, the most beautiful one yet.

This time the players can see quite a huge part of the world above the Moscow metro itself. We play as Artem again, trying to find new life in the Eastern part of Russia. During our journey, we’ll be able to see such beautiful places as the swampy areas of Volga or the sunny, vast Caspian Desert (you read that right). And all that with such features as ray tracing and DLSS.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade

This list would be incomplete without this glorious remake of the beloved JRPG classic, wouldn’t it? Square Enix made PC players wait for quite some time for it to be released, but it was absolutely worth it. The new version of Final Fantasy VII contains only part of the original story and serves as (more or less) the prologue of what’s to come.

It still takes around 35 hours to complete, so you don’t have to worry about it being “just a demo”. Why have we considered this remake one of the best games for high-end PC? Cloud’s doors are truly next-gen now. 😉 Fancy a nostalgic gaming session? Here’s our list of the 18 best game remasters and remakes to play on PC in 2023.

Control Ultimate Edition

Are you waiting for Alan Wake 2? If you’re already done with the remastered version of the first game, why not give another Remedy Entertainment title a go? It might not be as full of Stephen King’s references as the adventures of the famous writer, but if you’re a fan of David Lynch’s movies, you’ll definitely find something for yourself here.

You take the role of Jessie Fayden, the Federal Bureau of Control’s new director. Utilizing her newly discovered abilities, you’ll be able to find even the most mysterious secrets of the Old House, FBC’s headquarters. And there’s quite a lot to discover as Control is non-linear, allowing players to go back to the previously visited places.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)

Do you remember the original Modern Warfare 2? What a game it was! Action-packed campaign and multiplayer in which you could spend countless hours. Is the newest entry in the CoD series, which shares the same title as the game from 2009, equally good? Well, it all depends on the perspective, but one thing is sure: it’s one of the best looking games of 2023.

Cyberpunk 2077

This production didn’t have the smooth start the players could have wished for. But that’s all in the past now. After tons of patches and hotfixes, Cyberpunk 2077 is finally what it should have been from the beginning. Fantastic and visually stunning RPG experience.

Traverse through neon-lit Night City as the mercenary V, admiring the futuristic beauty of this unforgiving, brutal world. Even if you’re already done with the game, it’s still worth replaying, especially now. The DLC is just around the corner, and it might be a good idea to remind yourself of the basic game’s fantastic story and spend some time with Keanu… Apologies, Johnny Silverhand. 😉

Gotham Knights

Gotham City is in danger, and Batman is “unavailable”? No need to fear, as his side-kicks are already up and running! In Gotham Knights, you can play as four members of the Bat-family: Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Red Hood.

The story is entirely unrelated to the Arkham trilogy because the action takes place in a slightly different universe with the same city to explore and save. In terms of new features, we’ve got reinvented battle system with some major differences between each character and co-op mode.

Forza Horizon 5 (Included with PC Game Pass)

After visiting the rainy UK in Forza Horizon 4, it’s time for a bit of change of scenery. In the latest installment, the Horizon Festival takes place in Mexico's breathtaking, vibrant, open-world landscapes.

You can immerse yourselves in a campaign with hundreds of rewarding challenges and explore both lush jungles and snow-capped volcanoes. There’s quite a lot to explore and admire here. Forza Horizon 5 is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful games out there. 

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Included with Ubisoft+)

We briefly mentioned the United Kingdom in the previous section, so let’s revisit this country in a video game… but a few hundred years earlier. Take the role of the “chad” Viking rider, not some “lame” car racer.

In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, you play as Eivor, leading your fellow Vikings against the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. You’ll be able to visit cities like London (when it wasn’t such a massive metropolis as we know today) and more rural places like Stonehenge and Hadrian’s Wall. And, well, raid some monasteries for riches. Assassin’s Creed series isn’t only about sightseeing, and sometimes it’s necessary to cover your axes in blood. If you’re looking for the best games for a high-end PC that you’ve just bought, Valhalla on ultra-details might be a good test.

If you'd like to try other Ubisoft games in addition to Valhalla, consider becoming a Ubisoft+ member. Use the widget below to browse the best current offers for 1 month access.

Resident Evil: Village

Resident Evil 7 demonstrated some considerable changes to the classic formula of the previous installments. First-person perspective, super-dynamic action, and… zombies. What about RE 8?

In many aspects, Village is similar to the beloved Resident Evil 4, for example, the isolated countryside, the fact that the protagonist’s trying to save someone… and a lot of high-octane action. You run, shoot, and kill almost all the time, and all that can make even the most powerful computers break a sweat.

If you weren’t convinced by all of the changes, you could pick up the Gold Edition, with 3^rd person perspective mode and completely new DLC included. Fans asked, and Capcom listened!

Hogwarts Legacy

Unquestionably, Hogwarts Legacy was one of the most anticipated releases of 2023. It's not surprising, considering that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was part of many people's childhoods. Much to the delight of Potterheads, this rendition of Hogwarts is truly magical.

The game features an open world full of famous locations, such as Hogesemede and the Forbidden Forest, which any fan of the series will recognize. It's so impressive that you'll often find yourself wandering around, marveling at every tiny detail. Besides exploring, you can also attend classes, interact with characters, rescue fantastic beasts, and fight dangerous enemies.

Dead Island 2

Many have lost hope of seeing a sequel to Dead Island. Well, the wait is over, at last. The second installment takes the player to a scorching Los Angeles plagued by the zombie apocalypse. Interestingly, some lucky individuals gain special abilities after being bitten by a monster instead of becoming one of them.

You will assume the role of a survivor trying to uncover the truth about the epidemic outbreak and your powers. Along the way, you'll traverse the city, complete quests and slaying hordes of fiendish enemies. Admittedly, Dead Island 2 is pretty gory, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it's one of the best-looking PC games on the market. Even gruesome violence looks spectacular. 

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Despite already mentioning Village, we couldn't leave Resident Evil 4 Remake off our list of PC games with the best graphics. Admittedly, Capcom took a big risk by enhancing a fan-favorite installment. However, it has managed to deliver an enjoyable experience for both newcomers and veterans alike. 

In addition to revamped visuals, it offers various improvements to the gameplay, including side missions or updated AI. All in all, it may not be the same game you played in 2005, but it stands on its own and proves that not every remake is a cash grab.

Dead Space Remake

Undoubtedly, Dead Space (2023) is another excellent remake. EA Motive has incorporated all the elements that made the original iconic and enhanced the overall experience significantly. While the most noticeable alterations are in the visual and audio aspects, there are other significant improvements as well.

For instance, apart from looking and sounding splendidly, there are no loading screens. Moreover, the main protagonist received a voice. Certainly, revisiting the USG Ishimura ship is worthwhile unless it still triggers traumatic memories from the 2008 version.

You can also check out our list of the best sci-fi games if you've already beaten Dead Space.

 

The Last of Us Part I

Without The Last of Us Part I, no list of the best-looking games would be complete. However, its inclusion might be questioned due to the problems with the PC port. Still, it's constantly being updated with much-needed bug fixes and tweaks, so hopefully, it'll soon be as impressive as its console counterpart.

If you've never had the chance to dive into Naughty Dog's zombie-ridden world, we highly recommend that you do. The game is definitely a modern classic with its breathtaking sceneries, realistic characters, and fantastic gameplay.

Elden Ring

The last game on our list is what some people call "Dark Souls: Breath of the Wild". That’s understandable, as Elden Ring puts all of the beloved elements of the Dark Souls series in the vast, almost borderless world.

Do you see that huge shrine in the distance? That soaring tower? You can go there and find a mini-boss, equipment, or a new type of enemy. Technically speaking, the latest From Software game might not be top-tier, but it’s still visually stunning. This art style is something that cannot be simply copied!

That wraps up our list of the best games for high-end PC that might use the full potential of your RIGs. What titles would you add, and which ones are not to your liking? Let us know in the comment section down below! If you’re still looking for some incredible-looking games, please check our article about 10 ray tracing games with the best graphics to play on PC in 2023 and take a look at the collection of all games with DLSS support.