10 Video Games From the 2010s That Still Look Amazing Today

The 2010s were an amazing decade for Video Games, and an even better decade for the graphics in them, with developers pushing consoles and PCs to deliver increasingly detailed worlds. This was also the era where optimisation took the front seat, and gamers were delivered absolute masterpieces that did not take up the whole of your storage drives.

But which games from the era have actually aged the best? From Crysis 3 and Battlefield 3 to Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, this list ranks 10 games from the 2010s that still look amazing today.

10 Far Cry 3

Released in 2012, Far Cry 3 remains one of the most visually impressive open-world games of its generation. The best part of the game is that its tropical setting offers plenty of opportunities to showcase sandy beaches and awe-inspiring sunsets that took everyone aback.

While its character models and textures have understandably started to show their age, the game overall still holds up remarkably well. The island’s color palette and the environment give Far Cry 3 a visual identity that many newer open-world games struggle to catch up to.

9 Tomb Raider

Crystal Dynamics’ Tomb Raider reboot gave Lara Croft a visual makeover when it launched in 2013. The game’s version of Yamatai is filled to the brim with everything from abandoned settlements to caves, beaches, forests, and ancient ruins, making sure to deliver to the player plenty of awe-inspiring visuals throughout the campaign.

Lara’s character model also benefited from detailed facial animation and realistic environmental effects. Nearly every basic element of real life, including rain, fire, mud, smoke, and water, was so fine-tuned that it made the game feel cinematic. Even more than a decade later, Tomb Raider’s environments remain fairly convincing.

8 Metro: Last Light

Metro: Last Light is a game that relied heavily on atmosphere to make its visuals memorable. Released in 2013, 4A Games’ post-apocalyptic shooter takes players through claustrophobic underground tunnels as well as devastated areas of Moscow.

The lighting of the game deserves particular praise, especially on the most minute of things, whether it be the flickering lamps, the muzzle flashes, or the overall atmospheric effects that create a sense of tension throughout. What the player is greeted with as soon as they jump in is more than just impressive, with ruined buildings and hostile environments making the world feel genuinely abandoned.

7 Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 was one of the games that made every PC player sit up and take notice when it came out in 2011. Powered by Frostbite 2, the game delivered impressive destruction, lighting, explosions, and detailed environments.

Its multiplayer maps are even more impressive. Buildings can collapse, and debris fills the battlefield, with explosions creating an unbelievable amount of visual activity. Though the character models might have been lacking according to many, especially in comparison to recent games, its large-scale combat still looks remarkably good.

6 Max Payne 3

Rockstar Games pushed the Max Payne series into such a detailed world with Max Payne 3. This particular game features exceptionally detailed environments along with realistic animations and some of the best gunplay presentation of its generation.

However, the game’s slow-motion action remains its best part. Everything about it, from the bullet impacts to weapon animations, combined to make firefights feel remarkable. And where did it all happen? In São Paulo’s crowded streets, alongside luxurious buildings and their interiors. Max Payne 3, in all respects, has aged well.

5 Crysis 3

There is a reason Crysis 3 continues to appear in conversations about impressive PC graphics. Released in 2013, Crytek’s shooter pushed the CryEngine to its limits with detailed textures and highly polished environmental effects.

The game’s interpretation of a ruined New York is particularly awe-inspiring. Vines and overgrowth now cover the skyscrapers and streets, turning what was once a dense metropolis into something closer to a jungle with concrete bones. Even today, Crysis 3 can look surprisingly impressive when played at high settings.

4 The Last of Us

Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us was already considered a graphical showcase when it launched on the PlayStation 3 in 2013. What makes it stand out today is not simply technical detail, but how effectively its visuals support the game’s storytelling and world.

The cities, abandoned and covered in vegetation, are filled with buildings that show years of decay, and small details in the environment tell stories without relying on dialogue. Its original PS3 release naturally looks dated beside modern remasters, but the artistic direction remains excellent.

3 The Last of Us Part II

If the first game showcased the studio’s visual ambitions, The Last of Us Part II showed what the studio could accomplish with considerably more powerful hardware.

Released in 2020, it technically sits at the edge of the 2010’s, but its visual quality makes it impossible to leave out. The character models in this one are more than just detailed, with facial animations and environments containing an incredible amount of attention to detail. This, combined with the amazing showcase of an abandoned Seattle, makes it one of the strongest-looking games of its generation.

2 Grand Theft Auto 5

Not only did GTA 5 break barriers when it was released in 2013, but it has been evolving ever since, including throughout the 2010s. This Rockstar open-world blockbuster, as hinted, has survived multiple console generations while continuing to look impressive.

From dense city streets and highways to beaches, deserts, mountains, and rural areas, to dynamic weather, lighting, traffic, wildlife, and nearly everything that could ever be considered has been taken care of so minutely that the world feels alive. Considering how long ago it came out, the game’s ability to remain visually convincing more than a decade later is genuinely surprising.

1 Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is the obvious choice for the best-looking 2010s game on this list, subjectively. Released in 2018, this Rockstar western epic simply remains a technical showcase thanks to its environments, lighting, character models, and most importantly, the attention to detail.

Every single mechanic in the game was taken care of, thanks to the around 2,000 developers that came together to work on the game. Its world constantly changes visually, and the weather as well as the time of day can completely transform a location. Red Dead Redemption 2 is simply a game that feels tangible, even though it’s locked behind a screen.

Which is your favorite visually impressive game that came out in the 2010s? Make sure to let us know about it in the comments below!