RPGamer 2024 Awards – Best Visuals

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It’s no surprise that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth takes our top spot for Best Visuals. With a significantly more open world, there are so many breathtaking environments to wander. From the tall, ascendable mountain peaks near Nibelheim to the exotic jungle beauty of Gongaga, it is no wonder we took multiple stops amongst the the meandering to take in the game’s visual prowess. It felt like taking a nature despite staying at home, all while getting to battle some classic Final Fantasy monsters.

Moreover, the amount of detail in every cutscene, from character facial expressions to little details like Aerith’s denim jacket, pushes the visuals in a lot of distinctive ways to make the player feel like they are living in that moment. While one perhaps cannot properly forest bathe in a video game, Square Enix comes pretty close in allowing Cloud to fully soak in the world and, resultantly, gives a a feast for the eyes in every visual aspect aspect.

 

 

It’s been a long time coming since its original tease, but Metaphor: ReFantazio delivered in spades this year, not least of all in terms of visuals. The combat interface and the hideously monstrous enemies called “Humans” really spring to life, singing off the screen. While it’s no surprise this development team has style, the flair here is remarkable. The menus are simply gorgeous, the spell effects shine, and the character design are among the best we’ve seen in a modern RPG. What really set Metaphor over the top, however, are its Human monster designs, which are an homage to the works of Hieronymous Bosch. An art lesson, too? Now we’re spoiled.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail arrived with its much-desired graphical update. While the changes might appear subtle at first glance, the game’s crisper character models, more realistic armor, and vibrant foliage all contribute to an increased sense of realism. The concrete and design of sidewalks actually have texture and realistic looking light reflections. But where Dawntrail shines — much like its predecessor — is in the location design. The Americas inspire with some great mountains, plains, waterfalls, and more, while the latter parts diverge drastically into futuristic vistas that are some of the most stunning sights of the game so far, and are used to great effect during its finale. Not only are the locales stunning, the character models and new races are impeccable as well, with facial expressions helping to pull players into the story. The team at Square Enix has found the perfect balance, keeping the MMORPG fully viable to its players while continually making the game more visually appealing.

 

by Sam Wachter, Paul Shkreli, and Sarah Ferries