Indie games are home to some of the most jaw-dropping and stunning graphics in all of video games. While developers like Guerilla Games have gone above and beyond in masterpieces like Horizon Zero Dawn, some of the indie titles on this list have also achieved visual perfection, or very close to it.
This title embodies the word ‘atmosphere’ and even though I used to live in a small, but boring, village not dissimilar to Yaughton from Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture (But with far more people), I found myself fully invested multiple times with the setting. I often lost myself for hours by being the pinnacle nosy neighbour, peering into every garden and down every path to see what I could find.
The story doesn’t do much for me in all honesty, but that didn’t change my desire to wonder around the beautiful map, listening to stories and just drinking in the haunting scenery of a town suddenly abandoned by all of its inhabitants. I wonder where they all could have gone…
Often lazily referred to as ‘Underwater Journey’, the natural beauty and colour in Abzu is incredible. The brightest reds and deepest blues clash in this world, and give the environment so much replayability and depth that you won’t be satisfied until you’ve explored every inch of its depths. The wildlife are enjoyable to watch too, and the game offers a much appreciated ‘meditation mode’ in which your character will relax upon one of the many statues in the game, allowing you to watch the world go by.
I suck at rhythm games, that’s no secret, so the fact I’ve sunk so many hours into this game is an achievement in itself. Granted, I play on invincible mode as I’m a bad loser (All games should have an invincible mode in my opinion) but that doesn’t detract from the great visuals that Aaero has to offer. The soundtrack is great and the developers at Mad Fellows Games clearly put a lot of thought into the tracks they used for it (None of mine, but not salty), but the real attention to detail is in the environment. The popping colours, ridiculously epic boss battles and intriguing back drops make this a treat for the eyes, ears and fingertips.
Including paid DLC, there are over twenty levels in the game, all richly detailed from enemy ships to architecture, making this game a must for anyone whether they like rhythm games or not. You will not be disappointed.
Whilst the graphics and characters in this game are superb, the story is the real winner here. I’ve salivated over this game on Respawning multiple times so won’t repeat myself here, but to not play a game this beautiful, absorbing and rewarding should be an absolute sin.
The visceral carnage wrought by the titular beast, Aarbron, is as gorgeous as it is brutal. With his savage claws and insatiable blood thirst, he tears his way through the world and any foe that dare come across him. A side scrolling game played in a 3D environment, Shadow of the Beast (Like all titles on this list) offers such a high replayability factor that I’ve spent hours transfixed by the glorious devastation on display, and often started a brand new playthrough mere moments after finishing the last one.
I’ve played this game to completion many times, partly because it’s very short, but mostly by the mesmerising gore that Aarbron splatters across his path. If anyone has found themselves wondering what the weird looking creature in my PSN profile picture is, that’s my boy Aarbron.
That’s my list! Honourable mentions to Pyre and Apotheon, both games I didn’t enjoy playing but got plenty of enjoyment from just looking at.
Let me know what indie title graphics you were most enraptured by in the comments, and thank you for reading. You can find me any time on Twitter @MaliceVER and on YouTube @ Void Euphoric Records. Byesies!
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