Updated at: 13-03-2023 - By: Leo Hall

What characteristics give a video game a sense of realism? Do they feature large, well-detailed settings or more realistic simulations of things like weather, weapon degradation, hunger, and thirst? However, there are games that are particularly good at making you forget about the real world and focus entirely on the virtual one. GamingScan, a massive gaming and technology website, compiled a list of the most realistic video games of all time, starting with the top realistic games.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox One X, and Nintendo Switch.

Despite the fantastical nature of the game, Hellblade has one of the most realistic depictions of psychosis in a video game. You take on the role of Senua, a Viking warrior who despite hearing voices in her head, ventures into the realm of Helheim in an attempt to save her dead lover.

During development, Ninja Theory collaborated closely with neuroscientists and other mental health professionals to ensure an authentic depiction of Senua’s condition.

The lack of a heads-up display (HUD) in Hellblade contributes to the game’s immersive and evocative atmosphere.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice on Steam

Death Stranding

PC, PS3, PS4, and PS5

Despite its fantastical setting and backstory, Death Stranding is surprisingly grounded in realism, especially in terms of its gameplay and its large, meaty cast.

Among the many recognizable faces in the game is Norman Reedus, who has been modeled shockingly accurately as Sam Bridges, the delivery boy tasked with reuniting a post-apocalyptic society.

The open world of the game, with its hills, moss, and black sand beaches, even looks and feels like it could be in Iceland.

There may be no shortage of desolate landscapes to explore, but getting around the map can feel like a genuine obstacle course, what with Sam constantly getting exhausted, injured, soiled, and cranky while on missions.

Crysis: Remastered

Software for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch

The question “can you run Crysis?” has become a running joke whenever someone brags about their PC’s specifications, but with the release of Crysis: Remastered, a new standard has been set for PC gaming.

While the remaster of Crysis may have been built on the same foundation as the game for lower-end consoles, the impressive realism of its visuals cannot be denied.

Although the actual gameplay in Crysis: Sports isn’t as convincing as the remastered enhanced lighting effects with raytracing support and up to 8K resolution textures, the world looks fantastic.

It’s a first-person shooter in which you play the role of a super soldier whose suit has superhuman abilities that defy scientific explanation.

Metro Exodus

PC, PS4, and XBox One

It’s impressive how well Metro Exodus pulls you into its post-apocalyptic Russian wasteland.

The game’s real-time raytracing support complements the series’ best-designed environments to date.

Even small details, like when your character changes their mask filter or wipes moisture off their visor with a hand, contribute to the overall immersion and help you suspend disbelief.

Even though there are fantastical elements, such as fighting mutant creatures, Metro Exodus keeps you rooted in reality with its changing weather, day/night cycle, and steadily increasing stakes.

Detroit: Become Human

Systems: PC and PS4

In the science fiction film Detroit: Become Human, three androids gain consciousness as a result of three separate tragedies.

Every protagonist’s storyline has multiple possible outcomes, including death; if a character dies, the story continues without them.

As a result, the stakes are raised, and you might start to view androids as though they were real people with flaws and strengths.

The game’s setting is also unique, contrasting modern Detroit, Michigan with a futuristic vision of the city set in the year 2038.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Released for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 S, Xbox One, and Xbox.

Although the Grand Theft Auto series is more concerned with presenting a hyper-realistic depiction of modern life, the latest installment ends up getting frighteningly close to reality.

Like in real life, random events in GTA 5 can catch you off guard, whether it’s overhearing a conversation about a stranger’s rash or getting caught between two warring gangs.

The game gives you much more than that, including a house, cars, a hangar, a secret base, and more.

All of the above, plus online dating, the stock market, genealogical records, and the location of the nearest Taco Bomb, are all available for purchase on the Grand Theft Auto version of the internet.

LA Noire

PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch are all supported.

LA Noire is a sophisticated detective game in which you assume the role of LAPD’s Detective Cole Phelps and investigate criminal cases in the style popularized by film noir in the 1940s.

Suspects’ responses to questions during interrogations can provide subtle clues as to whether they are being truthful or trying to hide something, so it’s important to pay attention.

MotionScan technology, which employs 32 surrounding cameras, makes this possible by recording an actor’s facial expressions from every angle.

So, the people of LA Noire look and act like real people, even venturing into the game’s mysterious valley.

Year 1800

Windows Is The Platform

The parallel cultures of the Old World and the New World are the focus of Year 1800, a novel set at the turn of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

Supply and demand in the Old World are driven by ordinary citizens, workers, and artisans.

In contrast, in the New World, the focus is squarely on the goods themselves, as resource-rich locations like the Amazon and other far-flung islands and forests provide a steady supply of raw materials that are accessed via extensive networks of trade routes.

The game does an excellent job of evoking the heyday of the industrial revolution, with its depiction of farmers leaving the farm for jobs as factory workers and city merchants.

Weapon III

System Requirements: Windows, Linux, and Mac

Arma games, despite being set in the near future, have maintained a consistent level of realism, with Weapon III frequently being called the most realistic military sandbox.

The story is obviously made up, but the game’s visuals and gameplay are spot-on recreations of real-life locations in Greece, specifically the islands of Altis and Stratis.

Both islands boast photorealistic landscapes and bodies of water that are true to scale with their real-world counterparts; Altis, in particular, is nearly 100 square miles in size.

When determining where a shot will land, the game also considers the wind and uses simulated ballistics.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

Nearly four decades have passed since the first release of Microsoft Flight Simulator, and the series just keeps getting better.

The latest version, released in 2020, uses Bing Maps, which is owned by Microsoft, to simulate the entire planet, including its terrain and bodies of water.

Mountain ranges, forests, and airports are all rendered in 3D using Microsoft’s Azure Cloud technology in Flight Sim.

The results are surprising in their accuracy, with scenes from the Grand Canyon, Mount Fuji, and even our own backyards faithfully reproduced.

The Last Of Us II

The PlayStation 4

In the sequel to The Last of Us, Joel and Ellie have moved to Jackson, Wyoming, where they are found by a band of vengeful survivors affiliated with the Washington Liberation Front.

Ellie embarks on a journey of vengeance against her adoptive father after her leader confronts Joel over old grievances in a disturbingly accurate depiction of Seattle, Washington.

The environments in TLOU 2, from the dense forests to the bustling streets, tell the tragic tale of a world that once was while still feeling familiar.

The relationships between the characters are also very well done; there are many intense scenes that show off the high quality of the motion capture performances.

Game The Last of Us Part II Ps4

Ghost Of Tsushima

Consoles: PS4, PS5, etc.

In Ghost of Tsushima, you play the part of a samurai who must decide how to defend his home while adhering to both ancient rituals and modern fighting techniques.

The game takes place on Tsushima Island during the first Mongol invasion of Japan and has players exploring its lush landscape, which includes plains, bamboo forests, snow-capped mountains, and waterfalls.

The game’s combat system is also inspired by authentic Samurai practices.

Avoiding death by landing blows on an opponent while parrying is emphasized, as is the creation of implements used by historical Samurai and Ninja.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Systems: PC, PS4, and XB1

Rockstar took great care to ensure that Red Dead Redemption 2 was both a faithful historical adaptation and a satisfying prequel to the original.

The book is fiction, but many of the characters and events in it are based on real people and events.

The gameplay is just as believable, with a very limited fast travel system that forces you to use horses for the majority of the game.

Arthur’s methodical approach to most tasks is indicative of the more leisurely lifestyle of the time.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One

When depicting the harsh realities of life in the Middle Ages, Kingdom Come: Deliverance pulls no punches.

After witnessing the slaughter of his parents and village at the hands of invaders, you take on the role of the son of a blacksmith who decides to join a group of rebels in order to protect others.

You are not a charismatic or magical hero; you are just a bumbling idiot who must overcome the same challenges that everyone else faces.

You’ll need to take care of the basics every day, such as eating, drinking, and sleeping, as well as washing, protecting yourself, and keeping yourself from harm.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare

Xbox One/Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4/5

Developed by Infinity Ward, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a first-person shooter. As of the 25th of October, 2019, it was available for purchase on Windows, PS4, and Xbox One from the publisher, Activision. It is the 16th Call of Duty game and a “soft reboot” of the Modern Warfare series.

Developed by Infinity Ward, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a first-person shooter. On October 25, 2019, it was released for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One by publisher Activision. As the 16th entry in the Call of Duty franchise, it serves as a “soft reboot” of the Modern Warfare series.

Resident Evil 2

New version out in 2019 (by Capcom), plays on PC, PS4, and XB1.

Leon Kennedy, a new recruit at the Raccoon City Police Department, probably didn’t expect to find a massive zombie outbreak, a mutant supersoldier bent on his destruction, or a police station full of elaborate puzzles on his first day on the job.

But that’s the reality he’s up against, with only a young woman named Claire Redfield for company. For Leon and Claire to have any hope of escaping the city alive, they will have to brave the ruins and battle the grotesque monsters unleashed by the evil Umbrella Corporation.

A massive zombie outbreak brought on by an improbable virus, along with a host of monstrosities that spit in the face of modern science, may make this remake of the 1998 blockbuster seem unrealistic.

You might think that Capcom wasn’t concerned with realism when they created this game, especially if you look at Leon’s ridiculous boyband haircut.

However, the game employs a number of mechanics that lend a sense of realism to an otherwise fantastical first-person shooter.

The most notable aspect is the inventory system, in which Leon and Claire have very limited carrying capacities and can only increase those capacities by discovering bags or holsters hidden around the environment.

Similarly, the ammunition system is restricted, so players must worry about managing their ammo carefully.

Claire’s jacket, jeans, and sturdy boots make her running, jumping, and climbing abilities plausible, and this has been remarked upon by many journalists.

Ada Wong, the alleged FBI agent who saves Leon in the parking garage, wears an impossible-to-walk-in dress and completely impractical high heeled shoes throughout the entire game.

Far Cry V

Developed by Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Toronto; Available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One in 2018.

The county of Hope, Montana, is currently a battleground. This is not a military conflict zone, but rather a civil war between county residents from rural areas and members of the Eden’s Gate cult.

Civilians have been kidnapped and indoctrinated by the cult for some time, and conventional authorities have done little to stop them. You’re here because you’re a Hope County deputy sheriff who got himself stuck in a combat zone.

In the process of escaping the cult’s oppression, you decide to join the local resistance and aid in the liberation of the county.

Although the Far Cry games are not exactly known for their realism and are instead known for their mildly outlandish plotlines and mechanics, Far Cry V does bring in a little bit of realism for players, which is why the game is so graphically demanding.

Despite the presence of a death cult, the Hope County setting is depicted with a high degree of realism. The animation is superb, the characters are wonderfully realized, and their dialogue and actions feel natural.

The same is true of the new spinoff game Far Cry: New Dawn, which picks up in Hope County after the events of Far Cry V.

When playing Far Cry 5, you get the impression that you’re saving actual people from the atrocities committed by a strange despot who has taken over their town.

It’s a video game, after all; not everything has to be accurate.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The game was developed by CD Projekt Red and released in 2015 for multiple platforms including Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox One X, and Nintendo Switch.

In the third game in the Witcher series, Geralt is on the hunt for Ciri as she escapes the monstrous and terrifying Wild Hunt.

As Geralt searches for the only family he has left in the world, familiar faces return and tried-and-true mechanics are refined.

The game’s environments are the main source of realism; they are gorgeously rendered, making Geralt’s world feel interesting and authentic.

In addition, the AI of the foes is adaptive, and the day/night cycles of the environments influence the foes and other facets of combat.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Date of Release: 2007 Developer: Infinity Ward Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii

In 2007, the year 2011 featured in this Call of Duty must have seemed like a distant future. It is believed that the president of a Middle Eastern nation has been assassinated by a radical leader.

At the same time, a rise in ultranationalism in Russia has sparked a devastating civil war. You take on the roles of a U.S. Marine Force Recon sergeant and a British SAS commando as you go through these wars. Could you make it through a war?

While this work may be a little bit older than the others on our list, it is still a great example of realism.

The combat system in Modern Warfare is where the game’s realism really shines, with stances affecting stats and providing bonuses, and no armor or health items.

The game’s real-world inspiration makes it feel even more authentic: you get to battle in real locations against enemies modeled after real military units from different countries.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (2014)

Date of Initial Release: 2014; Developer: The Astronauts; Windows, Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch are all compatible.

A case wasn’t the reason Paul Prospero came to Red Creek Valley, Wisconsin. He showed up after receiving a fan letter from 12-year-old Ethan Carter.

However, when he gets there, he learns that not only Ethan, but his whole family, has vanished. Bodies start piling up as Prospero searches for clues around town, and it looks like time may be running out for Ethan Carter…

This open-world horror game has been praised for its beautiful atmosphere.

The stunning visuals, open world layout, and total lack of heads-up display (HUD) or hints all contribute to the sensation of being completely on one’s own in this quiet mining town.

Red Dead Redemption II

A masterclass in gaming with the most realistic graphics, RDR2 is the sequel to the record-breaking Red Dead Redemption and one of the best-selling games of all time. The sheer scope of this game makes it one of the most realistic available.

Every plant, animal, and human in RDR2 is distinct and looks as real as anything you would see in the real world, making it a western epic set in one of the most ambitious open-world environments ever created.

In terms of realism, Red Dead Redemption 2 is still up there with the best of them, and it has been since its release.

It makes sense that Red Dead Redemption 2 is the first of several Rockstar games to be included here. The production company, with locations all over the world, is famous all over the world for its photorealistic computer-generated sets.

Rockstar’s strategy for its open worlds, such as New Hanover, is to create an animation for absolutely everything.

What this means is that each individual element of the scene, such as a flower, cloud, or bird’s wing, has its own animation to ensure that it moves in its own unique way, just as it would in the real world.

Rockstar also employs a clever strategy in RDR2: the player’s avatar will be affected by their actions and the events around them.

If you walk through a puddle, your shoes will get muddy. If you go to the pub late at night and order the stew, your duster will be stained for days. When you run into the same NPC multiple times, they’ll eventually give you their opinion.

Rockstar and Red Dead Redemption 2 stand out from the competition thanks to their dedication to detail.

Call of Duty Mobile

Which game has the most lifelike visuals? In particular, many people’s thoughts frequently wander to upcoming video games for next-gen consoles.

However, credit is sometimes due to developers who are able to use the limited resources of smartphone GPUs to produce a game that is more photorealistic than the vast majority of console content available.

Of course, we’re referring to Call of Duty Mobile, a first-person shooter (FPS) that has won numerous awards and serves as a shining example of how far iOS games have come and how many of the best games can now be found on mobile.

This online first-person shooter takes full advantage of modern smartphones’ powerful hardware to produce stunning visuals.

Control

We can all see in Control (2019), a sleeper hit from a Finnish game studio that is emerging as something of a cult classic, that even supernatural stories can be transformed into realistic games.

The action takes place in the mysterious Federal Bureau of Control, an entire universe of telekinetic monsters and terrifying phenomena housed in a windowless skyscraper in Manhattan.

You have to search this building from the 1950s using your telekinetic abilities to dismantle it piece by piece.

Once again, the game’s emphasis on immersion into a one-of-a-kind setting is evident in the way that every bootprint on the gleaming marble floors adds to the sense of realism.

An innovative technique called ray tracing uses rendering algorithms to digitally reproduce light and shadow in hyperrealistic ways, making this game one of the most realistic ever made.

Using ray tracing to add texture to the brutalist surroundings and shine to the metallic surfaces of the FBC, Control is one of only a handful of games in 2022 to have used this technique to bring a photorealistic environment to life.

Cyberpunk 2077

Given the massive problems faced by players and the overworked devs of this notoriously buggy game, this entry may come across as controversial.

People who play Cyberpunk on a high-end gaming PC or a next-gen console, however, will experience the fully realized and photorealistic version of the city of the future that the designers envisioned.

When everything is running smoothly, Sky City is a sight to behold. Cyberpunk is one of the most realistic games we’ve ever played because it features a future of urban life that is both fantastical and uncannily plausible.

Cyberpunk 2077 — from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Last of Us: Part Two

When we thought the first one was unbeatable, the sequel came out and promptly won every gaming award there was and sparked a bidding war for the film rights. It’s no surprise that The Last of Us Part 2 contains the same fantastic elements as the first film.

The world has abruptly and horribly ended, and now it is inhabited by fungus-infected zombies, hauntingly believable characters, and unforgettable landscapes.

The sequel’s unprecedented level of realism is what sets it apart from the rest. The atmosphere of this stealthy survival horror is heightened by the fact that the visuals and the world they depict are unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.

Naughty Dog, the studio responsible for this series, is quickly becoming a formidable rival to Rockstar thanks to its dedication to producing only the most photorealistic video games.

All of the cutscenes in TLOU2 are performed by real actors, thanks to the game’s extensive use of motion capture technology.

Naughty Dog, meanwhile, relocated to Seattle (where the game is set) and spent months there before development began, capturing every building and surface to ensure the most accurate representation of the city possible.

Forza Horizon 5

While many driving games have attempted the “realistic” route, only a select few have been truly satisfying.

Finding the sweet spot between intense racing, photorealistic visuals, and realistic driving mechanics that are not too complex requires the work of some very skilled programmers.

The developers of Forza Horizon 5, which so expertly juggles all of these elements, clearly had no shortage of talent. Make sure this is the first racing game you ever play.

The majority of us will never again have the opportunity to race a modified Bugatti around an active volcano, so this is our best chance.

FH5’s ability to render breathtaking real-world racing environments at close and far ranges while your car does 200 mph sets it apart from rival titles.

Playground Games accomplishes this by collecting as much data as possible about individual objects through the use of a technique called photogrammetry, which entails recording, measuring, and interpreting photographic images and patterns of electromagnetic radiant imagery.

Thanks to the developers’ painstaking attention to detail, this game ranks among the most realistic of its kind.

What Game Has the Best Graphics Ever?

All the games on our list have impressive visuals, but Red Dead Redemption 2 takes the cake right now.

The game’s breathtaking landscapes are both unique and highly realistic thanks to the developer’s insistence on basing their Wild West on real places rather than on those depicted in films, artwork, or other games. The game’s screenshots alone are enough to convince anyone that it has the best graphics of all time.

FAQs

How Does A Game Graphics Engine Work?

A game engine’s features typically consist of a graphics engine for rendering 2D and/or 3D graphics, a physics engine for simulating physics or simply doing collision detection, animation support, sounds, AI, networking, memory management, file management, thread management, scene graph and entity support, and script support.

What Is The Heaviest Game Right Now?

With the release of Modern Warfare, Call of Duty takes the title of heaviest game of all time. This is due to the game’s demanding graphics, which prevent it from running smoothly on older consoles.

What Is The Heaviest Mobile Game?

It had a Genshin Effect. As you explore the world and encounter new characters and dangerous foes, you gain experience and level up. You’ll need more than 12 GB of free space to get this game in its entirety, and that number could grow with the inevitable influx of DLC and other content.

Over To You

And that wraps it up! List of the ten most authentic video games. Checking out these books should provide some welcome relief from the pressures of everyday life, so we wish you the best of luck. Joyful recreation, I hope!