10 Games That Make the Most of Your Graphics Card
«Graphics Reinvented»
By IGN Staff
Posted: Apr 17, 2020 5:30 pm
It’s 2020, and video game graphics keep getting better and better. For PC gamers, that means keeping up with an ever-improving standard for machines, especially when it comes to high frame rates in 4K and the ever sought after ray tracing. So we’ve compiled a list of games that not only look great on consoles or low-spec PCs, but completely dazzle when cranked up to ultra settings.
Note, the ranking here was chosen not on a games review score, but instead the sheer amount of raw graphics card power required to really allow these games to shine at max settings. To that end, here are the Top 10 games that make the most of your high-end gaming PC.
To see our list, you can either scroll down the page like normal or click through the slideshow below, paired with really pretty screenshots!
10 Games That Make the Most of Your Graphics Card
10.
Battlefield 5
Recommended Hardware: DirectX 11.1 Compatible GPU, 8GB AMD Radeon RX 580 / 6GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060
Known for its huge open, er, battlefields, Battlefield V still manages to dazzle visually, which are two aspects that combine to truly test your PC’s limits. Large open spaces with a high level of detail, combined with destructible buildings and high player counts will really test your rig. Having so many players in a space at once, all doing different things requires a lot of power, but the payoff is well worth it when it all comes together.
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9. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Recommended Hardware: AMD Radeon R9 290 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 (4GB VRAM or more with Shader Model 5.0) or better
Assassin’s Creed always gives us big, beautiful worlds, which makes for some hefty system requirements. Odyssey not only gives us stunning Greek landscapes to play around in, but a gorgeous rendition of the Mediterranean Sea to sail as well.
From the shimmering bronze and marble statues of the acropolis to the wilds of Macedonia and volcanic beaches of Anaphi, Odyssey running on max settings is one of the most beautiful games available on PC — though it’s optimized really well for lower-end rigs, too!
Every IGN Assassin’s Creed Review
8. Wolfenstein: Youngblood
Recommended Hardware: Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB (Current available GPU RTX2060) or AMD equivalent
While the leap from Wolfenstein 2: New Colossus to Youngblood didn’t change much in the way of graphics, the recent ray tracing patch applied to Youngblood puts it just a step ahead of its predecessor. Whether it’s the crystal clear reflections glistening off your gun as you take down nazis, or the sparkling puddles found throughout the war-torn streets, Youngblood never stops dazzling. Pair that with truly breathtaking explosions and glowing fires, and — with a card beefy enough — Wolfenstein: Youngblood is a sight to behold.
7.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Recommended hardware — Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 480, 8GB
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the most beautiful entry in the series yet, and its shadowy locales really make the most of a high-end rig — we mean that literally, by the way: look at these lighting effects! Yes, the recent addition of ray tracing support takes an already beautiful game and makes it even better — just watch out for leopards.
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6. Forza Horizon 4
Recommended hardware — Nvidia GTX 970 OR Nvidia GTX 1060 3GB OR AMD R9 290x OR AMD RX 470
Racing games don’t get more beautiful than Forza, and the latest entry in the Horizon series takes those cars into a gorgeous open-world take on Great Britain. Between the hundreds of expertly-rendered cars and the seasonal changes that overtake the world, Forza Horizon 4 will put your graphics card to the test — in the best way possible.
5. Resident Evil 3
Recommended hardware — Nvidia GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 480
Once considered the cutting edge of gaming visuals, Resident Evil 3 is once again leading the way with a beautiful remake that pushes machines to their limit.
The spooky streets of Raccoon City have come a long way since 1999, and are now fully realized in HD and 4K. Zombies and other monstrosities are depicted with excruciating detail, making them both incredibly scary but also seriously worth ogling every detail. Resident Evil has come a long way over the decades, and Resident Evil 3 is the stunning — and horrifying — proof.
4. Doom Eternal
Recommended hardware — Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 8GB, RTX 2060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX Vega56 8GB
Doom Eternal is finally here, and you’re going to want to check that your graphics card is up to date in order to get the best view of Hell possible. The techno-hellish surroundings are beautifully realized, and the fast and furious action as you kill creatively-designed demonic monstrosities not only looks great in 4K — and can even hit an astonishing thousand frames per second on top-of-the-line supercomputers — but it’s been optimized to run well on older hardware, too.Loading
3. Control
Recommended hardware — Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, AMD Radeon RX 580 or better (RTX 2060 for Ray-Tracing)
Control is a visual mind-bender, and while its trippy transforming hallways look great on any platform, it looks especially awesome on a powerful PC — especially with the recent upgrade for ray tracing support.
It’s one of the best showcases for how good ray tracing can look, whether in its jaw-dropping setpieces or when you’re just exploring the midcentury-modern halls of The Oldest House.
2. Red Dead Redemption 2
Recommended hardware — Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, AMD Radeon RX 480 4GB
What may well be one of the most beautiful games of the generation on any platform, Red Dead Redemption 2 features a gorgeous, wide-open Western countryside that truly looks its best on PC. With true 4K/60 capabilities, new ultra-HD textures and plenty of other updated visuals, you’ll need a serious build to take full advantage of the PC port, but we’re sure you’ll find it well worth the effort, pard’ner.Loading
1. Metro Exodus
Recommended hardware — GeForce GTX 1070, GeForce RTX 2060 / AMD RX VEGA 56
The gritty, grimy Metro series isthe most system-intensive entry in the series yet, and with good reason. With a variety of locales, from wintry urban landscapes to verdant forests and dank underground tunnels, its bleak post-apocalyptic take on Russia and eastern Europe has never looked better.
. Metro Exodus also now supports ray tracing, which makes the game even more beautiful — especially in the flickering lamplights of the underground sections. It may be the most harrowing chapter of Artyom’s journey yet — but it’s also by far the prettiest.
Interested in more Top 10’s? Check out The Best RPGs of the Last 15 Years or The Best Resident Evil Bosses of All Time!
What Does A GPU Do For Gaming? (Read THIS First)
People throw around the term “GPU” a lot when it comes to gaming, but not many people understand what it really is. Many gamers just know that a GPU is important without necessarily knowing how it impacts gameplay. So, what does a GPU actually do for gaming?
This article explains what a GPU does for gaming and why it’s so important. I’ll also explain the effects of GPU on FPS and what to look for when choosing one. Read on to learn everything you need to know about a GPU before you buy your next gaming computer!
Do You Need A GPU For Gaming?
The GPU is perhaps the most critical piece of hardware for PC gaming.
For most modern games, you definitely need a GPU in order to play them. A powerful GPU will make the gaming experience much smoother with a high frame rate.
Your computer needs to do millions of calculations to generate a 3D image. This is what’s known as pixel shading. As games have become more complex, the work of performing these calculations has moved away from the CPU and into a dedicated GPU, or graphics processing unit.
The GPU helps perform these calculations quickly, allowing the CPU to work on more complex stuff like controlling the inputs and outputs of your computer.
The reason why a CPU alone struggles with graphics is simple: microprocessors are designed to handle only one complex task at a time. Thus, a CPU is not very good at processing pixel rendering, which requires a lot of simple calculations to run simultaneously.
This is where the GPU comes in. It has thousands of cores that can handle these calculations quickly and efficiently. This allows you to enjoy seamless gameplay with high frame rates and beautiful graphics.
Does GPU Affect FPS?
A GPU affects FPS because it helps render graphics on the screen. The more powerful the GPU, the faster it’ll render graphics, resulting in a higher FPS. This means the type of GPU you have will directly impact the FPS you end up with.
FPS stands for frames per second, and is also known as the frame rate or refresh rate. The FPS will impact the user experience when gaming, as a computer with a low GPU will not be able to render an adequate FPS for a smooth gaming experience.
When choosing a GPU, you should look for one with many cores. This will allow you to run games at high resolutions and high frame rates. You should also make sure that the GPU is compatible with your motherboard and has enough memory (VRAM) to support the games you want to play.
Cooling is also important for GPUs. You should make sure that the GPU you choose has a good cooling system, otherwise it may overheat and cause lagging or even damage your computer.
Is A 4GB Graphics Card Enough For Gaming?
A 4GB graphics card can be enough for gaming if you play at a resolution of 1920×1080 or lower. However, if you want to elevate your gaming experience to the max by playing in 4K resolution or using virtual reality technology, you’ll need a graphics card with more than 4GB of VRAM.
I have used a 4GB graphics card for gaming for a while now and haven’t had many problems. I usually play games that aren’t too graphic intensive, such as League of Legends or World of Warcraft. I’ve also tried using a 6GB graphics card and I did notice a slight difference in display quality, although nothing significant enough to make a big difference.
For most titles, 4GB of VRAM will probably be sufficient. But if you want to future-proof your PC, or if you are interested in VR, then you may consider a GPU with more than just 4GB of dedicated VRAM.
Is 8GB GPU Overkill?
An 8GB GPU isn’t overkill for gaming if you want to have the best gaming experience.
I would recommend an 8GB GPU to people who play at resolutions of 2560×1440 or higher. If you’re using a virtual reality headset, then you’ll definitely need an 8GB GPU or higher.
An 8GB graphics card provides enough VRAM for most games, and it also allows for future growth. I wouldn’t recommend going with a 4GB or 6GB graphics card if you plan to use a virtual reality headset in the near future. This is because this VRAM isn’t enough to run the complex calculations needed for virtual reality gameplay.
Some GPUs come with 16GB of VRAM, and I think they’ll become the gold standard for virtual reality gaming. These GPUs provide enough VRAM for any game, and they also help future-proof your gaming rig. If you are not on a tight budget, then I recommend going with the 16GB option from the start.
What To Look For In A GPU?
The most important thing to look for when shopping for a GPU is VRAM. You want to make sure you have enough RAM to support the games you want to play.
Other factors to consider are the number of cores on the graphics card as well as its manufacturer, either AMD or Nvidia.
In addition to VRAM, you may want to consider the number of cores, as well as the type/speed of VRAM. Putting all of these factors to form a comparison can be quite challenging, so most people rely on benchmark scores to compare GPUs.
For example, User Benchmark is a popular website that allows users to test the power of their GPU. They catalogue the results and make rankings of the most powerful GPUs based on the average scores.
You’ll also want to consider your budget. There are many high-quality graphics cards out there that come in a wide price range. Sometimes, newer models are more expensive without necessarily being more powerful. So, going with an older model isn’t always a bad idea as they already have in-depth reviews and a proven track record.