Top 5 best-looking games for mobile (2023)
The mobile gaming space is a treasure trove of gorgeous visuals and stunning artwork, whether they're hardcore RPGs or narrative-driven tearjerkers. And whilst many will espouse the view that “looks aren’t important” and it’s “only the gameplay that matters”, we’re going to set out to prove that spectacular art design, elegant lighting, and gorgeous environments, can be just as essential to a game’s performance as the way it actually plays.
These are just five of the most visually appealing games that take aesthetics to a whole new level.
1
UNDECEMBER
When it comes to graphical rendering, UNDECEMBER is an impressive showcase of truly high-quality visuals embellished with smooth animations and gorgeous character design. The action role-playing game boasts jaw-dropping cut scenes that transition into equally jaw-dropping gameplay sequences, with thrilling hack-and-slash combat that should properly feed any adrenaline junkie.
The first few scenes alone, for instance, thrust players aboard a Sand Walker - a majestic beast that carries your camp across the vast desert - and you'll have to fight invading Dimps as well as take down the enemy's gargantuan mount to survive. All these are presented with detailed visuals that immerse players deeper into the game's lore.
If you’d like to discover more reasons to give UNDECEMBER a try, be sure to check out our reasons to play coverage for this stunning RPG.
2
Sumire
This emotional narrative adventure follows the tale of a young girl in a Japanese mountain village as she meets an enchanted flower and discovers what it means to have the perfect day. Players go through the town and interact with everything from childhood crushes to sad scarecrows.
The visuals feature a lovely painterly effect that add a surreal and almost dreamlike vibe to the whole game, which perfectly complements the emotional impact of the tearjerker story. Every scene honestly feels like it can be used as a desktop wallpaper, as Sumire herself evokes nostalgic feelings that will have players reeling by the time the credits roll.
If you’d like to find out more about Sumire then be sure to check out our review; we promise you it’s worth it.
3
Tears of Themis
This romance detective game puts players in the shoes of an unnamed female protagonist as she interacts with four male leads and solves cases around the futuristic city of Stellis. It might feel like an unconventional addition to this list, but each card you collect depicts lovely scenes between the female protagonist and the male lead - not to mention the various locales you visit to solve cases also boast beautifully designed spaces and interiors.
Higher rarity cards also boast Live2D animations that make them look even more stunning - a quality you can expect from HoYoverse (of Genshin Impact fame).
Tears of Themis’ jaw dropping designs and beautiful score are just a few aspects of this spectacular game which contributed to its Platinum Rating when we reviewed it last year.
4
Figure Fantasy
This mobile RPG takes gacha collecting to a new level with its unique rendering and lighting effects that make characters look like actual miniature figurines in real life. The world of the game itself is set in a miniature scale where toys have come to life, and the impressive visuals immerse players into this tiny world even more with the way these figurines are presented.
Each figurine boasts a very specific scale, brand and specs like an actual toy would, and pulling them from the summons pool feels like opening a blind box IRL. Players can collect these miniatures and put them on display on a virtual shelf to complete the experience.
Besides being incredibly beautiful to look at, Figure Fantasy also brings a refreshing take to the idle-RPG genre, which you can discover more about with our review of the game.
5
Far: Lone Sails
This gorgeous title set in a bleak post-apocalyptic world proves that simple is best, even when it comes to visuals. The minimalist aesthetics add to the overall atmosphere of the game, as players chug along the ruins of the world aboard their steam-powered ship.
The game tells a story without a single word, and the vast nothingness is punctuated by the very limited use of colour here - only certain items are highlighted in bright orange or red across a grey background. If you're curious about it, you can have a look at our review of the game for a little sneak peek.