Top Technologically Impressive Games of the Year
Each year, the experts at Digital Foundry come together to discuss the most technologically impressive games released. In a comprehensive 108-minute conversation, John Linneman, Alex Battaglia, and Oliver Mackenzie reveal their honorable mentions and top ten list of standout titles. However, the focus always comes down to the top three games, sparking intense debates on which game truly deserves the top spot.
Star Wars Outlaws Takes Third Place
Star Wars Outlaws secures the third spot on the list for its exceptional portrayal of the ‘lived in’ Star Wars universe within the gaming realm. Powered by Ubisoft Massive’s cutting-edge Snowdrop engine, the game showcases remarkable technological feats such as RT reflections, diffuse global illumination, and RT shadows. Despite the limited ray tracing hardware available on consoles, Star Wars Outlaws manages to deliver a visually stunning experience. Moreover, the PC version offers a path tracing alternative (RTXDI) for higher-end hardware, further enhancing the game’s visual appeal.
Top Games Discussion Timestamps:
- 0:00:00 Introduction
- 0:01:58 Honourable mentions
- 0:20:46 Dragon’s Dogma 2
- 0:26:35 Riven
- 0:30:32 Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- 0:37:24 Silent Hill 2
- 0:48:50 Astro Bot
- 0:54:32 Penny’s Big Breakaway
- 0:58:05 Black Myth: Wukong
- 1:08:49 Top Three Games Comparison
Debate Between Hellblade 2 and Indiana Jones
The top two spots are fiercely contested between Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. While Hellblade 2 excels in gameplay, the focus here is on graphics. Hellblade 2 impresses with its astounding character animations and virtual camera, creating environments that mimic real-life footage. Despite its limited scope compared to Indiana Jones, Hellblade 2 delivers a consistent and visually striking experience. It is notable for its scalability, running smoothly on a variety of platforms.
Ultimately, the team agrees on awarding Indiana Jones and the Great Circle with the title of ‘graphics of the year.’ The game stands out for its exceptional quality and quantity of objects and environments, coupled with the effective use of RT global illumination across all console versions. Its ability to maintain a solid 60fps on all platforms further solidifies its position as a top contender.
While Hellblade 2 showcases remarkable achievements, Indiana Jones pushes the boundaries further by integrating hardware-accelerated RT and ‘full RT’ upgrades, accessible even on high-end hardware like an RTX 4070.
For a more in-depth discussion on the top games, make sure to watch the full video or listen to the podcast where the team dives into a variety of games!