Pixels sure looked good in 2024, didn't they? We've been a few years removed from all of AAA just having to focus on realism in graphics, and the results of that have been awesome. The art direction from those big and small has been stellar, with 2024 being no different.
Here are the nominees for TechRaptor's 2024 Best Visual Design for outstanding, cohesive aesthetic.
- Astro Bot
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Neva
- Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
Check out here for our other award categories.
Third Place - Neva
Developer: Nomada Studio | Release Date: October 15th, 2024
Written by Andrew Otton
To this day, Gris remains one of the most beautiful games ever made (winning this award in 2018), so it's no surprise to see the next game from Nomada Studio on this list either.
Neva is full of beautiful hand-drawn art and animations that place you in a fantastical world inspired in large part by Studio Ghibli works. It is striking, evocative, and uses clean lines and clear flat images to make it easy to see exactly what's on the screen.
It feels cliche to make this statement, but every frame of Neva feels like its own piece of unique, gorgeous art. That is an incredible feat, as when that phrase is used for something like film, the creator controls the camera. Here, we get to shift focus and move around at will. So it's quite the testament that Nomada was able to make every piece of Neva so enrapturing.
Second Place - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Developer: Square Enix | Release Date: February 29th, 2024
Written by Robert Scarpinito
Final Fantasy VII Remake set the stage for an incredible retelling of a legendary JRPG, dutifully recreating Midgard in amazing detail. However, everyone knew the next steps beyond Midgard would be vast; would Rebirth be able to to live up to the hype?
Square Enix delivered, bringing its world to life in stunning beauty, lush colors, and vibrant environments. Green plains, rocky canyons, dusty deserts, all populated with lived-in towns that dot the landscape. And if you've entered and explored Gold Saucer, I don't need to tell just how breathtaking and overwhelming that place is.
The character models are also worth noting here. Cloud and the rest of the party, along with Sephiroth, all look and feel as iconic as they did in the '90s, but with modern-day details and flourishes. They have flair, and their character models are easily among the best in this semi-realistic animated style.
Winner - Metaphor: ReFantazio
Developer: Atlus | Release Date: October 11th, 2024
Written by Austin Suther
Is Metaphor: Refantazio a graphically impressive game? No, not particularly. So why, then, did it win best visual design? Running on the same engine as Persona 5 and Catherine, it’s a dated engine, no doubt. It’s what Studio Zero does with those limitations that’s impressive.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a masterclass in UI design. It has a visual flair to it that only Atlus games seem to capture. Its Renaissance-esque style fits its vibrant and magical setting.
Character portraits are another highlight; they are incredibly well-drawn and bring Metaphor’s cast of characters to life, making up for what the graphics lack.
Take a look at some of Metaphor’s “Human” designs, too, and you’ll see inspiration from Hieronymus Bosch, a real-life painter. The designs translate wonderfully into the game and create an unmatched and undeniably distinguished style.