The 15 Most Graphically Demanding PC Games, Ranked

For PC gamers, the most graphically demanding PC games mean keeping up with the ever-improving graphics card benchmarks to get better frame rates and closer to 4k video quality.

Better graphics and more addictive gameplay are part and parcel of how gaming progresses each year with new titles and DLCs.

Now that ray tracing technology is becoming normal for games, the quality of graphics has surpassed the previously known standards with nearly every release.

Some games will require the best graphics cards and processing capabilities as well to run them in ultra-graphics settings.

From realistic reflections to outstanding effects, the most graphically demanding games provide an immersive audio-visual experience bar none.

We have compiled a list of games that provide truly outstanding graphics outputs. While some of these games are new, others are remastered versions of older releases.

Note that they are not ranked as per game reviews but instead according to the sheer amount of raw graphics processing power required to run them in their top settings.

Top 15 Most Graphically Demanding PC Games Now!

15. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

• Release Date: 19th May 2015
• Developers: CD Projekt Red, Fuero Games

Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is considered one of the most graphic-intensive games released in early 2015 and is a worthy entrant into this list.

Witcher 3 delivers an exhilarating fantasy role-playing experience with a vast open-world and excellent combat scenarios.

The central storyline can become aggravating as it primarily focuses on Geralt running errands for others in exchange for information on the whereabouts of Jennifer and Ciri.

That aside, you do get an ample number of side missions, monster lairs, and bandit camps to play, full of rich content.

But while most other games end up repeating the action sequences, Wild Hunt will nearly always have something new up its sleeve even after 100 hours on it.

The game has dense RPG mechanics and a massive open-world environment. The expanse of this open-world game covers mountains, grasslands, villages, rivers, lakes, snow, and more. This game will give your GPU a serious workout.

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 8 (8.1) or 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD CPU AMD FX-8350 4 GHz
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i7 3770 3.4 GHz
• Memory: 8 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GPU GeForce GTX 770 / AMD GPU Radeon R9 290
• Storage Space: 35 GB

14. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

• Release Date: 2nd October 2018
• Developers: Ubisoft Quebec

For a game set in ancient Greece, Assassins Creed Odyssey is considered perhaps the best yet from the franchise.

This epic action-packed role-playing game provides a grand adventure with a wonderful graphical background.

With perhaps the largest open-world for gaming, the gaming experience on offer is monumental but so are the hardware requirements.

Odyssey is placed around 400 BC, during the Peloponnesian war between Sparta and Athens. You play as the son/daughter of a Spartan warrior blessed with a broken spear of the legendary Leonidas.

Battle through the layers of conspiracies infiltrating both proud factions and explore the magnificently crafted sprawling open-world.

The game stretches to over 100 hours based only on the central storyline involving sailing and fighting.

The world of Odyssey is richly vibrant and colorful. Much of the gameplay takes place in the blue waters of the Aegean Sea with jaw-dropping beauty.

Even after completing the primary gameplay, there is a staggering amount of content left to explore. The game sets a new bar for future Assassins Creed games.

Minimum System Requirements

• OS: 64-bit Windows 8.1 or 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Ryzen 1700X @ 3.8 GHz
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i7 7700 @ 4.2 GHz
• Memory: 16 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 / AMD Vega 64 
• Storage Space: 48 GB

13. Wolfenstien: Youngblood

• Release Date: 25th July 2019
• Developers: Ubisoft Quebec

Wolfenstien Youngblood is among the most GPU-intensive games released yet. The story begins with two daughters searching for their father in a Nazi-occupied Paris based in the 1980s.

The game has some aggravating boss fights which might send you 15 minutes back if your avatar dies.

You respawn at the nearest checkpoint with the same amount of ammo that you previously finished with, not with what you had before.

Ammo search takes center stage as a major part of the gameplay, something lacking in most other first-person shooter games.

With side missions aplenty, you can easily expect this game to stretch beyond the 80-hour mark. 

Graphics outputs are rich and dense. A vastly detailed world and its magnitude of rendered reflections may need increased clock speeds from your GPU at the higher settings.

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 8.1 or 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Ryzen 5 1600X @ 3.8 GHz
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i7 4770 @ 4.2 GHz
• Memory: 16 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon RX 580, 6GB
• Storage Space: 40 GB

12. Shadow of the Tomb Raider

• Release Date: 12 September 2019
• Developers: Eidos Montreal

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the most ambitious game in the Trilogy with a bigger world and a new avatar for Lara Croft.

It is among the most demanding PC games around, incorporating ray tracing tech. The details on display are stunning, which provides a better sense of reality.

The gameplay extends to a little over 25 hours and offers blatantly horror-based action sequences, adventure, and introspective stories.

It focuses more on raiding and less on gunfights than its predecessors. The puzzle-based story missions and 9 challenge tombs are quite difficult.

You will have to think of new ideas to get past challenges. The game is brimming with non-player characters, which give more life to it.

This Tomb Raider iteration is a perfect combination of the Indiana Jones-style gameplay with blockbuster action sequences.

It will take you through some of the amazing action sequences such as plane crash, falling temple ruins, trapped in heavy current and treacherous pathways – demanding a lot of raw GPU and CPU power for 45+ fps gameplay.

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Ryzen 5 1600X @ 3.8 GHz
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i7 4770 @ 4.2 GHz
• Memory: 16 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon RX 480, 8 GB
• Storage Space: 40 GB

11. Far Cry 5

• Release Date: 27th March 2018
• Developers: Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Toronto

The events of Far Cry 5 take place in a fictional county in Montana, United States. The entire plot revolves around a doomsday cult, the Eden’s Gate.

The leader of this cult has everything under his control and the player is a part of the resistance trying to overthrow this rule.

It is another extensive open-world game with a lot of freedom of action. The gameplay of Far Cry 5 is a mix of all previous installments of this game and provides a wide range of weapon choices and transport mediums.

There’s so much going on that you might even get distracted from the primary mission at hand.

Graphics quality is by far the best in this series and if you want to play at ultra-high settings, you may need the best graphics card as well as enough cooling power.

The game provides a high number of battle arenas and features realistic video quality.

From taming animals to firing machine guns, enjoy the minutely crafted details given you have enough raw processing power.

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Ryzen 7 1700X @ 3.4 GHz
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i7 6700K @ 4.0 GHz
• Memory: 16 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 / AMD RX Vega 56
• Storage Space: 45 GB

10. Resident Evil 3 Remake

• Release Date: 3rd April 2020
• Developers: Capcom

The events of Resident Evil 3 take place at the same time as Resident Evil 2. Jill Valentine is called upon by the Umbrella corporation to help save inhabitants of a demolished city from the T-virus outbreak.

The rescue slides off course and Jill is surrounded by zombies from all corners as well as the threat of an invulnerable monster nemesis.

The gameplay doesn’t allow interaction with surroundings with an on-the-edge tense threat of zombies.

There is a useful item laying in every room. Every object has a purpose. Side objectives seem easy, but a sudden zombie attack will keep you ever vigilant.

Graphical representation of flood, fire, and guns has greatly improved as well as the high-octane action sequences.

The sheer number of objects and details will make your GPU work harder so keep an eye out for the temperatures.

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD FX 6300
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i5 4460
• Memory: 16 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 760 / AMD Radeon R7 260 X
• Storage Space: 45 GB

9. Doom Eternal

• Release Date: 20th March 2020
• Developers: Id Software

Doom Eternal retains the wild high-speed gameplay while delivering a more even combat flow compared to its 2016 predecessor.

The game is loaded with more strategy and possible graphics oomph, this is one of the most graphics demanding PC games around.

Doom Eternal is not for everyone under the sun with a lot of blood and gore. But this new iteration features some unique prowess in single-player gaming.

The game becomes easier to play once you have developed a finesse for precision attacks in the heat of combat. Chainsaw kills provide you with a lot of ammo, which gives you greater mobility while killing marauders.

Combat sequences are fascinating with a lot of details flying by every second. This fast-action game can churn out some seriously high frames per second. The excellently refined shootouts and their impact along with jump sequences provide an outstanding graphical killing spree.

Doom Eternal can punish your GPU badly unless it’s the right one.

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Ryzen 7 1800X
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i7 6700
• Memory: 16 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 8 GB / AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 8 GB
• Storage Space: 40 GB

8. Crysis Remastered

• Release Date: 18th September 2020
• Developers: Crytek

Crysis Remastered is a modified version of the 2007 Crysis game. It begins with a group of soldiers wearing nano suits and advanced attack weapons.

The game focuses on confrontation with North Korean soldiers as well as a revived alien race that attacks the US military carrier fleet.

The gameplay is the same as the 2007 Crysis. Nano suits worn by soldiers offer four different modes, each having unique advantages including armor, strength, and clocking capabilities.

Players can pick up any unmounted weapon and ammunition.

The game has remarkably improved graphics showing well-detailed bullet paths, excellent water reflections, surface graphics, and fast-paced action sequences.

With ray tracing, Crysis Remastered does feel new but with no modification to the original gameplay, a tad disappointing for fans in 2020.

Even so, this game offers some unique graphical detailing, and you will need both your GPU and CPU to dole out some serious performance.

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Ryzen 5 or higher
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i5 7600K
• Memory: 16 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti / AMD Radeon Vega 56
• Storage Space: 20 GB

7. Battlefield V

• Release Date: November 20th, 2018
• Developers: EA Digital Illusions CE AB (DICE)

Even though Battlefield V is still rated as a game under development, it is one of the best first-person shooters around.

Placed in WWII, Battlefield continues with its legacy of attrition-based combat gaming, popular among those who prefer realistic combat scenarios of the great wars.

Squad play and infantry combat come with smart tweaks, especially to gun action, feedback other than resources.

With new patches to the game, most bugs have been resolved and you do get the signature Battlefield experience in spades. The single-player campaign relies heavily on stealth – less killing more thinking.

Yet it’s the audio and the sheer graphics detailing that push Battlefield to the top. This game has some of the best audiovisual details.

Bullet sounds, impacts, and recoil are arguably rendered the most realistically than in any other FPS game.

At ultra-high settings, you can see grass blades swaying in the wind as you lie prone. But you will need a high-end graphics card for it.

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Ryzen 7 2700
• Processor (Intel): Intel Core i7 8700
• Memory: 16GB RAM
• Graphics card (NVIDIA): NVIDIA GeForce® RTX 2080
• DirectX: DirectX Ray Tracing Compatible video card
• Available Disk Space: 50GB

6. Forza Horizon 4

• Release Date: 2nd October 2018
• Developers: Playground Games

Forza Horizon 4 has everything from the popular Forza series and converts it into an open-world racing game.

Stunning visuals, a large stock of automobiles, and an extensively customizable career mode make this one arguably the best Forza around.

The gameplay is regularly updated with new challenges, shifting seasons, and a steady stream of rewards.

In-game seasons change with every week alongside a couple of season-specific challenges. Forza focuses on aspects such as racing, rally, drift, drag, and editing the current events.

Graphics and visual quality are realistically rendered. This is arguably the best racing game graphics around.

The quality of reflections, dust trails, rainfall, and water spills at high speeds make this one of the most demanding PC games you can play.

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Fx 9590
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i7 3770
• Memory: 12 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB / AMD RX 470
• Storage Space: 35 GB

5. Call Of Duty Modern Warfare: Remastered

• Release Date: 4th November 2016
• Developers: Infinity Ward, Raven Software, Beenox

Call of Duty 2 is still one of the highest played first-person shooters ever and this Remastered version hit the right chords as well.

The United States Marine Corps and Special Air Service combine forces to combat against a separatist group in the Middle East and Russia.

In the ensuing fight, a nuclear blast takes place, killing thousands of soldiers. The objective then changes to take down the person responsible for provisioning the nuclear bomb to the middle east separatist.

During the game, you will take interchangeable roles as a USMC scout and SAS cooperative. Completing missions in the middle east and Russian towns in separate events.

The game ends with the player successfully killing the separatist leader of Russia.

The graphics quality of this game has been remastered and features better colors, shading, and impact sensation during the gameplay.

Different aspects of this game have been heavily improved, as compared to its 2007 counterpart. Higher settings will drain your GPU hard so keep an eye out!

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Fx 6300
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i3 4340
• Memory: 8GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 / AMD Radeon HD 7950
• Storage Space: 80 GB

4. Control

• Release Date: 27th August 2019
• Developers: Remedy Entertainment

Control provides an engaging world with incredible psychic control. The sharp storyline and variable psychic combat abilities add to the overall meaning of this game.

Control features some outstanding visuals and impact animations.

The game quickly reveals its nature and provides you with supernatural powers, much like those of Jean Foster.

Telekinesis abilities of the enemies prompt a constant movement to safeguard yourself from their counter-attacks. There is a large variety of moves and strategies that can be used during the 30+ hours of gameplay. 

Graphics, visuals, and impact actions are next-gen. At high graphics settings, this is one of the most demanding games to run on PCs.

Ray tracing technology makes each visual mind-blowing with details to light reflection and objects impact.

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i5 7600K
• Memory: 16 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 / AMD RX 480
• Storage Space: 45 GB

3. Metro Exodus

• Release Date: 15th February 2019
• Developers: 4A Games

Launched in early 2019, Metro Exodus is among the long line of modern combat games that focuses on the follow on events on Metro: Last Light. The game features a group of people trying to survive in a nuclear war-ravaged Moscow.

The gameplay features an open-world environment allowing exploration, which will take you to dark undergrounds while scouring enemy camps and abandoned houses for precious resources.

Survive and weather storms and a continuously tense environment. Combat is high-octane and fast-paced – you are either alive or dead before you know it. But the major takeaway is the hand-crafted world details.

Where Exodus lacks in sheer world size, it makes up for minor details, breathtaking visuals, and ultra-realistic lighting.

From snow-blanketed sprawls off urban decay to sand-swept deserts and lush forests, each terrain is filled with deadly mutant animals and humans, friendlies, and hostile.

Dare to clock it in its higher graphics settings. This is one of the hardest games to run on PC.

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Fx 8370
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i5 4440
• Memory: 8 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 / AMD Radeon HD 4870
• Storage Space: 45 GB

2. Tom Clancy’s Division 2

• Release Date: 7th February 2019
• Developers: Massive Entertainment

Tom Clancy’s Division 2 is one of the most graphics-intensive games around. And it has everything from a well-planned game progression, excellent combative gunplay, rewarding bounties, and beautiful worlds.

The plotline continues from the original post-pandemic story of Division 1 other than the combat difficulty.

Enemies react much more intuitively and unless you have played the first part, Division 2 can kill you a couple of times early on.

The open world is filled with chests and collectives, which promotes exploration. 

Graphics are immersive, to say the least. Washington DC is outstanding, open grids and iconic monuments overrun by vines are crisply detailed.

Visual and lighting quality are ultra-realistic with original objects complemented by an improved graphics rendering engine.

But you will need raw GPU processing power if you want to enjoy the excellent graphics on offer without undermining your FPS experience.

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Ryzen 7 1700
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i7 4790
• Memory: 16 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 / AMD Radeon Vega 56
• Storage Space: 45 GB

1. Red Dead Redemption 2

• Release Date: 26th October 2018
• Developers: Rockstar Studios

Red Dead Redemption 2 is undoubtedly the most graphically demanding PC game right now, a sprawling tale of loyalty and conviction providing the most authentic and lively open-world yet.

RDR2 is a gaming experience par excellence. A far stretch from rampant FPS shooting, you live the life of a cowboy in a vast open world where you can do nearly anything.

The sheet amount of simulated activities you can perform other than the attrition you need to level up and complete even the most basic tasks makes this game an epic.

And it has the graphics oomph to keep you engrossed as well.

Red Dead 2 is beautiful, larger, and more varied than the previous iteration. Snowy mountain peaks, alligator-infested swamps, thick forests and open plateaus, streams, lakes, caves including, modern cities and wooden villages – this is the most meticulously crafted and rich game world around.

The vast assortment of ecosystems and environments make Red Dead 2 the most graphically demanding game.

Make sure you have the right GPU, or this game will melt through it!

Minimum System Requirement

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
• Processor (Intel): Intel CPU Core i7 4770
• Memory: 12 GB
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB / AMD Radeon RX 480
• Storage Space: 150 GB

FAQs

Conclusion

Graphics rendered by the game engine is a derivative of your in-game display settings. To run any game at the best possible graphics quality, you may need the latest generation graphics card compatible with your personal computer. You can alternatively build a new PC with the latest GPU, RAM, and processor. Using a 144Hz IPS monitor with high color depth will provide the best visual experience.

Know that just having the best graphics card and display will not cut it. You will need at least an Intel i9 or a similar Ryzen processor to complement and GTX 1080 or higher GPU. If you have that part covered, enjoy the most graphically demanding games you can play in 2020!