20 Mobile Games With The Best Graphics
Most would agree that technology has gone too far too quickly, but it is all for good. In 2010, the best ways to play with decent resolution and good graphics were to own a 360, PC, or PS3. Fast-forward to the 2020s, and people can enjoy games that run on a higher resolution and have better visuals on their mobile devices. In the last five years, gaming on mobile phones has gotten drastically better and mass-consumed.
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The rise of 5G has made the multiplayer aspect of these apps more accessible, while the bump in hardware has made them close to the so-called console quality. Let’s take a look at the best-looking mobile games one can play in 2021. (For the sake of similitude, we’ll only be looking at the games that offer 3D graphics).
Updated on April 5, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: When people talk about gaming platforms with impressive graphics, the last thing that comes to mind is a mobile phone. After all, the small and compact nature of this device would lead to many people assuming that only low-end games have a chance of functioning properly on this platform… but that isn’t necessarily the case.
The following titles make it pretty clear that even mobiles can have games with amazing graphics if developers decide to push the hardware of these systems to the very limit.
20
Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolation is an incredible horror game that combines elements of an immersive to make for a truly engaging experience. Given how beautiful this title looks, many fans were surprised to know that this game actually works on mobile platforms!
Of course, a pretty beefy phone is required to run this game properly, but players who have a good phone can play Alien: Isolation on the go with ease. It’s a great game, even if the smaller screen may reduce the impact of some of the scares in this game.
19
Black Desert Mobile
Black Desert is a popular MMO that is quite advanced and a blast to play through. The character creation of this title is legendary and translates pretty well to mobile devices, allowing players to create the character of their choice and immerse themselves in this massive fantasy world.
Black Desert Mobile has all the trappings of an MMORPG that one would expect, making it a great title to sink a ton of hours into. Phone players who want a game to scratch their MMO itch will be pretty well-serviced with the gameplay loop of Black Desert Online, with its graphics being pretty impressive a well
18
Dead Cells
Dead Cells is a game that got a ton of promotion courtesy of IGN’s notorious plagiarism controversy, so it’s great that the game itself is a blast to play through in its own right. The game combines elements of roguelike, Metroidvania, and Soulslike gameplay to make for a delectable and engaging combination.
Dead Cells is available on mobile platforms and looks gorgeous courtesy of its unique art style. It’s recommended to use a controller since precise input is downright necessary to get through this tough-as-nails experience. Players who are patient and slowly learn how the game works will be mowing through enemies in no time at all!
17
Life Is Strange
Life is Strange is a great story-driven video game that is a blast to play through, with its characters and story being quite engaging indeed. The ability to rewind time is a godsend, allowing players to make decisions that are more thought-out and less impulsive.
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Given the importance of every decision in Life is Strange, it’s easy to see why players will be rewinding time more often than not. This game is great for mobile users, allowing them to start up this great-looking game and get a few minutes of gameplay in no time flat.
16
Telltale’s The Walking Dead
Telltale’s The Walking Dead is a title that not many people would think of when it comes to graphical fidelity. However, a game’s visuals are dependent on the art style as well, and The Walking Dead’s cel-shaded look helps it look amazing even now!
The story of Lee and Clementine as they struggle to survive in a world overrun by zombies is a riveting tale with an emotional conclusion. Players will find all the decisions in the game to be particularly nerve-wracking, which makes sense given the chilling setting of this title.
15
ARK: Survival Evolved
It’s only a given for big-budget titles that release on a bunch of modern platforms including mobile to bag a spot on this list. ARK: Survival Evolved definitely fits in this category.
The visuals are down-scaled for mobile but still look pretty great. This, coupled with the fun survival gameplay, makes for a great time indeed that fans of the genre will have an amazing time with.
14
Real Racing 3
It’s amazing what Real Racing has accomplished for the sim racing community. Its accessibility on mobile platforms has let many people access this niche yet exciting genre, where precision is key to securing victory.
Real Racing 3 is the latest game in the series and looks absolutely spectacular on mobile devices. The fact that this game is still regularly updated to this day despite coming out a long time back shows just how active its community really is.
13
Fortnite
Fortnite is a game that pretty much everyone has heard of by now. This free-to-play battle royale has become all the rage, with its high-profile collaborations and intense gameplay turning it into one of the biggest multiplayer games around.
The game has had a bit of a rocky history with mobile platforms, but its bright and appealing art style makes it a great candidate for this list. Even on mobile, the game looks brilliant and is worth trying out for any fan of battle royale games.
12
Asphalt 9: Legends
It seems that most racing games on mobile platforms really push the bar when it comes to visuals in video games. This can be seen in the Asphalt series, which is easily one of the most popular arcade racers on mobile.
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The latest game, Asphalt 9: Legends, looks simply incredible. It’s hard to believe that such a good-looking game is somehow running on mobile devices!
11
GRID Autosport
Anyone who has played GRID Autosport can confirm it is a PC/Console game. So the sheer fact that gamers can enjoy this on handheld devices like iPhone and Android phones is quite unbelievable. Not only does GRID Autosport look good, but it plays like a proper semi-simulator racing game.
The quality of this game is unparalleled to many other racing games on mobiles, which is what makes it stand apart. The best handheld version of GRID Autosport is the one for the iPad Pro, as it runs on high resolution with 120 FPS.
10
Battle Prime
This Epic Modern FPS for mobile devices is one of the best-looking games players can enjoy right now. From the outside, Battle Prime looks similar to Call of Duty. After all, it offers similar gameplay mechanics, maps, and multiplayer modes.
However, the third-person perspective and extremely fluid animations are better than many mobile shooter games. Battle Prime has a colorful, bright, but unmemorable style. Although that doesn’t mean it looks bad. This game takes the cake when it comes to visual variety and environments. Battle Prime offers snowy areas, urban jungles, deep forests, and desert maps.
9
Layers Of Fear
Layers of Fear is a pretty decent Psychological horror single-player game on major platforms. However, on mobiles, it has an edge unlike any. Most gamers would know that it is not easy to find a good horror game on Android or iOS, which is the gap Layers of Fear fills.
The mobile version offers a similar experience to the main game, with predictable graphical downgrades. However, even after being visually inferior to the Windows version, Layers of Fear manages to look excellent on mobiles. The best part about the game is its environment, which is extremely chilling due to how good it looks.
8
XCOM 2 Collection
Who would’ve thought that the cult-classic turn-based tactics game XCOM would make its way to mobiles? The XCOM 2 Collection is a console game made to work on mobiles and iPad. It has everything that makes the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows versions good, including but not limited to the graphics.
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The fans of the series know XCOM 2 Collection is one of the best turn-based tactics & tactical role-playing games one can play. The fact that it is on mobile only makes it more accessible. XCOM 2 Collection can last up to 70+ hours of playtime, and for a $15 price, it is a steal.
7
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact took the world by storm as it became one of the most-played mobile games ever. But the action role-playing gameplay isn’t the only thing fans love about it. This incredibly beautiful game is popular for its anime-like visual style and colorful and bright graphics.
It also stands apart from many other games on this list due to its distinct but repetitive gameplay. Genshin Impact is just the right app for anyone who wants a free yet polished game to play. The best part about Genshin Impact is the fact that it is not only free but incredibly lengthy. According to howlongtobeat.com, this game can take 211 hours to complete.
6
Journey
When Journey first came out on PS3, it quickly became one of the looking games on the system. Over the years, Journey made its way to platforms such as PS4, Windows, and eventually mobiles without losing the iconic visuals.
Since Journey is an indie adventure game, it focuses on doing more with less. Its visuals make it look like a minimal yet beautiful game. It doesn’t imitate other titles and paves its path in the unique dunes of video games. As of now, Journey is a decade-old game, and the fact that it is still one of the best-looking games is truly remarkable.
5
The House Of Da Vinci 2
Mobile is a hub of puzzle adventure video games, and The House of Da Vinci 2 takes that genre to a new level. Developer Blue Brain Games is known for its impressive adventure puzzle titles, and with this game, they reinvent it further.
The House of Da Vinci 2 has everything good about the first game and a visual style that’s extremely detailed. In the game, players will wander off solving puzzles in an environment that appears close to console quality. Apart from the visuals, there’s also a great story that players will love to unfold as they progress further.
4
NBA 2K21
NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition is the best sports game one can find on iPad and iPhones. The reason for that is the overall quality of the game, modes, and details. While the Arcade Edition isn’t close to the graphics on PS5, it still manages to look damn good.
Android users can play the NBA 2K Mobile Basketball Game, which is the iPhone version’s counterpart. The best part about NBA 2K21 is that it is free on both devices.
3
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom
Anybody who has played the original SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom can vouch for the fact that it is a fun game. But apart from its gameplay, this title is also very good-looking, especially on mobiles.
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SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom is a 3rd person classic, full of colorful visuals and a thoughtful design. It is needless to say that anyone who is a fan of SpongeBob SquarePants will adore this amazing little mobile game for its attention to detail.
2
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Lastly, there’s Divinity: Original Sin 2, an RPG made for Windows that has somehow found its way on handheld devices. Since it was originally a PC exclusive, Divinity: Original Sin 2 offers gameplay full of details. It’s a good PC game that runs extremely well on iPad Pro 2018 and later.
While the game loses part of its crisp textures from PC, it is still a great-looking title on iOS. Moreover, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is over 100 hours long and makes for a perfect travel companion.
1
The First Tree
As a short little bonus, here’s The First Tree. This game isn’t a fox simulator but rather a comprehensive story-driven adventure. In the game, players will control a fox as they unveil the mystery of the breathtaking forest.
The variety of visuals this game offers speaks of its atmospheric brilliance. It’s a must-play for anyone who’s hunting for a good-looking good game on mobile.
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