Year 8 Season 1 of The Division 2 will revolve around Agents once more taking on the forces of the Black Tusk. It will bring with it new features that allow players to ramp up the level of challenge they face while also allowing Agents to get stronger as well.

As a whole, Year 8 content is slated to bring with it new special events, features, revamps, gear, weapons, as well as player-requested features like PvP-focused balance changes and content drops, cross-platform multiplayer, and the reintroduction of Classified Assignments, complete with brand new stories and missions. The Division 2 is also getting its second Incursion – the Steel Creek hydroelectric dam and power station.

The trailer also gives us more details on The Division 2: Survivors, which was announced all the way back in August 2025. The mode is slated to feature new additions and improvements, with the primary setting being a snowstorm-ravaged version of Washington DC. Game director Andrada Grecuic has noted that “the team is making good progress, focusing hard on making a systemic experience where the cold weather impacts much more than the mood. We are building Survivors with our players, and we are happy to already be doing closed testing.”

The trailer enters its final moments by teasing a brand new DLC, which is slated for release later in the year. While we didn’t quite get too many details about this DLC, the CG teaser indicated that it will revolve around someone that is hunting down SHD Agents.

Ubisoft had confirmed that it has Year 8 plans for The Division 2 back in January, with game designer Raul-Sebastian Birnoschi saying that it has planned “exciting content reveals, fresh gameplay features, and ultimate challenges.”

This month is also bringing a limited-time Realism Mode to the game, which will focus on “action-focused combat with reduced time-to-kill and realistic weapon damage based on bullet calibre,” according to creative director Yannick Banchereau. However, this mode will require players to create a brand new character, since it won’t include any of the RPG elements that The Division 2 is known for, like loot and leveling.

The Division 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. In the meantime, check out our review of the last expansion to hit the title – Battle for Brooklyn – which we gave a score of 7 out of 10 thanks to its solid mission design and responsive AI. However, we also made a note of technical issues on PC that often resulted in the game outright crashing.

This voluntary career transition program, for the employees that agree to it, involves the employee being let go from Massive Entertainment with a comprehensive severance package that would involve financial and career assistance.

“As part of our ongoing evolution and long-term planning, we have recently realigned our teams and resources to strengthen our roadmap, ensuring our continued focus on The Division franchise and the technologies, including Snowdrop and Ubisoft Connect, that power our games,” wrote the studio in its statement.

“To support this transition responsibly, we introduced a voluntary career transition program, giving eligible team members the opportunity to take their next career step on their own terms, supported by a comprehensive package that includes financial and career assistance.”

Along with this, Massive Entertainment also establishes its intent to fully commit to The Division as a franchise, which would involve more content for The Division 2, as well as development of the upcoming The Division 2: Survivors, support work for The Division Resurgence, and even work on the third game in the franchise. “These projects continue with strength, focus and ambition,” said the studio, “and we look forward to sharing more in the future.”

A recent report indicated that Ubisoft had similarly offered a “restructuring proposal” for another one of its studios – Ubisoft RedLynx. As part of this proposal, up to 60 positions in the studio are set to be affected. This proposal, however, doesn’t yet have full approval yet, and there is no timetable for when it will go forward.

“This proposal reflects difficult choices we may need to make, and it comes after careful consideration,” said Ubisoft RedLynx managing director Celine Pasula. “We recognise the weight of this announcement and want to acknowledge the impact this proposal may have on individuals and teams.”

“We are confident that, with the proposed changes, RedLynx would continue to play a meaningful role in Ubisoft’s future – driving technical excellence on mobile devices, and strengthening Ubisoft’s cross and multi-platform capabilities on small screens to expand our audience reach.”

It is worth noting that, as part of this restructuring proposal, RedLynx would move on from being a multiplatform game developer to only focusing on small-screen experiences – namely mobile.

These moves come just a few weeks after Ubisoft had officially unveiled the name of its new subsidiary company – Vantage Studios. The company, headed up by co-CEOs Charlie Guillemot and Christophe Derennes, will be in charge of the development and support for three of Ubisoft’s largest franchises – Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.

Among other things, the forming of Vantage Studios also eventually led to the departure of former Assassin’s Creed franchise head Marc-Alexis Côté earlier this month.

Silent Hill f Trailer

We’ve seen and heard a lot about Silent Hill f, whether it’s the heavier focus on combat (and even stat upgrades) or the multiple endings. And yet, given the proclivities of writer Ryukishi07 and artist kera towards the unsettling, it feels like we’ve barely even scratched the surface. A new trailer debuts at Gamescom Opening Night Live, and it’s also scheduled for day 2 of Xbox’s broadcast. Maybe some of that insanity will break loose before it launches next month.

ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X Release Date and Prices

If the rumors are true, Microsoft will announce the release date for the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X on August 20th, with pre-orders opening on the same day. Both handheld PCs will reportedly launch on October 16th for €599 and €899, respectively. It’s plausible enough, and hopefully, it goes the extra mile on really selling us on their features.

Hollow Knight: Silksong (Anything)

Doubters in shambles, once again? Potentially, because Hollow Knight: Silksong might get a release date announcement, maybe even a new trailer. Not only is it playable at both the Xbox and Nintendo booths, but Team Cherry has explicitly stated that it will launch before the ROG Xbox Ally. Plans could always change, but for now, the stars may finally align on one of the most anticipated games of all time.

Resident Evil Requiem

An “exclusive” new look at the next big title in the celebrated horror series? Don’t mind if we do. Set for August 19th at Gamescom Opening Night Live, there’s no telling what secrets it could reveal. And while a playable demo will be available on the show floor for attendees, known leaker Aesthetic Gamer alleges new screenshots, gameplay, and preview impressions on August 20th. Suffice it to say that you should prepare for an influx of new information (and maybe a Leon reveal?) regardless.

Ninja Gaiden 4’s New Trailer

One of my most anticipated games of the year, Ninja Gaiden 4, has looked absolutely incredible in nearly every showing. Would a new trailer at Gamescom Opening Night Live really offer more, especially after all the gameplay and previews? Probably not, but some more stylish, combat is a guarantee, and that’s all I can ask for.

Where Winds Meet

With its final beta wrapped, the odds of Everstone Studio’s massive open-world action RPG receiving a release date are greater than before. And what better place than Gamescom, where it was first announced about three years ago? All the pieces are in place, and based on everything we’ve seen thus far – the combat, the world size, the attention to detail – it could be another breakout hit for NetEase.

Honor of Kings: World Trailer

By comparison, Honor of Kings: World is in a somewhat weird spot. It saw some updates earlier this year from GDC, including solid-looking gameplay, but there’s been very little since. Regardless, with a new trailer at Opening Night Live and a playable demo on the show floor, maybe Tencent has a big announcement lined up, like a release window or even a beta.

The Division 2’s “Big Project” Announcement

As other live service titles falter or fall by the wayside, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is chugging along just fine. Massive has some pretty significant panels planned for Gamescom week, but we’re most interested in the “big project” announcement for the looter shooter. A big new expansion could be it, especially after the launch of Battle for Brooklyn. Here’s hoping it offers a brand-new region to explore and expands on the end-game further.

Crimson Desert Gameplay

Speaking of long-delayed, Crimson Desert was pushed from late 2025 to Q1 2026, but it’s still on track for a playable demo at Gamescom. New gameplay also wouldn’t be surprising, either at Opening Night Live or Future Games Show, but Pearl Abyss could release it online during the week to appease fans who can’t go hands-on. A release date reveal is unlikely, especially at this point, but at the very least, we’ll get to see how much further it’s progressed since the last gameplay showing.

Phantom Blade Zero’s New Trailer

Perhaps the most high-profile title at the Future Games Show on August 20th, Phantom Blade Zero is set to receive a new trailer. But it already received some extensive footage recently, so what gives? S-Game previously confirmed that attendees could play an hour-long demo on the show floor. Maybe this is an announcement for the long-sought public demo? It would certainly warrant a spot like this and, if nothing else, build on the hype even further.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s Release Date

Predicting Nintendo’s next move is always challenging, especially when it comes to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, a project that’s been in the works since 2019. Nevertheless, it has reiterated a launch this year and with a playable demo for the title confirmed at Gamescom, a release date announcement seems all but a given. Whether it will happen at Opening Night Live is another question entirely.

Little Nightmares 3 Returns to the Carnevale

The other high-profile title appearing at the Future Games Show is Supermassive Games’ Little Nightmares 3. We already know the release date, and if anything, keeping much under wraps as possible would be fitting. That may explain why it’s venturing back to the Carnevale level from the Little Nightmares Showcase, offering up a familiar setting but with new thrills. Either way, we can’t wait to see what’s in store.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando

Where in the world has Toxic Commando been since its announcement in 2023? Granted, Focus Entertainment said it would launch sometime this year, but there’s little else besides. That doesn’t mean closed playtests haven’t been underway, as evidenced by a leak last July. Saber Interactive has a lot on its plate lately, but if Toxic Commando does appear at, say, Opening Night Live, an open beta announcement is the very least it could offer.

Dying Light: The Beast

Techland’s sequel isn’t just about freerunning and those nerve-shredding nights, it’s dialing up the splatter, too. The studio is touting far more realistic dismemberment and damage modeling, and a fresh gameplay slice is slated for the Xbox Gamescom showcase ahead of launch on September 19 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC, with PS4 and Xbox One versions following later this year.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Set to appear during the Xbox Showcase at Gamescom 2025, the next Onimusha is poised for a proper reveal with new details and footage. Expect a roughly 20-hour adventure that returns to classic, stage-by-stage progression and tells a standalone story, rather than an open-world follow-up to earlier entries.

Black Myth: Wukong — DLC Tease

As Black Myth: Wukong arrives on Xbox Series X|S on August 20, all eyes are on Opening Night Live for what looks like the game’s first DLC reveal. The timing suggests an add-on targeting a 2026 window, while the base game remains available on PS5 and PC.

On May 27th, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 will be available across all Game Pass Tiers, just in time for the new Battle for Brooklyn DLC (which retails for $14.99 and includes six to ten hours of gameplay). to a T, the latest title from Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi arrives on May 28th. A free demo is available now on PC to try out.

Another big Sega role-playing game joins the service on May 29th with Studio Zero’s Metaphor: ReFantazio. Even more impressive is it will be playable for all subscription tiers. Spray Paint Simulator is out on the same day, while Crypt Custodian and Symphonia will be available on June 3rd.

Of course, it’s worth noting that Game Pass Standard subscribers can access new titles like Creatures of Ava, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 (recently announced for PS5) and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl on May 22nd. All three will be playable on Xbox Series X/S.

Check out the range of titles leaving Game Pass on May 31st:

• Cassette Beasts (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Firework (PC)
• Humanity (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Remnant 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Relatively Newbie-Friendly

Ongoing live-service games can be intimidating to start up for the first time, but games like The Division 2 make an effort to ease fresh players into its systems. This DLC is one such example with its immediate access to the new zone and content right out of the gate. And for Gold Edition buyers, there’s an instant level 40 boost to get into the content with a better advantage.

Coincides With the Start of Year 7

Aside from the story DLC from 2020, 2023’s ‘The Descent’ was the the latest large-scale expansion the game has had. As usual, large DLCs coincide with the start of a new yearly rollout of seasons. In this case, players can get a headstart on Season 1, Year 7 with the recent beta update that went live on April 25^th. The update features a prototype build of the new season, minus the new zone and campaign, for a limited time. As revealed by the patch notes, Y7, S1 introduces a new global modifier that streamlines builds with set bonuses for the Firearms, Stamina, and Electronics Attribute Tiers. There’s also new active and passive modifiers that reward smart team play. Lastly, this season introduces one new Exotic Weapon and two new Exotic Gear pieces. Yeah, modifiers and a handful of new weapons don’t seem too exciting for casual players, but the DLC itself is where the meaty content lives.

Revisiting Brooklyn

Ah, Brooklyn. Old-school Division fans yearned to return to the snowy city streets that started it all, and now they can – except, this time without the snow. The original Brooklyn stage only took place within a fast-paced linear story prologue, so expanding it into a freely explorable open-world zone is a nostalgia bomb for fans well worth downloading the game again for.

Two Large Districts

The new Brooklyn map is divided into two districts. Brooklyn Heights is situated to the southwest of the player’s main settlement, while the district of Dumbo is to the northeast. The Deep Dive video gives us a good look at the in-game map, cluing us into the face that each district has two World Missions each. Brooklyn Bridge is the most notable landmark throughout the DLC, as it neatly separates the two districts with its monolithic presence. Detailing historic environments tends to be Ubisoft’s strong suit, so it’ll be neat to visit real-life landmarks like the Manhattan skyline and the Dumbo-Manhattan Bridge Waterfront – and, of course, Brooklyn Bridge itself.

Main Missions Are Separate From the Open-World

One thing players won’t be doing is running through these Brooklyn districts within tightly crafted story missions much like The Division 1’s prologue briefly did. Instead, the devs opted to keep the main campaign missions outside of the Brooklyn map instead cordoned off within bespoke mission-specific locations. It’s interesting that they decided to do a 180 reversal of The Division 1’s prologue in this regard. Players will do all of their open-ended exploration within the Brooklyn map and the DLC’s campaign outside of it.

Story

The story picks off mostly where the last story expansion left off: with Division agents cleaning up the mess that the NYC hurricane caused. Unfortunately, the Bridge Settlement folk don’t just have natural disasters to worry about; the Cleaner and Riker gangs have mass produced a devastating new weapon aimed right at them called the Purple Flame. Much of the campaign involves stopping these gangs and presumably snuffing the Purple Flame out of existence.

Returning Characters

Longtime Division fans can expect plenty of familiar faces from previous games and DLC. Dr Kandel hasn’t been seen since her role developing the cure for the Green Poison in The Division 1, and now acts as an essential ally for the Brooklyn Bridge Settlement. We’ve already seen screenshots of Keener’s old crew in the new DLC such as Theo Parnell and Agent Hoskins, to name a few.

6-10 hour run-time

During the DLC Deep Dive, the creative director noted that the campaign will take between 6 to 10 hours to complete. Since the map is open-ended and filled with side activities, it’s likely to take 10 or more hours to squeeze every last ounce of content out of it with the main story path averaging around the 6 hours.

Open-World Activities

Speaking of content, we already have the full list of activities dotting the new map. Battle for Brooklyn will consist of three main campaign missions. This seems may seem dainty at first blush, but campaign missions typically range between two to three hours each if past campaign missions are anything to go by. There are four world missions with two in each district and four control points. The amount of living world activities is 12, while there are 16 world bosses to take out. If you like bounties, you’re in luck because the DLC features 10 of them along with 8 hunter riddles scattered about the Brooklyn map.

Most Vivid Environments Yet

It’s a delight to see the Brooklyn map looking so beautiful considering the amount of activities players will be engaging with here. The snowy winterscape from Division 1’s prologue is replaced with a vibrant Autumn landscape this time around. I’m surprised just how colorful and contrasting the outdoor environments look; it’s not exactly the kind of ambience that comes to mind when thinking of a Tom Clancy game. The foliage in particular looks highly detailed and full of warm Fall vibrancy.

World Missions Are Now Replayable

Finally, a highly requested feature makes its debut in Battle for Brooklyn: replayable World Missions. World Missions are basically the side missions of The Division 2. They take roughly half as long as main campaign missions and take place within the open world areas of the game map. As stated, the DLC includes four World Missions.

New Corrosive Ailment

Your primary antagonistic force in the DLC is the Cleaner gang. Though, the only cleaning they do is the corrosive destructive kind. They’ve somehow managed to mass-produce a corrosive Purple Flame Flamethrower which dishes out devastating ailments out to players. Corrosion reduces max armor over a duration of time, whittling down players’ max defense as long as they stay in range of the Cleaner’s attacks. There’s a special brand of stress seeing your health bar shrink before your very eyes, and it looks like The Division equivalent to that is about to be a reality with the Purple Flame corrosion ailment.

Smart Cover is Back

Division 1 players will be delighted to know that the Smart Cover skill returns in all its glory with the new DLC. It’s not exactly the same here though. Players will be rewarded for using cover points with their choice of an offensive or defensive buff reward. Specifically, the Precision Smart Cover variant enhances weapon handling and damage and provides auto-reloading of rounds. While Fortified Smart Cover gives extra armor (perfect against the Purple Flame), various resistances, including an OP stagger resistance.

Pricing and Editions

Considering the DLC’s healthy 10-hour campaign, the price here isn’t as eye watering as we’ve been accustomed to over the months. For The Division 2 players, Battle for Brooklyn can be purchased as a stand-alone expansion for $14.99. New players will have to purchase the game and DLC separate or as a bundle with the Gold or Ultimate Editions. Besides including the new DLC, Gold Edition adds on the level 40 boost and Warlords of New York DLC. While the Ultimate Edition adds on a year 1 pass, Ultimate Pack, and 1,000 credits on top of those perks.

Release Date and Platforms

Battle for Brooklyn launches worldwide on May 27^th for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Amazon Luna, and PC. A Ubisoft Connect account is required to play the game regardless of platform. A small silver lining is players don’t have to play exclusively through Ubisoft’s launcher and can play through Steam or Epic.

Speaking during a recent podcast episode, the leaker claimed that Ubisoft has “more than half a dozen” games in development for the Switch 2. These include ports of upcoming games, recent releases, and older titles. Assassin’s Creed Mirage will allegedly be available for the console within its launch window, while a version of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is also in development. However, the latter allegedly won’t be ready for release until later. 

The insider also claims Switch 2 versions of Rainbow Six Siege and The Division franchise are in development. The idea of a combined Mario + Rabbids pack containing Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope has also been internally considered. 

Past leaks have also claimed that Ubisoft also intends to release the next Far Cry for the Switch 2. 

Given the publisher’s support for the Switch, it wouldn’t be surprising to see an increase in efforts for its successor. The Switch 2 itself is allegedly going to be revealed later this week, so we might have more official details sooner rather than later. 

Meanwhile, as per NateTheHate, other major third-party titles like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth are also headed for Nintendo’s next console. 

That was, however, a controversial change among many in the player base, and after loud backlash from the community, Massive Entertainment has decided to walk back on its decision. Taking to Twitter, the developer confirmed that based on feedback from players, it has decided to not move forward with Seasonal Characters as planned.

“After thorough examination and discussions with the team, we have decided to reevaluate Season 2.0 with particular attention to Seasonal Characters with the goal of progressing without them,” Massive Entertainment wrote. “This change will not impact the previously announced Year 6 plans, but it will require us to assess the changes necessary to the new Seasonal Experience, which will be integrated with Year 6 Season 2 this fall. Once we have ironed out the finer details, we will return with more information, a livestream, and a [public test server].”

How the removal of Seasonal Characters will affect other planned changes and additions in terms of the new seasonal delivery of content remains to be seen, but those who were desperately hoping for the looter shooter to not adopt this particular new approach can rest easy that that won’t happen.

The Division 2 is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and is playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S via backward compatibility. It will also receive a new paid expansion next year. The Division 3 is also currently in development.

A message from #TheDivision2 team. pic.twitter.com/BcLNITdqew

— Tom Clancy’s The Division (@TheDivisionGame) July 12, 2024

One of the biggest additions to The Division 2 in the new season will be a new story that revolves around Division Agents being sent out to track down Agent Kelso. Players will also have to figure out the motivations of Aaron Keener and track him down.

The season also brings with it new endgame and seasonal progression, and removes the need for players to have bought the game’s Warlods of New York expansion to be able to hit the level 40 cap. All players will be able to hit the level cap now, and in the process, start getting access to endgame activities, challenges, and loot.

Moving forward, starting  from Year 6, Season 2 of The Division 2, the game will make use of a new endgame progression system through something Ubisoft refers to as Seasons 2.0. The progression system will allow players to create and play season-specific characters, encouraging players to experiment with different builds and abilities.

Seasonal characters will start at level 1 in each season, and players will be able to take part in various activities and missions to level up all the way to 40. At end of each season, seasonal characters added to a player’s roster of characters, with all progression and rewards making the jump as well.

Year 6 of The Division 2 will also be bringing with it a new take on the game’s Manhunts system. Rather than targets and lieutenants, players can instead now find new scouts on a weekly basis. Each scout will need players to take on different challenges as they make progress through the season.

Players will also be able to take on Climax Missions in a new difficulty—Master. The new difficulty will offer up new conclusions for each seasons, both in terms of gameplay, as well as rewards that players will get for completing them. Master difficulty missions are designed for groups of 4 players.

Between seasons 2 and 3 of The Division 2’s Year 6, the game is also set to get a new DLC, which will bring with it a whole new story. The DLC is scheduled for early 2025.

Meanwhile, The Division 2 is also getting a free weekend between June 13 and 17, where new players will be able to try the game out.

Taking to Twitter, the company has confirmed that it will be unveiling The Division 2’s Year 6 content at the upcoming Ubisoft Forward showcase, which will premiere live on June 10 at 12 PM Pacific. Ubisoft has confirmed that it will also be showcasing the likes of Star Wars Outlaws (also developed by Massive Entertainment) and Assassin’s Creed Shadows at the event, so it’s unlikely that The Division 2 will get too much air time, but either way, we’ll be getting our first glimpse at upcoming content for the open world shooter soon enough.

Recently, Ubisoft confirmed that free-to-play spinoff The Division Heartland, which had been in development at Red Storm Entertainment, had been cancelled. Currently, another spinoff is also in the works for iOS and Android in the form of The Division Resurgence.

An expansion for The Division 2 is also currently in the works. Might we hear about that at Ubisoft Forward?

Tune in to Ubisoft Forward and learn what’s coming in Year 6 for The Division 2! pic.twitter.com/f5DSTqwoTu

— Tom Clancy’s The Division (@TheDivisionGame) May 30, 2024

#15. GRAND THEFT AUTO 5

Rockstar is known for always pushing the technical envelope with its games, and back in 2013, when Grand Theft Auto 5 first released, it was nothing short of a revelation. Even now, in fact, ten years on from its release, it stands as one of the most visually impressive and detailed worlds we’ve ever seen, especially if you’re playing it on a PC or current-gen consoles.

#14. ELDEN RING

From a purely technical perspective, Elden Ring (like most other FromSoftware titles) perhaps isn’t at the level that many would hope, but it more than makes up for it with its astounding art design. There’s an abundance of breathtaking sights and vistas scattered throughout its world, all of it brought to life in spectacular fashion. The fact that it does that so consistently in spite of how mind-bogglingly large its world is also deserves a great deal of credit.

#13. INFAMOUS: SECOND SON

Back in the early days of the PS4, inFamous: Second Sons was a proper showcase for the console, and though it has of course been outdone by many open world titles in the years since then, it still looks really damn good. Second Son brings the city of Seattle to life in excellent fashion, and crams its world full of brilliant little visual flourishes that help it stand out even now, nearly a decade since it came out.

#12. FAR CRY 6

Say what you will about Ubisoft’s open world formula, but the one thing where the company’s open world titles never fail to impress is with their visuals. Far Cry 6 is an excellent example of that. Yara is a vast map, but every inch and pixel of it is rendered in stunning detail. From its dense forests to its more urban locations to how explosive the combat looks, the game deserves a lot of credit for its technical accomplishments.

#11. MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s incredible utilization of the PS5’s SSD might be its biggest technical highlight, but even if you’re looking at the pure and simple quality of its graphics, there’s so much to be impressed by. The fact that the city of New York feels as dense and alive as it does is praiseworthy in and of itself, but add to that the fact that it maintains that level of quality without having to make cutbacks in crucial areas like the speed of traversal, and those strengths become even more impressive.

#11. DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT

A game coming from Kojima Productions (both pre- and post-Konami split) is always bound to be a graphical showcase, and that’s very much the case for Death Stranding as well. And though it is, of course, a technically impressive and visually sharp game, what really stands out about it is its artistic sensibilities. From the gorgeous natural beauty of its world to the striking visual imagery the entire game is teeming with, Death Stranding never runs out of ways to leave you absolutely floored.

#9. THE DIVISION 2

Massive Entertainment is probably one of the most technically gifted teams in the entire industry, and just as its predecessor did, The Division 2 exhibits that perfectly. On top of recreating Washington D.C. in thoroughly convincing and authentic fashion, the game also proudly boasts a level of obsessive attention to detail that’s very rare to see. On paper, The Division 2’s post-apocalyptic setting might not seem too unique, but the dedication with which the game brings it to life is truly commendable.

#8. DAYS GONE

Days Gone may have been a diamond in the rough, but where its visuals are concerned, the game deserves unequivocal praise. A lot of the heavy lifting is obviously done by its Pacific Northwest setting, which naturally lends itself to a smattering of visual splendour in the environments in the open world, but make no mistake- even viewed purely on its technical merits, Days Gone is an absolute beast. Experiencing even a single Freaker horde encounter should be enough to sell you on that fact.

#7. THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT

When The Witcher 3 launched in 2015, it was easily one of the best-looking games ever made, and somehow, more than eight years since its release, it still merits that sort of praise. The entirety of its vast world is stunning to behold, no matter where in the map you find yourselves, and little details like the way the light shines through a forest’s canopy, or the way the blood squirts out of someone’s arm after you chop it off in combat, only sell its technical vision that much more convincingly.

#6. BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT

Speaking of older games that have aged with surprising grace, calling Batman: Arkham Knight one of the best-looking games of all time, even now, more than eight years since its release, wouldn’t be an exaggeration in the slightest. The fact that it still looks better than the overwhelming majority of open world games out there probably doesn’t get recognized as much as it should. It helps, of course, that it’s also one of the most authentic and atmospheric takes on the Batman universe we’ve ever seen.

#5. CYBERPUNK 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 may have been an absolute mess when it first came out (especially on last-gen consoles), but even then, you could see it had the makings of a graphical showpiece. In its current form, that’s exactly what it is. Night City is a dense, vibrant, and intricately designed map, and every area you visit just visually pops in a way that sears itself into you memory. When played on the right hardware, this is easily one of the most impressive open world experiences out there.

#4. FORZA HORIZON 5

The Forza franchise has never failed to amaze and wow the masses with how it pushes visual and technical boundaries with each new entry, but even in the might company of its many predecessors, Forza Horizon 5 stands out. Even on an Xbox One, this is an absolutely gorgeous game, but played on an Xbox Series X or suitably powerful PC, it’s nothing short of mind-bogglingly gorgeous.

#3. GHOST OF TSUSHIMA DIRECTOR’S CUT

There was absolutely no way we weren’t going to give Ghost of Tsushima the recognition it deserves in a list such as this one, and it deserves truckloads of it. It’s no secret that Sucker Punch’s samurai epic is as gorgeous as it is for its stellar art design (though it’s no technical slouch either), but no matter how much you praise that aspect of the game, it never quite seems like it’s enough. The stunning natural beauty of its environments and the way the game brings them to life make it easily one of the best-looking gaming experiences of all time.

#2. HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST

Pushing the limits of what games can achieve in a technical sense is something that Guerrilla has been doing for pretty much as long as it’s been around, but with Horizon Forbidden West, the developer touched entirely new heights. We cannot speak highly enough for how stunning this game looks (especially on a PS5, but even on a PS4), with a strong technical foundation and boundless artistic creativity coming together in perfect harmony. In fact, its expansion, the PS5-exclusive Burning Shores, somehow manages to be even more of an impressive accomplishment.

#1. RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is not only the best-looking open world game ever made, it may even be the best-looking game of all time, period. Even by Rockstar’s ridiculously high standards, the things that it achieves on a technical front can leave you gobsmacked, even five years on from the game’s launch (and even without any current-gen upgrades). From the astonishing fidelity, sharpness, and attention to detail it manages to achieve, to the overwhelming scale across it which manages to achieve it with such consistency, it’s truly an unparalleled experience.