Not necessarily the game with the “best” or most realistic graphics. Something with vibrant colors or a unique design style… something you might want to play just because it looks so damn fun!
Mirror’s Edge is the most graphically unique game I’ve played recently.
Force Unleashed has very vibrant colors.
Take a look at Mount & Blade. If only the clouds were dynamic…
Oh, yeah: Lord of the Rings Online
Okami is absolutely beautiful. Its style is based on Japanese paintings, as far as I know.
I have to mention Valkyria Chronicles (PS3). They refer to it as a ‘Canvas engine’, meaning the graphics look like they’re been carefully hand painted on a canvas. I think it looks awesome but the screenshots really don’t do it justice.
Team Fortress 2. The stylized 50s-spytech theme is definitely distinctive.
Bioshock. There’s an interesting mix of drab and vibrant color.
It hasn’t exactly got much in the way of vibrant colour, but I’m really looking forward to playing Mad World (Youtube), just because the art design makesit look like such over-the-top freaking fun.
I generally have very little interest in beat-em-ups, but it looks like something special.
Zelda: The Wind Waker and Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
World of Goo. Adorable, and very much a unique look.
Pixel Junk Eden for PS3.
Bing Bang Mini for the DS is often absolutely gorgeous, we’re talking serious eye candy here. Unfortunately, it’s not much fun.
Magical Starsign has possibly the most amazing pixel art backgrounds I’ve ever seen in a game and looks like a cute, stylish adventure. It’s also not much fun.
Avalon Code has a really charming and captivating style. Admittedly, a lot of modern console jrpgs share its look, but you never see this kind of thing on DS. It’s bordering on unplayable.
I’m slowly learning not to judge a game by its graphics.
“Too Human”
Absolutely beautiful game.
That’s the only thing noteworthy about it.
Braid has a gorgeous “moving storybook” style of art. It’s also one of, if not THE, best 2D platformers made in the past ten years.