The most graphically demanding PC games of 2023 [full list] (2023)

If you are looking for graphics intensivecomputer gamesATest the stressyour platform and see what it can really do, then you've come to the right place.

computer gamesmoved away from simple text adventure games, with many modern releases pushing the boundaries of ourUPCArenagraphics cards until we finally gave in and decided to upgrade.

In this list we will highlightThe most graphically demanding PC games of 2023this will push your machine to its limits, for better or worse.

We'll be updating this list with new titles in the future, so keep checking back and let us know if we missed any of your favorite PC games!

Related:The best looking PC games of 2023The best games with Benchmark Tools 2023How long does a gaming laptop last?

dying light 2offers a unique combination ofparkour based movement, visceral first-person combat, and RPG progression designed to keep players engaged for dozens of hours.

Up to this point, it offers a ton of improvements over the original Dying Light, and it also requires better hardware for optimal performance.

As such, gamers can expect to need at least an RTX 2060 or RX Vega 56 GPU to get consistent 60fps performance at 1080p on low to medium graphics settings.

For reliable performance on high or ultra settings at 1440p or higher, we recommend a top-of-the-line graphics card like an RTX 3070.

Aside from complaints about the Battle Pass ranking system and progression, players have been very receptive to 343's latest addition to the Halo franchise.

infinite haloIt features an open-world inspired campaign along with a variety of PvP modes that have a surprisingly high barrier to entry.

The game's recommended specs include an RTX 2070 or Radeon RX 5700 along with an Intel i7 or AMD equivalent and 16GB of RAM.

If you want to run the game at the Ultra preset and maintain consistently high framerates, look for something closer to an RTX 3070 or higher GPU.

After the interactive madhouse that was RE7,evil villagerTake the survival horror franchise to new heights with even bigger arenas and boss battles.

It's also the most graphically rich Resident Evil title on PC, especially if you want to use ray tracing.

Additionally, the recommended spec calls for a GTX 1070 or RX 5700 to achieve 60fps performance at 1080p.

However, those planning to up the resolution and play around with ray tracing will need an RTX card by default.

While definitely not without flaws,Ciberpunk 2077remains one of the best showcases for high-end PC graphics.

With support for features like ray tracing, deep learning supersampling, and a host of other graphics settings, the game is a stress testers paradise.

Recommended specs are a GTX 1060 or better with at least 12GB of RAM, but as is often the case with PC gaming, more is always better.

Assuming you have the latest patch installed, you should have no problem running it and tweaking its settings to see what your computer is capable of.

For a less controversial cyberpunk action RPG, players can choose the Neon Giant's top-down co-op shooter.climbing.

The game's graphics consist of mesmerizing particle effects, detailed lighting, and intricate maze-like environments that call for an equally impressive PC build.

It is recommended that gamers have a GTX 1070 or RX 5700 for consistent 60fps performance at 1080p.

However, to get the most out of The Ascent's ray tracing technology, you'll need something more like an RTX 20 or 30 series card or an AMD equivalent.

Forza Horizon games have always had a more arcade approach to racing and are generally much more forgiving than their motorsport counterparts.

Forza Horizonte 5builds on its predecessors, putting players in an authentic recreation of Mexico, complete with a variety of new races, events and activities to discover.

The game's beautiful environments and equally impressive vehicles make it the perfect title to push your PC to its limits.

While having a GTX 1070 or RX 590 graphics card or better is recommended, the most demanding spec is actually the RAM, with 16GB of RAM required to run the game optimally.

Whilehorizon zero dawnThe PC raw release was a far cry from its stellar reception on PS4, the PC port of the game is in much better shape these days.

In addition to various performance improvements, Horizon now offers better shader compilation and DLSS support on PC.

While the recommended specs call for a GTX 1060 at 1080p, anyone looking to play at 1440p or higher will need to invest in a more powerful graphics card.

Of course, that's not a problem when you consider that Horizon's dynamic resolution scaling still allows for stable frame rates even on weaker computers.

God of Waris another PlayStation exclusive that is now playable at 60fps or higher thanks to a well-received PC port.

Also, the PC version supports better looking graphics and higher resolutions as long as you meet the suggested specs.

This includes a GTX 1060 or RX 570 for 4K/60 fps 1080p gaming that requires an RTX 3080 or AMD equivalent.

While the 8GB of RAM requested by the game is not a huge demand, on the CPU side, players will need an i9 or equivalent to run the game at higher framerates.

to controlis known for demanding graphics that can be quite taxing on midrange computers, and even some high-end PCs still struggle to keep up.

Fortunately, since the game's release, there have been several updates to reduce Control's GPU-intensive framework, which requires a GTX 1660/1060 or Radeon RX 580 to maintain consistent 60fps performance.

In it, you play as Jesse Faden, a woman tasked with investigating a secret government facility called The Oldest House that is rife with paranormal activity.

The control combines the best parts of theMetroidvanias, third-person shooter, and sci-fi storytelling to create an exhilarating rollercoaster ride of frenetic combat and dynamic exploration.

As big asRed Dead Redemption 2Running on consoles, the PC port of the game received negative reaction upon release as it malfunctioned even on more powerful high-end computers.

While Rockstar has improved things in this regard, you'll want to make sure your gear is up to the task before venturing into Red Dead 2's sprawling open world.

Recommended system requirements are Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB or 4GB or AMD Radeon RX 480.

As with Rockstar's other high-profile open-world game, GTA 5, you'll want at least 12GB of RAM to ensure it runs smoothly.

Open worlds designed as beautifully and lovingly asfinal fantasia xvIt usually costs a remarkably powerful PC to experience it in all its glory.

And while we commend Square Enix for sticking to their vision, we hope they don't have to pay the expense of 16GB of RAM and 100GB of storage to download and run the game smoothly.

Of course, many of these hurdles only apply if you're trying to play FFXV at 4K 60fps, but even after downscaling the game to 1080p, your computer still might not be up to the task.

A GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 480 is recommended for best results, but players may occasionally experience hiccups during larger fights with lots of enemies on screen.

The latest installment in the Assassin's Creed franchise lets you explore 9th century Britain from the perspective of Eivor, a Viking invader looking for a new homeland for his people.

Similar to PC ports of previous games in the series,WalhallaThe complex open world comes with the GPU price of needing a GTX 1060 or RX 570 for best results.

Also, the gamers they recommend have at least 8GB of RAM available, an AMD i7 3770 or equivalent, and 50GB of hard drive space, preferably an SSD.

If you've completed all of the above and are still having trouble getting Valhalla to work properly, consider adjusting the game's draw distance and dynamic lighting effects.

The third entry inTomb Raider Franchise Rebootsfeatures a much darker and morally gray Lara Croft than previous installments.

so that seems fairTomb Raider TreasuresIt has some pretty amazing system requirements, especially when it comes to memory consumption.

The game recommends at least 16GB of RAM for best results, along with a GTX 1060, RX 480 or equivalent GPU and an i7 4770K/Ryzen 5 1600 CPU.

However, if you're hoping to hit a consistent 60fps, you'll probably need at least a GTX 1080. And let's not even get started with the requirements for 4K gaming...

If you really want to see what your gaming PC can do,Designers 2it's the perfect test case for many reasons.

On the one hand, it features photorealistic graphics, as well as dynamic track weather and temperature systems that affect acceleration, handling, and braking via the LiveTrack 3.0 physics engine.

It also offers several different racing modes, 140 tracks in real locations and more than 180 vehicles that allow you to experiment with different parameters.

It all adds up to an impressive PC gaming benchmark that will make the most of your computer's CPU, GPU, and memory resources.

In addition to being one of the most realistic medieval RPGs out there,Kingdom Come: LiberationIt's no slouch in the graphics department and will put your PC to the test.

While it requires a GTX 1060 or RX 580 graphics card, you'll likely need a 1080Ti or better to get anywhere near 60 frames in the game's most populated cities.

That's even before the game's demanding 16GB RAM proposition was highlighted.

Of course, this isn't too surprising given that Deliverance's Dunia engine is based on the same CryTek engine that powers the Crysis games.

Another open world title that uses the Crytek-based Dunia engine islonge 6, much to the dismay of fans who mostly play on PC.

While this allows for nicer rendered environments, more realistic physics, and features like ray tracing, it can be difficult on many mid-to-high end machines.

A GTX 1080 or RX VEGA64 is recommended for consistent 60 fps performance at 1080p or higher.

Add to that an Intel i7 and 16GB of RAM, and it's easy to see why Far Cry 6 deserves a spot on this list.

killer 3completes the interactive IOWorld of Murder Trilogywhile doubling down on the immersive design of the franchise's simulation sandbox.

Once again, players take on the role of the eponymous assassin Agent 47, who embarks on a global mission to take down the criminal organization Providence.

However, to get the most out of gaming, make sure you have a GPU in the range of a GTX 1070 or equivalent.

Additionally, the game's recommended specs require an i7-4790 and 16GB of available RAM.

At the time of its publication,Deus Ex: Mankind DividedIt set a new standard for PC graphics, especially if you tried to run the game on its Ultra preset.

Unfortunately, most of us will never experience these things firsthand, as following even recommended settings can be difficult for most.

To start, you'll need a GTX 970 or equivalent from AMD, although something more like a GTX 1080 or better is ideal.

Then there's the issue of memory consumption, a recurring trend on this list; To get the best result, Mankind Divided requires a whopping 16GB of RAM.

ANDsubway gamesThey just got better with each entry, andmetropolitan exodusis by far the most impressive yet, at least from a graphical standpoint.

It features larger sandbox environments than any of its predecessors, along with a tightly woven narrative and an addictive mix of action and stealth gameplay.

One of the game's biggest selling points is its support for Nvidia's ray tracing compatible graphics cards, which greatly improve lighting effects in RTX compatible games.

For consistent performance, running Metro Exodus on a GTX 1070 or higher is recommended, but to unlock ray tracing you'll obviously need an RTX 2060.

The most recent version ofMicrosoft Flight SimulatorLeverages Bing Maps data along with Azure cloud technology to generate 3D renderings of real-world mountains, forests and airports.

What makes the game so challenging are the textures, which are rendered to simulate realistic terrain and bodies of water.

So look for a GTX 970 or equivalent from AMD with 16GB of RAM for consistent performance.

Additionally, players will need to reserve 150GB of storage space to accommodate all of their data and map content.