As 2026 looms on the horizon, the gaming world is abuzz with end-of-year accolades, and one question dominates the conversation: which games truly pushed the boundaries of visual excellence in 2025? Geoff Keighley kicked things off with his star-studded ceremony last week (https://www.nintendolife.com/features/round-up-everything-announced-at-the-game-awards-2025-all-switch-1-and-2-reveals), but now it's time for the tech wizards at Digital Foundry (https://www.digitalfoundry.net/features/digital-foundrys-2025-graphics-of-the-year-awards) to weigh in with their highly anticipated 'Graphics of the Year Awards.'
But here's where it gets interesting: While the shortlist predictably leans heavily on PS5 and Xbox Series titles—think Ghost of Yōtei (https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps5/ghostofyotei), Mafia: The Old Country (https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps5/mafiatheoldcountry), and Silent Hill f (https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps5/silenthill_f)—a surprising number of Nintendo Switch 2 newcomers managed to snag a spot in the spotlight. And this is the part most people miss: Digital Foundry dedicated their entire honorable mentions section to the Switch 2, shining a light on titles like Mario Kart World (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/mario-kart-world), Kirby Air Riders (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/kirby-air-riders), and Fast Fusion (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/fast-fusion) for their innovative use of the Tegra T239 chip. Even Star Wars Outlaws (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/star-wars-outlaws) earned a nod as what Digital Foundry calls 'Switch 2's best 'impossible port' to date.'
Controversially, some might argue that the Switch 2 is still playing catch-up in the graphics department, but Digital Foundry also highlighted Panic Button's impressive work on Switch 1-to-2 upgrades for classics like Link's Awakening (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/legendofzeldalinksawakening) and Echoes of Wisdom (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/legendofzeldaechoesof_wisdom), proving that the platform is more than capable of holding its own.
And let's not forget, the Switch 2 isn't just lurking in the honorable mentions—Metroid Prime 4 (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch-2/metroid-prime-4-beyond-nintendo-switch-2-edition) secured a well-deserved spot in the official top 10. Digital Foundry praised it as 'a lighting masterwork,' showcasing how pre-baked lighting in meticulously designed environments can create stunning effects like emissive lighting while guiding players seamlessly. Even the Switch 1 version (https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/metroidprime4_beyond) got a shoutout for delivering diverse ecosystems at a smooth 60fps, pushing the 2017 console to its limits.
As always, Digital Foundry's top 10 remains unordered until the final three, with the first seven entries listed alphabetically. Here's the full lineup, as featured on their website:
- Dying Light: The Beast
- Earthion
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Mafia: The Old Country
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
- Routine
- Silent Hill f
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Assassin's Creed: Shadows
- Doom: The Dark Ages
All in all, 2025 was a stellar year for visually stunning games. For a deeper dive into why each title made the cut, check out the video at the top of this article or head over to the Digital Foundry site (https://www.digitalfoundry.net/features/digital-foundrys-2025-graphics-of-the-year-awards).
But we want to hear from you: Are there any titles you think deserved a spot on this list? And more controversially, do you believe the Switch 2 is truly closing the graphics gap with its competitors? Let us know in the comments—we're eager to hear your take!
