23 mobile games with the best graphics

Mobile hardware has made significant progress in the past five years, enabling console games with impressive graphics.

Games like Genshin Impact and Journey present breathtaking visual effects and unique art styles, offering players a visually immersive experience on their mobile devices.

Most would agree that technology has advanced too quickly, but all for the greater good. In 2010, the best way to play games with decent resolution and good graphics was on an Xbox 360, PC, or PS3. Fast forward to the 2020s, people can now enjoy games with higher resolution and better visual effects on their mobile devices. Over the past five years, gaming on mobile phones has drastically improved and has been consumed on a massive scale.

The rise of 5G has made the multiplayer aspect of these apps more accessible, while hardware improvements have brought them close to console quality. The mere idea of playing console games on a mobile phone sounds unthinkable... and yet, mobile hardware has repeatedly proven that it can stand as a standalone platform, on which many beautifully designed games thrive effortlessly!

Updated on September 18, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: Mobile gaming has an unfair reputation, with a multitude of freemium games doing their best to entice players to purchase additional advantages with real money, which can feel quite sleazy after a while. While there is a lot of truth to this statement, the fact is that not all mobile games follow this path of greedy money-grabbing from their players. Sometimes, there are games that are inherently satisfying on their own, without these microtransactions plaguing the player at every turn, and their graphics look incredibly impressive, even for a game running on a device that everyone has in their pocket!

23 Fantasian

Hironobu Sakaguchi is known to many as the creator of the legendary Final Fantasy series, which is more than enough to prove how amazing this creator truly is. After the failure of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Sakaguchi parted ways with the company before dedicating himself to his own projects. His focus eventually shifted to mobile gaming, with Fantasian being the most well-known game he has developed for this platform so far.

Fantasian is a beautiful game that harkens back to the classic era of JRPGs on the original PlayStation. It offers a plethora of dioramas for players to explore and an engaging story that is exactly what most fans of the genre would expect. This game was exclusive to Apple for a long time, and the fact that so many people actively request its release on modern platforms is proof enough of how entertaining this title truly is.

22 Call Of Duty: Mobile

Call of Duty is one of the biggest gaming franchises of all time, and it's easy to see why so many people enjoy participating in thrilling online multiplayer matches, striving to improve their K/D ratio and achieve victory at all costs. It was only a matter of time before this franchise expanded to mobile devices, and Call of Duty: Mobile has made this transition in a fairly smooth and effective manner.

With its iconic maps and the classic Call of Duty action that fans love about this series, the game is an absolute blast from start to finish. Perhaps the best thing about Call of Duty: Mobile is how good it looks. The game manages to push the boundaries of mobile hardware with cutting-edge graphics that were once unthinkable. It is one of the most popular mobile games and continues to be downloaded in large numbers even now!

21 Shadowgun Legends

Shadowgun is a popular shooter game on mobile phones that has become quite massive in its own right. The aesthetics of the title strongly resemble Gears of War but have a unique twist, and fans love the various ways they can approach missions in this game.

Of course, the multiplayer mode is the biggest aspect of this game and a major reason why Legends is so popular in the first place. The graphics of this title are truly incredible and still look amazing even after five years.

20 Alien: Isolation

Alien: Isolation is an incredible horror game that combines elements of an immersive experience to provide a truly captivating gameplay experience. Given the impressive graphics of this title, many fans were surprised to learn that this game actually works on mobile platforms!

Of course, a fairly powerful phone is required to run this game properly, but players who have a good phone can easily play Alien: Isolation on the go. It's a great game, even though the smaller screen may reduce the impact of some of the terrifying moments in this game.

19 Black Desert Mobile

Black Desert is a popular MMO that is highly advanced and a lot of fun to play. The character creation in this title is legendary and works quite well on mobile devices. Players can create the character of their choice and immerse themselves in this vast fantasy world.

Black Desert Mobile has all the features of an MMORPG that one would expect, making it a great title to invest many hours into. Mobile players looking for a game to satisfy their MMO cravings will be well served with the gameplay loop of Black Desert Online, and the graphics are also quite impressive.

18 Dead Cells

Dead Cells is a game that received a lot of publicity due to the infamous plagiarism controversy involving IGN. However, it's great that the game itself is an absolute delight to play. It combines elements of roguelike, Metroidvania, and Soulslike gameplay into a delicious and captivating combination.

Dead Cells is available on mobile platforms and looks great thanks to its unique art style. It is recommended to use a controller as precise inputs are absolutely necessary to master this challenging gaming experience. Players who are patient and learn slowly how the game works will be able to defeat enemies in no time!

17 Life Is Strange

Life is Strange is a fantastic story-based video game that is enjoyable to play. The characters and the story are truly captivating. The ability to rewind time is a blessing that allows players to make decisions that are better thought out and less impulsive.

Given the significance of every decision in Life is Strange, it is easy to understand why players will often rewind time. This game is great for mobile users as it allows them to quickly start this visually stunning game and experience a few minutes of gameplay in no time.

16 Telltale's The Walking Dead

Telltale's The Walking Dead is a title that many people wouldn't think of when it comes to graphical quality. However, the visual aspects of a game also depend on the art style, and the cell-shading look of The Walking Dead still makes it look amazing even now!

The story of Lee and Clementine, fighting for survival in a world overrun by zombies, is a captivating narrative with an emotional conclusion. Players will find all the decisions in the game particularly nerve-wracking, which is understandable given the oppressive setting of this title.

15 ARK: Survival Evolved

It is only natural that big, high-budget titles released on a variety of modern platforms, including mobile devices, would secure a place on this list. ARK: Survival Evolved definitely fits into this category.

The graphics have been downgraded for mobile devices, but still look pretty great. That, combined with the enjoyable survival gameplay, actually makes for a great time that fans of the genre will be thrilled about.

14 Real Racing 3

It's amazing what Real Racing has achieved for the sim-racing community. The accessibility on mobile platforms has allowed many people to discover this niche yet thrilling genre, where precision is the key to victory.

Real Racing 3 is the latest game in the series and looks absolutely spectacular on mobile devices. The fact that this game continues to receive regular updates despite its release a long time ago showcases how active and dedicated the community truly is.

13 Fortnite

Fortnite is a game that practically everyone has heard of by now. This free-to-play Battle Royale has become an absolute trendsetter, with its high-profile collaborations and intense gameplay, making it one of the biggest multiplayer games of all time.

The game had a somewhat rocky history with mobile platforms, but its vibrant and appealing art style makes it a great contender for this list. Even on mobile devices, the game looks brilliant and is worth a try for any fan of Battle Royale games.

12 Asphalt 9: Legends

It seems that most racing games on mobile platforms really set the bar high when it comes to the visual design of video games. This is evident in the Asphalt series, which is undoubtedly one of the most popular arcade racing games on mobile devices.

The latest game, Asphalt 9: Legends, simply looks incredible. It's hard to believe that such a visually stunning game runs on mobile devices!

11 GRID Autosport

Anyone who has played GRID Autosport can confirm that it is a PC/console game. Therefore, it is simply incredible that players can enjoy it on portable devices like the iPhone and Android phones. Not only does GRID Autosport look good, but it also plays like a proper semi-simulated racing game.

The quality of this game is unmatched by many other racing games on mobile devices, which makes it stand out. The best handheld version of GRID Autosport is the one for the iPad Pro, as it runs in high resolution with 120 FPS.

10 Battle Prime

This epic modern first-person shooter for mobile devices is one of the best-looking games that players can currently enjoy. At first glance, Battle Prime resembles Call of Duty. After all, it offers similar gameplay mechanics, maps, and multiplayer modes.

The third-person perspective and extremely smooth animations are better than many other mobile shooter games. Battle Prime has a colorful, vibrant, yet somewhat unmemorable art style. However, that doesn't mean it looks bad. This game stands out when it comes to visual diversity and environments. Battle Prime offers snowy areas, urban jungles, deep forests, and desert maps.

9 Layers Of Fear

Layers of Fear is a pretty neat psychological horror single-player game available on popular platforms. However, it has an advantage like no other on mobile devices. Most players know that it's not easy to find a good horror game for Android or iOS, and that's where Layers of Fear comes in to fill that gap.

The mobile version offers a similar gameplay experience to the main game, albeit with predictable graphical downgrades. Despite the visual inferiority compared to the Windows version, Layers of Fear manages to look excellent on mobile devices. The best aspect of the game is its environment, which is extremely unsettling due to its impressive quality.

8 XCOM 2 Collection

Who would have thought that the cult strategy game XCOM would also find its way onto mobile devices? The XCOM 2 Collection is a console game that works on mobile devices and iPads. It includes everything that makes the versions for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows stand out, including but not limited to the graphics.

The fans of the series are aware that XCOM 2 Collection is one of the finest turn-based tactical and role-playing games that one can indulge in. The fact that it is available on mobile devices only adds to its accessibility. With over 70 hours of gameplay, XCOM 2 Collection is truly a bargain at the price of $15.

7 Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact has taken the world by storm and has become one of the most played mobile games of all time. However, the action-packed role-playing gameplay is not the only thing that fans adore about it. This incredibly stunning game is cherished for its anime-like visual style and its vibrant and radiant graphics.

It also sets itself apart from many other games on this list with its unique yet repetitive gameplay. Genshin Impact is precisely the right app for those who seek a free, yet polished gaming experience. The best part about Genshin Impact is the fact that not only is it free, but it is also incredibly extensive. According to howlongtobeat.com, it can take approximately 211 hours to complete this game.

6 Journey

When Journey was first released on the PS3, it quickly evolved into one of the most impressive games on the system. Over the years, Journey made its way onto platforms such as PS4, Windows, and eventually mobile devices, all while retaining its iconic graphics.

As an indie adventure game, Journey focuses on achieving more with less. Its visual design makes it a minimal yet breathtaking experience. It doesn't imitate other titles but carves its own path in the unique dunes of the gaming world. Despite being a decade old, Journey remains remarkable for being among the visually stunning games.

5 The House Of Da Vinci 2

Mobile is a hub for puzzle adventure games, and The House of Da Vinci 2 takes this genre to a new level. Developer Blue Brain Games is renowned for its impressive adventure puzzle titles, and with this game, they continue to innovate.

The House of Da Vinci 2 brings together all the best elements from the first game, along with a visually stunning style that is incredibly detailed. In the game, players will solve puzzles in an environment that achieves near-console quality. In addition to the visual aspects, there is also a fantastic story that players will eagerly uncover as they progress.

4 NBA 2K21

NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition is the finest sports game you can find on iPads and iPhones. The reason behind this is the overall quality of the game, its game modes, and attention to detail. While the Arcade Edition may not reach the graphical prowess of the PS5, it still manages to look darn good.

Android users can enjoy playing the NBA 2K Mobile Basketball game, which is equivalent to the iPhone version. The best part about NBA 2K21 is that it is free on both devices.