Visual realism is limited, stylised graphics are the real future of video games

The video game industry’s quest for realism is marching forward. With Unreal Engine‘s development of technology and features to improve graphics to life-like visuals, video games are becoming more realistic.

I’ll be honest, the thought of a virtual world that lives and breathes like the real one is appealing. Who wouldn’t want a world where consequences are less dire while simultaneously feeling rewarded for completing a simple task? Raises hand.

Okay, to be completely honest, it really is appealing to me, but I have to acknowledge the other side that stands out to me. The future of graphical realism is limited, and stylised art is the real future.

Let’s talk about why.

What happens when the goal is reached? Dust storm particles, reflections and sun glare. It’s stunning, really. Now that you’ve seen it, you’ll probably see it again—and again. We can’t make things look more real than real life, can we? How can the future of gaming be enjoyable without the awe of life-like, ground-breaking graphics? I shudder at the thought.

I think stylised graphics are the future because they retain a timelessness that realism just can’t seem to maintain. Look at Golden Eye 007 for Nintendo 64, for example. A classic video game, but its realistic visuals didn’t age well. They look like painted faces on blocky figures. Compare it to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in the same era. Its distinct character silhouettes are almost cartoony in style, while the world has life-like detail, making it a mix of two styles. The style of these characters isn’t entirely realistic, which makes it difficult for those blocky graphics to age them like milk in the sun.

Further down the line on the original Xbox, we have games like Psychonauts and Whacked! Even though the models are dated, their quirky art styles allow these games to retain their charm. On the other hand, models in Jade Empire look “old” because we can’t see the realism in them anymore.

Going back further in time, 8-bit and 16-bit, for example, are only capped by creativity. Pixel art in gaming has resurfaced as a popular style, and retro classics like Super Mario Bros., Pokémon and Final Fantasy‘s visuals remain enjoyable to this day.

I’m not saying we should give up on life-like visuals; it’s art in and of itself. However, when it comes to fresh and new, stylised art will always be there to keep us both coming back and moving forward.