When it comes to making a great video game, graphics aren’t everything. They’re just a component in the grand scheme of things. But that doesn’t mean game developers won’t stop trying to push the boundaries of what graphics can achieve, even if it sets the hard drives of yourPCon fire.
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In the early 2000s, a studio out in Frankfurt, Germany known asCrytekmade waves when they unveiled their brand-new game engine:CryEngine. It showcased nearly photorealistic visuals and models that were unheard of in gaming at the time. Since then, so many creations in their library still look as though they were released just yesterday.
The One with The Bow
Set 24 years after the events of the second game, the city of New York has been abandoned, encased in a giant dome by the corrupted forces of CELL to contain the dormant aliens within. When the Alpha Ceph awakens, so do the creatures as they commence with the final stages of their invasion, and only Prophet stands any chance of stopping them once and for all.
If you’ve played the first or the second, then you’ve playedCrysis 3. The game is the weakest in the trilogy regarding its writing as it doesn’t really add anything of innovation or cleverness, just new aliens. Still, the environments are impressive – they feel like a combination of the foliage from Crysis 1 mixed with the modern metropolis of Crysis 2. The Predator Bow is also a cool feature and works for players who enjoy using the cloaking system.
7Robinson: The Journey
A Walk with Dinosaurs
June 11, 2025
VR, Adventure
Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, SteamVR
You’re a space traveler who has crash-landed on a planet populated by dinosaurs. With hungry creatures crawling around every corner, you’ll have to rely on your skills and your trusty AI unit HIGS. Though the idea sounds basic on paper, Robinson: The Journey is a funVRgame.
True, the bulk of the game involves walking while drinking in the scenery and dinosaurs, but that’s part of the charm. You use your gadget to scan and solve puzzles, climb through unique locations and encounter large and often dangerous creatures. It’s no Jurassic Park, but for a VR simulator, this one is recommended for dinosaur lovers. Also, yes, you get to befriend an infant Tyrannosaurus Rex, and yes, it’s adorable.
6Crysis Warhead
The Ignored Epic Expansion
Crysis Warhead
Crysis Warhead is a stand-alone expansion of the firstCrysis. In a parallel plot set during the first game, you play as Psycho, sent to the other side of the tropical island on a secret mission to stop the North Koreans from acquiring a devastating new war machine. Crysis Warhead is often ignored when compared to the main trilogy, which is sad because this game is great for an expansion.
It’s nice when stories give other characters the spotlight, and Psycho was interesting enough in the first game to warrant more attention. Though the combat and gameplay are similar to Crysis 1, Warhead features new weapons and enemies to mix up the experience. Its biggest flaw, however, is how short the game is. With seven missions in total, you can probably finish Crysis Warhead in one sitting.
5Ryse: Son of Rome
Are You Not Entertained?
Ryse: Son of Rome
Ryse: Son of Rome follows the story of Marius Titus, a young soldier in the grand Roman army. After his family is murdered by barbarians, Marius embarks on a quest for revenge, which takes him from battle after battle with the Roman Legionaries. His search for the truth will lead him into an earth-shattering conspiracy that could lead to the downfall of Rome.
Ryse is like watching the movieGladiator, onlyyou’rethe main character. The story and atmosphere are phenomena, the combat feels great and the executions you’re able to pull off look and feel amazing. Even the battles feel big. Instead of just a handful of enemies running at you, you’re thrown into large-scale skirmishes with legions of characters battling it out. This is one of those games you can’t put down once you pick it up.
4Hunt: Showdown 1896
High Risk, High Reward, High Tension
Hunt: Showdown 1896
You’re a bounty hunter in the late 1800s. Only you’re not tracking desperados, you’re hunting nightmarish creatures that have crawled out from the dark corners of the earth. Don’t expect it to be easy. InHunt: Showdown, you’re not the only bounty hunter after the prize and your competition may have no interest in splitting the reward.
MixingFPSmechanics in an onlineSurvival Horror, Hunt: Showdown takes you into a dark and gritty world infested with monsters. Choose your weapons and equipment, then head out in search of your next bounty. Though the game can be played solo, it’s more fun with friends online. Trying to solo bounties can be challenging, especially when you find yourself up against another party of players. Hunt: Showdown is a fun game, but make sure you bring along some buddies – the kind that won’t leave you behind and steal the bounty for themselves.
The Overshadowed Classic
Do you know the definition of insanity…wait, that’s the third game.Ubisoftmay own the series, but it was Crytek that jump-started it with the first of what would become one of themost popular FPS franchises in gaming. You play as Jack Carver, an ex-special forces soldier searching for a missing journalist on an island crawling with mercenaries. What starts as a rescue mission becomes a battle for survival as you discover a mad scientist is turning people into mutants.
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Unlike the later games, the firstFar Cryleans a bit more into science-fiction. But this works fine because the mutants shake up the combat after fighting endless mercenaries. The core of what made Far Cry great all started here. You can approach each fight however you choose – stealthily, close-quarters, guns blazing, etc. The game is deserving of a remaster.
The Game That Broke So Many PCs
Unless you had the most expensive high-powered PC in the early 2000s, trying to run Crysis was like trying to drive a car up Mount Everest. Considered one of thebest-looking games of the time, Crysis was the tech demo to beat all tech demos. You’re a soldier codenamed Nomad, armed with the Nanosuit, state-of-the-art armor that makes you feel like you’re Superman with a gun.
Run fast, turn invisible, be impenetrable and become super strong as you’re able to pick up anything that isn’t nailed down and throw it during combat, including enemies. You also have a wide variety of weapons that can be modified to suit your playstyle. And just when you think that the game was all about fighting North Korean soldiers on a tropical island, suddenly, aliens spring up as you’re fighting in the snow. Look, in the 2000s, you were either fighting soldiers or aliens, so why not both?
Be The Weapon
New York has become a battleground. The aliens have upgraded their tech and returned stronger than before. You are Alcatraz, a US marine, and a dead man walking. After a near-death encounter, you’ve been given another chance to finish your mission, along with your own Nanosuit. Armed with the most sophisticated combat armor around, you’re New York’s last hope of turning the tide against the hostile invaders.
Some players complain that the sequel lacks the more open environments of the first, but it makes up for this by making each battle take place in large arenas, allowing the player to tackle every encounter in any way. Crysis 2 feels like you’re going on a big adventure across a ruined New York, made better by the accompanying soundtrack featuring music from legendary composersHans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe. Crysis 2 is arguably the best overall for its premise, environment, level design, music and combat.
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Sucker Punch Productions has been in the video game business for quite a while now, with these titles being their best entries.
