Gaming graphics have come a long way, in a short time. The pixel and polygon-built games that amazed players in their formative years have become long-gone memories while the newest titles compete for the best and brightest graphics. 2022 continued to be a year of growth for game development, with the release of Unreal Engine 5.

The engine was discussed at length at the State of Unreal 2022 Showcase which described the improvements creators and players have to look forward to in terms of lighting, frame rate, and photorealistic textures. Since the showcase, many games have been announced and confirmed to utilize the impressive engine, which is actively revolutionizing gaming. 2023 will be a groundbreaking year, with some of the best titles made in Unreal Engine 5 finally being released.

Project Ryu

A anime styled woman stands facing a nightime landscape of a Korean city street at night. Lights illuminate the path in a photorealistic style.

Not much information is available about Project Ryu, but 2022 brought the graphic trailer which teases a beautiful RPG that will utilize the power of Unreal Engine 5 to the fullest extent. Brimming with beautiful lighting and textures, this single-player game set in South Korea is one to look forward to.

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The creators of this game, RYU Production, is a 6-person indie team, which is impressive considering the lofty game they’ve already managed to create. If the trailer is any indication, the game’s sprawling city setting will allow players to navigate the charming streets of Korea in different weather and lighting scenarios. With a possible focus on photography and exploration, Project Ryu is one of the more unique UE5 games to look forward to.

Dreamhouse: The Game

Screenshots from the game Dreamhouse - a photo realistic home building simulator. On the left the foundation of a house is laid. On the right interior shots of modern homes are shown.

For fans of games like Disney Dreamlight Valley or The Sims comes a photorealistic home-building experience titled Dreamhouse: The Game. Developers are creating this game at the perfect time, with the ability to utilize Unreal Engine 5, enabling this game to push the boundaries of photo-realistic life simulators.

Taking home building far beyond games like Animal Crossing, Dreamhouse allows players the experience of building from the ground up, from laying the foundation to installing plumbing. The home's interiors are also completely customizable, just another aspect of this massive game that is sure to impress. Releasing in 2023 and touting the impressive graphics UE5 allows for, Dreamhouse is a game to look forward to.

Project M

Photo realistic game characters from Project M. On the left a Korean women stares ahead with a shocked look on her face. On the right, a man raises his hand defensively, game interface is giving the player an option in Korean.

Project M is a stunning interactive movie created in Unreal Engine 5. Featuring quick time events, this narrative-driven game will put fate in the hands of the player, whose hasty decisions will impact how the story pans out, as teased in the dramatic trailer.

Featuring gorgeous cinematography, photorealistic textures, and smooth animation, this game appears to be making great use of Unreal Engine 5’s abilities, particularly the Lumen lighting system. A highly anticipated narrative game by Korean developers NCSOFT, this is another impressive title made possible by the newest engine. Narrative games like Project M continue to push the graphical boundaries of gaming, an ever-improving art with a bright future.

Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate

Dragon Quest is written in blue, stone text. Behind is the roman numerals for "12" are etched in fiery lines upon black stone.

Dragon Quest fans are no strangers to the waiting game, as the franchise is known for taking years to produce and release its games, leaving fans with few ideas of what to expect until much closer to the release date. While not much is known about Dragon Quest 12, it has been confirmed to be developed in Unreal Engine 5, much to fans' excitement.

Dragon Quest 11 offered unique graphic qualities, with the ability to switch between styles depending on the system players were using, however, Dragon Quest 12 is expected to be far more impressive thanks to its development in UE5. The trailer certainly looks high quality, with fiery explosions, smoke, and detailed terrain, though no actual gameplay footage is shown. With an anticipated release in 2023, Dragon Quest fans have a new generation of graphics and with more anti-aliasing abilities, it’s expected to be the most realistic art style yet.

The Witcher Sequel

Split image of the new entry in The Witcher and Geralt in promo for the Wild Hunt remaster

Known for some of the best storylines in gaming, The Witcher has become a force in the industry. While the game already pushed the boundaries of narrative and graphical quality CD Projekt Red continues to up the ante, confirming that the next Witcher installment will utilize Unreal Engine 5.

The teaser image for the next iteration doesn't offer much information about the game, but fans are intrigued nonetheless. Speculation around the medallion in the teaser has fans wondering if Ciri or School of The Cat will be centric to the story. Whether it's cats, wolves, or another beast entirely, The Witcher 3 is sure to be stunning as one of the most anticipated games created in UE5.

ARK 2

A screen capture from the upcoming game ARK 2. Two people ride on the back of a T-Rex. Behind them is a skyline of another planet, with two moons.

Though Studio Wildcard was forced to push the release of ARK 2 to 2023, the dinosaur survival sandbox is sure to bring impressive graphics and an immersive experience using Unreal Engine 5. The studio recently revealed the newest iteration of the game will feature “Souls-like melee combat," according to Games Radar.

Taking place shortly after the events of "Genesis: Part 2", the fifth and final paid DLC expansion pack released for ARK: Survival Evolved in 2021, ARK 2 will be a continuation of the story fans have come to know and love. The game's predecessor runs in Unreal Engine 4, but the upgrade in development will surely be evident in the sequel, bringing the ARK series into the newest generation of gaming. Players will become even more immersed in the daunting universe of ARK than ever before, ready to take down beasts and foes in impressive graphical quality.

STALKER 2

Screen captures from STALKER 2. A first person perspective shows a broken rife in the hands of the player. Wolves run on railroad tracks ahead.

The realistic graphics of the upcoming sequel S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chernobyl are sure to send shivers down the spines of its players. This unique game combines elements of first-person shooters, immersive life simulators, and horror, per the official website.

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Stepping into the apocalyptic world of STALKER 2 will be an unforgettable experience, offering HD graphics and smooth animations in a terrifying setting. The use of Unreal Engine 5 in development means more realism for this horror game that will surely test the nerves of players. The trailer on the home page of the official site showcases dynamic lighting, particle effects, and detailed landscapes, an early look into this impressive game that will impress in 2023.

RedFall

Four characters from Redfall are mid-step against a red dystopian cityscape. A robot creature is between them.

It’s hard to believe one of the best stealth games of all time, Dishonored, is among the games turning ten years old in 2022. In the last decade, developer Arkane Studios have continued creating an impactful game, the next of which will utilize Unreal Engine 5.

Redfall was slated to release in 2022, but like many games this year was pushed to 2023. While fans have a while to wait for this highly anticipated game, they know it will be an impressive one that utilizes Unreal Engine to its fullest extent. The art for the games teases detailed characters and high-quality textures within a colorful dystopian world.

Kingdom Hearts 4

Screenshots from Kingdom Hearts 4. Sora stands on the left, looking concerned. On the right, Sora dashes towards a towering beast with the keyblade.

Easily claiming its place as one of Disney’s best video game series, Kingdom Hearts 4 is one of the heaviest hitters being developed in Unreal Engine 5. While the first trailer showcased the game running in UR4, its final version will be upgraded to 5, utilizing the engine to its fullest extent.

Sora is looking as detailed as ever in screen captures from the game shared on Famitsu.com, which is utilizing the incredible lighting and texture levels the engine allows for. There has been speculation that the game with feature Star Wars inspired levels after eagle-eyed fans noticed the foot of an AT-ST briefly shown in the trailer, shown more closely on stsrwarsnews.net. Regardless of content, this game is sure to visually impress as one of the best games being developed in Unreal Engine 5.

Tomb Raider

Camilla Luddington in motion capture for Tom Raider

The Tomb Raider franchise has come a long way from its original release on the Sega Saturn in 1996. From polygons to photo-realistic textures, the next Tomb Raider game is sure to be the best looking yet, especially since it has been confirmed to be developed in Unreal Engine 5.

During the State of Unreal 2022 Showcase developers, Crystal Dynamics revealed a new Tomb Raider game was in the works. While there is no release date or trailer, fans are excited about a new addition to the franchise, particularly knowing its graphics will shine thanks to its development in the latest engine. Get ready to explore with Lara in high fidelity upon the game's unknown release as one of the most highly anticipated Unreal Engine 5 games yet.

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