2023 has been an amazing year for gaming, with the release of two of some of the most favorite games of the decade, Baldur's Gate 3, and the long-anticipated sequel to Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. There have been many other beautiful games released this year, but these are getting by far the most praise—and for good reason. 

Both take you to a charming yet daunting fantasy world, where even in the hardest of times, you wonder how could you be somewhere this grand?

I think gaming was essential during lockdown. There’s a running joke that everyone got Animal Crossing because it came out at the perfect time: May of 2020—and it’s true. We were able to connect with people (animals), venture outside, go to stores, travel to distant islands, experience new things…unlike when we were in lockdown. It gave a special kind of freedom to everyone, even non-gamers. 

Long-time gamers experienced this often, with the cozy game genre as a whole (think Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, etc.), or with high fantasy games. Even Fallout, a game post-nuclear war, has its draw to escape reality.

Even now, many people can’t travel, for one reason or another. I think that’s a contributing factor to the draw of beautiful games with stunning locations.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom looks like a painting from every angle; Baldur's Gate takes you to this fantastical world not too far away from our own.

When you start up, you have the mystical feeling of being a tourist, ready to find new things, wonder filling you as you just want to explore everything you can while you have the time.

Once you get in and really dig your hands into the maps in-game, you feel as if you’re a local, knowing the names of towns, shops, people, events. When you find something new to you, it’s exciting—shocking even. I know the locations of Hyrule more than I do my own town, as funny as it seems.

But why am I making a point of beauty in gaming? 

Well, the top two contenders of game of the year for 2023 don’t just happen to be two of the most beautiful games to come out this decade, or longer, depending on who you ask (me). I think visuals that go with storytelling is truly at its peak, and we will only see it go up, even if it takes awhile to surpass the high reach that 2023 set. 

I want to also go in depth about what makes two games special, to me and to the world: Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur's Gate 3.

Let’s start with Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

When Zelda: Breath of the Wild was released in 2017, it took the world by storm. Nintendo had never released any game like it; an open world game in the Zelda series was enough to make an impact, but the stunning art style was truly something brand new. Many people loved it, fewer people disliked it, but it stayed at the forefront of the best of Nintendo for years—and for good reason.

I played Breath of the Wild in 2021, after my partner told me I’d probably enjoy the game. I would give my soul to be able to play for the first time again.

Every inch of the land of Hyrule is pure beauty. There are so many details and creatures that make it feel truly alive.

I myself feel alive playing.

You do not create a character…you play as the main character, Link, and yet you feel like him, even though he never speaks. This immaculate immersion carries through with the newest installment, Tears of the Kingdom. 

To say I could wander through these games doing nothing but sightseeing is an understatement, because I already have and will always come back for the art style.

Whenever I felt trapped inside with no way out, Zelda was always my way to feel the grass again, swim through clear waters, watch the sunset, the moon rise, the fish jump out of the water, etc. 

Zelda doesn’t have to be perfect, either. Its graphics, while stunning, aren't the most clear, are generally low res, and have a few problems. Yet, it still stands as my #1 in most beautiful games ever made. 

Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3’s beauty is rooted in almost-reality; the characters look stunningly real, and the motion capture is amazing to say the least.

The people—and the setting—feel incredibly real…grounded, even.

Even though the game is high fantasy and D&D (though options are more limited than your normal D&D sesh), there's never a feeling that you’re too distant from the setting. I really love that about Baldur's Gate. Towns and cities really feel like towns and cities.

There are 3 different acts in Baldur's Gate, and each has so many unique places that there are still places that have been discovered by few. There are nooks and crannies that the average player may not even find, much like real life. 

Commonality

These are two vastly different worlds with different rules and very separate dynamics, yet they evoke a very similar feeling.

Zelda's Hyrule is quite a familiar place to many Nintendo gamers, and coming back to a changed world that still has most elements from before makes for an instant nostalgia trip.

Baldur's Gate 3 is also somewhat familiar yet very new. With unexpected and fascinating paths, it truly feels like you're an adventurer in a foreign land, danger and excitement waiting at every corner. 

Both easily display familiarity once you know them, yet give new surprises, even after hours and hours of gameplay.

It feels quite similar to finding a new or old place in your own hometown, one you’d never seen before yet wished you had. Both games still hold the same striking visuals after hours and hours of playing. 

I can’t recommend playing these games enough.

They have helped me and an endless amount of people through hard times. No matter what year you’re reading this in, if you’re stuck at home, or just have no extra time to travel, everyone needs an escape. 

I find, oftentimes, the mystical beauty of a good fantasy world helps. 

Lillie Forteau is the Music, Arts, and Culture Editor for Wandering Educators

All photos courtesy and copyright Lillie Forteau, published with permission