The Best RTX Games

“RTX Off / RTX On” became a meme for a reason. Raytracing is a powerful capability, but it has seen its share of criticism. The feature was touted by Nvidia when it was first introduced in 2018, and while it’s confirmed to be a part of the next generation of consoles, you can already enjoy what this technology has to offer on PC.

While some have railed against RTX, calling it expensive and overrated, the fact of the matter is that raytracing and features like DLSS allow developers and artists to create even more beautiful games. With many games now beginning to take advantage of RTX graphics capabilities, we have revised our list to include 5 more titles that have followed suit. Are you ready for RTX, yet?

Updated October 11, 2024 By Matthew Mckeown: From what first started almost as a fad, it seems that more and more modern games are taking the RTX plunge in one way or another. Whether that’s with fully front loaded Ray Tracing options, or additional fancy sliders hidden away in a menu, the whole RTX affair is becoming much more commonplace.

From classics using it to overhaul their slightly dated design, to newer titles looking to show off as much tiny bits of detail, shiny surfaces and eye searing God Rays as possible. RTX graphics are here to stay. So if you’re looking to stress test your rig, check out some of the latest and greatest games with RTX graphics that are out now.

Black Myth: Wukong

Monkey Magic

A modern take on a classic Chinese mythos, Black Myth: Wukong from Game Science has been making the rounds and landing overwhelmingly positive for all the right reasons. It’s a mix of stylish third-person action and RPG mechanics that blend together to make a solid and very enjoyable game.

You play as the Destined One from the Monkey Clan. A cheeky ape that’s following in the footsteps of the legendary Monkey King whilst also uncovering your own mysterious past. It’s an enjoyable tale that really spent its budget well and with a beefy system to back it up you’ll absolutely love how gorgeous the game can be. Especially the tutorial fight in the clouds.

You don’t need to be familiar with Journey To The West to understand this game, but a bit of knowledge on Chinese mythology can help a little. It’s all super interesting regardless.

Ad Infinitum

Post War Trauma Recovery

A reality bending trip into post-world war one trauma, Ad Infinitum is one of those typical horror games with a point to make, but it does it incredibly well. Through a detailed and at times brutal rendition of the Great War, Ad Infinitum gets across the lasting impact of combat on those that take part and their loved ones that stay back at home.

It’s a gory and gorgeous journey into the hellscape of the mind with a lot of genuinely inventive body horror and monster designs that won’t give you nightmares, but will definitely stick in your head for a while. Surprisingly challenging at times but overall solid, Ad Infinitum is a horror game that uses its RTX capabilities well instead of just another shiny gimmick.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Breaking Baldur’s Gate Your Way

A game that’s being called the ultimate D&D simulator, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the third and finest installment in the decade running franchise. This time around the illithids are up to no good and after waking up with a tadpole of theirs inside your brain, it’s up to you and your party of adventurers to fix your little problem.

What follows is a multiple chapter and many hour long adventure across strange realms above and below ground. Plus, a trip to the titular and always lovely Baldur’s Gate itself. Play your way, romance your party members or be a menace to society, the options are endless. Plus, with all the fancy settings turned up to max certain areas, especially the Under Dark, look downright jaw dropping.

Baldur’s Gate 3 also received Community Mod support. So you can tinker with everything from character models to entirely new custom story campaigns.

Deep Rock Galactic

Diggy, Diggy, Hole

Rock and stone brothers, it’s time to dig deep, dig fast and get out before the bugs start getting really mad. If you haven’t experienced Deep Rock Galactic by this point, you really should. A highly recommended four-player co-op FPS featuring Space Dwarves, Ghost Ship Games really struck gold with this one.

The concept is simple, you’re a Dwarf and you like digging a hole. But, those mining sites are on hostile planets and deadly moons so you’ll need to go in heavily armed. It’s a chaotic horde shooter that hits all the right spots, plus with a free Battlepass that more games need to take notes from that you can blow through for great gear, it’s hard to find flaws with Deep Rock Galactic. Plus, it’s not too demanding on your machine and looks great with all the RTX greebles activated.

Don’t worry if you miss any gear on the Battlepass, it rotates into the storefront for in game credits eventually. So you’ll always be able to pick the cosmetic rewards up at some point.

Jusant

The Only Way Is Up

A unique and at times breathtakingly beautiful climbing game, Jusant from Don’t Nod went under a lot of peoples radars and it really shouldn’t have. It’s just you and an odd creature named Ballast as you scale the seemingly infinite peak.

There’s multiple biomes to explore as you crawl ever skyward and each one has a distinct look and feel so things are kept fresh on your ascent. There’s no timer or mounting pressure, as the game focuses more on a meditative calm as you climb, so you can go at your own pace. All you need to pay attention to is your stamina meter and not looking down.

There are weather effects like wind and rain that will kick in at times to make your climb that little bit harder.

The Fabled Woods

Wandering Through The Woods

A dark and twisting short story told through a walk in the forest, The Fabled Woods from CyberPunch Studios is a gorgeous and unnerving jaunt in the wilderness. Terrible and murderous secrets lie in wait amongst the shadows and twisting branches ahead of you, but you can only push forward.

Three intertwining tales are delivered to you as you progress along the root-covered trail and with all the RTX greebles set to max it’s easy to get lost in the serenity of nature for a while. Or add an extra bit of tension during one of the more darker and spookier sections. If you’re looking for something simple, low stakes and relaxing then take a stroll in these woods.

Don’t worry about the game stress testing your PC for long, it’s only about 90 minutes in length.

Blood Bowl 3

Grab your helmet and hope the Dark Gods are cheering you on in Blood Bowl 3. The third installment of the classic Warhammer franchise, Blood Bowl 3 from Cyanide Studio is the penultimate version of the game so far.

Despite a rocky start, they’ve managed to claw back some of the fanbase and the game is pretty enjoyable with a group when it all works right. You’ve got your usual team to choose and customize from a stack of 12, and there’s some new ones thrown in every now and then through DLC. A visually gorgeous game with a few teething problems, Blood Bowl 3 at max with RTX enabled looks almost as good as the models.

Cities: Skylines 2

Building Up The Sprawl

If you’re looking for something that might set your PC on fire then Cities: Skylines 2 is worth looking into. A beefy supercharged sequel to the original from Colossal Order Ltd, CS2 has never looked better and is arguably the best City Builder on the block at the moment.

Whilst you can run it on a low-end machine, if you really want to make your own little cityscape shine then setting everything to max is highly recommended. Although, just make sure your machine can handle it as CS2 puts so many fancy shaders on everything that it can falter even the strongest of frame rates. Build whatever city you like wherever you want and just bask in the industrial, parking lot filled hellscape that you’ve made.

Evil West

Vampire Punching Cowboys

It’s a rootin-tootin, Undead shooting time in Evil West. Set during the budding Wild West, the American Frontier is flooded with Vampires and other Undead nightmare beasts. You play as one of a handful of agents from a secret Vampire Hunter sect in the US and you’re also the only thing standing in their way.

What follows is a twisting tale of intrigue, betrayal, blood-sucking, and steampunk gadgetry all squashed into an exciting Wild West-themed action game. The combats simple and satisfying, there’s lots of weird and cowboy-themed weaponry to wield, and multiplayer co-op if you feel like bringing along a friend. A lot of the levels really shine when the RTX options are enabled and even without it’s a very good-looking and surprisingly stable game regardless.

We have
guides and walkthroughs
for Evil West that cover all the collectibles, weapons and monsters you’ll encounter.

Forever Skies

Wander Lonely As A Cloud

Cities are tumbling ruins, the skies are covered in a toxic smog and it’s a generally apocalyptic feeling all around, the same goes for Forever Skies by Far From Home. An interesting survival game that’s been hovering around in Early Access for a while, Forever Skies is a super satisfying and downright gorgeous game that more of us need to try.

The setup is simple, the world is in ruin and your only way of getting about is with your customisable airship. It’s a bit like Raft, but in the air. You’ll go from Skyscraper to Skyscraper, scavenging trash and other junk that can be used to upgrade your Airship, climb higher, and eventually escape and even explore the smog below. If you like a slow-burn survival game that looks good with your RTX options engaged, then Forever Skies should be in your library or on your Steam Wishlist.

Those skies aren’t safe as there’s monsters, storms, and worst waiting for you up there in the air.

Horizon: Forbidden West

Surviving Under Robotic Rule

A successful sequel to the original, we’re back in the shoes of Aloy on a new part of the continent, this time what was once LA tackling the problems faced by the tribes living with the local machinery. There are more ways to get around, bigger bots to break apart or tame, and some helpful hyper-advanced tech to collect on the way.

The well-crafted story provides a great backing to the setting as you walk or soar around the landscape. There are hours to spend exploring every nook and cranny, plus the base game is absolutely gorgeous. But good news for those looking to push their machines to the max as Horizon: Zero Dawn is now RTX compatible.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Pimping Out Pawns All Over Again

A successful follow-up to the original cult classic, Dragons Dogma 2 has us once again playing as the Arisen. A lone hero that’s been marked by a Dragon that they must one day defeat. But the lands are filled with gigantic monsters, there’s a war on, and you’ll need all the help you can get.

Recruitable Pawns are back again and there’s an absurdly large amount of customization options on offer for both you and your sellable slave. There are new unique classes to choose from and a few that have taken the old ones and given them a new spin. Plus, each role can be enhanced further with mastery which is a great incentive to mix and match your party.

You don’t need to have played the original. You can jump straight into Dragon’s Dogma 2 blind as it’s not a direct sequel.

Tekken 8

The Mishima’s Are Causing Mayhem Once More

Dorya! The King of Iron Fist Tournament is back once again, or at least it tries to be between all the world-ending events, the return of evil gods, and an earth-shattering showdown between Jin and Kazuya. But Tekken is on our screens and looking better than ever with a cast of classic and new characters.

Every country has sent its own fighter to a brawl that will decide it all, and outside of the bonkers storyline there’s what everyone’s interested in, the multiplayer. The customization levels are outrageously intricate and for those with the right setup, you can also enhance Kazuya’s glistening pectorals as Tekken 8 is RTX compatible.

The story campaign is highly recommended as it’s both bizarre, brilliant, and it finally has Jin addressing the fact that he caused the deaths of millions of people once.

Half-Life 2

Cult Classic In A New Skin

One on the list a lot of people would never suspect, the iconic Valve classic that is part of gaming history is getting an absolutely massive makeover. In a similar style to the Black Mesa project, there’s now a dedicated crew of absolute legends giving Half-Life 2 the modern-day remix.

Step back into the shoes of silent scientist extraordinaire, Gordon Freeman. Whom after sleeping for a number of years in another dimension returns to find Earth under new ownership. The Combine has conquered the world and it’s up to Gordon to mount a defense. Now you can enjoy that story once again with a nice RTX gloss over everything.

For first-timers eager to see where the story goes after Half-Life 2, welcome to what the rest of us have been feeling for the last 20 years.

Overwatch 2

At Least It’s Free To Play

Despite a less-than-stellar start, a few missteps, and the throttling of its player base, Overwatch 2 still proves to be popular. The multiplayer has still got that fun hook and the roster of characters, despite being much harder to get your hands on, is constantly expanding. Plus there’s regular seasonal events and a mountain’s worth of unique skins for each Hero and Villain.

Now Overwatch 2 may not be the most graphically demanding game, but if you want to pump up those features a little. Or make those shinies sparkle with some buttery smooth textures then feel happy in the knowledge that Overwatch 2 now joins the RTX list. Now you can pop an Ultimate and blind yourself with all those fantastically enhanced colors.

Alan Wake 2

Still Waking Up

A super sequel to the original Remedy horror classic, Alan Wake 2 is a big-budget return to the plight of everyone’s favorite writer turned Warrior of Light, Alan Wake. Following up on the events of the first game and American Nightmare, Alan Wake 2 runs two separate character-led stories through a mind-bending adventure into another dimension.

Everything that made the first game great has returned and been expanded on, plus the places the game goes are completely unpredictable and so out there that you’ll have a hard time guessing what’s going to happen next. Plus, with RTX capabilities enabled the darkness and lighting mechanics really get to shine. Overall it’s highly recommended to check this one out.

It’s worth playing through the first Alan Wake, American Nightmare, and Control as there are going to be references from all three as Remedy has confirmed Alan Wake 2 is in the Control universe.

Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora

A Little Blue Guy, In A Blue World.

Return to the lush and wild world of James Cameron’s Pandora, only this time you can explore it at your own pace. You play as a Na’vi who was abducted by the RDA at a young age and now 15 years later you’re free and have to find your place in this strange yet familiar world.

Customize your giant blue cat person however you like and connect with other tribes as you try to take down the RDA. There’s a lot of versatility to character customization, massive areas to explore, and dangerous alien wildlife to hunt. Plus, if your rig can run RTX options without breaking a sweat then you’re going to enjoy all the benefits as the bright colors of this bizarre and gorgeous untouched landscape.

Frontiers of Pandora is its own stand-alone story, so don’t worry if you haven’t seen the latest Avatar movie.

Deceive Inc.

Trust No One, Not Even Yourself

Prove you’ve got what it takes to be the world’s best undercover agent in Decieve Inc. from Sweet Bandits Studios. A chaotic and creative multiplayer game that promises a lot of mayhem, your goal is to eliminate other spies without being discovered yourself, but that’s not as easy as it sounds.

Each spy has their own particular skills and talents, but it’s how you use those abilities, weapons, and classic spy gadgets that makes the difference. Blend in and take out your opponents before they can achieve their particular subterfuge goals, or just become an anarchic wild card for other players to deal with. It’s also RTX capable and though it doesn’t make a massive difference, it still tightens it all up and gives the game’s slick spy style some extra polish.

This is the kind of game that pays to be paranoid. Don’t trust anything and always watch your back.

The Outlast Trials

Violent Group Therapy

A multiplayer follow-up to a cult favorite horror series, The Outlast Trials from Red Barrels surprised everyone by being a prequel that focused more on the multiplayer horror elements in a series that’s been solely single-player. Don’t let its Early Access badge fool you though, it’s already proved to be a great horror game to play with friends.

Set before you are a series of Trials and in each zone is a resident psychopath that constantly stalks the area and will try to murder you in the most brutal way possible. Each Trial requires something different to complete and it can take a lot of trial and error with the right team to make it through. Though it looks great without it, the RTX capabilities of The Outlast Trials only further enhance and help immerse you further into the hellish experiments.

Communication is key in the Trials, if your team isn’t talking it’s going to be a rough time.

Desynced

Automating The Future

A simple-looking sci-fi strategy game that hides an incredible amount of depth, Deysnced from Stage Games is an Early Access game that’s perfect for people who enjoy a long-haul project. Stranded on the surface of an alien planet with only highly customizable drones at your disposal, it’s up to your robotic workforce to save yourself and thrive in this strange new world.

There’s a high degree of customization for the drones and even the buildings themselves as they feature a modular design that allows for interchangeable parts and additions. The Drones themselves can also be individually programmed using logic gates to perform specific actions and tasks, so there’s a lot of guts in this game that you can chew into. It’s also the less demanding of the RTX-capable games as it’s mostly lighting, environmental, and model enhancements that appear for throwing all the big RTX switches on. If you like a strategy game with tons of depth, check out Desynced.

You don’t need to interact with the programming side of it as the game can be as simple or complex as you like.