Nvidia RTX: Top 5 Games That Utilize Ray Tracing The Best (& 5 That Do Not)
It was in 2018 when Nvidia revealed its real-time ray tracing technology for games, titled Nvidia RTX. At the time, many of us thought it to be the next best thing for video games, while some of us felt that it is going to be a side thing, like Nvidia Physx. Fast forward to 2021, it's been over two years since RTX cards have hit the market and many new games have opted for the technology. Which is why it's interesting to see how many of these games have used it to goodwill.
And how many have just used it for the sake of marketing. RTX technology is all about real-time lighting, and its interaction with the environment. This doesn't always mean good visuals, but yes, guarantee more physically accurate graphics.
Updated April 3, 2021, by Thomas Bowen: As another year passes and more people start to get their hands on graphics cards capable of running the latest triple-A titles with real-time ray tracing enabled, the number of games to support the feature has increased exponentially. This is also helped by Nvidia's always improving DLSS technology, which relies on AI upscaling to run games at higher resolutions without placing anywhere near as much demand on graphics cards and CPUs. As such, ray tracing is no loner something that only enthusiasts can enjoy, with the once pipe-dream well and truly becoming a beautiful reality. Well. Sometimes, at least.
10 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Average RTX)
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare is a good game since almost everyone has enjoyed it to an extent. This means the game has undoubtedly done a lot of things right and very few wrong. Sadly, ray tracing support falls squarely into the latter cattegory.
The game has good visuals even with RTX off, which means the ray tracing effects have to add to the overall experience. Unfortunately, they do no as the comparison between RTX on and off looks insanely similar. The only difference people will find is the frames per second, as turning on the RTX takes away almost 15fps.
9 Wolfenstein: Youngblood (Good RTX)
The newest game in the Wolfenstein franchise called Wolfenstein: Youngblood, has received mixed reviews from the critics and users. Some have criticized the story campaign while others have complained about its co-op. But even with all its flaws, the game has done one thing right.
The implementation of Nvidia's RTX effects in Wolfenstein: Youngblood is done very well. The reflections and lighting bring out the overall mood of the game. Although missing baked reflections on the glass without RTX could be a part of lazy work or a marketing technique.
8 Control (Average RTX)
Control is one of the first titles that demonstrated the advantage of RTX to a lot of gamers. But did it do a good job? The answer is a bit subjective. Control is already a stunning game, with its ambient environments and physics-based objects. So does the implementation of RTX makes a visual difference in the game?
It certainly does, but it is still not worth the gamble. The reason is simple. The game is beautiful with or without the effects. This simply means a player's experience of the game will not change much, whether they use it or not.
7 Metro Exodus & DLCs (Good RTX)
Now, this is a game that deserves to be experienced with real-time ray tracing enabled, as it really does impact the look and feel of the game. And the developers have clearly gone to great lengths to make sure of that.
Metro games have always been a graphical benchmark for PC gamers, and their latest release Metro Exodus stays true to that. The RTX in the game is demanding for sure, but it changes the entire feel of the game. Metro series has a very dark post-apocalyptic world, which becomes a lot more ambient and life-like with the use of real-time lighting and shadows.
6 Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries (Average RTX)
If the differences are not visible in the image above, it means there isn't much. For starters, the left image is with RTX on, and the right one is with RTX off; although it's likely that only the most eagle-eyed viewers would be able to state as much with any real confidence.
Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries uses Nvidia RTX technology, but sadly it does not show. Most RTX demonstrations of this game show gameplay from the interiors, as the effects are most visible there. But even with that, they are not enough to make this game stand apart. Although, that doesn't mean the game isn't good.
5 Battlefield V (Good RTX)
Battlefield V might not be a fan favorite game of the series, but it sure does one thing right. The RTX in this game is just gorgeous and to the point. The lighting, reflections, and shadows look much more realistic than before, giving it a distinct visual look compared to the older titles.
So the only question here is if it is worth using in the game's multiplayer mode? Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding "no." These effects are not as taxing as some other games on the list, but they do noticeably affect the performance of the game. This is, of course, a strict no-no when it comes to playing online.
4 Quake II RTX (Average RTX)
Anyone who is actively playing Quake II is playing for a particular reason, the nostalgia and fun. So RTX inclusion here wouldn't be a game-changer. And, for people who are not playing Quake II, the RTX wouldn't be enough to start playing it again. So the question is, why is it even there?
Well, it could be the fact that the game can be an excellent little benchmark for real-time effects since it is so old. Most of the RTX effects which aren't visible in newer AAA titles will be easily visible here. But that still doesn't add anything to the game.
3 Cyberpunk 2077 (Good RTX)
Despite the myriad of problems with the game at launch, there can be no denying that Cyberpunk 2077 looks absolutely stunning with ray tracing enabled. Of course, those playing at higher resolutions will need a somewhat beefy rig in order to get it running at a sensible frame rate with real-time ray tracing turned on. There is a solution of sorts to this problem though.
It may not be the first game to utilize Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling technology, but it's probably the best example of how useful AI assisted upscaling can really be. With the setting enabled, even those without one of the latest graphics cards can enjoy ray tracing and steady frame rates; which bodes well, really, considering the ongoing stock shortages of Nvidia's RTX 30XX lineup.
2 Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Average RTX)
Isn't it weird when a AAA title does not match the quality of RTX in much smaller games? Shadow of the Tomb Raider is another example of that. Similar to the Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare, this game is good enough. And one of the few things that are bad about it is its RTX implementation.
There simply isn't a significant visual difference between Ultra and off settings for RTX. But technically, there should be a difference and a big one. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is one of the titles that can use the effects of RTX as a gameplay element.
1 Minecraft (Good RTX)
It may be almost a decade old, but Minecraft is still one of the most popular games around and continues to receive updates on a regular basis. One such update came towards the end of 2020 and allowed those playing on Windows to do so with real-time ray tracing enabled.
Given the game's simplistic visuals, one might wonder why Microsoft would go to all of that effort, but the results definitely speak for themselves. The realistic reflections completely change the look and feel of the game and are definitely worth losing a few FPS for. It's also great for the industry itself; demonstrating that old games needn't be left behind by new technology.
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