Digital Foundry Graphics of the Year 2021 Review

The Future of Graphics Technology

John Lineman and Alex Battaglia reflect on the most visually striking games and demos of 2021. While true "next-gen" breakthroughs are still being refined, the year showcased a massive transition toward ubiquitous 60 FPS performance across consoles, paired with high-quality rendering techniques.

Key Technological Demonstrations

• Matrix Awakens: A glimpse into the future using Lumen (hardware-accelerated GI), Nanite (micropolygon geometry), and emissive materials.
• Marbles RTX: A masterful demonstration of path tracing and high-quality asset tessellation, setting a benchmark for future real-time rendering capabilities.

Our Top Selections

"These are the types of demos that give us a glimpse of essentially the future of graphics."

• Returnal: Highlighted for its incredible physicalized particle effects and efficient use of temporal upscaling. It proves that a 60 FPS experience is paramount for gameplay quality.
• Lego Builder's Journey: A surprise indie powerhouse using world-class ray tracing for refraction and internal reflections, creating a near-photorealistic toy aesthetic.
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: Our undisputed #1 pick. It blends granular detail, robust ray-traced reflections, and seamless world-swapping, while introducing a high-fidelity 40 FPS mode for 120Hz displays.

Notable Mentions

• Kena: Bridge of Spirits: Praised for its animation quality and artistic polish.
• Resident Evil Village: Stunning environment design and density using the RE Engine.
• The Ascent: A technical achievement in geometric density and lighting for a small team.
• Forza Horizon 5: A massive evolution in world geometry, weather volumetrics, and light-bouncing capabilities.
• Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition: Perhaps the definitive implementation of RTGI (Ray Traced Global Illumination) in a shipped console title at 60 FPS.