Ray tracing has revolutionized gaming visuals, bringing cinematic lighting, reflections, and shadows to life in ways we never thought possible. It’s not just about prettier graphics, it’s about immersion, making virtual worlds feel so real you might forget you’re holding a controller.
With ray tracing, light behaves like it does in the real world, bouncing off surfaces, casting soft shadows, and creating reflections that make your jaw drop. The catch? It demands serious hardware, but when it’s done right, it’s worth every frame. Here’s our rundown of the top 10 games that nail ray tracing, transforming good-looking titles into visual masterpieces.
10. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Lara Croft’s adventures have always been about exploring stunning environments, but Shadow of the Tomb Raider takes it to another level with ray tracing. This 2018 title, the final chapter of the reboot trilogy, sends Lara through dense jungles, ancient ruins, and murky caves. Ray tracing enhances the experience by making these environments pop with realistic lighting and shadows.
The game uses ray-traced shadows to give jungles a lifelike depth, where sunlight filters through leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground. It’s subtle but immersive, making every step through a temple or village feel more grounded. Reflections on water surfaces, like rivers or puddles, also get a boost, mirroring the environment with startling clarity.
While the ray tracing here isn’t as in-your-face as some newer titles, it adds a layer of polish that makes tomb raiding feel more cinematic. The game’s optimization is solid, too, so you don’t need a top-tier GPU to enjoy the enhanced visuals, though it shines brightest with a decent RTX card and DLSS to smooth out performance.
What makes Shadow of the Tomb Raider stand out is how ray tracing complements its exploration-heavy gameplay. The realistic lighting draws you deeper into Lara’s world, whether you’re sneaking through a shadowy ruin or marveling at a sunlit vista. It’s not the most aggressive use of ray tracing on this list, but it’s a great example of how subtle enhancements can elevate an already gorgeous game.
9. Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
Swinging through New York City as Spider-Man is already a thrill, but Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered on PC cranks it up with ray tracing. Originally a PS4 hit, this 2020 remaster for PC (and later PS5) adds ray-traced reflections that make the Big Apple’s skyscrapers dazzle. The glass-heavy cityscape is perfect for showing off ray tracing, with every window reflecting the neon lights, traffic, and even Spidey himself as he zips by.
The reflections are the star here. Stick to a skyscraper’s window, and you’ll see the city mirrored back with insane detail, other buildings, clouds, and even distant lights all appear in real time. It’s not just eye candy; it makes web-slinging feel more immersive, like you’re truly soaring through a living city. Ray-traced shadows also add depth to the streets below, especially during sunset or nighttime scenes, where long, soft shadows stretch across pavement. The PC version’s optimization is a high point, with flexible settings that let you balance visuals and performance, especially with DLSS to keep frame rates smooth.
While the ray tracing doesn’t overhaul the game’s look entirely, it’s more about enhancing an already solid foundation, it’s hard to go back to non-ray-traced versions once you’ve seen those reflections. For anyone with an RTX card, this is a must-play to experience New York in all its reflective glory.
8. Doom Eternal
Doom Eternal is pure chaos, demons, shotguns, and breakneck action. But don’t let the speed fool you; this 2020 shooter uses ray tracing to make its hellish battlegrounds look downright gorgeous. id Software’s idTech engine is a beast, and ray tracing adds a layer of polish to the sci-fi corridors and gore-soaked arenas.
The game leans on ray-traced reflections to make its environments shine, literally. Polished metal surfaces, glass panels, and even pools of blood reflect the chaos around you, from flickering lights to explosions. It’s not just cosmetic; the reflections ground the fast-paced action, making every demon-slaying moment feel more intense. Ray-traced lighting also enhances the game’s sci-fi aesthetic, with neon-lit outposts and hellish landscapes glowing in ways that feel both futuristic and apocalyptic. The best part? Doom Eternal is well-optimized, so even mid-range RTX cards can handle ray tracing without tanking performance, especially with DLSS in the mix.
What’s cool is how ray tracing doesn’t distract from the gameplay, it enhances it. You’re too busy ripping and tearing to obsess over every reflection, but when you catch a glimpse of a demon’s face reflected in a shiny surface mid-battle, it’s a reminder of how far gaming visuals have come. Doom Eternal proves ray tracing can work in fast-paced shooters without slowing you down.
7. Resident Evil Village
Horror thrives on atmosphere, and Resident Evil Village nails it with ray tracing. Released in 2021, this survival horror gem takes you to a creepy Eastern European village, and ray tracing makes every shadow and light source feel oppressively real. The game uses ray-traced global illumination (RTGI) and reflections to create a world that’s as beautiful as it is terrifying.
RTGI is the standout feature, bathing environments in soft, realistic light that shifts naturally as you move through castles, villages, and factories. Torches cast flickering shadows that make every corner feel like a threat, while moonlight streaming through windows creates hauntingly beautiful scenes. Ray-traced reflections add to the immersion, especially in areas with water or glass, like the castle’s ornate mirrors or the slimy reservoirs. These effects make the game’s world feel alive, amplifying the tension as you brace for the next jump scare.
Resident Evil Village balances its ray tracing well, so you don’t need a monster rig to enjoy it, though DLSS or FSR helps keep things smooth. The visual upgrades aren’t just for show, they make the horror hit harder, drawing you deeper into Ethan Winters’ nightmare. If you’re a fan of scary games, this one’s ray tracing will leave you both awestruck and on edge.
6. Dying Light 2 Stay Human
Dying Light 2 Stay Human throws you into a zombie-infested open world where parkour and survival go hand in hand. Released in 2022, it uses ray tracing to make its post-apocalyptic city feel gritty and alive. The game’s urban setting, with its crumbling buildings and neon-lit hideouts, is a perfect canvas for ray-traced effects.
Ray-traced global illumination and shadows steal the show here. Sunlight pours through broken rooftops, casting soft, realistic shadows that shift as you sprint across the city. At night, neon signs and campfires create dynamic lighting that makes every zombie encounter feel more intense. Reflections on wet surfaces or glass add a layer of realism, especially during rain-soaked missions where puddles mirror the chaos around you. The ray tracing transforms indoor scenes, too, with light bouncing naturally off walls to create moody, immersive environments.
What sets Dying Light 2 apart is how ray tracing enhances the open-world exploration. The lighting makes every rooftop chase or narrow escape feel cinematic, and the game’s optimization means you can enjoy these effects on mid-range hardware with DLSS. It’s not just about looking pretty, it’s about making the apocalypse feel real.
5. Control
Remedy Entertainment’s Control is a masterclass in blending storytelling with cutting-edge visuals, and its ray tracing implementation is one of the best. Released in 2019, this supernatural action game uses ray tracing to make its shifting, otherworldly architecture pop. The Oldest House, the game’s setting, is a brutalist maze of concrete and glass, and ray tracing brings it to life.
The game leans heavily on ray-traced reflections, lighting, and contact shadows. Glass surfaces reflect entire rooms with uncanny accuracy, showing off enemies, debris, and even Jesse Faden’s shape-shifting gun in real time. Ray-traced lighting adds depth to the game’s stark environments, with soft shadows and diffused light creating a surreal atmosphere. Contact shadows make objects feel grounded, adding subtle details like shadows under furniture or around corners. These effects combine to make the Oldest House feel like a living, breathing space that’s as unsettling as it is beautiful.
Control’s ray tracing is optimized well, so even older RTX cards can handle it with DLSS, delivering smooth performance alongside jaw-dropping visuals. The game’s use of ray tracing isn’t just a flex, it enhances the eerie vibe, making every paranormal encounter feel more immersive. If you want a game that shows off what ray tracing can do, Control is a must.
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4. Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition
Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition is a poster child for ray tracing done right. Released in 2021 as an upgrade to the 2019 original, this version is fully ray-traced, meaning it ditches traditional lighting entirely. The result is a post-apocalyptic world that feels hauntingly real, from desolate wastelands to claustrophobic tunnels.
The game uses ray-traced global illumination, reflections, and shadows to create a dynamic lighting system. Sunlight streams through broken windows, casting soft shadows that shift with the time of day. Reflections on water or metal surfaces capture the environment in stunning detail, while indoor scenes glow with realistic light bounces. The Enhanced Edition’s ray tracing makes every moment feel immersive, whether you’re exploring a snowy ruin or fighting mutants under flickering lights. It’s not just about visuals—the lighting adds to the tension, making every shadow a potential threat.
This game demands a decent GPU, but it’s optimized well enough that mid-range RTX cards can handle it with DLSS. Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition shows how ray tracing can transform a game’s atmosphere, turning a good shooter into a visual masterpiece that pulls you into its bleak world.
3. Minecraft RTX
Who would’ve thought a blocky sandbox game could be a ray tracing showcase? Minecraft RTX, the Bedrock Edition with Nvidia’s ray tracing support, transforms the familiar world of cubes into something breathtaking. Released in 2020, it uses ray tracing to overhaul lighting, reflections, and shadows, making Minecraft feel like a whole new game.
Ray-traced global illumination is the star, bathing every block in realistic light. Sunlight streams through glass panes, casting colorful glows, while torches create warm, dynamic pools of light. Reflections on water or polished surfaces like glass or metal are stunning, showing off the environment in real time. Shadows are soft and precise, adding depth to caves and forests. The difference is night and day, toggle ray tracing on and off, and it’s like stepping from a cartoon into a painting.
What makes Minecraft RTX special is how it transforms a simple aesthetic into something photorealistic without losing the game’s charm. It’s not just for tech nerds; the enhanced visuals make building and exploring more immersive. You’ll need a solid RTX card to run it smoothly, but with DLSS, it’s surprisingly accessible. If you want to see ray tracing’s full potential, Minecraft RTX is a game-changer.
2. Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is a visual juggernaut, and its ray tracing pushes the boundaries of what games can look like. CD Projekt Red’s 2020 RPG, set in the neon-drenched Night City, got a massive glow-up with its 2023 path tracing update (Overdrive Mode). This isn’t just ray tracing, it’s full-on path tracing, where every light source is calculated in real time, creating unparalleled realism.
The game uses ray-traced global illumination, reflections, shadows, and ambient occlusion to make Night City feel alive. Neon signs cast vibrant glows that bounce off wet streets, while skyscraper windows reflect the bustling city with insane detail. Ray-traced shadows soften the harsh edges of traditional lighting, making every alley and rooftop feel grounded. The path tracing update takes it further, simulating light bounces so accurately that it feels like you’re walking through a sci-fi movie. Puddles, glass, and even car paint reflect the world dynamically, adding to the immersion.
The catch? Path tracing is a beast, demanding a high-end GPU like an RTX 4090 to run smoothly, though DLSS 3 helps a ton. Even without Overdrive Mode, the standard ray tracing settings are stunning and more accessible. Cyberpunk 2077’s visuals are a love letter to ray tracing, making every moment in Night City a visual feast.
1. Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake 2 takes the crown for the best use of ray tracing in gaming. Released in 2023, Remedy Entertainment’s survival horror sequel is a visual tour de force, using path tracing to create a world that’s equal parts beautiful and terrifying. Set in the moody Pacific Northwest, the game’s forests, lakes, and eerie towns come alive with ray tracing.
Path tracing here means every light source, flashlights, neon signs, car headlights, behaves realistically, casting soft shadows and dynamic reflections. The game’s dense forests are a highlight, with moonlight filtering through trees to create hauntingly lifelike scenes. Reflections on water or wet surfaces capture the environment in stunning detail, while ray-traced global illumination makes indoor areas, like abandoned buildings or theaters, feel oppressively real. The lighting doesn’t just look good, it amplifies the horror, making every shadow feel like a threat.
Alan Wake 2 is demanding, no question, you’ll need a beefy GPU and DLSS to keep frame rates playable. But the payoff is worth it. The game’s path tracing sets a new standard for visuals, blending cutting-edge tech with a gripping story. It’s the kind of game that makes you stop and stare, proving ray tracing isn’t just a gimmick, it’s the future.
Why Ray Tracing Is a Game-Changer
Ray tracing isn’t just a fancy buzzword, it’s a leap forward that’s reshaping how we experience games. The titles on this list, from the blocky brilliance of Minecraft RTX to the cinematic horror of Alan Wake 2, show how ray tracing can transform everything from sprawling open worlds to claustrophobic corridors. It’s not about making games look “better” in a shallow sense; it’s about creating worlds that feel alive, where light and shadows pull you deeper into the story and gameplay. Whether it’s the glint of neon on a wet street in Cyberpunk 2077 or the eerie glow of a flashlight in Resident Evil Village, these effects make every moment more immersive.
Sure, ray tracing can be a resource hog, and you’ll need a solid GPU to really crank up the settings, especially for heavyweights like Alan Wake 2 or Cyberpunk 2077’s path tracing mode. But with tech like DLSS and FSR making things more accessible, even mid-range rigs can get in on the action. These games prove that ray tracing is more than a tech demo; it’s a tool that devs are using to push storytelling and atmosphere to new heights.
As hardware gets better and more games adopt path tracing, we’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible. So, fire up your RTX card, dive into these titles, and see for yourself why ray tracing is the future of gaming visuals. What’s your favorite ray-traced game? Let us know, and keep exploring those beautifully lit worlds!
