10 Most Amazing Draw Distances In Video Games [PICS]

GB - "It happens all too often. You have an expansive and rich open world game but, if you look to far into the distance, the landscape deteriorates into a mess of colour and blurred textures. In favour of the games that avoid this pit trap, here’s a run down of ten games in recent memory with an impressive draw distance."

[jaidek]

RDR still has some of the most beautiful and detailed vistas. Now, GTA4 looks great, but there are some really bad pop-ins at times on the buildings.

[The Matrix]

Far Cry 2 was a graphical masterpiece. If it's storyline structure and a few other small things had been fixed it could have been among the greatest games ever.

[kancerkid]

Good list.

[I_find_it_funny]

i only saw Oblivion, im not gonna click 10 times, sorry

[RedDead]

I really hate sites that extend the amount of clicks they get this way, your on my list GB

This is the list for anyone who wished to not waste their time on the site
Oblivion
Fallout 3
GTA4
Kameo: Elements of power
Far cry 2
RDR
Uncharted 2(?)
Crysis
The witcher 2
Just cause 2

[soundslike]

@matrix I agree

It only needed a bit more time in development...it was so damn close. I still had fun finding all the diamonds, and playing god in the editor.

[Wenis]

JC2 is definitely one of the most underrated games not just in gameplay but also in graphics. The colors in that game were so pretty and it was just nice to see something other than brown and gray.

[darthv72]

I always thought the scale of god of war two was impressive. When you are running up on the steads of time, the size and relation to distance and scale was very impressive.

[blumatt]

Just Cause 2 was an awesome game. I had tons of fun with it and the draw distance was pretty damn good! I've got a few videos I uploaded from my PS3 through the game using the Youtube upload feature.

[execution17]

FC2 was awesome, but i couldnt say the same about the MP tho, it was alright it just couldn't keep my attention

[evrfighter1]

RDR would be among the top but unfortunately they are full of jaggies and thus lose a lot of their appeal.

RDR has some scenery that would have shined on pc.

[Scrotie_McBoogerball]

It's a good list but it is far to centered on console games.

I didn't see the original Operation Flashpoint (or any new Op Flash) or ARMA 1/2. Also the STALKER games have some pretty impressive draw when turned up to high. Even Assasians Creed 1/2/3. One for the beauty books for off in the distance is Black and White 2 (pic 1). ICO and Shadow Of Colossus on PS2 where amazing for draw distance at the time.

I honestly think that games like Just Cause (fun as they are)shouldn't be in the list, the depth of field is so blurry that in reality you can see no more than a few hundred meters clearly. GTA IV on PC was atrocious as well it takes a mammoth PC to get a good draw at 60fps.

Heck even Minecraft has a pretty decent draw distance lol and that can run on a Gameboy color. /s

[SkylineR]

Why isn't Superman 64 on that list? Has the BEST draw distance... ;)

[ReservoirDog316]

Haha, I may sound crazy but Jak and Daxter 1 had a pretty impressive draw distance even by today's standards. You could actually see the later stages if you looked into the distance.

I don't know, was impressed when I replayed it not long ago.

[Coffin87]

Wow, I have to agree with almost every game on the list.. what site is that? ^^
But HD pics would have really helped ...

[morganfell]

ArmA II > everything else. You can stand on a mountain, look out for 20, 30 miles or even further and then travel to the places you see. The detail is amazing and ArmA 3 will take that same capability to another place altogether.

Just Cause 2's Avalanche engine deserves honorable mention.

[saladthieves]

Just Cause 2 always made me wonder how such a ridiculously large island could be drawn at such a distance.

[Scrotie_McBoogerball]

With tones and tones of depth of field blur. It makes the GPU work a lot less than it would if DoF is off.

If they didn't use DoF blur, you then have to render in the images and have varying levels of texture for different distances, then apply some form of AA to make the edges look decent. This process uses much more GPU power.

Not trolling Just Cause (I own and have clocked it). Just I am onto their smoke and mirrors when it comes to draw distance.

[Bladesfist]

Billboarding most likely.

[f789790]

Why don't they do that for every game??? I loved the view distance.

[cRaZyLeGs 93]

What about Crackdown? You could see everywhere! You could actually snipe each other from opposite sides of the map!

[RankFTW]

I've never played Crackdown but that sounds pretty cool.

[Honky Kong]

across the whole wide world?

[Frak]

only on the 360 version, PS3 version is Perfect

[awi5951]

GT4 is total crap on pc my grandmom can program a better pc game.

[FACTUAL evidence]

Heavenly sword...how could anyone forget!

http://firepic.org/thumbs/0...

[Trunkz]

lol @ list. ArmA 2 is known for having amazing distance, probably the most that you can ever do in a game as long as you have the computer to handle it.

[TheGameFoxJTV]

Anyone who disagreed with you is delusional.

[St0]

Yep, Arma 2 should be on that list

http://i214.photobucket.com...

[TheMrMadzen]

WHERE IS RESISTANCE 2???!!

[MariaHelFutura]

The first Motorstorm had some amazing draw distance. It`s the 1st time I was really impressed w/ dd this gen.

[cannon8800]

what about the racing game FUEL?

[reznik_zerosum]

witcher 2 ftw

[lowcarb]

Yeah they all had nice pictures but witcher 2 looks super incredible.

[KeiserSosay4788]

After I saw The Witcher 2 at the number 2 spot I was wondering what in the heck could be number 1, but I forgot about JC2. That draw distance is amazing.

[ExitToExisT]

this wasn't a top 10 list they were just randomly listed

[gameseveryday]

Its not randomly listed.

[Scrotie_McBoogerball]

Well if they are top 10 then this list fails badly.

[OhMyGandhi]

what about Battlefield: Bad Company 2?

http://www.gamespot.com/xbo...

[KeiserSosay4788]

Completely forgot about BC2! Yeah, what about BC2? The draw distances in SP AND MP were pretty awesome.

[Solidus187-SCMilk]

I know it will not include the old Turoks or any dynasty warrior games.

[DasTier]

And that just shows that games don't need to look good to be great.

[Solidus187-SCMilk]

I have turok 1 and 2, turok 1 is amazing. I just bought DW 7 and enjoy it very much. Im just mentioning that those games have really bad draw distances.

[Gambit07]

Why is Uncharted 2 there? It's not an open world game.

[digitalivan]

Agree, the view distance is just a cover, there is nothing between those buildings.

[SoapShoes]

Doesn't say it has to be an open world game in the title and it's just describing open world games in the description, there's no where that it says it's exclusive to open world.

[THWIP71]

Uncharted 2 is an amazing game, with equally amazing graphics...but it's as linear as they come, so there's really no draw distance to speak of.

[digitalivan]

@Estranged
Then why doesn't he include the 2d fighters, some of them have really long view distance.

[YodaCracker]

That's not draw distance in Uncharted 2. It's just a static background. For it to be draw distance, you have to actually be able to travel to these far off places in the distance. There is nothing there to "draw" in Uncharted 2, aside from the linear path you will be following.

Aside from that though, this is one of the more original "Top 10" articles I have seen.

[Solid_Snake-]

agreed. those hills are just attached on. its not as if you can see that far and go that far.

[moegooner88]

The Sunleth Waterscape from FFXIII

[jneul]

dont worry ff versus will outdo that :-D

[cochise313]

This might sound crazy, but ratchet and Clank also had some great draw distances.

[Kon]

Yep, confirmed again: GamingBolt Sucks big time. They just put some games in random order, they didn't even researched to see what game has the biggest draw distance. Seriously, why we keep approving these lame articles is beyond my comprehension

Whatever... I just don't like your site dude. Deal with it.

[gameseveryday]

stop trolling...there is nothing lame about this article.

[Mr Patriot]

clicking ten times is lame .

[cochise313]

Still tolling huh? These are great examples of draw distances.

[admiralthrawn87]

some of these games aren't actual draw distances like uncharted2 just cause 1 had more than most of these and wasn't mentioned. jc2 obviously wins. oblivions draw distance sucks and kameo? wtf

[Relientk77]

Red Dead Redemption
Uncharted 2
The Witcher 2

all beautiful

[Harelgur]

Just Cause 2 is the best

[Draperc]

It's not out yet but Infinity looks like it'll have the largest draw distance of any game to date.

[Winkle92]

That's frickin amazing. Thanks for showing that.

[Marquis_de_Sade]

Wow!

[UnbiasedGamer]

wow that was extraordinary! Imagine Mass Effect 3 like that!! HOLY! WENT INSIDE THE PLANET THAT WAS BREATH TAKING!! CAN YOU GET OUT AND EXPLORE THE PLANETS ON FOOT?! IMAGINE A PLACE LIKE OBLIVION JUST A SMALL PART OF THE GAME!!

[lowcarb]

Dang now that's impressive!

[GranTurismoKing]

What about the Assassins Creed series? That has some of the best draw distances.

[No Way]

My thoughts exactly.. It's beautiful to be on top of a tower looking out.
Being on the biggest tower in AC, you can see virtually everything around you.
The entire city, the whole countryside, and then all the way to the mountains, too!

Simply stunning, Assassins Creed is. But, the list they have is good, as well.

[YodaCracker]

I agree. Assassin's Creed should replace Uncharted 2 in the list. Uncharted 2 doesn't even make any sense being in the list since it's not an open world game. There's nothing being "drawn" in the distance, it's just a static background that you can't travel to.

[Marquis_de_Sade]

I agree, even if some don't. Uncharted 2 is one of the defining games of this generation, but it doesn't have "amazing" draw distances per se.

[zero_cool]

I don't think so your high on crack because uncharted 2 was a living canvas with amazingly detailed draw distances all the way from the himalayan mountains to an urban city.

[evrfighter1]

Your right kinda. Uncharted is a canvas but not living. More like just a static background that you can't interact with.

It doesn't belong on this list.

[Marquis_de_Sade]

zero-cool, shut up.

[Tommykrem]

I was sort of turned off by Oblivion at first, but it was of course stunning for its time, so it should make the list. Fallout 3 I don't think should've made the list, but apart from that great list.

[Aloren]

The draw distance in Fallout 3 is great though. The landscape you see when you leave vault 101 for the first time is pretty impressive.

[Tommykrem]

Yeah, but it's a wasteland. So it's not really that much in the distane anyway... and things tend to pop-in every now and then. I'd rather go for Prince of Persia or Mirror's Edge, both released the same year

[Aloren]

Well, the environment in fallout 3 may not be perfect, it may be a wasteland, but it's still much more detailed than in PoP or Mirror's Edge, making the draw distance more impressive, imo anyway.

[KRUSSIDULL]

Drawing a distance and backgrounds are not the same for example if Uncharted 2 is in there you can throw in Halo Reach in there aswell If you want.

http://www.digitalscrutiny....

There are many more good looking games with awsome backgrounds and draw distances this list is small. And I agree with Battlefield:BA2 has good draw distance aswell.

[STICKzophrenic]

Halo: Reach would actually make more sense due to the environments being more open than Uncharted 2.

I would probably take Uncharted 2 off and replace it with one of the Assassin's Creed games.

I would also remove Kameo and replace it with inFamous. When you climb to the top of the trash heap or whatever is amazing looking.

I think Fable 2 has a pretty good draw distance as well, so that could potentially replace Kameo.

[zero_cool]

uncharted 2 earn it's right to be on that list your pretty dam stupid!

[STICKzophrenic]

Are you daft? People have already explained to you that Uncharted 2 just uses static backgrounds. This is due to the game being LINEAR.

I didn't knock Uncharted 2 in any way, shape or form. There's nothing wrong with a game being linear or using static backgrounds, just in this particular article, Uncharted 2 doesn't make sense.

Stop being an idiot fanboy please.

[awi5951]

Halo 3 would make it too because you can fly up in a banche and leave the planets atmosphere the stars would come out and you could see the curvature of the planet. Talking about drawing everything in the distance. Bungies sky boxes are too damn big for something the player will almost never see.

[MerkinMax]

Here is the banshee to space video. The atmosphere is actually made of real particles. Pretty damn impressive if you ask me.

[heylo]

why no Ace Combat or HAWX?

[Sidewinder-]

Earth Defence Force wasn't a detailed game but the draw distance was wild. You could see the Ants bombing down the road from WAY-away.

[SuicideShaun]

The witcher 2 looks amazing.

[Fade_Walker]

Mass Effect?

[Too_many_games]

Assassins Creed 1,2,and Brotherhood?

[HINDERIZATION]

I liked a good amount of viewpoints in Demon's Souls. Too bad they weren't mentioned.

[Kluv]

I think assassin's creed and prince of persia (not forgotten sands) should both be on here.

[jidery]

Lack of Warhawk is disappointing.

[Undeadwolfy]

Flower?

[will_c_75]

A game I bought on five dollar whim that graphically impressed me was Dark Sector. As I was playing through it I kept thinking damn
this looks better than it should.

[yamzilla]

too bad every game on that list except crysis, the witcher 2 , Oblivion {heavily modded }(pc)and far cry dx10(pc) look like crap, who cares how far you can see if it looks terrible....

*edit, uncharted 2 also looks pretty good!!

[Tikicobra]

I'd love to see the worst.

[Dead_Cell]

Killzone 3 had some incredible backgrounds.

[coolasj]

This is a pretty bad top ten list. It doesn't say anything , there's no article. Just a picture slideshow.

[TheIneffableBob]

Minecraft

[BX81]

2 off the top of my head are Uncharted DF when you're on the sub looking off the edge and Alan wake. Wake had some really nice environments.

[hiredhelp]

Crysis, pc as shown.
Farcry 2
And yes if he botherd to take photos of in gameplay of his own youll realise uncharted 2 do have draw distances were you do travel threw.

[earbus]

Look forward to the most 10 amazing pixels article next.

[A LIVING LEGEND]

2 Worlds2 is noteworthy.

[Dark_king]

I would say MAG would be better then Uncharted 2.

[MARKUS_MAX1MUS]

ARMA II should without a single doubt in my mind be above all those with Just Cause 2 as second place.

You can have up to 6KM Draw Distances!

[PumPum]

Anyone remember Delta Force from 1998 for pc?

[GodSquad]

Goddamnit, where is Operation Flashpoint, Arma and Arma2?! This is bogus.

EDIT. I can show 10 km draw disatance.

[Organization XII]

where is pacman?? Im disappointed!

[MediaStinger]

Agree with almost everything on the list, missing out on a couple like Unreal Tournament 3 and Killzone 3, but nailed it at the end with Just Causes 2, by far the best.

[kazuma56]

No Alan Wake and Halo Reach? they've amazing real time draw distances in full 3D

[X-Zone]

Uncharted 2 wins
Then GTAIV is 2nd

[zero_cool]

god of war 3 should be on that list without a doubt the draw distance was jaw droopingly detailed & massive & oozing with atmosphere.im also gonna put fuel on that list because that game had pretty impress draw distance around 14,000km2 area to tear up on with 75 offroad vehicles,190 challenges,70 career races & hell it was fun just joy riding all over the place.

[akaFullMetal]

what about warhawk, now that had some good draw distance.

[J5Feedback]

Tetris anyone?