An idea I m happy to see the back of, is the notion that graphics is a one-way sliding scale towards photorealistic perfection. While I m certainly fond of games that exhibit hyperbudget beauty along the lines of Metro: Exodus or Shadow of the Tomb Raider, I m equally – probably more – excited by those who eschew realism in order to utterly master a particular aesthetic. Often, this takes the form of homage. Think Cuphead s take on surrealist 1930s cartoons, or Void Bastards comic book style. For my money though, nobody s done it quite like Stoic Studio, the developers behind The Banner Saga.