To pre-empt the suggestion, I considered Binary Domain, but it always felt a bit b-tier to me. I might need to reevaluate personally it if it's due for consideration.

Arkham Knight for me. Game could come out tomorrow and I'd believe it might as well be a PS5 exclusive.

can i court controversy here and say that Resident Evil 4 Remake sold me on all the cool lighting and effects and shit that have defined this gen

@letshugbro I enjoyed the Resi 4 remake, but I'd be hard pushed to celebrate its ambition or vision.

okay, then maybe i will change my suggestion to the resident evil 2 remake burger https://i.ibb.co/BqQxDy2/blogroll-EONCRw-PWk-AMT7q-G.png

also fortnite chapter 4 should be on here probably

I'd honestly add the OG RE4 as starting 7th gen a year in advance

Thought about it and both Star Fox and Mario Galaxy both amaze me considering the hardware, and in Mario Galaxy’s case I don't know why. It's not like it’s the most impressive thing ever visually, but the way it presents itself just feels far more advanced than the console it’s on, and Star Fox was just insane for the time.

Also I know Metroid Prime is already here but Metroid Prime Remastered it's jaw dropping considering the hardware, it's an huge upgrade and probably one of the best looking games in the Switch.

I should clarify that the criteria for this isn't just a game that defied contemporary standards, but a game that retains some sense of "next gen" today. Playing Star Fox in 1993 was incredible, but you'd struggle to convince new audiences of its specialness today.

Oooooooh ok, gotcha! Either way, everyting I said about Mario Glaxy stands, that game is spectacular even to this day and if it came out this year I wouldn't even bat an eye.

Metal Gear Solid 2 needs to be here. As does Halo 2 and Gran Turismo 3. And Sonic Adventure.

It's sad but Gears of War 1 still feels like the future to me - albeit a shit one

Shenmue. Imagine seeing that in 1999.

@yuggy I'll accept MGS2, though many would suggest the rigidity of its systems dates it. The complexity of your interactions with enemies and the environment still feel uniquely ambitious, and the RAY fight is enough of a wild chromey showstopper to get it on here.
The others felt next-gen at the time, but I don't think they've retained much of that excitement for new audiences. Gran Turismo's aesthetic is always ludicrously premium, and even the oldest ones still play like modern racing sims, but I don't think a single entry really stands out from the pack.