My Favorite Game Screenshots
One of my favorite things to do when playing a game is take screenshots to have mementos of the time I spent with it, much like taking photos in real life. There's some amazing virtual photography out there, where people have gotten angles, lighting, and filters just right. I'm no expert myself, but I do have some favorite screenshots that I've taken, either because of composition or because they simply bring back good memories of a moment in the game. I wanted to share some of those with you for today's Blaugust post.
Obviously, this will be quite an image-heavy post! I've resized the pictures, so they should hopefully not take too long to load, but I want to make sure they come across in their full glory as well, so there might be some -- hopefully minimal -- loading times.
Alone in the Dark
I've been playing this game recently and have fallen in love with its environments. It's a horror title, so it can be quite dark and foggy, but part of it takes place in this beautiful fictional hacienda filled with greenery and light streaming through. I knew I had to capture this angle of Emily walking through the courtyard as soon as it popped up onscreen.
Cast n Chill
I've shared screenshots from this gorgeous pixel-art game before, but I couldn't resist sneaking another one in here. I love the reflection of the autumn leaves on the water. A fun thing about this scene is that sometimes you can see a moose swimming in the lake! I didn't capture that here, but maybe I'll try to take a screenshot of it next time I play.
Death Stranding
Death Stranding is a very screenshot-able game, with the devs even doing an ongoing virtual photography showcase to highlight some of players' best shots. If I ever got into virtual photography myself, I think this might be where I'd start. This was a nice moment of rest, with Sam and all his packages enjoying some music in the stunning landscape.
Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium has a beautiful art style that fits its moodiness perfectly. This is a case where I took these screenshots simply because I felt both of these moments deeply. They're quite poignant in the game, and I wanted to make sure I could look back on them.
Eastshade
Eastshade is filled to the brim with beautiful scenery. One of my favorite things about playing it was simply exploring and discovering one incredible vista after another. Sometimes moving into a new area would take my breath away, and these were two such moments.
Elden Ring
As it's one of my favorite games, you can imagine I have a lot of screenshots for Elden Ring. I chose two of my favorites: a shot from a cut scene and a shot of gameplay. The first is quite an affecting moment during the game, and the second is one of its most beautiful locations, the Haligtree.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
I love Jessie as a character and really wanted to get a good shot of her. I'm happy that I was able to capture this contemplative look of hers. Cut scenes can be hard to snap shots of because you don't always know what's coming next and sometimes scenes flash by in an instant.
The Long Dark
I've put over 200 hours into this survival game, in large part because of the scenery. I can't get enough of the watercolor-esque depiction of the Canadian wilderness with its aurora borealis and frozen rivers and cozy cabins. Even though you're trying to survive in the harsh wilderness, there's something inexplicably cozy about this game, especially when you find a cabin, place all your stuff around it, and make some coffee at the fireplace.
Pathologic
The Pathologic games are beautiful in a dark, melancholy way. The first two screens are from Pathologic 2, and the third one is from Pathologic Classic HD. I love the little details throughout the town and just thought the rain puddle with leaves would make a lovely contemplative shot. The Polyhedron is iconic, and I wanted to get a picture of it in all its glory. And the third screenshot is just something I thought was funny and got kind of lucky capturing, as this guy is fast!
Persona 4 Golden
This one definitely wasn't any kind of feat to capture, but I loved how Halloweeny this scene was and wanted to immortalize it. There's a lot going on, and it's one of the scenes in a game that I've wanted to transport myself to the most. This Halloween party looks so fun!
SEASON: A Letter to the Future
One of the most beautiful games I've ever played. I adore the art style of SEASON, and it was hard not to go around snapping photos of every little thing. I think this shot does a good job of simply encompassing the game, though: Estelle with her bike, exploring the valley.
Silent Hill 2 Remake
I think the Silent Hill 2 remake is quite beautiful and did a great job with Maria in particular. I'm glad I caught this image of her having a drink with James at Heaven's Night. It's a great moment at one of the series' iconic locations, and I adore the look on her face and the sign in the background. This is a moment when she has full control of the situation.