The best video games to test your home theater

Whether it’s sound or image, video games now offer a level of production quality that rivals the biggest cinematographic productions. With Ray Tracing, ultra-realistic 3D engines and spatialized audio mixing, gaming is a great way to test the performance of your home theater setup. Discover our selection of the best games to put your equipment to the test.

Death Stranding 2 (2025)

Death Stranding 2 is an excellent choice for home theater testing, thanks to its excellent sound and picture. Audio spatialization is highly advanced: the sound of rain, voices, footsteps and ambient effects all benefit greatly from a surround sound system, creating an immersive and sometimes anxiety-inducing atmosphere. The subtle music and rising tension make perfect use of the dynamics and bass of a high-end installation. As for the image, the Decima engine offers varied environments, impressive weather, realistic lighting and detailed panoramas, allowing you to appreciate the definition, contrast and depth of a large TV or projector.

Developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, available on PlayStation 5.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (2025)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33′s daring art direction and immersive sound design make it a real pleasure to play. The game uses audio spatialization to place each effect precisely: voices, mechanical noises, natural or urban ambiences are perfectly integrated into the surround field, creating an enveloping atmosphere. Transitions between bright areas and shadows accentuate the richness of the chiaroscuro, both to the ear and on the screen. Regarding visuals, the title relies on sophisticated lighting, sharp contrasts and detailed environments, taking advantage of the definition and dynamics of a projector or home theater TV. The result is a nuanced sensory experience, ideal for harnessing the full potential of a high-end installation.

Developed by French studio Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive, available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Resident Evil Village (2021)

Resident Evil Village boasts a particularly sophisticated sound design, combining atmospheric effects, creature noises and spatialized sounds. The game makes full use of surround effects: every corridor, every eerie room features echoes, muffled footsteps or whispers that make the most of the audio system. Music effectively punctuates moments of tension. Picture-wise, the RE Engine delivers rich, dark environments, as well as spectacular lighting effects that blend perfectly with the scary scenes. Ideal for testing both sound immersion and the rendering of light nuances on a projector or large screen.

Developed and published by Capcom, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation VR2, Nintendo Switch and iPhone.

Returnal (2021)

Returnal, a PlayStation exclusive, is one of the games that has pushed sound spatialization the furthest on consoles. 3D audio is central to the experience, from locating enemies in the environment to feeling weather effects and hearing alien noises. Particle effects and bright lights are enhanced on a high-quality screen, with strong contrast and fine color management. Returnal puts both the soundstage and display capabilities of a modern home theater to the test, offering frenetic action and varied environments.

Developed by Housemarque and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, available on PlayStation 5 and PC.

Forza Horizon 5 (2021)

Forza Horizon 5 is a benchmark in the field of racing games, both for the quality of its graphics and its sound ambience. Car engines, tire noise, wind and crowd sounds are carefully mixed to envelop the player in an immersive bubble. In surround sound, every passing vehicle or storm echoes through the room. Mexico’s environments are stunningly beautiful, with exceptional definition, varied landscapes and realistic lighting effects that take full advantage of a large screen or projector.

Developed by Playground Games (with Turn 10 Studios and Panic Button for the PS5 port) and published by Xbox Game Studios, available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and PC.

Battlefield 2042 (2021)

Battlefield 2042 carries on the tradition of the series with a spectacular sound mix. Explosions, gunfire from all sides, vehicles and radio communications create a dense, dynamic soundstage, perfect for testing the power and responsiveness of a home theater system. Reverberation, echo and distance management effects are particularly prominent. Graphically, the game features huge maps, extreme weather conditions and impressive special effects, ideal for testing the fluidity and contrast of a high-performance video system.

Developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021)

This title shines with its rich soundscape and multi-channel management. Each universe has its own sound signature, with effects springing up from all sides, reinforcing the sensation of depth and movement. Dialogue is clear, orchestral music envelops the viewer, and sound effects teem with detail. Visually, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart makes the most of the latest technologies, including Ray Tracing, with vivid colors and fluid animations, making it perfect for a home theater sound and image test.

Developed by Insomniac Games (with Nixxes Software on PC) and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, available on PlayStation 5 and PC.

The Last of Us Part II (2020)

The Last of Us Part II places audio at the heart of the experience, whether through the oppressive atmosphere, the management of silence, the precise dialogue or the directional effects during action phases. The slightest sound of leaves, raindrops or footsteps in the snow can be heard clearly, depending on the player’s position. The picture is also impressive, with sumptuous backgrounds, natural lighting and a nuanced color palette that are enhanced on a high-end screen or quality projector.

Developed by Naughty Dog (and Nixxes Software/Iron Galaxy for the remastered PC/PS5 version) and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment (via PlayStation Publishing), available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC.

Doom Eternal (2020)

Doom Eternal is one of the most explosive tracks to test the dynamics and power of your home theater setup. The sound mix is aggressive: every shot, every guitar note from the metal soundtrack, every explosion is rendered with rare clarity and fullness. The bass is very present, ideal for judging the capacity of your subwoofer. The frenetic action and colorful visual effects, supported by very high definition, also make this an excellent choice for testing the responsiveness and fluidity of your display.

Developed by id Software and published by Bethesda Softworks, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)

Despite a complicated launch, Cyberpunk 2077 now offers a top-notch audio-video experience, particularly since its numerous updates. The urban environment is teeming with sound: vehicles, passers-by, buzzing neon lights, voices through speakers. Atmos spatialization is advanced, and the game handles the transitions between closed and open spaces very well. Graphically, Night City features dazzling lighting, Ray Tracing effects and a wealth of detail that reveals all the potential of a modern home theater.

Developed by CD Projekt Red and published by CD Projekt, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

• Read more: What is Ray Tracing?

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023) / Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019)

The games in the Star Wars Jedi franchise stand out with their exemplary sound mixing fidelity: lightsabers, starships, orchestral music, creature sound effects – every element benefits from cinema-quality spatialization. Outdoor scenes and confined environments make spectacular use of the surround sound stage. The graphics, with their galactic panoramas and highly detailed special effects, add to the sense of immersion, allowing us to judge home theater’s ability to render grandiose universes.

Developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Control (2019)

Control is praised for its experimental sound design. Voices, eerie sounds and an oppressive ambience will take full advantage of a surround system. Dynamic audio and reverberation effects are omnipresent. The visual aspect, with its changing scenery, play of light and distortion effects, is also perfect for testing a screen or projector’s ability to handle contrast and image sharpness.

Developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by 505 Games, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)

Red Dead Redemption 2 offers a natural, immersive soundscape of rare finesse. The sound of the wind on the plains, a train passing in the distance, wildlife and firearms all benefit from realistic spatialization, highlighting the speakers’ precise reproduction. The visual universe is impressively rich, with spectacular sunrises, precise textures and exemplary light management: perfect for appreciating the display quality of a large screen.

Developed and published by Rockstar Games, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

God of War (2018) / God of War Ragnarok (2022)

The God of War series, particularly the last two installments, is renowned for the quality of its sound effects, epic music and clear dialogue. Clashes are enhanced by powerful bass and precise sound positioning. The decors are impressive, blending natural environments with flamboyant special effects, giving you the opportunity to appreciate the definition and depth of field of your home theater equipment.

Developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (2016) / Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017)

These Uncharted games stand out for their cinematic production. Spectacular action scenes, orchestral music and environmental effects (rain, explosions, moving dialogue) take full advantage of a home theater. As for visuals, the variety of environments, lighting management and level of detail are still excellent references for testing the quality of a screen or projector.

Developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (2017)

Hellblade is a true sensory experience, thanks in particular to its use of binaural audio. The main character’s inner voices, which seem to revolve around the player, test the precision and sound immersion of a home theater. Visual effects play on distortions, contrasts and ambience, reinforcing the effect of total immersion. A unique title to appreciate the impact of spatialization on the gaming experience.

Developed by Ninja Theory (Bloody Theory Ltd) and published by Ninja Theory, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Whether in terms of visual ambience or sound spatialization, video games are a veritable technological showcase for home theater installations. Their production, on a par with the greatest Hollywood productions, pushes the limits of immersion thanks to photorealistic graphics, sophisticated lighting effects and soundtracks rich in detail. Whether you want to take full advantage of a 4K projector or a high-end surround system, these games reveal the full potential of your equipment. Home theater is no longer limited to movies: video games are now becoming one of its best ambassadors.

And you, which game impressed you on your home theater equipment?