The best AAA games for the ROG Ally
The ROG Ally is a new breed of handheld. Not only is it a potent player of indie and retro titles, but it can handle large-scale AAA games, from open-world sandboxes to story-driven graphically-intensive showcases and everything in between. If you're looking to amp up your handheld gaming to the next level, here are some of our top games for the system, along with some optimized settings that balance gorgeous graphics with a smooth framerate.
This is part of our ultimate guide to the ROG Ally series of articles. For more great games, check out our best-of roundups.
Forza Horizon 5
Racing games make for a great mix of beautiful, realistic graphics and fast, smooth gameplay, and Forza Horizon 5 is at the top of the heap in 2023. Between the gorgeous supercars and the sunny surroundings of Mexico, it’s the perfect game to showcase how the Ally takes Full HD console-quality graphics to the next level on the go, whether you're a veteran racer or someone diving into the series for the first time. At 1080p, Forza Horizon 5 runs at a smooth 60 FPS with our optimized settings in Turbo Mode, or you can turn the visuals down for longer battery life in Performance Mode. If you don’t own this gem already, you can pick up Forza Horizon 5 on the Xbox store or play it on Game Pass.
Cyberpunk 2077
It’s impossible to talk about gorgeous graphics without mentioning Cyberpunk 2077, the mega ambitious open-world RPG set in a dystopian future where humans augment themselves with cybernetics. Create your character, venture into the neon-clad metropolis of Night City, and experience some of the best visuals gaming has to offer today. Despite the Ally’s svelte size, it is primed and ready for Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p — check out our optimized settings if you want to strike that ideal balance between framerate and fidelity. Cyberpunk 2077 is available now, with a hotly anticipated DLC on the way in 2023.
Grand Theft Auto V
Image source: Gamesplanet
There's a reason Grand Theft Auto V has been a staple of multiple hardware generations. It still looks as great as it did at release, with a huge city to explore, a memorable cast of characters, and plenty of cars to...um, “borrow” for a joyride. Play the single-player campaign for some grade-A satire, venture into the city on your own for various hijinks, or play Grand Theft Auto Online to live out your fantasy criminal life with other players. Choose between ultra-smooth framerates with the settings turned down or crank up the visuals for a beautiful 1080p 60 FPS experience using our optimized settings. You can grab GTA V on Gamesplanet.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
You can’t talk AAA gaming without bringing up Call of Duty. Whether you're playing the new Modern Warfare II campaign, duking it out in multiplayer, or dropping into the wide-open maps of DMZ and Warzone 2.0, the ROG Ally is ready to take you into battle. You can easily get a 60 FPS experience in most scenarios, with our optimized settings ensuring the gorgeous lifelike graphics that the franchise is known for. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is available for purchase now, or you can grab Warzone 2.0 for free and prove yourself in a battle royale.
Persona 5 Royal
Image source: Gamesplanet
If you’re a fan of role-playing games you can really sink your teeth into, Persona 5 Royal belongs at the top of your list. This exploratory life simulator slash psychological super hero dungeon crawling JRPG sees you take the role of a high school student in modern-day Tokyo, living out his life by day and fighting monsters in the minds of other characters. There aren’t many games out there like Persona 5 Royal, and it plays brilliantly on the ROG Ally, whether you’re just popping in for a few battles or immersing yourself in Joker’s life for hours on end. Now is a great time to pick up Persona 5 Royal on Gamesplanet or the Xbox store, or download it through Game Pass if you’re a subscriber.
Diablo IV
Diablo fans have been waiting years for the next installment in Blizzard’s classic dungeon-crawling franchise, and its release couldn’t have come at a better time. With the ROG Ally, you can take this brand-new action RPG with you wherever you go, whether you love digging into the lore or you just want that sweet hit of dopamine from ever-improving skill boosts and loot finds. It’s hard to imagine a game better suited for the Ally than Diablo IV, and thankfully it’s available for purchase right now.
Destiny 2
Image source: Microsoft
Speaking of loot, if you’re more of the first-person shooter type, Destiny 2 takes that MMO experience and loads it up with guns and other things that go boom. Whether you’re duking it out in PvP or grinding your way through its campaign, Destiny 2 is still one of the best shooters around, and it performs exceptionally well on the Ally, especially with our optimized settings boosting the visual quality. Best of all, it’s completely free to play, so you can grab it right now for absolutely no cost.
Elden Ring
Image source: Gamesplanet
Elden Ring had big shoes to fill after predecessors like Dark Souls and Bloodborne, but boy did FromSoftware follow up with gusto. Elden Ring takes the same somber, grotesque, yet somehow beautiful world-full-of-monsters setting and expands it into an open world, giving you a deep well of lore, scenery, and brilliant boss battles to dive into. Whether you’re a tryhard who wants to blaze through the game with minimal help or a casual player willing to grind and make your life a bit easier, Elden Ring is a showstopping title for soulsborne veterans and newcomers alike. And the ROG Ally is the perfect device for quick farming runs and deep dives alike, especially if you run the game with our optimized settings. If you still haven’t played Elden Ring, you can get it on Gamesplanet right now and start grinding before its first DLC comes out.
Fortnite
As one of the biggest games on the planet, we had to include Fortnite on this list. With so many ways to play, Fortnite has a little something for everyone, from traditional battle royales to wacky modes with no guns or all legendary weapons. Whether you’re competitive, casual, or straight-up cutthroat, Fortnite will hook you in and never let you go. Eliminate your competition, build a fortress, and of course, don your finest pop culture skins, because the Battle Bus is on its way. Our optimized settings will balance Fortnite’s latest graphical flourishes with 60 FPS performance at 1080p, so what are you waiting for? Download Fortnite for free and start playing right now.
Hi-Fi Rush
Image source: Gamesplanet
Early in 2023, a new game called Hi-Fi Rush dropped out of nowhere and took the gaming world by storm. A third-person hack-and-slash with rhythm elements and a groovy soundtrack, Hi-Fi Rush is an absolute blast. The cel-shaded art is gorgeous, the gameplay is addictive, and the characters are lovable, making for a must-play experience. Oh, and it performs excellently on the ROG Ally right out of the box. Be sure to put on your headphones for this one — and crank up the tunes, because the more you bop to the music, the more evil robots you’ll fell. Hi-Fi Rush is available on Gamesplanet and the Xbox store, or you can play it on Game Pass.
Death Stranding
Image source: Gamesplanet
Few games are as hauntingly beautiful as Death Stranding, the latest sci-fi spectacle from Hideo Kojima. It somehow manages to turn a desolate, post-apocalyptic world into a sight to behold, while also offering fascinating, deep lore underneath its delivery quests. And despite the heavy story, the game runs excellently on the lightweight, go-anywhere ROG Ally: at 1080p with FXAA and its default settings, you can expect a solid 50-60 FPS experience, which feels perfectly smooth thanks to the FreeSync Premium display. When you’re ready to dive in, Death Stranding: Director’s Cut is available on Gamesplanet and the standard edition is available on the Xbox store and Game Pass.
Monster Hunter Rise
Image source: Gamesplanet
If your favorite part of video games are the boss fights against new hulking behemoths, then Monster Hunter Rise is the game for you, my friend. It’s right there on the tin: you hunt monsters, earn lots of goodies, craft potions and traps, and then start preparing for your next battle. The monsters, characters, and setting are all a treat to look at, and the gameplay is tighter than ever, making Monster Hunter Rise an excellent entry in the franchise for handheld gaming on the ROG Ally. At 1080p, it runs at 60 FPS or higher quite easily, and our optimized settings will ensure you get the most out of its well-crafted world. You can buy Monster Hunter Rise and its DLC on Gamesplanet and the Xbox store, and it’s also available on Game Pass.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Image source: Gamesplanet
There’s no other way to say it: Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece. The open world isn’t just astonishing to look at, it also feels incredibly real and lived in, with every intentional detail drawing you further and further in. You could spend dozens of hours exploring the map and everything the game has to offer without even touching the main quest — but don’t. Red Dead Redemption 2’s story is still heralded as one of the best in modern gaming, and you owe it to yourself to see it through. Load up our optimized settings, mount your horse, and get a move on. You can pick up Red Dead Redemption 2 on Gamesplanet right now.
Doom Eternal
Image source: Gamesplanet
No game — I repeat, no game in history — has made my heart pump as fast or as hard as Doom Eternal. Between its frenzied-yet-cerebral combat and its incredible metal soundtrack, Doom Eternal turns the energy up to 11 right at the start and never takes its foot off the gas. With tightened mechanics, new demons to fight, and even a bit of story thrown in, Doom Eternal is the pinnacle of the long-running series. And if that wasn’t enough, id Software built this game to look amazing and perform immaculately well, meaning you can easily get over 60 FPS at 1080p on the ROG Ally. Just fire up our optimized settings and get to glory killin’. You can find Doom Eternal on Gamesplanet, the Xbox store, and Game Pass.
Like a Dragon: Ishin!
Image source: Gamesplanet
The Yakuza series has only gotten better over time, and if you’re looking for another dose of the franchise — with a twist — then the remade, new-to-the-United States Like a Dragon: Ishin! belongs on your ROG Ally right now. This spin-off takes the cast of characters you know and love and plops them into 1860s Japan at the height of a civil war. The story is high stakes, the sword fighting is fluid, and the side content is a delightful distraction when you need a break from stabbing your enemies in the back. You can get Like a Dragon: Ishin! on Gamesplanet, as well as the rest of the Yakuza series, if you haven’t played it already.
Minecraft
You didn’t think we’d forget Minecraft, did you? One of the top-selling games of all time, Minecraft is still the king of sandbox games, offering a massive world where you can go anywhere and create anything...or do your best to survive with nothing but your wits and what you can build. Minecraft runs excellently on the ROG Ally, even if you throw some mods into the mix. You can buy Minecraft on the Xbox store or try a free trial before you purchase.
The modern gaming scene is full of incredible experiences, and we couldn’t possibly go into them all here. Looking for a comedic sci-fi romp with talking guns? Take a look at High on Life. Want to swap out that comedy for exploration? No Man’s Sky’s universe is nearly limitless. Or maybe you’re feeling competitive, in which case a game of Rocket League or Street Fighter 6 will suit your fancy. Check out our other favorite games for the ROG Ally here, and share your favorites with us over on our Discord.
