Readers of Gamer24h have been asked to settle one of gaming’s most enduring debates once and for all, casting their votes in the final round of our poll to crown the single worst graphical effect in video games. After weeks of eliminations, two effects remain standing: motion blur and chromatic aberration, a pairing no one could have predicted reaching the showdown.
The head-to-head vote is now open, with fans invited to decide which visual staple should be banished from games forever. The winner will be revealed later this week, at which point the publication hopes to finally lay the debate to rest.
An unexpected final two
After a lengthy voting process that whittled down a wide field of candidates, only two graphical effects survived into the concluding round. According to the poll’s organizers, neither finalist was expected to make it this far.
“It’s down to the final two, and no one—no one—could’ve guessed the two effects that made it into the final round,” the announcement read. “It’s a huge surprise.”
The publication acknowledged that the outcome remains genuinely uncertain heading into voting day.
Motion blur
Motion blur, an effect commonly applied during fast camera movement to simulate the visual smearing seen in real-life photography and film, has long been a divisive choice among players. In this poll’s showcase, the effect was demonstrated through gameplay from Hunt: Showdown.
You’ll have to take my word for it that both of these screenshots were taken as I aimed swiftly to the side in Hunt: Showdown. The difference is day and night.
Gamer24h
The accompanying images captured the same scene before and after the effect kicked in, with editors claiming the visual contrast between the two was stark—a point they argued illustrates why players find the blur so jarring during competitive play.
Chromatic aberration
Rounding out the final pair is chromatic aberration, an effect that separates colour channels along the edges of objects to create a faint red, green, or blue fringe. The effect has become particularly associated with developer Bungie, whose titles have frequently employed it.
Here’s chromatic aberration in Marathon. Bungie loves a bit of chromatic aberration. It’s the red/blue border, most visible on the white cabinet on the left.
Gamer24h
The demonstration drew on footage from Bungie’s upcoming shooter Marathon, where the colour fringing was reportedly easiest to spot against a white cabinet positioned toward the left of the frame. The example underscores why critics consider the effect an unwanted distraction rather than a stylistic flourish.
Your vote decides
The publication has made clear that the decision rests entirely with its audience, inviting readers to cast their ballots and settle the matter definitively.
“This vote could go either way,” the announcement noted. “Get your votes in to decide once and for all which effect should be banished from games forever.”
The editors promised that the result would be announced later this week, offering a definitive end to a debate that has lingered across generations of gaming.
Looking ahead
Voting remains open as readers weigh motion blur against chromatic aberration in a contest described as genuinely too close to call. The winner will be revealed later this week, concluding the publication’s extended exploration of gaming’s most criticised visual effects and hopefully bringing the long-running argument to a permanent close.
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