Fantasy can take on a lot of different identities. You have high fantasy, dark fantasy, paranormal, or even steampunk. It can happen in modern times, the dark ages, or a completely different timeline or universe. It’s messy and with such a broad category, there’s bound to be some controversy.
For this list, I wanted to create a list around more traditional fantasy—wizards, knights, dragons, and mythical weapons—what many people would consider high fantasy. I think I’ve nailed down a solid list in that regard, but it does mean that some excellent games were ignored in the process (that’s just a list for another time). That being said, let’s take a peek at these fantastic worlds. Here are the 10 best fantasy games that are still worth playing today.
Fable 2
Fable 2 is the peak of the original trilogy as it combines an interesting combat and social sim system with a unique morality mechanic to ensure that players are considering every action that they take through the events of the game.
Exploring Albion can be a literal walk in the woods one moment and a trudge through corpse-crawling swamps the next. But forging onward is almost always rewarded with great loot that will only encourage further exploration into a game that puts on a smiling face but has dark secrets hidden inside.
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Everyone knows Skyrim at this point. It’s a modern classic that’s easily accessible. While many people may have soured on this game over the years, that doesn’t take away from what it originally did.
The world of Skyrim is magical to explore for the first time as you wander through snow-drifted peaks in search of ancient secrets or walk through the mist-covered swamps with fireflies dancing in the air. It can be a magical experience even if it’s over a decade old at this point. Just watch the skies, there be dragons.
Octopath Traveller
JRPGs have received a bad rap the past few years and with Octopath Traveller, I think I know why: They were ugly. Octopath Traveller is anything but ugly and I couldn’t put it down, in part, because of that.
Octopath introduces HD-2D which is a beautiful new art style that’s taken the genre by storm. Exploring a 2D world that has this level of visual depth and beauty is much more interesting and helps to immerse the player so much more easily. So pick the first of your 8 companions and see what the world of Osterra has to offer.
Dragon Age: Origins
If you want to get lost in a fantastical world with deep lore that you can read for hours on end, Dragon Age: Origins is perfect for you. All the history, characters, and plot points should grant you a certified historian but alas no such luck here. You’ll have to settle for achievements and a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics.
The best part of Dragon Age is that the class you choose has a massive effect on the game you experience. You’ll want to give a playthrough of each class a go before you put this one away.
Dark Souls
I would say if there is a game that’s objectively perfect, it’s Dark Souls. This is the game that cemented FromSoft’s legacy and created countless “git gud” compilations. It single-handedly changed a large number of people’s views on what games should be. Each section of Dark Souls asks the player to be accustomed to its mechanics and understand the enemy.
If the player does this, they’ll overcome the wall placed in front of them in due course. It’s this theme of overcoming challenges that makes it feel so much like you are a lone traveler out to complete an epic quest.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Zelda has always been a staple in the gaming sphere but few titles have garnered as much universal praise as Breath of the Wild. Link is dropped into Hyrule with little more than a loin cloth and stick and is tasked to take down the demon currently residing in Hyrule Castle and save Princess Zelda in the process.
Well, you can certainly go and do that but you’ll probably regret it. Instead, players are encouraged to create their own adventure around Hyrule and as they explore, help the various regions with their plights, and discover Link’s own past, players will become strong enough to take down the villain that almost brought down an entire civilization—if it weren’t for one scrawny elf boy.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
For many, The Witcher 3 is the pinnacle of fantasy games. The real-time combat is slick and rewarding for players willing to hone their skills and the improved menus compared to its predecessor help to make the learning experience a less monotonous one.
You’ll wander these lands feeling like your Aragorn himself—a lone rider looking for adventure and finding more than they bargained for.
God of War
The God of War series has always had good games, but the 2018 release saw the franchise reach new heights as an older Kratos has moved on from his Greek roots. He’s taken a new home in ancient Scandinavia as he attempts to bring up a son without the baggage of his past. Unfortunately, as Kratos is cursed to know, it’ll never be that easy for him.
The Norse Gods come knocking and Kratos finds himself facing a new trial, one that has more than just himself at stake this time. The love the developers placed in the mythology while incorporating what we know already about Kratos was so well done and made me want to go back and read Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology, again.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring took the From Software formula into the open world and pulled it off. Nothing beats your first time through the world of The Lands Between. Facing off against decaying giants, finding lost sorceries in ruins, and eventually becoming the Elden Lord.
It’s an epic from start to finish that, for those who persist, will reward every action, whether in experience, rewards, or knowledge. Elden Ring is a masterclass in fantasy epics and one that I’m going to try to keep in my library for as long as I play games.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 seemingly came out of nowhere in 2023 and took the gaming world by storm. Winning countless game of the year awards and even beating out a Zelda game. The freedom that players have in Baldur’s Gate 3 to define their experience is untouched.
Be a charming rogue who screws over every single person they come across, a peace-loving druid who prefer their wild shape more than their human form and the presence of animals over other bipedal companions, maybe a mage that seeks nothing but knowledge and power, and countless other characters.
The options are usually only limited by the player’s imagination—just watch out, you never know when a seemingly inconsequential event will come back to haunt you. This is a must-play for anyone who’s a fan of fantasy games and one that will stick with you years after your final save.
The Game Campaign 