Video games offer a portal to another universe, one where anything is possible. Gamers often feel the pull to step out of reality and into the fantastical worlds of video games likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandThe Witcher 3.Unsurprisingly, many games dip into the realm of fantasy, harnessing the medium’s ability to create vast and detailed virtual worlds, then plop players right into their midst.
Fantasy games come in many different forms and game types, united by their use of the otherworldly and magical. No matter what kinds of games and stories you like,some titles are a must-play for every gamer, at least once.These are titles that transcend the confines of their game worlds and spill over into the real world, earning critical acclaim and making a lasting impact on culture in and outside the games industry.
This is not a ranked list, andthe games below are listed in no particular order. These titles are all so different that it would be impossible—and unfair—to rate them against each other.
10The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
A Quintessential Fantasy RPG That Transcends Genre Barriers
The firstElder Scrollsgames were published in the 1990s, quicklyestablishing the name as a cornerstone of fantasy RPGs, complete with dragons, sprawling lore, and immersive worldbuilding. Developed by Bethesda, the series steadily built a devoted fanbase, and by the timeThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimlaunched, it was already beloved among fantasy gamers.
But it wasSkyrimthat catapulted the franchise into mainstream cultural consciousness. Its impact extended far beyond the gaming community, andquotable lines like “Fus-Ro-Dah” and “I took an arrow in the knee”quickly became internet memes.
Skyrim didn’t just define a generation of fantasy RPGs—it became a cultural phenomenon.
Withhundreds of hours of gameplay and a world that felt truly alive,Skyrimdidn’t just define a generation of fantasy RPGs—it became a cultural phenomenon. Set in a vast open world inspired by Norse mythology and traditional high fantasy, Skyrim lets players truly do anything—explore rugged mountains, join factions, slay dragons, or just wander endlessly. It was gorgeous then and, remarkably, it still holds up today.
9Spyro Trilogy
3D Platform Your Way Through Worlds Where There Be Dragons
Spyro the Dragonis aniconic part of video game history and served as a mascot for the PlayStationalongsideCrash Bandicootin the 90s. Although fantasy games are often associated with RPGs, Spyro is a classic fantasy series through and through, featuring dragons (of course), kingdoms, and evil overlords. Originally developed by Insomniac Games and later published by Activision, this classic 3D platforming series stars Spyro, a spunky young purple dragon who can breathe fire, charge at enemies, and glide between platforms.
The first three games haveSpyro journeying across different worldsto rescue them from the nefarious forces that have taken over. The trilogy was made available for modern gamers again when it was remastered in 2018 in theSpyro Reignited Trilogy,which includesSpyro the Dragon(1998),Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage!(1999), andSpyro: Year of the Dragon(2000).
8The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
A Standout High Fantasy RPG With A Rich Open World, Story, And Roster Of Characters
TheWitcher 3is the third—and most popular—entry in the series of games based on the novels of the same name by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The sprawling open-world fantasy action RPG isheavily inspired by Slavic folklore and stars the white-haired Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer for hire known as a Witcher.
Players guide Geralt through the vast and gorgeous lands of The Continent in search of his adoptive daughter Ciri, fighting human and monster enemies using a varied arsenal of upgradeable equipment.The Witcher 3holds 200 “game of the year” awards, and for good reason: its immersive narrative, character progression, and impactful decision-making elements make it a memorable experience.
The game’s success hasspawned a series of spin-off works,including a hit Netflix series starring Henry Cavill.The Witcher 4is currently in developmentand will follow Geralt’s daughter, Ciri.
7Demon’s Souls
A Challenging
Developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco,Demon’s Soulssingle-handedly created an entire new genre. The game features an unforgiving—but fair—dark fantasy setting where dying multiple times is part of the experience. The challenge was part of the appeal,forcing players to slow down and carefully think through every enemy encounter,from the lowliest animated skeleton to the mightiest of dragons.
FromSoftware followed up their hit with several other Soulslike games, including the belovedBloodborneand critically acclaimedElden Ring,butDemon’s Soulsis a must-play to understand the origins of the Soulslike genre. A PS5 remaster is available with enhanced visuals and some quality-of-life updates, making it possible to enjoy the title without many of its original shortcomings.
6Hollow Knight
Unlock The Secrets Of The Hallownest Or Die Trying
Team Cherry’s indie hitHollow Knightwaslaunched thanks to a small Kickstarter projectwith just 2,158 backers.The dark Metroidvania quickly became a massive hit,setting a standard for the genre and leading to itshighly anticipated sequel(out later this year),Silksong, to secure a spot as the most-wishlisted game on Steam.
The game follows the titular knight, an insect-like warrior, as hetraverses through the underground tunnels of the fallen kingdom of Hallownest. It combines elements of Metroidvanias like unlocking powers to open new paths in previously impassable locations, with the difficulty level and cryptic, indirect lore reveals of a Soulslike.Hollow Knight’sdark style and challenging but extremely satisfying gameplay make it a must-play fantasy game.
5Okami
Strikingly Beautiful Game With A Unique Gameplay Mechanic
Okami, published by Capcom, is set in mythological Japan andtells the story of how the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu took on the form of a white wolf and saved the world from darkness. The stunning game uses a memorable art style that mimics classical Japanese ink wash paintings, known as sumi-e. This resemblance extends to the main gameplay mechanic: a Celestial Brush that allows players to draw sigils using gesture controls.
These sigils perform miracles like making trees bloom or fire appear, and can be used to complete quests by interacting with the world and in combat to defeat enemies. WhileOkamiwas originally inspired byThe Legend of Zelda, it has become a cultural icon in its own right. It remainsa beautiful game and a strong case for video games as art,with asequel currently in development.
4Persona 5 Royal
An Urban Fantasy With A Striking Style
Persona 5is an urban fantasy set in modern-day Japan, where a group of high school students lead double lives. As the notorious Phantom Thieves, the charactersenter the inner worlds of corrupted individuals and battle their twisted desires using Personas—embodiments of their inner selves that take the form of mythological entities from different cultures.
ThePersonaseries isinstantly recognizable for its striking style,with its bold linework, primary colors, and jazz-infused soundtrack. The fifth game is widely considered to be the best in the series, integrating and improving onelements of the previous titles, and theRoyalre-release is the most polished version of the game.
3Shadow of the Colossus
Made You Rethink Who The Hero Really Is
Shadow of the Colossuswas released in 2005 by a small internal studio within Sony named Team Ico (for their later game by the same name). In it, a protagonist named Wander traveled across a hauntingly desolate world atop his faithful steed Agro andtook down 16 towering colossi, one by one.
The game redefined what combat could look like, turning each colossus into its own battlefield.
The game redefined what combat could look like, turning each colossus into its own battlefield to be traversed and overcome.Shadow of the Colossustakes a unique andthought-provoking stance on the fantasy trope of the “hero,“and as the game unfolds, it begins to blur the morality of your character’s actions. A 2018 remake made it possible for new fans to experience the Team Ico classic on the PlayStation 4 with newly enhanced graphics.
2Chrono Trigger
One Of The Best And Most Important RPGs In Gaming History
Chrono Triggeriswidely considered to be one of the best RPGs of all time, created by Square (before it became Square Enix) and originally released in 1995 for the SNES. The turn-based RPG is atime-traveling adventurethat follows a diverse cast of characters, including a genius inventor and a talking frog, as they journey across different eras to prevent the end of the world at the hands of an alien monster called Lavos.
If you’re looking for the inevitable mention ofDragon QuestandFinal Fantasyin this list,Chrono Triggeris the reason neither appears. The RPG effectively merged elements from both other iconic fantasy series into a standalone title that many feel surpasses either on its own.
The title wasground-breaking at the time for its branching paths and endings, as well as the innovative combat system.Chrono Triggeris available to buy via Steam and on mobile devices in its original form (as well as several older-generation consoles), but fans have beenpleading with Square Enixto release a proper remaster or remake for years.
1The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
The Game That Brought Zelda Games Back Into The Mainstream
The Legend of Zeldaseries has existed since 1986 and has spanned many games over the decades. Although the Nintendo franchise has become a staple of gaming,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildbrought the series back into the mainstream,introducing it to a whole new generation of consoles and players.
To understand just how impactful this title was, just take a look at the numbers:BotWsold 33.5 million copies according toStatista, more than double that of the third-best-selling title in theZeldaseries, the 1998 classicOcarina of Timeat 14.04 million copies sold. Oh, and the second most-soldZeldagame of all time? That was the sequel toBotW. In short,it’s hard to overstate the importance and popularity ofBreath of the Wild.
Zelda: BotWredefined what aZeldagame looks like, while stillretaining the core elements that made the series distinctlyZelda-esque.In it, Link awakens from a 100-year slumber only to find the land of Hyrule in disarray. He embarks on a journey to save the kingdom from Calamity Ganon and his four Divine Beasts, with the help of Princess Zelda and other friends he makes along the way.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildintroduced new mechanics like breakable weapons, open world exploration, and hidden collectibles (“ya ha ha!"), creating a version ofZeldathat appealed to a broader range of gamers while staying true to its roots. It’s a game that everyone should play at least once, even if they’re not fans of fantasy orZelda—as can be attested to by its success with the cozy gaming community.
