8 Essential Fantasy Video Games

Image via FromSoftware Published Aug 6, 2026, 6:54 PM EDT Diego Pineda has been a devout storyteller his whole life. He has self-published a fantasy novel and a book of short stories, and is actively working on publishing his second novel. A lifelong fan of watching movies and talking about them endlessly, he writes reviews and analyses on his Instagram page dedicated to cinema, and occasionally on his blog. His favorite filmmakers are Andrei Tarkovsky and Charlie Chaplin. He loves modern Mexican cinema and thinks it's tragically underappreciated. Other interests of Diego's include reading, gaming, roller coasters, writing reviews on his Letterboxd account (username: DPP_reviews), and going down rabbit holes of whatever topic he's interested in at any given point. Sign in to your Collider account The fantasy genre is one that has produced not just a few, but numerous of the greatest video games of all time. It's an absolutely foundational cornerstone of gaming as a whole, fantasy staples like Dungeons & Dragons having heavily influenced early game design—and still continuing to have an impact on games being made today. It's one thing to talk about the best fantasy video games of all time, however, and a whole other thing to talk about the ones that are the most essential. The most essential fantasy video games ever aren't necessarily the very best (though they most often have the quality to claim that honor, too). Rather, they're the most immensely influential and foundational in the history of fantasy gaming's many subgenres. Anyone who wishes to have an even remotely well-rounded understanding of the genre and its historical importance to the art form of video games ought to play these games at least once in their lives. 8 'Hades' (2020) Image via Supergiant Games The roguelike genre is named after the 1980 video game Rogue, and it traditionally consists of games where players move through procedurally generated rooms, death being permanent and forcing the player to start over, basically from scratch. What Hades does with the genre's rules and tropes, however, is truly special. It's one of those video games without any flaws, a masterpiece that all those who love Greek mythology simply have to check out. Death in Hades isn't a frustrating part of the gameplay loop, but rather an intricately essential part of the story that transforms the genre's usually-punishing mechanics into an incredibly addictive loop where learning from your mistakes becomes deeply satisfying. Understanding and appreciating the roguelike genre is essential to doing the same for fantasy as a whole, and Hades offers a masterfully fun gameplay loop balanced with a moving story that makes one immediately fall in love with roguelikes. 7 'Fire Emblem: Awakening' (2013) Image via Nintendo Tabletop game rules were crucial to early fantasy game design, and even just game design as a whole. There are some video game genres that still rely greatly on very similar kinds of rules, one of the most prominent being turn-based tactical RPGs. And as far as that subgenre goes, it doesn't get much better than the Fire Emblem franchise, the Nintendo 3DS' Awakening in particular arguably being the most essential entry. On Metacritic, it's both the highest-rated 3DS game of all time and the highest-rated game in the entire Fire Emblem franchise. It's the game that literally saved the series, since dwindling sales for previous entries made Nintendo set an ultimatum that if Awakening failed to sell at least 250,000 copies, Fire Emblem would be canceled. In the end, it sold over two million copies more than that. It achieved this through franchise-changing mechanics that made Fire Emblem more fun than it had ever been before, an entertaining story, and a formula that lends the game replayability that's pretty much endless. 6 'Hollow Knight' (2017) Image via Team Cherry The Metroidvania is another game genre that has done an awful lot for fantasy gaming over the years. Inspired by the Metroid and Castlevania game franchises, the genre basically consists of pure exploration, constant backtracking, and non-linear progression. And as far as Metroidvanias go, you can't really get anything much more iconic or universally acclaimed than Hollow Knight. It's one of the best indie video games of all time, a creative triumph whose every element works in flawless conjunction with all the others to deliver an unforgettable action-adventure fantasy experience. There are very few fantasy games with better music, better world-building, better level and boss designs, or more interesting lore than Hollow Knight. It's one of the most iconic games of the 21st century thus far by a decent margin, and that's for good reason. 5 'Shadow of the Colossus' (2005) Few games have ever played a part as prominent as Shadow of the Colossus in the endless debate in favor of video game design being recognized as a true art form. Subverting the traditional chaotic maximalism of action-adventure fantasy games in favor of a slow-burning, minimalist approach, Shadow of the Colossus tells a powerful tale about morality, obsession, and humanity's hubris in their relation to the environment. The world that the player gets to explore is huge, yet incredibly sparse and quiet, generating profound feelings of melancholy and isolation. This is all intentional. Slaying these ancient, massive creatures isn't only a constantly awe-inspiring gameplay loop full of satisfying surprises, but also a profoundly thought-provoking activity that forces the player to wonder what all this destruction is actually achieving. The Elder Scrolls franchise had always been a hugely popular, even industry-defining game series since before 2011, but it was the arrival of Skyrim that turned it from a critically-acclaimed fantasy RPG giant into a bona fide pop-cultural behemoth. Still one of the best video game masterpieces of the last 50 years, this commercial colossus preserved the franchise's tabletop RPG roots while making them more universally accessible than ever before. Indeed, anyone interested in experiencing the sort of quasi-infinite depth and range of opportunities provided by true fantasy RPGs ought to play Skyrim. With its engrossing open world, its timeless graphics and music, its deeply atmospheric setting, and the perfection of its sandbox style which grants the player nearly total agency in how they explore and interact with the world, Skyrim continues to be one of the most impressive achievements in the history of fantasy game design. 3 'Elden Ring' (2022) Image via FromSoftware FromSoftware's Dark Souls birthed the Soulslike genre, characterized by brutal difficulty, highly precise combat with sky-high skill ceilings, and other unique mechanics. There are some Soulslike games that are arguably more iconic than Elden Ring, but there's pretty much no way of denying that it is the most essential. It truly does feel like the point at which FromSoft perfected every single element of the game design philosophy that had characterized their work for years. One of the best Soulslike video games of all time, an open-world experience that's pretty much flawless in every sense that matters. Elden Ring is entirely unpredictable at every turn, allowing the player to explore the game's fascinating world at their own pace. It's a level of freedom that's pretty much unparalleled in the whole fantasy video game genre, perfectly balanced with masterfully-designed boss fights and engrossing environmental storytelling. 2 'Final Fantasy VII' (1997) Image via Square There are those who would argue that the 2020 remake is superior in most senses, but if we're exclusively talking about the most essential fantasy video games of all time, the conversation would never be complete without talking about the original PlayStation version of Final Fantasy VII. It's one of those games that are even better the second time, with a higher volume of sci-fi elements than the franchise had ever seen before—though it's still a fantasy video game masterpiece through and through. This game was a watershed moment for cinematic storytelling in the video game space, as well as being completely revolutionary for RPG mechanics. It was a completely groundbreaking gem that helped popularize fantasy RPGs worldwide, a far bigger game than the world had ever seen before (taking full advantage of the CD-ROM technology of the PlayStation). The visuals definitely look a bit dated nowadays, but even that adds quite a bit to the game's timeless charm. All in all, its balance between enthralling and surprisingly cinematic storytelling, its hugely dynamic battle gameplay, and its masterful world design help make it one of the most essential video games of all time, regardless of genre. 1 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' (1998) Image via Nintendo You could very reasonably make the argument that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the Citizen Kane of video games. This foundational classic is regarded by many as the single greatest video game in history, but whether it is or isn't is sort of irrelevant here. The fact of the matter is that no one who would like to have a well-rounded appreciation of the art of video games—let alone fantasy video games—can possibly go to their grave without ever having played Ocarina of Time. The Legend of Zelda franchise has produced several of the greatest fantasy video games ever designed, but none more essential than this one. The best of all 3D Zelda games, Ocarina of Time completely revolutionized the video game industry with its introduction of Z-targeting, its groundbreaking controls and gameplay mechanics, and the way it pretty much established the blueprint for 3D action-adventure games. Its world and story design are absolutely timeless, still providing hours of irresistibly fun and endlessly replayable gameplay almost three whole decades after the game's original release. It's deeply atmospheric, surprisingly moving when it dives deep into its time travel story, and even utterly jaw-dropping at times. From the visuals to the music to the dungeon and boss designs, it's not only the perfect Zelda game, but also the most essential fantasy video game in history. Collider Exclusive · Universe Personality Quiz Which Iconic Universe Do You Belong in the Most? Star Wars · Lord of the Rings · Harry Potter · Game of Thrones · Star Trek Five legendary universes. Five completely different visions of what the world could be — or already was. One of them is the world your instincts, your values, and your particular way of existing were built for. Eight questions will tell you which one. 🚀Star Wars 💍Lord of the Rings 🧙Harry Potter 👑Game of Thrones 🖖Star Trek FIND YOUR UNIVERSE → 01 What gives your life its deepest sense of meaning? Every universe is built around a different answer to this question. ABeing part of something larger than myself — a cause, a rebellion, a fight for freedom that outlasts me. BThe journey itself — the places I'll go, the companions beside me, the world I'll discover on the way. CLearning — unlocking what I'm capable of, understanding the world's hidden mechanics, growing into something more. DLegacy — the name I leave behind, the power I build, the mark I make before the world moves on without me. EUnderstanding — exploring what exists beyond the horizon and asking what it means to be alive in a universe this vast. NEXT QUESTION → 02 Which kind of world do you most want to inhabit? The environment shapes who you become. Choose carefully. AA galaxy of planets, each with its own culture — connected by conflict, trade, and the Force. BAncient lands of breathtaking beauty, deep history, and a creeping darkness at the edges. CA world hidden inside our own — full of wonder, community, and magic waiting to be learned. DA brutal, beautiful continent where power is everything and every alliance is a calculation. EA future where humanity has reached the stars — and must decide what kind of species it wants to be. NEXT QUESTION → 03 How do you prefer your conflicts resolved? The shape of a world's conflicts tells you everything about its soul. AThrough sacrifice and courage — someone has to make the impossible choice so others don't have to. BThrough fellowship — the impossible becomes possible when the right people walk the same road. CThrough growth — confronting what you fear, understanding what you lack, and becoming equal to the challenge. DThrough strategy — outthinking, outmaneuvering, positioning yourself so the outcome was never in doubt. EThrough dialogue — finding the third option, the peaceful resolution, the answer that doesn't require a body count. NEXT QUESTION → 04 Who do you want beside you when things get difficult? Your ideal companions reveal the world you were made for. AA small crew — a pilot, a rogue, a warrior — each broken in their own way, unbeatable together. BA fellowship of different kinds of people, bound by purpose and deepened by the long road. CFriends who grew up alongside me — who knew me before I knew myself, and stayed anyway. DAllies whose loyalty I've earned — and tested — and whose ambitions align with mine, for now. EA crew of brilliant, curious, principled people from every corner of known space. NEXT QUESTION → 05 What is your relationship with power? How you seek, wield, or resist power is the map of who you are. AI want to use it to protect — and I'm terrified of what I might become if I'm not careful. BI distrust it. The most important power in this story is the courage to give it up. CI want to earn it — through knowledge, through effort, through becoming someone worthy of it. DI want to wield it. Preferably before someone else decides to wield it against me. EI want to understand it — its structures, its limits, its ethical dimensions. Power without accountability is the real threat. NEXT QUESTION → 06 How does your universe treat good and evil? A world's moral architecture tells you more about it than any map. AThere is a dark side and a light side — and the choice between them is always present, always personal. BEvil is real and ancient and patient — and goodness, however small, is the only thing that can undo it. CGood and evil are real, but they live inside people — and people are complicated, always capable of both. DGood and evil are mostly a matter of perspective and proximity. Power is the only honest currency. EEvil is usually the result of ignorance, fear, or broken systems — and understanding it is the first step to solving it. NEXT QUESTION → 07 What role would you naturally fall into? Every universe has archetypes. Which one fits you without trying? AThe reluctant hero — ordinary origins, extraordinary moment, changed forever by the choice to act. BThe unlikely carrier — the one nobody expected to matter most, quietly bearing the weight of everything. CThe student — not yet who I'll become, learning through every mistake, growing into something the world needs. DThe player — sharp enough to see the game for what it is, ambitious enough to try to win it. EThe explorer — drawn to the unknown, driven by curiosity, most alive when standing somewhere no one has stood before. NEXT QUESTION → 08 What do you ultimately believe about the future? The answer to this is the clearest window into which universe already lives inside you. AThat hope is real — that even in the darkest galaxy, a new hope is always possible. CThat even the smallest person can change the course of the future, if they have the courage to try. CThat love and friendship and doing what's right will matter in the end, even when everything says otherwise. DThat the wheel keeps turning — that power shifts, winters end, and what endures is those willing to fight for it. EThat humanity — or whatever we become — is capable of extraordinary things, if we choose to be. REVEAL MY UNIVERSE → Your Universe Has Been Chosen You Belong In…Your answers point to the iconic universe your values, your instincts, and your particular way of seeing the world were built for. This is where you would find your people — and your purpose. Star WarsYou believe in the cause — in the idea that freedom is worth fighting for even when the odds are impossible and the empire is vast. You are drawn to the moral clarity of a universe where hope itself is a form of resistance. You'd find your people in the Rebellion — a ragtag coalition of true believers held together by conviction more than resources. Star Wars is fundamentally a story about ordinary people choosing to matter in an extraordinary conflict — and that is exactly your kind of story. The Force may or may not be with you. But the will to use it for something larger than yourself certainly is. Lord of the RingsYou understand, in the deepest part of yourself, that the journey matters as much as the destination — and that the world's beauty is worth protecting even at great cost. Middle-earth is a world of ancient wonder, deep friendship, and a darkness that only retreats when enough small acts of courage accumulate. You would thrive here because you value the fellowship more than the glory — the road more than the arrival. Tolkien's universe rewards patience, loyalty, and the willingness to carry something heavy across a very long distance. Those are not burdens to you. They are simply how you move through the world. Harry PotterYou believe that love, loyalty, and doing what's right are not naive sentiments — they are the most powerful forces in any world, magical or otherwise. The Wizarding World is a place of wonder hidden in plain sight, where learning is transformative and the bonds you form at school follow you into every battle. You would flourish here because you take both the magic and the friendships seriously — and you understand that one without the other is incomplete. Harry Potter's universe ultimately rewards those who choose to stand for something even when standing is terrifying. That choice — made quietly, without guarantee — is something you understand completely. Game of ThronesYou see the world clearly — its power structures, its hypocrisies, its brutal arithmetic — and you are not paralysed by that clarity. You use it. Westeros is a world that rewards intelligence, adaptability, and the willingness to understand that every alliance is also a negotiation. You would survive here — possibly thrive here — because you don't confuse the world as it is with the world as you'd like it to be. Game of Thrones is a story about what happens when the idealists and the realists collide. You are sharp enough to know which one lasts longer. Winter always comes. You are already prepared. Star TrekYou believe the future is worth building — that curiosity, cooperation, and the expansion of understanding are not just ideals but the most practical path forward for any civilisation. Star Trek is a universe where the questions matter as much as the answers, and where encountering something utterly alien is cause for wonder rather than fear. You would belong here because you are fundamentally optimistic about what intelligence and decency can achieve — while being honest about how hard that achievement is. The Federation is the universe's most ambitious thought experiment: what if we actually got better? You don't just hope that's possible. You think it's the only thing worth working toward. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ