So you want to know about the best fantasy games? There’s nothing quite like escaping into another world, immersing yourself in its history and people, and getting to grips with your new virtual life. Fantasy games are especially good at offering these sorts of experiences, but the genre is so packed with great adventures that it can be hard to pinpoint where exactly to place your attention.
Luckily for you, we’ve put together this list of the best fantasy games on PC. As always, we want to highlight a varied selection of titles, from mammoth RPGs to 2D action-platformers. Please don’t be alarmed if we’ve missed your favourite fantasy game – there’s every chance that it could be added at a later time.
So, whether you’re looking to slay some dragons in a sprawling open world or try something a little stranger, we’ve got you covered with our list of the best fantasy games on PC. All you need is a sense of adventure and the patience for copious amounts of lore. Let’s go!
Here are the best fantasy games on PC in no particular order:
Elden Ring
FromSoftware’s latest iteration in its ‘soulslike’ genre, this newest fantasy game has released to high player numbers, and even higher critical acclaim. You can read our own Elden Ring review to see why this is an excellent addition to any fantasy fan’s roster.
From its gorgeous open-world, to the monster design, and its hard-as-nails combat systems, Elden Ring proves that you don’t need to heavily monetise, or pad a game with grindy ‘collectables’ systems. If you want more Elden Ring goodies, check out our Elden Ring boss guide, our Elden Ring beginner’s guide, and our guide to the best Elden Ring weapons.
King of Avalon
Do the Arthurian legends really count as fantasy? Well, it’s a good question, but we’d say that any modern interpretations of them certainly do. In King of Avalon, King Arthur has died in battle, and now everyone is hoping for an opportunity to fill the large, regal pair of shoes he has left unfilled.
It follows a formula which, admittedly, a few free games also follow: you need to build up a strong powerbase in a world where countless other players are doing the same, and then you need to make alliances with other players in order to protect your base from the forces of players who are looking to ransack your city. Though it may be familiar, it’s a solid example of this kind of game, with the Arthurian theme and a few mini-dungeon crawler aspects helping it to stand out from the crowd.
Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 is among the best, most well-known fantasy MMORPGs of all time – and even better, it’s free. As you dive head first into the world of Tyria, you’ll find that there’s no shortage of things to do. While other free MMOs make you grind before you can enjoy big, epic, fantasy adventures, Guild Wars 2 gives you them from the get go.
There’s so much to do and everything is worth your time, with even things like crafting earning you precious EXP points. Plus, it’s a game where you carve out a unique path for yourself, with countless options for developing your character as you see fit. No player has the same experience in Guild Wars 2, and that’s part of what makes this living, breathing, fantasy world so enticing.
Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming
Of course, a game based on one of the most financially successful fantasy series of all time is going to have a spot on this list. In Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming, you get to play as a lord or lady in Westeros, getting caught up in the complex political web of the world following the death of Eddard Stark
It’s an MMORTS that sees you building your powerbase so that you can become one of the dominant forces in the world: building, growing, and expanding your towns and cities, while developing your military force and even hatching dragon eggs so that you can add those iconic fiery lizards to your arsenal. If it’s a world you’ve always wanted to be a part of, then this is a good way for you to do so – especially with it being free.
Play Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming for free.
Tibia
Believe it or not, this fantasy MMORPG launched way back in 1997. It’s a testament to the quality of the game that it still has a dedicated fanbase well over two decades later. The developers made the smart decision of giving the game a gorgeous pixel art style, rather than experimenting with early 3D graphics and this is probably part of the reason that it has been able to survive for so long.
So what’s the game about? Well, basically, you choose what type of job role you want your character to have, and then it’s up to you to make your way though its fantasy world. There are quests to complete, monsters to slay, and a beautiful world to discover, comprising of dark dungeons, fiery volcanos, sprawling plains, bustling cities, and loads of other exciting locations drawn from history, fantasy literature, and mythology.
Neverwinter
One of the best Dungeons & Dragons games out there, this action-oriented MMORPG gives you seven classes to choose from for your character, with each of them offering a very different style of gameplay, all of which contribute towards making the game’s combat system nuanced and enjoyable.
Of course, fantasy fans are probably going to be keen to explore its exotic realms, and on this front, Neverwinter will not disappoint. There are enchanting forests filled with all kinds of creatures, deep dark caves just waiting to be explored, and bustling cities filled with NPCs and other players. True to its source material, it also encourages creativity, and features a wealth of user-generated content, meaning there’s a virtually unlimited selection of scenarios for you to dive into.
Genshin Impact
For many, Genshin Impact has been a wild introduction to the world of gacha games. It’s a great place to start, honestly, and few of the best free PC games can claim to offer such a wealth of enjoyable missions, likeable characters, and sumptuous visuals for the price of nowt.
The writing can be a bit hit-or-miss, but even if Paimon gets on your nerves, there’ll always be something to keep you playing, whether that be the promise of cool new loot, a fresh character, or another gorgeous sandbox area to explore.
Wizard101
Wizard101 is an MMORPG that plunges you into the fantasy world of the Spiral. You play as a student in the Ravenwood School for Magical Arts who becomes enthralled in the sinister machinations of the school’s former necromancy teacher, Malistaire. The game takes you on an adventure that sees you visiting all kinds of fantastical locations, from Ancient Egypt-style civilizations, through to cities hidden under the sea.
Despite its more whimsical art style, the game’s story is actually quite dark and nuanced, so finding out what happens is a good motivation to progress. Meanwhile, the gameplay mechanics make good use of it being an MMO, with other players able to join your battles in order to help you defeat foes you might be struggling with. It’s easy to see why it’s remained popular since its launch in 2008.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
With all the hype now years behind us, it’s plain to see that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has gone down as one of the best PC games of all time. Its expansive fantasy world has no shortage of deeply human interactions and tales of woe, joy, and everything in between. Ultimately, it’s this intense focus on storytelling – both epic and decidedly mundane – that gives it such an endearing spirit.
As a fantasy game, it’s arguably at the height of its powers during the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine DLC quest lines. Here you’ll find plenty of creative twists on age-old fantasy yarns, with the latter even featuring a fully-explorable ‘Land of a Thousand Fables’.
After Geralt’s adventure has come to a close and you’ve spent dozens of hours in good company, you’ll doubtlessly leave The Witcher 3 with a lump in your throat and more than a tale or two of your own to tell.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
While many of us wait for Larian to finish making Baldur’s Gate 3, now is the perfect time to jump into the developer’s last game. Divinity: Original Sin 2 is an epic RPG that, according to our review, “gently encourages actual roleplaying, and is supported by an unusually robust relationship between quests and simulation”.
Divinity: Original Sin 2’s turn-based combat is where it shines brightest, with spells that affect the battlefield with all kinds of terrain effects. It forces you to be tactical with your spells and abilities, ensuring that your party members don’t get caught in sticky situations. With well over 30 hours worth of RPG goodness on offer, and that’s just the first playthrough, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a phenomenally good time.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim has been picked apart, written about, and played more than perhaps any other game on this list – and for good reason. It’s easily Bethesda’s most approachable modern RPG, offering hundreds of hours of popcorn fantasy and adventuring, and there’s still an undeniable charm to just wandering its world, engaging with its enjoyably awkward NPCs, and ignoring your destiny to steal some sweetrolls or ‘Fus Ro Dah’ a bandit off a cliff.
It certainly helps that the game’s modding scene is still going strong, with many of the best Skyrim mods being just a quick download away.
Dragon Age Inquisition
BioWare has a knack for engaging settings, compelling stories, and relatable characters… well, most of the time anyway. Dragon Age Inquisition has significantly more to it than the archetypal ‘hero’s journey’ that most fantasy games take you on. While the cast of companions you meet along the way are notoriously charming, it’s not just a fantasy dating sim – though if you want to spend all your time hanging out with Iron Bull, we won’t blame you. What sets this one apart from many, but not all, fantasy games is that you have decisions to make and an Inquisition to run.
The war council grants you an overview of the world, allowing you to convene with your trusted associates and plan your next move. You occasionally receive intel on leads for your quest, reconnaissance into new areas, and details on how factions view the Inquisition. It’s a different spin on how fantasy games usually go down, and you don’t even have to make the more mundane decisions reserved for monarchs.
Pillars of Eternity
Pillars of Eternity is a smart RPG set in a grim fantasy land where your choices actually carry weight. Despite its obvious old-school appeal, it still bears its own personality and sense of history. Plus, it knows exactly what to take from its inspirations and what to update.
Obsidian’s approach should work well for fresh-eyed players and those who’ve spent a silly amount of time in the world of Neverwinter Nights, Baldur’s Gate, or Planescape: Torment. Its seafaring successor, Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, is equally worthy of your attention.
Pyre
What a strange, resonant, and unforgettable game Pyre is. Supergiant’s tale of trapped exiles attempting to return home by succeeding in sport-like ‘rites’ is as sad as it is uplifting. Your journey through the Downside sees you befriending the unlikeliest of heroes, and the hardships shared by you, your party, and even your rivals have the effect of bringing everyone together and complicating every emotion felt.
Pyre’s world-building and branching narrative might be its major hooks, but the rites themselves are still a joy to play, and their surprising complexity becomes apparent as you progress or bump up the difficulty. Basically, the game doesn’t put a foot wrong.
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is one of the most generous fantasy games you could hope to find on PC. It’s a 2D action-platformer set in a strange land of giant bugs and underground civilisations. Your goal is to navigate and gradually map out your treacherous surroundings while taking down a series of tricky bosses.
Its open nature and countless well-hidden secrets make exploration a delight, and just as you think the game is drawing to a close or running out of steam, it presents some new idea or challenge to reinvigorate its action in a big way. There’s an incredible amount to see here, and it’s all worthwhile.
And there you have it – the best fantasy games on PC. If you’re still on the hunt for something to play, perhaps our lists of the best sword games, best roguelike games, and best RPG games might help narrow your search. How about our list of the best platforms games around? These games are far too good to ignore, so hop to it!
The best fantasy games on PC in 2022
Source: Maharot News
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