There is an abundance of videogames available for fans of the fantasy genre. From the high fantasy worlds inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien or the brutal swords and sorcery inspired by Robert E. Howard's Conan and Kull series, gaming has a choice for all. Even though books have the power to transport their readers to another world via their imaginations, video games can place you right in the middle of a fantasy universe.

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Games are just as capable of pulling you into their worlds filled with lore and history. A fantasy game can make one feel like they are an integral part of its history. Thanks to the unique way a video game can deliver its lore, character development, and world-building.

Updated August 15, 2022, by Michael Llewellyn: Like books or a good Netflix box set, most video games implement long-form storytelling. Fantasy games that immerse us as players into their worlds are developed to maintain our interest in what is often a grand adventure lasting tens of hours. Some games use a direct approach to storytelling, like the Final Fantasy series, while games like Dark Souls take a more cerebral approach. To maintain immersion, these games will usually be a joy to explore with rich lore to uncover. This list is updated with more titles for those who love to get lost in a fantasy world.

11 The Xenoblade Trilogy

Xenoblade 3 sending off Husks
  • Released: 2010
  • Developer: Monolith Soft
  • Platform: Switch

As a spiritual successor to Xenogears and the Xenosaga trilogy, the Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy carries many of the same themes as its predecessors. Xenoblade is its own thing, and aside from some allusions and nods to the Xeno metaverse, it stands on its own as one of the best JRPG series available.

Each entry features a different cast of characters, so one could technically start from Xenoblade Chronicles 3. The connections between each game are significant, and the first game is the ideal starting point. However, thanks to the critical acclaim for the third entry, many players will get introduced to the series via Xenoblade 3. All three games in the science fantasy saga have depth, lore, vast worlds to explore, and immersive stories.

10 Elden Ring

elden ring
via FromSoftware
  • Released: 2022
  • Developer: FromSoft
  • Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

A successor to the Dark Souls series, Elden Ring is an open-world action RPG and FromSoftware's biggest hit yet. As with its predecessors, Elden Ring is a challenging RPG, but more accessible than any of the Soulsborne games.

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Elden Ring's world is vast and expansive, and it appears to get bigger the further one explores its depths. The story can be a confusing one to follow, but as you discover its lore and history, the pieces fall into place like a puzzle. Like the Souls games, Elden Ring is as deep as you want it to be.

9 God Of War (2018)

God Of War 2018 - Kratos and his son Atreus on a boat
  • Released: 2018
  • Developer: Santa Monica Studio
  • Platform: PC and PS4

Released in 2018, God of War is both a sequel and a reboot of the acclaimed action series. The fourth entry implemented an over-the-shoulder camera and more involved fighting mechanics. Moreover, the protagonist Kratos, now voiced by Stargate SG1's Christopher Judge, is a calmer and more relatable presence.

Instead of a world inspired by Greek mythology, Kratos and his son now get to traverse Midgard, the Earth realm of Norse mythology. Thanks to God of War's new RPG-like pacing, you can explore the world and discover its secrets, lore, and world history. With the New Game Plus mechanic also in play, you will be surprised at how much lore there is to find in God of War.

8 The Dragon Age Series

Dragon Age Inquisition - Clarel and Erimond at Adamant Fortress
  • Released: 2009
  • Developer: BioWare
  • Platform: macOS, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

A few years after moving on from the Dungeons & Dragons universe after finishing the Baldur's Gate series, the developers BioWare created a brand new fantasy universe. Taking inspiration from iconic fantasy novels like George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, Dragon Age is a dark fantasy series with three mainline installments.

The games follow classic high fantasy tropes that fans will be familiar with, but the world-building is fantastic. There is tons of lore to discover, with impactful choices that affect the story creating a fantasy setting with a real sense of history waiting to draw you in.

7 The Ultima Series

Ultima 8 Avatar In the World of Pagan
  • Released: 1981
  • Developer: Origin Systems
  • Platform: Amiga, Apple II, Atari 8-Bit, Atari 800, PC systems, PS1, and Sega Master System

As one of the most influential RPG series of all time, the Ultima series became the gold standard for other open-ended RPGs that followed it. Ultima launched in the 1980s and included fantasy and science fiction themes like time travel and fantastical dragons.

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Ultima 3: Exodus, in particular, is considered an influence on the Dragon Quest and Baldur’s Gate series. The setting takes the protagonist across four continents in a fantasy world known as Britannia. It takes inspiration from British history that helps drive the sense of world-building and lore.

6 The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind

The Cult of Talos in Morrowind
  • Released: 2002
  • Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
  • Platform: PC and Xbox

Released in 2002, The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind was initially released for the PC and was the first game in the Elder Scrolls series to launch on console systems. Even though Morrowind was mechanically better suited for the PC, it gained fans across all platforms thanks to its depth, lore, and world-building. It was something that few console gamers had a chance to experience before.

There is a strong sense of history found in the books and notes scattered all over the lands of Vvardenfell. The religious and political divides throughout Morrowind's quests flesh out the world to what was an unprecedented scale. It's designed to let one play it their way, and Morrowind is so vast and deep that one can get lost in its world for hours.

5 Divinity Original Sin 2

Divinity Original Sin 2 Cover Art of Main Characters
  • Released: 2018
  • Developer: Larian Studios
  • Platform: macOS, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One

When it comes to worlds to get lost in, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is unrivaled. The historical lore of Divinity's world Rivellon is vast, deep, and immersive. It taps into the already established history and politics set by its predecessors in Divinity and Divinity 2: The Dragon Knight Saga.

Its history spans centuries, creating a world that feels alive. The world also changes around the character based on the choices you can make. Even the minor NPCs you can engage with feel fleshed out, helping to bring the world to life.

4 The Pillars Of Eternity Series

pillars of eternity ship combat
  • Released: 2015
  • Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
  • Platform: Linux, OS X, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One

Even though the Pillars of Eternity series only spans two main games and their expansions, the world of Eora is laden with depth and lore for you to discover at your leisure. The quality of the writing is superb, and there are in-game books to find that will reveals its history — its factions, politics, and people of importance.

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The official digital 35-page Campaign Almanac delves into the PoE's history, offering different perspectives and viewpoints to explore its lore. The next game is set in the same universe and is called Avowed. This title will move away from its CRPG mechanics and use a first-person style which has already drawn comparisons to The Elder Scrolls series.

3 The Suikoden Series

Suikoden 3 protagonists Chris, Hugo and Geddoe
  • Released: 1996
  • Developer: Konami
  • Platform: PS1, PS2, and the Nintendo DS.

The first Suikoden launched in the West at the end of 1996. Its iconic sequel was released three years later and developed a cult following, making the second game one of the most sought-after JRPGs ever. Unfortunately, the series has been on hiatus since Suikoden 5 in 2006.

Each entry stands on its own as a fantastic fantasy-set RPG, but the connections between all titles create a beautiful sense of lore and world-building rivaled only by the Trails series. The games feature deep and mature storytelling that transcends typical fantasy-based JRPGs. The game world's continents, with their different races and political ideologies, resonate with real life.

2 The Trails Series

Main cast of Trails of Cold Steel cover art
  • Released: 2004
  • Developer: Falcom
  • Platform: PC, PSP, PSVita, PS3, PS4, and the Switch

The Trails series began with the Trails in the Sky trilogy and continued with the Trails of Cold Steel four-game series. The seven games are the only titles in the series to be released and concluded in the West. The Trails series is vast and features a level of depth and world-building that sets it apart from other JRPGs. The stories are character-driven with political overtones. The world-building reflects this in a way that one is drawn into it because the writing is so good. The Trails series' history is rich with lore, featuring depth that few AAA games can match.

1 The Witcher Series

Geralt tossing a coin purse The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt
  • Released: 2007
  • Developer: CD Projekt Red
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions to release in 2022.

It was The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt that introduced gamers to what was an already fantastic series of dark fantasy games. The first game is PC only, but it features an excellent story built upon The Witcher books written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.

The second game, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, was released in 2011 and was a far more epic experience, featuring towns and villages with a real sense of history. Witcher 2 is not an open-world game, but its wide-open towns and landscapes feature rich lore, side quests, and compelling characters to encounter. The Witcher trilogy peaked with the release of The Witcher 3, thanks to its massive open maps and a world that feels lived in, corrupt, and dangerous. All three games tap into Slavic folklore with a dark fantasy world reminiscent of Robert E. Howard's Hyboria from Conan. But it has the depth and political scheming of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, creating an immersive experience for lore fanatics.

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