It’s hard to believe that the current decade of the 2020s is already halfway over. This decade has brought many gaming innovations to the table, including the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Steam Deck, Switch 2, and so on. Improved technology is one thing, but what matters most to players are the games.
8 Fantasy Games Under 2 Hours That Everyone Should Play At Least Once
If you have no more than two hours to invest, these fantasy experiences will re-energize your love of video games.
Over the past decade, between 2016 and 2025, the fantasy genre in particular has exploded with a lot of great hits. This doesn’t just include RPGs either, as fantasy games encompass a whole lot more. So, anyone who wants to know how video games have shaped up over the past ten years, ahead of this current decade finishing up, should check out these titles if they somehow got passed by originally.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Bonds Of War
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- Released
- July 26, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, RPG
Fire Emblem: Three Houses gave players a lot to think about as a tactical RPG and a game about socializing. Players could choose one of three families to follow, which would dictate playable party members and how the story would play out, giving them numerous reasons to replay the game.
All of the characters were great, the class system was addictive to level up as usual, and the central conflict made it an engaging story no matter who players sided with. With the Switch 2 hardware, now is a perfect time to jump back in or try it for the first time.
God Of War (2018)
Daddy Issues
God of War
- Released
- April 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Following the conclusion of God of War 3, which completed the Greek trilogy, the God of War franchise got a bit stale, which is why the 2018 reboot/sequel was such a miracle. It reinvigorated fans thanks to Kratos moving to a new region and going on an adventure with his son, Atreus, which was all based on Norse mythology this time around.
The combat was as brutal as ever, but there was a touching lesson to be learned within the story, too, about power and not succumbing to anger, which Kratos tried to imbue into Atreus.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Time To Go Bananas
Donkey Kong Bananza
- Released
- July 17, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Donkey Kong Bananza outdoes any 3D Mario game Nintendo put out in the last decade, because it is beyond wild, inventive, and just plain fun. Donkey Kong gets roped into an adventure involving diving through various biomes to get to the center of the planet, wherein a major treasure is supposed to be waiting.
Alongside a younger Pauline, players can literally smash everything in these worlds, talk to imaginative NPCs, and collect tons of loot. There’s a leveling up and skill system, and the most fantastical thing about it is how DK can transform into other animals, like an ostrich.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
A French Final Fantasy
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was a miracle as the first game from a new developer, Sandfall Interactive. Sandfall Interactive borrowed from the best RPGs around while still being able to call their work original, thanks to the painterly art style and French inspirations.
Greatest Action Fantasy Games Of All Time
Fantasy games are pretty commonplace, as are action games, but seeing the two combined so effectively in these games is something special.
This emotional RPG journey was filled with heartaches and laughs that all culminated into one heck of a conclusion. Story aside, the turn-based gameplay was more engaging than most since it incorporated counter and dodging elements, and each character behaved differently.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Persona Goes Medieval
Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Released
- October 11, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Metaphor: ReFantazio is another great turn-based RPG that bucked several trends by allowing players to also fight enemies in real-time if players had a high enough level. The campaign was based on a race for the throne, wherein players had to travel to cities and dungeons to prove themselves worthy of being the next king.
Beyond dungeon crawling, the gameplay was similar to the Persona games, as it was made by the same team at Atlus, wherein each day players were allowed so much free time from taking on jobs to building bonds with party members.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Worth The Wait
Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Released
- September 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Hollow Knight: Silksong is a game that was worth the wait, almost a decade in the making. The original game is a fine Metroidvania, but everything is much bolder in the sequel, from the more varied biomes to the NPCs to the sheer size of the world.
Not everything is greater, though, as some fans think it’s too hard. That said, the challenge and morose nature of the story is exactly why the game clicked immediately for some, and it’s undeniable that Hollow Knight: Silksong at least looks striking thanks to the hand-drawn art.
Elden Ring
Soulslikes For All
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Elden Ring was an important step forward for FromSoftware, the developer, and Soulslike games as a whole, which hadn’t evolved much since Demon’s Souls was released in 2009.
This time around, players could explore a massive world on foot or on their horse, Torrent, who could also double jump, which was a feat more miraculous than what most horses can do in open-world games. The combat was as visceral as ever, the bosses were grotesque, and the openness made it a bit more inviting since players could seemingly choose their own adventure.
Hades 2
Roguelike Perfection
Hades 2
- Released
- September 25, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Hades 2 is another sequel that outdid everything its predecessor accomplished. The weapon system was more fleshed out as players could unlock new ones and unlock different attack patterns for each. The upgrade system made progression more noticeable between runs, which helped it be more accessible beyond the God Mode option.
8 Best Fantasy Roguelike Games
The roguelike genre is now a hugely popular branch of the games industry. Here are the best fantasy takes on the genre.
There were two dungeon areas to explore this time, between the underworld and the surface. Plus, players could still find something to look forward to after death since NPCs back at home base always had something new to say. It’s a well-balanced roguelike with great action and an even better narrative.
Baldur's Gate 3
A Choice For Every Mechanic
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Baldur's Gate 3 has everything an RPG fan would want. The character customization menu is outstanding, with the cosmetic choices and the classes. The dialogue options branch the story into some unbelievable directions, making it a game that players will have to go back to at least once.
The combat is not innovative for a turn-based RPG with tactical elements, but the challenging nature makes encounters breathtaking. It’s another narrative-forward RPG that has NPCs and party members that players would gladly die for because of how richly engineered they are.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Open-World Games Have Evolved
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the most important open-world games of the last decade, and a big reason why the genre evolved and why the Switch became so successful. It was released in 2017 alongside the Switch, and it was a must-have game with hundreds of hours of content.
It was unlike any Zelda game that came before it, with a massive world to explore, challenging combat, and physics-based puzzles that let players solve them their way. Almost a decade later, players are still discovering and falling in love with it.
8 Greatest Historical Epic Games Of All Time
These historical epic games may not be 100% historically accurate, but they sure do make for some fantastic video games.