Summary
- Dragons are the ultimate challenge in fantasy games, offering thrilling battles and immersive experiences for gamers.
- Titles like Dragon's Dogma and Elden Ring provide intense dragon-slaying quests with powerful foes like Grigory and Bayle the Dread.
- From Monster Hunter to Skyrim, players have a variety of games to hone their dragon-slaying skills with different weapons and strategies.
The maximum challenge of every fantasy trope, Slaying the Dragon, is one of the most thrilling experiences a gamer can enjoy from the safety of their homes. Many games offer the possibility to face one of such mythical creatures, though some have a more immersive and challenging experience than others.
11 Video Games That Let The Player Ride Dragons
What's better than fighting a dragon? Having one you can befriend and ride!
For players who are ready to undertake the ultimate quest and beat the most notorious and powerful dragons ever designed, here is a list of the best games where you can fight them. From decade-old classics to the latest AAA action experiences, the battle awaits all dragon slayers.
7 Dragon's Dogma 1
Arise, Enemy Of The Dragon, And Recover What Was Taken From You
Dragon's Dogma
Dragon's Dogma is one hell of a ride: From the very start, you meet the beast you are destined to bring down, and it is huge and powerful as they come. The game developed by CAPCOM has been one of the most notorious titles in the RPG genre due to its complex combat mechanics and its incredible worldbuilding.
In this title, dragons are powerful enemies, and you'll face them several times throughout the adventure until you slay your final and most powerful beast: Grigory. Yeah, weird name for a dragon, I know. But anyways: A must-play for every aspiring Dragon Slayer.
6 Elden Ring
So, You Want The Real Dragon Slaying Experience
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
The FromSoftware title offers an endless array of enormous and challenging bosses to beat, and among these, dragons are some of the most dangerous creatures you'll find. From Agheel to Bayle the Dread, your dragon-slaying journey through the Lands Between (and beyond) is a long and harsh one.
Shadow of the Erdtree’s Bayle the Dread Puts Elden Ring’s Other Dragon Bosses to Shame
Shadow of the Erdtree has introduced a boss to Elden Ring that takes all of the best Dragon fights and repackages them in a bombastic encounter.
Just make sure to get your build and strategy in order before you challenge one of these powerful monsters, since each of them is one hell of a ride, even for the most experienced of souls-like players. A piece of advice: Bows are a bad idea. And another tip: You can fight some of them while mounting Torrent, but it requires a little bit of practice. Good luck!
5 Dragon's Dogma 2
Time To Face An Ancient Old Enemy, And All Its Draconic Minions
Dragon's Dogma 2
- Released
- March 22, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
If you haven't had your fill of killing dragons with Dragon's Dogma, then the second iteration of the franchise grants you another chance to gather your pawns and face these powerful beasts. All with a renewed combat system, AAA graphics, and lots of quests to gather your strength before you face the ultimate end-game challenge: Kill The Dragon.
But let's talk about the good things this game has to offer for potential intrepid dragon slayers: A great class system with dozens of abilities for each class. Spells and incantations. Tons of weapons and many combinations to try. Just remember that your allies can contract a disease called Dragon's Plague, which can be a potential game-breaker. Mind those red shiny eyes and edgy behaviour.
4 Monster Hunter: World
Run! Duck! Climb! Cut Its Tail!
Monster Hunter World
- Released
- January 26, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Franchise
- Monster Hunter
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Monster Hunter is one of the franchises that places an extra emphasis on the "slaying" experience, and though you won't hear the word dragon uttered a single time while playing its many games, you might hear about Rathalos, Bezelgeuze, Kulve Taroth, Vaal Hazak, and many others.
Monster Hunter Wilds Looks More Ambitious by the Day
Monster Hunter series isn't known for being quick to innovate but Monster Hunter Wilds is shaking things up with some of the biggest changes yet.
In Monster Hunter World, you get plenty of chances to try your dragon-slaying skills with over a dozen different weapons and fighting styles to pick from. And of course, you can even try climbing on the back of these huge beasts, to bring them down with your "mighty" blows. And don't forget to cut the tail! Those things are valuable!
3 Dragon Age: Origins
Fall, You Foul Beast! I Say, Fall!
Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age: Origins, as the name implies, has dragons among its repertoire of bloodthirsty creatures ready to break your bones on sight. And if you have never played a dark fantasy RPG, you might be missing one of the coolest experiences you could have while trying to beat Dragon Age's final boss: An ancient god possessing the body of a corrupted dragon.
Overall, the mechanics of this game were quite revolutionary for an RPG. Combining tactical combat with real-time experience, Dragon Age: Origins is definitely worth investing some time in. By the time you finish the main story, you'll be probably looking for more. But worry not, there are 2 sequels, with more dragon slaying waiting to be done.
2 Skyrim
Wait, Is That A Mammoth Falling From The Sky? Oh, No...
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda Softworks
- Franchise
- The Elder Scrolls
Look at the sky! What is that thing screaming like an elephant and beating the hell out of a giant? Oh, it's a dragon! But not any dragon: A Skyrim dragon. The game itself is based on the premise of tracking down and hunting these beasts, but it also has some of the coolest and best-designed fire-breathing monsters in the history of video games.
They also spit ice, lightning, and blood, and will spit your bones if you give them the chance. Their non-scripted AI, total randomness of their attacks, infinite agro, and absolute deviousness are some of the best characteristics that a game enemy could ever have. And if you are not satisfied with just playing Viking Dragonslayer (Dragonborn), you can also shout them down from the sky, or beat them until they crash spectacularly. What a thrill!
1 Dragon Age: Inquisition
The Only Game With A True Dragon Slayer Class
Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Released
- November 18, 2014
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Franchise
- Dragon Age
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Now, if you want to conquer huge monsters called High Dragons (not the weaker versions, but the angry-mom version of them) then you need to play Dragon Age: Inquisition. The third installment of the franchise is not all about slaying dragons, on the contrary, it is more about slaying demons and closing rifts that are ripping apart reality.
But, as you journey through Thedas, you might encounter several winged beasts to challenge. And if you think Elden Ring dragons are hard, prepare yourself to be surprised. High Dragons come in various shapes, and levels of challenge, but all of them are ready to blast your entire party from minute zero: They just don't hold back. Piece of advice: Bring Sera and Iron Bull with you. Their dialogues when fighting these beasts are pure gold. Oh, and you can drink the blood of the beasts and unlock an advanced class for the Warrior called Reaver, who specializes in hunting down these beasts.