Summary

  • Medieval fantasy games are inspired by literature, blending magic with medieval Europe's culture, economics, and history.
  • Titles like The Witcher offer open-world maps and quests based on book series, drawing fans of the Netflix show.
  • Games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance provide historically accurate medieval experiences, with slow-paced storylines.

Gamers tend to be fans of medieval fantasy, and those who love medieval fantasy tend to love video games. Due to this, a lot of the most well-known and popular game series are in the medieval fantasy genre. The genre is known for its swords, dragons, monarchies, and knights.

The root of the medieval fantasy genre got its start in literature. It blends magic and folklore with the culture, economics, government structure, and sometimes the history of medieval Europe. Some of the most famous book series are in this genre, such as Lord of the Rings, A Song of Ice and Fire, and The Chronicles of Narnia.

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Updated August 16, 2024, by Hamza Haq: One of the most popular settings for games are the Middle Ages, when wars were fought with swords, kings were in charge of everyone and everything, and a lone soldier could rise to the very top of society by the strength of arms alone. It’s a fantasy with undeniable appeal, which means the competition in the genre is intense.

25 Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Deals With Mental Health & Psychosis In A Norse-Inspired Fantasy World

Senua close up in Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
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Released
August 16, 2017
Developer(s)
Ninja Theory
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure

A beautiful action title that took many players by surprise, the decent combat and unique story told in Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is one of the best parts of an experience that resonated with a lot of people. The game deals with many mature themes, as Senua deals with her fragile mental state. She battles both her own demons and actual enemies in a game that serves as a self-reflection of her character.

The sequel to this title promises to elevate the series to bigger and better heights, and fans will be glad to explore this tantalizing world even more. The medieval fantasy setting is further augmented by elements of Norse mythology, making it one of the best titles that players can check out if they want to explore a unique world with an intriguing main character at the heart of it all.

24 Dante's Inferno

Dante Must Traverse The Nine Circles Of Hell

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Dante's Inferno
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Hack and Slash
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Released
February 9, 2010
Developer(s)
Visceral Games
Platform(s)
PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360
Genre(s)
Hack and Slash

It's easy to write off Dante's Inferno as nothing more than an uninspired God of War clone. However, this is a reductive way to explain a title that features unique aesthetics and engaging combat. It helps that this title's setting makes it amazing. Dante himself is reimagined as a Templar Knight who must traverse the nine circles of hell to save his wife.

What follows is a brutal and gory adventure that is not for the faint of heart. The setting is just one piece of the puzzle that makes Dante's Inferno such a fascinating game. Players love utilizing a wealth of combos to take out the enemies standing in their way in the most memorable and exciting manner possible.

23 Lionheart: Legacy Of The Crusader

Combines An Established Medieval World With Sorcery And An Epic Plot

Lionheart Legacy of the Crusader two characters fighting
Lionheart Legacy of the Crusader (Can’t Be Ported)

It's a shame that Lionheart's budget ran out before the game could achieve its grand vision. Shades of brilliance could be seen in the wonderful city of Barcelona and its surrounding areas, but the title fails to capture this excitement after players leave this city to focus on the main plot. As a result, this underrated CRPG has been lost to the sands of time.

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The Best CRPGs With Real-Time Combat

Though many feel that the genre is better suited to turn-based encounters, these fantastic CRPGs prove that real-time combat can also work well.

Legacy of the Crusader's real-time with pause combat and excellent worldbuilding (especially in the earlier stages of the title) make it a great CRPG that more people need to check out. As long as players don't mind the game showing its budgetary constraints in the latter stages, they'll be more than pleased by what this amazing title brings to the table.

22 Tyranny

An Intriguing Look At The Concept Of Evil

Tyranny - Best RPGs That Ape Final Fantasy Turn Based System
Tyranny
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Released
November 10, 2016
Developer(s)
Obsidian Entertainment
Platform(s)
Linux, Microsoft Windows, macOS
Genre(s)
RPG, Adventure, Strategy

Tyranny is one of the most underrated CRPGs ever made. If the game had managed to achieve its full vision, then it's not a stretch to say that this game could've reached the same heights as other legendary games in the genre like Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Disco Elysium.

The exploration of evil in Tyranny is nuanced and engaging, and the medieval fantasy setting adds to the allure of this title. Fans of amazing story-heavy games that don't portray morality in a done-to-death binary form will love what Tyranny brings to the table.

21 Gothic 2

A Dark Fantasy Title With A Unique Gameplay Loop

A player attacking a monster in the rain in Gothic 2
Gothic 2
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Released
October 28, 2003
Developer(s)
Piranha Bytes
Platform(s)
PC
Genre(s)
Action RPG

Piranha Bytes is a studio that has garnered a small but loyal fanbase. Most people cite Gothic 2 asthe game that got them into the studio's titles. This title is a massive improvement over its predecessor in every department.

The story is more engaging than before and combat is tweaked to make it easier to get into. Gothic 2 rewards patience and is rife with immersive design that leads to players getting completely lost in this one-of-a-kind action RPG.

20 Pillars Of Eternity

A Lovable Ode To The CRPGs Of The Past

A party of warriors battle a horde.
Pillars of Eternity
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Released
March 26, 2015
Developer(s)
Obsidian Entertainment
Platform(s)
PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Genre(s)
RPG

Obsidian Entertainment has made some of the greatest RPGs of all time, and fans should thank Pillars of Eternity for helping this company stay afloat. This Kickstarter game served as a desperate attempt from the company to avoid bankruptcy, and the success of this title helped it remain a major player in the industry.

Top: PoE 2 screenshot; bottom: DOS2 Screenshot
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Pillars of Eternity is an excellent CRPG that is a blast to play through and perfect for beginners to get into if they aren't familiar with this classic genre. The role-playing is great, and both the main and side quests are pretty riveting despite a few problems cropping up here and there.

19 Divinity: Original Sin 2

Combines Establishes Fantasy Tropes With Medieval Inspirations

Hero, Red Prince, Sebille, Ifan
Divinity: Original Sin 2
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Released
September 14, 2017
Developer(s)
Larian Studios
Platform(s)
Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre(s)
RPG

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is hailed by many as one of the greatest CRPGs ever made, and it's easy to see why this is the case. The game is grander in scope than its predecessor in every way, which is a massive achievement in its own right, given just how massive the first Original Sin game was.

Featuring a wealth of amazing characters, tactical gameplay, and an excellent story that will keep players hooked till the very end, Original Sin 2 is an incredible medieval fantasy game that fans of the genre owe it to themselves to check out. The game can take a while to get a hold of, but patient players will be rewarded with an immensely deep and satisfying gameplay experience that doesn't have any equal.

18 The Octopath Traveler Series

An Amazing Modern JRPG With Tried-And-Tested Fantasy Elements

Featured - Octopath Traveler Champions of the Continent Daily and Weekly Guide
Octopath Traveler 2
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Released
February 24, 2023
Developer(s)
Square Enix, Acquire
Platform(s)
Switch, PS4, PS5, PC
Genre(s)
RPG

The HD-2D art style has become incredibly popular for a whole host of reasons, and many people cite Octopath Traveler as the game that made this design so popular in the first place. Despite featuring its fair share of issues, Octopath Traveler was a great first attempt for a series that wanted to harken back to the classic era of JRPGs while also featuring some unique additions of its own.

Any complaints that players had about the first Octopath Traveler title were promptly addressed in the second game, which is considered to be a vastly better experience by many. The main party now actively engages in each story instead of being relegated to the sidelines, which is a simple yet much-needed change that helped players get even more invested in the overarching narrative.

17 A Plague Tale Series

Set During The Black Plague, With A Fantasy Twist

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Amicia in A Plague Tale: Requiem
A Plague Tale: Innocence
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Released
May 14, 2019
Developer(s)
Asobo Studio
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure, Stealth

While the fantasy aspect of A Plague Tale is pretty muted, it's still quite prominent and plays a huge role in making the Black Plague setting of the game feel all the more popular and relevant. The first game was an admirable title that focused on stealth and had several nerve-wracking encounters that could be quite a pain to deal with at times.

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However, it's the second game that flexed its budget with larger areas and an epic story. While some people felt like the charm of Innocence was lost in Requiem, there's no denying that this title is infinitely more polished and engaging than its predecessor in many ways. The main story is also quite riveting in its own right, featuring an ending that will shock players to their very core.

16 The Witcher Series

One Of The Best Medieval Fantasy Games Fans Can Check Out

The Witcher 3 Geralt and Ciri
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
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Released
May 19, 2015
Developer(s)
CD Projekt Red
Genre(s)
RPG, Action, Adventure

With medieval fantasy having its roots in literature, it makes sense that some medieval fantasy games are based on book series. The Witcher is one of those games. While the series has three titles, it is the third title that won gamers over for its open-world map and many quests.

Even non-gamers or book fans are now familiar with The Witcher as well, ever since the Netflix series came out. For fans of the Netflix series, the game is worth a look. It does take place after the events of the show though, so there will be spoilers for the fate of Ciri, Dandelion, and Yennefer.