Summary
- Necromancers in gaming offer a divisive playstyle, letting gamers embrace the dark arts or opt for traditional classes for varied experiences.
- Games featuring necromancers emphasize player choice, allowing for specialization in summoning undead armies or using dark magic strategically.
- From RPGs like Divinity: Original Sin 2 to action games like Path of Exile, necromancers in gaming can take various forms and often have access to unique abilities.
With the ability to raise the dead, necromancers often defy the natural order of the world to achieve their own goals, making them one of the most popular, fierce, and manipulative kinds of antagonists in gaming. Still, despite how most games cast necromancers in a negative light, some recognize how captivating, beneficial, and efficient their abilities are in battle by allowing players to pursue necromancy.
Since playing as a necromancer can be divisive, games that feature them generally allow players to choose how to devote their efforts and skills by including other playable classes or making necromancy a specialization. Nonetheless, these games let players raise undead armies and use necromancy as a powerful tool throughout their journeys.
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Updated February 24, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat: Necromancy is often referred to as dark magic, as it is considered to be an unethical way of using magic to reach power, which is why most necromancer characters are portrayed as evil creatures who try to get to power by any means.
That being said, necromancers offer a unique way of combat in most games, as they usually stand behind and use their connection with the undead world to send an army of creeps and deal with their enemies in an indirect way.
1 Iratus: Lord of the Dead
Gain a Second Breath of Life to Execute Plans for World Domination
Iratus: Lord of the Dead
- Released
- July 24, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
Games don't often explore what happens to evil necromancers when their plans to spread their necrotic touch across all mortal realms are thwarted. Iratus: Lord of the Dead not only shows this, but has players step into the shoes of the Lord of the Dead himself for a second chance.
After his defeat, Iratus awakens in a dungeon. He must fight his way through it in order to reach the world of the living once more, and try to end all life again. Traversing through the dungeon and raising more new minions to add to the player's ever-growing legion is sure to guarantee success this time around. But if not, players can always try again, from the very start of the dungeon.
2 Dwarf Fortress
Steal From Other Necromancers to Grow the Undead Powers
Dwarf Fortress
- Released
- August 8, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Strategy, Simulation
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Dwarf Fortress is mostly known for its strategy and resource management game mode called Fortress Mode, in which the player builds settlements and does their best to keep the denizens alive and happy. However, there is another way to play, especially for those eager for more necromancer goodness.
Adventure mode ditches the resource management gameplay and instead lets players gear themselves up for a grand adventure out into the world, with some freedom of choice as to where they go and what they do. One thing players can do is take the time to learn the forbidden arts of necromancy. Doing so is no small feat, as the player will need to risk the ire of other death bringers by stealing their arcane knowledge to bolster their own. But before they know it, they will be a master of undeath, capable of raising their own armies. They will even feel the cold touch of undeath themselves, as they stop aging, and no longer need to eat or sleep.
3 Last Epoch
Spawn Doppelganger And Call Upon Spirits
Last Epoch
- Released
- February 21, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Eleventh Hour Games
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
In Last Epoch, the owner of the dark magic is referred to as Acolyte, with Necromancer being one of the three available Masteries for it. While the basic abilities for Acolyte include casting life steal and direct damage-dealing spells, the advanced skills are all about spawning undead or evil ghosts.
One of the interesting Acolyte abilities in Last Epoch allows the player to spawn a doppelganger of themselves and then detonate the original body to deal explosion damage to enemies that are attacking it.
Choosing the Necromancer mastery unlocks even more abilities to spawn stronger ghosts and undead beasts, which could be quite appealing to all necromancy enthusiasts.
4 Dragon Age: The Veilguard
The Death Caller Specializes in the Necrotic Arts
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Released
- October 31, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Franchise
- Dragon Age
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The latest addition to the Dragon Age series saw players taking on the role of new playable character, Rook, as they try to stop the risen gods from spreading the Blight over the world and ending life as everyone knows it. But in order to do so, they are going to need powerful skills or magic.
Those who play their Rook with more magical tendencies can tap into the power of death and necrotic energy themselves with the Death Caller specialization. Once they reach level 20, they can focus their arcane arts into this route, drawing on the life force of those around them. They can even toss that power back with explosive force that is sure to kill even hardy opponents. Though Rook cannot raise any undead minions, they can still weaponize enemies' life forces against them, which is devastating and deadly enough.
5 Heroes of Might and Magic 3
All Slain Enemies are Fair Game to Necromancers
Heroes of Might and Magic 3
- Released
- March 3, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
For gamers who don't mind games a little more on the vintage side of things, Heroes of Might and Magic 3 might be the perfect turn-based strategy game for them. Set on the vast continent of Antagarich, seven separate campaigns all detailing the crux of the game's plot. Players will be given ample opportunity to play from different points of view, ensuring that the story and gameplay never grow stale.
In the world of Heroes of Might and Magic 3, there are two classes with the capabilities to raise the dead: death knights and necromancers. Necromancers hail from Necropolis and their dark skills have a hefty price, as they alter the user into a lich. But with the ability to raise any opposing force they kill, their powers might just be worth the price, and who hasn't thought of ascending to lichdom at least once?
6 Total War: Warhammer Series
Controlling An Army Of Necromancers In Massive Wars
Total War: Warhammer 3
- Released
- February 17, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Creative Assembly
- Franchise
- Total War
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Tactical
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The necromancer race in the Total War: Warhammer series is known as Vampire Counts. The race comes with multiple factions, each featuring their very own legendary lords. Vampire Counts are available in all three entries of Total War: Warhammer, using dark magic to control an army of undead.
The troops dedicated to each faction of the race have unique abilities, but there are some widespread traits between all factions, such as the ability to raise an army of zombies instantly or spread corruption to lower the morality of rival factions.
The representation of necromancers in the Total War: Warhammer series is quite strong, and they come with a bunch of unique gameplay mechanics compared to other races.
7 Elder Scrolls Online
Protect and Buff Allies With Living Death Magic
Elder Scrolls Online
- Released
- April 4, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- ZeniMax Online Studios
- Franchise
- The Elder Scrolls
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
The sprawling fantasy world of Elder Scrolls made its way to an online platform in 2014, allowing players to explore the vast worlds of Elder Scrolls with their friends, teaming up to infiltrate into dangerous crypts to bag their share of gold and glory. One important factor to consider when playing an MMO is a balanced party composition. Healing, damage, tanking, and utility are all vital roles, and having at least one of each ups the chances for successful runs.
The Necromancer class can fit into multiple categories, as they are capable of dealing devastating damage, creating protective shields from the bodies of the fallen, and even reviving their allies to get them back into the fight. After all, necromancers are a healing class, in their very own special way. The amount of versatility the necromancer class offers in Elder Scrolls Online is second to none.
8 Lichdom: Battlemage
Craft Necromancy Spells With Lichdoms Spell-Crafting System
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Released: August 26th, 2014
- Developers: Xaviant, Big Moon Entertainment
- Genres: Action RPG
What is better than slinging fun spells in an action RPG? Being gifted an in-game system that allows players to craft their own spells. This isn't wholly a unique element to Lichdom: Battlemage as other games have had such functions in place, but it is part of what makes this game so great, as it is a very in-depth and well-implemented system that allows for some truly zany and unique moments in combat.
Games That Let You Combine Magic Spells
Oftentimes, one magical spell is devastating enough. These games, however, allow players to combine spells for added mayhem.
With the necromancy sigil at hand, players can even craft their own necromancy spells for some truly unique methods of raising the dead and their uses. For those who enjoy the undead arts, Lichdom is the perfect game for them to flex their creative muscles and see what they can come up with.
9 Tales Of Maj'Eyal
Players Can Summon An Army Of Undead Cannon-Fodder
Tales Of Maj'Eyal
- Released
- December 31, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
A turn-based roguelike RPG, Tales of Maj'Eyal is certainly a unique game with a necromancer class, and players will need to think tactically lest they die and have to start their journey from scratch. Players will explore this fantasy world, braving dungeons and the monsters inside as the lore is slowly revealed to them the more they play, encouraging them to keep going even if they suffer defeat after defeat.
Though players can't raise themselves from the dead, they can tap into the darker arts in Tales of Maj'Eyal. There are over 30 possible classes in the game, with the necromancer being among one of the best. With this class, gamers can bolster their numbers and unlock powerful spells that can certainly help them survive more of the grueling dungeons in the game.
10 Warframe
One Specific Character Has The Abilities To Raise The Dead
Warframe
- Released
- March 25, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Digital Extremes
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
One might not believe a game in the multiplayer shooter genre could possibly have a necromancer in it, but this is where Warframe comes in to wow everyone. In the expansive catalog of warframes, there is one who indulges in taboo arts, and he goes by the name of Nekros.
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The aptly named Nekros has a number of abilities at his fingertips, one of the most notable being Soul Punch, which allows him to knock the soul out of a body and damage any enemies behind them, literally weaponizing someone's souls against their own friends. His ultimate, however, is quintessential to necromancers, allowing him to summon fallen foes to become his minions for a duration of time.