Summary
The fantasy genre is often likely to conjure images ofwhimsical fairy talesor heroic stories of adventurers. This is not always the case, though. Fantasy can be as sinister as any other genre, and there is a particular appetite for dark fantasy media.
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While plenty more stories could afford to combine the fantasy and horror genres, many have pioneered this subgenre. From creature features to sinister RPGs, to stylized games set in a dark and fantastical world, there are so many types of video games that experiment with this genre, and these are some of the top go-to’s for fans of both fantasy and horror.
Supermassive’s latest teen ‘choose your own horror’ romp, dips its toes into the horror and fantasy genres. Horror has become the standard for Supermassive’s games since their success withUntil Dawn, in itself a good horror and fantasy mix. Since then, they have developed their choice-based horror anthology,The Dark Pictures Anthology, and worked on Little Nightmares 2.
ButThe Quarryis the closest toUntil Dawn. The horror elements are clear from the classic setup of a group of teenagers battling unknown odds to survive the night and escape some truly gory fates, but there is an element of fantasy to the story too. At its heart,The Quarryis a creature feature, focussing on the classic tormented fantasy beast -the werewolf.
To flip the genres a little, this game series is more fantasy and less horror. But that shouldn’t detract from the fact that theBaldur’s Gateseries, set in theDungeons and DragonsForgotten Realms, has sometruly dark moments.
The latest entry in the series,Baldur’s Gate 3, has recently been released by Larian Studios, and makes a great case for horror elements in fantasy games. Just becauseBaldur’s Gateis set in a fantasy world and tells the story of daring adventurers, it doesn’t mean it can’t have plenty of truly dark and disturbing moments.
Baldur’s Gateabove,The Witcheris a famously successful fantasy game, based on the book series of the same name. So successful, in fact, that it prompted the release of a Netflix series for the same IP.
The books can get very dark, mature, and, at times, scary, and this is definitely reflected in its faithful video game adaptation. Whether it is the disturbing monsters that players face, the oftentimes dismal settings, or the apocalyptic storylines, life for a Witcher is certainly a terrifying one.
TheAliceseries, famous in particular forAlice: Madness Returns, follows a setting that may be familiar to a lot of players; that ofLewis Carroll’sAlice in Wonderland. For those who aren’t aware,Alice in Wonderlandis a very fantastical and whimsical tale about a girl called Alice, who follows a white rabbit down a rabbit hole and enters a strange new world.
TheAliceseries plays on this familiar concept and setting but makes the strange not only fantastical but also traumatic. It is a wonderfully scary play on a classic fantasy tale, and players can play it on Xbox Game Pass.
The Binding Of Isaacis an infamous roguelike that is beloved in part for its detailed and horrific fantasy lore. While the game is based on the Biblical story of Isaac, and clearly has strong religious themes, there is a huge fantasy element to the game that is equal parts cute and disturbing.
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Isaac can gain power-ups through tarot cards and must face a variety of monstrous enemies. While its fantasy veers toward the religious, there is no denying the sinister elements ofThe Binding Of Isaac.
A very recent release,Lies Of Pis similar, at least in the source material, to theAliceseries.Lies Of Pis based onthe classic folk tale of Pinocchio, a puppet who longs to be a real boy and whose nose grows if he lies. Certainly, an interesting fantasy source to draw from,Lies Of Pis a Soulslike packed with highly disturbing puppet enemies.
The setting, themes, and storylines are equally sinister, making it a really nice blend of the two genres.Lies Of Phas some unique mechanics based on its source, and is definitely worth picking up, especially as it’s also available on Xbox Game Pass.
4Castlevania
Since werewolves got a mention on the list, their iconic fantasy counterpart also deserves a place. Thankfully, theCastlevaniaseries is the perfect option. For those who like their fantasy a little more Gothic, this series is perfect.
Gothic stories have long been infamous for combining fantastical occurrences with horror, andCastlevaniais no exception.Castlevaniais a vampire-based Gothic horror game, also infamous enough to get its own Netflix adaptation, and is definitely worth exploring for fans of Gothic fantasy and horror.
With gameplay and an aesthetic similar to the belovedLittle Nightmaresseries,Bramble: The Mountain Kingis anindie horror gamebased on Swedish mythology. The fantasy elements are felt from the very beginning, as players are introduced to Olle, a little boy who heads into the woods at night with his older sister, Lillemor. The environment is gorgeously fantastical, and some of the creatures that players encounter evoke that whimsical delight.
Make no mistake, though. This game is a horror game and a terrifying one at that. All it takes to prove that is a few run-ins with some of the malignant fantasy creatures out for Olle’s blood. That, and the potential fates of the poor gnomes that Olle befriends.
Along with FromSoftware’s other infamous titles,Elden Ringis a gorgeous and truly sprawling fantasy epic. But there is no denying the terror factor to the game, either.
FromSoftware is well known for delivering their fantasy with a huge helping of darkness, and this is reflected in the abominations that players must conquer, desecrated landscapes like Caelid, and the seriously dismal lore that surrounds these narratives. For the dictionary definition of dark fantasy,Elden Ringis a must-play, as are the other titles mentioned in this entry.
Senua’s Sacrificeis acompelling narrative experiencedesigned to shed light on the lives of those living with psychosis, and supported by the insight of doctors and those affected. DespiteHellblade’s very real purpose and fear factor, the game undoubtedly takes place in a fantasy setting, drawing from Norse mythology.
Given that it depicts a young woman’s journey through Helheim, players shouldn’t expect this to be a pleasant fantasy experience by any stretch of the imagination. Senua is destined to face horrific foes, insurmountable odds, and her own psyche. The fantasy setting doesn’t overshadow how genuinely terrifying the game is, or how profound the experience can be.
