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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 asLord of the Rings, A Song of Ice and Fire, and The Chronicles of Narnia.
Updated on January 19, 2022, by Allison Stalberg: While medieval fantasy has created some of the most well-known books, it has also produced some of the most well-known video games. Due to the fame of such games, more and more medieval fantasy titles come out in hopes of being the next big hit. Luckily for fans, a lot of these medieval fantasy games are worth playing. While the genre is best known in RPGs, there are also strategy, puzzle, co-op, and action titles set to medieval fantasy.
14 The Witcher Series
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 games, it is the third title that really 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 definitely 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.
13 Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Lately, the Fire Emblem series has leaned more and more into the medieval fantasy genre. One such recent title is Fire Emblem: Three Houses. The game is both an RPG and tactical, with the player controlling their own army versus others. The game also incorporates some social simulation elements such as getting certain characters to warm up to each other and giving out favorite gifts.
The biggest RPG element is to choose between the three houses. Each has a different set of characters and storyline later in the game. The game was released in 2019 for the Nintendo Switch.
12 The Dark Souls Series
This series is famous for its difficulty. Despite the learning curve though, it has gotten quite popular. Due to that, it influenced many games after it. It fits the definition of medieval fantasy in its weapons, armor, and creatures. There are classic medieval fantasy creatures like dragons as well as more original monsters.
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Unlike Fable and Dragon Age, do not expect much dialogue, choices, and other characters. Dark Souls is more about combat, exploration, and its own gloomy and sinister lore.
11 The Baldur’s Gate Series
Baldur’s Gate is basically if Dungeons and Dragons was a single-player video game (though it does have multiplayer capabilities). The third title of this series is currently in beta, and fans are very excited about its release. It has come a long way since its first game in 1998.
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Due to its use of choices and role-playing, the games are definitely worth playing more than just once. Those who have early access to the most recent title have said a lot of positive things so far such as the graphics, story, and sound. However, they are still working on the bugs and kinks, so the earlier Baldur’s Gate games may be a better pick for now.
10 The MediEvil Series
As its title describes, MediEvil is a game set in medieval times. It certainly has fantasy elements as well, because players play an undead knight. The hack and slash series has three titles and a 2019 remake/remaster.
The protagonist is Dan, also known as Sir Daniel Fortesque. He is brought back to life as an undead skeleton by an evil sorcerer along with an undead army. However, Dan is not loyal to the evil sorcerer and plans to defeat him in order to earn his place as a true hero that he could not be in life.
9 The Elder Scrolls Series
Of course, the Elder Scrolls games are not to be missed. They are very much part of the medieval fantasy genre, complete with monarchs, dragons, and magic. Its latest huge title, Skyrim, has been the talk of the town since its 2011 release and constant remasters since. Even before Skyrim though, there are still major fans of the older titles like Morrowind and Oblivion. The game has classic medieval races like elves and dwarves but also gets a little creative with cat and lizard people.
The series has mastered open-world gameplay in the sense that there is always something new to discover, but that does have its sacrifices, such as having deep characters and narrative. Still, many gamers have put over a thousand hours into this game.
8 Shovel Knight
Shovel Knight was first released in 2014 and has spread to many platforms. It won many awards and critical acclaim among players and critics, winning Best Independent Game, 3DS eShop Game of the Year, Wii U eShop Game of the Year, Best 3DS Game, Best Music, and Best Platformer.
The game is a 2D side-scrolling platformer that has players fight enemies as they go through dungeons and collect as much treasure as possible. There is both a single and multiplayer mode as well as DLC.
7 The Fable Series
Fable has a number of games, with its first coming out in 2004. In every title, players get to explore and make choices in a medieval world. Choices are a little more cut and dry in terms of good and evil than the Dragon Age games. While the graphics did get better with each game, most fans have agreed that the first title does have the best story.
Not only do choices influence the world, but they can change the look of the main protagonist. The story also has its share of memorable characters.
6 The Legend Of Zelda Series
Everyone has heard of The Legend of Zelda, as it has existed since the 80s and has only gotten more popular with time. What of what makes the series so inviting to new players is that most titles are a stand-alone story that does not require the player to play the other games to understand what is going on.
Some titles fit more into medieval fantasy than others. For medieval fantasy fans, Twilight Princess and/or Ocarina of Time are good places to start. While Breath of the Wild is their more recent game, it has fewer medieval fantasy elements due to the fact that Link is mostly exploring nature rather than towns.
5 Dragon’s Dogma
Dragon’s Dogma takes you from small fishing villages to massive castles and gives you plenty of opportunities to enjoy intricate medieval scenery. On top of that, quests will have you hunting one the side and seek audiences with nobility.
The game also has one of the most memorable dragon characters out there. The game is available for many consoles such as the PS3, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. For computer-based players, it is also available for Windows. For those that enjoy MMOs, Dragon’s Dogma Online has also existed since 2015.
4 The Dragon Age Series
Dragon Age is a series with a lot of compelling characters and choices. It is an original story with familiar creatures like dragons but also has built rich and unique lore for itself. The game has three major titles such as Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age: Inquisition, but it also has its fair share of books and comics.
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For those who like to make their own character and make in-game decisions with lasting effects, this is a great series. Dragon Age 2 let down a lot of players because they could only play a human character, but the other games have options like elf, dwarf, and qunari. The class the player picks can also influence the story as well, particularly in Origins.
3 Darkest Dungeon
In Darkest Dungeon, players take on the role of a variety of medieval to Victorian-themed characters while fighting their way through Eldritch horrors, dungeons, and ruins. It is not the most medieval game out there, as there are guns, but one of the characters you can play is literally a crusader and there is also a jester.
The game is unique for its mix of medieval, Victorian, and Lovecraftian themes. It also has a unique 2D visual style.
2 The Castlevania Series
This long game series started in 1986 and had its most recent release in 2014. With a Netflix series based on the games being a huge success, there will likely be more to the games on the horizon. Not only are the games medieval fantasy, but they are also gothic-horror with plenty of spooky creatures and dark rooms.
Much of the medieval fantasy elements come from folkloric and mythological inspirations with enemies to fight such as Medusa, vampires, and imps. The weapons are quite medieval as well, with enemies and protagonists often wielding swords, shields, and spears.
1 Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordor/War
While this story is original, it is in the setting of Middle Earth from The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Due to this, players can get into the game already knowing a lot about the world and its lore.
However, you do not have to be a die-hard fan to get enjoyment from these titles. The game uses a host of original characters who require little understanding of Middle Earth lore to enjoy, and the characters who are based on deep lore are given simple introductions so that most information can be obtained through cutscenes or context clues.
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