Video games are the newest form of entertainment that has been taking over the world, with billions of fans immersing themselves in sprawling open worlds and picking apart intricately designed mechanics. Titles such as Super Mario and Grand Theft Auto highlight the world of video games and the depth they offer. With all forms of media, different genres diversify interests, giving every fan something to enjoy.
20 'The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker' (2002/2003)
Image via NintendoNintendo is known for its creative games, and one of its best-selling franchises is also one of the greatest fantasy series ever made, The Legend of Zelda. This list will have a handful of Zelda games, starting with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Disaster strikes a cozy village when a bird kidnaps Link's sister, setting him out on an adventure to retrieve her and defeat the evil Ganondorf.
The Wind Waker was initially met with scathing reviews, as fans did not like the cartoony art style and wholesome aesthetic. However, this once-misunderstood game has aged remarkably, with the art style in particular making it a timeless piece of media. It has some bumps that the HD version irons out, but overall, The Wind Waker is a fantastic adventure with unparalleled freedom. Such is its acclaim today that some fans are even hoping the Zelda movie uses it as inspiration.
Image via Stoic StudioThe fantasy genre is ripe with endless AAA masterpieces, but one underrated indie gem is The Banner Saga. This Viking-inspired dark fantasy has players controlling a caravan of humans and a giant who are fleeing from the Dredge. With this apocalyptic creature looming and the sun having stopped in the sky, the end of times is nigh, unless the player can do anything about it.
It may not be an open-world like most acclaimed fantasy games, but The Banner Saga still excels at its worldbuilding and lore development. With tactical turn-based combat and Oregon Trail-style resource management, this game portrays the dire situation quite well, adding an eerie atmosphere that enhances the immersion. The Banner Saga has an epic tone that makes the gameplay more stressful, yet engaging.
18 'Dishonored' (2012)
Image via Bethesda SoftworksFantasy comes in many shapes and sizes, and one of them is Dishonored, which is a steampunk dark fantasy. After he is framed for the murder of the Empress, Corto becomes an assassin to clear his name and rescue the daughter of the Empress, who has been locked away inside the dark town.
Dishonored may not feel like a typical fantasy, but the gloomy world is a distinct setting that fits into the genre. The level design is absolutely phenomenal, opening up the vertical ground for players to test their parkour and stealth skills. Blending stealth with brutal action and supernatural abilities with level design, there are so many emergent possibilities in Dishonored, which is why fans would love a movie adaptation of this acclaimed video game.
17 'Fable II' (2008)
Image via Lionhead StudiosSony and Nintendo both have their fantasy franchises, but some fans might remember Xbox's acclaimed fantasy game, Fable, especially since a new one comes out in 2026. However, the best is Fable II, which follows a street urchin's rise to fame. Becoming a hero of the world, the player is now seeking revenge after a tyrant alters the future of the mystical kingdom.
The newest game has the potential to rank on this list when it comes out, but for now, Fable II is the highlight of the franchise. It may be known for one of the worst video game endings, but Fable II has enough bright spots that make up for its sole underwhelming aspect. It isn't just an action-focused RPG, but it also feels like a life-sim in a live-in world where players can explore and interact with the fantasy world in an immersive way.
16 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' (2025)
Image via Sandfall EntertainmentThe best games of the year are almost always giant open-world fantasies, and 2025 was no different, introducing fans to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. When a mysterious entity known as the Paintress begins erasing eras from history every year, Expedition 33 embarks on a suicide mission to stop her before she erases the world as they know it.
2025 was an excellent year for games, but Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was easily the greatest video game of the year. By mixing turn-based RPG combat with real-time events, this remarkable effort has engaging gameplay that forces players to be on their toes and think critically about their next move. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a surrealist fantasy with an avant-garde style and heavy themes that make it a modern masterpiece.
15 'World of Warcraft' (2004)
Image via Blizzard EntertainmentReplay value is a key aspect of all games, and any title that can keep player retention for over two decades is clearly doing something right. World of Warcraft is one of the most popular fantasy games and MMORPG's. The Horde and the Alliance have been at war with cosmic threats, undead creatures, and each other for centuries, and this conflict will never stop as they continue to explore Azeroth.
World of Warcraft is the quintessential MMORPG, defining the tab-target combat, cooperative aids, and PvP factions. The gameplay isn't for everyone, but its style is undeniably genre-defining in the realm of fantasy. The worldbuilding is some of the greatest seen in any video game, fantasy or otherwise, allowing players to become their character and explore a vast world with endless potential.
14 'Kingdom Hearts' (2002)
Image via Square EnixDisney is known for its classic cartoons, but nobody expected a video featuring such beloved characters to become a long-lasting juggernaut. Kingdom Hearts follows the key-blade-wielding Sora, who teams up with Daffy Duck and Goofy to stop an all-consuming darkness known as the Heartless from destroying their interconnected worlds.
It is a bit surreal watching Goofy and Daffy Duck in such serious and dramatic situations, but that's one of the saga's best and most distinct aspects; plus, the game doesn't take itself too seriously, which always helps. Kingdom Hearts is a fast-paced hack-and-slash extravaganza with thrilling combat and strategic spell casting. Known for its melodramatic story and iconic soundtrack, Kingdom Hearts is a fan-favorite game and a dazzling fantasy crossover.
13 'Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor' (2014)
Image via WB GamesHollywood adaptations of video games are the new norm, but they rarely end up being good. Video game adaptations of movies, on the other hand, have been extremely successful, as proven by Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Set in the universe of The Lord of the Rings, it follows Talion, a resurrected ranger who wages a one-man war against the forces of Sauron's army to seek revenge.
The nemesis system is regarded as one of the most unique and fascinating gameplay mechanics of all time, and while WB Games refuses to use it again, Shadow of Mordor highlights its excellence. With a licensed universe, fans get the best view of Middle-earth, plus the fluid rhythm-based combat, parkour traversal, and environment manipulation further make it a must-play fantasy gem.
Collider Exclusive · Middle-earth Quiz
Which Lord of the Rings
Character Are You?
One Quiz · Ten Questions · Your Fate Revealed
The road goes ever on. From the green hills of the Shire to the fires of Mount Doom, every soul in Middle-earth carries a destiny. Ten questions stand between you and the truth of who you are. Answer honestly — the One Ring has a way of revealing what we most want to hide.
💍Frodo
🌿Samwise
👑Aragorn
🔥Gandalf
🏹Legolas
⚒️Gimli
👁️Sauron
🪨Gollum
BEGIN YOUR QUEST →
01
You are handed a responsibility that could destroy you. What do you do? The weight of the world falls on unlikely shoulders.
AAccept it. Someone has to, and running changes nothing. BStay by the side of whoever carries it. They shouldn't go alone. CStep forward and lead. This is exactly what I was made for. DIt's mine now. I won't let anyone else have it.
NEXT QUESTION →
02
Your closest companion is heading into terrible danger. You: True loyalty is revealed not in comfort, but in crisis.
AFollow them without hesitation. I'd rather die beside them than live without them. BRally others and forge a plan to help — strength in numbers. COffer wisdom and guidance. My counsel may save them where swords cannot. DLet them go. Only the strong survive, and sentiment is a weakness.
NEXT QUESTION →
03
Enormous power is within your reach. Your instinct is: Power corrupts — but only those who reach for it.
ADestroy it. Nothing good comes from power this absolute. BUse it to protect those I love — just this once. CWield it wisely. I have the will and the knowledge to do good with it. DSeize it. I have waited long enough. It belongs to me.
NEXT QUESTION →
04
What does "home" mean to you? Where we long to return reveals who we truly are.
AA simple, peaceful place — green hills, good food, no adventure required. BWherever the people I love are. Home is a feeling, not a place. CA kingdom I must earn before I can truly claim it as mine. DI lost it long ago. That loss is what drives everything I do.
NEXT QUESTION →
05
When a battle is upon you, your approach is: War reveals what we are made of — whether we like it or not.
ASurvive by any means. I'm not a fighter — but I'll do what I must. BFight for the person beside me, not for glory or honour. CLead the charge. Nothing inspires an army like a king at the front. DStrike from range, fast and precise — never let them get close.
NEXT QUESTION →
06
Someone comes to you for advice in their darkest hour. You: Wisdom is not knowing all the answers — it's knowing which questions to ask.
AListen, then offer honest encouragement. Sometimes people just need belief. BGive them practical help — words are fine, but action is better. CSpeak carefully. I have seen much, and I know what counsel can cost. DTell them what they want to hear. Trust is a tool like any other.
NEXT QUESTION →
07
How do you see yourself, honestly? Self-knowledge is the most dangerous kind.
ASmall and ordinary — but perhaps that's exactly why I was chosen. BDefined entirely by who I serve and love. I am nothing without them. CForged by hardship into something the world has not yet fully seen. DDiminished from what I once was — and consumed by the need to reclaim it.
NEXT QUESTION →
08
Which of these best describes your relationship with the natural world? Middle-earth speaks to those who know how to listen.
AI find peace in it — forests, rivers, open skies. Nature restores me. BI prefer the earth underfoot — stone, mines, solid and real things. CI have watched the world change for longer than most can comprehend. DNature offers hiding places, cold water, raw fish. That's enough for me.
NEXT QUESTION →
09
You encounter a wretched, pitiable creature who has done terrible things. You: How we treat the fallen reveals the height of our character.
AShow mercy. Even the most broken souls deserve a chance at redemption. BPity them — but never trust them. They made their choices. CSee them as a tool. Their knowledge or skills may still serve a purpose. DDestroy them before they can cause more harm. Mercy is a luxury we cannot afford.
NEXT QUESTION →
10
When the quest is over and the songs are sung, what do you hope they say about you? In the end, we are all just stories.
AThat an ordinary person did an extraordinary thing — and came home. BThat I never abandoned the person who needed me most. CThat I was worthy of the crown — and everything it demanded. DNothing. I don't need songs. I needed it, and now it's gone.
REVEAL MY FATE →
The Fellowship Has Spoken Your Place in Middle-earth
The scores below reveal your true character. Your highest number is your match. Even a tie tells a story — the Fellowship was never made of simple people.
💍 Frodo
🌿 Samwise
👑 Aragorn
🔥 Gandalf
🏹 Legolas
⚒️ Gimli
👁️ Sauron
🪨 Gollum
You carry something heavy — and you carry it alone, even when you don't have to. You were not born for greatness, and that is precisely why greatness chose you. Your courage is not the roaring, sword-swinging kind; it is quiet, stubborn, and terrifying in its refusal to quit. The Ring weighs on you more than anyone can see, and still you walk toward the fire. That is not weakness. That is the rarest kind of strength there is.
You are, without question, the best of them. Not the most powerful, not the most celebrated — but the most essential. Your loyalty is not a trait; it is a force of nature. You would carry the person you love up the slopes of Mount Doom if it came to that, and we both know you'd do it without being asked. The world needs more people like you, and the world is lucky it has even one.
You were born to lead, and you have spent years running from it. The crown is yours by right, but you know better than anyone that right means nothing without the will and the worthiness to back it up. You are tempered by loss, shaped by long roads, and defined by a code of honour you hold to even when no one is watching. When you finally step forward, the world shifts. Because it was always waiting for you.
You have seen more than you let on, and you say less than you know — which is exactly as it should be. You are a catalyst: you do not fight the battles yourself, you ignite the people who can. Your wisdom comes not from books but from an age of watching what happens when it is ignored. You arrive precisely when you mean to, and your presence alone changes what is possible. A wizard is never late.
Graceful, perceptive, and almost preternaturally calm under pressure — you see things others miss and act before others react. You do not need to make a scene to be remarkable; your presence speaks for itself. You are loyal to those you choose to stand beside, and that choice is not made lightly. You have lived long enough to know that the most beautiful things in this world are also the most fragile, and that is why you fight to protect them.
You are loud, proud, and absolutely formidable — and beneath all of that is one of the most fiercely loyal hearts in Middle-earth. You don't do anything by half measures. Your friendships are forged like iron, your grudges run as deep as mines, and your courage in battle is the kind that makes legends. You came into this fellowship suspicious of everyone and ended it willing to die for an elf. That is not a small thing. That is everything.
You think in centuries and act in absolutes. Order, dominion, control — not because you are cruel by nature, but because you have decided that the world left to itself always falls apart, and you are the only one with the vision and the will to hold it together. You were not always this. Something was lost, or taken, or betrayed, and the version of you that stands now is the answer to that wound. The tragedy is that you're not entirely wrong — just entirely too far gone to course-correct.
You are a study in contradiction — pitiable and dangerous, cunning and broken, capable of both cruelty and something that once resembled love. You are defined by loss: of innocence, of self, of the one thing that gave your existence meaning. Two voices war inside you constantly, and the tragedy is that the better one sometimes wins, just not often enough, and never at the right moment. You are a warning, yes — but also a mirror. We are all a little Gollum, given the right ring and enough time.
↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ
12 'Dark Souls III' (2016)
Image via Namco Bandai GamesFromSoftware is a critically acclaimed studio with multiple entries on this list, starting with Dark Souls 3. The First Flame is fading in the kingdom of Lothric, and its only savior is the unkindled champion who must hunt down the Lords of Cinder and return them to their thrones.
Realistically, any Dark Souls game could be on this list, as they each have unique strengths and aspects that make them great. However, Dark Souls 3 is generally considered the best because of its story, revitalized gameplay, and modern game design. Known for its singular and challenging approach, Dark Souls 3 is a cinematic and rewarding experience for those who explore its many details.
11 'Final Fantasy VII' (1997)
Image via Square EnixOnly a handful of game franchises earned multiple entries on this list, one of them being Final Fantasy, specifically Final Fantasy VII. Shinra is a megacorporation that is draining the planet of its energy, and the only hope for saving the world is Cloud and his group of ecoterrorists, who come face to face with the super soldier Sephiroth.
The image we used shows the modern remake, and while it is fantastic, this entry refers to the classic '90s game that went down in history. Despite not being the best Final Fantasy game, the seventh entry is one of the most popular and iconic. By bringing the franchise into the 3D realm, Final Fantasy VII changed the course of history and created a sweeping narrative with its flexible Materia system.
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