5 Greatest Fantasy Games Of The 2000s

For one reason or another, many of the greatest games of all time fall into the fantasy genre. Something about the escapist tendencies of the medium works hand-in-hand with the genre, offering a way to experience fantastical worlds in an interactive space.

The 2000s saw the release of some particularly spectacular fantasy titles, with major leaps in technology allowing games to render their flights of fancy in a more immersive way than ever before. While it's possible now to create even more detailed worlds than it was then, some of the best 2000s fantasy games struck the perfect balance of delivering complex, enveloping experiences while leaving just enough to the imagination.

World Of Warcraft

World of Warcraft isn't for everyone, but there's no denying its significance as a titan of 2000s gaming. Building on the fantasy world established in the Warcraft series, the massively multiplayer version created a social experience like no other.

While previous fantasy MMORPGs like EverQuest had their own compelling aspects, World of Warcraft brought a new level of accessibility to the table, avoiding a punishing gameplay loop to focus on a sense of inviting community. Over 20 years later, the game is still going strong with the continual release of expansions and the launch of World of Warcraft: Forever, which revisits the classic formula and adds new content.

Final Fantasy 10

The Final Fantasy series was at the height of its powers in the 90s, and it managed to keep that momentum going into the 2000s with the release of Final Fantasy 10. Like previous games in the series, this represented the height of cinematic potential available at the time, and the leap to the PlayStation 2 opened up some huge possibilities.

From grand cutscenes to imaginative locales, FF10 has an incredible power to spark the imagination. With frequently linear area design and a focus on a pre-determined story, it doesn't offer the same freedom as some other fantasy RPGs, but it doesn't need to. Rather than letting players determine their own path, FF10 hands them a carefully designed one filled with memorable moments and emotional stakes, ensuring that any playthrough will be memorable.

Dragon Age: Origins

For those who prefer a choice-oriented approach, Dragon Age: Origins is a decision that's easy to make. The first entry in the Dragon Age series snuck in at the end of the decade, launching in November 2009 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Dragon Age: Origins continued developer BioWare's hot streak for immersive worlds with interesting characters, building on the foundation of games like Baldur's Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Mass Effect. The writing is complex in every way that counts, with memorable dialogue, choices that have real impacts, and a strong story arc regardless of what decisions are made.

After the success of Origins, Dragon Age quickly turned into one of BioWare's flagship franchises. For many fans, however, the game that started it all remains the definitive best in the series.

The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker

The Legend of Zelda has offered some of the greatest fantasy games across the course of the decades, and the 2000s were no exception. From The Minish Cap to Twilight Princess, there's no shortage of great opportunities to don a green tunic and set about saving the fantasy kingdom of Hyrule.

Picking one standout is hard, but The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker might be the best of the decade. While the pivot to a cartoon style alienated some fans at the time, it's aged incredibly well, and the magic of the game experience is hard to deny.

The Wind Waker takes on the interesting setting of a flooded Hyrule, seeing Link sail from island to island in a unique open-world experiment. Despite all the empty space, the world is bursting at the seams with fun, from clever puzzles and hidden secrets to charming characters and humorous story beats.

When you think of fantasy games, there's a good chance that whatever comes to mind shares follows some common tropes. Fantasy settings are often largely inspired by medieval Europe, and more recent games in The Elder Scrolls series have a lot in common with The Lord of the Rings or Dungeons & Dragons.

The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, however, is a beast of its own. The island of Vvardenfell is strange and striking, often feeling more like an alien planet than a riff on human history. From mushroom houses to gangly arthropods that stalk the land on stilt-like legs, there's something bizarre and memorable around every corner.

In traditional The Elder Scrolls fashion, Morrowind is also a game with a memorable amount of player freedom, and it guides quests and exploration less than Oblivion and Skyrim do. Both of those are still great options — and Oblivion is certainly weirder than it looks at first glance — but Morrowind remains a special example of what 2000s fantasy could be.