Top 5 Fantasy Video Game Franchises: #1 Is a Shock!

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In many respects, it could be argued that fantasy video games stand out as some of the most captivating offerings within the gaming industry. Since the early beginnings of gaming, we’ve been enthralled by realms teeming with dragons, wizards, knights, and mythical creatures. Over time, these timeless universes have remained popular, gracing our screens to this day. Notably, certain fantasy worlds have managed to endure the test of time and maintain a loyal fanbase, despite the absence of recent games tied to these iconic properties.

Among all the contenders, there’s no doubt that these five fantasy video game series stand out as the absolute top-tier ones ever created.

5) The Witcher

This fifth position was tough to determine due to strong competitors like Dragon Quest, Dragon Age, and Baldur’s Gate. Nevertheless, after careful consideration, The Witcher emerged victorious for a couple of significant factors, primarily due to the exceptional performance of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Securing the fifth position was no easy feat with Dragon Quest, Dragon Age, and Baldur’s Gate among the contenders. However, at the end of the day, The Witcher managed to outperform its rivals for a couple of key reasons, largely thanks to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Despite having fewer major titles compared to other franchises, “The Witcher 3” is considered one of the best fantasy games ever made. It functions brilliantly as both a follow-up to “The Witcher” and “The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings,” while also being an ideal starting point for new players. Although the earlier Witcher games may not age as gracefully today as “Wild Hunt” does, developer CD Projekt Red is currently developing a remake of the original game. If both the remake and the upcoming “The Witcher 4” prove successful, then The Witcher franchise could climb this list in the near future.

4) Final Fantasy

Among the listed franchises, only Final Fantasy includes “fantasy” in its title. Since it debuted in 1987, this series has been a key contributor to Square Enix’s success. Over the years, 16 mainline Final Fantasy games have been released, with some of the most celebrated being Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy X, and Final Fantasy XIV. Today, Square Enix still releases new main series installments while also developing remakes, remasters, and fresh spin-offs for this popular fantasy series.

Final Fantasy’s ranking isn’t quite as high as some might expect due to its occasionally uneven quality throughout the series. With over a hundred games released since its inception, there are many outstanding titles, but unfortunately, there have also been several disappointing ones. This inconsistency prevents Final Fantasy from securing a place among the top three, despite the fact that the series as a whole is far superior to its weaker entries.

3) Elden Ring/Dark Souls

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel that grouping Elden Ring and Dark Souls together might seem like cheating at first glance, but it’s more of a harmonious union when you delve deeper. FromSoftware’s captivating “Soulslike” action games may not inhabit the same universe, yet they share an intricate web of resemblances that bind them closely. This similarity isn’t merely confined to gameplay mechanics, but extends to the enigmatic way these games unfold their stories and lore, subtly revealing layers of depth as you journey through them.

Speaking of which, the mythology found in Dark Souls and Elden Ring is quite extensive. Both series offer some of the most intricate, thought-provoking, and immersive lore within the fantasy genre, but it can be quite challenging to decipher. To fully comprehend the lore and universe of these games, you might want to watch numerous explanatory YouTube videos. However, once you’ve grasped it, it’s tough not to believe that there isn’t anything more captivating out there.

2) The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo’s most significant series apart from Super Mario, is a timeless and long-standing fantasy gaming franchise. It originated with the initial release on NES titled The Legend of Zelda, and its journey continues to the Nintendo Switch with the upcoming release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Over these years, Nintendo has repeatedly revolutionized the action-adventure genre and garnered Game of the Year awards for games such as A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and Breath of the Wild.

The primary reason Zelda may not stand out as the top in fantasy realms is due to its storytelling and universe construction methods. Instead of building upon previously established narratives, each Zelda game typically presents a unique, standalone tale. Whilst this approach isn’t universally problematic, it often results in a fragmented and complex Zelda world for the audience. Moreover, Nintendo has demonstrated an apparent lack of concern about the Zelda timeline, which can lead one to question its importance to others as well.

1) The Elder Scrolls

Indeed, The Elder Scrolls series stands out as the top-tier fantasy gaming franchise of all years. Launched in 1994 with “The Elder Scrolls: Arena,” Bethesda’s iconic series has consistently grown and set new standards with each subsequent release. This trend reached its peak with the universally popular “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,” yet it is still evident in “The Elder Scrolls Online” and the latest version of “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

In contrast to other fantasy realms, The Elder Scrolls series stands out due to Bethesda’s commitment to intricate detail. This game world is crafted for players to immerse themselves in and inhabit for countless hours. To achieve this, Bethesda has created a fantasy realm that feels remarkably lifelike, even surpassing the depth seen in Middle-Earth or other storytelling platforms. Despite occasional bugs and peculiarities, The Elder Scrolls games represent the crème de la crème of gaming when it comes to epic fantasy experiences.

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2025-05-10 03:38