Best Fantasy Games From The Last 10 Years

It’s amazing how quickly we’re already past the halfway point of the 2020s! This decade has seen some exciting advancements in gaming, with new consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, plus handheld devices like the Steam Deck and the upcoming Switch 2. While better technology is great, ultimately, what gamers care about most are the games themselves.

Fantasy video games have become incredibly popular over the last decade (2016-2025), with many successful titles released. This popularity extends beyond role-playing games to include a wide range of fantasy-themed games. If you’re interested in seeing how video games have evolved over the past ten years, and missed these games the first time around, they’re worth checking out now.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Bonds Of War

Fire Emblem: Three Houses was a compelling game that combined strategic battles with social interactions. Players selected one of three different houses, which determined their team members and the story’s direction, encouraging multiple playthroughs to experience everything the game offered.

The characters were all well-developed, the progression system was satisfyingly grindable, and the main storyline kept things interesting regardless of your chosen side. With the new Switch 2 console, it’s a fantastic time to revisit this game or experience it for the first time.

God Of War (2018)

Daddy Issues

After the epic conclusion of God of War 3, which finished the story arc based on Greek mythology, the God of War series began to feel repetitive. That’s why the 2018 game was such a breath of fresh air. It excited fans by introducing a new setting – Norse mythology – and focusing on Kratos’s journey with his son, Atreus.

The fighting was incredibly violent, as always, but the story also offered a heartwarming message about controlling your temper and using power responsibly – a lesson Kratos was trying to teach his son, Atreus.

Donkey Kong Bananza

Time To Go Bananas

Okay, so I just finished Donkey Kong Bananza, and seriously, it’s way better than any 3D Mario game Nintendo’s made recently. It’s just completely crazy, full of awesome ideas, and a ton of fun to play. Basically, Donkey Kong gets dragged into this huge adventure where he has to dive through all sorts of different environments – jungles, underwater, you name it – to reach the center of the planet. There’s supposed to be some amazing treasure waiting for him there, and the journey to get it is incredible.

Players can explore worlds with a younger Pauline, breaking everything in sight, chatting with quirky characters, and gathering lots of items. The game features a leveling and skill system, but the coolest part is that Donkey Kong can transform into different animals, even an ostrich!

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

A French Final Fantasy

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was an impressive debut for new game developer Sandfall Interactive. The game skillfully blended elements from popular RPGs but felt fresh and unique thanks to its beautiful, painted art style and influences from French culture.

Man, this RPG really got to me! I felt everything playing through it – seriously, there were moments that made me laugh and others that just broke my heart. And the ending? Totally worth it. But it wasn’t just the story. The turn-based combat was way more interesting than usual. Being able to counter and dodge attacks kept me on my toes, and each character played so differently, which was awesome. It really made the battles feel unique.

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Persona Goes Medieval

ReFantazio is a fantastic turn-based RPG with a unique feature: skilled players could switch to real-time combat. The game’s story revolves around a competition to become the next ruler, sending players on a journey through cities and dungeons to demonstrate their worthiness.

The game offered a similar experience to the Persona series, developed by the same team at Atlus. Besides exploring dungeons, players spent their days balancing work with building relationships and strengthening bonds with their teammates during free time.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Worth The Wait

As a huge fan of the first Hollow Knight, I can tell you Silksong was absolutely worth the long wait – almost ten years, in fact! The original was a fantastic Metroidvania, but Silksong takes everything to the next level. The world feels so much bigger, the different areas are way more diverse, and the characters you meet are just incredible.

While not everyone loves it, some players find the game too difficult. However, that very challenge, along with the game’s somber story, is what instantly appealed to others. It’s also clear that Hollow Knight: Silksong is visually impressive, boasting beautiful hand-drawn artwork.

Elden Ring

Soulslikes For All

Elden Ring represented a significant leap forward for both FromSoftware, the game’s creator, and the Soulslike genre. These types of games hadn’t seen major changes since the original Demon’s Souls came out in 2009.

Players can explore a huge world in this game, either on foot or riding their horse, Torrent, who can even double jump – a rare ability for a horse in open-world games. The combat remains intense and satisfying, the boss battles are suitably disturbing, and the open world design gives players a lot of freedom to choose how they play.

Hades 2

Roguelike Perfection

Hades 2 surpasses its original in almost every way. It features a much more detailed weapon system, letting players unlock new weapons and customize their attacks. The game also improves how you progress, making each run feel rewarding even without using the easier God Mode.

This game features two distinct areas to explore – one underground and one above. Even when your character dies, there’s still something to discover, as the characters back at your base will offer new dialogue. It’s a really well-rounded roguelike game, with exciting combat and a compelling story.

Baldur’s Gate 3

A Choice For Every Mechanic

Baldur’s Gate 3 offers everything RPG fans could hope for. It has incredibly detailed character customization, letting you create unique appearances and choose from a variety of classes. The story is shaped by your choices, with branching dialogue that leads to surprising outcomes, making it a game you’ll want to play again and again.

While the battle system isn’t groundbreaking for a tactical RPG, the fights are still thrillingly difficult. Like many story-driven RPGs, this game features incredibly well-developed characters – both allies and non-player characters – that players will quickly become deeply attached to.

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Open-World Games Have Evolved

Released in 2017 with the Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild quickly became a defining game for open-world adventures. Its massive scope and hundreds of hours of gameplay not only made it a system-seller for the Switch, but also significantly shaped the evolution of the open-world genre.

This Zelda game felt completely different from anything that came before, offering a huge world to discover, tough battles, and puzzles that encouraged creative solutions. Even now, nearly ten years later, people are still finding and enjoying it.

2025-11-29 19:06