Dark fantasy horror is a fantastic conglomeration of the best elements of the fantasy and horror genres. When mashed together, dark fantasy horror, as a subgenre, can create some of the best atmospheric tones in gaming. Combining elements of the gothic, the macabre, but also magic and steampunk seems like it shouldn't work at all; but it really does!

Not only is it one of the best merging of genres but it's also highly prolific and features some of the best games in recent years. When gamers launch a dark fantasy horror, they know exactly what to expect - dark, brooding atmospheres with undertones of magical creatures and/or fantastical spells and locations. It's quietly become one of the best genres in the industry.

10 Hunter: The Reckoning

Metacritic Rating: 79

Featuring some awesome environments and great visuals at the time of release, Hunter: The Reckoning is a game that perfectly establishes its atmosphere from the start. This is a game that wider World of Darkness series, which features some other excellent dark fantasy horror titles.

Players assume the roles of hunter characters who hunt down vampires and wraiths around Ashcroft Penitentiary, an iconic video game prison setting. It's got a greater focus on action and gunplay than many other titles in the genre, but it's a perfect example of how to create a tense, yet intriguingly gloomy dark fantasy horror atmosphere.

9 Vampyr

Metacritic Rating: 70

Vampyr is an RPG from 2018 that featured one of the most unique settings and campaigns in recent memory. It was relatively underrated and many gamers might not have even heard of it, but Vampyr's tone is what makes the game so great. Players explore the semi-open world of London, where its streets are covered in a thick layer of fog, and dangers roam the streets at every corner.

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Assume control of Jonathan Reid, a highly regarded doctor who becomes a vampire. Players explore this dark fantasy world whilst handling the inner turmoils of Jonathan's conflict between his Hippocratic Oath and his desire to suck the blood from every living creature he encounters. Jonathan is free to drink from any of the game's primary NPCs, but doing so can drastically change the overarching narrative. It's video game gothic ambiance at its finest.

8 Alice: Madness Returns

Metacritic Rating: 70

Another underrated gem of a title, Alice: Madness Returns follows Alice on her return to Wonderland. This Wonderland, however, is far from wonderful. Instead, Alice explores a full-blown dark fantasy horror nightmare where she is confronted by her deepest and darkest psychological fears and trauma.

Alice: Madness Returns is the type of game that doesn't get made anymore. It's not open-world, and it doesn't feature 40+ hours of content. It's got a great, linear story that places atmosphere and narrative over unnecessary length. The dark fantasy horror atmosphere that this game establishes is one of the most effectively disturbing of all time.

7 Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

Metacritic Rating: 80

A cult classic like no other, Vampire: The Masquearde - Bloodlines is widely regarded as one of the finest single-player RPGs ever made, featuring an excellent narrative and engaging characters. However, a large part of what's made the game so successful is its brooding dark fantasy horror atmosphere, once again set in the World of Darkness series.

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This is a vampire game set in early 2000s Los Angeles and follows a twisting narrative through the deprived streets of the city and its inhabitants. There's lots of freedom to explore and level the character as the player wishes, making it one of the most engaging and immersive RPGs of all time.

6 Clive Barker's Undying

Metacritic Rating: 85

Clive Barker's Undying is a game created by a master of the horror genre, Clive Barker, and follows an Irish paranormal investigator in the 1920s as he explores the occult estate of one Jeremiah Covenant. If that's not an ominous name then what is? This game screams dark fantasy horror, from weird, wonderful weapons, to skeleton enemies and dingy corridors.

It's a great old-school FPS featuring some amazing sound design and an incredible atmosphere. It's got one of the best church settings in gaming, and it absolutely nails the dark fantasy horror vibe. There's something about cult members and dark fantasy that just seems to work, and Clive Barker's Undying is no exception.

5 Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Metacritic Rating: 85

It's crazy to think that this game came out back in 2010 because it still holds up incredibly well. Amnesia: The Dark Descent is an incredibly scary dark fantasy horror that tells the intriguing story of Daniel, who seemingly suffers from amnesia. It's a haunting tale that players have to piece together themselves whilst they explore a labyrinthine mansion.

Players have to attempt to maintain Daniel's sanity whilst they manage their light resources, avoid some terrifying monsters, and witness some grueling torture. It's not a game for the faint of heart, but it's an excellent dark fantasy horror experience and one of the scariest games of the last decade.

4 Blasphemous

Metacritic Rating: 77

Blasphemous is a souls-like 2D metroidvania that features some of the coolest character designs in gaming. Seriously, the cone-shaped protagonist looks awesome! Not only is this an excellent (and challenging) side-scrolling hack'n'slash platformer, but it's also a great game that features an excellent dark fantasy horror undertone.

Players take on the pilgrimage of the silent protagonist called The Penitent One as they travel across the land of Cvstodia, encountering all manner of beasts and creatures. It's gory, it's got some awesome bosses in it, and the art style is gorgeous. It's one of the most interesting settings in modern gaming and absolutely nails the dark fantasy horror atmosphere.

3 Blood

Metacritic Rating: 82

Here's a proper old-school shooter, released back in 1997, and it's pure adrenaline fun. Blood is what happens when developers mix Doom with dark fantasy horror cult themes. It features some great gunplay and gory action, but it's even better at establishing a dark fantasy horror world of dread and despair.

In Blood, players assume the role of Caleb, an undead gunslinger who's out for revenge against a dark god, Tchernobog. The players encounter numerous cult members who worship the dark god, and it's up to the player to mow them down. There are weird creatures, crazy cult members, and Lovecraftian hallways. It's one of the finest dark fantasy horror shooters ever.

2 Thief: The Dark Project

Metacritic Rating: 92

Thief: The Dark Project and its excellent definitive edition, Thief: Gold, are widely considered as some of the best stealth games of all time. It just so happens that it's also one of the best dark fantasy horror games of all time as well. Not every mission contains horror themes, but the ones that do are actually pretty frightening.

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Gamers play as Garrett, a master thief who operates throughout the sprawling fantasy steampunk metropolis, aptly named The City. The game's overall plot sees Garrett attempting to stop an ancient and mysterious power from releasing chaos into the world, all whilst avoiding the threats of giant spiders, zombies, ghosts, and even some weird dinosaur-like creatures.

1 Bloodborne

Metacritic Rating: 92

This is dark fantasy, cosmic horror at its finest. Bloodborne is a game most players should have played by now, especially for fans of the dark fantasy horror genre. It's one of the few games that does cosmic horror properly and effectively. Players take control of a hunter as they battle various disturbing enemies and bosses throughout the gothic city of Yarnham.

Bloodborne establishes probably the best atmosphere in any game ever. Its world is decrepit and filled with disease, but at the same time, it also manages to somehow seem beautiful, and it's easy to see the city beneath the disease where people once lived happily. There's mystery as well as horror, and the player only becomes more and more intrigued as they obtain more details about the world they inhabit. It's best to dive in and experience this one at face value, soak up the atmosphere, and appreciate a true masterpiece.

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