When people talk about dark fantasy, many gruesome and mature things come to mind. Combining the tropes of high fantasy with the grittiness one comes to expect from a lawless world makes for some tantalizing combinations, with some of the most reputed and beloved fantasy series around utilizing mature themes to great effect.
Best Dark Fantasy Co-Op Games
The following games boast wonderful dark fantasy settings and allow players to fight through them with a friend.
One area where dark fantasy can excel if done correctly is the strategy genre. Given that these games require decision-making during critical moments, it's easy to see why so many people would get immersed in a setting that explores the worst aspects of the human condition and how brutal monsters would be if they could rip apart people in no time flat.
5 Fear & Hunger
Metascore: N/A
Fear & Hungerhas become viral in recent times, with many players loving the rough and brutal nature of a title where players are bound to lose their lives over and over again before they manage to circumvent the game's many frustrating obstacles. It's only after a few deaths that players understand how to go through this game, hacking and slashing at enemy limbs to take them out of commission.
Fear & Hunger is not for the faint of heart, in no small part because of the mature content in this game that can be genuinely disturbing at times. However, players who decide to bear the steep learning curve and understand the best way to get through this dungeon will find themselves loving the satisfaction of beating down a tough foe and getting to the end of this game after a rough experience.
4 Inscryption
Metascore: 85
Inscryption uses the gameplay systems of a roguelike deck-building game to rope players into a magical and horrifying experience that serves as a wonderful display of what indie gaming is all about. The less people know about this game, the better. Once players are invested in what Inscryption aims to achieve, the game becomes something truly magical that fans can't get enough of.
The mystery surrounding this game is the most riveting part of the entire experience, with the gothic influences in Inscryption clear for everyone to see. There's a reason why players go gaga over this game, and it wouldn't take long for players to finish Inscryption and have their minds blown by the one-of-a-kind experience this masterful video game conveys.
3 Darkest Dungeon
Metascore: 84
It's a testament to how legendary the dungeon crawling of Darkest Dungeon is that most people find its sequel to be inferior to the first game despite the wealth of improvements it brings to the table. Darkest Dungeon is a hard-as-nails RPG where players must slowly come to grips with the dungeon crawling in the game and why it's the best part of a grueling and rewarding experience.
5 Best Dark Fantasy FPS Games
These first-person shooters stand out from the pack with their dark fantasy settings and characters.
Players need to amass a band of adventurers and explore the depths of nightmarish dungeons where death awaits the player at every step. It has a steep learning curve, but players who give Darkest Dungeon a chance will be more than pleased by what this title brings to the table. Finally overcoming a dungeon that's been giving players no end of problems is a magical feeling that makes it clear why fans of Darkest Dungeon love this game to bits.
2 Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
Metascore: 85
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Genre(s)
- Digital Card Game
The marketing for Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales was one of the messiest things that players could witness. Sure, Gwent was a pretty great card game, but players doubted whether this would be enough to carry an entire video game. However, Thronebreaker is so much more than a strategic card game, letting players assume the role of a powerful figure in the Witcher universe during a time of war and turmoil.
The choices and decisions that players need to make in this game are tough and have a ton of weight. Players who loved how different quests could be in The Witcher 3 based on their actions will love the writing in this game, making it a worthy addition to the Witcher universe. It's hard to believe that the sales of this game weren't all that high, but that's perhaps the price that is paid for a risky video game with a focus on both strategic gameplay and a story-heavy approach.
1 Total War: Warhammer 2
Metascore: 87
Total War: Warhammer 2
- Released
- September 28, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Creative Assembly
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
The Total War series has been through its fair share of ups and downs, so fans were more than glad to see that the franchise's first foray into a fantasy world was a massive success. Total War: Warhammer was a brilliant game that made it clear just how much potential there was in a grand strategy game set in a well-realized dark fantasy world.
There aren't many great Warhammer games out there, so fans were glad to see a game that made the most of this universe and its world-building. Role-playing as a leader in numerous varied factions and engaging in battles of a grand scale make for a great time that fans adore. If players weren't invested in the lore of the Warhammer series, then it's possible that this game will turn them into fans.
5 Best Dark Fantasy Puzzle Games
These puzzle games go beyond their fantasy settings and include some frightening dark fantasy themes.
