Elves have become a staple component in all things fantasy, having first been seen in Norse mythology, where they were referred to as Alfar. These elves held great beauty and power and were said to have abilities to cause illnesses. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books popularized them, but elves did appear in works of fiction predating his.
And now, elves have become a must for fantasy games, appearing in every big fantasy game IP, as no game would be complete without their presence. Developers often add their own unique mythos to the elves and how they fit into their world, ensuring a unique experience for elf lovers every time.
7 Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age is a must-play fantasy series for fans of the genre as a whole, and people who like elves. BioWare's smash-hit fantasy series spins compelling stories in the world of Thedas, be it tackling the Blight in Origins, freeing Kirkwall from the hands of a tyrant in Dragon Age 2, or saving the world from Corypheus's machinations in Inquisition.
In all of these Dragon Age titles apart from the second, players could choose to play as an elf, with the first game giving them the option to play as a city elf in an 'Alienage' slum the elves are left within every city, or as a Dalish elves, living out in the wilds as opposed to the cities. Elves are often treated as second-class citizens in the world of Thedas, though long before the events of the games, elves were the dominant race in Thedas.
6 Pillars of Eternity
Obsidian's foray into the fantasy world resulted in the Pillars of Eternity RPG series, set in the world of Eora. In the first game, the player character discovers they are a Watcher after their latent powers manifest during a supernatural disaster. In its sequel, the player also plays a Watcher, five years after the events of the first game. In typical RPG fashion, players can customize their character, and recruit companions.
Part of Pillars of Eternity's customization options is the race, as the character can play a multitude of races unique to the world of PoE, as well as staples like humans and elves. In the world of Eora, the elves are one of the dominant races, known for agility, intelligence, and being lone wolves. They are divided into two subraces, the Pale elves, and the Wood elves, with each offering different in-game bonuses.
5 Divinity: Original Sin 2
Before there was Baldur's Gate 3, Larian was best known for Divinity: Original Sin, an RPG series set in an original fictional fantasy setting. Players take on the role of a Source Hunter in the first game, hunting and ridding the world of casters who use Source to fuel their magic. In the sequel, players will be a Sourcerer, tapping into the Source of the world in order to save it. Players can choose to play as one of the origin characters or create their own from a vast selection of races and classes.
Of course, elves are there for those who can't see themselves playing anything else. In the world of Rivellon, the elves live in tight-knit tribes and are often viewed as cruel to outsiders, a reputation they choose to cultivate. Elves gain the memories of those whose flesh they eat, one of the many unique abilities they possess along with being great Sourcerors. This makes them the greatest choice in DoS.
4 World of Warcraft
One could not mention fantasy or elves without eventually mentioning World of Warcraft, the biggest and most popular fantasy MMORPG, where certain elves are among the most popular and well-known characters from the game. Blizzard's fantasy title has been given 9 expansions, building further upon the story and world, giving more experiences in their fantasy universe. As with other MMOs, players have the freedom to pick what race and class they wish to play as, with elves being among them.
In the world of WoW, the elves come in four variants: Night, Void, Blood, and Nightborne, the former two being Alliance and the latter two Horde. These long-lived graceful people are known for their impressive spell-work and keen perception.
3 The Witcher 3
Based on a fantasy book series penned by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher game series follows the story of the main character Geralt of Rivia, and his adventures across the Continent as he slays monsters that roam the lands. The unique fantasy world features a whole host of monsters and witchers that have the onerous task of slaying them, as well as dwarves, sorceresses, and elves. In The Witcher 3, Geralt reprises his role as the main character as he chases the trial of his adoptive daughter Ciri as she flees the Wild Hunt.
The Witcher takes a route similar to Dragon Age with the world's attitude towards elvenkind, often persecuted like other nonhuman species, though that does not stop them viewing humans as great hairless apes as they believed they were created, not evolved from animal species. The elves are divided into two main groups, the Aen Sidhe who inhabit the Continent, and the Aen Elle, who departed to a different world.
2 Lord of the Rings Online
This fantasy MMORPG based on the hit fantasy book and movie IP allows fans to experience Middle Earth during the events of Lords of the Rings in the format of a video game. Many new or paid expansions birthed new regions fans would be familiar with, such as Isengard, Rohan, and Gondor, adding exciting new content to help the game continue thriving.
As one would expect from MMOs, players have the freedom to craft their own character, with selections of four races and seven classes. And elf lovers rest easy, elves are one of the races players can choose from. In the world of LoTR, elves are a long-lived species, blessed with immortality, grace, and elegance. As one would expect of the elves, in-game they have increased agility and speed.
1 Baldur's Gate 3
Larian's foray into the creation of a D&D game resulted in Baldur's Gate 3, an epic fantasy RPG set in the world of the TTRPG, namely that of Faerun. Infected with a mind-flayer tadpole that will transform them into one of the beasts, players can recruit origin characters or team up with up to 3 friends to roam the lands, seeking a cure for their ailment, though those feeling particularly bold can try and go it alone.
As it is based on WotC's IP, it comes with a huge amount of lore and world-building, including a roster of playable Dungeons and Dragons races and classes. The selection of races allows players to create a high elf, wood elf, half-elf, or a drow. Each of these elven subraces varies in bonuses and appearance, so elf lovers are spoiled for choice.