Fantasy is often thought of as a light and fun subject, but it can often have much darker undertones. These are some of the best scary fantasy games.
People often think of silly fairy tales or stories about brave heroes when they hear the word “fantasy.” But this doesn’t always happen. Fantasy can be just as scary as any other type of fiction, and people really like dark fantasy books and movies.
There are many more stories that could mix fantasy and horror, but these are the ones that started this subgenre. So many types of video games play with this genre, from stylish games set in a dark and magical world to scary RPGs with monsters, and these are some of the best ones for fantasy and horror fans.
The Quarry
Supermassive’s newest “choose your own horror” game for teens is a mix of horror and magic. Since Until Dawn, which was a good mix of horror and fantasy, became a hit, all of Supermassive’s games are now horror. They have worked on Little Nightmares 2 and made The Dark Pictures album, a choice-based horror album, since then.
But The Quarry is the most like Until Dawn. There are clear horror elements in the story, with a group of teens fighting against unknown chances to make it through the night and avoid some very horrible deaths. However, there is also a fantasy element to the story. The Quarry is mostly about creatures, especially the werewolf, which is a standard scary fantasy animal.
Baldur’s Gate
To mix things up a bit, this line of games is more fantasy than horror. But that shouldn’t take away from the fact that the Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms, where Baldur’s Gate is set, has some really dark times.
Baldur’s Gate 3, the newest game in the series, was just released by Larian Studios. It’s a great example of how fear can work in fantasy games. Baldur’s Gate takes place in a fantasy world and is about brave heroes, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have some really dark and scary parts.
The Witcher
Like Baldur’s Gate, The Witcher is a very popular fantasy game that is based on a set of books with the same name. Indeed, it was so popular that a Netflix show based on the same IP was made.
The books can get very dark, mature, and scary at times, and the computer game stays true to the books in every way. Whether it’s the scary monsters they have to fight, the often sad settings, or the stories about the end of the world, life as a Witcher is definitely scary.
Alice: Madness Returns
The setting of the Alice series, which is best known for Alice: Madness Returns, may be familiar to many players: Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.” If you haven’t heard of it, Alice in Wonderland is a story about a girl named Alice who follows a white rabbit down a rabbit hole and ends up in a strange new world.
The Alice series takes this well-known idea and setting and turns the strange into something not only fantastic but also scary. It’s a great scary take on a famous fantasy story, and Xbox Game Pass users can play it.
The Binding Of Isaac
A well-known roguelike game, The Binding of Isaac, is loved for its deep and scary magical story. The game has strong religious themes because it is based on the story of Isaac in the Bible, but it also has a huge fantasy factor that is both cute and scary.
Isaac has to fight many scary monsters and can get power-ups from tarot cards. The fantasy in The Binding of Isaac leans toward the holy, but there are also some scary parts to it.
Lies Of P
Lies of P is a new book that is similar to the Alice series, at least in terms of the material it is based on. Pinocchio is a doll who wants to be a real boy and whose nose gets bigger when he lies. Lies Of P is based on this story. Definitely an interesting fantasy source, Lies of P is a Souls-like game full of very scary puppet enemies.
It’s a great mix of the two types of horror because the setting, ideas, and stories are all very scary. Because of its source, Geometry Dash Lite has some unique gameplay features. It’s a great game that you should definitely get, and you can get it on Xbox Game Pass too.
Castlevania
Since werewolves were on the list, the most famous fictional creature that looks like them should also be there. Luckily, the Castlevania series is the best choice. This series is great for people who like their fantasy a little more gothic.
Gothic stories have a reputation for mixing scary and fantastical events, and Castlevania is no different. Castlevania is a Gothic horror game about vampires that is so well-known that it even has its own Netflix show. Fans of Gothic magic and horror should check it out.
Bramble: The Mountain King
Bramble: The Mountain King is an independent horror game based on Swedish mythology. It looks and plays a lot like the popular Little Nightmares series. We are introduced to Olle, a little boy who goes into the woods at night with his older sister Lillemor. This is where the fantasy parts start to show. The world is beautifully magical, and some of the creatures that players meet add to that sense of wonder.
But don’t get it wrong. There is a lot of scary stuff in this horror game. A few runs-ins with some of the evil fantasy creatures out for Olle’s blood are enough to show that. That, and what might happen to the poor gnomes Olle befriends.
Elden Ring
Like FromSoftware’s other well-known games, Elder Ring is a beautiful and very large fantasy tale. But there is no denying that the game is scary as well.
FromSoftware is known for adding a lot of darkness to their fantasy games. This can be seen in the abominations that players have to defeat, the ruined settings like Caelid, and the seriously sad stories that go along with them. If you want to know what a dark fantasy is, you have to read or watch Elden Ring and the other books listed in this entry.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
The story of Senua’s Sacrifice is interesting and is meant to show how people with psychosis live their lives. It is backed up by the opinions of doctors and people who have experienced psychosis. Even though Hellblade has a very real goal and a scary element, the game is clearly set in a fictional world based on Norse mythology.
The fact that it’s about a young woman’s trip through Helheim means that players shouldn’t expect it to be a fun fantasy experience by any means. Senua will have to deal with horrible enemies, impossible numbers, and her own mind. The magical setting doesn’t take away from how scary the game is or how deep the experience can be.
