Dark Fantasy has quickly become one of the most popular genres in today’s gaming culture. But, whenever a trend starts to take hold, a question always has to be answered.
What is the best of this genre? Well, no need to question or argue any further, because these are definitively the best games that the Dark Fantasy genre has to offer.
15. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice gameplay
Sekiro drops the player into a war torn region of Japan. Stick to the shadows as a true shinobi and slaughter your foes with agility, strategy, and a slew of secret ninja arts. Use the Shinobi Prosthetic for increased mobility and customize the way you dispatch your enemies.
What Makes Sekiro:Shadows Die Twice Awesome:
- The Shinobi Prosthetic and grappling hook allow for some of the most versatile movement and combat of any From Software game.
- Stealth is emphasized in a brilliant way that hasn’t been seen in a From Software game before.
- Fight incredible monsters from Japanese myth.
Battle against the formidable Corrupted Monk.
Deliver devastating deathblows to your enemies.
14. Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan gameplay
The massively popular anime comes to life at your fingertips. Fling yourself around with the iconic 3D gear and fight massive titans. Can you survive against such an impossible foe?
What Makes Attack on Titan Awesome:
- The 3D gear allows for amazing movement controls.
- Stays true to the anime, while giving fans a few original twists to keep things fresh.
- An interactive medium emphasizes the true horror of the titans.
Use 3D gear to gain an edge on a massive enemy.
Beware the devastating power of the imposing titans.
13. Darkest Dungeon®
Darkest Dungeon gameplay
Darkest Dungeon tasks the player with diving into danger with a group of adventurers. It will take wit and wisdom to survive this dangerous terrain. Always be prepared and do your best to keep your sanity down in those dark depths.
What Makes Darkest Dungeon Awesome:
- A stunning and terrifying art style pulls the player right into the action.
- Roguelike elements keep the action feeling fresh even after hundreds of hours of gameplay.
- Charming, if not a little dark, characters really bring the world to life.
Assemble your team as you dive into Darkest Dungeon.
Test your wits by pitting your team against the endless hordes.
12. Vampyr
Vampyr gameplay
Victorian London’s darkest side, quite literally in some cases, is brought into the forefront in this thrilling Vampire epic. Discover a whole new lore of vampires as you learn to use a bevy of amazing powers. Will your Dr. Reid be a legend, or a monster?
What Makes Vampyr Awesome:
- A classic RPG system fuels your ability to create and control the Vampire according to your own personal taste.
- Intense battles with fearsome beasts of the night.
- Choices matter like in no game before because you can kill, and eat, any character, no matter the repercussion it may have on the story, but you’ll have to deal with the consequences.
Devour your friends and foes alike, but at a cost.
Employ melee weapons, firearms, and vampire magic to defeat your enemies.
11. Shadow of Mordor
Shadow of Mordor gameplay
Enter the epic world of Middle Earth, home to the Lord of the Rings series. Players get to take control of Talion who, with the help of a mysterious phantom, is gifted an undying curse that he wields to disassemble the orc legions of Sauron. Fight for freedom, fight for honor, and fight for vengeance against Sauron’s Black Hand.
What Makes Shadow of Mordor Awesome:
- With mechanics split between stealth, ranged, and close quarters combat, the player is allowed to choose the flow of battle.
- Branding system means you can capture and command the enemy hordes to do your bidding, or if you will it they can simply die for all you care.
- The spirit’s phantom bow allows for a unique ranged experience that has you warping around the map like the killer in a slasher flick.
Employ the help of a mysterious elven spirit.
Battle fierce foes as you tear through the orc forces of Mordor.
10. Sunless Sea
Sunless Sea gameplay
Explore an endlessly expansive ocean of Fallen London. You’ll be tasked with captaining your steamship as you head on a lonely adventure of discovery. It’s easy to lose yourself, and your crew out in the vast darkness. So do your best not to follow their tagline: LOSE YOUR MIND. EAT YOUR CREW. DIE.
What Makes Sunless Sea Awesome:
- The dark tone and crushing loneliness of the expanding sea creates a one-of-a-kind horror experience.
- Build your own vessel and fill it with a handpicked crew to give every voyage a unique adventure.
- Winner of the Rock Paper Shotgun Best Words Award in 2014.
Explore the dark open waters of Fallen London.
Hope your crew survives long enough to make it to the nearest port.
9. Fran Bow
Fran Bow gameplay
This thrilling indie darling takes players through the disturbing and horrific life of one poor, little girl. Players will be whisked away on a dark adventure that deconstructs and identifies the darkest parts of the mind.
What Makes Fran Bow Awesome:
- An enthralling story keeps you gripped from start to finish.
- The dark, almost Burtonesque, art style creates a chilling atmosphere.
- Dozens of unique characters fascinate the player, although your free love or hate who you wish, no judgement here. Well for most of them at least, Mr. Midnight is a treasure.
Enter the dark life of young Fran Bow.
Explore twisted vistas and locations in the warped mind of a damaged child.
8. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night gameplay
Easily the best Metroidvania game in 2019, Bloodstained puts the player in the shoes of Miriam. Explore a wonderful side-scrolling adventure, while you must overcome the curse that slowly crystalizes Miriam’s body. You’ll need to bring your A game if you want to survive curses, demons, and monsters.
What Makes Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Awesome:
- High quality artwork has been reworked from the ground up.
- Biting difficulty holds true to its Metroidvania roots.
- Epic boss battles make for incredibly memorable moments.
Enjoy the high quality art style, refined after years of quality control.
Take on incredible encounters against monumental bosses.
7. DARK SOULS™ III
Dark Souls III gameplay
Only this final chapter in From Software’s iconic Souls franchise can properly represent the series on this list. This game takes the nail-biting thrill of the first game, and breathes new life into it with a fresh new story to fill a brand new world, although some old faces still have to make an appearance. Even better, it hones in on the original games combat system with tighter controls and brutal boss battles.
What Makes Dark Souls III Awesome:
- Brutal boss fights against epic monsters and corrupted men.
- A massive semi-open world that allows you to explore the twisting, churning land of Lothric.
- Lovingly crafted story told through player action, rather than drawn out cut scenes and clunky dialogue.
Take on a legion of the undead.
Defy death again and again by challenging thrilling, monstrous bosses.
6. Grim Dawn
Grim Dawn gameplay
This somewhat Diablo inspired game drops players into a post-apocalyptic fantasy adventure. You’ll need all your wits about you to survive in a world where iron is more valuable than gold.
What Makes Grim Dawn Awesome:
- A complex crafting system emphasizes player choice in creating your own playing experience.
- Your choices matter in the world of the game, where your decisions always have consequences.
- The Duel Class system allows for a level of personalization rarely seen in typical Action RPGs.
Craft your character however you see fit.
Battle against demon hordes as you fight for survival in this post-apocalyptic wasteland.
5. Victor Vran
Victor Vran gameplay
Another wonderful addition to the top down Action RPG genre, where player skill is brought to the forefront of combat. You’ll have to be quick on your feet to deftly dodge and maneuver around your enemy. Control Victor Vran and eliminate the demon hordes.
What Makes Victor Vran Awesome:
- Multiplayer expands the game to a new level, by allowing you to slay demons together with friends.
- Use the environment to your advantage by diving off ledges to devastate your enemies.
- A wide variety of monster behaviors leads to incredibly complex encounters.
Become the ultimate force in the battle against the demons.
Take the height advantage into combat to gain an early start into battle.
4. Diablo 3
Diablo 3 gameplay
Blizzard knocked it out of the park when trying to revitalize the Diablo series, because the third game in this epic franchise brought in a whole new generation of players. Releasing on consoles, PC, and soon a new mobile port, Diablo 3 has brought the epic Diablo franchise to its rightful place at the forefront of gaming.
What Makes Diablo 3 Awesome:
- Flurries of loot drops make every encounter an epic battle to gain more and more power.
- Difficulty stacks to the wants of each individual player, culminating in the games legendary Hardcore Mode.
- Pony Level!!!!
Team up with friends against the armies of Diablo and his followers.
Command powerful magic in your desperate struggle to survive.
3. Nioh
Nioh gameplay
Nioh allows the player to explore ancient Japan during the Sengoku, or “Warring States” period, through the lens of a perfect writer’s convenience, William Adams. Here you must fight against both enemy soldiers, as well as the Yokai of Japanese lore.
What Makes Nioh Awesome:
- In-depth combat system with multiple weapons allows for a wide range of player choice.
- Gripping fights pit the player against epic Yokai and legendary feudal lords.
- The amrita system has a Souls-like vibe, while also twisting the formula by finally adding gold to create a much more complex economy.
Fight terrifying Yokai creatures as a true samurai warrior.
Master your reflexes and learn your enemies to take down overwhelming bosses.
2. Death's Gambit
Death’s Gambit gameplay
Here we have another epic side-scrolling, Souls-like adventure that takes the lessons of its predecessors to heart. Work as Death’s Right Hand to uncover the secret of the land of Siradon’s immortality. Death’s Gambit easily takes the prize as the best game produced by Adult Swim Games, and that’s saying something with titles like Headlander, Rain World, and Robot Unicorn Attack in the running.
What Makes Death’s Gambit Awesome:
- A non-linear exploration allows you to take the game in whatever direction you want.
- The vicious Heroic Mode allows players to refight each thrilling boss a second time at a greatly elevated challenge.
- Seven different classes and over ten weapon types allow for a massive amount of player customization.
Be crushed and return again to prove your worth by challenging them again.
End the rampage of the immortal that have cursed Siradon.
1. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice gameplay
The creators of Heavenly Sword have brought a brand new type of game, at an unusual budget. A large part of the goal for this game was to create a product at AAA quality for $40 instead of $60. Needless to say Ninja Theory succeeded! The only difference you’ll find between Hellblade and another quality game like The Witcher III is size, and the motion of this ocean certainly proves the meaning of the phrase.
What Makes Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice Awesome:
- An incredible in-depth analysis of grief puts the player directly into Senua’s mind.
- The lack of a visual HUD or UI creates for one of the most immersive adventures of all time.
- Punishing combat becomes all the more intense when your save file is on the line.
Explore the inner workings of Senua’s grief.
Fight foes with brutal precision.
Bonus: Code Vein
Code Vein gameplay
While it might not be out yet, Code Vein is one of the most anticipated games of the summer. Dubbed the “Anime Dark Souls”, this will be Bandai Namco’s own attempt at following up one of their best-selling franchises of all time. Although, with team-based combat and new blood-powered abilities, Code Vein is far more than just a mere clone, it is the beginning of a whole new era of challenging RPGs.
What Makes Code Vein Awesome:
- Stunning visuals fill the screen with a flurry of particles with each attack.
- Fight impossibly larger-than-life bosses in epic, over-the-top battles.
- Learn to use a wide range of weapons and abilities to wipe out your foes, big and small.
Battle with a team of empowered allies.
Try out different weapons to find what best suits you to destroy your enemies in style.
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