246 games
The best dark fantasy games on PC
Grim worlds full of magic, monsters and moral grey areas: fantasy without the sugar coating.
How to find games that really suit you: Tap “I like it” on up to 5 games. Playalike compares 20 traits such as combat, story and atmosphere and suggests games that hit exactly the same spot, even across genres.
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1 Dark Souls III
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A dark action RPG with precise, unforgiving combat and intricately connected levels.
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2 Dark Souls
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A merciless action RPG whose interconnected world of Lordran rewards careful exploration with clever shortcuts, deliberate combat and cryptic, melancholic lore. Every death teaches something, and every victory feels truly earned.
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3 Diablo
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
The genre-defining hack-and-slash: you descend floor by floor through randomized catacombs beneath Tristram all the way into Hell, chasing ever-better loot. Its oppressive gothic atmosphere and iconic soundtrack remain legendary.
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4 Diablo IV
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A grim, gothic loot-driven action RPG where you carve through demon hordes across a shared open world, endlessly tuning your build with skills, aspects and legendary gear. A brooding story about Lilith's return sets the stage, while the endgame keeps you chasing better loot in dungeons and seasons.
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5 Elden Ring
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A vast open world, demanding combat and countless secrets, from the creator of the Dark Souls series.
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6 Diablo II
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
The genre-defining hack-and-slash classic: pick one of seven classes and carve through four grim acts, hoarding randomized loot and refining skill builds. Chasing runewords and uniques remains compelling to this day, solo or online with friends.
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7 The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
Geralt of Rivia is drawn into a web of regicide and political intrigue, and one early decision splits the entire second act into completely different locations and storylines. Demanding real-time combat and a grim, morally grey world define the experience.
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8 Dark Souls II
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
The second Souls entry sends you as a cursed undead through the decaying kingdom of Drangleic, offering punishing bosses, huge weapon and build variety, and a sprawling, branching world packed with secrets.
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9 The Witcher
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
Geralt's first outing stands out for its mature, morally grey world where decisions often pay off hours later. Its quirky rhythm-based combat with stances and potions takes getting used to, but the Slavic-flavored atmosphere is unforgettable.
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10 Elden Ring Nightreign
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A co-op roguelike spin-off of Elden Ring where a trio races across a shrinking map over three days, powering up before facing a towering Nightlord boss. Fast, intense runs with distinct hero classes replace the sprawling solo journey.
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11 Dragon Age: Origins
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A grim fantasy RPG where you lead a band of memorable companions as a Grey Warden against the Blight. Tactical pausable combat, distinct origin stories and weighty moral choices shape the fate of Ferelden.
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12 Path of Exile 2
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A grim hack-and-slash ARPG with a sprawling passive tree, flexible skill gems and far more deliberate, dodge-heavy boss fights than its predecessor. A haven for theorycrafters who love tinkering with builds and chasing endgame loot.
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13 Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
As the undead ranger Talion, you carve through Mordor with fluid counter-based combat and stealth. The Nemesis System generates orc captains who remember you, rise through the ranks and become personal rivals.
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14 Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A 2.5D soulslike metroidvania set in a grim, hand-painted fantasy world being consumed by Entropy. It stands out with deep class and skill trees, crafting through recruited merchants, and punishing boss fights.
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15 Diablo III
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
Fast-paced hack-and-slash where you carve through demon hordes with one of several classes while chasing ever-better loot. Its real draw is the endgame loop of Greater Rifts, seasons and co-op play.
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16 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
An open fantasy world with outstanding side quests and choices that have lasting consequences.
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17 Blasphemous II
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A grim pixel-art Metroidvania where the Penitent One wields three distinct weapons through a world steeped in religious horror. Precise duels, tough bosses and plenty of secrets make exploring rewarding.
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18 Lords of the Fallen
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A grim Soulslike where a magic lantern lets you shift between the realm of the living and the realm of the dead. Weighty combat, interconnected level design and the Umbral mechanic make exploration tense and demanding.
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19 Middle-earth: Shadow of War
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
As Talion you roam Mordor, dominating orc captains to build your own army and storm fortresses. The Nemesis System makes enemies remember you, rise in rank, and grow into personal rivals with their own stories.
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20 Path of Exile
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A grim free-to-play loot-driven ARPG with an enormous passive skill tree and socketed gem system that enable near-limitless build crafting. Its deep endgame mapping and seasonal leagues keep theorycrafters hooked for years.
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21 Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
As the freshly resurrected vampire Kain, you slash through the gloomy top-down land of Nosgoth, collecting spells, weapons and shapeshifting forms. Famed for its gothic atmosphere, richly voiced dramatic storytelling and morally grey tale of vengeance.
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22 Darkest Dungeon
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A merciless dungeon RPG where stress and madness are as dangerous as the monsters.
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23 Planescape: Torment
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A text-heavy cult RPG where you play an immortal amnesiac wandering the bizarre city of Sigil, uncovering the sins of your past lives. Dialogue, philosophy and unforgettable companions matter far more than combat.
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24 Mortal Shell II
- Dark, serious atmosphere
- Fantasy setting
A grim soulslike where you possess the bodies of fallen warriors and use them in fast, punishing fights against false gods. The sequel offers a more open, ruined world with horror undertones.
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What matters with Dark fantasy games
Dark fantasy works because it takes the stakes seriously. These games put you in worlds that are already falling apart, where magic has a cost, monsters are often the least of your problems and the right choice is rarely obvious. The list above covers three very different ways to experience that mood, so it helps to know which one suits you before you start.
If you want tense, deliberate combat where every death teaches you something, the Soulslikes are the core of this genre. Dark Souls III is the most polished entry for newcomers to the series, with precise fights and tightly connected levels, while Elden Ring opens the formula into a vast open world, so you can wander off and come back stronger when a boss walls you. If difficulty puts you off, the loot-driven hack-and-slash route is more forgiving and great with friends: Diablo II still holds up for its seven classes and runeword hunting, solo or online, and Path of Exile 2 is the pick for players who love tinkering with builds.
If story and choices matter more than reflexes, look at the RPGs. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings splits its entire second act based on one decision, and Dragon Age: Origins lets you lead a party through tactical pausable combat with weighty moral choices. On PC you get the whole spread here, including PC-only classics like Diablo II and the original The Witcher.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best dark fantasy game on PC for beginners?
Elden Ring is a good starting point among the Soulslikes because its open world lets you explore elsewhere when a fight is too hard. If you want something less punishing, Diablo II or Dragon Age: Origins are easier to get into.
Which dark fantasy games on PC can I play in co-op?
Diablo II and Path of Exile 2 are both built around co-op and multiplayer, letting you hunt loot together with friends. They are the clearest picks on this list for playing with others.
Should I play Dark Souls or Dark Souls: Remastered on PC?
Dark Souls: Remastered is the better choice for most players, since it offers sharper visuals, smoother framerates and includes the Artorias DLC. The world of Lordran and its combat are otherwise the same as in the original Dark Souls.
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