Fantasy game with worlds as fantastic as The Lord of the Rings

Over 70 years later, The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien remains one of the most influential works of fantasy ever created, shaping the genre as it is known today. The world of Middle-Earth embodies everything fantasy fans love about the genre – rich, iconic locations, diverse races and cultures, fantastic creatures like dragons, and a deep sense of history filled with memorable characters and impactful events.

In games, fans of Middle-Earth have plenty to choose from, with titles inspired by both Tolkien's original books and Peter Jackson's equally iconic film trilogy. Some of the most notable include LEGO The Hobbit and LEGO The Lord of the Rings, The Lord of the Rings online, The Battle for Middle-earthand Monolith's open-world action game Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War.

Tracks off The Lord of the Rings can be found in countless fantasy books, movies and, of course, games. While it may be impossible to match Middle-Earth in its depth and beauty, some games stand out for their own original fantasy worlds, defined by unique lore, aesthetics, history, characters, and atmosphere. Below are some of the best fantasy games that offer exploratory worlds almost as captivating as Tolkien's masterpiece.

The Continent of Tamriel and the Province of Skyrim

Tamriel has been a true fan-favorite destination for fantasy RPG lovers for almost 30 years, offering a chance to fully immerse yourself in another world and live freely within it, joining various factions along the way. The original fantasy universe created by Bethesda has evolved with each new installment, expanding its history, lore, mysteries, prophecies and epic scope. Each game even includes countless in-world books to read, showcasing the immense attention to detail poured in by the developers. Today, Tamriel stands as one of the most recognizable and iconic fictional universes in gaming history.

While certain elements, themes, races and cultures in The Elder Scrolls comics are similar to other high fantasy works, the games have many unique aspects as well. Distinct races like the Khajiit and Argonians, the exotic flora and fauna of some regions (especially Morrowind), different architecture of its cities, languages ​​and customs – all help Tamriel feel like its own living world. As players wait with excitement The Elder Scrolls 6, Skyrim remains a truly special open-world experience, offering the unmistakable feeling of grand adventure across the vast explorable map of Skyrim, complete with various biomes and major cities such as Whiterun, Solitude and Windhelm. TRUE Elder scrolls fans can also turn to The Elder Scrolls Onlinewhich features the largest and most detailed rendering of Tamriel to date in all its glory and staggering scale.

Baldur's Gate 3

The continent of Faerûn

One of the latest great entries in the fantasy RPG genre, Baldur's Gate 3 takes place on the already well-established continent of Faerûn — part of the Forgotten Realms universe from Dungeons & Dragons. It offers the most detailed and charming image of this environment to date. On its own, The Forgotten Realms ranks among the most popular and recognizable fantasy worlds ever created, sharing some similarities with Middle-Earth (although its creator, Ed Greenwood, noted that Tolkien's influence was quite small) while differing in many ways. It is a realm of strange lands, dangerous creatures, powerful magic and powerful gods, where almost anything can happen and where all sorts of bizarre creatures can be encountered.

Baldur's Gate 3 is mostly praised for its story, characters, and missions, with the exploratory world being relatively compact compared to other entries on this list, and perhaps not quite conveying the same sweeping sense of “epicness” that some players may be looking for. Yet the sheer depth of the Forgotten Realms, with over 50 years of knowledge combined with Larian's devotion to the source material and BioWare's original games, ensures that every corner of Faerûn feels distinct and authentic. Players are unlikely to forget their trip here, and many will be happy to return to experience it again – especially as they explore the grand, reimagined city of Baldur's Gate (also known as the City of Blood) like never before.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Continent and the Northern Realms

Based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher Games take place in a dark fantasy world simply called “The Continent”, with many kingdoms, empires and kingdoms. The games take place primarily in the Northern Realms – Temeria, Redania, Aedirn and Kaedwen – where a constant political struggle takes place as the Nilfgaardian Empire tries to conquer the North. Unlike Tolkien, Sapkowski never provided a definitive map of the continent as he envisions it, leaving its geography open to interpretation. But the writer made sure that the world off The Witcher is steeped in centuries of history, filled with complex events and characters that rival the depths of Middle-earth.

IN The Witcher 3: Wild Huntthe northern kingdoms are portrayed as diverse and beautiful destinations, deeply influenced by Slavic folklore. The game's atmosphere, music and mature storytelling create an unmistakable tone, complemented by breathtaking scenery. As Geralt of Rivia, players explore dense forests and misty swamps, quiet villages and settlements, bustling cities like Oxenfurt, Novigrad and Beauclair (from Blood & Wine expansion), as well as countless mountains and islands. While the world off The Witcher 3 seems relatively grounded in its visuals and realism, its distinct atmosphere, folklore-inspired details, and original monster design already sets it apart from other fantasy, providing another memorable setting in gaming.

Dragon Age Inquisition

The continent of Thedas

BioWare's own version of the original fantasy universe Dragon Age the series takes place on the continent of Thedas in the southern hemisphere of an unknown planet. Through the games, players explore almost every corner of this world: from the kingdoms of Ferelden, Nevarra and Antiva to the powerful Tevinter Imperium, each with its own culture, tone and atmosphere. Wonderfully beautiful in its image and rich in details, it Dragon Age universe was always intended as a darker version of the fantasy genre, focusing on mature themes and complex conflicts. In that sense, it more closely matches The Witcher than with the heroic tone of The Lord of the Rings.

It should be noted that aesthetics, visual style, and overall atmosphere vary noticeably between games, but among all released entries thus far, Dragon Age: Inquisition still offers the most beautiful and expansive environments, taking players across Thedas as the leader of the Inquisition, tasked with uniting allies and restoring order to a land in chaos. From majestic forests and misty swamps to frozen peaks, scorching deserts and stormy coasts, the game presents a staggering variety of landscapes that still impress over a decade after launch. The absence of a fully open world actually worked in its favor, allowing the developers to create dense, visually striking and distinct regions without the need for a single continuous map. Either way, the journey through Thedas in Inquisition remains one to remember, rivaling the biggest fantasy RPGs in scope and ambition.

Fire Ring

The Lands Between and the Shadow Realm

Created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George RR Martin, the open world of Fire Ring is among the most notable new original creations in gaming, with a scale and sense of grandeur to match The Lord of the Rings. Stunningly beautiful, vast and spectacularly vertical, traveling the Lands Between amazes at every step, whether you descend into the depths or climb to the highest peaks to explore lost cities, towering castles, grand mansions, magical academies and ancient tombs. And always in sight looms the colossal Erdtree, shining gracefully in the distance – a striking and elegant symbol that makes Fire Rings the world immediately recognizable.

But beauty alone does not define the countries between. It's an intricate world steeped in centuries of history and filled with thick, cryptic lore waiting to be revealed. True to FromSoftware's style, every fragment of the story, every artifact, and every main character has meaning, contributing to a rich and cohesive world-building. Nothing exists here without proper reasoning. The shadow of the earth tree expansion introduces the Realm of Shadow, significantly expanding the map with layered and breathtaking environments – even by the studio's own high standards. For such a new franchise, Fire Ring has already achieved extraordinary heights, leaving a lingering question: will it ever be Fire Ring 2?