Best Open-World Game Set in High Fantasy Worlds

Summary

• Final Fantasy 14 offers expansive high fantasy adventures in a vast realm.
• Sea of ​​Thieves combines pirate adventure with vivid fantasy elements such as magic and monsters.
• Skyrim's rich open world is full of fantasy content, from dragons to daedric spirits.

Video games offer fans the opportunity to escape into a fantastical world, completely different from the one they know in real life. Open-world games are particularly good at this, as their sprawling settings are rich with details and distractions to fully immerse players.

The open world genre is full of variety. There are tons of different game worlds for fans to explore, from the depths of space to a post-apocalyptic wasteland. But the open-world genre is particularly good at delivering fantastical adventures, set in worlds rich in magic, with great heroes, mythical creatures and high stakes, without connection to the real world. Here are ten of the best open world high fantasy adventures on offer.

9 Final Fantasy 14

Party up

The Final Fantasy comics has always been one of the biggest names in fantasy, and Final Fantasy 14 takes the franchise's elaborate world design to a whole new level. This MMORPG allows Final Fantasy fans to explore the world of Hydaelyn, a vast and diverse fantasy world rich in adventure and conflict.

As befits a Final Fantasy the game, the adventures players can embark on FF14 truly has cosmic proportions. Fans will band together to take down gods and titans in explosive high fantasy confrontations they'll likely remember for years afterward.

8 Sea of ​​Thieves

Fantasy on the high seas

At first blush, Sea of ​​Thieves appears to be a somewhat typical pirate adventure, giving fans the chance to team up, crew a galleon and hit the high seas in search of loot. But just beneath the surface lurks a vibrant fantasy world of magic, curses and monsters.

As players try to make a name for themselves in the eponymous Sea of ​​Thieves, they will have to contend with undead pirate lords and sinister magic. Terrifying creatures like titanic megalodons stalk the seas as well, adding danger to every journey. The setting itself is rich with magic; The Sea of ​​Thieves is a mist-shrouded realm, separated from the rest of the world by an impenetrable mystical fog.

7 Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Tolkien Fantasy

Outside the world of video games, JRR Tolkien's iconic The Lord of the Rings is the biggest name in high fantasy. While many video games have tried to capitalize on this iconic franchise, Shadow of Mordor is among the best. This open-world stealth game features original character Talion, who bonds with a mysterious spirit to wreak bloody vengeance on the forces of Sauron's grim army.

This game debuted the iconic Nemesis system, giving several of Talion's orc lieutenants encounters with rich personalities and traits that affect how they behave in battle. When one of them triumphs over Talion in battle, they will grow even stronger, becoming an even greater threat and a more tempting target for the vengeful warrior to bring down.

6 Valheim

In the name of Odin

Many cultures throughout the world have legends of heroes and monsters that serve as the primary inspiration for imaginative stories. Valheim takes its inspiration from Norse myths and legends and sets its brutal quest for survival in an open world in a world created by the Norse gods themselves.

The titular realm acts as a kind of purgatory, giving deceased warriors a chance to prove themselves fit for the halls of Valhalla. To impress Odin, players must survive brutal enemies such as trolls and snakes, and triumph over titanic and mysterious bosses. The game's Norse inspirations are evident around every corner, and the mystical power that players can harness on their journeys makes this an excellent high fantasy adventure for Viking fans.

5 Dragon's Dogma 2

A realm of mystery and danger

Dragon's Dogma 2 is an unmistakably quintessential high fantasy game. Medieval fantasy tropes inform everything from the enemy designs to the world to the way characters talk, making for a very traditional high fantasy experience.

The game's design is elevated from its arguably clichéd features by the intricate detail of the world it takes place in. Secrets and surprises await around every corner of the realm, and players have many choices to make as they navigate the title's many side quests. There is much more to do Dragon's Dogma 2 than meets the eye, making it a very important game for fans to sink their teeth into.

Northern Heroics

The infamous one Skyrim is still the latest entry in Bethesda's venerable open-world fantasy series, and despite the criticism it's received from its copious re-releases and remasters, the game remains an excellent high-fantasy adventure. Set in the unforgiving northern reaches of Tamriel, SkyrimThe plot revolves around the rise of ancient dragons, powerful and deadly creatures that pose a direct threat to the mortals of the region.

In his quest to stop the return of the dragons, the legendary Dragonborn will find himself immersed in a vibrant fantasy world plunged into a bloody civil war. Many factions and legendary figures await the Dragonborn on their journey, and the rich open world allows fans to mingle with powerful Daedric spirits, master ancient mystical secrets, or even become a werewolf. As for the large amount of fantasy content, Skyrim is a very potent contender.

3 The Witcher 3

Toss a coin

The Witcher 3: Wild Huntdespite its status as the third in a series, is the game that launched the game Witcher franchise in the spotlight. This intricate and engaging open-world adventure stars the iconic Geralt of Rivia on a quest to rescue his adopted daughter from the clutches of the Wild Hunt.

The Witcher 3 is rich in folklore and legend, and there are impressive and powerful monsters around every corner. Players can also get caught up in numerous side quests, uncover dark secrets and make important choices that will affect the fate of the kingdom. With the recently announced Witcher 4 on the horizon, it's a great time for fantasy fans to get on board this legendary franchise.

2 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Build a better rental system

As Breath of the Wild, The tears of the kingdom presents an elaborate open world version of the legendary kingdom of Hyrule, full of caves to delve into and shrines to conquer. The tears of the kingdom has a number of improvements over its predecessor that make it the perfect game for fantasy fans with too much time on their hands.

The most iconic change in The tears of the kingdom is the Ultrahand ability, which allows Link to cobble together elaborate structures and vehicles to aid his exploration and combat. The map has also been expanded, with new realms in the sky above Hyrule and deep in the ground beneath it. With new monsters like Gleeoks and Horriblins to threaten the people of Hyrule, Link has a lot to do in his quest to save Princess Zelda once again.

1 Fire Ring

Endless adventures in the lands between

The iconic Fire Ring is a really massive game. The Lands Between is rich with secret dungeons, bosses and treasures for worthy Tarnished to discover in their quest to rebuild the Ring of Elden and restore order to the realm. Towering dragons, legendary warriors, and divine powers beyond comprehension stand in their way.

In true FromSoftware fashion, Fire Ring offers players virtually no direct guidance on where to go or what to do. This means players must confront this overwhelming fantasy world head-on in order to succeed, discovering side quests and boss encounters in the game's vast world and expansive underground caverns. This is the ultimate high fantasy open-world challenge for experienced and dedicated players.