The 7 Best Fantasy-Themed Open World Games

Fantasy has always been one of the richest genres in gaming. From mythical beasts and enchanted forests to kingdoms filled with political intrigue, fantasy worlds let us escape into places that feel alive, dangerous, and magical. Open world design takes that escapism even further, giving players the freedom to wander, discover secrets, and make their own adventures.

If you’re looking for fantasy-themed open world games worth your time, these seven are some of the best. Each one offers its own mix of exploration, storytelling, and gameplay depth and we’ll give you a sense of the time investment they require.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Often considered one of the best RPGs ever made, The Witcher 3 drops you into a morally complex world brimming with monsters, magic, and political intrigue. You play as Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter whose search for his adopted daughter pulls him across sprawling landscapes full of quests, choices, and consequences. It’s not just the main story that shines – the side quests are legendary for their depth and writing.

Key Gameplay Features

• Rich narrative-driven RPG with branching storylines.
• Monster contracts and side quests that feel meaningful.
• Expansive map with swamps, mountains, and bustling cities.

Pros

• Incredible writing and world-building.
• DLC (Hearts of Stone, Blood and Wine) add dozens of hours of premium content.
• Exploration feels constantly rewarding.

Time Commitment

The main story alone can take 50 hours, with side quests easily pushing the game over 100 hours. It’s a long commitment, but one that respects your time with quality content.

Exploration

Every corner of the map has something to find: hidden treasure, monster nests, or small storylines. You never feel like you’re just traveling for filler.

2. Elden Ring

FromSoftware’s Elden Ring redefined open world fantasy design by blending tough-but-rewarding combat with breathtaking exploration. Instead of spoon-feeding quests, the game encourages curiosity: players ride across The Lands Between, finding castles, catacombs, and bosses that often appear without warning. It’s punishing, but also one of the most rewarding fantasy worlds to lose yourself in.

Key Gameplay Features

• Soulsborne combat in a vast open world.
• Customizable builds with weapons, spells, and abilities.
• Torrent, your mount, adds freedom in traversal and combat.

Pros

• Exploration feels organic and full of surprises.
• Freedom to tackle challenges in different orders.
• Gorgeous, haunting fantasy landscapes.

Time Commitment

A focused run may take 60-80 hours, but completionists can spend well over 120. Not the lightest game for busy players, but it’s easy to hop in and just explore without progressing the main story.

Exploration

Exploration is king. From crumbling ruins to poison swamps, each area holds secrets, bosses, and items that reward the brave.

3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim remains one of the most iconic fantasy open world games more than a decade after launch. As the Dragonborn, you’re free to roam snowy mountains, dungeons, and villages while shaping your character however you like. The sheer number of mods and re-releases has kept it alive for years, making it a staple for anyone who loves fantasy exploration.

Key Gameplay Features

• Massive open world full of quests, guilds, and exploration.
• Flexible character progression with magic, combat, and stealth.
• Dragons and shouts add unique flair to combat.

Pros

• Endless replayability thanks to mods and branching paths.
• One of the richest fantasy sandboxes ever made.
• Iconic questlines like the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild.

Time Commitment

The main quest can be finished in 25-30 hours, but most players spend hundreds in side quests and free exploration.

Exploration

Few games capture the feeling of stumbling into a dungeon and finding a new questline like Skyrim. Its world is dense with secrets that still hold up years later.

4. Dragon’s Dogma 2

Capcom’s long-awaited sequel finally delivers a modern fantasy sandbox where exploration and combat feel equally rewarding. The pawn system returns, letting you build a customizable party that learns from your playstyle. The world is dangerous, full of monsters that require strategy to defeat, and its day-night cycle makes travel feel alive and unpredictable.

Key Gameplay Features

• Action RPG combat with climbing mechanics for giant monsters.
• Pawn system for customizable AI companions.
• Dynamic world that changes with time and exploration.

Pros

• Combat is thrilling, especially against large creatures.
• Exploration feels dangerous but rewarding.
• AI companions that feel surprisingly human.

Time Commitment

Expect 40-60 hours for a standard playthrough. There’s plenty of replayability if you want to try different classes and approaches.

Exploration

The world is built around discovery and danger. Venturing too far at night can be deadly, making every journey feel meaningful.

5. Horizon Forbidden West

Though technically sci-fi, Horizon Forbidden West’s world feels deeply rooted in fantasy, with tribal cultures, mythical machines, and vast wilds to explore. You play as Aloy, a skilled hunter navigating a post-apocalyptic world full of robotic beasts that act like magical creatures. Its lush environments and cinematic storytelling make it one of the most beautiful open worlds out there.

Key Gameplay Features

• Third-person action RPG with ranged and melee combat.
• Machine hunting and taming mechanics.
• Rich narrative tied to exploration and survival.

Pros

• Stunning visuals and creature design.
• Strong protagonist and storytelling.
• Open world full of varied biomes and hidden ruins.

Time Commitment

The main campaign runs around 30-40 hours, with completionist runs closer to 80.

Exploration

Each biome feels distinct – deserts, jungles, snowy peaks – and exploring often leads to hidden ruins or mechanical threats that push you to adapt.

6. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Ubisoft’s Viking epic blends history and fantasy, giving players a vast world inspired by Norse mythology. You play as Eivor, leading raids, building a settlement, and uncovering a story that blends myth with grounded history. It’s one of the biggest Assassin’s Creed games to date, with countless side quests, activities, and mysteries across England and Norway.

Key Gameplay Features

• Action RPG with branching skill trees.
• Settlement building and customization.
• Exploration-driven world full of raids, quests, and treasures.

Pros

• Immense world with tons of activities.
• Strong integration of Norse mythology.
• Plenty of customization and role-playing depth.

Time Commitment

Easily 60-80 hours for the main story and side content, with expansions adding even more.

Exploration

From longship journeys to mysterious ruins, exploration feels constant. The sheer variety of landscapes: snowy fjords, rolling hills, and dense forests – makes the world a joy to roam.

7. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild / Tears of the Kingdom

Nintendo’s reinvention of Zelda redefined open world design for fantasy games. Breath of the Wild emphasized freedom: climb anything, glide anywhere, experiment with mechanics to solve puzzles. Tears of the Kingdom expanded that formula with sky islands, underground depths, and new building systems that let you approach challenges creatively. Together, they represent some of the most influential fantasy worlds ever built.

Key Gameplay Features

• Open-ended exploration and puzzle solving.
• Climbing, gliding, and crafting systems.
• Sandbox mechanics that reward experimentation.

Pros

• Unparalleled freedom in how you approach the world.
• Constant sense of discovery and wonder.
• Accessible to casual players but deep for explorers.

Time Commitment

Breath of the Wild’s main story is 50+ hours, but most players spend far more exploring shrines and side quests. Tears of the Kingdom can easily stretch past 100 with its expanded systems.

Exploration

Exploration is the heart of these games. There’s always something new on the horizon, and the sense of adventure never really fades no matter how many hours you play.

Final Thoughts

Fantasy open world games thrive on discovery, whether that’s stumbling across a hidden quest in The Witcher 3, climbing a mountain in Breath of the Wild, or battling a dragon in Skyrim.

• If you want deep storytelling → The Witcher 3 or Horizon Forbidden West.
• If you want challenging exploration → Elden Ring or Dragon’s Dogma 2.
• If you want sandbox freedom and creativity → Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom.
• If you want epic scale with historical flair → Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
• If you want a classic fantasy sandbox that still holds up → Skyrim.

Each of these games offers a different flavor of fantasy, but all share that magic of open world exploration, the sense that your next adventure could be waiting just over the next hill.