Five Best Dark Fantasy Games Like Witcher 3 to play in 2025

If you love the Witcher 3 and can’t stop looking for similar dark fantasy games, then these five titles might satiate your hunger.

When we talk about dark fantasy games, one title almost always sits at the top of the discussion: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Released in 2015 by CD Projekt Red, it has become a landmark among fantasy RPGs for its beautiful open world, morally grey storytelling, and a deep dive into Slavic-inspired folklore. The way Geralt’s journey blends monster-hunting, political intrigue, and heartbreaking choices made many players realize that games could be as rich and immersive as any novel or TV series. Or maybe even more.

But while The Witcher 3 casts a long shadow, it is not the only game that masters the grim beauty of dark fantasy. From cursed lands to folklore nightmares, there are other worlds worth losing yourself in. Here are five of the best dark fantasy games like Witcher 3 that carry the same haunting spirit, each standing proudly in its own right.

5. Vampyr (Dontnod Entertainment, 2018)

Not all dark fantasy games need to take place in distant kingdoms. Some bring the horror into familiar streets. Vampyr, developed by Dontnod Entertainment and released in 2018, drops you in London during a deadly plague. You play as Dr. Jonathan Reid, a physician who has unwillingly become a vampire. Every moment is a moral struggle. Do you feed on the very citizens you swore to heal, or do you starve and weaken yourself?

The narrative carries the same morally grey DNA as The Witcher 3, where choices matter and no decision feels entirely right. The combat may not be as polished as Witcher’s, and the gameplay might feel quite repetitive. But the atmosphere of a dying city and the burden of vampirism make Vampyr stand out as one of the most human takes on dark fantasy.

4. Dark Souls (FromSoftware, 2011)

If The Witcher 3 is about living inside a folklore epic, then Dark Souls is about surviving in the ruins left behind. Developed by FromSoftware and released in 2011, Dark Souls created a blueprint for oppressive, despair-soaked worlds. Its kingdoms are broken, its gods are decayed, and every corridor hides a horror waiting to crush you. Yet within the misery lies a strange beauty.

Ancient castles loom over valleys filled with ash, and bosses are terrifying not just in size but in the weight of the lore behind them. Unlike Witcher’s dialogue-driven storytelling, Dark Souls leaves its tale scattered in item descriptions and ruins, rewarding players who piece the tragedy together. Although it is loved by fans and considered among the best dark fantasy games ever created, be warned that it is not for everyone, due to its punishing difficulty.

3. Witchfire (The Astronauts, Early Access 2023)

For those who prefer their fantasy with a more explosive twist, Witchfire offers a bold new take. (Ooops, even its name sounds similar to Witcher). Developed by The Astronauts, the team behind The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, Witchfire entered Early Access in 2023 and is set for a full release soon. It is a first-person dark fantasy RPG shooter where you play as a sinner turned witch hunter, armed with both guns and magic.

The world is drenched in religious dread and occult forces, with haunting cathedrals and cursed landscapes to explore. Unlike The Witcher 3’s narrative-driven pace, Witchfire emphasizes intense combat but still carries that same grim tone and mythic atmosphere. It proves that dark fantasy games don’t always have to be slow and methodical; they can be fast, brutal, and deeply immersive.

2. Bloodborne (FromSoftware, 2015)

Where Dark Souls feels like medieval despair, Bloodborne is the gothic nightmare version. Developed again by FromSoftware and launched in 2015, Bloodborne swaps knights and castles for twisted Victorian streets and eldritch terror. You play as a hunter in Yharnam, a city drowning in plague and madness. The enemies start as werewolf-like beasts, but the deeper you go, the more the game pulls you into cosmic horror inspired by H. P. Lovecraft.

Bloodborne is fast, vicious, and dripping with atmosphere. While The Witcher 3 leans on choice-driven storytelling, Bloodborne uses its setting to convey narrative through dread. If you loved Witcher’s dark bestiary, Bloodborne offers one of the most grotesque collections of monsters you will ever face. The game is unfortunately available only on the Playstation 4, and there has been no recent news of it coming to PC or XBox.

1. Bramble: The Mountain King (Dimfrost Studio, 2023)

Where Witcher draws heavily from Slavic myths, Bramble: The Mountain King, an indie horror game, takes inspiration from Nordic folklore. Developed by Dimfrost Studio and released in 2023, Bramble tells the story of Olle, a boy who sets out to rescue his sister from supernatural creatures. On the surface, it looks like a fairytale, but be warned: This is no bedtime story.

Bramble starts like a children’s story but quickly reveals itself as a nightmare full of trolls, witches, and tragic monsters. Its tone mixes innocence with terror, creating a unique emotional experience. Unlike the vast open world of The Witcher 3, Bramble is more linear, but its folklore authenticity and chilling atmosphere make it one of the most haunting dark fantasy games released in recent years.

Why These Games Like Witcher 3 should be in your Library

What makes The Witcher 3 so beloved is not just its scale but the way it captures the heart of dark fantasy: beauty wrapped in tragedy, power shadowed by corruption, and choices that rarely have clean outcomes. The games above may approach the genre differently, some through cryptic lore, others through folklore, and others through gunpowder and magic. But they all embody what makes dark fantasy unforgettable. If you are looking for dark fantasy games like Witcher 3, these five should be at the top of your list. Each one reminds us that the most beautiful stories often grow in the darkest soil.

If you are a Witcher 3 fan, check out Top 10 Most Tragic Witcher 3 Characters You’ll Never Forget