The fantasy genre is as old as time, because as long as creators have imagination and creativity, they think of the most wonderful worlds. Video games in particular boast some of the most immersive fantasy worlds and captivating magical stories, including Elden Ring and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. However, while the modern day is brimming with new titles, the 1990s pioneered the genre to be what it is today.
Fantasy video games existed before the 1990s, but it was this decade that really cemented them as the best genre with influential classics. That is why this list will rank the ten best fantasy video games from the 1990s based on gameplay, design, narrative, visuals, originality, influence, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality.
The Elder Scrolls is one of the greatest fantasy franchises of all time, but before their greatest hits, like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, they released a pivotal 1990s classic, The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. After the emperor sends the protagonist to exorcise the restless spirit of a king, players are thrust into a complex web of political strife between kingdoms and guilds fighting for control.
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall isn’t as memorable as the third, fourth, or fifth game, but it served as a crucial stepping stone to take the franchise to where it is now. This game pioneered the genre by straying away from a linear narrative and focusing on the sandbox aspect with rich worldbuilding, fascinating lore, and an impeccable fantasy vibe.
9
‘Castlevania: Symphony of the Night’ (1997)
The Metroidvania genre may have started earlier, but it really took off in the 1990s, with two games in particular creating the name. One is the fantasy icon Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, which follows Alucard, the son of Dracula, as he reawakens from his slumber in order to save Richter Belmont from Dracula’s newly resurrected castle full of demons and ghouls.
There are so many incredible Metroidvania games, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is arguably the most polished. This 1990s classic has magnificent artwork and well-crafted action-platformer moments that merge hectic combat with the fun sense of exploring the Labyrinth castle. From co-naming the genre to its gothic fantasy vibe, Symphony of the Night is a unique masterpiece.
8
‘Diablo’ (1996)
The Diablo franchise has continued to deliver incredible RPG experiences, but it all had to start somewhere, and that was in the 1990s with the first title. The titular dark lord has reawakened underneath a local cathedral, possessing the ruler of the kingdom to cause mayhem. The players are the only hope for the world as they descend into the 16 layers beneath the cathedral to stop the demon.
The Action-RPG genre is one of the most popular, and Diablo essentially created it, or at least popularized it. It combined a dark fantasy vibe with a gothic and hellish aesthetic and fast-paced real-time combat alongside a procedurally generated world. The result is a changing game where every new playthrough brought a different experience. Diablo‘s impact on RPGs and gaming as a whole cannot be understated.
7
‘The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past’ (1991)
The Legend of Zelda is arguably the most prolific and influential fantasy game franchise, and while it started in the 1980s, the best 2D and 3D games came from the 1990s, such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. When Princess Zelda is captured by the evil king Ganon, Link must defeat a wizard in order to travel between the light and dark realms and take down the villain.
While The Legend of Zelda may be more of a 3D franchise nowadays, A Link to the Past perfected the 2D formula. The parallel-world mechanic allowed for incredible puzzle design with the light world directly affecting the dark world, creating an interesting dichotomy. This fun and engaging staple made it such a compelling game, not to mention it features some of the best dungeons in the Zelda franchise.
6
‘Final Fantasy VI’ (1994)
The Final Fantasy franchise is one of the biggest that video games have to offer, even having two entries on this list, starting with Final Fantasy VI. A group of adventurers set out on a quest around the world in order to fight the evil empire in control of it. Magic has faded into myth, but one evil Jester is trying to reclaim that ancient power in order to destroy the world.
Final Fantasy VI is the pinnacle of 2D Final Fantasy games, using its captivating art style and distinct vibe to create a dazzling visual identity. However, it is really known for its storytelling prestige, which tackles themes of grief, loss, and identity among a massive ensemble of charming characters. Each major player is a compelling part of the story, and the mid-game plot twist is one of the best.
5
‘Planescape: Torment’ (1999)
There are so many different types of RPG, including CRPG, which houses some impeccable video games like Planescape: Torment. Players control the Nameless One, an amnesiac immortal who must travel and explore a bizarre dimension to learn about their past lives and why they hold the secret of immortality.
Planescape: Torment highlights some of the best writing in video game history, creating an interactive masterclass that replaced combat with dialogue. This subversion of traditional fantasy in favor of philosophical thought forced players to understand and think about the game and its narrative, using speech to win. Planescape: Torment is a genre-redefining masterpiece that boasts some of the best worldbuilding in video games.
4
‘Baldur’s Gate’ (1998)
A lot of the video games on this list are the first entry in an otherwise legendary franchise, kicking off the series with a bang. Baldur’s Gate continues the trend, because decades later, Baldur’s Gate 3 would be considered one of the best fantasy games. After players are forced out of their fortress because of their father’s murder, they uncover a dark conspiracy that they must stop.
The RPG genre was fading in the late 1990s, but Baldur’s Gate single-handedly saved it, bringing it back to life through innovative mechanics. It used the newest Dungeons & Dragons ruleset with its advanced game engine to bring this tabletop experience to life, creating a real-time fantasy adventure unlike any other.
3
‘Final Fantasy VII’ (1997)
Final Fantasy VI is one of the greatest in the franchise, but there are dozens of other classics, and there isn’t one better than Final Fantasy VII. The evil mega-corporation known as Shinra is draining the life energy out of the planet, but luckily, Cloud Strife and his band of eco-terrorists are the only ones who can stop Sephiroth from achieving godhood.
Cloud and Sephiroth are two of the most recognizable video game characters, with the latter being renowned as the greatest villain in the medium. Outside of memorability, Final Fantasy VII is a cinematic sensation that brought the weight of storytelling to video games. It was an absolutely visually stunning video game for its time, emphasizing the sense of scale and grandeur that broke the JRPG genre into the mainstream.
2
‘Chrono Trigger’ (1995)
The best fantasy video games of the modern age are all 3D, and while the 1990s introduced this, they still had many classic 2D adventures, including the phenomenon known as Chrono Trigger. When a group of adventurers accidentally travel to the future, they discover a post-apocalyptic ruin. Now, they must travel back and forth from the destroyed future and the prehistoric past in order to gain enough strength to prevent the end of the world.
Chrono Trigger was assembled by a dream team of producers who had worked on some of the greatest JRPGs of the time, as well as using the art of acclaimed manga author Akira Toriyama. The seamless battlefield combat took out random encounters and replaced them with fluid gameplay that was ten times more compelling. Chrono Trigger is flawlessly paced and an exceptional fantasy with revolutionary mechanics that alter the future directly based on the player’s actions.
1
‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ (1998)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is the best 2D Zelda game, but the franchise houses a roster of 3D perfections, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. After the Gerudo King Ganondorf kidnaps Princess Zelda in order to gain the Triforce, the only hope of saving her is Link. He must travel between past and future to conquer the dungeons, awaken the sages, and take down the villain.
No gaming list featuring 1990s titles is complete without The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which is considered the best video game of all time. From creating Z-targeting, a mechanic still used in 3D adventure games today, to the intricate design of the dungeons, this game was a wake-up call to the industry to understand just what gaming is capable of. This masterpiece is a cultural and technical landmark of the industry that defined the fantasy genre, proving why it is the greatest video game of the 20th century.