Fantasy is a genre that has proven time and time again to be a perfect fit for the medium of video games. Those who grew up loving epic tales of kingdoms and sorcery are given a chance to step into rich worlds and immerse themselves in the imaginative wonder and become the heroes they dreamed of. Furthermore, as the medium has grown and innovated throughout several decades, these titles have offered complex tales that players can reshape with even the smallest actions, as seen in beloved games including Baldur's Gate III and The Elder Scrolls.
However, with fantasy being such a revisited genre, it is inevitable that some titles have found themselves overlooked. Between controversial or mishandled releases to simply being overshadowed by far more successful games, here are 6 little-spoken video games that are worth returning to:
Final Fantasy XII
The Final Fantasy series remains one of the most prominent fantasy video game franchises to this day, even after 38 years. Not only has the core series allowed players to explore unique worlds with each entry, but it has also expanded into a multi-media franchise consisting of novels, mobile spin-offs, and movies. However, in 2026, one of its most underrated tales will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Released in March 2006, Final Fantasy XII took fans to the early days of Ivalice as the small kingdom of Dalmasca is caught within the escalating conflicts between the Archadian and Rozzarian empires. As the kingdom is annexed by Archadia, Dalmascan orphan Vaan sets out to become a famed sky pirate, beginning his own journey, which will change his world's future.
Despite its strong sales and critical acclaim, Final Fantasy XII has often found itself overshadowed by other, more widely recognized entries within the franchise. As such, I feel that Final Fantasy XII is a lesser-known gem of the series. Vaan's journey across Ivalice sees him partying up with rogues and key players of the Archadian/Rozzarian war, creating a narrative that is far more complex and nuanced than a simple battle of good and evil. The "Active Dimension Battle" system is also a good balance between turn-based combat and more hands-on controls seen in more recent entries, making it an incredibly accessible entry point for new and familiar fans.
Dishonored
While Arkane Studios may be currently delving into the battles between the sunglasses-donning Daywalker and his vampiric prey in Marvel's Blade, the developers introduced players to the world of Dishonored in 2012. Set within the smog-filled and rat-plagued city of Dunwall, players were placed into the shoes of Corvo Attano, Bodyguard of the Empress of the Isles. Framed for his Empress's death, Corvo is given a chance to take revenge on the upper-class conspirators and restore order by rescuing the Empress' daughter, Emily.
The world of Dunwall is a gritty steampunk setting inspired by nineteenth-century English cities, where Whale Oil powers the fantastical, and often-deadly machines that keep the city moving. However, beneath the surface, however, is the Void, the realm of the powerful Outsider. Neither good nor evil, the Outsider bestows Corvo with his powers, allowing players to choose how they wield these gifts. The inhabitants of both worlds are brought to life by an all-star cast that includes Chloë Grace Moretz, Brad Dourif, Lena Heady, Michael Madsen, and Susan Sarandon.
With this rich world to explore, Dishonored leaves it to players to unveil its many mysteries as they help Corvo in his quest through documents, unlockables, and in-game conversations. Furthermore, Dishonored features a morality system that allows players to choose whether they will restore order as bloodlessly as possible or carve down anyone who wronged them. Not only do these decisions weigh in on which ending players will receive, but they are also reflected in how the world changes through their playthrough, making Dunwall a highly engaging and replayable setting to walk through again and again.
Brutal Legend
Not all fantasy worlds are distant realms of swords and sorcery, however, and sometimes the best settings can have the most unlikely inspirations. Released in 2009, Brutal Legend took inspiration from heavy metal music to create an outlandish demon-dominated realm with an aesthetic inspired by the iconography of the genre.
When rock band roadie Eddie Riggs is caught in an unfortunate incident at his band's latest concert, he is transported to this unnamed setting and assumes the mantle of the world-changing "Chosen One." Able to read Titan texts, take on a demonic form, and armed with a rock-and-roll themed arsenal to take the fight to the demonic forces, Eddie embarks on a journey to save what remains of humanity from the demonic horde.
Despite its gameplay coming under scrutiny upon release due to unclear marketing and difficulty in certain elements, the setting of Brutal Legend has helped it endure even 16 years after its release. Not only does its art direction lovingly pay tribute to the works of Frank Franzetta and other rock iconography, but it features an impressive cast led by Jack Black's Eddie that includes Tim Curry, Lemmy Kilmister, and Ozzy Osbourne, acknowledging the many artists who helped shape the genre and aesthetic.
Witch on the Holy Night
For many, Type Moon and Kinoku Nasu are known for the Fate/ series, the multimedia franchise that spawned out of the 2004 visual novel Fate/ Stay Night, and now encompasses several anime projects and video games. However, in 2012, the developers returned to the world of their breakthrough title, Tsukihime, for Witch on the Holy Night, a prequel visual novel that dives into a notable minor character from the 2000 title's origin.
Taking place in Misaki town in Japan, the visual novel focuses on the training of Aoko Aozaki, a young girl who studies in magecraft under the witch Alice Kuonji in order to prepare herself to accept her family's legacy. However, when the bounded field of their home is threatened and their supernatural deeds are witnessed by a young boy, the pair set out to discover the culprit behind the disturbance and keep the existence of magic a secret
While it uses concepts, characters, and elements from other Type Moon titles, Witch on the Holy Night is much more focused on magecraft, its place within the world, and the responsibilities it brings to its practitioners. As players become more familiar with Aoko, Alice, and the rest of the cast, it becomes clearer just how difficult something as wondrous and limitless as magic can truly be, offering a fascinating spin on familiar contemporary fantasy tropes. Furthermore, with an anime adaptation by Ufotable, the studio behind the Demon Slayer anime, in the works, now is an excellent time to dive into the original game, or potentially even use this title as an entry point into the wider Type Moon universe.
Jade Empire
Developed by BioWare and released on Xbox, Jade Empire presented players with a world inspired by Chinese mythology populated by humans, mystical creatures, and divine beings. Taking on the role of a Spirit Monk trained in martial arts, players are tasked with restoring balance to the world. The Spirit Monk's journey takes players across the wide expanse of the Jade Empire, bringing them face to face with royalty, dragons, and undead hordes.
Though it may be overshadowed by BioWare's more iconic titles, including Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire still holds an important place in the studio's history. The title acts as a bridge between two eras of BioWare, its licensed franchise era, and its original IP era, with the title's gameplay reflecting this transition as it blends the familiar morality mechanics and classes Knights of the Old Republic featured with real-time, action heavy combat.
Despite having lackluster sales due to strong competition and releasing during the tail-end of the original Xbox's lifespan, Jade Empire still holds a strong legacy after 20 years. The title holds the same dedication to world-building that the best BioWare titles offer, while many party members are celebrated among the studio's most recognizable heroes. As gamers await BioWare's next chapter, Jade Empire is well worth revisiting, if only just to see how the studio has evolved.
Soulcalibur VI (2018)
The Soulcalibur franchise was once able to hold its own on the stage of history with gaming's most beloved fighting game franchises. Focusing on the everlasting battle between the mythical Soul Calibur and Soul Edge blades, the series has featured many beloved icons, as fighters from across the globe come together and lock weapons. However, its latest installment, Soulcalibur VI, found itself overshadowed by larger titles, such as the incredibly popular Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Released in 2018, Soulcalibur VI took a step back from the new generation introduced in Soulcalibur V, instead revisiting the events of earlier games in a soft reboot comparable to NetherRealm's handling of Mortal Kombat. However, rather than simply revisiting and remixing the events of older games with the "Soul Chronicle" mode, Soulcalibur VI also used the character creator mode introduced with Soulcalibur III in the "Libra of Soul" mode, allowing players to embark on an all-new story.
While stepping in time allowed Soulcalibur VI to revisit franchise icons, the series still placed its new fighters front and center, as Aval agent Groh and Azwel are pivotal players in the "Libra of Soul" storyline. Furthermore, the game carried on the tradition established by Soulcalibur II by featuring three beloved video game characters as strong guest characters, as The Witcher's Geralt of Rivia, Nier Automata's 2B, and Samurai Showdown's Haohmaru are fun additions to the roster. When paired with the familiar sword-fighting gameplay unique to the Soulcalibur franchise, Soulcalibur VI is a worthy reimagining of a timeless battle between good and evil.