When it comes to fantasy, Arthurian legend is one of the oldest wells we still drink from. The tales of Camelot, Avalon, and the Knights of the Round Table predate J.R.R. Tolkien, George Martin, and Andrzej Sapkowski by centuries, yet they keep resurfacing in new and unexpected ways.
The beauty of Arthurian lore lies in how it can be tragic or triumphant, heroic or horrific, idealistic or cynical, or all those emotions combined. Depending on the storyteller, Arthur can be a flawed king, a golden archetype, a doomed hero, or even a tyrant.
For The Witcher fans, who already enjoy dark and morally tangled worlds, Arthurian fantasy offers a familiar kind of grit with magic intertwined with politics, mythic monsters, and flawed humans navigating impossible choices. And while the big names (The Once and Future King, Monty Python and the Holy Grail) are often cited, there are plenty of other adaptations and reinventions that deserve more love.
Here are ten Arthurian-inspired works across TV, film, books, comics, and games that deserve your attention.
Merlin (TV series, 2008–2012)
The BBC’s Merlin isn't grimdark, but it has a charm that fans of sprawling fantasy sagas still cherish. The show reimagines Arthur and Merlin as young men growing into their roles, with destiny always looming overhead. It’s campy, yes, but it's also surprisingly heartfelt, exploring friendship, betrayal, and sacrifice in ways that resonate beyond its YA trappings.
If you've ever wished The Witcher leaned more into camaraderie alongside the monsters, Merlin scratches that itch. I still find myself rewatching my favorite episodes all these years later.
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon (video game, 2023)
Imagine The Witcher's bleak landscapes crossed with Arthurian myth. That's Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon. Set in a decaying version of Avalon, the RPG twists familiar characters and legends into grotesque, corrupted forms.
The open-world design leans into survival mechanics and moral choices, so don't expect heroic knights shining with virtue: expect famine, plagues, and haunting monstrosities instead. It's an indie gem that turns Camelot into something closer to a nightmare than a dream.
The Green Knight (film, 2021)
David Lowery's surreal retelling of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is equal parts arthouse cinema and fantasy. It doesn’t care about straightforward heroics; instead, it's about honor, mortality, and what it means to confront one's inevitable end.
The haunting imagery, like the Green Knight himself or Gawain’s dreamlike wanderings, makes this one of the most visually striking Arthurian adaptations in recent memory. For Witcher fans used to the series's existential musings, this film is a natural fit.
Excalibur (film, 1981)
John Boorman's Excalibur is pure myth on film, operatic, strange, and drenched in mysticism. While some of its visual effects have aged, its ambition hasn't. The film embraces the legend's magic, violence, and sexuality without restraint. It's not a polished blockbuster, but that rawness is part of its cult appeal.
For fantasy fans, it remains a bold reminder that Arthurian stories can be as weird as they are heroic. In fact, I gave it a much-needed rewatch just this morning, and was reminded once again of why it was so magical to so many, with an especially poignant performance by Helen Mirren as Morgana.
Camelot (2011, TV series)
Though short-lived, Starz’s Camelot brought a raw, adult edge to the Arthurian legend. Eva Green delivers a magnetic, scene-stealing performance as Morgan, portraying her not as a cartoon villain but as a deeply human rival with ambition, pain, and charisma. Joseph Fiennes’s Merlin, meanwhile, is a manipulative schemer as much as a mentor, steering Arthur’s rise to power with shades of ruthlessness.
While the series only ran for one season, it left an impression with its mix of political intrigue, sensuality, and the struggle between faith, magic, and ambition. It’s one of the most underrated Arthurian adaptations of the past few decades.
The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead (novel series, 1987–1999)
Spanning six books, Lawhead’s Pendragon Cycle blends meticulous historical research with myth, focusing on Arthur's Celtic roots. It’s richly detailed and drenched in atmosphere, reimagining the myth through a Christian lens while staying faithful to its pagan origins.
The series doesn't shy away from tragedy or darkness, which makes it particularly resonant for readers who like their Arthurian tales a bit more lived-in.
King Arthur: Knight’s Tale (video game, 2022)
What if you weren’t Arthur but Mordred? That's the premise of King Arthur: Knight's Tale, a tactical turn-based game that flips the legend on its head. Instead of shining armor and noble quests, you’re navigating moral grayness, commanding armies, and facing off against a corrupted King Arthur himself.
For those of us Witcher fans who appreciate morally complex decisions and brutal combat systems, this one feels like a natural extension of those darker fantasy themes.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (film, 2017)
Guy Ritchie's Legend of the Sword is a messy but fascinating attempt to reimagine Arthur as a street-smart hustler who grows into a reluctant king. With its strong action sequences, pulsing soundtrack, and gritty tone, it's not your standard medieval epic. Charlie Hunnam brings an everyman toughness to Arthur, while Jude Law plays a majestically villainous Vortigern.
The film didn't find its footing at the box office, but over time, it gained a cult following among those who appreciate a bold, stylized reimagining of myth.
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley (novel, 1983)
A cornerstone of feminist fantasy, The Mists of Avalon retells the Arthurian saga from the perspective of the women, including Morgaine, Guinevere, and Viviane. It reframes the myth as one of shifting power, spirituality, and gendered conflict, giving voice to characters who were sidelined in the traditional stories.
While its author has since faced controversy over abuse accusations, the book itself remains hugely influential in shaping modern interpretations of Camelot.
Tristan + Isolde (film, 2006)
This moody retelling of the tragic romance between Tristan and Isolde often gets overshadowed, but it stands as a visually rich, melancholic take on one of Arthurian lore's most famous love stories. Its brooding tone aligns well with Witcher fans who already appreciate bittersweet romances in the midst of political and supernatural chaos.
What ties all of these together is not just knights and swords, but how flexible the Arthurian legend truly is. It can be heroic, tragic, or outright horrific, depending on the lens.
Merlin leans into destiny and friendship, Tainted Grail revels in survival horror, The Green Knight explores mortality, and The Buried Giant calls on lost memory. Fans who crave both monster-slaying spectacle and morally complex storytelling will find plenty of resonance in these stories, and I hope there are many more to come in the future.