23 Games Like Dragon’s Dogma
This selection of games like Dragon’s Dogma offers other open world fantasy RPGs where you’ll hack and slash your way through large enemies on various platforms.
Set on a mysterious island with a deep set of labyrinths players have a variety of dark secrets to uncover in Dragon's Dogma with a story that revolves around the end of days with the arrival of a dragon. Choosing your vocation from a large pool of options which includes some quite unique variants on traditional archetypes such as the Magick Archer. The melee classes of the game are particularly satisfying with their hack and slash combat mechanics and their ability to climb onto large enemies that they encounter which are a regular sight.
This grab action mechanic is one of the most well-known features of the game and extends beyond monsters to include objects and NPCs. Another unique innovation used in Dragon’s Dogma is the pawn system that allows you to bring powerful NPC characters with you or borrow from your friends instead. While these pawns are controlled by AI players can issue them basic orders to give the game some tactical elements to to the core action role playing.
The games like Dragon’s Dogma here offer similar RPG variety with fantasy worlds being invaded by large monsters that need a hero to hack and slash their way through enemies and quests.
Gothic II
Gothic II is the sequel to the first cult classic hit Gothic game and builds on the foundations set by the original to once again give you a high quality RPG with ample amounts of choice and role playing mechanics. The game is again set in the medieval world of Khorinis but expands the games reach to plenty of new locations and associated NPCs for players to explore and quest. Gothic II has a single expansion pack available (Night of the Raven) that unlike other expansion packs is linked directl...[Read Review]
Gothic
Gothic is a classic fantasy role playing game that was released back in 2001 with the success of the game spawning an entire Gothic series of similar fantasy titles. With a robust storyline filled with quests and complex NPC relationships its a world that was expanded with each new title in the franchise while also uplifting the core mechanics. The setting in Gothic is reminiscent of most modern fantasy RPGs like Skyrim with a medieval game world filled with humans and various other races that h...[Read Review]
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is the sequel to the popular action role playing game expanding on the universe and story. After the original release on Windows, Mac, Linux and Xbox 360 an enhanced edition was released the following year dramatically building on the content and addressing a number of important bug fixes and tweaks. Like the first Witcher the game is loosely based on the book series with the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski, a setting that has proven extremely popular amongst fan...[Read Review]
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt takes an already impressive franchise and elevates it to a whole new level of action role playing. In this 2015 addition to the Witcher Series of video games you’ll explore vast sprawling open landscapes, make moral quest decisions that ripple through the game, engage in combat, play cards with NPCs and investigate countless side missions on horseback. Geralt of Rivia is once again your protagonist for this adventure who is a powerful and professional monster hunte...[Read Review]
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor puts you in the middle of The Lord of the Rings universe as you combat orcs with a deadly ranger that also possesses unique wraith abilities. With strong sword combat, stealth mechanics, a large open world and a unique nemesis system Shadow of Mordor offers a high quality Lord of the Rings action adventure with 30-40 hours of gameplay for completionists. Set during in The Lord of the Rings universe a basic understanding of the lore will definitely be a great asset ...[Read Review]
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is an action role playing game with a dark fantasy setting that was released on Windows in 2006 with a subsequent Xbox 360 release in 2008 known as Elements which expanded on the core game content further. Giving players ample choice over how they approach the story and combat you’ll be able to wield sword, magic and stealth playstyles. The setting of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic feels right out of the Lord of the Rings or similarly themed universe with t...[Read Review]
Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus is an action adventure of grand scale that was first launched in 2005 on the PlayStation 2. In time the game was remastered for PlayStation 3 (2011) and PlayStation 4 (2018) that both offered an almost identical experience to the original albeit with higher quality graphic assets. Regardless of your choice of release/platform players will find themselves in a unique fantasy setting that is centred around the adventure to defeat a number of large scale colossi that each pre...[Read Review]
Demon’s Souls
Demon’s Souls is the spiritual predecessor of Dark Souls and features the same focus on providing a high level of game difficulty without relying on cheap tactics to beat players. Released in 2009 for PlayStation 3 the game was remastered in 2020 for the PlayStation 5 with fundamentally the same core gameplay albeit some additional content alongside a graphical and audio overhaul. One thing clearly not changed though is the unforgiving nature of combat which places great emphasis on character ad...[Read Review]
The Witcher
The Witcher is a role playing game set in a dark fantasy world that kicked off a highly popular fantasy role playing franchise. Based on the book series of Polish author Anrzej Sapkowski and features a world filled with grey moral choices centred around the trials faced by the Witchers. Playing as one of these Witchers players will be challenged in the decisions they make throughout the story which all have long term consequences on the game world and your own adventure. Playing as Geralt of Riv...[Read Review]
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning takes players to a fantasy world where you’ll explore a diverse range of regions with their own story, battles and challenges. As an action role playing title this sprawling game world is paired with a dynamic combat system that lets you swing melee weapons or cast powerful magic on your enemies. Originally released in 2012 a remastered version (Re-Reckoning) was released in 2020 that brought the adventure to modern consoles in the process. Offering revitalise...[Read Review]
Nier
Nier crafts an interesting story for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners while pairing it with action role playing and hack and slash fundamentals. Following the story of two books, one good and the other evil Nier is designed for players to play through the story multiple times in order to fully grasp the story elements as new story related mechanics are introduced on subsequent playthroughs. While a PS Vita version was planned this was eventually abandoned and never released to the public. Set i...[Read Review]
Dark Souls III
For the third time players can experience video game difficulty at its finest with the 2015 addition to the Dark Souls franchise that triples down on the challenge and world lore established to date. Designed for the long term fan and newcomer to the franchise Dark Souls III also serves as the final entry in the trilogy of third person action role playing games with memorable boss encounters. Exploring the Kingdom of Lothric the Age of Fire is reaching its end and in turn bringing with it the Ag...[Read Review]
Horizon Zero Dawn
Explore a unique world of machine like animals in Horizon Zero Dawn an action role playing title with a futuristic and dystopian setting unlike other adventure games with its blend of primitive and advanced technology. Initially a PlayStation 4 exclusive title Horizon Zero Dawn was expanded outside the PlayStation universe with a Windows release three years after the games initial release. Playing as Aloy, a female hunter who lives within a world ravaged by robots players find themselves in a po...[Read Review]
Gothic 3
The Gothic series of role playing video games continues with Gothic 3 which serves as the third instalment and features the same fantasy RPG style of gameplay. With a massive game world for players to explore you’ll once again take control of your customised hero as you complete quests, join factions and ultimately shape the world around you. Gothic 3 has ties to the original Gothic game but is mostly a stand-alone experience with players playing as the same nameless hero from the previous...[Read Review]
Nioh
Originally for PlayStation 4 and PC with a subsequent PlayStation 5 remaster Nioh explores the Sengoku period of Japan and pairs it with a dark difficultly setting akin to that of the Dark Souls series. As you fight your way through the chaotic civil war period of Japan you’ll fight both fantasy creatures and men throughout your adventure with brutal sword efficiency. For those unfamiliar with the Sengoku period of Japan this was a time of great civil war between the clans that occupied Ja...[Read Review]
Oblivion
Oblivion is part of the Elder Scrolls franchise and is the fourth game in the series of role playing games that blend medieval and fantasy together. Developed by Bethesda Game Studios and released in 2006 across consoles (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) and computer platforms (Windows) players can continue their franchise adventure. Like many of the large role playing titles out there and past Elder Scrolls titles you’ll find the Game of the Year Edition which includes the two expansion packs rel...[Read Review]
Morrowind
Morrowind (The Elder Scrolls III) is the third adventure in the Elder Scrolls series and offers a similar open world fantasy RPG challenge as the previous titles. Released in 2002 for Windows and the Xbox the game is also available on modern Xbox consoles through backwards compatibility. Exploring the Vvardenfell island your primary goal is to uncover the growing threat on the world from the demigod Dagoth Ur who seeks to take control of Morrowind and free it from the Imperials. In the The Elder...[Read Review]
Soul Sacrifice
Soul Sacrifice is a unique and dark action adventure game for the PlayStation Vita that launched in 2013 that introduces a unique premise onto the standard action RPG hack and slash experience. In the game players will sacrifice parts of themselves (or items) to unleash powerful and reckless attacks on their enemies with a finite self sacrifice ability and the build up of scars on the player’s body. In addition to these unique ideas Soul Sacrifice is definitely not short on story elements ...[Read Review]
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is an RPG experience based in the Lord of the Rings universe that delivers hack and slash part combat with some tie ins to the popular novel and films. As an action role playing focused adventure players take control of their own hero and fight their way through the storyline by themselves or with friends in the co-op mode. Your War in the North adventure follows the journey of three heroes as they attempt to help in the war effort in the fantasy Lord of t...[Read Review]
Two Worlds II
Two Worlds II is a 2010 released action RPG sequel to the 2007 game that makes huge improvements over the original adventure. Featuring a familiar formula of expansive fantasy world, exploration, questing and character development Two Worlds II is available across Windows, Mac, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The base game was later expanded through several expansion packs and a HD game version that provided graphical enhancements. The fantasy world of Two Worlds II has the usual fantasy tropes with...[Read Review]
Fable III
Fable III is the third game in the Fable series and has players again exploring what Albion has to offer with a relatively open adventure in the familiar world. Set 50 years after the second game it is available on the Xbox 360 (later Xbox One with backwards compatibility) and Windows. The continent of Albion has advanced quite a bit in the 50 years since players last had the opportunity to explore the continent. Most notably is the player character from the previous game has now become the rule...[Read Review]
Lords of The Fallen
Set in a dark and gritty game world Lords of The Fallen brings hardcore action role playing to the latest generation of consoles with a rich fantasy story. Explore both the human and demonic worlds in this richly diverse title for Windows and consoles. Note an iOS and Android spin-off is available that features similar mechanics although is closer to an arena RPG than the full Lords of The Fallen experience. Set in a world where the Gods have all but abandoned the human race players will assume ...[Read Review]
The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) brings the popular role playing series to the MMO environment with an adventure that sets out to create the ultimate Elder Scrolls adventure and fills it with other online adventurers like yourself. The greatest appeal to the Elder Scrolls Online is without a doubt to the long time fans of the franchise who will appreciate the expanded world before them although in order to break through into the competitive MMO market a number of decisions have been made that ensu...[Read Review]
