Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
10 Greatest Fantasy Video Games of the ’90s
Collider ranks influential 1990s fantasy games by gameplay, design, storytelling, visuals, originality, influence, fan opinion and critical acclaim.
– ‘The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall’ (1996) is praised for advancing open-ended sandbox role-playing, deep lore and non-linear worldbuilding. – ‘Castlevania: Symphony of the Night’ (1997) is highlighted as a polished gothic-fantasy action-platformer that helped define the Metroidvania genre. – ‘Diablo’ (1996) is credited with popularising action RPG conventions through dark fantasy, real-time combat and procedurally generated dungeons.
In short
- The article celebrates formative 1990s fantasy games.
- Daggerfall helped establish expansive sandbox RPGs.
- Symphony of the Night and Diablo shaped major genres.
Explained simply
Fantasy video games let players explore imagined worlds shaped by magic, mythical creatures and invented histories. In the 1990s, advances in home computers and consoles gave developers more room to build detailed settings and create different kinds of play.
Role-playing games such as The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall let players make choices in large, open worlds. Other games took different approaches: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night combined action and exploration, while Diablo focused on real-time combat and dungeons that changed between playthroughs.
These games helped shape styles that later developers built on, including open-world role-playing and the exploration-focused format known as Metroidvania. Looking at them together shows how varied fantasy games became during the decade.