The Witcher season two on Netflix is finally out for fans to binge - after a hefty delay. The live-action adaptation of Andrej Sapkowski's work has become the audience's next dark-fantasy fix, continuing the success of the fantasy genre in the mainstream. Along with gaming's rise in mainstream prominence, the RPG genre is ripe for fans to dive into after watching Netflix's massive IP.
Season three of the series is confirmed to be on the way, but especially for those newer to gaming, CD Projekt Red's respective adaptations of Sapkowski's books are all exceptional to satisfy the hunger for fantasy. Though, several other noteworthy fantasy RPGs have been released in the last decade that host more than worthwhile and immersive worlds to get into.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Undoubtedly the most obvious first choice for fans of Netflix's The Witcher would be to play CD Projekt Red's last endeavor for Geralt of Rivia in the world of The Continent. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is among the best action RPGs and its approach to storytelling, worldbuilding, characters, and the sheer amount of quality content to play hold up this reputation. All of these elements combine to be one of the most immersive and engrossing dark-fantasy worlds in gaming, and it holds up magnificently six-and-a-half years later.
The DLC expansions Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine are just about as acclaimed as the base game itself, and they could have been separate games due to their ambitious scope. Getting the Complete Edition can also be as cheap as $10 on sale. However, those with a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC will likely want to wait a few months for the remaster to release, as those with a copy already get the remaster as a free upgrade.
The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings
Though showing some age, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is still a great game for those interested in the RPG genre. This sophomore effort by CD Projekt Red received great critical reception and was also the first in the series to launch on a console. It was released on PC and as an Xbox 360 console-exclusive game, with reception noting the game's narrative and environments as the high points.
Even though it was released two console generations ago, The Witcher 2 can be modded on PC to still hold up in the modern day. And while certainly not as accessible as the acclaimed third entry, the Enhanced Edition of this game can be found at steep discounts on PC through the likes of Steam and GOG for around $3.
Divinity: Original Sin II
The CRPG genre is the purest form of RPGs in video games since they translated over from tabletop RPGs decades ago. Understandably, this could make them difficult to get into for newcomers, as their sprawling amounts of content, level of difficulty, and numerous intricate gameplay mechanics can be intimidating. However, for those willing to take the plunge, Larian Studios' Divinity: Original Sin II is one of the best to try out. Even in a world with massive triple-A action RPGs taking most of the spotlight, this game has cemented its status as one of the best RPGs ever made.
As far as complexity goes, Divinity: Original Sin II has also been praised for being among the most accessible modern CRPGs -- especially with the Definitive Edition -- while not sacrificing any of its quality in the process. The gameplay is engaging to learn, the story and worldbuilding are compelling, and its emphasis on rewarding players' narrative choices are commendable feats. After the DE version's release, it's available for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Though timeless to a fault thanks to Bethesda's incessant rereleases, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is still one of the most addictive RPG experiences in gaming to date. Arguably more so than Fallout, The Elder Scrolls is essentially Bethesda's flagship IP. The acclaimed fifth entry still has a wealth of content for players to lose themselves into and offers a rich fantasy world in its own right.
Its main story is a solid one with the premise of dragons' prophetic reappearance in the world, but the most compelling stories are in the vast amount of branching side quests. Along with the community's incredible mod for Skyrim, its inherently fluid character build system (as opposed to fixed classes) make it one of the games with the best replay value. There's no shortage of platforms to look for it on, as the more vanilla version is available on Switch, the Special Edition on PS4 and XBO, and the recent next-gen remaster on PS5, XSX|S, and PC.
The Witcher
ittedly, given the fact that it was a PC-exclusive game from 2007, The Witcher shows its age even more compared to the second. However, similar to the second game, The Witcher can also be modded for quality-of-life purposes to make a good "old-school" experience in 2022 on PC. Likewise, it's also regularly discounted on Steam and GOG at around $2.
This first entry in CD Projekt Red's game series takes place after Sapkowski's last book in the main saga -- The Lady of the Lake -- and the start of Geralt of Rivia's story for this gaming trilogy. The praises for The Witcher at the time are similar to the latter two and hold up today, especially after installing the aforementioned mods. Its real-time combat made players think more rather than mindlessly hacking away and the narrative options in the story presented genuine cause-and-effect.
Dark Souls III
Not only will fans of Netflix's The Witcher series find this world enthralling, but so will fans of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series and HBO's adaptation Game of Thrones. FromSoftware's acclaimed dark-fantasy Dark Souls series conceived a beloved subgenre (Souls-like) in the same vein as Metroid and Castlevania for Metroidvania.
Hidetaka Miyazaki's world is characterized by its crisp combat mechanics, grueling challenge, and subtle-yet-fascinating story. All three of the games comprising the trilogy are worth the effort, but given the blank-slate protagonist in of the narrative approach, Dark Souls III is a suitable jumping-on point for those wanting to test the waters.
Monster Hunter Rise
It's not gritty and dark like The Witcher whether it's the books, games, or the TV series, but Monster Hunter's fantasy setting can surely scratch the contract-style monster-hunting itch that Geralt deals in. Capcom's action-RPG franchise understandably shifts over to a lighter, eastern-fantasy world. Players create their characters and master different weapon types to engage in thrilling battles against imaginatively-designed monsters.
Most of the quests players take on are essentially boss fights, and Monster Hunter Rise takes the groundbreaking aspects of World for an even more streamlined experience on Nintendo Switch. Later this month, fans will also be able to play Monster Hunter Rise on PC via Steam.
