No matter what generation, make, or model they are, video games have the incredible ability to take players away from their harsh reality to a wonderful world of fiction and fantasy with the press of a button, emphasis on the latter. The beautiful realms created by the medium are some of the most iconic in popular culture.
One might interpret certain entries in the fantasy genre as virtual fairytales, complete with heroes, princesses, and even a handful of dragons for good measure. There are plenty of tales about myths, monsters, and magic to go around, but there are those that bring new life into the term.
10 The Wolf Among Us
Speaking of giving fairytales new meaning, there are few better examples of the concept than The Wolf Among Us.
Inspired by the Fables graphic novel series, this TellTale Games classic sees the Big Bad Wolf reimagined as Bigby Wolf, a sheriff in a community of faces from folklore and fairytales who must solve a gruesome murder. This cell-shaded story might lack castles and pixie dust, it puts a new light on the fairytale motifs to create a completely original experience.
9 The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
The entirety of the Witcher series pulls heavy inspiration from traditional fairytales such as Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and even a sprinkling of the Arabian Nights, but the most beautiful and engaging has to be The Wild Hunt.
Geralt might not be the most chivalrous of the bunch, but from slaying monsters and rescuing damsels, he does check a lot of boxes. And that’s not even mentioning how remarkably beautiful the landscape of The Continent can be either.
8 Alice: Madness Returns
Dark, twisted, and insane, while this can also be said of Lewis Carroll’s original classic, it can definitely summarize Alice: Madness Returns. The sequel to American McGee’s Alice is just as freaky as the first game, but with some serious upgrades in the visual department.
From the Mad Hatter’s steampunk domain to the beautiful Vale of Tears, the game definitely has a demented gorgeousness surrounding it. Even in the horrifying Doll House levels.
7 Child Of Light
Child of Light definitely wears its storybook influences proudly on its sleeve, and that’s not just its fairytale/fantasy setting. The enchanted forests, towering castles, and magical creatures are just a small serving of mystical attributes this game has to offer.
Walt Disney would certainly be impressed with this title’s love for the genre. With nods to Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and a legion of other tales of princesses and magic spells, the game beautifully blends the traditional tales with a brand new interpretation of the mythos.
6 Ori And The Blind Forest
While it might stray far from the traditional elements like princesses and dragons, Ori and the Blind Forest uses its spirits and enchanted forest to create a massively marvelous and magical Metroidvania. Difficult yet beautiful, this game will definitely have players willingly lost in the woods.
This game has a lot of beautiful elements going on, especially in terms of design and characters. But as with most famous traditional fairy tales, it’s a bittersweet experience that really strikes an emotional chord.
5 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
The Zelda series has always had a traditional fairytale motif ever since the ’80s. Take up the sword, defeat the evil villain, save the princess, rinse and repeat for 35 years. But Breath of the Wild takes a more romanticized approach not seen since Skyward Sword.
The traditional elements are there, but there’s a more emotional connection with its characters, particularly Link and Zelda. There’s a lot more depth than the traditional formula, but it’s still clearly present, and beloved.
4 Dragon Quest XI
Unlike its rival, Final Fantasy, The Dragon Quest series takes almost all its inspiration from Western fantasy, including traditional fairytale elements. This motif is practically saturated throughout the eleventh entry in the series to the point it ventures on cliché.
A chosen hero, a lost royal, a dark lord, and a gang of adventurers seeking out enchanted items? How many fairytales and fantasy novels begin with one of those elements? Not that anyone’s really complaining. If it works, it works.
3 Trine Series
Trine is an ingenious puzzle platformer that plays with the fantasy archetypes and traditions to create a mind-bending game with a beautiful fairytale aesthetic. It features a storybook setting, a trio of familiar heroes, and a goal to purge evil from the kingdom.
It checks all the boxes for a traditional fairytale narrative, has some rather witty dialogue from its thief, wizard, and knight, and even a jovial narrator bringing the story together. What more could an adventurer possibly need?
2 Odin Sphere
Vanillaware has made some truly beautiful games, but Odin Sphere is a marriage of myth and fairytale that comes together to create something truly mystifying. Blending Norse mythology with a storybook aesthetic makes for one gorgeous experience.
With a fine selection of heroes, plenty of monsters and magical enemies to battle, and a hand-drawn art style worthy of a watercolor painting, there’s a veritable treasure trove of quality with this title.
1 Dragon’s Crown
The only thing that could possibly top Odin Sphere is the phenomenal Dragon’s Crown. This game takes every element from the fantasy and fairytale genre and cranks it all the way up to eleven, resulting in one of the most beautiful RPGs ever created.
Aside from the traditional fantasy RPG classes and settings, the game features a storybook world map, a number of references to other genre material, and locations ripped straight from classic tales and movies. Simply put, it’s a fantasy fan’s dream come true.
NEXT: 10 Best Action JRPGs On The PS4
