Fantasy games with worlds as amazing as Lord of the Rings

More than 70 years later, lord of the rings by JRR Tolkien remains one of the most influential works of fantasy ever created, shaping the genre as it is known today. The world of Middle-earth embodies everything fantasy fans love about the genre – rich, iconic locations, diverse races and cultures, fantastical creatures like dragons, and a deep sense of history full of memorable characters and compelling events.

In terms of games, Middle-earth fans are spoiled for choice, with titles inspired by both the original Tolkien books and Peter Jackson's equally iconic film trilogy. Among the most notable are LEGO The Hobbit and LEGO The Lord of the Rings, lord of the rings online, The Battle for Middle Earthand Monolith's open-world action games Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War.

Traces of lord of the rings can be found in countless fantasy books, movies and, of course, games. While matching Middle-earth in its depth and beauty may be impossible, some games stand out with their own original fantasy worlds defined by unique lore, aesthetics, history, characters, and atmosphere. Below are some of the best fantasy games that offer explorable worlds almost as captivating as Tolkien's masterpiece.

The continent of Tamriel and the province of Skyrim

For almost 30 years now, Tamriel has been a truly popular destination for fantasy RPG lovers, offering the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in another world and freely live in it and join different factions. The original fantasy universe created by Bethesda has evolved with each new installment, expanding its history, lore, mysteries, prophecies and epic shots. Each game even includes countless books from around the world to read, showing the immense attention to detail that the developers put into it. Today, Tamriel is one of the most famous and iconic fictional worlds in gaming history.

While some elements, themes, races and cultures in The Elder Scrolls series are similar to other high fantasy works, the games also have a lot of unique aspects. Distinct races like the Khajiit and Argonians, the exotic flora and fauna of certain regions (especially Morrowind), the diverse architecture of its cities, languages ​​and customs all help Tamriel feel like its own living world. As players eagerly await The Elder Scrolls 6, Skyrim remains a truly special open-world experience that offers an unmistakable sense of grand adventure on the vast explorable map of Skyrim, complete with various biomes and major cities such as Whiterun, Solitude and Windhelm. Faithful The Elder Scrolls fans can also turn The Elder Scrolls Onlinewhich presents the largest and most detailed rendition of Tamriel to date in all its glory and awe-inspiring scale.

Baldur's Gate 3

The continent of Faerûn

One of the newest staples in the fantasy RPG genre, Baldur's Gate 3 takes place on the already well-established continent of Faerûn – part of the Forgotten Realms universe of Dungeons & Dragons. It offers the most detailed and magical depiction of this environment to date. In its own right, the Forgotten Realms are among the most popular and well-known fantasy worlds ever created, sharing some similarities with Middle-earth (although its creator Ed Greenwood noted that Tolkien's influence was relatively small), while being different in many ways. It is a realm of strange lands, dangerous creatures, powerful magic and powerful deities, where almost anything can happen and where all sorts of bizarre creatures can be encountered.

Baldur's Gate 3 is most praised for its story, characters, and quests, with the explorable world being relatively compact compared to the other entries on this list, and may not fully convey the same expansive sense of “epicness” that some players might be looking for. However, the sheer depth of the Forgotten Realms with over 50 years of lore combined with Larian's dedication to the source material and original BioWare games ensures that every corner of Faerûn feels distinct and authentic. Players are unlikely to forget their journey here, and many will be happy to return to experience it all over again – especially when exploring the vast, reimagined city of Baldur's Gate (aka the City of Blood) like never before.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Continent and Northern Empire

Based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, Charmer the games are set in a dark fantasy world simply known as “the continent” and feature numerous kingdoms, empires, and empires. The games are primarily set in the Northern Realms – Temeria, Redania, Aedirn and Kaedwen – where a constant political struggle unfolds as the Nilfgaardian Empire tries to conquer the North. Unlike Tolkien, Sapkowski never provided a definitive map of the continent as he envisions it, leaving its geography open to interpretation. However, the writer ensured that the world Charmer it is steeped in centuries of history, full of complex events and characters that rival the depth of Middle-earth.

IN The Witcher 3: Wild HuntThe Northern Realms are depicted as diverse and beautiful destinations, deeply influenced by Slavic folklore. The game's atmosphere, music and mature storytelling create an unmistakable tone complemented by breathtaking landscapes. As Geralt of Rivia, players explore dense forests and misty swamps, quiet villages and settlements, bustling cities like Oxenfurt, Novigrad and Beauclair (from Blood and wine expansion), as well as countless mountains and islands. While the world The Witcher 3 It seems to be quite grounded in its visuals and realism, its distinctive mood, folklore-inspired details and original monster design already set it apart from other fantasy and provide another memorable gaming environment.

Dragon Age Inquisition

The continent of Thedas

BioWare's own take on the original fantasy universe, the Dragon Age the series takes place on the continent of Thedas in the southern hemisphere of an unknown planet. Throughout the games, players explore almost every corner of this world: from the kingdoms of Ferelden, Nevarra, and Antiva to the mighty Tevinter Imperium, each with its own culture, tone, and atmosphere. Visually gorgeous and rich in detail Dragon Age universe was always intended to be a darker take on the fantasy genre, focusing on mature themes and complex conflicts. In this sense, it is more similar to Charmer than with a heroic tone lord of the rings.

It should be noted that the aesthetics, visual style, and overall atmosphere vary greatly between games, but between all the entries released so far Dragon Age: Inquisition still offers the most beautiful and expansive environments and takes players across Thedas as the leader of the Inquisition, tasked with uniting allies and restoring order to a land in chaos. From majestic forests and misty swamps to frozen peaks, blazing deserts and stormy coastlines, the game features an amazing variety of landscapes that still amaze ten years after its release. The lack of a fully open world actually worked in its favor, allowing the developers to create dense, visually distinct and distinct areas without the need for a single continuous map. Either way, the journey through Thedas in Inquisition remains memorable and rivals the biggest fantasy RPGs in scope and ambition.

Elden Ring

The Land Between and the Realm of Shadows

Created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George RR Martin, open world Elden Ring it's among the most remarkable original creations in gaming of recent times, with its scale and sense of grandeur lord of the rings. Stunningly beautiful, vast and impressively vertical, the journey across the Lands Between amazes at every turn, whether you descend into the depths or climb the highest peaks to explore lost cities, towering castles, magnificent mansions, magical academies and ancient tombs. And always in sight looms the colossal Erdtree, shining gracefully into the distance—a striking and elegant symbol that Elden Ring a world instantly recognizable.

But beauty alone does not define the Land Between. It's an intricate world steeped in centuries of history and shrouded in thick, mysterious lore waiting to be revealed. True to FromSoftware's style, every fragment of the story, every artifact, and every main character has meaning, contributing to rich and cohesive world-building. Nothing exists here without proper justification. Shadow of Erdtree The expansion introduces the Realm of Shadow, significantly expanding the map with layered and breathtaking environments – even by the studio's high standards. For such a new franchise, Elden Ring has already reached extraordinary heights, leaving one lingering question: will he ever Elden Ring 2?