Several of the greatest video games ever made belong to the fantasy genre. But dark fantasy isn’t like your good ol’ regular fantasy, oh no. These are video games where morality is far more grey, where hope and clear-cut heroism are in short supply, where the atmosphere is grim and even scary, and where the characters’ goal is pure survival rather than just triumphing over evil.

Indeed, this is a genre that has produced several of the most beloved video games in history. It’s one thing for a game to be great, however, and a whole other thing for it to be downright perfect. From classics like The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask to modern gems like Elden Ring, there are only a handful of dark fantasy game masterpieces out there which could reasonably be said to be flawless.

10

‘Fear & Hunger’ (2018)

Image via Miro Haverinen

The iconic indie game Fear & Hunger was practically a one-man project. It was Finnish developer Miro Haverinen who created the entirety of this survival horror masterpiece, from the writing to the music to the programming. Set in a Medieval dark fantasy setting as atmospheric as it is creepy, it’s nothing short of one of the best dark fantasy video games of all time.

It’s a dungeon crawler unlike any other, one whose grueling difficulty and disturbingly morbid tone feel like they could have only possibly been the product of an indie development. The game is utterly uncompromising in both its gameplay loop and the grimness of its atmosphere, and that’s precisely why it’s a must-play for adult dark fantasy fans.

9

‘Diablo II’ (2000)

Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Blizzard’s Diablo series was born with the original game all the way back in 1997, instantly establishing itself as an action RPG franchise to look out for going forward. Its sequel, Diablo II, came only three years later, and fans still widely consider it the best of the bunch. It improved the gameplay and story progression of its already-phenomenal predecessor in substantial ways, and it’s still one of the best 2000s video games worth playing over and over.

Where does that infinite replayability come from? Perhaps from the game’s legendary randomization and tremendously deep character customization, features that fans of dark fantasy RPGs are pretty much guaranteed to appreciate. Some core mechanics definitely feel a bit dated nowadays, but they only add to the timeless charm of this wonderfully immersive experience.

8

‘Shadow of the Colossus’ (2005)

Image via Sony Computer Entertainment

As a gorgeously-built game that has often been interpreted as one of the most profound character studies gaming has ever offered, Shadow of the Colossus is usually part of any conversation about why video games deserve to be considered an art form. Originally conceived as an online multiplayer experience, the game eventually transformed into the single-player masterpiece that fans know and love today.

It’s one of the best video game masterpieces of the last 50 years, a massively influential gem whose clunky controls never get in the way of the emotionally stirring story, the jaw-dropping visuals, or the addictive gameplay loop. With a dark setting whose tone blends poignancy and the wonder of discovery in perfectly equal measure, Shadow of the Colossus has aged as one of the most groundbreaking games of the 2000s.

7

‘Dragon’s Dogma’ (2012)

Image via Capcom

Capcom’s action RPG Dragon’s Dogma is set in the dark high fantasy world of Gransys, heavily inspired by Sicily. It’s the perfect setting for this wonderfully diverse, uniquely inventive, and satisfyingly challenging gaming experience, one of the most fun that the 2010s ever had to offer. As far as open-world games from the era go, it doesn’t get much better than this.

It’s a cult classic full of groundbreaking action, side missions that make the world feel incredibly alive and vibrant, and a level of tactical depth that few modern RPGs have ever been capable of replicating. All in all, it’s one of the best RPG game masterpieces of all time, an incredibly addictive fantasy experience that refuses to ever hold the player’s hand and is all the more rewarding as a result.

6

‘Dragon Age: Origins’ (2009)

Image via BioWare

It’s rare for a video game series’ very first installment to be the one that ages the best, but in the case of the groundbreaking BioWare franchise Dragon Age, that’s precisely the case. When fans rank the Dragon Age games, Origins is typically right up there, and for good reason. Heavily inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, this dark high fantasy masterpiece is one that every fan of the genre should play at least once.

That’s because with its incredibly deep tactical combat and fantasy world, its impeccably written story, and its fascinating lore and world-building, this is undoubtedly one of the best fantasy video games of the 2000s. Player choices feel incredibly meaningful here, and that’s pretty much the main thing that anyone should want out of an RPG.

5

‘Bloodborne’ (2015)

FromSoftware’s Dark Souls became such a massively influential groundbreaker that it led the gaming community to coin a new game genre: the “soulslike,” any game sharing Dark Souls‘ unique DNA. Unsurprisingly, it has been FromSoft themselves who have dominated the soulslike space throughout the years, and few of their games have ever achieved the kind of cult status that Bloodborne still holds to this day.

Inspired by the works of dark fantasy and horror masters like Bram Stoker and H. P. Lovecraft, Bloodborne is the ultimate Victorian video game out there. Gothic to the core and unapologetically difficult from beginning to end, it’s simply one of those fantasy video games that are perfect throughout.

4

‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’ (2015)

Image via CD Projekt

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Andrzej Sapkowski‘s The Witcher books were quite popular in their native Poland from day one, but it wouldn’t be until CD Projekt Red released the 2007 game of the same title that the franchise would be catapulted straight into the mainstream. From that trajectory came what many would confidently refer to as the greatest piece of Witcher media ever: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards and widely regarded as one of the greatest action RPGs in history, this dark fantasy masterpiece is easily one of the best story-driven video games of all time. You can get hundreds upon hundreds of hours of everlasting fun out of Wild Hunt, thanks to the balance between the engrossing narrative and the richness of the open world.

3

‘Hollow Knight’ (2017)

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Saying that Hollow Knight is one of the best Metroidvania video games of all time would be an understatement. Thanks to its dark yet charming art style and its lack of graphic content (especially compared to many of its dark fantasy peers), this modern classic may look kid-friendly on the surface, but make no mistake: At its most challenging, Hollow Knight can be gleefully punishing beyond comparison.

But just like the best hyper-difficult video games, Hollow Knight always knows how to best balance that level of challenge with satisfying rewards that make blasting through the immersive Hallownest map a blast from start to finish. The bosses are legendary, the Metroidvania elements are perfectly balanced, and the whole experience is as addictive as it is replayable.

2

‘The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask’ (2000)

There are those who may argue that Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda franchise is the single biggest and most important fantasy video game series in history, and it would be hard to argue against them. There is only one Legend of Zelda game, however, that truly fits into the dark fantasy box. Fittingly, it happens to be many fans’ favorite installment: Majora’s Mask.

When fans rank the 3D Legend of Zelda games, Majora’s Mask almost always gravitates around the top, and that’s because it truly is one of the most perfect video games ever created. Its unique “save the world in three days” time loop mechanic makes for one of the most enthralling gaming experiences the dark fantasy genre has ever had to offer, and the depth of the mechanics and world make this a top-tier Zelda masterpiece.

1

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

Image via Bandai Namco Entertainment

Co-written by George R. R. Martin of “everything but finishing A Song of Ice and Fire” fame, Elden Ring has given gamers four years to allow any kind of recency bias accusations to die down. And yet, they haven’t. That’s because at this point, it’s almost a universal truth that this is not only FromSoftware’s best and biggest game to date, but also one of the best video game masterpieces of the last 50 years.

As far as dark fantasy gaming goes, it doesn’t get much more essential than this flawless open-world RPG. The unparalleled sense of discovery, the depth of the combat mechanics, the sheer density of it all—everything in Elden Ring comes together perfectly to offer one of the most irresistibly entertaining gaming experiences anyone could ever possibly have, regardless of what genres they usually gravitate to. The soulslike difficulty that fans of the series know and love is there for those who crave it, but the gargantuan openness of the experience also makes this the perfect gateway point for those who have never played a FromSoft game.

Having aired for an impressive 10 seasons and 217 episodes, Smallville ended in 2011 with a bang as Clark Kent (Tom Welling) finally became Superman. In many ways, Smallville ushered in a new era of superhero television, proving that comic book heroes could in fact still work on the small screen in our modern age. Over a decade, Clark battled many enemies, including his former best friend Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum). Still, despite Lex’s destiny as Clark’s greatest adversary, there is another who rose and took his rightful place as the Man of Steel’s arch-enemy: General Zod.

General Zod Remained a Villain All Throughout ‘Smallville’

Despite the character’s often messy comic book history, General Zod has been one of Superman’s most consistent rogues since his first appearance in 1961’s Adventure Comics #283. Nearly two decades later, the character was re-imagined by director Richard Donner for Superman: The Movie and its immediate sequel, where he was played by Terence Stamp (who, coincidentally, voiced Jor-El on Smallville). Zod only returned to the big screen several decades later for 2013’s Man of Steel, this time played by Michael Shannon, but before that, he made his mark on Smallville.

What’s great about Lex Luthor, his father Lionel (John Glover), and his half-sister Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman) is that they’re all complex characters who teeter between good and evil. For the first half of the series, Lex fights his dark destiny, hoping that Clark can help him overcome his family’s personal darkness. Ultimately, Lex succumbs to his dark side, and thus their eternal rivalry is born. By contrast, Tess and Lionel go from being antagonistic figures (and in Lionel’s case, downright evil) to redeeming themselves as some of Clark’s closest allies before their untimely deaths at Lex’s hand.

There’s no denying that without the Luthors, Smallville wouldn’t have been half as good as it was. They always had the best lines, monologues, and character arcs, and that was by design. On Smallville, just because you’re a Luthor doesn’t mean you’re evil. But where the Luthors (and the Kents, in contrast) are portrayed as normal people navigating an extraordinary world, villains like General Zod possess incredible powers, have a deep hatred for our hero, and elevate Smallville to greater heights. From the first time Zod’s name is uttered in Season 5 to his final appearance in the back half of Season 10, the Kryptonian general is entirely focused on turning Earth into his New Krypton and taking revenge on the famed son of Jor-El.

General Zod’s Villainy Goes Back to the Last Days of Krypton

Image via The CW

The way Smallville explains it, General Zod is actually the reason that Krypton was destroyed in the first place, killing not just Clark’s entire biological family (save his paternal cousin), but his entire race as well. After going to war against the Kryptonian Council, Zod built himself an army of devoted followers, corrupted Jor-El’s version of the Brain InterActive Construct (aka James Marsters‘ Brainiac), genetically engineered “the ultimate destroyer” Doomsday (later played by Sam Witwer), and, allied with Jor-El’s brother Zor-El (Christopher Heyerdahl), ignited the planet’s core and caused its destruction. In many ways, Zod is either directly or indirectly responsible for the biggest tragedies in Clark’s life, including the famed meteor shower he arrived in.

For someone who wants the Kryptonian race to thrive, Zod sure has a funny way of showing it. His ultimate goal was to create a New Krypton in his own image and slaughter his own people to do so, hoping that Earth would be a better template for his design. This meant that Doomsday’s goal to wipe out humanity, Brainiac’s mission to corrupt our technology, and even Zor-El’s plan to use cloning as part of the means toward repopulation were all by Zod’s design. While the Smallville mythos can be a bit confusing at times, everything relating to Krypton and alien invaders always finds its roots in the original General Zod.

Because of his crimes, Zod was stripped of his physical body and was sent to the Phantom Zone by Jor-El and the Council. At the end of Season 5/beginning of Season 6, Zod is unwittingly released by Clark, only to possess Lex’s newly superpowered body. Michael Rosenbaum’s performance as Zod is powerful and commands a type of respect that would make even Lex kneel. Up to this point on the show, everything had been leading to this. Two meteor showers, Zod’s disciples, and Brainiac all pave the way for the General to arrive on Earth. Had Clark not been able to defeat him, he would’ve taken over right then and there. Season 7’s “Apocalypse” emphasizes this when Jor-El shows Clark what the world would look like if he never arrived on Earth. Here, Lex (now the President of the United States) still becomes Zod’s vessel via Brainiac’s influence, though with Clark’s cousin Kara (Laura Vandervoort) as his bride. Thankfully, Clark expelling General Zod from Lex and sending him back to the Phantom Zone stops all that.

Zod’s Personal History With Superman’s Family Is Intense

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While Clark and Lex’s story starts that miraculous day on the bridge, Zod’s rivalry with the House of El extends further into Kryptonian history. Back when Zod was just a Major (Callum Blue), he and Jor-El (Julian Sands) enjoyed a friendship that paralleled the Clark and Lex dynamic. As allies in the war against the terrorist group Black Zero, Jor-El and Zod were part of a cloning program meant to be the salvation of their species if an extinction-level event ever occurred. But the war followed them home.

After Zod’s wife and son are murdered in the destruction of Kandor, the Major asks Jor-El to bring them back through cloning, but the scientist refuses on ethical grounds. This apparent betrayal fractures the relationship between Zod and Jor-El, and sets the former on his dark path that ultimately leads to Krypton’s destruction. So, when a clone of Major Zod arrives in Smallville during the show’s Season 9, he attempts to forge a similar bond with Jor-El’s now-adult son. Hoping to see good in this younger Zod, who had yet to commit the same atrocities that his counterpart did, Clark tries to befriend the clone and lead the Kandorians on a better path. Unsurprisingly, Zod’s militaristic ambition and quest for power lead to a similar falling out between these Kryptonian blood brothers, which comes to a head in the epic Season 9 finale “Salvation.”

But rather than making the younger Zod a one-note villain, Season 9 expands on the character’s personal history and complex morality. At times, it seems like there may be good in Zod after all, even if most of the time his choices are questionable at best and horrific at worst. The Kryptonian clone may not be as menacing or powerful as his original counterpart, but Blue plays a mean Zod that surpasses what Rosenbaum was able to do with his limited screen time as the character. After all, Blue had a whole season to explore Zod’s motives, while Rosenbaum only got two episodes.

Each Version of Zod Impacted ‘Smallville’

Image via The CW

While alternate takes on characters via parallel universes, timelines, and even through the use of drugs, Red Kryptonite, or shapeshifting doppelgängers were commonplace on Smallville, rarely did the series ever introduce two versions of the same distinct person, especially not characters who made a serious impact on the show. Clones on the show usually only got an episode or two, with all their development crammed into a single story. The Zod clone, on the other hand, was granted Smallville main cast status upon his first appearance and made his mark on thirteen episodes of the series in its final two seasons.

Both versions of General Zod be it the phantom from the series’ middle years or the clone from Season 9 have an air of authority to them that they take everywhere. The character’s trademark phrase, “Kneel before Zod,” commands respect, submission, and attention. It’s no wonder then that his actions always enforce those words. To make things even more interesting, after a whole season of wondering what would happen if the clone Zod and the original phantom met, Season 10 merges the two of them together. As a merged entity, General Zod retains the knowledge and memories of two lifetimes, which means that the original’s rivalry with Jor-El and the clone’s with Kal-El are both at the forefront of his mind as he sits trapped in the inescapable Phantom Zone.

The original Zod’s combat and leadership experience paired with the younger version’s physical body, knowledge of Earth, and hatred for Clark makes this Smallville villain one of the show’s best. Unlike Lex, who loses all his memories in the series finale (an odd choice indeed), Zod’s dual memories only fuel the fire of this alien tyrant. If there’s one villain from Smallville you don’t want to mess with, it’s General Zod. His ruthlessness, competence, and single-minded rage are powerful motivators in his quest to rule his own domain. No wonder his “son” Doomsday is a literal “rage monster.”

‘Smallville’ Opens the Door for General Zod To Return to Face Superman in the Future

Though Smallville often introduced Superman villains long before Clark officially took flight, there was always hope that many of those antagonists would return again once our hero was sporting a red cape instead of a jacket. Doomsday being buried beneath Metropolis seemed to imply a potential return in a Death of Superman-like story, while Toyman’s (Chris Gauthier) knowledge of Clark’s secret made him a formidable opponent worth revisiting in the future. Others such as Brainiac, Parasite (Brendan Fletcher), Livewire (Anna Mae Routledge), and Bizarro (Tom Welling) were either reformed, killed off, or disregarded in a way where it would be unlikely if they ever fought a suited-up Superman. Thankfully, General Zod falls into the former.

In Zod’s final appearance in Season 10’s “Dominion,” he and two of his new Phantom Zone lackeys (likely Ursa and Non from Superman II fame) are last seen trapped in the Zone, floating off into space in a manner that echoes the original Christopher Reeve Superman films. While the continuation comic book Smallville Season 11 doesn’t revisit Zod and his companions, given that the merged Kryptonian now has twice the hatred for Kal-El, it’s unlikely that he won’t return down the line seeking revenge. “Dominion” sets up the conflict between Superman and General Zod made famous by the source material and Superman II, a film which Smallville took clear inspiration from throughout its run. It’s clear that while Smallville developed the Luthors as antagonists, General Zod’s hatred for the Man of Steel remains strong, and the show wouldn’t have been the same without his presence.

Get a rundown of Us‘ top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on July 24, 2026. Here are the key takeaways:

• Olivia Culpo revealed she is planning a C-section for her second baby because a VBAC was not an option after delivering daughter Collette via C-section in July of the previous year. The model scheduled the procedure around husband Christian McCaffrey‘s San Francisco 49ers training camp so he can be present for the birth.

• Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Angie Katsanevas teased “evolving” relationships in season 7, telling Us the cast’s bonds are deepening after years together. She named Heather Gay her “ride-or-die” this year and praised the level-headed costar for keeping her accountable.

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• Former NBA player Derek Fisher and Basketball Wives alum Gloria Govan have split after five years of marriage but are not planning to divorce. The couple has been living separately and remains in constant communication as they work through their issues.

Edited by Samantha Benitz. Story produced with AI assistance

There have been relatively few oceanic adventure epics made in recent years, and even fewer that have tapped into the grounded horror of pre-20th century aquatic travel. Even if the notion of oceanic exploration is frequently associated with high-octane swashbuckling crowdpleasers, the grim reality is that it was a highly dangerous form of transportation that required those with the coldest of hearts to participate. The North Water feels like a piece of old-fashioned epic filmmaking, as its scope and scale are equivalent to a classic from the Golden Age of Hollywood. The cinematic qualities should come as no surprise, given that the series was created and directed by the brilliant British filmmaker Andrew Haigh. Although Haigh’s movies up until this point have primarily fallen in the social drama genre, The North Water applies the same emotional gravity to a historical epic filled with graphic horror.

Based on the acclaimed 2016 novel of the same name, The North Water follows a group of sailors who travel on a whaling expedition into the Arctic Ocean in 1859, shortly before the whale oil trade began to decline. Leading the crew is Captain Arthur Brownlee (Stephen Graham), a veteran of maritime travels who assembles a crew filled with misfits and miscreants; among those who join his team are the surgeon Patrick Sumner (Jack O’Connell), the ex-criminal Henry Drax (Colin Farrell), and the caustic first mate Michael Cavendish (Sam Spruell). Brownlee describes the journey to his men as being a true journey into hell, and his description is apt for the disturbing, frighteningly operatic epic that The North Water becomes.

‘The North Water’ Is an Old-Fashioned Maritime Epic

The North Water is smart in identifying how expeditions like this required men of a very specific personality and lifestyle to take part in them, as nothing about the extended trips from home was for the faint of heart. The series suggests that a trip to the Arctic is an escape of sorts for those who want to erase or reflect upon their past. In some cases, it is a noble pursuit, as Sumner is attempting to move past his guilt and post-traumatic stress disorder after not being able to save the lives of patients that were under his care; on the flipside, Drax is wanted for his crimes and is trying to start a new life where he will no longer be constantly in fear of being identified. While these are compelling characters who are seemingly all that they appear to be, Haigh is brilliant in revealing layers as the series continues and the journey becomes even more perilous. Despite being a man of honor, Sumner does have a darkness that resides inside of him that he has to suppress; alternatively, Drax does occasionally ponder if he can truly be redeemed, even if he feels that his actions have ensured that he will forever be damned.

Haigh’s perceptive writing style ensures that The North Water has a solid grasp on the way that members of a crew would interact with one another. While none of them are necessarily friendly, given that their sole purpose is executing a job, the heightened danger and confined setting mean that these strangers are forced to open up to one another. The North Water doesn’t shy away from the brutality of such voyages, as it explores how younger members of the crew were forced to endure horrific abuse at the hands of the older sailors. At the same time, Sumner becomes an inspirational figure on the vessel because he offers a glimpse of hope. At a time in which medical science was still developing, Sumner’s understanding of human body mechanics made him feel almost glorious to his shipmates.

‘The North Water’ Is a Brutal Survivalist Tale

The North Water is more than just another expedition disaster story because the series implies that the crew’s greatest obstacles are of their own making, with greed and deception ultimately to blame. While the series is breathtaking in exploring the perilous conditions of the Arctic, Haigh also finds the beauty in a side of nature that was perhaps meant to be left unexplored. The show may be telling a very specific story about a moment in history when the ocean was being monopolized by both governments and criminal groups, but its message about nature’s vengeance applies to any moment in time.

The North Water is unquestionably a challenging show, as it presents a toxic perspective on masculinity and shows how desperation can turn to barbarism. That being said, there’s also a message about the triumph of the human spirit that is quite moving; there’s a fascinating debate to be had on whether Haigh intended the series to be optimistic or pessimistic, as both perspectives are legitimate. Even at its darkest, the show never lacks humanity, which is a testament to the excellent performances from Farrell, Graham, and O’Connell in particular. Although multiple seasons of a show with such a downbeat tone and visceral encapsulation of violence might have been too taxing, even for those who enjoy gritty television, five episodes are more than enough to tell a complete and satisfying epic story on an impressive scale.