These are my favorite games that include some sort of magical or fantastical element. Games with mostly horror or sci-fi elements are on other lists, as are surreal games, fairy tale/nursery games, and religious/mythological games. I've included my three favorite "High fantasy" games highest on the list (dragons, wizards, etc.), while the rest of the list is mostly random.
Because so many fantasy games are based off of Zork, they are on their own list.
1. Heroes, by Sean Barrett (2001) Average member rating: (25 ratings) MathBrush says:
Play through the same scenario as a thief, royal, adventurer, wizard, or dragon. One of the first games I played, and one of my favorites. The adventurer character is modeled on Zork type games, while the wizard is modeled on the Enchanter series.
2. Sorcery! by Steve Jackson and inkle (2013) Average member rating: (39 ratings)
MathBrush says:
You wouldn't expect a text game to have gorgeous 3d graphics, but this very popular CYOA game based on a gamebook series has an incredibly rich interface.
3. Choice of the Dragon by Dan Fabulich and Adam Strong-Morse (2010) Average member rating: (38 ratings)
MathBrush says:
A strong choicescript game about being a dragon. Wizards, goblins, sorcery, gold, bloodlust or affection, it's a great game and a successful non-ironic look at fantasy.
4. Praser 5, by Andrew Plotkin (1989) Average member rating: (8 ratings) MathBrush says:
A fantasy puzzle-heavy game, and the first of an Andrew Plotkin section in this list. In my opinion, this is the most difficult Interactive Fiction game of all time. Nothing but mythological creatures spouting riddles. Very fun.
5. Dual Transform by Andrew Plotkin (2010) Average member rating: (110 ratings)
MathBrush says:
Although there is some science in this game, it has a very fantasy-like feel, with locations in chapels, caves, and rings of standing stones. Probably the easiest Plotkin game I have played.
6. Hunter, in Darkness, by Andrew Plotkin (1999) Average member rating: (124 ratings) MathBrush says:
Hunt the wumpus through a dark cave. A claustrophobic thriller game, and yet another Plotkin game.
7. The Dreamhold by Andrew Plotkin (2004) Average member rating: (180 ratings)
MathBrush says:
Another Plotkin game. An amnesiac sorceror patches his identity back together as he explores a mind-tower.
8. The Moonlit Tower, by Yoon Ha Lee (2002) Average member rating: (62 ratings) MathBrush says:
I haven't played this one in a while, but I recall it as a fantasy game with an Asian influence. Very dreamlike.
9. To Spring Open, by Peter Berman and Yoon Ha Lee (as Two-Bit Chip) (2015) Average member rating: (18 ratings) MathBrush says:
Short twine game in a Miyazaki-like world. Masks and subways.
10. Kerkerkruip by Victor Gijsbers (2011) Average member rating: (69 ratings)
MathBrush says:
An actual RPG, and an incredible one at that. Stop a wizard and his horde of henchmen by absorbing their powers.
11. Suveh Nux by David Fisher (2007) Average member rating: (230 ratings)
MathBrush says:
Try to decipher the vocabulary and grammar of a magical language to escape a room.
12. Metamorphoses by Emily Short (2000) Average member rating: (132 ratings)
MathBrush says:
The first game in the Emily Short section (there are many more games in my fairytale list). One of the best game mechanics of all time, a machine that changes the elements of anything you put in it and a shrinking/growing machine.
13. Savoir-Faire by Emily Short (2002) Average member rating: (132 ratings)
MathBrush says:
Set in an alternate France with extraordinarily well-developed magic system.
14. City of Secrets by Emily Short (2003) Average member rating: (107 ratings)
MathBrush says:
My new favorite Emily Short game. A large world in a city of magic where two sides try to play you off each other.
15. For a Change by Dan Schmidt (1999) Average member rating: (117 ratings)
MathBrush says:
An experiment in using real words with bizarre meanings. Destroy an enormous wall blocking out the sun. You have a stone.
16. All Roads by Jon Ingold (2001) Average member rating: (155 ratings)
MathBrush says:
A great game with only one real puzzle at the beginning. Travel through time/people/versions of yourself (I'm not sure which) to escape your own execution.
17. Christminster, by Gareth Rees (1995) Average member rating: (85 ratings) MathBrush says:
Not my favorite game, but many love it. Explore a British university to find your brother who has been researching alchemy.
18. Dead Like Ants by C.E.J. Pacian (2009) Average member rating: (59 ratings)
MathBrush says:
As an ant wearing red overalls, placate 5 evil creatures, such as an artist ladybug, who threaten your nest.
19. The Mulldoon Legacy, by Jon Ingold (1999) Average member rating: (43 ratings) MathBrush says:
Find your grandfather in a museum. A huge game, with elements from almost all genres.
A Christmas themed game (much more fun than it sounds!) Famous for its many hard puzzles.
21. Starry Seeksorrow by Caleb Wilson (as Ayla Rose) (2015) Average member rating: (19 ratings)
MathBrush says:
Magic paper dolls and an enchanted garden.
22. Blighted Isle by Eric Eve (2007) Average member rating: (44 ratings)
MathBrush says:
An Eric Eve game, featuring many optional areas, a mini dating simulation of sorts, and an Arthurian feel. Epic.
23. Oppositely Opal by Buster Hudson (2015) Average member rating: (69 ratings)
MathBrush says:
A game about a witch who uses valley-girl language. I thought it was a lightweight at first, but the puzzles get better and better. A one room game involving opposites.
24. Once and Future by G. Kevin Wilson (1998) Average member rating: (12 ratings)
MathBrush says:
One of the few commercial games of the 90's. Five years in the making, this Arthurian game was huge news in the IF community at the time, but is now largely forgotten. It is free now, and big (I took 1338 turns with the walkthrough).
25. Pytho's Mask by Emily Short (2001) Average member rating: (69 ratings)
MathBrush says:
Yet another great Short game. A heavily conversation-based game in a world with rich magical laws. Infiltrate a party to defend the king.
A Web game based on rewriting letters by clicking on troublesome portions. Based on a magical version of the French Revolution.
35. Aayela, by Magnus Olsson (1996) Average member rating: (24 ratings) MathBrush says:
A short game about searching for a magical crystal in the darkness, for the queen.
36. Small World, by Andrew D. Pontious (1996) Average member rating: (13 ratings) MathBrush says:
Walk around on a literal small world, with your feet on the planet and your head in space. 10 different areas, including a permanent midnight, noon, etc. Average puzzles, innovative setting.
37. Witch's Girl by Geoff Moore (2013) Average member rating: (17 ratings)
MathBrush says:
A cute and silly page-by-page CYOA html game about two young girls in a magical world who try to keep it from ending.
A choice script commercial game with an awesome world where humanity have killed gods and absorbed their powers, and must deal with drought and Scorpionkind. You are an agent of your city government negotiating water rights and blasting stuff to smithereens.
39. Weird City Interloper by C.E.J. Pacian (2014) Average member rating: (59 ratings)
MathBrush says:
An excellent conversation-only game where you try to save a city from a new god and its priest.
40. August, by Matt Fendahleen (2001) Average member rating: (24 ratings) MathBrush says:
An intense love story with deep history in a short game. Play the slayer of an evil woman, waiting for your love at an insipid party.
41. Fort Aegea, by Francesco Bova (2002) Average member rating: (6 ratings) MathBrush says:
Great D&Dish type adventure. Evade a green dragon in 4 subareas. Has unusual violence.
42. HUNTING UNICORN by Chandler Groover (2014) Average member rating: (35 ratings)
MathBrush says:
A mid-length Twine game about an ugly girl coerced into hunting unicorns.
43. Swan Hill, by Laura Michet (2013) Average member rating: (19 ratings) MathBrush says:
A longish Twine game about two brothers in a world with powerful but dangerous magic.
This game represents several little match girl games, most of which have elements of fantasy, with some science fiction mixed in. These games involve teleporting between worlds using flames.
