The 10 Best Urban Fantasy Games, Ranked
Urban fantasy is a subgenre in which the story is set mostly or entirely in the confines of a city. The city itself is usually a real-world municipality, though some urban fantasy stories also feature high fantasy worlds and completely fictitious towns. Either way, they all involve aspects of magic, and sometimes include monsters, too. It differs from traditional fantasy in that it tends to be darker and more political; in some cases, they even have more advanced technology.
This subgenre has transcended its literary roots, making its way into TV shows, movies, and even video games. Urban fantasy video games are actually more common than you think, as the genre lends itself nicely to both open-world RPGs and linear levels. Over the years, a ton of amazing games have come out in this subgenre: these are the best urban fantasy games of all time.
10 'Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines' (2004)
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is a cult game by every metric. It's not one that everybody played, but those that did absolutely loved it. The first-person RPG is about an innocent human who dies and is resurrected as, you guessed it, a vampire. Only, instead of a Gothic horror setting or a Transylvanian city typical of vampire tales, the story is set in 21st-century Los Angeles.
It is actually part of a series that was based on a tabletop RPG, though the video games were definitely more popular. For the fact that this is a cult game, it's not something that everybody has heard of or will even like. It definitely has some shortcomings, but when it hits the mark, it nails it. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is a classic of urban fantasy history that gamers are still happily rediscovering to this day.
9 'Darksiders III' (2018)
Darksiders III follows much the same pattern as the previous entries in the series: it puts the player in the shoes of a different horseman of the apocalypse. The prior two games followed War and Death, respectively, whereas the third entry features Fury. While the first two games were more hack-and-slash experiences, the third one opted for more of a Soulslike approach. The story is about Fury, who travels to an unnamed city somewhere on Earth, which has been utterly destroyed following armageddon. Her quest is to kill the personifications of the Seven Deadly Sins.
All the mainline entries in the games are open world, but this one is different. Previously, the games featured more open environments. The first one was set in a city, though it was mixed in with a vast desert and was combined with other non-urban environments. The second entry was far from urban at all, with only a brief stint on Earth and the rest of the game spent exploring open fields and mountains. This third entry is the most true to the urban fantasy format. It's not the best in the series, but it is a highly overlooked game that's got a lot going for it.
8 'Ghostwire: Tokyo' (2022)
As its name suggests, Ghostwire: Tokyo is set in the capital city of Tokyo, Japan. Part horror and part fantasy, this first-person game has an open-world design and is set in the present day. The protagonist is a young Japanese man named Akito Izuki, who becomes possessed by a vengeful spirit known only as KK. This allows Akito to survive a mysterious event wherein a dangerous spirit descends on the Shibuya District and causes 99% of the population to disappear without a trace.
Using his newfound paranormal talents, Akito must traverse the Shibuya District and stop the unfolding disaster. Against him are various spirits and demons from Japanese mythology and folklore. Produced by Bethesda, this game is one of the more underrated entries in the company's established repertoire. In any event, it received great reviews and was praised for its atmosphere and level design, as well as its urban fantasy setting.
7 'Vampyr' (2018)
Vampyr is not a game that everyone will like. It was made for a very specific niche of people, and if you don't fit into that demographic, you're unlikely to enjoy it. Regardless, the game has had a dedicated cult following who loved it for what it was. The story is set in post-WWI London, starring a doctor who has been made into a vampire against his will. This clashes with his job and his desire to help people, as he must balance healing the sick with feeding on the innocent to survive.
This game is all about choices. It forces the player into a ton of moral predicaments, oftentimes having players choose between two outcomes that are both pretty terrible. Choices have consequences, which can drastically affect the game's ending, but also the world itself. The combat system leaves much to be desired in this game, but the actual role-playing elements are truly stellar. If you're a fan of Gothic horror or urban fantasy, this is most certainly something you should try.
6 'The Wolf Among Us' (2013)
The Wolf Among Us is a visual novel game from TellTale Games, the studio responsible for numerous fantastic visual novels over the years. Most of these are based on other popular IPs, such as TV shows, movies, or even other video games. This one, however, is based on the Fables comics by Bill Willingham. The setting is New York City, 1986, which sits on the ruins of Fabletown, a settlement inhabited by mythical creatures.
Players take on the role of Bigby Wolf, a detective investigating a series of murders in Fabletown. As it happens, Bigby is also the Big Bad Wolf from The Three Little Pigs. The episodic visual novel format means there is very little input from the player--the game is mostly cutscenes. However, there are so many choices to make that each run of the game can be even more varied from the last. Aside from being an emotional and exciting adventure, it is also a shining example of the urban fantasy subgenre.
5 'Concrete Genie' (2019)
Concrete Genie is a charming family-friendly game exclusive to PlayStation. The story follows Ash, a lonely boy who lives in the fictional seaside city of Denska. Following a catastrophic oil spill, Denska has been overcome by a terrifying force called the Darkness, which has drained the town of its color. Travelling to the lighthouse, Ash discovers a magical paintbrush that causes whatever he paints to come to life and uses its powers to create genies, living spirits who aid him on his journey to get the city back on its feet.
This game is so great because it emphasizes the importance of creativity. Players can paint their own genies, as well as add illustrations all over the town to add vibrancy and color. It's not a very combat-heavy game, but it is worth every penny of your money and every second of your time nonetheless. It's living proof that the world needs more imagination in this day and age. Even though it's basically the developers' art project, it is surprisingly addicting and entertaining.
4 'Thief: The Dark Project' (1998)
Thief: The Dark Project is a legendary first-person stealth game that isn't talked about much anymore. This is likely due to the failed 2014 reboot of the franchise, which cancelled any future plans for the series. The original game is quite a singular experience, though. In Thief, killing or knocking people out (even quietly) is strongly discouraged. You're better off sneaking around enemies and stealing the loot you need without touching anything else.
The AI for this game was famously incredible; in fact, it still holds up to this day. The game is level-based rather than open-world, but it's clear that a lot of thought went into the labyrinthine, non-linear levels. The story is set in an unnamed, Medieval-esque city, while the fantasy elements come from the aspects of magic present. As far as urban fantasy goes, Thief is one of the most prominent and by-the-book examples of the genre, and it's a phenomenal game, to boot.
3 'Lies of P' (2023)
Lies of P is a loose adaptation of Carlo Collodi's novel The Adventures of Pinocchio, which has seen countless movie adaptations, including a Disney animated musical. It's a much darker take on the classic fairy tale, though. In this version, the city of Krat, which resembles Belle Époque-era Paris, has been almost completely emptied of human life following an apocalyptic event known as the Puppet Frenzy. Worse still, an epidemic is sweeping the city, turning any surviving humans into horrific abominations.
In this Soulslike RPG, gamers play as P (short for Pinocchio), an automaton/puppet who is awakened by the Blue Fairy, Sophia. Together, they intend to rescue the puppet master, Geppetto, and save the city of Krat from falling into further doom. Being a Soulslike, this game is extremely difficult, but the story, tone, and boss fights are definitely worth it. All of the game takes place within Krat's various districts, so it definitely qualifies as an urban fantasy game.
2 'Persona 5' (2016)
Persona 5 is the legendary turn-based J-RPG that surely needs no introduction. The entire Persona series is actually a spin-off of another video game series, though it eventually outshone its predecessor and became a much more beloved entity. In this game, you'll take on the role of Joker, a Japanese high school student with a magical gift. Set in Tokyo, the plot follows Joker and his friends as they use their talents to battle demons known as Shadows.
Where Persona 5 really excels isn't in its combat or its comic book aesthetics, but in its social simulation. The game lets you start part-time jobs, navigate the awkwardness of adolescence, and participate in social circles outside of your supernatural duties. The game is also jam-packed full of content and can easily consume hundreds of hours of your time. It's widely considered one of the greatest games ever made, even 10 years later.
1 'Dishonored' (2012)
Dishonored is a stealth game set in the fantastical city of Dunwall. You play as Corvo Attano, a man who formerly served the Empress, who also happens to be Corvo's girlfriend. At the beginning of the game, the Empress is assassinated, her daughter with Corvo kidnapped, and Corvo thrown into prison, framed for the murder. Angry and out for revenge, Corvo breaks out of prison intending to kill those involved in the conspiracy and rescue his daughter.
Dishonored is no standard stealth game, though. Corvo also has spells to aid him on his journey that go beyond lobbing fireballs or lightning bolts. Instead, they are meant to help you out with stealth, like teleportation and X-ray vision. While the game doesn't have an open-world format, the levels are very intricately designed and still allow for quite a bit of exploration. Dishonored was made with passion. Its steampunk-esque setting and fantasy aspects make it a textbook example of what urban fantasy is all about.
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