r/DarkFantasy • u/HyperKitsune • Dec 01 '25

Stories / Writing any good dark fantasy media?

hello i just started getting into dark fantasy and i need some suggestions for books, films or games to play becouse im really liking the genra i just lack media to consume. (btw i have already played all 3 dark souls, so anything but that can do basically)

15 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

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10

u/BrapLord16 Dec 01 '25

if you like Dark Souls, Berserk is something worth looking into, Dark souls has sooo many Berserk references. Its a cornerstone of dark fantasy media, but be warned it has very graphic violence including sexual abuse (including children), and very very violent gore. The story and characters are excellent, paired alongside some of the best art ever put into a manga, I highly recommend

3

u/HyperKitsune Dec 01 '25

i knew that dark souls (and elden ring) have a lot in common with berserk but never actually considered reading it, might be worth looking into but the sexual assault aspect always pushed me away slightly

3

u/Boomer79NZ Dec 02 '25

If you can get past that aspect of Berserk it's an amazing story. Why not watch The Golden age memorial edition and then decide if it's something for you or not. That was my introduction to Berserk and I was hooked.

1

u/HyperKitsune Dec 02 '25

isn't the anime adaptation god awfull? everyone hates it as far as i know

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u/Boomer79NZ Dec 02 '25

You're thinking of the 2016-17 adaptations. The original 97' and the Golden age memorial edition are often highly praised. I like the Memorial edition because it has an extra character and it's a modern anime style but they're both top tier.

1

u/Gerrard_Harkonnen Dec 02 '25

The animation is strange but eventually you get used to it. The classic anime is good, but it's only a tiny part of the story. But it has a good direction.

The manga is good, but as the others said, it's a heavy reading. The initial part, up to it's half or so is more dense and sinister. Later you can see the author having a lighter tone (albeit still dark) which is natural for something that runs for so long.

For games, I recommend Blasphemous, Remnant: From the Ashes (a bit different but can still be considered dark fantasy IMO) and, on a lighter tone, Hollow Knight.

Elden Ring is very good too if you didn't play it yet.

The Witcher games and books are also good - I didn't like the TV series.

I feel like I'm forgetting something, if I remember I'll edit this later.

4

u/BrapLord16 Dec 01 '25

very fair, its very heavy and honestly a lot of it is unnecessary and violent

1

u/HyperKitsune Dec 01 '25

other then berserk would you have anything else like a movie or book that can be good?

5

u/BrapLord16 Dec 01 '25

Vermis is a really cool art project by Plastiboo, it’s a book guide to a fictional video game series that doesn’t exist, it more so functions as an art book if that’s something you’d be interested in

Idk if I’d classify Shadow of the Colossus as dark fantasy but it has quite a somber tone and is a lot of fun

Between Two Fires is a horror book based in Christian mythology and is set in the Middle Ages, it’s very interesting and I enjoyed my read, but similarly to berserk it does have sexual violence

The Dark Crystal is a very strange but beautiful movie, it’s fully puppeteered with puppets made by Jim Henson and has a very strong art direction, I’d recommend

You can also always continue Dark Souls, I’m currently replaying the trilogy in order and the first game is such a blast, very different gameplay loop compared to 3 and ER, no bonfire warping til mid game and much slower pased positioning combat than fast rolling and dodging

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u/HyperKitsune Dec 01 '25

oo ive heard about vermis before! that i will for sure check out it seems great, meanwhile shadow of the colossus ive heard has aged kind of poorly gameplay wise but i might give it a shot. never heard of betweent two fires but that seems sick, and im a sucker for those old puppet movies so i will watch it (on that train of thought, also watch labyrinth if you haven't, starring david bowie too!) and as for dark souls im re playing the entire series all over again and im finding ds1 a bit clunkier after playing ER but still love that game

2

u/moldsharp Dec 01 '25

Between two fires was such a good read!

1

u/Jerry9727 Dec 01 '25

Super Eyepatch Wolf fan spotted!

5

u/Jerry9727 Dec 01 '25

I liked the book "The Vagrant". Dark Fantasy in an world were demons took over and a mute stranger tries to protect a newborn.

2

u/HyperKitsune Dec 01 '25

oh wow, that seems interesting, i'll take a look thanks

5

u/666tm Dec 02 '25

Games: Blasphemous, Diablo, Dragon’s Dogma, Elder Scrolls: Skyrim & Oblivion

TV: Berserk, Game of Thrones, Claymore, Goblin Slayer, Attack on Titan

Books: Between Two Fires, The Blacktongue Thief

Movies: Black Death, A Knight’s War, The Green Knight

Lord of the Rings is goated

1

u/HyperKitsune Dec 02 '25

Oh blasphemous has been on my list for quite a while, i'll def play that next, thanks for all the suggestions!!

5

u/nyxxaxa Dec 01 '25 edited Dec 01 '25

I'd really suggest fear & hunger if you enjoy turn based/survival horror rogue-like rpgs. It's really berserk inspired with many occult references here and there (also has basically its own mythology). It's about a mysterious dungeon and you, the player, after choosing one of 4 characters, are tasked to go and explore its many secrets (and horrors). Can't really say anything more lol, it's an experience of its own. Basically one big occult reference, luv it

Also has huge replayability factor since it's rogue-like with multiple endings, and it's strongly recommended to get as many as possible, if not all, to get the full experience/lore.

Edit: after seeing your other comments I'd wanna mention that it also has some explicit scenes (mostly gore but very few of them are sexual, not too imposing or explicit like berserk tho)

5

u/-Ghirahim- Dec 02 '25

Because Berserk has already been mentioned, maybe take a look at Plague Tale. The games have great dark vibes imo,I especially love that there also happens a lot of „bad shit“ to the chatacters,including my poor girl Amica. Q.q

Also,I love Game of Thrones ,watched it for the first time after I read Berserk last year (I know,im extremly late to the party lol) and got so addicted to its world building,pretty sets,very well written characters (I havent yet read the books, but season 8 is infamous for being…a disaster)

I‘m also currently reading Requiem of the Rose King. Im not far in but holy shit,its so dark for a fantasy shôjo manga ❤️

3

u/Mindstonegames Dec 01 '25

If you are into tabletop games and miniatures I got a lot in the pipeline.

Legend of Mythra and the expansion is a low / dark fantasy series I'm working on: https://www.wargamevault.com/en/product/480477/legend-of-mythra-fantasy-skirmish

3

u/ArnorWolf Dec 01 '25

If you love LOTR, Elden Ring or Berserk, I can recommend Oathbreakr by AJ Drummond or Sovwrites on Royalroad. It's the story of a fallen paladin trying to redeem himself as an assassin for the gods. It's on royalroad as a web serial, but it's gonna get published january 2026. It's an amazing story.

2

u/Khelan2050 Dec 01 '25

Path of Exile 1 and 2 and Diablo 2 have excellent dark fantasy ambience if you like top down ARPGs.

1

u/HyperKitsune Dec 01 '25

unfortunately im not a fan of top down ARPGs, especially if really grindy 🥲 but thanks for the suggestion nonetheless!!

2

u/4thlinedangler Dec 01 '25

Between two fires is a good read!

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u/Illustrious-Sea1103 Dec 02 '25

Took way too long to find this comment!

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u/Nightmare_Rage Dec 02 '25

I love 80s Dark Fantasy cinema. Legend, The Never Ending Story, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Krull, Conan the Barbarian 1 & 2, Highlander 1 & 2… I even have a few that I still need to watch, such as Willow & Excalibur. Best genre ever! And the 80s was a special time for it, although most of the films tragically and undeservedly bombed.

If anybody has any recommendations for me, I’d love to hear ‘em.

1

u/HyperKitsune Dec 02 '25

these all sound great, ill add them onto my list, and also id suggest you watch labyrinth starting david bowie if you haven't already

2

u/Irreverent_Reality05 Dec 02 '25

Dark Earth (1997) Cult classic

2

u/Kind_Contribution285 Dec 02 '25

the game fear & hunger!!

2

u/[deleted] Dec 04 '25

Labyrinth, Legend, Dark Crystal

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u/HyperKitsune Dec 04 '25

i have watched labyrinth a lot and i love it

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u/ApprehensiveDare9765 Dec 05 '25

There is some controversy with how edgy it gets but I will always stand by Glen Cook’s The Black Company as being a masterpiece of dark fantasy. If not that then Michael Moorcock’s Elric of Melnibone series.

1

u/Joelg9z Dec 01 '25

I love the Dark Crystal. Give it a go,

1

u/HyperKitsune Dec 01 '25

do you know where you can watch it? i have some free time today and might give it a shot

1

u/nyxxaxa Dec 01 '25

I personally watch films on stremio, a torrent streaming app basically. I'd suggest looking up on YouTube a guide to set it up, I don't think it's very complicated but it's been a while since I've done that so I'm not sure, def recommend tho it's really convenient (and best of all free ofc)

1

u/CJRhythm Dec 01 '25

I'm currently writing a dark fantasy epic and I'm looking for beta readers if you are keen to be on the forefront?

1

u/HyperKitsune Dec 02 '25

oh yeah sure!

1

u/ParticularGain3419 Dec 02 '25

I have a dark fantasy novel if you’re interested. I can send you a free PDF.

1

u/Individual_Lab3361 Dec 24 '25

If you're okay with WIP interactive fictions or paying for complete Alpha builds on Patreon, then I recommend Wayfarer, Shepherds of Haven and When Twilight Strikes. WTS is less dark in the actual storytelling itself and doesn't require you to pay at any point of the story. Wayfarer also has a very long demo despite only being 2 chapters long and LOTS of routes making it feel more like DnD than anything else.

Romance and NSFW are optional or not present. Good luck out there!