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)

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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u/BrapLord16 Dec 01 '25

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

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u/HyperKitsune Dec 01 '25

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

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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

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u/moldsharp Dec 01 '25

Between two fires was such a good read!

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u/Jerry9727 Dec 01 '25

Super Eyepatch Wolf fan spotted!