We looked at the top Fantasy Games and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Fantasy Game you should buy.
Update as October 8, 2019:
Checkout The Best Fantasy Game for a detailed review of all the top fantasy games.
Overall Take
In our analysis of 144 expert reviews, the XBOX ONE Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War Gold Edition placed 7th when we looked at the top 10 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.
From The Manufacturer
The sequel to the critically-acclaimed Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor - winner of over 50 industry awards - arrives this August, continuing the original story of Talion and Celebrimbor, who must now go behind enemy lines to forge an army and turn all of Mordor against the dark lord, Sauron. Immerse yourself in the epic war for Middle-earth as you confront the Dark Lord Sauron and his Ringwraith's. Forge a Ring of Power to dominate your enemies and command your followers as you experience a unique, personal story brought to life by the award-winning Nemesis System.
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Expert Reviews
EXPERT SUMMARIZED SCORE
8.2
11 expert reviews
USER SUMMARIZED SCORE
8.8
82 user reviews
WHAT EXPERTS LIKED
Awesome army building and fortress assaults.
- Trusted Reviews
| Full review
In the end, Middle Earth: Shadow of War is a blast to play. The action is fast, the Nemesis System is better than before, and the sieges are so much fun.
- Game Industry News
December 20, 2017 | Full review
However, there’s plenty of side quests to keep you busy with each mission jumping from region to region. Some of these tasks are mundane, such as ‘purifying’ Haedir towers so you can gaze across your surroundings and uncover different types of collectables. While others are engaging, like the “Shadows of the Past” quests where you take control of Celebrimbor in missions which can yield extra experience, skills and equipment to use. As you progress through Shadow of War, you’ll earn skill points and unlock new weapons and armour. This area of the game is more in-depth than the original, with plenty of new combat moves available to master.
- Impulse Gamer
November 16, 2017 | Full review
The game is pretty entertaining in short bursts, especially when Talion can make full use of his powerful abilities.
- Cubed 3
November 11, 2017 | Full review
The audio was truly superb, with a standout score that feels like it's ripped straight from The Lord Of The Rings. From the incredible voice acting that helps with immersion, to the music that makes you feel like a true god when you are storming a fortress. Even the elegant music that plays when you are wondering around the open world, the music here is incredible and I can't praise it enough.
- Game Grin
November 1, 2017 | Full review
Shadow of War is yet another fantastic example of how to improve on something that was already incredible. Naturally the game looks gorgeous, with incredible details, character models, and environmental effects, and I can't wait to see what it looks like on the Xbox One X in 4K.
- Xbox Addict
October 29, 2017 | Full review
This can be attributed to two things. First, the combat is amazing: just as Shadow of Mordor borrowed liberally from the best parts of Batman and added swords, Shadow of War refines what it did well in the previous game and builds on it. Slicing through gangs of roving orcs is a breeze, and the counter system works as perfectly and as smoothly as I’ve ever seen. Secondly, the nemesis system — another highlight from Shadow of Mordor — returns, and it’s even more addictive now than it was the first time around. Shadow of War never lacks for low-level bosses for you to brutalize, and there’s nothing quite so satisfying as tracking down some grunt who got lucky and finished you off, and then exacting your bloody revenge.
- Gaming Age
October 20, 2017 | Full review
Shadow of War has an exciting, moving, and often humorous story that keeps the game moving. There are more fun ways to obtain loot, namely by murdering high-level orcs that appear as part of the game's Nemesis systems, which has been expanded to include fortress sieges.
- Windows Central
October 20, 2017 | Full review
Taking over fortresses are the highlight of Shadow of War. The battles are massive, sometimes featuring over 200 characters. The idea is simple. Take down various points and then confront the warlord. Preparation for these is also a good idea. Taking down the bodyguards or having a mole inside leads to easier battles. The complexity of the system is grand. Once taken over I was also able to place one of my own minions into the castle to defend it. This also comes with its own set of customization options as well as look and feel.
- ZTGD
| Full review
The expanded Nemesis System is fantastic. There are lots of collectibles for completionists.
- AusGamers
October 26, 2017 | Full review
WHAT EXPERTS DIDN'T LIKE
Nonsense storylines.
- Trusted Reviews
| Full review
While I didn’t spend money on them, some will be turned away by microtransactions. Act IV can be quite the grind if you don’t spend money, but it can be beaten.
- Game Industry News
December 20, 2017 | Full review
Although the Nemesis System alone is engaging enough, the story just isn’t as gripping as it was in Shadow of Mordor, maybe because by the time you start Shadow of War, your emotional attachment to Talion isn’t as strong.
- Impulse Gamer
November 16, 2017 | Full review
Still, the lack of finesse when it comes to combat will make fighting feel a bit bothersome.
- Cubed 3
November 11, 2017 | Full review
This mode is fun however it doesn't feel as good as it does when you do it in single player as you don't have any back story there.
- Game Grin
November 1, 2017 | Full review
There are some issues with the camera angle, and while you're fighting one enemy it's not uncommon for attacks to come from off the screen and hit your character.
- Xbox Addict
October 29, 2017 | Full review
However, if your really want to experience Tolkien, this probably isn't going to do it for you.
- Gaming Age
October 20, 2017 | Full review
Gameplay is repetitive.
- Windows Central
October 20, 2017 | Full review
What doesn’t really work is movement, combat and the game’s camera. Players have control over the camera, of course, but you’re often using your spare thumb for something else, and there’s no real smart camera system in place to help in these moments (well, there sort of is, but it’s not very good).
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