The incredible, captivating, and magical video game written by George R.R. Martin, Elden Ring, was released on February 25th. The game’s six-year development was spearheaded by FromSoftware, the same company who created the Souls series, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The premise of the open world game is that after the destruction of the Elden Ring, the shards were split up and now possessed by vile demigods who have been poisoned by the power the ring fragments provide.
You play the game as Tarnished, a class of people who have been exiled from the lands ruled by demigods. Your goal is to defeat the demigods, restore the Elden Ring, and ultimately, become the Elden Lord. The game is quite difficult, but with the immersive imagery and enthralling storyline, it becomes quite easy to play. However, if you are looking to take a TV break from scouring the Lands Between, this article will detail the very best High Fantasy series similar to Elden Ring.
5 Wheel of Time
Wheel of Time is an Amazon-released series created by Rafe Judkins. The show is based off a series of novels written by Robert Jordan which shares the same name. The series is set in a world where magic exists, but only a select few have access to it. The story follows a woman named Moiraine, an Aes Sedai, which are a powerful group of women who have the gift of magic. She comes across a group of five young men and women, believing that one of them is the reincarnation of the Dragon, the only person who has the power to save the world, or break it once more.
The world building in this Amazon show is absolutely phenomenal. The books from which this series is based provide an expansive universe where this story can take place. With its abundance of magic, swordplay, and mythical creatures, it is certain to tickle your fantasy itch. And if you are doing a faith or intelligence build in the Elden Ring, you might learn a thing or two from the incredibly skilled Aes Sedai.
4 Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones may be the most popular show on our list, and you will find a lot of shared iconography in both Elden Ring and Game of Thrones. This is because both stories are written by George R.R. Martin, a tenured High Fantasy novelist who does a magnificent job with both characters and lore. If you haven't seen Game of Thrones, starting the series now may seem like a daunting task. But if you enjoy magic, dragons, and Medieval iconography, it is hard to beat this hit HBO series.
Detractors have some warranted criticism directed at the final season of Game of Thrones, but honestly, the series does so many things right, it's hard to focus on what is wrong. Creating an adept High Fantasy story is an incredible feat in and of itself; presenting that story as a television series is even more difficult. Luckily, the Game of Thrones team had solid talent and an incredible budget, with episodes in the final season reaching $15 million per episode.
3 Shadow and Bone
Based off the bestselling novel, this Netflix original series tells the story of a young mapmaker, Alina Starkov, who discovers she has the power to summon light. The show was created by Eric Heisserer and the original novel was written by Leigh Bardo. The series stars Jessie Mei Li and Ben Barnes.
Shadow and Bone takes place in the Russia-inspired lands of Ravka. Because of this, you don't see your typical Medieval iconography. Instead, displayed in this series is a refreshing eastern theme featuring lots of fur hats and Russian architecture. The series contains plenty of dragon-like creatures and magic, so if you are looking for a new Netflix fantasy series to dive into, this one may be for you.
2 The Witcher
The Witcher is another Netflix original series which does an excellent execution of the high fantasy genre. It was created by Lauren Schmidt and the novels in which it was based off of were written by Andrezej Sapkowski. The show stars Henry Cavill, who plays Geralt of Rivia, a lone monster hunter who struggles to find his place in the world.
Preceding the series, this novel was also created into a successful 2007 video game. The five-part novel series was originally written between 1994 and 1999, but the series holds up, and its creation into subsequent television series and a video game are a testament to the strength of its story.
1 The Legend of Vox Machina
The only animated series on our list today, The Legend of Vox Machina is a light-hearted fantasy series which premiered in 2022. The show is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video and features a plethora of magic, action, and mystical creatures. It feels a bit like a mature version of Avatar: The Last Airbender and contains explicit language and a handful of gratuitous violence, and is based on the popular D&D streaming channel Critical Role.
The premise of this series revolves around a group of mystical misfits who are desperately trying to pay off an increasing bar tab and end up on a quest to save the world. The medium of animation works incredibly well for the High Fantasy genre, as budget constraints are not as much of a concern. Without necessarily needing to create a sense of realism, the creators are able to bombard the viewer with a colorful explosion of magic and stunning displays of sorcery. If you enjoyed Avatar: The Last Airbender, playing Elden Ring, or simply like the idea of an animated High Fantasy series, The Legend of Vox Machina should be on the top of your watch list.