Summary
A major part of mostfantasy RPGsis the combat. Players are expected to fight their way through countless enemies, killing everything from lowly bandits to mighty dragons. Yet eventhe best combat systems in RPGscan get stale if the creatures players are tasked with killing all look the same. Variety is the spice of life, after all.
Even outside of combat,creature designis extremely important. It’s a major part of a game’s world-building, and great creature designs can make a fantasy setting feel much more immersive.These fantasy RPGs all feature unique creature designs,and either introduce gamers to completely new types of creatures, or have their own interesting takes on the classics.
Since the firstMonster Huntergame was released in 2004, the franchise has gone on to produce some ofthe best RPGs Capcom has made. A large part of the franchise’s massive success has been its incredible creature designs. Highlights include iconic monsters like Rathalos, a fire-breathing wyvern known as the “King of the Skies,” and Zinogre, a thunder wolf wyvern with electrifying attacks.
If wyverns, a fantasy staple, don’t sound all that unique, then fear not;Monster Hunterhas other options. Take, for example, Rajang, a primate-like monster with immense strength and the ability to harness electricity, or Nerscylla, a big, nasty arachnid-looking thing.TheMonster Huntergames are full of unique creature designs,either interesting versions of the classic wyvern and dragon designs, or completely new monsters invented for the series.
TheDark Soulsseries has produced some ofthe best dark fantasy open-world games ever made. The games all share a very specific artistic style, and one thing that From Software has always completely nailed is its creature designs. Whether it be low-level mobs or iconic bosses, most gamers can spot a From Software design a mile away.
Dark Soulsis full of unique creature designs.Skeletons appear in pretty much every fantasy RPG, butDark Soulshas awesome (and devastating) wheel skeletons to keep things fresh. The series features loads of dragons, but few of them look traditional, with the Gaping Dragon being particularly iconic. The Bell Gargoyles are seared into the memories of many gamers, and many are still haunted by the Dark Wraiths. Then there’s the franchise’s iconic boss creatures, like the giant wolf Sif, or Ornstein and Smough, who are as good to look at as they are hard to beat.
For the most part,The Witcher 3takes famous creatures from Eastern European folklore and gives them a twist. The game’s griffins and dragons may not be that unique, but pretty much everything else is. InThe Witcher 3, each creature doesn’t just have its own unique design; there’s a specific way the player is meant to kill them.
Like the Crones, one ofThe Witcher 3’shardest boss battles. Cannibalistic witches who eat young children and trick adults into cruel deals, the Crones are disgusting to look at, and their voices send a chill down the spine. Speaking of disgusting, there’s also the deeply disturbing Botchling, an aborted child that Geralt can either try to save or kill. Even the game’s ghosts are unique, often with their own designs and backstories, like the wraith Jenny O' the Woods.
TheFinal Fantasyseries has been a gaming juggernaut for decades, and has produced some of the most unique and iconic creature designs in the industry, not to mention some ofthe most innovative RPGs ever made. While not every game in the series falls into the fantasy RPG category, a fair few of them do.
For a start, there’s the franchise’s iconic summons. A part of the series sinceFinal Fantasy 3, players have seen some stunning summon designs over the years. Series stalwarts like Shiva and Ifrit may not change much between games, but summons likeFinal Fantasy 10’sAnima have incredibly unique designs. The franchise also introduced the gaming world to bombs, flans, and tonberrys, which have gone on to star in other JRPG games. Of course, we can’t forget the non-enemy creatures like Chocobos and Moogles, who are both unique and painfully cute to look at.
Bloodborneisn’t just a great dark fantasy RPG, it’sa great dark fantasy horror game,something largely down to From Software’s incredible creature design. Many ofBloodborne’screatures aren’t just unique; they’re terrifying.
Key examples include the Amygdala, a massive creature with numerous eyes and long limbs, and the Cleric Beast, an enormous, malformed beast with antlers and ragged fur. If the Amygdala isn’t weird enough, then there’s the Brain of Mensis, a giant brain-like thing with countless eyes that’s so ugly it frenzies all who look upon it.Bloodbornearguably has some of From Software’s most unique designs, which is saying something.
Developed by Team Ninja, bothNiohgames do an excellent job of taking the Soulslike formula and blending it with Japanese folklore and mythology to create a fantasy RPG with an Eastern twist. Most of the game’s Yokai (demons) are inspired by old Japanese ghost stories and legends, resulting in distinctive designs. Fantasy RPG players have killed a lot of demons over the years, but few look likeNioh’syokai.
Notable Yokai include the Oni, which are fearsome ogre-like demons that can easily crush the player, and the Yuki-Onna, a ghostly woman who uses ice magic. Even the least intimidating enemies, like the umbrella-mimic Karakasa demons, can be deadly. Much likeThe Witcherdid with Eastern European folklore,Niohmines Asia’s cultural richness to deliver creative creature designs that are fun to kill and great to look at.
Shadow of the Colossusis just a unique game all around. Anopen-world game with almost no optional contentis rare enough these days, butShadow of the Colossusonly has 16 enemies to defeat. Total. Thankfully, each encounter is incredibly well-designed.
While some of the creatures share similarities, overall, they all stand out on their own. They might all be towering giants, but they each have unique designs, movesets, and mechanics. Some are humanoid in shape, while others are more animalistic. The fifth colossus resembles a beautiful bird of prey, while another is a deadly Dune-style sandworm.Shadow of the Colossuspacks more enemy variety into its 16 bosses than many other games do into all their enemy types combined.
The second it was announced that the infamous animators at Studio Ghibli were working with Level-5 on an RPG, everyone knew they were in for a treat.Ni no Kuniis renowned for its enchanting art style and utterly brilliant creature designs. The game has 352 unique creatures, called Familiars, for Oliver to befriend and battle, with many of the designs givingPokemona run for its money.
Fan favorites include the adorable Mite, a small, sword-wielding warrior, and Griffy, a majestic lion-like creature with wings.Ni no Kunialso has its own take on fantasy RPG standards, like Draggle, a cute baby dragon, and Bonehead, the world’s least scary skeletal warrior. The artistic might of Studio Ghibli and Level-5 combined creates a magical world where every creature encounter feels like a beautifully illustrated storybook.
