15 best dragon games to play on PlayStation, Xbox & PC in 2024
'Dragon games' is a bit of a vague term that's mostly up for interpretation, whether you want to play as one, find yourself fighting them, or just befriend the fantastical flying creatures.
As it happens, there are several dragon-based games out there that range in how they meet the criteria of featuring scaly sky lizards. Below, we've wrangled the best titles on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC that allow you to indulge in an adventure that'll bring you the closest you can get to feeling like the Mother of Dragons.
Best dragon games to play in 2024, ranked
#15 - World of Warcraft
Click to enlarge- Developer: Blizzard
- Release date: November 2004 (latest expansion: November 2022)
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: PC
- Key features:
- 20 years of content
- Tonnes of class and race combinations
- Play your own way
World of Warcraft popularised the theme park MMO design and 20 years later it's still the king of the genre after nine expansions. If you're looking for a game to take up your life, you can't go wrong with WoW and its huge amount of PvE, PvP, and other content.
The latest expansion for the MMO game, Dragonflight, released in 2022 and added a whole new storyline about dragons for players to sink their teeth into. Whether you want to fight dragons, befriend dragons, or just ride them as mounts, you can do it all in WoW, and there's no sign of it stopping soon.
#14 - Super Mario RPG Remake
Click to enlarge- Developer: ArtePiazza
- Release date: November 2023
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Key features:
- Experience Mario in a new way
- Turn-based combat
- Remake of a classic
The original Super Mario RPG is a classic and is considered one of the best Mario games of all time, and the remake manages to retain this same spirit while updating it to the modern era.
You play the beloved hero once again on a quest to stop Bowser and a group of invaders called the Smithy Gang. It features strategic turn-based combat and an exploration loop similar to classic Final Fantasy games, which should scratch that classic JRPG itch.
In terms of dragons, you'll get the chance to battle three of them across the game in the form of bosses, all in the name of saving the Mushroom Kingdom once more.
#13 - Dragon Age: Inquisition
Click to enlarge- Developer: BioWare
- Release date: November 2014
- Subscription service: EA Play, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Key features:
- Everyone is covered in baby oil
- Large cast of characters and companions
- Multiple large zones
- Overhauled combat from previous games
As the third Dragon Age title, with Inquisition, Bioware sought to combine the most beloved elements of the first two games into one package - and essentially stuck the landing.
Going for the typical 'Chosen One' narrative, you'll play as the sole survivor of an explosion that opens up the metaphysical boundary between the physical world and the Fade, which is imbued with the power to close these rifts and stop a forthcoming demon invasion.
Along the way, you'll befriend a wide cast of characters who help you in combat, especially against the powerful dragon enemies that wander many of the zones you can explore in the game.
#12 - Skyrim
Click to enlarge- Developer: Bethesda Softworks
- Release date: November 2011
- Subscription service: Xbox Game Pass
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Key features:
- Freedom to explore and build your character your way
- Interactivity with the world
- Progression system
- The Randy Savage dragon mod
What can we say about Skyrim that hasn't already been said? As one of the best dragon games to play, it's highly acclaimed and one of the most played games of all time. While there are definitely those who dispute its greatness, with some saying it's only a great game because of mods - and there's plenty to download - it's hard to deny its longevity and effect on the gaming world.
Not only do you get to fight a lot of dragons in Skyrim, but you also play half of one as the prophesied Dragonborn, a humanoid imbued with the power of dragons and the Way of the Voice.
Skyrim provides an expansive world to explore and sink yourself into, with a tonne of quests to complete, characters to meet, and creatures to slay in whatever way you want.
#11 - God of War: Ragnarok
Click to enlarge- Developer: Santa Monica Studio
- Release date: November 2022
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Key features:
- Giant dog
- A heart-wrenching tale about a father and a son
- Stellar writing
- The axe feels amazing to wield
God of War: Ragnarok is proof that lightning can strike twice with the continuation of Kratos' journey, providing plenty of highs and lows - with many moments hitting right in the feels.
Now, Atreus is a few years older and we get to explore how his relationship with his father has changed, diving even further into Norse mythology and meeting plenty of fresh takes on familiar faces along the way. The combat feels as good as ever, and the side characters return for even more memorable moments, with a certain dragon-like creature featuring heavily too.
#10 - Monster Hunter World
Click to enlarge- Developer: Capcom
- Release date: 26 January 2018
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Key features:
- Challenging combat
- Huge monsters to slay
- Interconnected worlds
- Rewarding progression system
Sure, Monster Hunter Rise is newer, but Monster Hunter World remains the pinnacle of the franchise for us - even after five years.
The franchise has perfected the loop of battling huge monsters, breaking them down into parts, and then using those parts to hunt bigger monsters and start the cycle again, and each weapon feels wholly unique.
The New World is certainly a dangerous place, but you can bring your friends for four-player co-op - and the Iceborne expansion is just as good (and even tougher).
#9 - Panzer Dragoon: Remake
Click to enlarge- Developer: MegaPixel Studio
- Release date: March 2020
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Key features:
- A remake of a classic title
- Beautiful aesthetic
- Play as a dragon
- Did we mention you play as a dragon?
An entire generation of gamers will have grown up likely not even knowing about the Panzer Dragoon series, considering the last title released in 2002. Luckily, a remake of the first game came out in 2020, giving players a chance to try a formative game from the early years of 3D gaming.
Panzer Dragoon is an on-rails shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans are recovering technology from the highly advanced Dragon Age (not that one). You'll control a dragon as the protagonist Keil Fluge, soaring through various colourful levels, defeating monsters and humans before taking on the level boss.
The remake comes with overhauled controls and graphics, and while the limited nature of an on-rails shooter may not be for everyone, it's a great way to experience an important genre in gaming history.
#8 - Metroid Prime Remastered
Click to enlarge- Developer: Retro Studios
- Release date: February 2023
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Key features:
- Fun collectables for a 100% run
- Improved controls and graphics
- Metroidvania design perfection
- Space pirates!
Metroid Prime Remastered is closer to a remake than the name suggests, modernising one of the most important FPS games of all time for a new audience.
Like the previous Metroid games, you'll play as space bounty hunter Samus Aran as she fights space pirates and their biological experiments with powerful creatures called Metroids that threaten the galaxy.
The main antagonist and leader of the space pirates is a cybernetic dragon called Ridley (who's very angry about being blown up by Samus in the first game) and is out for revenge. Explore a deeply interconnected world, fight a plethora of creative bosses, and kit yourself out with a number of enhancements on the way to defeat Ridley once and for all.
#7 - Final Fantasy XIV
Click to enlarge- Developer: Square Enix
- Release date: August 2012
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Key features:
- Acclaimed progression system with depth
- Free-to-play
- Huge player base
- The best emotes in any MMO
The original release of Final Fantasy XIV was a colossal failure to the point that it was shut down within the year, but after a lot of reworking, a new version subtitled A Realm Reborn was released to massive success, leading to it being one of the best MMOs in the world today.
A number of expansions later, the game is chock-full of things to do, with complex player progression and customisation, a deep narrative with some surprisingly touching moments, and some of the best boss encounters in MMOs.
Many of the dragon fights feel epic thanks to them requiring a large party of players, allowing you to share a rare moment of kinship with complete strangers. The beauty of video games, eh?
#6 - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Click to enlarge- Developer: Nintendo
- Release date: May 2023
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Key features:
- Compelling puzzles
- Huge open world to explore
- Improves the original with new abilities
- Not one, not two, not three, but four dragons
In Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, dragons aren't an enemy to take down or a threat to the world. Here, you'll find them perusing the map, minding their own business. And although they play a major part in the main story, their existence is peaceful. The first time you see them is incredibly striking and you'll likely not be able to help but look up in awe as they dance across the sky.
Outside of the dragons, this is by far one of the best games ever made, with plenty of puzzles, new locations to explore, and quirky characters to meet. It somehow builds on and improves on the foundations laid by Breath of the Wild in every way.
#5 - Dragon's Dogma 2
Click to enlarge- Developer: Capcom
- Release date:
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Key features:
- Deep combat and creature encounters
- Open-ended quests
- Pawn system
- Never struggle to find a ladder again
The original Dragon's Dogma used to grace this list, but with the release of the sequel, it's fair to say it surpasses the first game in nearly every way. Acting as a more of reboot and retry at making the game the devs wanted to the first time, it isn't afraid of creating friction for the players thanks to limited fast travel and the quest design that outright doesn't want to hold your hand.
This results in a massive RPG experience that encourages you to take your time and explore, and trusts you to use its tools to solve problems as they appear. Combat is a standout feature here too, allowing you to climb all over massive enemies like trolls, cyclops, and of course, dragons! There are a number of classes to experiment with freely, and the loveable Pawns you can summon to your side are great companions to have on any journey.
#4 - Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Click to enlarge- Developer: Toys for Bob
- Release date: November 2018
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Key features:
- Equal parts colourful and wholesome
- Fun platforming
- Three games in one
- We hope you like collectables
An easy pick for our best dragon games list is Spyro the Dragon - an icon and mascot of the video game medium. Everyone should experience what it's like to play as the cheeky and mischievous teenage dragon at least once, and the best way to do so is the recent remakes.
The Spyro Reignited Trilogy packages all three games into one, remaking them all with modern graphics and controls, while staying faithful to the spirit of the originals.
Each game features similar plots, with Spyro being forced to explore various worlds to save his kind and others from mean orcs and other monsters. The core of the gameplay is collecting though, essentially making the Spyro games collectathons like the 3D Marios or Banzo Kazooie, where you hunt down gems or dragon eggs to progress to the next stage or world.
#3 - Dark Souls
Click to enlarge- Developer: FromSoftware
- Release date: September 2011
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Key features:
- Engaging and challenging combat
- Epic boss fights
- Excellent world design
- You may need a backup controller if you break your first one
The Golden Joystick Awards crowned Dark Souls as the Ultimate Game of All Time, and it's incredibly easy to see why.
The influence of Dark Souls and the subsequent Soulslike genre it helped birth has permeated gaming since 2011, with seemingly every third-person action RPG taking inspiration from the game's design in some way or another.
You all know the shtick at this point: it's a really hard and often punishing game, yes, but that difficulty only serves to make each victory that much more rewarding and meaningful. You'll remember the feeling of conquering Undead Burg for the first time or defeating the Bell Gargoyles, and it's the type of gaming experience that'll likely stick with you forever.
As for dragons, you can cut off a dragon's tail and wield it as a weapon, and join a dragon cult. That's enough to be considered a dragon game, right?
#2 - Baldur's Gate 3
Click to enlarge- Developer: Larian Studios
- Release date: August 2023
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Key features:
- Incredible role-playing depth
- Strategic turn-based combat
- The closest game to the experience of Dungeons & Dragons
- You can make love to a Druid in bear form
A long-awaited new entry in the iconic franchise, Baldur's Gate 3 is the most expansive CRPG of all time, focusing on the idea that player choice is most important above all else.
It's fair to say dragons don't appear as frequently in BG3 as some other titles on this list, but like any good D&D session, when they do, it's a big moment you'll want to be ready for (and will most certainly remember).
Without spoiling anything, the appearance of the dragon was one of hundreds of wow moments in Baldur's Gate 3, continuing to cement why it immediately became one of my favourite games.
What's the best dragon game to play in 2024?
#1 - Elden Ring
Click to enlarge- Developer: FromSoftware
- Release date: February 2022
- Subscription service: N/A
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Key features:
- Huge scale
- Incredible build variety
- Tonnes of memorable boss fights
- "Try finger but hole" messages
2022 was undoubtedly the year of Elden Ring, with it being the most acclaimed, most memorable, and most fun game you could get your hands on.
Making the switch from the more curated Metroidvania-inspired level design of the Souls franchise, Elden Ring moved to an open world that drastically altered its scale, and a design that naturally entices you to explore.
Every corner had something worth visiting, whether it be a new piece of equipment, boss fight, or dragon to slay (there really are a lot of dragon fights in this game - it's a bit silly).
Elden Ring is going to remain in our collective gaming conscience for a long time, and with the upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, it may get even better.
Now that you know a bunch of great games that heavily feature these iconic creatures, for more gaming recommendations, check out our lists homepage for the best games like Baldur's Gate 3 or Red Dead Redemption 2.
