By Rhenn Taguiam
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Video Games
Related
Fire Emblem: 7 Best Dragons, Ranked
The Best Games That Let You Play As A Dragon
Key Takeaways
- Some video games offer unique dragon-riding experiences with varying mechanics and levels of enjoyment.
- Players can engage in mounted combat in games like Palworld, where riding dragon-like creatures adds layers of coolness.
- While not all dragon-riding experiences are equally entertaining, titles like Fire Emblem Warriors provide action-packed experiences.
Gamers a few decades ago would likely associate a dragon with mythical beasts that serve as powerful monsters to defeat, or as companions to summon in games like Final Fantasy, while players today may immediately think of the Dragonborn of Skyrim that popularized the idea of dragon-riding to a more modern generation of video game fans. As such, gamers might be surprised to learn that video games where players can ride dragons go further back than the Bethesda title.
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Much to the interest of dragon fans, certain video games do provide players with opportunities to make friends and ride their dragon companions to wage war on huge battlefields. While the premise of riding a dragon high up in the skies remains similar, their mechanics towards controlling their aerial beasts may differ in scope, complexity, and overall enjoyment.
Updated on September 23rd, 2024, by Rhenn Taguiam: With House of the Dragon having just been renewed for a third season, fans of the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise might be eager to see just how this adaptation of Fire & Blood and Dance of the Dragons would shape the future of Westeros and the events of Game of Thrones. Fans of the show who loved seeing the Targaryens ride vicious dragons into battle might be wondering if there are video games that would let them do the same. While not a lot of games have intricate dragon-riding mechanics, some still let players enjoy the prestige of having their own dragon mount. Some games that let players do this include a musou iteration of a hit RPG, a rail shooter with interesting dragon-themed mechanics, and a creature-capturing game, all of which have been added to this list in its latest update.
1 Fire Emblem Warriors
Fight Hordes Of Opponents On Wyvernback
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Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:81/100 Critics Recommend:83%
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Released
- June 24, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Omega Force
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo , Koei Tecmo
The Fire Emblem series is no stranger to characters who ride dragons, especially with a Race and Class like the Wyvern and its related mounted Classes which take advantage of flight in this turn-based RPG. However, with Fire Emblem Warriors adding an action-packed musou twist to the beloved RPG series, players who want a more “real-time” dragon-riding experience may appreciate the presence of mounted characters — especially dragon-riders Minerva and Camilla.
Both characters are technically Wyvern Riders, although only Minerva begins as this base class, while Camilla starts as the “promoted” Malig Knight. As flying units, Minerva and Camilla can gain access to special areas, although they are vulnerable to bows. The axe-toting Camilla can boost her damage against unmounted foes, while the shield-wielding Minerva can protect against specific attacks. While players might not find this kind of dragon-riding as entertaining as being able to fly across sprawling areas, using either character in a roster where other fliers are mostly using pegasi can make the experience quite exhilarating.
2 Crimson Dragon
An On-Rails Shooter As A Dragon Rider
Release Date | November 22, 2013 |
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Developers | Grounding Inc. |
Platforms | Xbox One |
Set on the planet Draco, where dragons and human colonists coexist, Crimson Dragon will have players take on the role of a dragon-riding soldier on the hunt for the mysterious White Phantom — a dragon spreading a disease known as Crimsonscale throughout dragonkind. Designed as an on-rails shooter, players must fight enemies while navigating environmental hazards. Players can fire at enemies and other projectiles. At the same time, dragons have a lock-on multi-attack and a manually-aimed strong attack, all on top of movement abilities that can help the player and their dragon dodge attacks.
However, unlike traditional on-rails shooters, Crimson Dragon spices up the formula with a mysterious story and a progression system. Throughout the game’s 26 levels, players slowly discover a government conspiracy regarding their involvement with Draco’s dragon population. Meanwhile, the game enhances up playthroughs by introducing different dragon types, each with their own unique elemental synergies, skills, and special evolved forms. While the game lacks a fully-functional open-world exploration system, being able to customize one’s dragon to switch up gameplay is a welcome mechanic.
3 Palworld
Ride Dragon-Like Creatures In This Creature-Capture Combat RPG
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Palworld
- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:71/100 Critics Recommend:58%
- Platform(s)
- PC , PlayStation 5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series S , Xbox Series X
- Released
- January 19, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Pocket Pair, Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Pocket Pair, Inc.
In a game like Palworld, where players can fight alongside their Pals, the prospect of riding larger Pals and engaging in combat with them is a dream. This is especially the case with flying Pals, of which some appear as giant birds, and others look majestic enough to be interchanged with traditional dragons from fantasy stories.
While Palworld has various options of flying Pals spread across multiple levels, their dragon-looking variants, such as Vanwyrm, Suzaku, Astegon, and Jetragon, are must-haves for players who want a modern take on the dragon-riding experience. Being able to ride their sci-fi-esque bodies while toting streetwear straight from a stylish anime can add all kind of layers of cool to a player’s swag. On top of being able to engage foes in mounted combat using their Pal’s abilities and ranged weapons like bows, the game allows players to direct these Pals to do other work, adding a multifaceted nature to the Pokemon-inspired game that other games with dragon-riding don’t offer.
4 Eragon
Rudimentary Dragon-Riding Levels
Release Date | November 14, 2006 |
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Developer | Stormfront Studios, Amaze Entertainment |
Platforms | Xbox 360, PS2, Xbox, PC, Nintendo DS, PSP, Game Boy Advance |
Despite the poor reception of Eragon (both the game and the film), the game and its source novel’s central theme of Dragon Riders arrived in the title in the form of dragon-riding segments. Set in Alagaesia, Eragon stars the titular character as he discovers that the stone he’s kept at home is actually a dragon egg. After it hatches into the blue dragon Saphira, the pair are chased by the forces of the evil King Galbatorix.
While Eragon received poor reception for repetitive levels and forced dragon riding segments, its Saphira sections give players engaging fights against both ground units and fellow dragons. Traditional fire breaths and unique movements such as tailspins and Eragon’s own spells transform Saphira’s dragon-riding segments into memorable levels in the Eragon title.
5 World Of Warcraft
Ride Dragons As MMO Mounts
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World of Warcraft
Given the vastness of the world of Azeroth in World of Warcraft, it only felt natural for its adventurers to ride mounts to travel across the MMO’s many biomes. After reaching Level 30, players can purchase flying mounts as well as the necessary license to make them fly. The sky’s the limit after reaching this point, as only certain areas in Azeroth remain license-locked for fliers, and dragons can be acquired as flying mounts by various means.
Unlike other games, players can’t “fight” while mounted, meaning dragons can only be used as a mode of transportation. As with other mounts in the game, dragons come in various forms and themes that allow players to have a mount that is as vibrant as their character. Among dragons to ride are winged four-limbed beings (Drakes), double-headed undead creatures (Chimaeras), Eastern serpentine-inspired lizards (Cloud Serpent), and robotic variants (Mechanical Dragons).
6 Monster Hunter Stories
Technically Ride Dragon-Like Monsters
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Monster Hunter Stories
- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:79/100 Critics Recommend:73%
- Platform(s)
- Android , iOS , Nintendo 3DS , Switch , PC , PS4
- Released
- October 8, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Capcom , Marvelous
In the Monster Hunter spinoff Monster Hunter Stories, players take the form of Riders tasked with helping solve the mystery of the Black Blight that has ravaged monsters in the area. Whereas original Monster Hunter gameplay had players hunt various creatures, Monster Hunter Stories emphasizes forming bonds with them. Players bond with creatures named Monsties, each with unique abilities and “genes” that players can then use to breed their monsters.
However, perhaps most impressive about Monster Hunter stories is that Monsties can also be ridden by players, allowing them to explore zones without always encountering monsters. In the first game, nine Monsties have flying capabilities - chief among these are the series’ iconic dragon-looking monsters such as Rathalos, Rathian, Gravios, and Seregios.
7 Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch
Ride A Dragon In A Ghibli-Inspired World
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Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
When Oliver of Motorville begins a quest in the Other World of Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch to save his mother after her untimely death, he meets different companions who eventually help him on his journey. Among these is the purple wyvern Tengri, whose ability to fly is lost when his soulmate from the Real World loses his confidence. After finishing this side quest, Tengri becomes one of Oliver's few beastly companions, whose flight access vastly opens up Ni No Kuni’s already impressive overworld.
Thanks to Tengri, players can now explore the overworld to their liking. Players can use a cursor to land almost anywhere on the map, giving them access to locations such as islands they can’t ordinarily explore and reach on foot. While Tengri only provides overworld exploration and not mounted combat, this wyvern adds a sense of verticality to the Ghibli-inspired aesthetics of the game.
Ride NPC Dragons With Specific Directives
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Skyrim
In a game like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim where players become the Dragonborn, dragon-riding has become a much-desired feature that Bethesda eventually added via the Dragonborn DLC. While dragon riding isn’t a central mechanic in the open-world RPG, being able to tame the game’s most powerful apex predator can easily become a mark of a player’s supremacy.
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Players can only ride dragons in Skyrim upon acquiring the full Bend Will dragon shout consisting of Gol-Hah-Dov. However, as dragons have their own wills, players can only issue instructions to them but not necessarily control all of their movements. For instance, players can direct a dragon to attack a foe, switch their targets, or land. Moreover, due to how powerful dragons are in Tamriel, landing a dragon will revert the creature back into an NPC, where they can leave or even attack players.
9 Drakan: Order Of The Flame
Switch Between Ground And Aerial Fights With Ease
Release Date | August 20, 1999 |
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Developer | Surreal Software |
Platforms | PC |
Tragedy strikes the warrior Rynn in Drakan: Order of the Flame, as not only did the evil Navaros kidnap her brother Delon, but he also burned their nearby village. Following the instructions of their elder, Rynn sought the help of the dragon Arokh in her quest to both save her brother and restore the Order of the Flame, which can vanquish the forces of evil.
Unlike other games with dragon riding mechanics, Drakan: Order of the Flame features both small-scale dungeons fit for Rynn and wide-open areas where both Rynn and Arokh can explore. Unique to the game is the freedom to transition to dragon riding in open spaces, as well as the demand for precision mechanics to ensure the accurate elimination of foes. When riding Arokh, Rynn can’t use anything but her potions and bow, while the dragon can use his fire breath as well as specially-built ranged armaments.
10 Lair
An Attempt At Large-Scale Fights With Motion Controls
Release Date | August 31, 2007 |
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Developer | Factor 5 |
Platforms | PS3 |
Taking place in a world threatened by active volcanoes, Lair puts players in the role of Rohn Partridge, a dragon rider Burner in the air force Sky Guards of Asylia tasked to defend the land from the isolated Mokai. While the game’s dependence on the PlayStation 3’s Six-Axis motion controls led to a heavily criticized control scheme, its emphasis on dragon riding makes it a standout in this particular theme.
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There are many dragons in the Fire Emblem franchise. Here are the ones who stand out most.
Some aspects of Lair need Rohn to land on the ground and fight enemies in melee combat, but a majority of the game takes place in the skies. Players have to tilt their controller to maneuver their dragon, much in the same way a horse has to be reined when issuing commands. In combat, Lair needs players to be at the same height as the enemy combatant, while they can also quickly move the controller to redirect their dragons elsewhere.
11 Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous
Ride A Dragon In The Endgame Under Certain Conditions
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Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:81/100 Critics Recommend:78%
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch , PC , PlayStation 4 , Xbox One
- Released
- September 2, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Owlcat Games
As Wrath of the Righteous players save the Worldmound from being destroyed by demonic forces, their adventures will eventually have them choose one of ten Mythic Paths. Should they become the mystic rebels of the Azata, they will eventually encounter a Dragon Companion named Aivu whose combat prowess and access to spells can provide the team with a dependable spellcaster.
However, what makes the Azata and Aivu fun to play with would be the option to ride Aivu into battle. Should the Azata get to Small size (be it with their Race or another spell), they can ride Aivu as soon as she turns into a Medium-sized creature throughout leveling up. While Aivu doesn’t exactly fly, she remains one of the few ways a player can ride dragons in any tactical RPG that doesn’t default into a preset unit that is both a person and a dragon combined.
12 Middle-earth: Shadow Of War
Dominate The Skies With A Powerful Drake
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Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:82/100 Critics Recommend:76%
- Platform(s)
- PS4 , Xbox One , PC
- Released
- October 10, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Monolith
While exploring Mordor as the tag team of Ranger Talion and Spirit Celebrimbor already makes Middle-earth: Shadow of War a gripping action take on the Lord of the Rings franchise, players can take things a step further with Mounted Skills. This part of the player’s skill tree allows them to call specific mounts and even ride them in the right conditions. Should players invest in their skill points properly and finish the Carnan questline, they may be able to call a dragon for them to mount.
Compared to mountable Caragors and Graugs, riding a dragon immediately turns any battle in the player’s favor. From the perspective of the skies, Shadow of War’s open world becomes rather minuscule. Targeting foes becomes a breeze when a dragon can take players to their destination in seconds, and unleashing dragonfire onto opponents can make encounters much easier.
13 Panzer Dragoon
Fight Enemies From All Directions With Various Armaments
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Panzer Dragoon
Despite numerous entries in the dragon-riding Panzer Dragoon franchise, the first Panzer Dragoon game showcases the potential of the genre as a role-playing rail shooter. Set in the distant future, protagonist Keil Fluge is thrust into a high-stakes quest as he’s forced to link up with a blue dragon and chase a black dragon before it reaches the black tower.
While the Panzer Dragoon story only takes place across six short levels, the game’s mechanics give players thrilling action sequences against hordes of enemies. Players can look in all directions to see where enemies such as dragonflies, wasps, sandworms, and even battleships are coming from. With a black dragon left to chase, players need to decide quickly whether to accurately target foes with their handgun or use the dragon’s multi-hit attack to fight multiple enemies at once.
14 Century: Age Of Ashes
Ride Dragons In High-Octane Sky Fights
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Century: Age of Ashes
- OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Rating:73/100 Critics Recommend:50%
- Platform(s)
- Microsoft Windows , PS5 , PS4 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , iOS , Android
- Released
- November 18, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Playwing
Players who wanted to engage in brutal combat atop stunning dragons could do so without impunity in Century: Age of Ashes. Players take on the role of Dragoneers as they engage in five game modes, most of which involve fierce skyward battles against other Dragoneers, while others integrate mechanics such as tower defense and point capture. Central to Century: Age of Ashes are its dragons, as players can choose dragon variants according to their class.
Aside from class-independent mounts such as the stocky Strongscale and the eagle-like Cloudsplitter, players can use bulky mounts for frontline attacks (Marauder with Bloodchaser), weather-resistant dragons for long-ranged abilities (Stormraiser with Stonesnout), or wood-like dragons for spellcasters (Thornweaver with Vinedrake). There are also dedicated class-mount pairs, such as fast fliers for support players (Windguard with Ironwing), and sleek dragons for stealth attackers (Phantom with Nightsnagger).
More
The Best Games That Let You Play As A Dragon
Want to feel mighty and breathe fire? These wonderful video games allow players to become powerful dragons.
- Video Games
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