Top 20 fairy tale video games with a dark twist

About this gallery:

For this gallery, we decided to focus on games that tell stories rooted in folklore and fairy tales (going beyond the ones Disney made famous), but with their own dark twist. While most of them lean into horror, not every game on this list fits the genre—some just have more mature themes.

Remember, this list is totally subjective! If you think we missed an essential dark fairy tale game, why not drop it in the comments? | © Neowiz Games

20. American McGee's Grimm (2008)

In American McGee’s Grimm, you get to turn sweet, innocent fairy tales into grim, dark nightmares. As Grimm, you transform colorful worlds into twisted versions of themselves, showing the true horror behind every story. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s exactly what you’d expect from a master of twisted fairy tales. | © Spicy Horse

19. Fairytale Fights (2009)

Fairytale Fights turns beloved fairy tale characters into hack-and-slash maniacs, fighting their way through a gory, blood-soaked world. It’s brutal, over-the-top, and full of twisted humor. Who knew Snow White had such a penchant for violence? | © Playlogic Entertainment

18. The Unfinished Swan (2012)

The Unfinished Swan is a whimsical fairy tale with an eerie undercurrent. As you explore a mysterious world by splattering paint to reveal your surroundings, there’s a sense of wonder mixed with unease. It’s beautiful, sure, but like most fairy tales, there’s something darker lurking beneath the surface. | © Giant Sparrow

17. Woolfe: The Red Hood Diaries (2015)

Woolfe: The Red Hood Diaries gives Little Red Riding Hood a revenge story in a dark, twisted world. Forget about baskets of goodies—this Red is out for blood. The game mixes hack-and-slash action with fairy tale elements, creating a moody, gothic adventure that redefines the classic story. | © GRIN

16. Gretel and Hansel (2009)

Gretel and Hansel takes the classic fairy tale and makes it way darker than you remember. The point-and-click adventure is filled with grim puzzles and horrifying surprises. Let’s just say that breadcrumbs aren’t the scariest thing you’ll encounter on this journey. | © Mako Pudding

15. The Path (2009)

In The Path, Red Riding Hood’s journey through the woods is reimagined as a psychological horror story. Each “Red” has her own dark fate, and the game explores themes of fear and vulnerability. It’s more about atmosphere and dread than action, but it’s one fairy tale you won’t forget anytime soon. | © Tale of Tales

14. Lost in Random (2021)

Lost in Random gives you a dark, Burton-esque world where dice decide your fate. It’s a twisted fairy tale filled with strange characters, gloomy environments, and plenty of eerie moments. This is a game that feels like a bedtime story gone wrong, in the best way possible. | © Zoink

13. The Wolf Among Us (2013)

Fables collide with noir in The Wolf Among Us, where you play as Bigby Wolf investigating a murder in a world full of fairy tale characters. It’s gritty, dark, and far from happily ever after. This is a fairy tale world where Snow White, Beauty, and the Beast are all keeping dangerous secrets. | © Telltale Games

12. Black Book (2021)

Black Book weaves Slavic folklore into a dark RPG about a young sorceress seeking power from the underworld. It’s a grim fairy tale where you’ll barter with demons and face supernatural horrors. Not exactly the kind of “magic” you’d wish for, but it’s a fascinatingly dark twist on classic folklore. | © Morteshka

11. Blacktail (2022)

Blacktail is the origin story of Baba Yaga, and it’s as dark and twisted as you’d expect from a game about a witch. You’ll make moral choices, face creepy creatures, and explore a hauntingly beautiful forest. Turns out, becoming a legendary witch is no fairy tale. | © THE PARASIGHT

10. BAD END THEATER (2021)

Fairy tales don’t always have happy endings, and BAD END THEATER makes sure of that. In this clever narrative game, you play through various grim scenarios, each one darker than the last. It’s like if your favorite fairy tale decided to go full-on Shakespearean tragedy. Good luck finding a “good” ending here. | © NomnomNami

9. The Witch's House MV (2018)

What begins as a seemingly harmless pixel-art game soon becomes a twisted horror experience. The Witch’s House MV has you solving puzzles in a cursed house where everything wants you dead. It’s a fairy tale nightmare filled with gruesome surprises and endings that’ll leave you reeling. | © Fummy

8. Cinders (2012)

Cinders is a reimagining of Cinderella, but this time, she’s no damsel in distress. The game allows you to make choices that shape the story, taking the classic fairy tale and turning it into a dark, mature narrative about ambition, manipulation, and freedom. Cinderella's glass slipper has never felt so heavy. | © MoaCube

7. Creepy Tale series (2020)

The name says it all—Creepy Tale is a series that takes fairy tales and ramps up the eerie factor. These games are filled with haunting visuals and disturbing twists on familiar folklore. What starts out as whimsical quickly becomes unnerving, making this series the perfect dose of nightmare fuel. | © Creepy Brothers

6. The Count Lucanor (2016)

This pixelated adventure puts you in the shoes of a young boy trying to survive a nightmarish castle. The Count Lucanor is a dark fairy tale through and through, with spooky puzzles and eerie characters. It's like Hansel and Gretel but with more traps and creepy creatures lurking in the shadows. | © Baroque Decay

5. Alice: Madness Returns (2011)

Alice: Madness Returns is the definition of a fairy tale gone wrong. Wonderland has never been this twisted, with Alice navigating a nightmare world filled with grotesque enemies. It’s dark, it’s weird, and it’s exactly what happens when you let a fairy tale get a little too...mad. | © Spicy Horse

4. Little Goody Two Shoes (2023)

Don’t be fooled by the innocent title—Little Goody Two Shoes is a twisted tale where being “good” leads to some pretty dark consequences. The game mixes RPG and horror elements, throwing you into a world where fairy tales go wrong at every turn. Sometimes, it’s better to be bad. | © AstralShift

3. Lies of P (2023)

Lies of P takes Pinocchio and cranks up the horror dial to 11. With a steampunk setting and twisted puppets everywhere, you’ll wish you never heard of the Blue Fairy. This is no lie—it's one of the grimmest adaptations of a classic fairy tale you’ll ever play. Say goodbye to childhood nostalgia. | © Neowiz Games

2. Slay the Princess (2023)

Forget the traditional knight-in-shining-armor saves the princess storyline. In Slay the Princess, you’re tasked with, well, slaying her. This isn’t your typical hero’s journey; it’s a psychological horror wrapped in fairy tale vibes. And believe me, that princess has a dark secret that’ll keep you guessing. | © Black Tabby Games

1. Bramble: The Mountain King (2023)

Think you’re getting a whimsical trek through Nordic folklore? Think again. Bramble: The Mountain King starts out looking like a fairy tale adventure, but quickly turns into a nightmare full of giants and creatures you wouldn’t want to meet in your darkest dreams. It’s proof that even the prettiest landscapes can hide horrifying monsters. | © Dimfrost Studio