Top 20 video games where you can play as a necromancer

About this gallery:

For this list, we’re focusing on games where you can step into the bones of a sorcerer able to raise the dead—or even command entire nations dedicated to this dark art! Just being a skeleton warrior or a dark mage isn’t enough to make the cut.

As always, we’ve limited the selection to one game per franchise. And if you think we missed an essential title about raising the dead, drop us a comment to let us know!

| © Larian Studios

20. Unferat (2023)

Unferat brings a raw, gothic twist to necromancy, where you raise minions to battle across a cursed land. The dark, atmospheric world perfectly complements the necromancer’s journey, making each summon feel meaningful in this eerie setting. It’s a gritty take on the genre, full of gloom and charm. | © Unferat Team

19. The Unliving (2023)

The Unliving combines rogue-like action with dark magic, letting you raise minions to swarm and overwhelm enemies. The game’s dynamic necromancy mechanics make every summon feel powerful, and your minions are more than just allies—they’re weapons of pure chaos. Perfect for fans of fast-paced, undead mayhem. | © RocketBrush Studio

18. Undead Horde 2: Necropolis (2024)

This action-RPG turns necromancy into pure fun, as you raise an army to conquer cities and terrorize the living. The game leans into the humor and thrill of controlling a horde, making each minion part of your quest for domination. It’s necromancy with a lighthearted twist and endless undead. | © 10tons Ltd

17. Iratus: Lord of the Dead (2020)

A tactical roguelike where you play as a necromancer out for revenge, Iratus lets you craft minions from body parts and command them in strategic battles. Each summon is part of a carefully planned offense, making necromancy both satisfying and challenging. Dark, strategic, and deliciously sinister. | © Unfrozen

16. Darksiders II (2012)

Playing as Death himself, you have access to an arsenal of necromantic abilities, summoning undead minions to fight alongside you. It’s fast-paced action with a hefty side of necromancy, making you feel powerful and unstoppable. For those who want their necromancer with a little extra brawn, this is it. | © Vigil Games

15. Graveyard Keeper (2018)

While Graveyard Keeper isn’t a pure necromancy game, it lets you reanimate corpses to work on your behalf, which feels delightfully grim. Managing your medieval graveyard with a dash of the undead adds a quirky, morbid charm. It’s necromancy-lite, with all the humor of a graveyard management sim. | © Lazy Bear Games

14. Necrosmith (2022)

This indie gem puts a quirky twist on necromancy, letting you create custom undead minions from different body parts. It’s necromancy DIY, and it’s just as fun as it sounds. You control and assemble creatures to defend your base, adding a layer of creativity to your dark summoning powers. It’s cute, chaotic, and full of undead surprises. | © Alawar

13. Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014)

Playing a necromancer mage in this fantasy RPG adds a shadowy twist to party-based combat. Summoning spirits and terrifying enemies, you’ll take on the battlefield with both skill and sinister magic. Necromancy feels at home in the world of Thedas, where every undead summon gives you an edge against forces of chaos. | © BioWare

12. Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura (2001)

This steampunk RPG gives you a truly dark take on necromancy, letting you manipulate the forces of life and death in a complex, open world. Summoning is risky and morally gray, and every decision has weight. Necromancy here isn’t just another power; it’s a dark art that will impact how the world views you. | © Sierra Studios

11. Loop Hero (2021)

Loop Hero’s approach to necromancy is all about building a self-sustaining system. Instead of summoning directly, you influence the cycle of life and death, using skeletons as your main combat tool. It’s strategic, minimalist, and oddly meditative—a perfect mix for those who enjoy a little existential necromancy. | © Four Quarters

10. Guild Wars 2 (2012)

Guild Wars 2 makes necromancy stylish, with a Reaper class that turns your necromancer into a scythe-wielding powerhouse. You can command spectral minions, enter a “death shroud” form, and unleash fear-based attacks. The Reaper feels like a modern twist on classic necromancy, blending fast-paced MMO action with dark powers. | © ArenaNet

9. Warcraft 3: Frozen Throne (2003)

The legendary expansion introduces the powerful necromancers of the Undead Scourge, letting you raise skeletons and unleash curses on a grand scale. Necromancy here isn’t just a skill; it’s a weapon of war, creating an army to terrorize the living. It’s as much about tactics as it is about power—who knew playing with corpses could be so fun? | © Blizzard Entertainment

8. Tales of Maj’Eyal (2012)

In this roguelike RPG, the necromancer path feels like a risky, dark journey with big payoffs. Mastering undead summons while navigating perma-death mechanics makes every battle a nail-biter. With unique necromantic spells and an evolving undead companion, this game makes necromancy an adventure that’s as strategic as it is eerie. It’s roguelike charm meets necromancer grit. | © DarkGod

7. Heroes of Might and Magic 3 (1999)

The classic turn-based game makes necromancy feel strategic and grand. With each battle, your undead troops grow, allowing you to amass armies of skeletons, vampires, and liches. The thrill of converting fallen enemies into allies adds an extra layer to your quest for domination. It’s vintage necromancer fun, complete with a side of epic strategy. | © 3DO

6. Grim Dawn

Grim Dawn takes necromancy to grim new heights, letting you mix dark spells with brawn in a gritty world. As a necromancer, you get to summon spectral minions or drain life from foes to power up. The apocalyptic setting only adds to the thrill, making you feel like the true master of death in a world already on the brink. Dark, intense, and oh-so-satisfying. | © Crate Entertainment

5. Boneraiser Minions (2022)

This indie game is all about raising minions as quickly as possible and letting chaos ensue. With every skeleton you summon, you’re stacking an undead swarm ready to defend your turf. The mechanics are fast-paced and fun, turning necromancy into an art of frantic, strategic defense. For a game that’s all about raising the dead, it’s refreshingly light-hearted and humorously chaotic. | © Caiysware

4. Total War: Warhammer 2 (2017)

If commanding massive undead armies is your idea of necromancer bliss, this strategy game delivers. Playing as the Vampire Counts or Tomb Kings, you get to raise legions of skeletons, zombies, and monstrous creatures in an epic fight against the living. It’s not just about summoning but managing and positioning your shambling horde strategically. This game makes necromancy feel downright royal. | © Creative Assembly

3. Diablo 2 (2000)

As one of the most iconic necromancer experiences, Diablo 2 nails the joy of summoning skeletons and even towering golems. Whether you’re raising a literal army or using curses to weaken foes, this classic game turns the battlefield into your macabre playground. It’s all about dark ritual and ruthless control, and nothing says power like an entourage of loyal undead. | © Blizzard Entertainment

2. Skyrim (2011)

With Skyrim’s versatile Conjuration skill, necromancy feels like an art form. You can raise draugrs, skeletons, and even powerful mages to fight by your side, which feels particularly chilling when doing so in the dark Nordic landscapes. Add in mods, and you’ve got an arsenal of necromantic spells to make you the most feared presence in Tamriel. For a lone wanderer, commanding an undead horde has never felt so rewarding. | © Bethesda Game Studios

1. Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)

This RPG juggernaut takes the classic necromancer concept and lets you craft it exactly how you want. Whether summoning undead allies or draining the life from enemies, Baldur’s Gate 3 makes playing a necromancer feel like crafting a dark legacy. Each summon and spell has weight, and the reactions of your companions add to the thrill of wielding forbidden powers. This isn’t just a class—it’s a commitment to spooky magic. | © Larian Studios