We don’t really talk about how there are so many games where you can ride a dragon. Aerial mounts have been an incredible gameplay mechanic throughout the history of video games.
On the other hand, mythical creatures like dragons have always found their home in several video games. Today, we look at and discuss games that combine both of them in games where you get to ride dragons.
Games Where You Ride a Dragon
Panzer Dragoon
Obviously, we were not gonna save the most obvious one for last. When thinking about video games where you can ride dragons, Panzer Dragoon is definitely the game on everyone’s mind.
Created by SEGA, the series was an arcade hit once upon a time. Blending the fun of riding dragons and rail shooting. All the games follow different protagonists riding dragons to fight off terrifying enemies in otherworldly environments.
There’s even an RPG spin-off sub-series to the games with the title Panzer Dragoon Saga. Most of the games were lost to time until SEGA finally decided to remaster them recently.
Crimson Dragon
Since we talked about Panzer Dragoon, we must also let you know that the game was heavily influential. This led to some games taking direct inspiration and created a generation of games where you get to ride dragons.
One of these games was Crimson Dragon, which was developed by Grounding Inc. and published by Microsoft in 2013. This was actually a launch title for the Xbox One consoles, and it utilized the Xbox’s Kinect hardware peripheral.
It should also be noted that the game was not just inspired by also had several staff members of Panzer Dragoon working on it. So, in a way, Crimson Dragon was supposed to be the spiritual successor with similar gameplay elements.
Drakengard
Before Yoko Taro came to be known as the Emil Mask guy who created Nier Automata, there was Drakengard. A game set in a medieval fantasy universe where you ride and befriend dragons.
In fact, a lot of fans of the newer games of the Nier series might not be aware, but Drakengard is a part of the same series. The Nier series was born out of Drakengard as a spin-off title, making it related and part of the same lore.
The gameplay of Drakengard may involve riding dragons and battling in the air. The players are given significant control over the protagonist characters. Thus we get to see some traditional on the ground hack n slash gameplay as well.
Drakan: Order of the Flame
We have been discussing a lot of games that most people know of or remember seeing around. Now let’s talk about a game where you can ride a dragon, but it is not that well-known. Drakan: Order of the Flame is a game from 1999 and is pretty underrated.
Developed by Surreal Software, the game follows a young woman and her dragon companion named Arokh. Together, they are on a journey to save her brother from the grasp of an evil sorcerer.
The gameplay involves being able to travel and explore through vast open locations. Our protagonist is usually involved in hack-and-slash-style combat on the ground. While our dragon follows us, and we can mount it anytime, this changes the gameplay to a different perspective.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim is remembered by many as the game that kicked the Elder Scrolls RPG franchise into worldwide popularity. Even to date, a lot of gamers don’t remember the game as a part of the Elder Scrolls franchise but as ‘Skyrim.’
Even though we did put this game on the list, it should be noted that players cannot ride dragons in the base version of the game. Which is weird since dragons are central to the game, because you play as the Dragonborn.
But better late than never, the update that allowed players to ride them eventually came along with the Dragonborn DLC. Even though Skyrim is an open-world RPG, and riding dragons doesn’t really focus on a major aspect of the game.
World of Warcraft
Blizzard’s World of Warcraft is not a mysterious game that just popped out of the wind suddenly. It is a landmark video game franchise that established the MMO genre in its early days. Almost every massive online game genre owes its influence to WoW.
But what does all of this have to do with riding dragons, you may ask. Well, once you level up your own character to a certain point, you are allowed access to mounts. Mounts may vary between various mystical creatures but you do get to ride dragons.
The gameplay, however, has nothing to do with combat. So, unlike the previous games on this list, you merely use your dragon for transportation in World of Warcraft.
Monster Hunter Stories
Capcom’s Monster Hunter series is a unique video game franchise. Players get to hunt fictional and fantastical monsters. But the games are so meticulously crafted and designed that the gameplay makes it stand out.
To date, there has not been a proper competitor to the series. But Capcom was not done yet; they decided to make a spin-off out of the game. Thus, Monster Hunter Stories was created. It takes all the series’ popular creatures and puts them in a monster-collecting JRPG.
But not only do players get to collect the monsters this time, but also ride them, and you bet that includes dragons. Most of the creatures in the franchise are referred to as wyverns, which is a derivative of dragons. Although the moniker of dragons has been granted to the series’ specific and powerful monsters.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
It is a shame that Monolith Productions was just shut down in the year 2025. They delivered us with some of the best video games from the past decade. That includes the Middle-earth action adventure game franchise.
It is based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s body of works surrounding The Lord of the Rings, which is known all over the world. We are going to talk about Middle-earth: Shadow of War specifically.
It is a sequel to The Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Aside from the new additions to the already amazing gameplay, players are allowed access to rides. This can be unlocked through making progress in the game, and of course, one of the rides is a dragon.
Lair
Lair is going to be another title on this list that is about riding dragons, but is not too well-known. There’s a reason for that, because this game has been stuck in the PlayStation 3 hardware for decades.
It follows the regular structure of every medieval fantasy video game, with a setting in a world that has seen war. You follow the story of Rohn Partridge, a sky guard.
Aside from the usual nitty-gritties of grounded combat, which is pretty interesting, the game boasts some great aerial combat. This works by mounting dragons, and the cool thing about the title is that it was the first PS3 game to have a remote play function.
Century: Ages of Ashes
We have talked about how influential Panzer Dragoon was in inspiring games with 3D aerial combat and mounts. Well, its relevance is still felt in the present era of gaming, through video games such as Century: Ages of Ashes.
This is a game that takes the idea of a game, fully focusing on riding dragons, and makes it a multiplayer experience. Created by the great indie developers at Playwing LTD, the game boasts a variety of creatures to ride, including dragons.
The gameplay involves several game modes based around PvP and PvE-style designs. It can get pretty fun to play with a bunch of friends, especially if the person really enjoys games with dragons.
