When you start worldbuilding, one of the earliest decisions you will make is
which genres describe your setting.
To make that decision, you need an understanding of what genres exist, what kinds of stories or games they fit best, and which ones match your setting inspirations. If you're creating a setting for a tabletop RPG or worldbuilding-heavy novel, the two most popular choices are fantasy and sci-fi. But even within these two "big tents" of speculative fiction, there is a lot of variety. Which brings us to subgenres.
In this article, we'll cover a variety of popular fantasy subgenres. We'll define them (briefly), look at common tropes and elements, and give some examples from popular culture. This should help you hone in on which fantasy subgenre (or subgenres, in the case of a mashup), you should choose for your setting.
Let's get into it!
High Fantasy
Description: High fantasy features epic tales set in entirely fictional worlds with their own rules and systems of magic.
| Common Tropes and Elements: | Examples: |
|---|
- Complex world-building
- Epic quests and adventures
- Good vs. evil conflicts
- Diverse magical creatures and races
- Heroic characters with clear destinies
|
- Books: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
- Movies: Willow
- TV Shows: Game of Thrones
- Video Games: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- TTRPG: Dungeons & Dragons
|
Sword & Sorcery
Description: Sword & sorcery focuses on thrilling adventures featuring heroic warriors and powerful sorcerers.
| Common Tropes and Elements: | Examples: |
|---|
- Fast-paced action and combat
- Brave, often morally ambiguous heroes
- Dark magic and ancient evils
- Personal quests and smaller scale adventures
- Exotic settings and mystical artifacts
|
- Books: Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser by Fritz Leiber
- Movies: Conan the Barbarian
- TV Shows: Xena: Warrior Princess
- Video Games: Diablo series
- TTRPG: Savage Worlds, Dungeon Crawling Classics
|
Portal Fantasy / Isekai
Description: Portal fantasy, or isekai, involves characters being transported from their world into a fantastical realm.
| Common Tropes and Elements: | Examples: |
|---|
- Ordinary characters entering magical worlds
- Journey of adaptation and self-discovery
- Quests to return home or save the new world
- Inter-world conflict and culture clash
- Dual realities and hidden realms
|
- Books: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
- Movies: Alice in Wonderland
- TV Shows: Dungeons & Dragons cartoon, The Magicians
- Video Games: Brütal Legend
|
Urban Fantasy
Urban fantasy is set in contemporary, urban environments where magical or supernatural elements exist alongside the mundane.
| Common elements of urban fantasy include: | Examples: |
|---|
- Modern, urban settings with magical or supernatural elements
- Hidden magical communities and secret societies
- Ordinary people discovering extraordinary abilities
- Juxtaposition of the familiar and the fantastical
- Themes of identity, power, and hidden truths
|
- Books: The Dresden Files series, Jim Butcher
- Movies: Constantine, Bright
- TV Shows: Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Video Games: The Wolf Among Us
- TTRPG: Vampire the Masquerade, Urban Shadows
|
Wuxia Fantasy
Description: Wuxia fantasy focuses on martial artists with extraordinary abilities in ancient or mythical China.
| Common Tropes and Elements: | Examples: |
|---|
- Martial arts and swordplay
- Philosophical and ethical dilemmas
- Heroic warriors and epic battles
- Mystical techniques and inner strength
- Honor, loyalty, and personal codes
|
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (film)
- Legend of the Condor Heroes by Jin Yong
- Into the Badlands (TV series)
|
Fairy Tale
Description: Fairy tale fantasy brings to life the whimsical and moralistic stories of folklore and mythology.
| Common Tropes and Elements: | Examples: |
|---|
- Enchanted forests and magical beings
- Moral lessons and allegories
- Royalty, quests, and true love
- Wicked witches and brave heroes
- Transformations and curses
|
- Grimm's Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman
- Stardust by Neil Gaiman
|
Gaslamp Fantasy
Description: Gaslamp fantasy blends Victorian or Edwardian settings with elements of magic and the supernatural.
| Common Tropes and Elements: | Examples: |
|---|
- Victorian-era technology and aesthetics
- Supernatural occurrences and beings
- Mysteries and detective elements
- Inventors and alchemists
- Gothic and whimsical tones
|
- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
- The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger
- The Prestige (film)
|
GameLit/LitRPG
Description: GameLit and LitRPG involve characters who navigate and level up in game-like worlds, blending narrative with game mechanics.
| Common Tropes and Elements: | Examples: |
|---|
- RPG mechanics and stats
- Quests, dungeons, and leveling up
- Virtual reality or game worlds
- Character progression and skill acquisition
- Player vs. environment and player vs. player conflicts
|
- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
- Free Guy (film)
|
Mythic Fantasy
Description: Mythic fantasy draws on myths, legends, and ancient tales to build its narrative and world.
| Common Tropes and Elements: | Examples: |
|---|
- Gods, demigods, and mythical creatures
- Epic quests and heroic deeds
- Creation myths and origin stories
- Archetypal characters and themes
- Symbolism and allegory
|
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan
- The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
|
Arthurian Fantasy
Description: Arthurian fantasy revolves around the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
| Common Tropes and Elements: | Examples: |
|---|
- Camelot and the quest for the Holy Grail
- Knights, chivalry, and honor
- Merlin and other legendary figures
- Magical swords and prophecies
- Betrayal, love, and redemption
|
- The Once and Future King by T.H. White
- The Mabinogion (collection of Welsh legends)
- Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory
|
Flintlock Fantasy
Description: Flintlock fantasy merges elements of the 17th and 18th centuries with magic, featuring gunpowder and early firearms.
| Common Tropes and Elements: | Examples: |
|---|
- Musketeers and duels
- Early modern warfare with magical elements
- Political intrigue and revolution
- Colonization and exploration
- Alchemy and rudimentary science
|
- The Powder Mage series by Brian McClellan
- The Shadow Campaigns series by Django Wexler
- Pirates of the Caribbean (film series)
|
Gothic Fantasy
Description: Gothic fantasy blends horror and romance, set in dark, atmospheric worlds filled with mystery and the supernatural.
| Common Tropes and Elements: | Examples: |
|---|
- Haunted castles and manors
- Ghosts, vampires, and other supernatural beings
- Dark secrets and forbidden love
- Atmospheric and eerie settings
- Themes of madness and decay
|
- Dracula by Bram Stoker
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- Crimson Peak (film)
|
Conclusion
Creating a compelling and immersive fantasy setting requires a deep understanding of the subgenre you're working with. World Anvil offers an unparalleled platform to support world-building for any fantasy subgenre, providing tools to create detailed maps, timelines, character profiles, and much more. Whether you're crafting a novel or designing a game, World Anvil helps you bring your vision to life with precision and creativity.
Ready to start building your fantasy world?
Sign up for an account on World Anvil today and embark on your journey into the realms of magic and wonder!
