List of fantasy worlds
Appearance
This is a list of fictional fantasy worlds and lands. The best-known lands or worlds, not necessarily the most encompassing, are listed. For example, Middle-earth is only a region of Arda in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe, but it is far better known.
Media key:
- Listed in the table in chronological order.
- A: anime and manga
- C: comics and graphic novels
- F: films
- G: tabletop games
- N: novels and short stories
- O: other
- P: plays
- R: radio
- T: television
- V: video games
Setting | Creator | Description | First appearance | Year | Media |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abeir-Toril | Ed Greenwood | The planet that serves as the setting of the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms. | Darkwalker on Moonshae | 1987 | G N C V F |
Adventure Time world (Land of Ooo) | Pendleton Ward | In a world, besides composed of a vast ocean and a single continent, some planets and several parallel universes. | Adventure Time | 2007 | T |
Archipelago | Katherine Rundell | A series or islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. | Impossible Creatures Book | 2023 | C |
Alagaësia | Christopher Paolini | A continent in Christopher Paolini's The Inheritance Cycle and in The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm (Tales from Alagaësia). | Eragon | 2003 | N F |
Albion | Lionhead Studios | Primary setting of the Fable series. | Fable | 2004 | V N |
Almea | Mark Rosenfelder | A fantasy world built in part to house Rosenfelder's many artistic constructed languages. | zompist.com | 2006 | O |
Asgard | Marvel Comics realm based on Norse mythology. | Journey into Mystery | 1962 | C T F V | |
Avalon | Marvel Comics realm based on Welsh mythology. | Fantastic Four | 1966 | C | |
Averoigne | Clark Ashton Smith | A fictional French province. | The End of the Story | 1930 | N |
Azeroth | Blizzard Entertainment | Primary setting of the Warcraft franchise. | Warcraft: Orcs & Humans | 1994 | A C F G V N |
Barsoom | Edgar Rice Burroughs | A version of Mars inhabited by various species of intelligent life | Under the Moons of Mars | 1912 | N C F G |
Bas-Lag | China Miéville | Setting of several China Miéville novels, a world where both magic and steampunk technology exist; and many intelligent races live. It is influenced by the tropes of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. | Perdido Street Station | 2000 | N |
Continent | Andrzej Sapkowski | The fantasy setting of The Witcher franchise. | The Witcher | 1986 | C F G N T V |
Corona | R. A. Salvatore | World of The DemonWars Saga and The Highwayman | The Demon Awakens | 1997 | N |
Darkover | Marion Zimmer Bradley | This science fantasy series is set on a planet colonized by humans, but with native intelligent races. | The Planet Savers | 1958 | N G |
Deltora | Emily Rodda | The setting for the Deltora Quest series of children's novels | The Forests of Silence | 2000 | N A V |
Destiny Islands and other worlds | Square | The multiple worlds that make up the setting of the Kingdom Hearts franchise. | Kingdom Hearts | 2002 | V M |
Dinotopia | James Gurney | An island where humans and dinosaurs peacefully coexist. | Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time | 1992 | N T F V |
Discworld | Terry Pratchett | A vast disc of land resting on four elephants which stand on a giant turtle. Setting of the Discworld series. |
The Colour of Magic | 1983 | N V M G T |
Draenor (Outland) | Blizzard Entertainment | Homeworld of the orcs and ogres in the Warcraft franchise. Connected to Azeroth via the dark portal. | Warcraft: Orcs & Humans | 1994 | A C F G V N |
Dragon World | Akira Toriyama | The setting of all Toriyama works, mainly Dragon Ball. | Wonder Island | 1979 | A C F T V |
Dreamlands | H. P. Lovecraft and others | An alternate dimension entered only via dreams. | Polaris | 1918 | N G |
Dying Earth | Jack Vance | A worn-out Earth with a dying Sun in the far distant future where magic prevails. | The Dying Earth | 1950 | N G |
Earthsea | Ursula K. Le Guin | A planet consisting of numerous islands. | The Word of Unbinding | 1964 | N T R A |
Emelan | Tamora Pierce | Setting of the Emelan series of novels | Sandry's Book | 1997 | N |
Encantadia | Suzette Doctolero | A realm that serves as the setting for the Encantadia Filipino franchise. | Encantadia | 2005 | T F V |
Equestria | Lauren Faust | The setting of the fourth and fifth generations of the My Little Pony franchise. | My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic | 2010 | T C V |
Eternia | Roger Sweet | The home world of the Masters of the Universe animated series. | 1981 | O C N V T F | |
Etheria | Larry DiTillio J. Michael Straczynski |
The mythical world of the She-Ra: Princess of Power animated series. | She-Ra: Princess of Power | 1985 | T O C |
Exandria | Matt Mercer | Setting for the Dungeons & Dragons games played on the web series Critical Role. | Critical Role | 2018 | O G T |
Filgaia | Media.Vision | Multiple worlds sharing the same name. The main setting of the Wild Arms series. | Wild Arms | 1996 | A V |
The Four Lands | Terry Brooks | The post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest following a nuclear holocaust is the setting for the Shannara novel series | The Sword of Shannara | 1977 | N V T |
The Four Nations | Michael Dante DiMartino Bryan Konietzko |
The setting of the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise | Avatar: The Last Airbender | 2005 | T F C V |
Gielinor | Jagex Limited | Primary setting for RuneScape and Old School RuneScape. | RuneScape Classic | 2001 | V M |
Glorantha | Greg Stafford | The setting of numerous tabletop games, including RuneQuest and HeroQuest | White Bear and Red Moon | 1975 | G V N C |
Gor | John Norman | A planet in the Solar System | Tarnsman of Gor | 1966 | N F |
Green–sky | Zilpha Keatley Snyder | Setting of the Green Sky Trilogy of novels | Below the Root | 1975 | N V |
Greyhawk | Gary Gygax | A campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons. | World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting | 1980 | G N |
Halkeginia | Noboru Yamaguchi | A world whose social structure is similar to that of medieval Europe. | The Familiar of Zero | 2004 | N A |
Fictional universe of Harry Potter | J. K. Rowling | The Wizarding World co-exists with and is mainly hidden from the mundane world of the non-magical Muggles. | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | 1997 | N F G P |
The Homelands | Bill Willingham | Setting of the Fables comics and spin-offs based on fairy tales, folklore, and nursery rhymes. | Legends in Exile | 2002 | C V |
Hyborian Age | Robert E. Howard | A fictional prehistoric period of Earth's history placed by most around 10,000 BC, in which Conan the Barbarian rampaged. | The Phoenix on the Sword | 1932 | N C G F V T |
Hyrule | Shigeru Miyamoto Takashi Tezuka |
A kingdom that is the main setting of The Legend of Zelda franchise. | The Legend of Zelda | 1986 | A C N T V |
Ivalice | Yasumi Matsuno | Setting of multiple video games, including Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and Final Fantasy XII. | Final Fantasy Tactics | 1997 | A R V |
Krynn | Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, and numerous others | Setting of the Dragonlance games and novels, Dungeons & Dragons RPG. | Dragons of Despair | 1984 | G N V C F |
Kulthea (Shadow World) | Terry K. Amthor | Setting of the Rolemaster RPG. | The Iron Wind | 1980 | G N |
The Land | Stephen R. Donaldson | Location of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series of novels. | Lord Foul's Bane | 1977 | N |
Magic Kingdom of Landover | Terry Brooks | Setting for six novels and two short stories | Magic Kingdom for Sale—Sold! | 1986 | N |
Lankhmar | Fritz Leiber | A city on the primitive world of Nehwon, home of the rogues Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. | Two Sought Adventure | 1939 | N G C |
Malazan World | Steven Erikson | Setting of the Malazan Books of the Fallen novels | Gardens of the Moon | 1999 | N |
Magic: The Gathering multiverse | Richard Garfield | A collection of planes, including Dominaria, where most of the action occurs. | Magic: The Gathering | 1993 | G N C V |
Magnamund | Joe Dever, Ben Dever and Vincent Lazzari | Lone Wolf gamebooks and d20 system. | Flight from the Dark | 1984 | N V G |
Melniboné | Michael Moorcock | Island homeland of Elric of Melniboné. | The Dreaming City | 1961 | N C G |
Middle-earth | J. R. R. Tolkien | The setting for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. See also Arda, of which Middle-earth is a part. | The Hobbit | 1937 | N P F R C G V |
Mid-World | Stephen King | The setting for King's The Dark Tower novel series | "The Little Sisters of Eluria" | 1998 | N C V F |
Mushroom Kingdom | Shigeru Miyamoto | Primary setting of the Mario franchise. | Super Mario Bros. | 1985 | A C N T V |
Myst worlds | Rand Miller Robyn Miller |
Various worlds, referred to as "Ages", featured in the Myst franchise. | Myst | 1993 | V N C G |
Mystara | Lawrence Schick, Tom Moldvay et al. | Setting of the Dungeons & Dragons RPG, initially the Known World.[1] | The Isle of Dread[1] | 1981[1] | G N V |
Narnia | C. S. Lewis | Setting for The Chronicles of Narnia series of children's novels. | The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | 1950 | N T R P F |
Neverland | J. M. Barrie | A fictional island, home to Peter Pan. | Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up | 1904 | P F T V R |
Nirn | Bethesda Game Studios | The primary setting of The Elder Scrolls franchise. | The Elder Scrolls: Arena | 1994 | N V G |
One Piece world (unnamed?) | Eiichiro Oda | A world composed of a vast ocean and a single continent. | One Piece | 1997 | A V N |
Land of Oz | L. Frank Baum | A magical country in which 14 Baum children's novels are set. | The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | 1900 | N P F T |
Pellucidar | Edgar Rice Burroughs | Another world 500 miles underneath the Earth's surface. | At the Earth's Core | 1914 | N C F T |
Pern | Anne McCaffrey | A planet settled by humans using spaceships. Setting for the science fantasy Dragonriders of Pern series. Note that McCaffrey considered herself a writer of science fiction, not fantasy. | Weyr Search | 1967 | N G C V |
Planescape Multiverse | TSR, Inc. | The planes of existence beyond the standard worlds of the Dungeons & Dragons game, most detailed in the Planescape setting. | Manual of the Planes | 1987 | G N V |
Prydain | Lloyd Alexander | The country of The Chronicles of Prydain, consisting of five children's novels and assorted short stories. | The Book of Three | 1964 | N F |
Rifts | Kevin Siembieda | Setting of the Rifts role playing game by Palladium Books. | Rifts: Role-Playing Game | 1990 | G N V |
Rokugan | John Zinser et al. | Setting of Legend of the Five Rings, based on historical East Asian cultures.[2] | Legend of the Five Rings collectible card game | 1995 | G N |
Sanctuary | Blizzard Entertainment | Setting for the dark fantasy video game series Diablo | Diablo | 1997 | C N V |
Sartorias-deles | Sherwood Smith | Setting for many of the books by Sherwood Smith | Crown Duel | 1997 | N |
Spira | Yoshinori Kitase Motomu Toriyama |
The world in which Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 take place. | Final Fantasy X | 2001 | V |
Tékumel | M. A. R. Barker | A technological world is suddenly cast into a "pocket dimension". Reversing the usual sequence of events, Barker spent decades building his elaborate, detailed world before designing the initial tabletop role-playing game. | Empire of the Petal Throne | 1974 | G N |
Thedas | BioWare | The primary setting of the Dragon Age franchise. | Dragon Age: Origins | 2009 | V N C A G |
Thieves' World | Robert Asprin | A collective setting for stories by numerous authors. | Thieves' World | 1979 | N T C |
Titan | Marc Gascoigne, Steve Jackson, Ian Livingstone | Fighting Fantasy gamebooks and RPG. | Titan: The Fighting Fantasy World | 1986 | G N |
Tortall | Tamora Pierce | Setting of the Tortall series of boosk. | Alanna: The First Adventure | 1983 | N |
Tyria | ArenaNet | Setting for the Guild Wars series. | Guild Wars | 2005 | V N |
Uresia | S. John Ross | Anime-inspired setting for Big Eyes, Small Mouth and d20 system RPGs. | Uresia: Grave of Heaven | 2003 | G |
Warhammer World | Bryan Ansell Richard Halliwell Rick Priestley |
The setting of the Warhammer franchise. | Warhammer The Mass Combat Fantasy Role-Playing Game | 1983 | G N V C |
Westeros | George R. R. Martin | The continent in which most of the A Song of Ice and Fire series takes place. | A Game of Thrones | 1996 | N T C V |
The World of the Wheel | Robert Jordan | Also referred to as "The Randlands", the setting of The Wheel of Time series. | The Eye of the World | 1990 | N C G V T |
Witch World | Andre Norton | A world in a parallel universe where magic works. | Witch World | 1963 | N G |
Wonderland | Lewis Carroll | An underground realm accessed through a rabbit hole. | Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | 1865 | N P F C T |
World of Two Moons | Wendy and Richard Pini | An Earth-like world, the setting of the Elfquest comic book series. | "Fire and Flight" | 1978 | C G |
World of Darkness | Mark Rein-Hagen | Setting of the series of tabletop role-playing games of the same name, where "vampires, werewolves, and wizards lurking behind our mundane reality."[3] | Vampire: The Masquerade | 1991 | G V T C O |
Xanth | Piers Anthony | Locale for 44 novels and counting. | A Spell for Chameleon | 1977 | N G V |
Yrth | Steve Jackson Games | GURPS Fantasy setting | Orcslayer | 1985 | G |
Zothique | Clark Ashton Smith | Setting of the Zothique cycle of short stories. | The Empire of the Necromancers | 1932 | N |
See also
[edit]- Imaginary world
- Simulated reality
- Planets in science fiction
- List of fictional shared universes in film and television
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Witwer, Michael; Newman, Kyle; Peterson, Jonathan; Witwer, Sam; Manganiello, Joe (October 2018). Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: a visual history. Ten Speed Press. p. 131. ISBN 9780399580949. OCLC 1033548473.
- ^ Miranda, Iván Pérez, and Severiano Acosta Del Río. "Mitología, cultura popular y juegos de rol." El Futuro del Pasado: revista electrónica de historia 7 (2016): 219-237.
- ^ Williams, Ian G. (2014-06-05). "World of Darkness - the inside story on the death of a game". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
Further reading
[edit]- Wolf, Mark J. P. (14 March 2014). Building Imaginary Worlds: The Theory and History of Subcreation. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-22081-4.