fantasy genres
Made-up story categories
Fantasy genres are categories within fantasy fiction, distinguished by setting, tone, or subject matter.
High fantasy features epic quests in invented worlds; low fantasy sets magical elements in the real world.
Dark fantasy blends horror with fantasy; urban fantasy places supernatural beings in modern cities.
Other subgenres include sword and sorcery, grimdark, portal fantasy, and romantic fantasy.
The boundaries are porous—works often span multiple genres.
- enchanted forestSupernatural woodland of folklore
- fairy taleMagical children's narrative
- spellArrange letters correctly
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- dark lordEvil supreme antagonist
grimdark · magic system · epic · gothic · hero · hero's journey · hidden heir · coming of age · barbarian · paranormal · sword and sorcery · speculative fiction · castle · grimoire · medieval knights · princess · court intrigue · alternate reality
fantasy genresrealistic fiction
Invented yet plausible storytelling
literary realism · naturalism · social realism · kitchen sink realism · slice of life
fantasy genresrealist fiction
Stories portraying plausible events
historical fiction · biographical fiction · autobiographical fiction · docufiction · faction
fantasy genresnonfiction
Literature about real events
documentary · journalism · reportage · creative nonfiction · narrative nonfiction