fantasy worlds
Made-up fictional places
Fantasy worlds are imaginary settings—often with magic, mythical creatures, or alternative physical laws—created for fiction, games, or role-playing.
Tolkien's Middle-earth and the universe of Dungeons & Dragons are archetypal examples.
The term can describe both the fictional places themselves and the genre of media that creates them: She's really into fantasy worlds.
Extended to mean any elaborately constructed alternate reality someone inhabits mentally: He lives in a fantasy world where he's always the victim.
- once upon a timeTraditional narrative opening
- fairy talesTraditional magical children's stories
- heroic questsCourageous journeys seeking greatness
- world-buildingCreating fictional universes
- mythical creaturesImaginary beings from folklore
imagination · epic · magic · dark lord · chosen one · parallel universes · magical realism · dreamscapes · storytelling · lore · folktales · saga · hidden kingdom · jinn · witchcraft · speculative fiction · escapism · mythology
- kids' book genresadventure tales, fairy tales, mystery stories, classic tales, chapter books
- fantasywizard, witch, magic, dragon, elf
- pretend playmake believe, pretend, pretend play, dress-up, dollhouse
- imaginary placesfictional cities, imaginary landscapes, wonderland, enchanted forest, story world
- imaginary thingsimaginary friends, make-believe, make believe, pretend, daydreams
- Inspirationsdreams, emotions, personal experiences, relationships, mentors
fantasy worldsreality
What actually exists
physical reality · everyday life · objective reality · the here and now · lived experience
fantasy worldsrealistic fiction
Invented yet plausible storytelling
realism · kitchen sink realism · social realism · historical accuracy · slice of life
fantasy worldsharsh reality
Uncomfortable actual circumstances
grim reality · real-world problems · disillusionment · facing facts · groundedness
fantasy, worldly, worlds, otherworldly, unworldly, fantastical, fantasies, fantastically, worldliness