List of fantasy worlds

Last updated

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
Fantasy worlds
SettingCreatorDescriptionFirst appearanceYearMedia
Abeir-Toril Ed Greenwood The planet that serves as the setting of the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms . Darkwalker on Moonshae 1987G 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 2007T
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 2003N F
Albion Lionhead Studios Primary setting of the Fable series. Fable 2004V N
Almea Mark Rosenfelder A fantasy world built in part to house Rosenfelder's many artistic constructed languages. zompist.com 2006O
Asgard Marvel Comics realm based on Norse mythology. Journey into Mystery 1962C T F V
Avalon Marvel Comics realm based on Welsh mythology. Fantastic Four 1966C
Averoigne Clark Ashton Smith A fictional French province.The End of the Story1930N
Azeroth Blizzard Entertainment Primary setting of the Warcraft franchise. Warcraft: Orcs & Humans 1994A 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 1912N C F G
Bas-Lag China Mieville 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 2000N
Continent Andrzej Sapkowski The fantasy setting of The Witcher franchise. The Witcher 1986C F G N T V
Corona R. A. Salvatore World of The DemonWars Saga and The Highwayman The Demon Awakens 1997N
Darkover Marion Zimmer Bradley This science fantasy series is set on a planet colonized by humans, but with native intelligent races. The Planet Savers 1958N G
Deltora Emily Rodda The setting for the Deltora Quest series of children's novels The Forests of Silence 2000N A V
Destiny Islands and other worlds Square The multiple worlds that make up the setting of the Kingdom Hearts franchise. Kingdom Hearts 2002V M
Dinotopia James Gurney An island where humans and dinosaurs peacefully coexist.Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time1992N 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 1983N V M G T
Dragon World Akira Toriyama The setting of all Toriyama works, mainly Dragon Ball . Wonder Island 1979A C F T V
Dreamlands H. P. Lovecraft and othersAn alternate dimension entered only via dreams. Polaris 1918N G
Dying Earth Jack Vance A worn-out Earth with a dying Sun in the far distant future where magic prevails. The Dying Earth 1950N G
Earthsea Ursula K. Le Guin A planet consisting of numerous islands. The Word of Unbinding 1964N T R A
Emelan Tamora Pierce Setting of the Emelan series of novels Sandry's Book 1997N
Encantadia Suzette Doctolero A realm that serves as the setting for the Encantadia Filipino franchise. Encantadia 2005T 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 2010T C V
Eternia Roger Sweet The home world of the Masters of the Universe animated series.1981O 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 1985T O C
Exandria Matt Mercer Setting for the Dungeons & Dragons games played on the web series Critical Role. Critical Role 2018O G T
Filgaia Media.Vision Multiple worlds sharing the same name. The main setting of the Wild Arms series. Wild Arms 1996A 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 1977N V T
The Four Nations Michael Dante DiMartino
Bryan Konietzko
The setting of the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise Avatar: The Last Airbender 2005T F C V
Gielinor Jagex Limited Primary setting for RuneScape and Old School RuneScape . RuneScape Classic 2001V M
Glorantha Greg Stafford The setting of numerous tabletop games, including RuneQuest and HeroQuest White Bear and Red Moon 1975G V N C
Gor John Norman A planet in the Solar SystemTarnsman of Gor1966N F
Green–sky Zilpha Keatley Snyder Setting of the Green Sky Trilogy of novels Below the Root 1975N V
Greyhawk Gary Gygax A campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons . World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting 1980G N
Halkeginia Noboru Yamaguchi A world whose social structure is similar to that of medieval Europe. The Familiar of Zero 2004N 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 1997N 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 2002C 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 1932N 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 1986A 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 1997A R V
Krynn Margaret Weis , Tracy Hickman, and numerous othersSetting of the Dragonlance games and novels, Dungeons & Dragons RPG. Dragons of Despair 1984G N V C F
Kulthea (Shadow World) Terry K. Amthor Setting of the Rolemaster RPG. The Iron Wind 1980G N
The Land Stephen R. Donaldson Location of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series of novels. Lord Foul's Bane 1977N
Magic Kingdom of Landover Terry Brooks Setting for six novels and two short stories Magic Kingdom for Sale—Sold! 1986N
Lankhmar Fritz Leiber A city on the primitive world of Nehwon, home of the rogues Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser.Two Sought Adventure1939N G C
Malazan World Steven Erikson Setting of the Malazan Books of the Fallen novelsGardens of the Moon1999N
Magic: The Gathering multiverse Richard Garfield A collection of planes, including Dominaria, where most of the action occurs. Magic: The Gathering 1993G N C V
Magnamund Joe Dever , Ben Dever and Vincent Lazzari Lone Wolf gamebooks and d20 system. Flight from the Dark 1984N V G
Melniboné Michael Moorcock Island homeland of Elric of Melniboné. The Dreaming City 1961N 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 1937N 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"1998N C V F
Mushroom Kingdom Shigeru Miyamoto Primary setting of the Mario franchise. Super Mario Bros. 1985A C N T V
Myst worlds Rand Miller
Robyn Miller
Various worlds, referred to as "Ages", featured in the Myst franchise. Myst 1993V 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 1950N 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 1904P F T V R
Nirn Bethesda Game Studios The primary setting of The Elder Scrolls franchise. The Elder Scrolls: Arena 1994N V G
One Piece world (unnamed?) Eiichiro Oda A world composed of a vast ocean and a single continent. One Piece 1997A 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 1900N P F T
Pellucidar Edgar Rice Burroughs Another world 500 miles underneath the Earth's surface. At the Earth's Core 1914N 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 Search1967N 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 1987G 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 1964N F
Rifts Kevin Siembieda Setting of the Rifts role playing game by Palladium Books.Rifts: Role-Playing Game1990G 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 1995G N
Sartorias-deles Sherwood Smith Setting for many of the books by Sherwood Smith Crown Duel 1997N
Spira Yoshinori Kitase
Motomu Toriyama
The world in which Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 take place. Final Fantasy X 2001V
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 1974G N
Thedas BioWare The primary setting of the Dragon Age franchise. Dragon Age: Origins 2009V N C A G
Thieves' World Robert Asprin A collective setting for stories by numerous authors. Thieves' World 1979N T C
Titan Marc Gascoigne , Steve Jackson, Ian Livingstone Fighting Fantasy gamebooks and RPG.Titan: The Fighting Fantasy World1986G N
Tortall Tamora Pierce Setting of the Tortall series of boosk. Alanna: The First Adventure 1983N
Tyria ArenaNet Setting for the Guild Wars series. Guild Wars 2005V N
Uresia S. John Ross Anime-inspired setting for Big Eyes, Small Mouth and d20 system RPGs. Uresia: Grave of Heaven 2003G
Warhammer World Bryan Ansell
Richard Halliwell
Rick Priestley
The setting of the Warhammer franchise.Warhammer The Mass Combat Fantasy Role-Playing Game1983G 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 1996N 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 1990N C G V T
Witch World Andre Norton A world in a parallel universe where magic works. Witch World 1963N G
Wonderland Lewis Carroll An underground realm accessed through a rabbit hole. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 1865N 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"1978C 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 1991G V T C O
Xanth Piers Anthony Locale for 44 novels and counting. A Spell for Chameleon 1977N G V
Yrth Steve Jackson Games GURPS Fantasy setting Orcslayer 1985G
Zothique Clark Ashton Smith Setting of the Zothique cycle of short stories. The Empire of the Necromancers 1932N

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.