Fantasy is one of the most popular fiction genres available, and thus has quite the range of subgenres within it. For something to be considered to be part of the fantasy genre, all it needs is some story of supernatural or magical elements within the story. Although some of the most popular fantasy authors of all time mostly focused on vast magical realms, the genre has really evolved well beyond that over the last 100 years or so. Some of the most popular fantasy novels ever written are from the modern era thanks to movies, TV shows, and even fantasy audiobooks drawing readers in.
Fantasy Subgenres at a Glance
| Subgenre | Overview | Example |
|---|---|---|
| High Fantasy | Set in a magical environment with a heavy magic presence and its own separate physical laws. Also known as epic fantasy | The Lord of the Rings Books |
| Low Fantasy | Set in the real world and includes unexpected magical elements that normal people are surprised by. | Harry Potter Books |
| Romantasy | Set in a magical world but with a heavy focus on romance over fantasy elements. | A Court of Thorns and Roses |
| LitRPG Fantasy | Set in a magical world with video game elements often tied to leveling up. | Dungeon Crawler Carl Books |
| Dystopian Fantasy | Set in a world where things have gone wrong. Often reflects societal fears like authoritarianism or environmental destruction. | The Hunger Games Books |
| Sci-Fi Fantasy | Set in a world that combines elements of magic with scientific advancements. | Red Rising Books |
| Urban Fantasy | Similar to low fantasy, it combines classic fantasy elements with a contemporary setting. | The Dresden Files |
| Sword and Sorcery | Set in a fantasy world where sword-wielding heroes go on violent adventures. | A Song of Ice and Fire |
| Progression Fantasy | Set in a magical world where the primary driving source of the narrative is the accumulation of power. | Unsouled |
| Dark Fantasy | Set in a magical world that combines horror and fantasy elements. | The Black Tongue Thief |
| Superhero Fantasy | Set in a low fantasy world where characters have supernatural abilities. | Invincible Comics |
| Crossworlds Fantasy | Involves characters transporting from a normal world to a magical one. Also known as a Portal fantasy. | The Chronicles of Narnia |
| Fairy Tales | Typically set in a distant magical world specifically built with children in mind. | The Princess Bride |
| Cozy Fantasy | A lower stakes fantasy story that focuses on slice-of-life scenarios. | Beware of Chicken |
| Paranormal Fantasy | A subset of Urban Fantasy that focuses on paranormal creates: Vampires, Ghosts, Werewolves, etc. | The Twilight Saga |
| Magical School | A classic trope featured in many fantasy genres where the main character attends some sort of magical school or academy. | Stormfell Academy |
Science Fiction vs. Fantasy: How Do the Genres Differ?
Science fiction and fantasy often go hand-in-hand in the literary world and beyond. Many books in the LitRPG genre, for example, will combine elements of magic and science to create something that blends the genres together. We also see this with some of the biggest names in the fantasy genre, like Brandon Sanderson and his Cosmere series. Despite often being lumped together, however, sci-fi and fantasy are two distinct genres.
The easiest way to separate the two is to look at whether the story is powered more focused on magic or science-based universes:
- Fantasy - Focuses on worlds that are governed primarily by magic.
- Science-Fiction - Focuses primarily on worlds that are governed by scientific advancements
