The Most Popular Fantasy, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the fantasy you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 9, 2024 06:37
People around the world often gravitate towards stories that spark their imagination and provide an escape from the mundane aspects of daily life. Fantasy genres, with their intricate worlds and mesmerizing narratives, offer just that. However, the sheer number of options available can make it overwhelming to identify which stories are truly resonant and captivating.
By participating in this community-driven ranking, each user contributes to a collective evaluation of what is considered top-tier in fantastical storytelling. This not only helps new enthusiasts identify where to start their adventure but also engages seasoned fans in discussions about the merits of different tales. Your votes shape the current trends and opinions within the fantasy community.
What Is the Most Popular Fantasy?
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177votesDragons are one of the most popular fantasy creatures, appearing in many different forms of media including books, movies, and video games. They are often depicted as powerful and intelligent creatures with a variety of abilities such as breathing fire, flight, and telepathy.
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222votesElves are another popular fantasy creature, often depicted as graceful and otherworldly beings with pointed ears and a deep connection to nature. They are commonly associated with magic, archery, and longevity.Elves are a race of humanoid creatures in Sonaria's Creatures. They are known for their graceful appearance and magical abilities. With pointed ears, slender bodies, and ethereal beauty, elves captivate the imagination of many. Although they are generally portrayed as tall and elegant beings, their physical characteristics can vary depending on different adaptions and interpretations.
- Lifespan: Several centuries
- Height: Average between 5'5" to 6'2"
- Weight: Average between 100 to 180 pounds
- Ears: Pointed and often more elongated than humans
- Magic Affinity: Highly skilled in magic, especially nature-based and elemental magic
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316votesMagic is a key element in many fantasy stories, allowing characters to perform supernatural feats and manipulate reality. It can take many different forms, from spells and potions to supernatural beings and artifacts.Magic is a captivating circus act that enchants and mystifies the audience through the performance of extraordinary feats that appear to defy the laws of nature. It is a combination of illusion, sleight of hand, and theatricality, designed to leave spectators spellbound and entertained.
- Misdirection: Magic tricks often rely on directing the audience's attention away from the secret move or method.
- Illusions: Magic involves creating illusions that deceive the audience's perception of reality.
- Sleight of Hand: Magicians use skillful hand movements and dexterity to manipulate objects, seemingly defying their properties.
- Props: A variety of props such as cards, rings, hats, and boxes are used in magic tricks to create mystery and wonder.
- Escapes: Some magicians specialize in daring escape acts, where they free themselves from restraints or dangerous situations.
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413votesWizards are powerful magic-users who often play central roles in fantasy stories. They are typically depicted as wise and knowledgeable, but also capable of great power and danger.The Wizards is a popular fantasy series set in a magical world filled with wizards, mythical creatures, and epic adventures. The story follows a group of skilled wizards as they traverse dangerous landscapes, battle powerful enemies, and ultimately seek to restore balance to their world.
- Genre: Fantasy
- Publication Year: 1977 - present
- Setting: Magical world
- Main Characters: Skilled wizards
- Themes: Adventure, magic, good vs evil
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516votesSwords are a common weapon in fantasy stories, often imbued with magical properties or wielded by skilled warriors. They are often used in epic battles between good and evil.Swords is a popular fantasy setting that revolves around epic adventures, valiant heroes, and ancient conflicts. It is characterized by a rich world filled with diverse creatures, magical elements, and fierce battles. The central theme of Swords is the use of swords as the primary weapon of choice for warriors, emphasizing the strength, skill, and bravery required to wield them effectively.
- Setting: Fantasy world
- Weapon: Swords
- Theme: Epic adventures
- Heroes: Valiant
- Conflict: Ancient
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68votesFaeries are mystical creatures often associated with nature and magic. They are typically depicted as mischievous and whimsical, but also capable of great power and danger.Faeries is a popular fantasy concept that involves supernatural and mythical beings known as faeries or fairies. These creatures are often depicted as small, magical entities with human-like appearances, possessing a range of magical powers and abilities. Faeries are commonly associated with enchantment, mischief, and the natural world, and can be found in various folklore and mythology around the world.
- Origin: Faeries have roots in ancient folklore and mythology, with various cultural interpretations and depictions.
- Appearance: Faeries are often depicted as small, humanoid beings with insect-like wings, and they possess an ethereal and otherworldly beauty.
- Magic: Faeries are known for their strong connection to magic and often have the ability to enchant or cast spells, manipulate nature, and grant wishes.
- Personality: Faeries are often portrayed as mischievous, playful, and sometimes capricious creatures. However, they can also be wise, protective, or vengeful depending on the folklore or narrative.
- Habitat: Faeries are typically associated with natural environments such as forests, meadows, or bodies of water, often living in hidden or secluded places.
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712votesQuests are a common element in fantasy stories, with characters journeying to far-off lands in search of treasure, knowledge, or a way to save their kingdom. These journeys often involve obstacles and challenges that the characters must overcome.Quests is a type of narrative structure commonly found in fantasy literature, films, and games. It typically involves a protagonist or a group of characters embarking on a journey to achieve a specific goal or complete a mission. The quest often brings together various elements such as adventure, magic, mythical creatures, and moral challenges. It serves as a central plot device in many fantasy stories, providing a framework for character development and exploration of fantastical worlds.
- Hero's Journey: A protagonist undergoes a transformative journey, facing various obstacles, and returning with newfound knowledge and growth.
- Call to Adventure: The protagonist receives a quest or a challenge that sets the story in motion.
- Quest Objectives: The protagonist has specific tasks or objectives they must complete to succeed on their quest.
- Allies and Companions: The protagonist often gathers a group of allies or companions to aid them on their journey.
- Villains and Adversaries: The protagonist encounters various villains or adversaries who oppose their progress.
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89votes
Friedrich Johann Justin Bertuch (1747-1822) · Public domainThere are many different types of mythical creatures that appear in fantasy stories, from unicorns and griffins to centaurs and mermaids. These creatures often have supernatural abilities and play important roles in the stories they appear in.Mythical creatures are legendary beings that are often featured in mythology, folklore, and fantasy literature. They are typically depicted as beings with extraordinary abilities or characteristics that are beyond the realms of the physical world.- Origin: Mythical creatures originate from different cultures and have been created by various authors over time.
- Diversity: They come in a wide range of forms, including dragons, unicorns, griffins, mermaids, centaurs, and many more.
- Extraordinary Abilities: Mythical creatures often possess supernatural powers, such as the ability to fly, breathe fire, shape-shift, or possess great strength.
- Symbolism: These creatures often carry symbolic significance, representing virtues, vices, or natural forces in different cultures and mythologies.
- Cultural Significance: Throughout history, mythical creatures have played important roles in the folklore, religion, and artistic expressions of various cultures.
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95votesDark magic is a common theme in fantasy stories, with characters using forbidden spells and rituals to gain power or control over others. This often leads to conflict and danger for the characters involved.Dark magic is a powerful and dangerous form of magic that taps into dark forces and energies. It is often associated with malevolence, destruction, and the manipulation of dark elements. Dark magic is known for its corrupting influence on those who practice it, as it requires the user to channel negative emotions and embrace their darker instincts. It is typically employed by villains or individuals seeking ultimate power and control.
- Manipulation of Shadows: Dark magic allows the user to manipulate shadows, creating darkness, hiding in shadows, or even animating shadows to do their bidding.
- Necromancy: Practitioners of dark magic often have the ability to commune with the dead, raising and controlling undead creatures.
- Curse Casting: Dark magic is frequently associated with casting curses or hexes, bringing misfortune or afflictions upon their targets.
- Summoning Dark Creatures: Dark magic users can summon terrifying and malevolent creatures from other realms, using them as minions or weapons.
- Mind Control: One of the most notorious abilities of dark magic is the power to control and manipulate the minds of others, forcing them to do the caster's bidding.
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1011votesProphecies are often used in fantasy stories to add a sense of destiny and fate to the plot. Characters may be guided by prophecies or seek to fulfill them, often with unpredictable consequences.Prophecies is a captivating fantasy series that delves into the epic struggle between good and evil. It is set in a mystical world filled with magic, mythical creatures, and ancient prophecies that shape the fate of its inhabitants. The story follows a group of heroic individuals who are destined to fulfill the prophecies and protect the realm from impending darkness.
- Genre: Fantasy
- Number of Books: 5
- Main Characters: 6
- Setting: Mystical world
- Magic System: Elemental magic
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Ranking factors for popular fantasy
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Storytelling and world-buildingA popular fantasy should have a well-crafted, engaging storyline with a strong narrative arc and unique, immersive world-building.
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Memorable charactersThe characters should be vivid, likable, and relatable, with well-developed personalities, motivations, and growth arcs.
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Strong themes and messagesA great fantasy should explore universal themes, such as good versus evil, courage, friendship, love, and sacrifice, in a thought-provoking and meaningful way.
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Originality and innovationA popular fantasy should bring something new to the table, either in terms of its setting, plot, themes, or imaginative elements that set it apart from other works in the genre.
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Writing style and proseThe writing should be engaging and well-crafted, with a distinctive voice and vivid descriptions that bring the story and its world to life.
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Pacing and suspenseA popular fantasy should have a strong rhythm, balancing action, exposition, and character development to maintain reader interest and create tension and suspense.
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Emotional impactA successful fantasy should elicit strong emotions and resonate with readers, allowing them to connect with the characters' struggles and experiences.
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Popularity and receptionA popular fantasy should have a broad appeal and a large, dedicated fan base, as well as positive reviews and critical acclaim from both readers and critics.
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Impact on the genreA popular fantasy should have a lasting influence on the genre, whether by inspiring other authors, setting new trends, or contributing to the development of the genre in some way.
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Adaptations and multimedia presenceA popular fantasy may also be recognized for its adaptations, such as films, TV series, or video games, and its presence across various media platforms.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular fantasy. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or fantasy is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1259 views
- 188 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each fantasy once every 24 hours. The rank of each fantasy is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that typically involves magical or supernatural elements, imaginary creatures, and mystical worlds. It has been a popular genre for centuries, with stories of magic and mythical creatures dating back to ancient times. Today, fantasy literature and media continue to captivate audiences of all ages, with popular franchises like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones. From epic battles to magical spells, fantasy offers a unique form of escapism that allows readers and viewers to explore imaginative worlds and characters beyond the constraints of reality. With so many different sub-genres and themes, from high fantasy to urban fantasy, there is truly something for everyone in the world of fantasy.
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