From Middle-earth to Hyrule, from the Cosmere to Earthsea, we’re celebrating some of the most imaginative fantasy worlds from books, TV, and beyond.
There’s nothing like starting a new fantasy adventure. From Middle-earth to Malazan, great fantasy authors create worlds full of fantastical creatures, chaotic magic, and dense histories. Sometimes, the worlds can be more interesting than the stories happening in them, and can be a pleasure to get lost in.
Some fantasy worlds are rooted deeply in real medieval history, with knights and castles everywhere. Many more draw from medieval myth, complete with wizards, sorceresses, and a smattering of humanoid species. Sometimes an author goes in a completely different direction and creates an entirely new and original world. Others take common tropes and breathe new life into them.
There’s no right way to build a fantasy world, but when it works, there’s little else like it. Here are 14 of the most imaginative and exhilarating fantasy worlds we’ve been lucky enough to explore.
1. Tamriel, from The Elder Scrolls
All who wander are not lost, and this is one of the best fantasy worlds in which to aimlessly wander.
There have been a number of different Elder Scrolls video games from developer Bethesda over the years, starting with The Elder Scrolls: Arena on PC in 1994 right up to the current generation of consoles. Throughout the years, players have journeyed across the nine provinces of Tamriel, learning additional information about Tamrielic history as the series moved forward.
The most prominent entries in the series — Skyrim, Oblivion and Morrowind — show off massively detailed worlds that have everything from snow-capped mountains to volcanic islands to lush forests. There are unique races like the Argonians, Khajiit and Dunmer; maleficent deities like Daedra and Aedra; and more. The people and lore of Tamriel are also captivating, and Bethesda is always making more, so the world is always expanding.
Tamriel is the kind of place you want to learn more about the more you explore, and it provides plenty of opportunities. There are actually lots of in-universe books to read that expand on the lore, ranging from simple stories to letters to notes and journals that assist on quests. All of them gives players more opportunity to learn about the culture and history of this ever-evolving fantasy world.