This list contains a variety of notable examples of low fantasy fiction. Low fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy defined by being set in the primary world as opposed to a secondary world like high fantasy. They are organized by alphabetical order by the author's last name. A separate section is included for non-print media.
Works
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.B
- Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
- The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
- The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
C
- Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
- The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
D
- The Bewitching Season by Melissa Doyle
G
- Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
- The Doll's House by Rumer Godden
- Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
L
N
P
S
- The Hussite Trilogy by Andrzej Sapkowski
- The Viper by Andrzej Sapkowski
Other media
Literature
- The Green Mile by Stephen King
- The Owl Service by Alan Garner
- Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
- The Idhún's Memories by Laura Gallego
Comics
- Fables by Bill Willingham
- Hellblazer by Alan Moore and Stephen R. Bissette
- Preacher by Garth Ennis, Glenn Fabry and Steve Dillon
Gaming
- The Cat Lady
- White Wolf Publishing's "World of Darkness" setting, including:
- Vampire: The Masquerade (1991)
- Werewolf: The Apocalypse (1992)
- Mage: The Ascension (1993)
In the sense mentioned above of focusing on ordinary people and events and downplaying magic, rather than the sense of taking place in the primary world:
Television
- I Dream of Jeannie (1965–1970)
- Forever Knight (1992–1996)
- Kindred: The Embraced (1996)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)
- Charmed (1998–2006)
- Supernatural (2005–2020)
- True Blood (2008–2014)
- Lost Girl (2010-2015)
- Evermoor (2014, 2015–present)
- Man Seeking Woman (2015-2017)
Literature
- Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers (1934-1988)
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (1964)
- Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono (1985)
- Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (1990)
- Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling (1997-2007)
- The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (2000-present)
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2001)
- Anansi Boys (2005)
- Shakugan no Shana by Yashichiro Takahashi (2002-2012)
- Baccano! by Ryōgo Narita (2003-present)
- A Certain Magical Index by Kazuma Kamachi (2004-2010)
- Durarara!! by Ryōgo Narita (2004-2014)
- Camp Half-Blood chronicles by Rick Riordan (2005-present)
- Monogatari by Nisio Isin (2005-present)
- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (2005-2008)
- Fate Series
- Fate/Zero by Gen Urobuchi (2006-2007)
- Fate/Apocrypha by Yūichirō Higashide (2012-2014)
- Fate/strange fake by Ryōgo Narita (2015-Present)
- Squid Girl by Masahiro Anbe (2007-2016)
- The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan (2010-2012)
- Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan (2015-2017)
Comics
- Fist of the North Star by Buronson (1983-1988)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki (1987-present)
- Ranma ½ by Rumiko Takahashi (1987-1996)
- Yu Yu Hakusho by Yoshihiro Togashi (1990-1994)
- Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi (1991-1997)
- Cardcaptor Sakura by Clamp (1996-2000)
- Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi (1996-2008)
- Shaman King by Hiroyuki Takei (1998-2004)
- Bleach by Tite Kubo (2001-2016)
- Negima! Magister Negi Magi by Ken Akamatsu (2003-2012)
- UQ Holder! (2013-present)
- D.Gray-man by Katsura Hoshino (2004-present)
- Reborn! by Akira Amano (2004-present)
- Soul Eater by Atsushi Ōkubo (2004-2013)
- Black Butler by Yana Toboso (2006-present)
- Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya by Hiroshi Hiroyama (2007-2008)
- Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama (2009-present)
- Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato (2009-present)
- Tokyo Ghoul by Sui Ishida (2011-2014)
- Tokyo Ghoul (2013)
- Tokyo Ghoul:re (2014-present)
Film and television
Live action
- Ghostbusters by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis (1984-present)
- Highlander by Gregory Widen (1986-)
- Beetlejuice by Tim Burton (1988)
- Hercules and the Amazon Women by Bill L. Norton (1994)
- Hercules and the Lost Kingdom by Harley Cokeliss (1994)
- Hercules and the Circle of Fire by Doug Lefler (1994)
- Hercules in the Underworld by Bill L. Norton (1994)
- Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur by Josh Becker (1994)
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys by Christian Williams (1995-1999)
- Xena: Warrior Princess by Robert Tapert (1995-2001)
- Young Hercules by Robert Tapert (1998-1999)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Joss Whedon (1997-2003)
- Angel by Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt (1999-2004)
- Charmed by Constance M. Burge (1998-2006)
- Harry Potter by Chris Columbus (1-2), Alfonso Cuarón (3), Mike Newell (4), and David Yates (5-8) (2001-2011)
- Pirates of the Caribbean by Jerry Bruckheimer (2003-present)
- Supernatural by Eric Kripke (2005-present)
- The Dresden Files by Hans Beimler and Robert Hewitt Wolfe (2007)
- The Twilight Saga by Summit Entertainment (2008-2012)
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Chris Columbus (2010)
Animation
- My Neighbor Totoro by Hayao Miyazaki (1988)
- Kiki's Delivery Service by Hayao Miyazaki (1989)
- Princess Mononoke by Hayao Miyazaki (1997)
- The Fairly OddParents by Butch Hartman (2001-present)
- The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy by Maxwell Atoms (2001-2008)
- Samurai Jack by Genndy Tartakovsky (Season 1-4: 2001-2004; Season 5: 2017)
- Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki (2001)
- Danny Phantom by Butch Hartman (2004-2007)
- Dave the Barbarian by Doug Langdale (2004-2005)
- Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends by Craig McCracken (2004-2009)
- Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha (2004-Present)
- Pretty Cure by Izumi Todo (2004-Present)
- American Dragon: Jake Long by Jeff Goode (2005-2007)
- The Life and Times of Juniper Lee by Judd Winick (2005-2007)
- Regular Show by J. G. Quintel (2010-2017)
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica by Shaft and Aniplex (2011)
- Gravity Falls by Alex Hirsch (2012-2016)
- Kill la Kill by Trigger (2013-2014)
- Steven Universe by Rebecca Sugar (2013-present)
- Tome of the Unknown by Patrick McHale (2013)
- Over the Garden Wall (2014)
- Uncle Grandpa by Peter Browngardt (2013-2017)
- Fate Series
- Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works by Yuji Yamaguchi (2010)
- Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 2wei by Silver Link (2014)
- Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works by Aniplex, Notes, and Ufotable (2014-2015)
- Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya: Oath Under Snow by Hiroshi Hiroyama (2017)
- Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel by Ufotable (2017)
- Fate/Extra Last Encore by Shaft (2018-)
Games
Tabletop
- Ars Magica by Jonathan Tweet and Mark Rein-Hagen (1987-present)
- Shadowrun by FASA, Fantasy Productions, and Catalyst Game Labs (1989-present)
- Unknown Armies by John Scott Tynes and Greg Stolze (1998-present)
- d20 Modern by Wizards of the Coast (2002)
- Scion by Monte Cook (2007-present)
- Numenera by Monte Cook (2013)
Video
- Megami Tensei by Atlus (1987-Present)
- Street Fighter by Capcom (1987-Present)
- Mother by Shigesato Itoi (1989)
- Mortal Kombat by Midway Games (1992-2011) and NetherRealm Studios (2011-Present)
- The King of Fighters by SNK (1994-Present)
- Tekken by Bandai Namco Entertainment (formerly Namco) (1994-Present)
- Guilty Gear by Arc System Works (1998-Present)
- Tsukihime by Type-Moon (2000)
- Kagetsu Tohya (2001)
- Melty Blood by Type-Moon and French Bread (2002)
- Ace Attorney by Capcom (2001-Present)
- Devil May Cry by Hideki Kamiya (2001-Present)
- Onimusha by Capcom (2001-Present)
- Higurashi When They Cry by 07th Expansion (2002-2014)
- Umineko When They Cry (2007-2011)
- Fate/stay night by Type-Moon (2004)
- Fate/hollow ataraxia (2005)
- Fate/tiger colosseum by Cavia and Type-Moon (2007)
- Fate/unlimited codes by Eighting (2008)
- Fate/Extra by Type-Moon and Image Epoch (2010)
- Fate/Grand Order by DELiGHTWORKS (2015)
- Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star by Marvelous (2016)
- God of War by David Jaffe (2005-Present)
- BlazBlue by Arc System Works (2008-Present)
- Bayonetta by Hideki Kamiya (2009)
- Bayonetta 2 (2014)
- Skullgirls by Marvelous and Autumn Games (2012)
Web fiction
Web series
Webcomics
- Stand Still, Stay Silent by Minna Sundberg (2013-present)
See also
References
- Perry, Phyllis Jean (2003). Teaching Fantasy Novels. Libraries Unlimited. p. vi. ISBN 978-1-56308-987-9.
- ^ Jean-François, Leroux (2004). "The World Is Its Own Place". In Jean-François, Leroux; La Bossière, Camille R. (eds.). Worlds of Wonder. University of Ottawa. pp. 190–192. ISBN 978-0-7766-0570-8.
- ^ Rogers, Brett M.; Stevens, Benjamin Eldon (26 December 2016). Classical Traditions in Modern Fantasy. Oxford University Press. p. 28. ISBN 9780190661076. Retrieved 30 January 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Discovering Your "Brand" of Fantasy - The Hub". ala.org. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ Gamble, Nikki; Yates, Sally (2008). Exploring Children's Literature. SAGE Publications Ltd. pp. 102–103. ISBN 978-1-4129-3013-0.
- ^ Stoddard, William H. (2009). GURPS Fantasy. Steve Jackson Games. p. 13. ISBN 9781556347962.