Epic Fantasy vs Low Fantasy: Everything You Need to Know
Table of Contents
There are many different genres that exist within the realm of fantasy. There are so many different types out there, but two of the more common ones you happen to see are epic fantasy (high fantasy) and low fantasy. Understanding how they differ in scope, magic, and tone will help you choose the right starting point for your next story.
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Epic (High) Fantasy
| Pillar | Quick Snapshot | Why Readers Love It |
|---|---|---|
| World Building | Entire continents, invented languages, detailed maps | Immersive “secondary worlds” they can explore for years |
| Epic Scope | Multithread plots, time-spanning prophecies, fate of kingdoms | High stakes + sweeping spectacle |
| Hero’s Quest | Noble (or morally gray) protagonist on a life-changing journey | Personal growth framed against cosmic danger |
| Robust Magic & Myth | Fully fleshed-out systems, legendary artifacts, old gods | Sense of wonder and limitless possibility |
| Complex Story Lines | Politics, wars, alliances, betrayals | Layered conflict that rewards close reading |
Examples: Tolkien’s Middle-earth, Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive, BioWare’s Dragon Age games.
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Low Fantasy
| Pillar | Quick Snapshot | Why Readers Love It |
|---|---|---|
| Limited Magic | Subtle, rare, or even feared | Forces characters to rely on wit and grit |
| Character-Centric | Inner conflict > saving the world | Deep psychological stakes |
| Real-World Settings | Historical Europe, modern cities, alt-Victorian streets | Familiar backdrop makes the magic pop |
| Gritty Tone | Moral ambiguity, political intrigue, darker themes | Explores the shadows of human nature |
| Focused Plot | One or two core threads | Tight pacing and clarity |
Examples: The Dishonored games, George R. R. Martin’s Westeros (often labeled “grimdark low fantasy”).
Low fantasy still needs some level of world building though. You may not need to create an entire planet from scratch, but it helps to have an idea of what your setting is and what goes on in it. The Ultimate Guide to World Building is still a great option to help you build up low-fantasy worlds too!
Choosing Your Subgenre
Ask yourself three guiding questions:
- How big are the stakes?
- Saving a kingdom → likely epic
- Saving your family or town → often low
- How central is magic?
- Complex spell lore → epic
- Occasional supernatural occurrence→ low
- Where do you want to spend word count?
- Mapping continents and gods → epic
- Diving into one POV’s psyche → low
Pro Tip: Match Scope to Word Count
Epic fantasy routinely tips 100k–200k+ words; low fantasy can thrive at 70k–100k.
Want to know what your ideal word count should be? Try out this free word count calculator to help you figure out how long your next tale is recommended to be 👉 How Many Words Should a Novel Have? (Plus FREE Calculator!)
Why World Building Still Matters in Both Subgenres
Even grounded low fantasy needs believable history, culture, and rules for its magic. Skimp on the foundation and readers will spot the cracks easily.
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Inside you’ll find:
- 340+ pages of in-depth instruction, world building workflows, and real examples
- Step-by-step guidance for geography, cultures, languages, politics, history, religion, magic systems, technology, architecture, and more
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- A focus on maintaining logic within your world with itself and the story
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FAQs
No. You don’t need to sketch out an entire universe. It helps to have your main locations drawn out though, yes. I talk about fantasy map creation in The Ultimate Guide to World Building as well.
Definitely. You can do as much or as little as you want. Just be sure to remain consistent and grounded in your ideas.
This is a yes and no situation. You should have a pretty in-depth magic system for the most part, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be complex to understand. I talk about how to create magic systems with guiding questions in The Ultimate Guide to World Building in an entire section and it covers different magic-creation methods.
Conclusion
Epic fantasy and low fantasy are two different subgenres that exist within fantasy. However, ultimately, they both need specific elements for success and they both need a lot of creativity!
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