Fantasy isn’t European by default: reclaiming global mythologies in RPGs

In most mainstream fantasy RPGs, the formula is familiar: stone castles, knights in gleaming armor, dragons hoarding gold, and magic that echoes Latin incantations. The landscapes are lush and temperate, the politics vaguely feudal, and the names often sound like they were pulled from Arthurian legend. It’s a world that draws heavily from medieval Western Europe.

But fantasy doesn’t have to look like this. And it never should have.

The idea that fantasy means “Europe with elves” has little to do with creativity and everything to do with publishing history and colonial legacy. The genre has long treated Eurocentric settings as the default, sidelining or ignoring entire storytelling traditions from the rest of the world. This narrow lens doesn’t just limit worldbuilding, it limits who gets to be the hero, and what kinds of stories are seen as worthy of being told.

The roots of the problem

European dominance in fantasy narratives began with early influences like Tolkien, who shaped entire worlds based on Norse sagas, Arthurian myths, and Christian cosmology. Dungeons & Dragons continued the trend, creating a blueprint that many games still follow today. As these worlds became commercially successful, they were repeated across media, solidifying certain tropes as “standard” fantasy.

Studios, often assuming that players expect this formula, built game after game filled with elves, long swords, medieval monarchies, and vaguely British accents. The result is a creative loop, where fantasy becomes less about imagining new worlds and more about polishing the same familiar one.

What we’re missing

When developers limit their influences to Western Europe, they overlook entire traditions filled with magical systems, ancestral spirits, and epic narratives.

Yoruba cosmology offers a pantheon of Orisha-gods and spirits deeply connected to nature, morality, and personal destiny. Philippine folklore is rich with shapeshifters, nature spirits, and mythical creatures that challenge the Western binary of good and evil. South Asian epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata tell stories of love, betrayal, and supernatural warfare on a cosmic scale. Indigenous mythologies across the Americas present worldviews where land, identity, and storytelling are inseparable. These aren’t just alternate settings, they are complete worldbuilding systems with their own moral logic, aesthetics, and emotional depth.

Fantasy has the power to reinvent reality. Tapping into these traditions allows for richer, more expansive narratives that don’t rely on the same old tropes.

Who’s getting It right

Some developers are already proving that there is an appetite for new kinds of fantasy.

Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan, developed in Cameroon, is inspired by Central African traditions and stories. It centers on political conflict, ancestral power, and a hero’s personal growth, grounded in the region’s mythology rather than imitating Western frameworks. 

Raji: An Ancient Epic draws from Indian mythology to tell the story of a young girl chosen by the gods to fight demons and rescue her brother. The game blends visual storytelling, traditional art styles, and voiceover narration steeped in cultural knowledge. 

Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) was created in partnership with the Iñupiat people of Alaska and weaves Indigenous storytelling directly into its gameplay, complete with interviews and educational content.

Even in larger franchises, you can see moments where cultural specificity resonates. Players celebrated the design of Zandalar in World of Warcraft, or the look and feel of Inazuma in Genshin Impact, because those worlds offered something new and meaningful; not just new textures, but new perspectives.

Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan

Respect over aesthetic

Using global mythologies isn’t just about swapping out swords for spears or changing the color palette. It requires care, respect, and collaboration. When developers take elements from cultures they don’t fully understand, the result is often shallow or stereotypical. Cultural references become aesthetic choices rather than meaningful contributions to the world.

The solution lies in scrapping avoidance and investing in true involvement. Working with creators from the communities being represented leads to more authentic stories and avoids the pitfalls of appropriation. These collaborations result in worlds that feel lived in, coherent, and emotionally resonant, not just visually different.

The future of fantasy Is global

Players are hungry for stories that take them beyond familiar borders. They want to explore myths they haven’t heard before, meet heroes they haven’t seen, and experience fantasy through lenses that challenge what they thought they knew.

Fantasy is meant to be a genre of possibility. It asks us to imagine new futures and question old structures. But if we keep recycling the same tropes, we’re repeating ourselves and not using the supposed limitlessness of fantasy. 

There’s magic in every corner of the world. There are gods who don’t look like Zeus, warriors who don’t wear plate armor, and chosen ones who don’t come from a castle. The power of fantasy lies in how far it can stretch our imagination.

It’s time we let it stretch further.