History Main / HeroicFantasy

* A Clonan is a clone of Conan,often created to cash in a craze.

* The ''Literature/KingdomsDisdain''Series by Paul! Lang.

* ''VideoGame/LuciferRing'' have the player assuming a warrior in a Medieval-fantasy world fighting various forces of chaos, including dragons and demons, to prevent an EvilWizard from awakening a powerful demon.

Heroic Fantasy sits somewhere in between. It tends to be distinguishable from HighFantasy by its scale--the problems are generally those of the heroes, not the world. Kingdoms and societies are portrayed mainly to the extent the heroes have an impact on them. On the other hand, it's distinct from LowFantasy as well in that the heroes are actually ''heroic'' and their goals are morally sound or, at the very least, not overtly objectionable. An AntiHero in this setting is more likely to be a LovableRogue than a WellIntentionedExtremist.

Not to be confused with LowFantasy, which is simply {{Fantasy}} in a down-to-earth setting.

[[folder:Film]]

* As a lot of film critics have noted, ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' and its original sequel might have been written as self-conscious [[AffectionateParody affectionate parodies]] of "fairy tale movies" but both movies use and celebrate heroic fantasy tropes so whole-heartedly that they both feel more like straight "fairy tale movies"/ heroic fantasy with lots of humour and character development.

Heavily influenced by TheHerosJourney, the [[Myth/KingArthur Arthurian]] cycle, the Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian stories and movies, the game ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', and classical myth.

For heroic and epic fantasy applied to ''non-''MedievalEuropeanFantasy settings, see {{Wuxia}} (fantasy of Chinese cultural origin) and {{Dungeonpunk}} (which is which is what happens when you take the general attitude of heroic fantasy and remove the MedievalStasis in favor of {{Magitek}})

See also TwoFistedTales, PulpMagazine.

Heroic and epic Fantasy of Chinese cultural origin is known as {{Wuxia}}.

Contrast SwordAndSandal. See also MedievalEuropeanFantasy.

* Mercedes Lackey's ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' series has quite a few stories in this tone. The most notable is the ''Vows and Honor'' series, about a swordswoman/sorceress mercenary pair who travel the world looking for work and battling evil. In her ''Oathblood'' introduction, Lackey specifically noted that she made them to play with the tropes of heroic fantasy: they're both women, one of them is celibate, and SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome occurs more often than not on their adventures.

* ''Film/TheBarbarians''

* ''Film/BloodOfBeasts''.
* ''Film/{{Clash of the Titans|1981}}''.
* ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' and ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer''
* ''Film/{{Conquest}}'' mix this with DarkFantasy and {{Horror}}.
* ''Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters''
* ''Film/{{Highlander}}''.
* ''Film/KullTheConqueror''.
* ''Film/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime''.

* ''Film/RedSonja''.
* ''Film/TheSwordAndTheSorcerer''.
* ''Film/TheThrillingSword'' - from Taiwan.
* ''Film/WizardsOfTheDemonSword''.

* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}''

* The ''[[Literature/TheWarGods Bahzell]]'' series by Creator/DavidWeber.
* ''Literature/TheBlackCompany''
* Alison Croggon's ''Literature/BooksOfPellinor''.
* ''Literature/CodexAlera'' (quasi-AncientRome + ElementalPowers).

* Creator/{{David Gemmell}}'s books are a prime example.
** * ''Literature/TheTroySaga'' by Creator/DavidGemmell being one that overlaps with HistoricalFantasy
* Michael Moorcock's ''Literature/TheElricSaga'' (another {{Deconstruction}}).
* D. E. Wyatt's ''[[Literature/ElsabethSoesten No Good Deed...]]'' has many elements of this.

* C.L. Moore's ''Literature/JirelOfJoiry'', the first major female character in Heroic Fantasy.
** Her husband Creator/HenryKuttner was no slouch in the genre, with works like ''Elak of Atlantis'', ''Valley of Flame'' and ''The Dark World.''.

* Everything by Creator/RASalvatore.
* Lynn Abbey's ''Rifkin'' series.
* The ''Literature/{{Shadowleague}}'' trilogy.
* The ''Literature/SnowWalker'' trilogy by Catherine Fisher.

* ''Series/{{Garo}}'', though it is debatable, as it has various ''DarkFantasy'' elements.
* ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys''.
** ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess''.
* ''Series/KrodMandoonAndTheFlamingSwordOfFire'' is a parody of the genre.

* ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}''.

* Arguably ''Series/RobinOfSherwood'' what with its use of archetypes and mysticism.
* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSinbad''
* ''Series/TheOutpost''

* HeavyMithril is either this or HighFantasy in rock form.

* ''Pinball/{{Gorgar}}''.
* ''Pinball/{{Hercules}},'' not surprisingly, is all about this.
* ''Pinball/{{Paragon}}''.

* ''VideoGame/BarbarianTheUltimateWarrior''.

* ''VideoGame/FantasyQuest''.

* ''Franchise/PrinceOfPersia''.
* ''VideoGame/TheReconstruction'' ({{Deconstruction}}, ironically).

* ''VideoGame/SuperbrothersSwordAndSworceryEP''.

* ''WebAnimation/TalesOfAlethrion'' is set in a magical and weird world where people travel and discover for the sake of it, where strange monsters are fought by heroes for glory and where high-tech cities coincide with tribal hovels. Though later shorts expanded on the setting, it can't be said to have been made more solid for it - if anything, it's just been expanded with more characters and more places for them to travel to.

* ''Webcomic/{{Evon}}''.
* ''Webcomic/MeatShield''.
* ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure'', if you only factor in Julie and her gang's adventures.
* ''Webcomic/ChampionsOfFaraus''.

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''.
* ''WesternAnimation/FireAndIce''.
* ''WebAnimation/MightyMagiswords''.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThundarrTheBarbarian''.

* ''LightNovel/GoblinSlayer'' slowly becomes this trope: despite its RRatedOpening, the titular character refuses to "play by the rules" and slowly becomes a more typical fantasy hero (even when that's not what he's pursuing), thanks to the aid of TrueCompanions who are slowly helping him regain his humanity. While the setting does establish adventuring as a {{Grimdark}}, dirty affair - a medieval fantasy world that has its share of horrors - there also exists friendship, honor, hope and love; all the more reason that these ideals are certainly worth fighting for.
* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}''
* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'' Though the narrative is driven by technology and is set in NextSundayAD, at its heart ''Sword Art Online'' is ''still'' fundamentally a fantasy of heroic warriors (and later, wizards) crusading across mythical lands, fighting for justice, honor and making the world a better place with swords and spells in their hands, courage and love in their hearts.
* ''Literature/DeeperUpTheTower'': Ultimately, a subversion of heroic fantasy

The exploits of mighty-thewed, sword-wielding heroes and their thiefly, wizardly and/or priestly companions, as they [[InHarmsWay spend their days]] smiting evil, fighting monsters, recovering treasures and quaffing ale.

[[quoteright:350:[[Pinball/DungeonsAndDragons https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dungeons-and-dragons-pinball-detail_5848.jpg]] ]]

* True to its license, ''Pinball/DungeonsAndDragons'' plays this absolutely straight.

* Mercedes Lackey's ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' series has quite a few stories in this tone. The most notable is the ''Vows and Honor'' series, about a swordswoman/sorceress mercenary pair who travel the world looking for work and battling evil. In her ''Oathblood'' introduction, Lackey specifically noted that she made them to play with the tropes of heroic fantasy: they're both women, one of them is celibate, and RealityEnsues more often than not on their adventures.

[[folder:FanWorks]]

* ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'' with dinosaurs and a ''{{Franchise/Super Sentai}}'' twist.
* ''{{Series/Merlin|2008}}''.

* ''TabletopGame/{{HeroQuest}}'' is MB Games adaptation of TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} in the style of oldschool DungeonCrawler.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

[[folder:Web Originals]]
* ''Weboriginal/DeeperUpTheTower'',Ultimately, a subversion of heroic fantasy
[[/folder]]

* ''Anime/FairyTail'' focuses on the eponymous guild of wizard adventurers and the various quests they undertake for fun and profit.

* ''LightNovel/GoblinSlayer'' slowly becomes this trope: despite its RRatedOpening, the titular character refuses to "play by the rules" and slowly becomes a more typical fantasy hero (even when that's not what he's pursuing), thanks to the aid of TrueCompanions who are slowly helping him regain his humanity. While the setting does establish adventuring as a {{Grimdark}}, dirty affair - a medieval fantasy world that has its share of horrors - there also exists friendship, honor, hope and love; all the more reason that these ideals are certainly worth fighting for.

* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}''
* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'' Though the narrative is driven by technology and is set in NextSundayAD, at its heart ''Sword Art Online'' is ''still'' fundamentally a fantasy of heroic warriors (and later, wizards) crusading across mythical lands, fighting for justice, honor and making the world a better place with swords and spells in their hands, courage and love in their hearts.

* ''Comicbook/{{Aquaman}}: Sword of Atlantis'' was an attempt to make the titular character's comic this genre.

* The ''Franchise/DragonQuest'' series, taking inspiration from earlier CRPG titles like ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}'' and developed a distinctive Western Fantasy-inspired world through the lens of famed Japanese media creators.

The setting differs as well: it is neither fragile and [[SavingTheWorld in need of saving]], nor a CrapsackWorld with wickedness InherentInTheSystem--rather, it's an ambiguous place, characterized more than anything by being an AdventureFriendlyWorld, with much [[TheHerosJourney untamed wilderness to travel through]], [[FetchQuest quests to undertake]] and [[DungeonCrawling dungeons to delve]]. Therefore, the heroes are very likely to encounter magic and fantastic elements, assuming they aren't prevalent in the setting to begin with.