Worldbuilding

{{short description|Process of constructing an imaginary world}} {{distinguish|text=[[Terraforming]], manipulating a planet to make it habitable to Earth lifeforms}} {{Other uses|World Building (disambiguation){{!}}World Building}} '''Worldbuilding''' is the process of constructing an imaginary world or [[setting (narrative)|setting]], sometimes associated with a [[fictional universe]].<ref name=hamilton2009/> Developing the world with coherent qualities such as a [[history]], [[geography]], [[culture]] and [[ecology]] is a key task for many [[science fiction]] or [[fantasy]] writers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stableford |first=Brian M. |title=Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction Literature |date=2004 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-4938-0 |location=Lanham, Md. |oclc=54416073}}</ref> Worldbuilding often involves the [[Fantasy map|creation of geography]], a [[backstory]], [[flora]], [[fauna]], inhabitants, [[technology]], and often if writing [[speculative fiction]], different peoples. This may include [[social norms|social customs]] as well as [[invented language]]s (often called ''conlangs'') for the world.<ref name="hergenrader2018">{{Cite book |last=Hergenrader |first=Trent |title=Collaborative Worldbuilding for Writers and Gamers |date=2019 |isbn=978-1-350-01666-8 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |location=London, UK |oclc=1009182095}}</ref><ref name="wolf2020">{{Cite book |last=Wolf |first=Mark J. P. |title=World-builders on World-building: An Exploration of Subcreation |date=2020 |isbn=978-0-429-24286-1 |publisher=Taylor & Francis Group |location=New York, NY |oclc=1151513107}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lawrence |first=Kelly |title=Building Your Story: A Guide to Structure and Plot |date=2014 |isbn=978-1-78279-607-7 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=Ropley |oclc=883432427}}</ref><ref name="wolf2017">{{Cite book |last=Wolf |first=Mark J. P. |title=The Routledge Companion to Imaginary Worlds |date=2018 |isbn=978-1-317-26828-4 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |location=New York |oclc=1004848638}}</ref>{{rp|PT103}}

The world could encompass different planets spanning vast distances of [[space]] or be limited in scope to a single small village.<ref name="wolf2017" />{{rp|104}} Worldbuilding exists in [[novel]]s, [[tabletop role-playing game]]s, and [[visual media]] such as [[film|films]], [[video game]]s, and [[comics]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gavins |first1=Joanna |title=World Building: Discourse in the Mind |last2=Lahey |first2=Ernestine |date=2016 |isbn=978-1-4725-8655-1 |publisher=Bloomsbury UK |location=London |oclc=950613576}}</ref><ref name="wolf2014">{{Cite book |last=Wolf |first=Mark J. P. |title=Building Imaginary Worlds: The Theory and History of Subcreation |date=2012 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |isbn=978-1-136-22081-4 |location=Hoboken |oclc=851971993}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Johnson |first=Derek |title=Media Franchising: Creative License and Collaboration in the Culture Industries |date=2013 |publisher=New York University Press |isbn=978-0-8147-4349-2 |location=New York |oclc=830164533}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Letizia |first=Angelo |title=Graphic Novels as Pedagogy in Social Studies: How to Draw Citizenship |date=2020 |isbn=978-3-030-44252-1 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |location=Cham, Switzerland |oclc=1153082894}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Paterson |first1=Eddie |title=Once Upon a Pixel: Storytelling and Worldbuilding in Video Games |last2=Simpson-Williams |first2=Timothy |last3=Cordner |first3=Will |date=2020 |isbn=978-1-351-01427-4 |publisher=Taylor & Francis Group |location=Boca Raton, FL |oclc=1127387835}}</ref> Prior to 1900, most worldbuilding was conducted by novelists, who could leave imagination of the fictional setting in part to the reader.<ref name="wolf2017" />{{rp|106}} Some authors of fiction set multiple works in the same world. This is known as a [[fictional universe]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brooker |first=Joseph |title=Jonathan Lethem and the Galaxy of Writing |date=2020 |isbn=978-1-350-00376-7 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |location=London |oclc=1089274366}}</ref> For example, science fiction writer [[Jack Vance]] set a number of his novels in the [[Gaean Reach]], a fictional region of space.<ref name=wolf2014 /> A fictional universe with works by multiple authors is known as a [[shared world]]. One notable example of such is the [[Star Wars Expanded Universe]].<ref name="prucher2007_184">{{Cite book |last=Prucher |first=Jeff |title=[[Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction]] |date=2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-989140-5 |location=Oxford |oclc=608415902|page = 184}}</ref>

== Etymology == The term "world-building" was first used in the ''[[Edinburgh Review]]'' in December 1820 and also appeared in [[Arthur Eddington]]'s ''Space Time and Gravitation: An Outline of the General Relativity Theory'' (1920) to describe the thinking out of hypothetical worlds with different physical laws.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eddington |first=Arthur Stanley |title=Space, Time, and Gravitation: An Outline of the General Relativity Theory |date=2014 |publisher=Wildside Press |isbn=978-1-4344-0450-3 |oclc=905652391}}</ref>{{rp|160}}<ref>{{Cite OED | World}}</ref> The term has been used in [[science fiction]] and fantasy criticism since 1974,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheidlower |first=Jesse |date=December 22, 2025 |title=Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction: world-building |url=https://sfdictionary.com/view/274/world-building |access-date=December 22, 2025 |website=Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction}}</ref> and "world-builder", in the same sense, dates to 1942.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheidlower |first=Jesse |date=22 December 2025 |title=Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction: worldbuilder |url=https://sfdictionary.com/view/273/worldbuilder |access-date=December 22, 2025 |website=Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction}}</ref>

==History== One of the earliest examples of a fictional world is Dante's [[Divine Comedy]], with the [[BBC]]'s ''Dante 2021'' series describing it as "the first virtual reality".<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Inferno |series=Dante 2021 |network=BBC |date=11 Jan 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000r36h}}</ref> The creation of literary fictional worlds was first examined by fantasy authors such as [[George MacDonald]], [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], [[Lord Dunsany]], [[Dorothy L. Sayers]], and [[C. S. Lewis]].<ref name=wolf2014 /> [[William Morris]] would be the first person to create the entire world of his story.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Kingdoms of sorcery |date=1976 |publisher=Doubleday |isbn=0-385-09975-4 |editor-last=Carter |editor-first=Lin |editor-link=Lin Carter |edition=1st |location=Garden City, N.Y. |pages=39 |oclc=1733365}}</ref>

Tolkien addressed the issue in his essay "[[On Fairy-Stories]]", where he stated that the "Secondary World" or "Sub-Creation" (the constructed world) is substantially different from the art of play-writing: "Very little about trees as trees can be got into a play."<ref name="OnFairyStories">{{Citation |last=Tolkien |first=J. R. R. |title=On Fairy Stories |work=The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays |pages=109–161 |year=1983 |editor-last=Tolkien |editor-first=Christopher}}</ref> Constructed worlds may sometimes shift away from storytelling, narrative, characters and figures, and may explore "trees as trees" or aspects of the world in-and-of-themselves. Tolkien sought to make his constructed world seem real by paying careful attention to [[Tolkien's frame stories|framing his world]] with narrators and versions of stories, [[A mythology for England|like a real mythology]].<ref>[[Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien|Letter]] #131 to [[Milton Waldman]] in {{Cite book |last=Tolkien |first=J. R. R. |title=Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien : a selection |date=1981 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |others=Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien |isbn=0-04-826005-3 |location=London |oclc=8628512}}</ref>

Later analysis of fantasy worlds in the 1960s contextualized them in the medium or the narrative of the works, offering an analysis of the stories in the world, but not the world itself. In the 2000s, worldbuilding in film has increased in popularity. When before, writers sought to create a character that could sustain multiple stories, now they create a world that can sustain multiple characters and stories.<ref name=wolf2014 />{{page needed|date=September 2020}}{{example needed|date=September 2020}}

==Methods== Worldbuilding can be designed from [[Top-down and bottom-up design|the top down or the bottom up]], or by a combination of these approaches. The official worldbuilding guidelines for ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' refer to these terms as "outside-in" and "inside-out", respectively.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Monte |title=[[Dungeon Master's Guide]] |last2=Tweet |first2=Jonathan |last3=Williams |first3=Skip |publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]] |others=revised by [[David Noonan (game designer)|David Noonan]] and [[Rich Redman]] |year=2003 |isbn=0-7869-2889-1 |author-link=Monte Cook |author-link2=Jonathan Tweet |author-link3=Skip Williams}}</ref>{{page needed|date=September 2020}} In the top-down approach, the [[designer]] first creates a general overview of the world, determining broad characteristics such as the world's inhabitants, [[technology]] level, major geographic features, [[climate]], and history. From there, they develop the rest of the world in increasing detail. This approach might involve creation of the world's basics, followed by levels such as [[continent]]s, [[civilization]]s, [[Fictional country|nation]]s, [[Fictional city|cities]], and [[town]]s. A world constructed from the top down tends to be well-integrated, with individual components fitting together appropriately. It can, however, require considerable work before enough detail is completed for the setting to be useful, such as in the setting of a story.

With the bottom-up approach, the designer focuses on a small part of the world needed for their purposes. This location is given considerable detail, such as local geography, [[culture]], [[social structure]], [[government]], [[politics]], [[commerce]], and history. Prominent local individuals may be described, including their [[Interpersonal relationship|relationships]] to each other. The surrounding areas are then described in a lower level of detail, with description growing more general with increasing distance from the initial location. The designer can subsequently enhance the description of other areas in the world. For example, an author may create [[fictional currency|fictional currencies]] and refer to [[fictional book]]s to add detail to their world. [[Terry Pratchett]] says "You had to start wondering how the fresh water got in and the sewage got out... World building from the bottom up, to use a happy phrase, is more fruitful than world building from top-down."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lenz |first=Millicent |title=Alternative Worlds in Fantasy Fiction |date=2001 |publisher=Continuum |isbn=0-8264-4936-0 |location=London |oclc=46649829}}</ref>

This approach provides for almost immediate applicability of the setting, with details pertinent to a certain story or situation. The approach can yield a world plagued with [[Consistency|inconsistencies]], however. By combining the top-down and bottom-up approaches, a designer can enjoy the benefits of both. This is very hard to accomplish, however, because the need to start from both sides creates twice as much work, which may delay the desired product.

Though it sometimes requires considerable work to develop enough detail for a setting to be useful, an approach called inferred worldbuilding is sometimes used when not every aspect of a setting can be explored. Inferred worldbuilding is when the author provides enough detail about the various parts of a setting that readers can extrapolate on what is provided to come to their own conclusions regarding specific details that were not provided. This is especially useful for roleplaying game settings, as individual games may require certain details to be created on a case-by-case basis for the RPG's story to function.{{citation needed|date=January 2026}}

==Elements== From a game-design perspective, the goal of worldbuilding is to create the context for a story. Consistency is an important element, since the world provides a foundation for the action of a story.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Laramee |first=Francois Dominic |title=Game design perspectives |publisher=Charles River Media |year=2002 |isbn=1-58450-090-5}}</ref> However, J. R. R. Tolkien described the goal of worldbuilding as creating immersion, or "enchantment" as he put it, and descriptions of the world can be wholly disconnected from the story and narrative.<ref name="OnFairyStories" /> Writers must also make the world building make sense for the story on hands-on matters concerning [[plot devices]] such as what equipment, nourishment, and modes of transportation characters use.<ref name="wolf2017" />{{rp|PT110}}

An uninhabited world can be useful for certain purposes, especially in science fiction, but the majority of constructed worlds have one or more [[Sapience|sapient]] [[species]]. These species can have [[constructed culture]]s and [[constructed language]]s. Designers in [[hard science fiction]] may design [[flora]] and [[fauna]] towards the end of the worldbuilding process, thus creating lifeforms with environmental adaptations to scientifically novel situations.

===Physics=== The most basic consideration of worldbuilding is to what degree a fictional world will be based on real-world [[physics]] compared to [[Magic (paranormal)|magic]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schult |first=Stefanie |title=Subcreation: Fictional-World Construction from J.R.R. Tolkien to Terry Pratchett and Tad Williams. |date=2017 |publisher=Logos Verlag Berlin |isbn=978-3-8325-9320-9 |location=Berlin |oclc=1021810749}}</ref> While magic is a more common element of fantasy settings, science fiction worlds can contain magic or technological equivalents of it. For example, the Biotics in the science fiction video game series ''[[Mass Effect]]'' have abilities, described scientifically in-game, which mirror those of [[Magician (fantasy)|mages]] in fantasy games. In the science fiction novel ''[[Midnight at the Well of Souls]]'' for example, magic exists but is explained scientifically.

Some fictional worlds modify the real-world [[Physical law|laws of physics]]; [[faster-than-light]] travel is a common factor in much science fiction. Worldbuilding may combine physics and magic, such as in the ''[[The Dark Tower (series)|Dark Tower]]'' series and the ''[[Star Wars]]'' franchise. One subgenre of science fiction, [[mundane science fiction]], calls for writers to depict only scientifically plausible technology; as such, fictional faster-than-light travel is not depicted in these works.

===Cosmology=== [[File:Diagram of the (fictional) Starbase 11 Star System in the American TV series Star Trek - The Old Series.png|thumb|right|300px|Diagram of the fictional "Starbase 11 Star System" in the original ''[[Star Trek]]'' TV series]] {{See also|Planets in science fiction}} Constructed worlds often have cosmologies, both in the [[Physical cosmology|scientific]] and [[Religious cosmology|metaphysical]] senses of the word. The design of science fiction worlds, especially those with [[spacefaring]] societies, usually entails creation of a [[star system]] and [[planet]]s. If the designer wishes to apply real-life principles of astronomy, they may develop detailed [[Astronomy|astronomical]] measures for the [[orbit]] of the world, and to define the physical characteristics of the other bodies in the same system; this establishes [[Chronology|chronological]] parameters, such as the length of a day and the durations of [[season]]s.<ref name="anderson">{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=Poul |title=Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy |publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]] |year=1991 |isbn=0-312-06003-3 |location=[[New York City|New York]] |chapter=The Creation of Imaginary Worlds |author-link=Poul Anderson}}</ref> Some systems are intentionally bizarre. For [[Larry Niven]]'s novels ''[[The Integral Trees]]'' and ''[[The Smoke Ring (novel)|The Smoke Ring]]'', Niven designed a "freefall" environment, a gas [[torus]] ring of habitable pressure, temperature, and composition, around a [[neutron star]]; [[Brian Aldiss]]'s [[Helliconia]] trilogy has a very long year (called the "great year"), equivalent to 2,500 Earth years, where generations live & die within one season.

Fantasy worlds can also involve unique cosmologies. In ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the physical world is referred to as the Prime Material Plane, but other planes of existence devoted to moral or elemental concepts are available for play, such as the [[Spelljammer]] setting, which provides an entirely novel fantasy astrophysical system. Some fantasy worlds feature religions. The ''[[The Elder Scrolls|Elder Scrolls]]'' series, for example, contains a variety of religions practiced by its world's various races. The world of the 2000 video game ''[[Summoner (video game)|Summoner]]'' has a well-developed cosmology, including a [[creation myth]].

===Geography{{anchor|Map making}}=== {{See also|Fantasy cartography}} [[File:ArediaWikipedia.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A map of a fictional kingdom used in a medieval role-playing game]] Construction of a [[fictional map]] (map making) is often one of the first tasks of worldbuilding. Maps can lay out a world's basic [[terrain]] features and significant civilizations present. A clear, concise map that displays the locations of key points in the story can be a helpful tool for developers and audiences alike. Finished creative products, such as books, may contain published versions of development maps; many editions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', for example, include maps of [[Middle-earth]]. [[Cartography]] of fictional worlds is sometimes called geofiction.<ref name="map_hacks2005">{{Cite book |last=Erle |first=Schuyler |title=Mapping Hacks: Tips & Tools for Electronic Cartography |date=2005 |publisher=O'Reilly Media |others=Rich Gibson, Jo Walsh |isbn=0-596-00703-5 |edition=1st |location=Sebastopol, CA |oclc=60860826}}</ref>

The [[physical geography]] of a fictional world is important in designing [[weather]] patterns and [[biome]]s such as [[desert]]s, [[wetlands]], [[mountain]]s, and [[forest]]s. These physical features also affect the growth and interaction of the various societies, such as the establishment of [[trade route]]s and locations of important cities.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Long |first=Steven S. |title=Fantasy HERO |publisher=DOJ |year=2002 |isbn=1-58366-016-X |edition=[[Hero System]] Fifth |location=[[San Francisco]] |pages=290&ndash;294}}</ref> Desire for control of [[natural resource]]s in a fictional world may lead to [[war]] among its people. Geography can also define [[ecosystem]]s for each biome. Often, Earth-like ecology is assumed, but designers can vary drastically from this trend. For example, Isaac Asimov's [[short story]] "[[The Talking Stone]]" features a life form based on [[silicon]], rather than [[Carbon-based life|carbon.]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Clement |first=Hal |title=Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy |publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]] |year=1991 |isbn=0-312-06003-3 |location=[[New York City|New York]] |chapter=The Creation of Imaginary Beings |author-link=Hal Clement}}</ref>

Some [[software]] programs can create random terrain using [[fractal]] algorithms.{{who|date=January 2026}} Sophisticated programs can apply geologic effects such as [[Tectonics|tectonic]] plate movement and [[erosion]]; leading to the resulting world being [[Rendering (computer graphics)|rendered]] in great detail, providing a degree of realism to the result.

===Culture=== Constructed cultures, or concultures, are a typical element of worldbuilding. Worldbuilders sometimes employ past human civilizations as a model for fictional societies. The 1990 video game ''[[Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire]]'', for example, takes place in a world full of [[tribe]]s based on civilizations in early [[Mesoamerica]] and early Africa. This method can make a fictional world more accessible for an audience. ''Simon Provencher'' has stated as a 'Golden Rule' of worldbuilding that "... unless specified otherwise, everything inside your world is assumed to behave exactly as it would in the real world."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Provencher |first=Simon |title=The Golden Rule of Worldbuilding |url=http://www.worldbuilderblog.com/the-golden-rule-of-worldbuilding/ |access-date=6 November 2013 |website=Worldbuilder |publisher=Simon Provencher |archive-date=11 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611153749/http://www.worldbuilderblog.com/the-golden-rule-of-worldbuilding/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another example is [[Steven S. Long]], a representative of the ''[[Champions (role-playing game)|Champions]]'' role-playing game, who stated that "Everything that happened in the real world has also unfolded in the exact same way in the Champions Universe." This means any past wars, elections, and technological advancements in our world occurred the same way in the Champions Universe unless explained otherwise.

Creating a cohesive [[Extraterrestrial life|alien]] culture can be a distinct challenge. Some designers have also looked to human civilizations for inspiration in doing so, such as ''[[Star Trek]]''{{'}}s [[Romulan]]s, whose society resembles that of [[ancient Rome]]. The fictional world's history can explain past and present relationships between different societies, which can introduce a story's action. A past war, for example, functions as a key plot point in the ''[[Shannara]]'' and ''[[Belgariad]]'' series.

==Types of constructed worlds== Examples of constructed worlds include [[Terry Pratchett]]'s [[Discworld]], the pseudo-Earth [[Hyborian Age]] in the [[Conan the Barbarian|Conan series]], the planet Arrakis in the ''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]'' series, the continent of [[Tamriel]] in the [[Elder Scrolls]] series of games, [[Ursula K. Le Guin]]'s [[Earthsea (universe)|Earthsea]] universe and [[Hainish Cycle|Hainish]] worlds, the Subcontinent of [[Hayao Miyazaki]]'s ''[[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (manga)|Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind]]'', [[Arda (Middle-earth)|Arda]], the location of [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s [[Middle-earth]], in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.

Constructed worlds are not always limited to one type of story. [[Lawrence Watt-Evans]], [[Steven Brust]] and [[Robert Kurvitz]] created [[Ethshar]], [[Dragaera]], and [[Disco Elysium]] respectively, for role-playing games before using them as settings for novels. [[M. A. R. Barker]] originally designed [[Tékumel]] well before the advent of role-playing games, but many [[gamer]]s, including Barker himself, have used it as a setting for such games.

A [[shared universe]] is a fictional universe that can be used by different authors. Examples of shared universes include the [[Star Wars expanded universe|''Star Wars'' expanded universe]], the [[Arrowverse]] and [[campaign setting]]s developed specifically for role-playing games. One of the oldest of these is [[Oerth]], developed for the ''Dungeons & Dragons' ''[[Greyhawk]] setting. [[Forgotten Realms]] is another such D&D setting, originally a [[House rule#Gaming|homebrew]] campaign world by [[Ed Greenwood]].

==See also== {{Div col}}

*{{annotated link|Constructed language}} *{{annotated link|Fantasy world}} *{{annotated link|Fictional encyclopaedism}} *{{annotated link|Fictive art}} *{{annotated link|List of fictional universes}} *{{annotated link|Mythopoeia}} *{{annotated link|Nation-building}} *{{annotated link|Paracosm}} *{{annotated link|Planets in science fiction}} {{Div col end}} {{clear}}

==References== {{reflist|30em|refs= <ref name="hamilton2009">{{Cite book |last=Hamilton |first=John |title=You Write It: Science Fiction |date=2009 |publisher=ABDO |isbn=978-1-61714-655-8 |location=Edina, Minn. |oclc=767670861 |pages=8–9}}</ref> }}

==External links== * [https://thealdissaward.com/ The Aldiss Award for World Building in speculative fiction & gaming] at [https://thealdissaward.com/ The Aldiss Award] {{wikibooks|Conworld}} {{wiktionary}} {{Fiction navbox}}

[[Category:Worldbuilding| ]] [[Category:Continuity (fiction)]] [[Category:Imagination]] [[Category:Setting]] [[Category:1820s neologisms]] [[Category:Narrative techniques]]