History Main / MedievalEuropeanFantasy

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** The first expansion pack Mask of the Betrayer for NeverwinterNights2 (and part of the 2nd) is not however, creative lead George Ziets explains [[http://www.irontowerstudio.com/forum/index.php?topic=467.0 As soon as I see elves, dwarves, and orcs, I can pretty well guess how they relate to one another, and what the world is going to be like? and I’m usually right (The Witcher notwithstanding). Once my curiosity has faded, so has my interest in the book, movie, or game.]]

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1382705234006103100

** The first expansion pack Mask of the Betrayer for NeverwinterNights2 (and part of the 2nd) is not however, creative lead George Ziets explains [[http://www.irontowerstudio.com/forum/index.php?topic=467.0 As soon as I see elves, dwarves, and orcs, I can pretty well guess how they relate to one another, and what the world is going to be like? and I?m usually right (The Witcher notwithstanding). Once my curiosity has faded, so has my interest in the book, movie, or game.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Runescape}}'', though with Arabian and African/Carribean based settings, as well as some post-Medieval European technology.

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* The first five ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games go in and out of this. The [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII seventh]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII eighth]], and [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII thirteenth]] games are very much not examples, but most of the rest have some degree of this. [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX The tenth]] has anti-technology, but that turns out to be the BigBad's plan.

* GeorgeRRMartin's ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is set primarily on the fictional continent of Westeros, based on medieval European culture; its geography and history are also loosely based on England, so one might weakly justify the use of the trope as a retelling of the UsefulNotes/WarsOfTheRoses. Other locations have a variety of other influences.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' falls squarely under this trope, with its vaguely Medieval European setting, feudal CrystalDragonJesus ruler, SchizoTech, and [[PeopleOfHairColor Ponies Of Hair Color]]. Interestingly, in a "flashback" to the days before Equestria, the Earth Ponies had developed a Renaissance-level society and the concept of free elections. It's possible that the presence of FunctionalMagic and {{physical god}}desses has enforced MedievalStasis, or maybe they just are fond of that aesthetic.

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* ''{{Thief}}'' is part this and part {{Steampunk}}ish FilmNoir.

-->--'''[[Creator/{{Bethesda}} Todd Howard]]''', ''Game Informer'' Issue 138

* ''{{Castlevania}}'' takes place at various points in history, including the MiddleAges, TheRenaissance, the modern age, and even TwentyMinutesIntoThefuture, though the overall aesthetic is GothicHorror.
* ''PhantasyStarIII'' has a variant: [[spoiler:it turns out that the entire medieval-style world the game takes place in is in reality an Arc-like spaceship that was fleeing the destruction of a very technologically advanced planet, and all the inhabitants are descendants of the ship's original population. After about 1,000 years and a lot of conflict, they lost their ancestors' technological advancements as well as the knowledge about the real nature of their world.]]
* ''{{Runescape}}'', though with Arabian and African/Carribean based settings, as well as some post-Medieval European technology.

** A variation in Belyanin's ''Tsar Gorokh's Detective Agency'' series, where the setting involves a FishOutOfTemporalWater scenario, in which a modern-day Russian cop is transported to an idealized fantasy (almost fairy tale) version of Medieval Russia. There are still many aspects of the trope, but its more their Russian equivalents. For example, there are no brave knights in the books, but there are brave druzhinniki (the Tsar's guard), armed with sabers and {{Hand Cannon}}s. While the Tsar is just and beloved by the people (it's the boyars, the aristocratic advisors, they don't trust), he can get a little hot-headed and is quick to punish when he's sure the guilty party has been found. The protagonist, being a fresh-out-of-police-academy rookie cop is insistent on following due process and finding enough evidence. Also, all supernatural is straight out of Russian fairy tales, with the BigBad of the entire series being Koschei the Deathless, a prominent figure in those tales. There are some Western influences, though, such as zombies rising out of their graves.

* GeorgeRRMartin's ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is set in the fictional continent of Westeros which is based on medieval European culture. Its geography and history are also loosely based on England. Other locations have a variety of other influences.

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1382705234006103100

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* ''{{Runescape}}'', though with Arabian and African/Carribean based settings, as well as some post-Medieval European technology.

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* The ''Sword with No Name'' trilogy by AndreiBelyanin has a modern-day man transported by unknown means to such a setting, full of deliberate anachronisms. For example, the BigBad is an EvilSorcerer terrorizing the land from his [[FloatingContinent floating city]] and is WickedCultured (he actually wears a modern-day business suit).

** D&D actually subverts this trope big time. Only Greyhawk and northwestern Faerûn truly qualify. Maztica is {{Mayincatec}}, Kara-Tur is FarEast, Rashemen/Thay is DarkestAfrica, Zakhara is {{Qurac}} of Arabian Nights variety, [[DarkSun Athas]] is based on Ancient Mesopotamia/Egypt, {{Ravenloft}} is AnachronismStew with strong hints of 19th century, {{Dragonlance}}, despite its chivalric orders is vaguely pre-medieval, and the there is the {{Planescape}} multiverse...

->''"Fantasy, for us, is a [[KnightInShiningArmor knight]] on horseback running around and killing things."''

The [[TropeCodifier modern age's Ur-source]] for Medieval fantasy is ''LordOfTheRings'', which Tolkien based heavily on European folklore. This trope also has its roots in the tendency for pre-Tolkien fantasy works to outright take place in the Medieval era, especially if they were connected to or influenced by the tales of KingArthur.

This is also frequently the setting of Japanese {{RPG}}s, {{Wutai}} aside. And mostly Western {{RPG}}s in between Sci-Fi games. And the first settings of ''DungeonsAndDragons'' are perhaps the most well-known example - even though many later D&D settings avert this trope, the sheer popularity of [[ForgottenRealms Faerûn]] makes this trope almost synonymous with D&D. Notably averted however in {{Wuxia}}, which is a sister trope (Chinese fantasy with a long literary tradition, set in a pseudo-historical AlternateUniverse China, featuring magic, [[KnightErrant wandering errant martial artists]], legendary artifacts, [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]] and the rest). Played straight in most fantasy {{anime}}.

* ''{{Berserk}}''

* Being based on the setting that gave birth to {{RPG}}s, more or less any book universe based off of ''DungeonsAndDragons''. Especially ''{{Dragonlance}}''.

* The most famous gaming examples are, [[UrExample of course]], the majority of settings for ''DungeonsAndDragons''.

* [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in ''{{GURPS}} Fantasy'' with the world of Yrth, where a massive magical backfire several centuries before the current date transported in large numbers of humans from medieval Europe, who then did their best to build themselves a new home that looked and worked more or less like what they came from. Simultaneously ''double'' subverted by the nation of Sahud -- first, it was populated with medieval ''Asians'', and second, they were mostly peasants from four or five different cultures, who tried to do the same as the Europeans but ended up with a society that looked less like any actual Asian nation of the period and more like ''The Mikado'' on acid, as written by Creator/MontyPython.
* Most countries in 7th Sea, although the ruins of the ancient Syrneth civilization mix things up a bit.

* ''WarhammerFantasyRolePlay'' has Old World that is late medieval/early Renaissance although Kislev and Bretonnia (at least from 2nd edition onwards) play this trope straight. High Elves and Dwarves also fit the feudal mindset pretty well.

* The ''vast'' majority of western {{RPG}}s (as shown by the page quote). Listing exceptions would probably be easier. This was likely caused by ''DungeonsAndDragons''. Many western {{RPG}}s basically [[FollowTheLeader seek to be as much like Dungeons and Dragons as possible]], even when they aren't actually owned by the same company.

* The ''{{Warcraft}}'' series, at least as far as the human kingdoms are concerned. The third game and the MMORPG add a slew of other settings, such as the vaguely Asian nightelves, the Native American-ish Tauren, Caribbean Trolls, the SteamPunk gnomes (and goblins), the {{Magitek}}-using draenei, vaguely Persian-ish Blood Elves, and the nordic vyrkul. Later on, there's the addition of the Asian-themed pandaren (the trailer revealing them has a pandaren monk (in a conical hat, no less) using a bamboo staff to thoroughly beat the crap out of a human and an orc with kung fu), originally introduces as a joke.
* The original ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' has this in full force. Act One of the sequal takes place in the same medival region, but quickly departs it in favor of {{Qurac}}, {{Mayincatec}}, Hell, and the [[GrimUpNorth a scary snowy place]] in that order.

* ''[[http://dungeondamage.comicgenesis.com/ Dungeon Damage]]'' [[JustifiedTrope justifies]] this by setting the story... in Medieval Europe. Or rather, an AlternateHistory where [[FunctionalMagic magic works]] and several [[FiveRaces D&D races]] and [[OurMonstersAreDifferent monsters]] exist: the Fall of Rome, the spread of Christianity, the Crusades all happened, but with [[OurElvesAreBetter Elves]], [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwarves]] and [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Goblins]], [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampires]], [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Werewolves]] and [[AWizardDidIt Wizards]], neatly explaining the differences from real history. With a good deal of [[ShownTheirWork Shown Work]] about RealLife history, technology and mythology to boot.
* In ''SluggyFreelance'' the [[http://sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/19990704 "Storm Breaker Saga"]] has Torg and Zoe TimeTravel back to Medieval Europe to stop [[DemonicInvaders an invasion of demons and zombies]], with the odd vampire thrown in.
* ''{{Nodwick}}'' gives a [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/gamespyarchive/index.php?date=2006-12-20 short synopsis]] on this sort of setting to a {{time travel}}er from [[AncientGrome five centuries ago]]. He is [[IWantMyJetpack not amused]].

* The ''vast'' majority of western {{RPG}}s (as shown by the page quote). Listing exceptions would probably be easier.
** This was likely caused by ''DungeonsAndDragons''. Many western {{RPG}}s basically [[FollowTheLeader seek to be as much like Dungeons and Dragons as possible]], even when they aren't actually owned by the same company.
* Many [=JRPGs=] and adventure games as well.
** This is probably cause by long running series such as ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', ''Franchise/FireEmblem'', and ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', all of which started in the mid to late 80's.

* The ''BreathOfFire'' series.
** Subverted in ''Breath of Fire III'' (To some extent) and especially in ''Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter'', which, while not necessarily in the same "Canon" as the others, is set inside an underground sci-fi world made to escape the pollution on the surface. It's assumed by fans to take place long after ''Breath of Fire III''.
*** and even then, [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks that STILL didn't stop people from complaining that it didn't feel like a Breath of Fire with no castles...]]
* The ''DragonQuest'' series.
** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVII'' is the only one that doesn't play this trope straight, adding in robot [=NPCs=].
* The ''TalesSeries''.
** Some tend to have an {{anime}}-like [[SchizoTech blend of Technology]] (mostly Abyss) but that still doesn't keep them from having royalty.
* The ''FireEmblem'' series.

* The ''{{Warcraft}}'' series, at least as far as the human kingdoms are concerned. The third game and the MMORPG add a slew of other settings, such as the vaguely Asian nightelves, the Native American-ish Tauren, Caribbean Trolls, the SteamPunk gnomes (and goblins), the {{Magitek}}-using draenei, vaguely Persian-ish Blood Elves, and the nordic vyrkul.
** Not all the human kingdoms are medieval either, as Gilneas seems to be based on 19th-century London.
** And now the addition of the Asian-themed pandaren (the trailer revealing them has a pandaren monk (in a conical hat, no less) using a bamboo staff to thoroughly beat the crap out of a human and an orc with kung fu), originally introduces as a joke.

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' heavily features elements of this, though the games also have Japanese and Greek influences.
** The ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' arc however, is slowly drifting into early modern period with elements of SteamPunk.

* SuperRobotWarsNEO has you visit Earth Tear from Lord Of Lords Ryu Knight.

** Again, only Ussura is truly medieval. Other countries are well into mid-17th century Renaissance, with Age of Exploration and ThirtyYearsWar playing key roles in the world development.

** Again, only Ussura is truly medieval. Other countries are well into mid-17th century Renaissance, with Age of Exploration and ThirtyYearsWar playing key roles in the world development.

* ''{{Runescape}}''

* ''Ars Magica'' even calls its setting 'Mythic Europe' and is set in historically correct settings with many folklore and religious fantasy thrown in for the good measure. In a nutshell, it is the actual medieval Europe with all fantastic beliefs made true.