Men all over the world enjoy games and movies based on fantasy themes, including characters like wizards and powerful dragons. How has this genre made its way into popular culture, and why do we find it so appealing?
Dragons and Fantasy Themes in Gaming
The ongoing appeal of gaming has led to many new themes being introduced, and just a look at the current list of titles reveals many that are designed to appeal to players who enjoy fantasy worlds. From the classic Dungeons & Dragons to Gloomhaven and Kingdom Death: The Monster, fantasy board games are still as popular as ever.
Many popular video games have adopted these themes, such as the recently released Final Fantasy XVI, while in iGaming, an online casino may boast slots like Dragon’s Mirror. These games may take a different approach but still utilize similar themes, which allow them to sit alongside many others as firm favorites, like those that draw on the Wild West, Ancient Gods, and Irish luck for inspiration.
In all cases, the theme adds an extra dimension to a classic way of playing by including exciting images and creating an immersive atmosphere. It’s easy to get caught up in the dangers and quests of a fantasy world while playing games. D&D particularly has been massively popular since the original board game was released in the mid-1970s, with many players enjoying the social aspect as well as the need to use problem-solving skills and creativity.
TV and Movies
The overwhelming success of TV series like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon has introduced a new audience to dramatic themes set in fantasy lands and with larger-than-life characters. Fans of these series can look forward to the rumored Jon Snow spinoff show featuring Kit Harington in the role that won him millions of fans.
In the movie world, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was released earlier this year to good reviews. This franchise is also coming to our TV screens, with Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, and Dwayne Johnson expected to be among the cast for an eight-episode run written by Rawson Marshall Thurber.
It’s difficult to put our finger on a single reason why fantasy themes continue to be popular among men. A fascinating infographic on the subject by Gamerant suggests that around 40% of D&D players are female, so we can’t class this as simply being a male pastime, but it’s also easy to see that fantasy elements retain a strong appeal for males looking for something to play or watch.
The fantasy theme should continue to be popular as new and existing fans enjoy the freedom it offers to explore interesting new worlds with fantastic characters. They aren’t exclusively enjoyed by men these days, and there are no signs of the genre running out of steam or of us losing our fascination with dragons, wizards, and the other characters that inhabit our favorite fantasy worlds.
Featured Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay
