grimdark

[ grim-dahrk ]

noun

1. dystopian fantasy fiction characterized by harsh settings, extreme violence, and a bleak, fatalistic perspective on the future of humanity. Compare hopepunk.

Word History and Origins

Origin of grimdark¹

First recorded in 2005–10; grim ( def ) + dark ( def ); coined from the tagline of the strategy game Warhammer 40,000, “In the grim darkness of the far future there is only war”

Example Sentences

Red Hook Studios has just the antidote: Darkest Dungeon II, the sequel to the hopelessly grimdark role-playing adventure that tormented us all in 2016.

From Seattle Times

Red Hook Studios has just the antidote: Darkest Dungeon II, the sequel to the hopelessly grimdark role-playing adventure that tormented us all in 2016.

From Seattle Times

Kuang's follow-up to her sprawling grimdark fantasy "Poppy War" trilogy leaves the martial behind for a different type of battle in dark academia.

From Salon

As Aaron Jones of Grimdark Magazine wrote in their review, "'All of Us Are Dead' focuses on these relationships so that when the inevitable virus spreads, the loss is felt that much more."

From Salon

Han: I want to ask about another gaming lightning rod from this year: The Last of Us Part II. I think it was at the center of a lot of discussion with regard to the question of games being art, and also games needing to be so grimdark in order to be considered worth taking seriously.

From Slate