Sci-Fi or Fantasy? Which One Is OBJECTIVELY Better?

The rivalry between Science Fiction and Fantasy is one that has been going on for centuries. Even today, my friend and I have debates on which genre is better. Most of the time though, these discussions simply fall into an argument on personal preference. However, what I’m here to do today is strip away any subjectivity and look at a series of objective indicators to determine which genre is truly superior.

Scale of Worldbuilding
If I’m going to be honest, Fantasy authors can really do anything they want. They’re only restrained by the limits of imagination. A lot of the time Fantasy authors create entire universes out of thin air, complete with invented languages, pantheons, and magic systems. Tolkien’s Middle-earth in my opinion is still the ideal standard, but many others—Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere or N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth—demonstrates how detailed, intricate and vast fantasy worldbuilding can be. Sci-Fi, on the other hand, takes a different approach. It builds within the constraints of possibility, anchoring the setting within the realm of, well… science. However, this limitation is also its strength: the worlds of Dune or The Expanse feel eerily plausible, and real because they’re extrapolations of what humanity might actually face. Some may argue that Sci-Fi’s worldbuilding is deeper due to its explanations behind its creations (FTL travel, artificial gravity, alien biology, etc), but in my opinion, the pure breadth of fantasy worldbuilding allows it to barely take the win here.

Characters
Fantasy characters are on average much better than Sci-Fi characters. Sure, Fantasy characters can oftentimes fall into tropey archetypes like the chosen hero, the dark lord, etc, but compared to Sci-Fi, they just have way more depth. Just try and find a character-driven Sci-Fi book. It’s nigh impossible. Sci-Fi typically focuses more on the setting (ironic since they lost the worldbuilding category) rather than the characters. As such, beyond YA Sci-Fi, the characters tend to fall flat. Of course this is a massive generalization, but from Aang to Aragorn, Fantasy thrives on developed, relatable and unique characters.

Plot
When it comes to plot, Fantasy often has the upper hand. Its reliance on quests, prophecies, and epic conflicts may be monotonous, but there is a reason the “hero’s journey” or the “chosen one prophecy” have become so widespread. These plots inherently resonate with audiences because it speaks to what it means to be human—waiting for adventure and wanting to be special. Sci-Fi, by contrast, often experiments with structure—time loops, paradoxes, and non-linear storytelling—which can be thrilling but sometimes alienating. While Sci-Fi pushes narrative boundaries, Fantasy’s plots succeed because they are archetypal: deeply human, deeply recognizable, and always compelling.

Diversity
Historically, Fantasy has drawn most heavily from European medieval traditions—knights, castles, dragons—leaving it vulnerable to cultural narrowness. While that is changing, with more writers drawing from non-Western mythologies and ontologies, the genre still carries that baggage. Sci-Fi is built for multiplicity. By imagining futures and alien societies, it inherently opens the door to different ways of being. Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness challenged gender norms decades before mainstream conversations caught up, and Octavia Butler’s work foregrounded race, power, and survival. In terms of representation and possibility, Sci-Fi has generally been the more inclusive and radical genre.

Cultural Impact
Fantasy has undeniably conquered mainstream entertainment. The Lord of the Rings movies, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones each created cultural phenomena with audiences spanning generations. Yet Sci-Fi has done something arguably more profound: it hasn’t just entertained, it has altered the real world. Star Trek inspired technologies from flip phones to medical scanners; cyberpunk reframed how we understood the rise of the internet; and films like The Matrix gave us metaphors that shape politics and philosophy. Fantasy dominates fandom, but Sci-Fi transforms culture at large.

Philosophical Messaging
Fantasy often reflects moral absolutes—light vs dark, good vs evil, the hero’s choice. It can be rich in symbolism but tends to channel timeless archetypes rather than modern dilemmas. In contrast, Sci-Fi thrives on philosophical inquiry. What does it mean to be human in a world of artificial intelligence? How do societies cope with scarcity, colonization, or surveillance? From Asimov’s robot laws to the moral chaos of Black Mirror, Sci-Fi pushes us into ethical gray zones that feel urgent and relevant. And a lot of the time, Sci-Fi can be more philosophical than even theoretical. Fantasy keeps things simple with moral clarity, but Sci-Fi really does try to force deeper reflection as it questions the past, present and future of our world.

Accessibility and Volume
Fantasy has an advantage here: its premises are immediately enjoyable. A child can understand dragons and enchanted forests without prior knowledge. And as such Fantasy is often the go-to entry point into literature and fiction for younger readers. Sci-Fi, while accessible at its lighter end (Star Wars proves this), can quickly become intimidating. Hard Sci-Fi novels filled with physics or scientific jargon can alienate casual readers. In terms of volume, both genres are prolific, but Fantasy’s accessibility means it has a broader casual audience.

Longevity
Fantasy draws directly from humanity’s oldest stories—myths, folklore, religious texts. That gives it a timelessness that ensures dragons, wizards, and epic quests will always resonate with people across time. Sci-Fi though runs a massive risk. What once seemed futuristic can age very quickly once real technology surpasses it. A 1950s story about “thinking machines” loses its punch in the age of AI today. However, it all depends on the quality of the piece. Many Sci-Fi novels that speak to issues that will never stop being relevant or made predictions that actually did come true have aged like fine wine. Foundation, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and 1984, just to name a few. However, for every Sci-Fi “classic”, there are thousands that nowadays just read as outdated. Overall, Fantasy’s foundation on the impossible ensures greater and more reliable long-term endurance. Because who in the 2080’s wouldn’t want to read about wizards and mages?

Medium
Fantasy thrives in literature and art, where language and imagery can capture the impossible. In film and television, however, it often struggles without massive budgets—especially since early adaptations were plagued by clunky effects and terrible CGI. Sci-Fi, meanwhile, has flourished across mediums. Visual design, special effects, and even gaming have all drawn heavily on Sci-Fi’s aesthetic. From Blade Runner’s neon-noir visuals to the sleek futurism of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Sci-Fi has influenced not just stories but art, architecture, and design itself. In cross-medium dominance, Sci-Fi pulls ahead.

For me, Science Fiction edges out as my preferred genre—even if I can admit that Fantasy, as this analysis has shown, often wins on the pure storytelling front. Fantasy tends to deliver stronger plots, richer worldbuilding, and more memorable characters. There’s something timeless about epic quests, magic systems, and archetypal heroes that Sci-Fi doesn’t always match. But Sci-Fi shines in almost every other category: cultural impact, philosophical depth, diversity, and its ability to stretch across mediums.
What keeps me drawn to Sci-Fi is that it’s grounded in realism. It feels more understandable, relatable and there is just something with spaceships and galactic empires that appeals to me more than magical guilds and wizarding schools. Also, the focus on explanations for technology, societies, and even alien worlds make the stories feel intellectually engaging, not just entertaining. I can sit and read Sci-Fi for hours without feeling guilty, because in the process I’m also learning something—whether it’s about physics, sociology, or ethics. It’s a genre that challenges me to think, which makes the reading experience feel both exciting and rewarding.
That said, sometimes I need the opposite. There are days when I don’t want to wrestle with the future of humanity or the ethics of artificial intelligence. On those days, an easy Fantasy book or a light Sci-Fi romance is exactly what I need. Fantasy, one could say, works for me as a comfort genre—it offers a straightforward escape into another world, where magic and destiny carry me away without demanding too much in return.
And really, that’s the point. These categories—plot, characters, worldbuilding, philosophy—help us compare, but they only go so far. Sci-Fi novels can absolutely have incredible characters, and Fantasy novels can dig deep into philosophical questions. At the end of the day, it comes down to what you are looking for at the moment. If you want intellectual challenge, it’s easier to find a Sci-Fi book that delivers. If you want timeless storytelling, Fantasy rarely disappoints. But if what you’re after is simply an escape from reality or a good story well told, then either genre will do just fine.