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

The fact that new Battlestar Galactica put a grimdark cast on a situation that was inherently grim and dark was to its credit.

From The Daily Beast