The Complete List on Types of Undead

This article presents a complete list of the types of undead creatures found across folklore, mythology, fantasy literature, tabletop games, and video games. It is designed as a reference for developers, writers, worldbuilders, media, and content creators.

The types of undead listed here represent recurring categories of undead. Each entry documents what defines that undead type, how it typically comes into existence, and how it functions across different fantasy systems. Where applicable, undead types are treated as descriptors that can apply to many forms, from humanoids to animals and monstrous beings.

Undead creatures appear in many genres, but fantasy settings especially rely on clear distinctions between corpses, spirits, revenants, and transcendent forms of undeath. This guide exists to map those distinctions in one place, using consistent terminology and neutral explanations that support research, writing, and worldbuilding.

If you are interested in how undead function across specific worlds, games, and stories, explore the rest of Undead Lore for deeper analysis, reference guides, and focused studies on individual undead systems and archetypes.