Tropes can be near impossible to avoid in science fiction. If it's a term you're not familiar with, a trope is a recurring theme or concept that is commonly found in science fiction stories. These tropes are often used to help create a sense of familiarity for the reader or viewer, as well as to establish certain expectations about the story and its setting. Some common science fiction tropes include time travel, alien invasion, dystopian futures, and the use of advanced technology.

Science fiction tropes can be used in a variety of ways, from serving as the central focus of a story to providing a backdrop for the action. They can also be used to subvert expectations or to comment on broader social or political issues. Ultimately, the use of science fiction tropes is a way for writers to explore ideas and concepts that might not be possible in the real world, and to imagine what the future might hold.

This is a list of common Sci-fi tropes. Some great stories might actually combine some of these. But if you feel like you're stuck in a rut, perhaps looking through this list might inspire you to write your next science fiction story!

Advanced robotics
Aether
Alien abduction
Alien artifact
Alien invasion
Alien society
Alternate history
Android
Android rebellion
Antimatter
Apocalypse
Arcane technology
Artificial gravity
Artificial intelligence
Asteroid mining
Augmented reality
Autonomous weapons
Bioengineering
Bionics
Black hole
Black hole weapon
Blending technology and magic
Body armor
Body modification
Body swapping
Brain uploading
Brain-computer interface
Clones
Colony on another planet
Cryogenic freezing
Cryonics
Crystalline life forms
Cybernetic enhancement
Cybernetic implant
Cybernetic organism
Cybernetics
Cyberwarfare
Dark energy
Dark energy weapon
Dark matter
Demigod
Digitized consciousness
Dimension hopping
Dimension hopping device
Disintegration
Disintegrator rays
DNA manipulation
Dreadnought
Dyson sphere
Dystopian society
Elemental powers
Energy shields
Energy weapon
Enhanced senses
Euthanasia
Exosuit
Extraterrestrial ecosystem
Extraterrestrial intelligence
Extraterrestrial language
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial society
Fabrication
Fantasy/science fiction crossover
Far future
Faster-than-light travel
First contact
Force field
Genetic engineering
Genetic manipulation
Genetic memory
Genetic modification
Geomancy
Ghost
Ghost in the machine
Golem
Gravity manipulation
Gravity well
Hologram
Holographic projection
Human enhancement
Hyperspace
Immortality
Inertia manipulation
Interdimensional travel
Interstellar communication
Interstellar conflict
Interstellar diplomacy
Interstellar politics
Interstellar war
Invisibility
Invisibility cloak
Invisible cities
Isochronous orbit
Laser
Leveraging technology for magic
Life extension
Life support
Light saber
Light speed travel
Living planet
Love triangle
Magic
Magic/technology crossover
Magical creatures
Martians
Mecha
Merging dimensions
Military AI
Military dictatorship
Military technology
Mind control
Mind control device
Mind reading
Mind reading device
Mind uploading
Mutant
Nanobots
Nanotechnology
Neo-noir
Neo-noir city
Neural implant
Ninja
Omega Point
Parallel dimensions
Parallel universe
Particle accelerator
Particle weapon
Personality transfer
Planetary colonization
Portal
Portal gun
Post-apocalyptic world
Post-human
Power armor
Power armor suit
Prehistoric creatures
Psi powers
Quantum computing
Quantum entanglement
Quantum teleportation
Quark
Remote viewing
Replication
Robot
Seance
Sentient AI
Sentient weapon
Shape-shifting
Shapeshifting
Singularity
Smart dust
Smart gun
Solar sail
Space elevator
Space habitat
Space opera
Space station
Space travel
Super soldier
Superhero
Supervillain
Telekinesis
Telekinetic powers
Telepathy
Telepathy device
Teleportation
Teleportation device
Time dilation
Time loop
Time machine
Time manipulation
Time travel
Time travel device
Tragedy
Transhumanism
Traveling through time and space
Treasure hunt
Treasure hunt in space
Underwater city
Underwater civilization
Virtual reality
Virtual reality
Virtual reality headset
Warp drive
Wormhole
Wormhole travel