Alternate reality often refers to parallel universes in fiction, a self-contained separate world, universe or reality coexisting with the real world, which is used as a recurring plot point or setting used in fantasy and science fiction. Alternate reality may also refer to: Science The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, which implies the existence of parallel universes Multiverse, a group of multiple universes Arts and media Alternate history, a genre of fiction consisting of stories that are set in worlds in which historical events unfold differently from the real world Alternate universe (fan fiction), fiction by fan authors that deliberately alters facts of the canonical universe they are writing about Literature Alternate Realities (Cherryh), a 2000 anthology of science fiction by C. J. Cherryh Games and video games Alternate Reality (series), a role-playing video game series started in 1985 with two of several intended games released Alternate reality game, a type of cross-media game Virtual reality, simulated reality Other uses A euphemism for "psychedelic experience" See also Metaverse, a collective virtual shared space Parallel universe (disambiguation) Separate reality (disambiguation) Megaverse (disambiguation) Multiverse (disambiguation) Omniverse (disambiguation) AR (disambiguation) Augmented reality Alternate facts