The Pop Culture References of Wizard101: the Master List

From the fist time I encountered Dorothy Gale on Unicorn Way right up through abundance of pulp hero inspirations in Lemuria, I have been impressed with the writers of Wizard101 (and Pirate101) for their inclusion of the many allusions to history, music, and pop culture. I have been an aficionado of pop culture for most of my life and as an adult in my mid-50s I realize that MANY of those allusions sail right over the heads of the Wizard101 target audience.

When Lemuria went live in late 2021, I was beside myself with giddy glee as we were introduced to Stallion Quatermane, The Bantam, Solomon Crane, Mandar, Duck Savage, Buck Gordon, Dog Tracy, and the Shadoe. I knew where the inspirations came from but was very surprised at how many Wizard101 fans younger than myself were not aware of those inspirations for Lemuria and its inhabitants. I then decided to take it upon myself to write a series of articles introducing the inspirations to a new audience.

Sixteen articles later, my series The Heroes of Lemuria was met with thunderous (to me) accolades, choruses of “I didn’t know that” and quite a few “Could I do this for other worlds as well”. Inspired, I searched high and low for a comprehensive list of all the Easter Eggs and pop culture references in my favorite game. Although I found some great resources, I have not found anything close to a comprehensive list. Thus began my quest. I decided early on the I would limit myself to the NPCs as the allusions to pop culture are sprinkled throughout the game in dialogue, quest names, monsterology tome listings, reagents, pet snacks and beyond are numerous and would entail a significant commitment of time to catalog.

This list will contain the links to each world’s Master List. And each Spiral world will be added as I begin to archive of that world.

If you see an omission, PLEASE let me know. I do have Trivial Pursuit level of knowledge about pop culture, but I am not omniscient.

Wizard City, the first world every wizard encounters. Home to Ravenwood School of Magical Arts. We’ve uncovered 38 pop culture references as of 2/8/24

Krokotopia, the world where Malistaire looked for the Krokonomicron. Home to Manders, Kroks and explored by Marleybonians. This is the second of the four original worlds. We’ve found 65 pop culture references as of 7/31/2025. Kembaalung and Selenopolis references are listed on this page as well.

Marleybone – the home of dogs, cats, rats, and proper manners. This world is based loosely on a combination of 19th century London and America, and named after a section of London called Marylebone. This is the third original world. Currently we have found 47 pop culture references as of 8/12/2025.

Mooshu, home world of Professor Moolinda Wu, it also is home to both the honorable Samoorai and the sneaky Ninja Pigs. This is the fourth and final original world. We’ve found 14 references as of 8/19/2025.

Dragonspyre is an ancient, haunted world. Once an advanced society of militaristic wizards and warriors. It was the first expansion world of Wizard101 and was added to the game in January of 2009. As of 8/22/2025 there are eleven found references. Can you find any others?

Grizzleheim and Wintertusk is the first side world added to Wizard101 in July of 2009. The Wintertusk expansion was added in 2011. This is the home of Bears, Raven, Wolves, and Boars. It is also the first time your wizard meets Grandmother Raven. Grizzleheim and Wintertusk combine for a total of 21 pop culture and Norse mythology references that we have found as of 8/22/2025

Aquila is a side world with dungeons for level 30, level 60, and level 90 wizards. Although Aquila is an accessible skyway in Pirates101, Wizards can only access the Garden of Hesperides, the home of the Imortals, after being invited. Aquila was added to Wizard101 in July of 2013. We have only discovered 22 pop culture references.

Wysteria is a side world for level 25 wizards. It is the home of Pigswick Academy and the host of the Spiral Cup. Wysteria was added to the game August 19, 2011. We have found 11 pop culture references to date.

Celestia is an ancient world recently rediscovered by the Spiral Geographic Society. It is the first world of the second arc of the Wizard101 story line. This world was added to the game in October of 2010. We have found 13 pop culture references.

Zafaria is old, but until recently has been cut off from the Spiral. It is a world of endless grasslands; dense, colorful jungles; and spectacular vistas. Baobab is the spiritual and cultural center of the world – a city built in and around the eponymous Tree of Life. The second world of the second arc, Zafaria was added to the game November 11, 2011. We have discovered 17 pop culture references as of 9/2/25.

Avalon is a world full of wonder and history. Who’s history in particular? Why, Ravenwood’s very own Merle Ambrose came from Avalon! Avalon, the third world of the second arc, was added to Wizard101 in May of 2012. Currently we have found 39 pop culture references as of 9/11/25

Azteca, doomed world, world where the Shadow Queen attempts to rewrite the song of creation, world of Aztecasaurs and Avians. The fourth world of the second arc, Azteca was added to Wizard101 in November 2012. There are 94 references as of 9/13/2025.

Khrysalis, Morganthe’s world, explore this home of Shadow magic and search for ways to disrupt her power, help those pinned down under the weight of her tyranny, and learn the secrets of her magic in order to have a chance of restoring the Spiral.

Khrysalis is the fifth and final world of the second arc. Part 1 was added to the game on November 15, 2013 and part 2 was added April 24, 2014. We’ve found 45 pop culture references as of July 1, 2024. New articles are being added starting 9/15/2025.

Bartleby has fallen ill, and you must seek out the source of his illness before it’s too late! Get ready to venture into the frozen north of Polaris. Polaris is the first world of the third arc. It was added to the game in November of 2015. We’ve found 35 references as of March 28, 2024.

Step into Mirage, a world of shifting sands and shifting allegiances, where ancient treasures and ancient dangers were buried in the hope they might never again see the light of day. Mirage is the second world of the third arc, it was added to the game in November 2016. We’ve found 66 references as of July 22, 2024.

While the Wizard managed to rescue Bartleby’s Eye of History from Grandfather Spider and the Cabal in Mirage, the endeavor came at a heavy cost: Mellori was taken by Grandfather Spider. Spider believes she is the key to unlocking his Chaos Heart from its ancient bonds in the storm-shrouded world of Empyrea.

Empyrea is the third and final world of the Third Arc. Part one was added to the game in November 2017 and part two was added in November of 2018. We have uncovered 59 references as June 22, 2024. New ones being added 9/23/2025

Karamelle is a world of smiles, of Gumdrop Forests and Licorice Trees, of Chocolate Mines and Soda Lakes. Happy villages stretch from Karamelle City to Gutenstadt and everyone, everywhere, is always singing and whistling while they work.

So come to Karamelle. There is nothing to fear. (from the Wizard101 website)

Karamelle is the first world of the fourth arc. It was added to the game in November of 2020. We have uncovered 41 references as of 11/22/2024

Built by the Old One, Lemuria is the home of Heroes and Lemurs. Lemuria is the second world of the fourth arc and was added to the game in December of 2021. We have found 60 references as of 1/11/2025.

The World Synthesizer was destroyed and then, almost immediately, strange rocks appeared over several worlds, each of them connected to each other through magic and thought. Together, they form Novus, a new world, an unusual world, a gift to the peoples of the Spiral, a gift from… Something.

Novus is the third world of the fourth arc. It was added to the game in November 2022. To date we have found 40 references.

Wallaru is a mysterious world of Koalas and Kangaroos, Wallabies and Wombats. The Wizard has met a scholar from Wallaru, and now they’ll finally travel there! Inspired by Australia at the turn of the 20th century, Wallaru is the land of the Outback, where inspiration awaits those who can become one with The Dreaming.

The fourth and final world of Wizard101’s fourth story arc, it was added to the game November of 2023. There are 80 articles as of 6/10/2025

Hey dere li’l wizard. My name is Prospector Zeke. I travel all over da Spiral in search of things what got lost. Dat Vulcan (haven’t been ta his world yet) thought it would be best to list my searches sep’rately from da worlds that you look on. You kin find the lists of my quests here. You kin also find da quests of my good friend Eloise Mayweather right here.

Pets & Mounts
Kit-10
The Road Warrior’s Chopper Mount

Wizard101 Extra Credit Assignments
My Favorite Pet (May 2023)
Celebration! (June 2023)
My Spiral Vacation (July 2023)
Why Do I Chronicle the Pop Culture References of Wizard101? (August 2023)
Why Do I Love Playing Wizard101? (September 2023)
The Sweet Trio of Weird Sisters (November 2023) – a collaboration with @exp613
My Wallaru Christmas Shopping Trip (December 2023)
What I Taught My Friends About W101 (February 2024)

My Top 10 Favorite Pop Culture references from both Wizard101 and Pirate101

Coming Soon:
Pirate101 Pop Culture references.

All images are from Wizard101, and are copyright of KingsIsle Entertainment.

They are being used in a way that qualifies as fair use under US copyright law.