Tentacle Fantasy Sales Surge Among Women

Gillian Anderson's book 'More' collects women's fantasies involving large sea creatures, and one contributor in her late 40s describes being wrapped by an octopus too big to resist. Her account, published Sept. 14 and updated since, is part of a pattern that sex expert Gigi Engle classifies as a 'niche play fetish.' Tentacle fantasy also appears in hentai, the sexually explicit anime genre featuring non-human creatures. The subreddit Tentai has 516,000 members.

The book's contributors describe encounters with octopus and snake figures that overpower them. One married woman writes about a muscular snake that fills her and expands through muscle movement. The first contributor describes tentacles entering her mouth and body, ending in what she calls 'obliterated by sea-scented orgasm.'

Engle, author of 'Kink Curious,' attributes the appeal to two forces. The first is power dynamics: 'There's a power play element,' she said, where the person imagines being overpowered by a creature. The second is sensory detail: 'There's also a sensory element.. the slithery-ness of it, the pointed tip of it, which can be arousing.' She places creature fantasies alongside Bigfoot roleplay, describing both as encounters with an untethered creature that must have you.

Sales data supports the trend. Dragon Dildo, a fantasy sex toy brand, reports tentacle dildos as the fastest-growing category in the UK, rising from 2024 levels. Kraken models topped purchases in Glasgow and Birmingham, with additional interest in Bristol and Leeds. Odyssey, another sex toy site, reports Nottingham buyers choosing anal-specific tentacle toys.

Engle describes practical steps for partners trying the fantasy. One option: blindfold the submissive partner and play monster sounds. Another: stage an abduction scene involving the sea or an alien spaceship. 'It might sound silly and awkward but sex is how adults play,' she said.

Size requires care. Dragon Dildo's Octopus Tentacle Dildo measures 23.5cm by 7.5cm. Another product reaches 65cm in length. 'You need to be careful when using them and make sure everyone is fully aroused, and there's proper lubrication,' Engle said. Fantasy figures like this date back centuries; Engle notes The Odyssey contains sea creature encounters. 'The sexual fascination with the sea and sea creatures is very old,' she said.