In many fantasy stories, the king and/or queen of a nation usually aren't the ones solving problems. Sometimes they're too busy with the day-to-day governance of their nation to handle something directly, sometimes they simply don't have the capabilities, and sometimes they just don't especially care.

RELATED: What Are The Countries In Dragon Age Based On?

But some kings and queens aren't content with being punch-clock monarchs. These royal few aren't afraid to really get their hands dirty when it comes to keeping their domains and the people living within them safe, happy, and flourishing. These are the kinds of kings are queens you'd be all too happy to be a subject of.

9 Bowser - Super Mario

Bowser from Super Mario with a phone

Being a capable king and being a good person aren't always mutually inclusive. Case in point, Bowser is most definitely not a good person, but for the most part, he seems to be a rather capable ruler, at least when viewed objectively.

His soldiers and citizens all respect him, the lands under his dominion are large and flourishing, and while his relationship with neighboring countries isn't exactly stellar, he does know how to be diplomatic when the interest strikes him. Bowser is kind of like the royalty equivalent of a mob boss; he's a criminal for sure, but those under his banner have his full care and protection.

8 Midna - The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Midna's true form in The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Technically speaking, Midna is a princess for the majority of The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess, but since she becomes the ruler of the Twili people after dethroning Zant, who had named himself king, she is, for all intents and purposes, a queen.

While the main reason Midna works with Link to find the Fused Shadows is to get payback on Zant for turning her into an imp, she is, at her core, a responsible ruler that cares for her people. There were numerous times she could have abandoned the Twilight Realm entirely, especially to stay with Link, but she still chose to remain a leader in the end, as heartbreaking as it was for her.

7 Rab - Dragon Quest XI

Rab reading paper in Dragon Quest XI

Lord Robert, Rab to his friends, was the king of Dundrasil before the crown was passed down to his son-in-law, King Irwin. In his time as king, he was a skilled paladin and generally well-liked by his people, and that didn't change even after he traded the crown for a lesser lord's throne.

RELATED: The Elder Scrolls: Nations We'd Love To See In Future Games

Even in his older years, Rab is a very wise man, knowledgeable about all kinds of concepts and people all over the world, and a skilled hand in various kinds of complicated magic. Despite his skill and wisdom, though, he still manages to be a fun and goofy old guy, which is impressive in itself, given what his kingdom went through.

6 King Graham - King's Quest

King Graham in King's Quest

You wouldn't think Graham to be a bona fide king at a glance, given his penchant for dressing like a ren fair worker, but that's a deliberate choice. He likes his casual attire because it prevents the people he meets from having preconceived notions about him. If you're one of his subjects, though, it doesn't matter, because you probably already know and love him.

Graham is a kind, wise, and just ruler with a penchant for solving problems with his wits rather than his fists, an admirable trait in any good leader. He's also very quick to action; when misfortune befalls him, his family, or his realm, he wastes no time moaning about it and gets right to seeking solutions.

5 Mickey Mouse - Kingdom Hearts

Mickey Mouse with his Keyblade in Kingdom Hearts II

For many of the residents of Disney Town, Mickey Mouse isn't just their king and leader, he's also their best friend, and it's easy to see why. It's Mickey Mouse, after all; he's well-known for being a lovable, down-to-earth kind of guy, someone you can just hang out with and grab a pizza, royalty or not.

RELATED: Airborne Kingdom Best Layouts

It certainly doesn't hurt that he's no slouch with a Keyblade, not to mention his potent skill with light magic. While Mickey's actual authority only extends as far as the borders of his world, he considers it his obligation as a Keyblade wielder to do whatever he can to protect all worlds.

4 Ky Kiske - Guilty Gear

Ky Kiske in Guilty Gear Xrd

Originally a capable knight in the Holy Order, Ky's popularity with the people and general charisma eventually led to his election as the First King of Illyria, ruling alongside Second King Leo Whitefang and Third King Daryl. Ky is an old-school knight, which means not only is he remarkably proficient with a sword, but he has strong beliefs in the concepts of justice and chivalry.

Originally, his concept of justice was very black and white, but his experiences over the years have taught him the value of shades of gray. This makes him a great ruler, as he's able to discern the best courses of action for his people and the world (even if those in other positions of power would rather he didn't).

3 King Daphnes - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

King Daphnes in Hyrule Warriors

All of Hyrule's various kings have been rather unlucky sorts, either subjected to pain and misfortune themselves or being forced to watch their kingdoms suffer around them. Out of all of those kings, though, King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule stood his ground, no matter what misfortune came his way (and a lot came his way).

When the Great Flood came upon Hyrule, rather than fleeing or panicking, he stayed with his kingdom to form a seal in order to keep Ganondorf contained. When Ganondorf got loose, he took it upon himself to aid Link in person in the guise of the King of Red Lions. Very few of Hyrule's kings are as proactive as Daphnes.

2 Himiko - Okami

Himiko's spirit talking to Amaterasu in Okami

When you're first introduced to Queen Himiko, ruler of Sei'an City and the Ryoshima Coast, you're lead to believe that she's a completely uncaring queen who has shut herself away to avoid her peoples' grievances. This could not be further from the truth, however.

Himiko was keeping herself in a protected meditative state, both to await help from Amaterasu and protect her family's sacred crystal ball, all to save her people from the works of .. Even when she was ultimately slain by Ninetails, it was to help her people, as the crystal ball shards in Ninetails' stomach showed the way to his lair on Oni Island. Even to the very end, Himiko put the safety of her subjects above all else, even her own life.

1 Ivory King - Dark Souls II

Burnt Ivory King in Dark Souls II

Just about all the kings and queens of Dark Souls are mighty in one way or another, but few were as capable as the Ivory King. Originally a knight from Forossa, the Ivory King was well-known far and wide as both a powerful combatant and a wise and compassionate ruler.

When he realized the dangers of Old Chaos, he used the power of his soul to construct the kingdom of Eleum Loyce right on top of it with the purpose of keeping it contained. He even went as far as to build his cathedral and throne right at the mouth of Old Chaos, so that if the day ever came when it would encroach upon the land, he could be the first to lay down his life for his people.

NEXT: The Most Powerful Warriors In Total War: Three Kingdoms