Will there ever be another fantasy drama like Game of Thrones? It’s hard to top a show that won 59 Emmys, but there is never a shortage of surprises in the television landscape. Meanwhile, there have been several great attempts at offering the same kind of magic ever since the HBO series ended. If you are looking for fantasy shows with great storytelling, performances, and visuals, this list has a few options for you.

Game of Thrones ended rather controversially in 2019, with the final season considered unsatisfactory by fans and critics. Still, the show’s legacy remains intact, and discourse regarding various plots and characters continues to dominate various internet forums. Even better, the show’s universe continues to expand. After House of the Dragon, a second prequel titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set to premiere in 2026.

The following are the 10 best fantasy shows since Game of Thrones.

‘Shadow and Bone’ (2021 – 2023)

With a plot plucked out of the pages of Leigh Bardugo’s fantasy novels, Shadow and Bone dumps viewers in the war-torn world of Ravka, geographically divided by the Shadow Fold — a swath of darkness infested with monsters. Orphan Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) discovers she is a Grisha, a magic user with the ability to destroy the Fold and unite to create unity. With her curiosity piqued, she becomes a hero, but saving her world won’t be easy, as various sinister forces seem intent on thwarting her efforts.

Politics and Magic Are Miscible

Nominated for Outstanding Special Visual Effects at the Emmys, Shadow and Bone does more than just look pretty. It addresses the themes of freedom, desire, and hope in great depth, and the dialogue is handled with consummate skill. There are political undertones, too, with the Shadow Fold being a presumed allegory of the Berlin Wall. Surprisingly, this ended up being one of the surprise Netflix cancellations, despite being one of the 10 most Googled shows of 2023. Fans quickly launched a campaign titled Save the Grishaverse, but the higher-ups didn’t budge.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ (2022 – Present)

Set dozens of centuries before the events of J. R. R. Tolkien’s novels The Hobbit (published in 1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954 to 55) The Rings of Power covers major events of Middle-earth’s Second Age, including the forging of the Rings of Power, the fall of the island kingdom of Númenor, the rise of the Sauron, and the last alliance between Elves and humans.

Fans of Books and the Movies Will Be Pleased

Isn’t it impressive how showrunners J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay condense all these events, which take place over thousands of years in Tolkien’s books? A lurid fantasy tale, The Rings of Power is a trifle ostentatious and overheated, but rich with heartwarming moments and action. Better, each character is easily distinguishable from the other (this wasn’t the case in the movies). Some are haughty, some indomitable, others rivetingly sensual.

‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ (2019)

A prequel to the 1982 Jim Henson film The Dark Crystal, Age of Resistance welcomes us to Planet Thra, where Gelflings — Brea (Anya Taylor-Joy), Rian (Taron Egerton), and Deet (Nathalie Emmanuel) — have uncovered a conspiracy among their leaders (the Skeksis). They learn that the Emperor (Jason Isaacs) and the Scientist (Mark Hamill) have been exploiting the Crystal of Truth to prolong their lives. Time to act.

Curbing the Abuse of Power

This beautiful high-tempo fantasy drama is a hero tale, to be sure, but it’s also one long lecture to viewers, reminding them to be courageous, selfless, and mindful of other people’s wellbeing. We feel comfortable watching the events through the eyes of these likeable and soulful characters, but we also feel uncomfortable watching their unpredictable path to victory. And what a superb voice cast we have. It’s a joy to hear Anya Taylor-Joy talk. May she get to puppeteer a million characters.

‘His Dark Materials’ (2019 – 2022)

His Dark Materials — based on Philip Pullman’s book trilogy of the same name — has an alternative universe where all humans’ souls have animal companions referred to as daemons. Lyra (Dafne Keen), an orphan living with some of the world’s best scholars at Jordan College, Oxford, is destined to be the world’s hero, according to a witches’ prophecy. Her first mission? Looking into a mysterious substance called Dust, which is linked to various killings and abductions.

A Feast for the Eyes

Dafne Keen will etch a place in your heart. Her marvelous performance appeals to anyone who has ever found themselves in unusual circumstances, with no choice but to forge ahead. Regarding the plot, it is bittersweet, but all the better for it. Keep a tissue nearby, but prepare to smile, too. However, the true magic lies in the visuals, sound, and costume design. All these departments were nominated for numerous awards across various organizations, including the Satellite Awards.

‘The Witcher’ (2019 – Present)

Born out of a world created by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher follows Geralt of Rivia (portrayed by Henry Cavill and Liam Hemsworth) as he traverses a medieval world where human wickedness is just as bad as that of beasts. His destiny is linked to two women: Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra), a quarter-elf sorceress, and Ciri, the crown princess of Cintra. Geralt protects the latter from those who seek to exploit her politically and spiritually.

Honoring the Source Material

Hailed as the next Game of Thrones upon its premiere, The Witcher has carved its own path and ridden smoothly on it. Here, showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich recreates the book’s events with a keen sense of balance, capturing both the squalid conditions of some of the citizens and the opulent nature of the sinister figures while creating an authentic feeling to the magical elements. All the central players are superb, though most fans would have loved to see Henry Cavill continue in the central role.

‘Willow’ (2022 – 2023)

Following up on the events of Ron Howard’s 1988 fantasy film, Willow picks up years after the defeat of Queen Bavmorda. Sorcerer Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) steps up once again when Prince Airk (Dempsey Bryk) is kidnapped. A band of unlikely heroes, including a princess, a knight, a kitchen maid, a thief, and a scholar, join in on the fun.

The Original Movie’s Magic Isn’t Lost

This warm, deeply felt show about loyalty, courage, love, and sacrifice is a life-affirming experience, and enjoyable all around. Nominated for numerous awards, including two from the Visual Effects Society Awards, Willow will leave you feeling like a kid again. Few fantasy dramas blend nostalgia and freshness better than this. Warwick Davis’ return also means everything for fans of the original movies, and the new cast members are so comfortable, you’d think they were there the first time, too.

‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ (2022 – 2025)

The Legend of Vox Machina draws inspiration from Critical Role’s first Dungeons & Dragons campaign, centering on Vox Machina, a band of reckless who evolve from glory hunters to heroes. In their numerous exciting adventures, they are pitted against monsters, corrupt nobles, and various other kinds of ancient evils. Some of these missions dampen, but don’t extinguish their spirit.

Dungeons For Everyone

Excelling in voice acting and action, The Legend of Vox Machina is a treat even for viewers who don’t pay attention to Dungeons & Dragons. Superbly animated, the series is a stunning hybrid of narrative elements, blending razor-sharp humor, unblinking fantasy, and weighty themes. If you are looking for shows with 100% scores on Rotten Tomatoes, start here. In all three seasons, no single critic on the review aggregator website gave a negative review. Amazing!

‘The Wheel of Time’ (2021 – 2025)

Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike), a member of the Aes Sedai organization (an all-female group with special powers), arrives in a small village believing one of the young people is the Dragon Reborn, who has been prophesied to either save or break the world. She then leads the young villagers on a dangerous adventure across a landscape defined by magic, war and political turmoil. Soon, one man is revealed as the Dragon Reborn. What next in The Wheel of Time?

Pike Shining As Always

It’s hard to imagine anyone but Rosamund Pike in the lead role. She bosses the proceedings in a way no one else could. It’s even hard to imagine her in a TV show. Yet here we are. Credit also goes to showrunner and creator Rafe Judkins for adapting the books and concocting this trenchantly scripted, enchanting work, which ultimately has a lot to say about power and responsibility. Be sure to check out the six animated “Origins” shorts, released alongside Season 1, which provide additional context about the show’s fictional world.

‘The Sandman’ (2022 – 2025)

The Sandman gives us a front row seat to the adventures of Morpheus (Tom Sturridge), aka, Dream, the personification of dreams and nightmares. He is one of the seven cosmic beings dubbed the Endless (Delirium, Death, Desire, Destiny, Despair, Destruction, and Dream). The series covers his ventures after he breaks free from a 106-year captivity stint, having been confined via an occult ritual in the early 1900s.

A Rare Netflix Original From the DC Vaults

Morpheus is far from an easygoing character — he worries, he takes reckless actions, and he feels himself — but Sturridge injects a humanity and density to the role that’s genuine and arresting. A Netflix original, The Sandman rose to the top of the streaming service’s viewership charts when it premiered and stayed there for a couple of weeks. Part of its brilliance also lies in the marvelous VFX and the jargon. Advisable to stay focused, or you’ll be left confused.

‘House of the Dragon’ (2022 – Present)

After that poor conclusion, HBO and the producers of Game of Thrones figured they could correct things by engaging the reverse gear. House of the Dragon was thus born, set 200 years before the parent show’s events and based on George R.R. Martin’s 2018 novel, Fire & Blood. The offshoot depicts the events leading up to the decline of House Targaryen, a bloody succession war known as the “Dance of the Dragons”.

The Perfect Redemption

This heartfelt study of conflict, ennui, and romantic tension in the ancient circles of power avoids the pitfalls of most spinoffs. The pacing is unhurried (never in a rush to get to the things fans are already familiar with), the dialogue is spontaneous, and the revelations are inconspicuous. House of the Dragon thus emerges as a compelling series for precisely these reasons. Additionally, the performances are outstanding. In an interview with GQ, lead actor Paddy Considine disclosed that author George R.R. Martin praised him, telling him, “Your Viserys is better than my Viserys.”