Over the years, Netflix has become a frontrunner in the world of fantasy storytelling. Whether it’s adaptations of beloved stories, or completely original offerings — there’s always some good fantasy to behold. In this list, we take a look at ten of the best fantasy shows Netflix has to offer.
From comic book adaptations like The Sandman to the gorgeous animation of Blue Eye Samurai, Netflix offers a wide array of incredible fantasy series. There’s witches, demons, monsters, dragons and magic aplenty lurking in your Netflix library.
For those of you looking to escape to unique fantasy worlds — or fantastical versions of the real world — we recommend these 10 fantasy series on Netflix.
Just before we dig in, you may want to check out what new fantasy series Netflix is releasing soon!
Locke & Key
Based on the graphic novels by Joe Hill (the son of Stephen King), Locke & Key is a wonderfully charming supernatural series. It’s got all the childish fun and wackiness of Stranger Things, whilst also balancing out the light-hearted with some dark moments.
Locke & Key follows the Locke family, who move to Keyhouse in the quaint town of Matheson. In their huge, old family home, they locate several mysterious keys that each perform strange things. For instance, there’s a key that allows you to see inside people’s brains; there’s one that lets you become a ghost; and one that allows you to go back in time. Naturally, with great power comes great responsibility, and as the family harness the power of the keys, there are those who seek to seize the power for themselves.
What makes Locke & Key even better is that it’s now a completed series. No, it wasn’t cancelled before its time, unlike so many fantastic Netflix shows. No, there’s no need to wait for more seasons. It’s a complete series, telling a full story.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the most celebrated animated shows of all-time. Its fanbase is legion, and the ratings speak for themselves — the original series currently sits on a staggering 9.3/10 on IMDb. So when Netflix announced a live-action adaptation, fans were always going to be a little apprehensive, especially after N. Night Shyamalan’s awful movie adaptation in 2010. Thankfully, Netflix’s slightly darker spin on the show managed to live up to the hype.
Sure, Netflix’s Avatar isn’t perfect by any means. It changes a lot of elements from the original. You can draw plenty of fair criticisms. That said, for those who embraced the changes, Avatar won viewers over. Gordon Cormier’s portrayal of Avatar Aang especially was everything we could’ve hoped for.
For those unacquainted with Avatar, the series follows Aang, the latest in a line of Avatars — people born with the ability to control and manipulate, or “Bend” — all four elements. It’s the Avatar’s job to keep balance in the world. However, when the oppressive Fire Nation commits terrible atrocities, the responsibility to restore harmony to a broken world falls to 12-year-old Aang and his friends Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley).
The live-action remake has already been renewed right through its natural conclusion. We can now sit back, relax, and await the wild ride ahead.
The Witcher
The Witcher has been Netflix’s go-to medieval fantasy show for several years now. Based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, and indeed the video game franchise, the series follows Geralt of Rivia. Played by Henry Cavill initially and now Liam Hemsworth, Geralt is a Witcher, meaning his job is to hunt down monsters and kill them. Out in the wilderness, he fends for himself, but he eventually becomes involved in the destiny of Ciri (Freya Allan), a young girl who possesses strong magical powers.
The Witcher currently has three seasons on Netflix. The series has also spawned one spinoff, Blood Origin, which received poor reviews and was ultimately cancelled. Season 4 is slated to premiere sometime in 2025. Netflix recently released a teaser, revealing our first look at Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia himself:
Sweet Tooth
Based on the series of graphic novels by Jeff Lemire, Sweet Tooth really lives up to its name. It’s sweet, wholesome and good family fun.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, a young hybrid (half human, half deer) named Gus must escape the grasp of those who want to capture him. It’s all about his quest for solitude. On his adventures, he’s joined by Tommy, a towering man who vows to protect him on his perilous journey.
Sweet Tooth is perfect for those seeking a step away from dark, gritty fantasy. If you want some good old light-hearted fun, this is the perfect show for you. Plus, the series is officially returning for a third and final season on June 6 which will wrap up the saga. Check out the trailer:
One Piece
We don’t have the greatest history when it comes to live-action anime adaptations. They’ve been hit and miss over the years. So when Netflix announced a live-action One Piece series, the reaction was one of cautious excitement.
However, when One Piece premiered, it instantly won everyone over. As soon as Iñaki Godoy stepped into the role of Monkey D. Luffy, it just felt right. He had the energy and goofiness on point. Plus, every other casting was perfect too, from Zoro (Mackenyu) to Nami (Emily Rudd), they assembled the perfect team.
One Piece is a story with a really simple premise. Luffy is a budding pirate, searching for the fated One Piece; a buried treasure to rule them all. However, every other pirate seeks to claim the One Piece for themselves, and they’re prepared to kill for it. Who will become King of the Pirates?
One Piece got incredible viewership numbers — it even managed to top Netflix’s Top 10 chart for 3 weeks in a row! Of course, it’s returning for season 2, and probably more seasons.
Blue Eye Samurai
Blue Eye Samurai is the compelling, gorgeously animated story of Mizu, a disguised master of the sword who seeks revenge. Set in Edo-period Japan, the series is both brutal and beautiful. The animation style is a masterpiece, completely delving you into the world. It’s not intended for children. This is a deeply provocative, highly violent series. But it’s also surprisingly light-hearted at times. Blue Eye Samurai is perfect for fans of Game of Thrones seeking another thrilling adventure with complex characters and political intrigue.
And the good news? Blue Eye Samurai is returning for another season. The debut season spent two weeks in the global top 10, also reaching the top 10 in 50 countries. We’re merely in the first step of Mizu’s journey. This is the perfect jumping-on point.
Wednesday
Irreverent, charming, fun and creepy — those are just a few words to describe Wednesday. Based on The Addams Family, Jenna Ortega plays Wednesday Addams, a girl with psychic abilities who attends Nevermore Academy. Whilst there, she makes both friends and foes as she investigates a killing spree and supernatural case that has mysterious connections to her family.
The series was a huge hit, projecting Jenna Ortega into stardom. In fact, per TUDUM, Wednesday is the #1 Most-Viewed English Series in Netflix history. Earlier this month, Wednesday season 2 entered production in Ireland. The new season is expected to air sometime in 2025.
Arcane
Similar to Blue Eye Samurai, Arcane is a spectacular show with some of the most breathtaking animation on television. Set in the League of Legends universe, Arcane follows League champions, sisters Vi and Jinx, who find themselves on opposing sides. It explores the rich city of Piltover; and also Zaun, the grisly undercity beneath. While the series is very much set within the League of Legends continuity, catering to gamers, it’s also made with casual viewers in mind. You can go into it with no prior knowledge needed.
Arcane season 2 will premiere in November 2024. Now is the perfect time to catch up before the new episodes drop, Or if you’re already caught up, check out Netflix’s first look teaser:
The Sandman
Based on the comic by Neil Gaiman, The Sandman is a fantasy epic. It follows Dream of the Endless (the literal personification of dreams), as he’s captured and held captive for decades. When he escapes, he finds his kingdom in ruins, and must work to reclaim his three totems of power: his helm, ruby and pouch of sand.
In his quest, he finds himself everywhere from Hell itself, to the Waking World where he confronts terrifying foes. The Sandman is so much more than any other fantasy series. It hops between genres. When it gets dark, it’s really, really disturbing. But then there’s sweet, heartwarming moments. It has a bit of everything, weaving contemporary story with historical fiction and mythological tales.
Season 2 is currently in production and is slated to wrap in August. We can expect new episodes to drop sometime in 2025.
The Sandman also has a spinoff show on Netflix, Dead Boy Detectives, which is a brilliantly fun and whimsical series. It’s quite easily make this list if a renewal was confirmed. But as of right now, Dead Boy Detectives is in renewal limbo.
Stranger Things
It should come as no surprise that Stranger Things comes in at number one. The paranormal fantasy is one of the jewels in the crown of Netflix’s success. For almost a decade it’s been a cornerstone project for the streamer. After premiering in 2016, the series quickly rocketed to the top of Netflix’s charts. There was never any fear of it being axed. Netflix has kept the show going right until the end. The fifth and final season is slated to premiere sometime in 2025.
Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, the series is set in the 1980s and follows a group of kids as they uncover mysterious paranormal events in the quaint town of Hawkins, Indiana. They discover a terrifying parallel world, the Upside Down, where all sorts of monsters lurk. Each season, the show seems to up the ante. They’ve faced off against the Demogorgon, the Mind Flayer and Vecna. All iconic monsters from the beloved fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. And in the final batch of episodes, Vecna is still out there, and he’s turning the Upside Down against the real world. This means war!