Game of Thrones may be one of the biggest fantasy series of all time, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t countless other titles deserving mainstream popularity. Starting with the best-selling fantasy book series by George R. R. Martin, the Game of Thrones franchise has been around since the 1990s. Though avid readers have loved the A Song of Ice and Fire saga for decades, the convoluted story truly hit its stride after it was adapted into a live-action series by HBO. Immediately, the high fantasy drama became an inescapable cultural phenomenon— but its pristine reputation eventually faded.
In retrospect, there are many harsh realities of rewatching Game of Thrones, from frustrating plot twists to the controversial series finale— an episode that still divides millions, nearly seven years later. Although the eighth and final season is often bombarded as the show’s biggest misstep, other viewers trace its downfall as far back as season 6, when the HBO original ran out of source material to adapt. Admittedly, there’s no denying Game of Thrones is a massively influential, genre-defining fantasy, but in terms of cohesive series that are satisfying from beginning to end, there may be better options.
His Dark Materials
A Reluctant Chosen One Unravels A Vast Political Conspiracy
Most fantasy fans prize an immersive world above all else, and His Dark Materials offers one of the best. In an alternate reality where a person’s soul manifests in an animal companion called a daemon, an orphaned young woman named Lyra (Dafne Keen) sets off on a multidimensional quest to find her missing best friend. The mission is immediately complicated, however, by a string of unsolved kidnappings, the hyper-religious government body known as the Magisterium, and an invaluable yet mysterious substance simply known as Dust.
While His Dark Materials is a delightful hidden gem on HBO, the adaptation was a highly-anticipated project for ardent fantasy readers, and it more than met expectations. The three-season drama perfectly captured the energy of the original novels, while the star-studded cast brought each character to life with incredible complexity. The themes— ranging from the importance of facing mortality to the age-old conflict between religion and science — are easily accessible for every viewer, making it an immensely gratifying watch for fantasy superfans and newcomers alike.
The Wheel Of Time
A Magical Organization Aims To Fulfill An Ancient Prophecy
Based on the acclaimed book series by Robert Jordan, The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike), a representative from a powerful organization called the Aes Sedai. After traveling to a nearby village, Moiraine embarks on a journey with four magic channelers, convinced one is the fated reincarnation of an ancient hero known as Dragon. The chosen one, labeled the Dragon Reborn, must fulfill their prophecy to save the world from a primordial evil known as the Dark One, lest magic itself be tainted for good.
Despite being sadly canceled after three seasons, The Wheel of Time is by far Prime Video’s best fantasy series, and it’s unlikely that the title will transfer any time soon. For lovers of fantasy epics who found the gratuitous moments of shock value in Game of Thrones more distracting than diverting, The Wheel of Time will probably be more up your alley. Aside from the fascinating lore and magic systems, The Prime Video original explores mature themes without falling back on sex, blood, and taboo relationships to keep the viewer engaged.
The Mighty Nein
A Ragtag Group Of Outcasts Must Protect The World From A Dangerous Relic
Numerous iconic fantasy series started out as novels, but The Mighty Nein stems from a much more novel sort of source material: a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Originally released as part of the sensational Critical Role series, the Prime Video comedy focuses on a team of oddballs and outsiders— the eponymous Mighty Nein— who are tasked with recovering a dangerous arcane relic known as The Beacon, a weapon of mass destruction that could wage war in an instant.
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The Mighty Nein‘s Adventuring Party |
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Character |
Race & Class |
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Essek Thelyss |
Drow Wizard |
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Mollymauk “Molly” Tealeaf |
Tiefling Blood Hunter |
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Yasha Nydoorin |
Aasimar Barbarian |
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Jester Lavorre |
Tiefling Cleric |
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Beauregard “Beau” Lionett |
Human Monk |
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Fjord Stone |
Half-Orc Warlock |
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Nott the Brave |
Goblin Rogue |
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Caleb Widogast |
Human Wizard |
The Mighty Nein‘s impressive voice cast alone is reason enough to tune in, but the action-adventure’s winding plot is surprisingly as emotional as it is exciting. The first season was a rousing success, but the future is even brighter for The Mighty Nein, which has already been renewed for another installment. Whether you’re a total D&D geek or you have no clue what DM stands for, The Mighty Nein is the perfect entry point that will lead you down a rabbit hole of captivating role-playing crusades.
Outlander
An Iconic Tale Of Love, Loss, And Convenient Time Travel Mechanics
Similar to Game of Thrones, Outlander garnered widespread acclaim as a stellar adaptation of a beloved book series, but it offers a much more unique brand of fantasy. In place of fearsome dragons and ritualistic blood sacrifices, Outlander leans into historical fantasy and a fan-favorite form of magic: time travel. The seminal classic kicks off with WWII nurse Claire Randall (Caitríona Balfe) suddenly being transported to 1743 Scotland, where she meets— and promptly falls in love with— Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), a rugged rebel from the Highlands.
Outlander is far from flawless, but the romantic historical fantasy is irrefutably one of the most important series responsible for proliferating the genre in the past decade. Furthermore, it’s arguably just as popular as Game of Thrones, albeit aimed at a different audience. Nonetheless, many viewers argue that Outlander has surpassed Game of Thrones already with its long-running success and scarce controversy, and the final season is poised for an incredibly fulfilling ending.
The Legend Of Vox Machina
An Animated Adaptation Of A Phenomenal D&D Campaign
Also from the genius minds of Critical Role came The Legend of Vox Machina, a D&D campaign that was originally played live for an audience. Set in the same world as The Mighty Nein, the action comedy takes place 20 years prior to the sequel spinoff, on a nearby continent called Tal’Dorei. Throughout the series, the titular group of adventurers known as Vox Machina go on high-stakes missions to save the world from supernatural creatures, occult magic, and good old-fashioned corruption.
In every episode of The Legend of Vox Machina, a character appears modeled after Matthew Mercer, Critical Role‘s original Dungeon Master.
Any fantasy series can have a few great storylines, but The Legend of Vox Machina has no bad episodes, separating the show in a league of its own. Granted, the final two seasons haven’t been released yet, but the ubiquitous critical acclaim The Legend of Vox Machina has earned since its 2022 premiere is absurdly impressive and bodes well for its future installments.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
A Genre-Bending Prequel That Hits All The Right Notes
For as renowned as Game of Thrones is, it’s also commonly considered to be the worst television show in the franchise thus far. Prequel series House of the Dragon delves into the history of House Targaryen, offering an extensive deep dive of a morbidly fascinating family line, while A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms departs from the central chronology entirely.
Instead, the dramedy follows Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Aegon “Egg” Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell), a knight and his squire who become unlikely heroes amidst a series of misadventures. The prequel is far more tonally balanced and emotionally complex than its predecessors, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 could only further prove its mettle as the best A Song of Ice and Fire adaptation yet.
Arcane
Arguably The Best Video Game Adaptation Of All Time
A good fantasy adaptation will feel rewarding for longtime fans of the source material, but a great fantasy adaptation breaks into the mainstream to achieve universal appeal. Such is the case with Arcane, Netflix’s masterpiece science fantasy based on the video game League of Legends. At the heart of the story are two sisters— Jinx (Ella Purnell) and Violet (Hailee Steinfeld)— who expose the dark truth behind a seemingly Utopian society.
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From its seamless animation to its detailed world-building to its awe-inspiring acting, Arcane is one of the best fantasy series of the century. Yet, it may not check every box for pedantic fantasy watchers. The sheer artistry of the steampunk action drama is undeniable, but viewers shouldn’t go in expecting a replacement for Game of Thrones. For better or worse, the HBO original is certainly one-of-a-kind.
- Release Date
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2011 – 2019-00-00
- Showrunner
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David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
- Directors
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David Nutter, Alan Taylor, D.B. Weiss, David Benioff