Summary
Game of Thronesenjoyed a long reign as one of the best TV shows of all time, and its meteoric fall after eight seasons was just as impressive. After the controversial ending, fans across the globe were asking for more, so it’s no wonder the prequel seriesHouse of the Dragonbroke viewership records on HBO.
Shows with the same high budget, quality casting, and fantasy or medieval aesthetic have become more popular thanks to these two shows based on the work of George RR Martin. From the picturesqueOutlanderto the captivatingThe Tudors,here are some of the best shows to watchafterGame of Thrones.
Updated on July 12, 2025, by Kristy Ambrose:The historic and the fantastic continue to be a popular subject for a variety of homegrown series on a variety of streaming services these days, most of them due to the popularity of both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, both of which are currently on HBO’s updated streaming service MAX. Several other unique series have emerged from the popular appeal of both, and some include the same quality of fantasy, romance, time travel, and incredible costumes and sets.
12Outlander (2014-)
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Based on Diana Gabaldon’s novels,Outlanderis an intense show mixing fantasy, historical drama, and romance, with a story and fanbase solid enough to carry the series for ten years. The story revolves around Claire Randall, a former Second World War Nurse who is transportedback to Scotland in 1743.
Throughout the series, she navigates the cultural intricacies of the past times while finding love with Jamie Fraser, a fearless Highland warrior. The cinematography is lush, the characters compelling, and keeps viewers hooked throughout the seasons. Get ready for an unforgettable voyage through history.
11Shadow And Bone (2021-2023)
IMDb Rating: 7.5
For those who are looking for something better to watch with the kids, and rely more on the power of friendship than the lure of bearly bears, there’sShadow and Bone. The show is based on the YA franchise by Leigh Bardugo that includes both the trilogy of novels that are found under the same name and the duologySix of Crows.
The first season of the show is an adaptation of the first book in the trilogy and also introduces the Crows, a criminal gang from the related novels. The following season tells the story of the next two novels,Siege and StormandRuin and Rising.
10The Serpent Queen (2022-)
IMDb Rating: 7.7
The Serpent Queenis a hidden gem that aired for the first time on Starz on July 27, 2025. Catherine de’ Medici was only a teenager when she married King Henry II of France. Underestimated by her own family and pretty much everyone around her, she managed to rule France for several decades.
The series is a brilliant portrait of the court’s political alliances, betrayals, and, above all, the perpetual fight for power. It’s a fast-paced, cleverly written show that will leave spectators thrilled and wanting more.
9Foundation (2021-)
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Created by David Samuel Goyer, known forBatman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeandMan of Steel,and Josh Friedman, the writer ofThe Black Dahlia,Foundationis not just another survival sci-fi saga. Based on Isaac Asimov’s stories, the show is smart, the plot is complex, and the visual effects are on point.
Foundationis credited with inspiring the Jedi Order, among other modern pillars of sci-fi pop culture. It’s entertaining and immersive, and the audience is taken into a masterfully built future. Be prepared for time jumps, and in-depth questions about time and human behavior.
8Peaky Blinders (2013–2022)
IMDb Rating: 8.8
Who doesn’t love a great anti-hero? Thomas Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, is the leader of the Peaky Blinders and embodies the perfect gangster that fans love to hate. Set in a post-World War I in a gray and industrial Birmingham,Peaky Blindersis the TV series one gets hooked on after the first episode.
The story is gripping, about loyalty, family, the struggle to be in control,charming villains, and politics. The characters’ personalities are slowly unveiled and built throughout the seasons. There’s no superficial dialogue and each action contributes to building the compelling story of a family trying to survive in a tough competitive world.
Fancy following a monster hunter and a powerful sorceress navigating different timelines?The Witcheris the right fantasy series for that. Based on the books of the same name written by Andrzej Sapkowski,The Witcheris set in a fictional land called the Continent and explores the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, played by Henry Cavill, Yennefer of Vengerberg, played by Anya Chalotra, and Freya Allan as Princess Ciri.
Their paths intertwine in a world full of magic, darkness, and fights for power. The show has breathtaking visuals and intricate plotlines which will immerse the viewers in a land of monsters, quests, and mystery.
The list wouldn’t be complete withoutHouse of the Dragon, the prequel series that tells the saga of House Targaryen. Created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO, the show is a prequel toGame of Thrones. The first episode aired on July 15, 2025, and was watched by over 10 million viewers.
The series begins 172 years before the birth of Daenerys and shows the rise and the fall of House Targaryen, with everything that happens in the course of their history. It involves a war of succession, betrayals, romance, and above all, dragons.
5The Last Kingdom (2015-2022)
IMDb Rating: 8.5
Uhtred of Bebbanburg discovered cruelty when he was only a small child. The Saxon, heir of the Bebbanburg name and fortune, was orphaned at a young age and was raised by Vikings. While he considers himself a Dane and hasbecome a skilled warrior, the past still haunts him.
The Last Kingdomshows Uhtred’s journey to claim back what’s his, but nothing goes according to the plan. Get ready for epic battles, blood, political machinations, and revenge for seven years, and the storylines finally were resolved in the full-length featureSeven Kings Must Diethat aired in 2023 on Netflix.
4Shōgun (2024-)
IMDb Rating: 9.1
Shōgunis an adaptation of the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell, and although it’s historical fiction the plot is based on real events and includes real historical people and places. An obvious example is one of the main characters, Blackthorne, who is based on William Adams, a real person who served as a ship’s navigator.
In the story of Shōgun, Blackthorne is shipwrecked and at first held prisoner, but rises through the ranks of Japanese society to become a samurai and serve a powerful “daimyō” named Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was also a real person, and he founded the Tokugawa shogunate and ruled Japan from 1603 to 1616.
3Succession (2018-2023)
Imagine being at the head of a global media conglomerate and having the children fight for succession. Logan Roy portrays a ruthless patriarch trying to protect his legacy while keeping an eye on his unscrupulous heirs.
It doesn’t seem to be similar toGame of Thrones, but it’s all about a modern realm and the fight for power to inherit it. The narrative follows their maneuvers and is rich in plot twists,dark humor, and complex characters.It explores wealth, happiness, and family dynamics.
