Various genres can create immersive experiences for viewers, but fantasy TV shows have a unique ability to create fascinating, otherworldly settings. For fans of the genre or that enjoy TV as a form of escapism, there are some particularly great shows to watch.
Series like Game of Thrones and The Witcher are iconic for pulling the viewer into an action-packed, magical experience. However, other fantasy shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Supernatural should not be undervalued for their ability to immerse the audience. The best world-building in shows isn't just fantastical but has a detailed and alluring setting.
10 His Dark Materials (2019-2022)
His Dark Materials is based on Phillip Pullman's hit book trilogy by the same name. Though there are scenes within the show that take place in the real world, this TV series is a reverse portal fantasy in which the main character, Lyra, travels from a magical realm.
Though His Dark Materials only lasted three seasons, it's one of the most binge-worthy fantasy shows. This world has magic, danger, and fantastical beasts. It also has the added benefit of representing a world much like our own, creating an immersive setting that viewers can imagine themselves in.
9 Once Upon a Time (2011-2018)
Though classic fairytales have been reimagined countless times, Once Upon a Time dedicated a series to breathing fresh life into the timeless tales. The setting flipped back and forth between a Maine town and a magical realm where all these fairy tales were a reality.
Once Upon a Time wasn't the most unique storyline, and many fans feel it carried on longer than it should have, but what the show did bring to life was a fantasy world unlike any other. The fairytales beloved by children were adapted for an adult audience that embraced the fictional world of princesses, evil queens, and magical powers.
8 Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020)
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was a hit horror/fantasy on Netflix that ended too soon. Compared to the lighthearted sitcom it rebooted, the series was a creepy narrative that explored the useful power of magic as well as the dark themes of evil magic.
While some viewers thought Chilling Adventures of Sabrina got too dark, that was the aspect that intrigued most fans. With these chilling themes, the fantasy show pulled the audience into a network of powerful witches and evil forces taking place in the real world while a young girl is caught between regular life and the magical secrets of her heritage.
7 Supernatural (2005-2020)
Supernatural is the longest-running American fantasy show that offers a healthy mix of the popular and the unique. The monster hunters encountered dozens of different creatures, from angels and demons to vampires and ghosts.
While the world was mainly like our own, the series continued to build on the expansive lore over the years. In their universe, humans were constantly exposed to dark, evil creatures without knowing it until they became a target of these deadly creatures. This eerie setting was immersive alone, but the added complexity of the hunters and alternate dimensions, including the realms of Heaven and Hell, created a realistic place teeming with magic.
6 Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
Elemental magic is a common trope in fantasy, but Avatar: The Last Airbender introduced audiences to a world based entirely on it. With the nations of Earth and Water fearing the tyranny of the Fire Nation, the last Air Nomad, who is the Avatar destined to master all the elements, goes on a journey to make a peaceful world.
The world-building is epic and detail-oriented. Aside from the major magical elemental users, there are fascinating creatures like flying bison and sea monsters. Avatar: The Last Airbender immerses the viewers into a world of make-believe, introducing each fantastical elemental with exceptional realism.
5 Outlander (2014-Present)
Outlander is widely known for its prominent romantic tropes, though the series has made a significant mark on the fantasy TV genre. Beginning as a portal fantasy, the plot follows Claire, who is transported back to the 1700s, where she builds a new life amid danger and excitement.
Some are hesitant to call Outlander a true fantasy series because of the nearly insignificant amount of magic presented. However, the premise of a modern woman being transferred back in time, with some other supernatural elements, makes the series a groundbreaking genre-meld of intense period drama and fantasy.
4 The Wheel of Time (2021-Present)
The Wheel of Time is a hot topic among fantasy fans, with some adoring the magical world and others believing the explanation of the magical system isn't detailed enough to be believable. Despite this controversy, however, the show has everything one would expect from a high fantasy storyline.
The main character is from an organization of magical users, and she goes on a quest to find out the identity of a prophesied reincarnation of "the Dragon," an immensely powerful being that can either revolutionize or decimate their world. With epic characters, quests, and prophecies, The Wheel of Time is a representation of all the tropes that make fantasy escapist entertainment.
3 The Witcher (2019-Present)
The Witcher is a complicated fantasy universe that originated in a book series and has been reimagined in video games, shows, and a movie. Netflix's show is one of the biggest fantasy hits in pop culture, capturing the previously dedicated audience as well as newcomers.
Though not all die-hard The Witcher fans are impressed with every aspect of this adaptation, the series is without a doubt one of the most intriguing worlds. In a land where spheres merge to bring species like elves and humans together, the plot is a fast-paced blending of magical beings and users, complicated by the tense political and social climate between the different species.
2 The Rings of Power (2022-Present)
In the modern fantasy landscape, no magical world is richer with lore and history than that of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Following the major success of the movie adaptations of these books, Amazon created the prequel series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Set thousands of years before Tolkien's stories, The Rings of Power fleshed out the legendary "Second Age" of Middle-earth's history. The show brought the world of wizards, elves, and dwarves, as well as many other magical characters, back for another epic adventure.
1 Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
Game of Thrones is the most popular modern fantasy show, representing the genre in pop culture and pulling in viewers previously uninterested in magical worlds. While the show is not without its controversies, GoT offers a multi-layered plot that expands the world of Westeros.
This series isn't filled with wizards and elves but immerses the viewer in a tumultuous society with political unrest and corruption. With the added intensity of war, dark magic, foreboding gods being worshipped, and the rebirth of dragons, Game of Thrones is detailed enough to be realistic while outlandish enough to be engrossing.