Entertainment
Forget ‘House of the Dragon,’ Here Are the 8 Best Fantasy Series To Stream
When House of the Dragon first debuted in 2022, it became an instant hit, carrying forward the legacy of its behemoth ancestor. The second series in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire franchise, the fantasy drama is a prequel that chronicles the rise and fall of House Targaryen, beginning 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen and exploring the events that cause the devastating Dance of the Dragons. House of the Dragon has been widely acclaimed and quite popular, often superseding the success of Game of Thrones.
That runaway success has also often overshadowed other brilliant works of fantasy television that could easily compete with House of the Dragon’s grandeur and complexity. From other shows inspired by Game of Thrones to adaptations of prominent fantasy literature and network original animation that swept prestigious awards, there are some truly fantastic fantasies out there that deserve your love and attention. With that in mind, here’s our selection of the best fantasy shows you could stream right now instead of House of the Dragon.
1
‘The Wheel of Time’ (2021–2025)
Developed by Rafe Judkins and adapted from Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson’s novel series of the same name, The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine Damodred, a member of a powerful all-female magical organization called the Aes Sedai. Moiraine leads five young people on a perilous journey through the world on a quest to discover the Dragon Reborn, prophesied to either save the world from evil or destroy it entirely. Rosamund Pike leads the cast as Moiraine, with Daniel Henney, Josha Stradowski, Marcus Rutherford, Zoë Robins, Sophie Okonedo, and more in significant roles.
At the time of its premiere, The Wheel of Time, just like House of the Dragon, was a breakout success, amassing popularity from genre fans across shows and books. An epic tale of love, war, and destiny that unfolds through magic and wonders, the show comes to life with striking visuals and dramatic action pieces that are sure to thrill any fantasy fan. Despite running alongside strong high-fantasy contenders, The Wheel of Time earned critical acclaim for its fantastic world-building and engaging plots. The only real negative is its untimely cancellation after just three seasons.
2
‘The Witcher’ (2019–Present)
Created by Lauren Schmidt-Hissrich and based on the book series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher revolves around three characters — Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter; Yennefer of Vengerberg, a powerful sorceress; and Princess Ciri of Cintra. Set in a fantastical land inhabited by humans, monsters, and beasts, their lives converge as they navigate shifting timelines, political corruption, magical threats, and their shared destiny. Henry Cavill (and later Liam Hemsworth) stars as Geralt, with Anya Chalotra, Greya Allen, Joey Batey, and Anna Shaffer as main characters in all seasons.
In terms of its production values, scope, world-building, and conceptual design, The Witcher comes very close to House of the Dragon. While the show started as Netflix’s response to fill the void left by Game of Thrones’ ending, it grew into a distinctive fantasy show with heavy themes, praiseworthy visual design, and practical-heavy effects. Critics have widely praised the art design and sweeping tales of monsters and mages, though, to be fair, they have also criticized the later seasons for the very prominent cast changes and deviations from the original material.
3
‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ (2022–Present)
Developed by Chris Prynoski and Critical Role Productions, The Legend of Vox Machina is based on the first campaign of the Dungeons & Dragons web series Critical Role. The Prime Video series follows a team of rowdy misfits who try to save the realm of Exandria from magical forces, dragons, and personal demons, evolving from rogue mercenaries to powerful heroes. Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Matthew Mercer, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, and Travis Willingham reprise their voice roles from the original campaign.
The Legend of Vox Machina might have begun as an adaptation of a legacy game, but has since grown into a distinctive animated series that fans can easily enjoy without prior knowledge of D&D. The adult fantasy animated series has become noteworthy for its rich world-building and intelligent narrative, which balances heart, humor, and fast-paced action, often compared to animation giants like Castlevania and Arcane. Though critically acclaimed for its animation, character design, and voice acting, The Legend of Vox Machina is still a pretty underrated gem of the genre.
4
‘Castlevania’ (2017–2021)
One of Netflix’s earliest major adult animation productions, Castlevania is a dark fantasy series adaptation of the Japanese video game series by Konami, created and written by Warren Ellis. The action-horror series follows Trevor Belmont, the last surviving member of his disgraced clan, as he joins Speaker magician Sypha Belnades and the half-vampire Alucard to protect the land of Wallachia from Vlad Dracula Tepes and his vampire legions. The show’s ensemble voice cast includes Richard Armitage, Alejandra Reynoso, James Callis, Graham McTavish, Emily Swallow, Theo James, and more.
Castlevania carved the path for similar high-profile, original mature animation for Netflix, taking the streamer’s animated library to great heights. Heavily influenced by Japanese animation styles and the game’s artwork by Ayami Kojima, Castlevania is a stellar game-to-show adaptation that excels in its visual and narrative styles and scope. The show’s highly acclaimed visuals, action pieces, character designs, and dark themes make Castlevania a great competitor for House of the Dragon.
5
‘Blood of Zeus’ (2020–2025)
A Netflix adult animated series created and written by Charley and Vlas Parlapanides, Blood of Zeus adapts ancient Greek mythology into a high-stakes fantasy action story, independent of the traditional canon of Greek myths. The series revolves around Zeus’s demigod son, Heron, who is tasked with saving Olympus and Earth from the wrath of a goddess. Derek Phillips, Jessica Henwick, Mamie Gummer, Jason O’Mara, and Claudia Christian voice the main characters.
Blood of Zeus is a high-stakes fantasy adventure that’s sure to sweep any fantasy animation fan off their feet. The series remarkably reimagines gods, titans, giants, demons, automata, and various mythical creatures from Greek legend in a fresh new tale of power and divine politics, depicted through stunning animation. Despite the critical acclaim and prestigious accolades for its visuals, epic battle sequences, and voice acting, Blood of Zeus has remained a criminally overlooked series in Netflix’s animation library.
6
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ (2022–Present)
Developed by J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay and inspired by J.R.R Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an epic fantasy series adapted from the appendices and associated materials of The Lord of the Rings. Set thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, beginning in a time of relative peace, the show explores the forging of the titular rings and the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron. The show’s ensemble international cast stars Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, Benjamin Walker, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Daniel Weyman, and more as key characters.
The first screen adaptation of Middle-earth’s Second Age, The Rings of Power succeeds in alluring fans with its luxurious art and panoramic world-building. Boasting exquisite production values, it is the most expensive television series ever made and is unarguably more opulent than House of the Dragon and just as complex as the HBO hit. While the series still pales in comparison to Peter Jackson’s interpretation of The Lord of the Rings, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power manages to grasp the thematic spirit of the 20th-century literary classic and expand its mythos in new directions.
7
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (2026–Present)
Created by George R.R. Martin and Ira Parker, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a prequel to Game of Thrones and a sequel to House of the Dragon, adapted from Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novella series. Set a century before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the adventures and misadventures of Ser Duncan the Tall, a naïve hedge knight, and his bald, young squire, Egg, who is secretly Prince Aegon Targaryen. The show illustrates their lives and journeys before they become Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and King Aegon, respectively. Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell star as the titular central characters.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a delightful rendition of Martin’s original novellas and a great contrast to its predecessor shows. The series stands out in the franchise with its lighter narrative, swapping high-end political warfare for a more intimate, character-driven story. Hailed by many as one of the best HBO shows of 2026, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has earned critical acclaim for its style, tone, and cast performances, as well as some criticism for its skewed gender representation and for missing out on female characters.
8
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss’s epic fantasy drama that first brought life to George R.R. Martin’s literary saga, Game of Thrones is a cultural phenomenon and an undeniable television landmark. A generation-spanning tale of power, politics, and moral ambiguity, the series follows a raging civil war that tears apart the seven kingdoms, with multiple contenders vying for the coveted Iron Throne, while elsewhere the rise of a princess from a disgraced dynasty and an ominous supernatural enemy threaten them all. The massive ensemble cast includes Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey, Sophie Turner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and many more.
The show that paved the way for House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones completely redefined fantasy television, setting new standards and bringing new dimensions to the genre. From its sweeping production to record-breaking results, the fantasy drama boasts grandeur in every aspect, even if it didn’t exactly sign off on a high note. While House of the Dragon opened to a bigger success than its predecessor, Game of Thrones undoubtedly rivals the prequel in production, casting, and expansive world-building.
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