10 Most Universally Loved Fantasy Shows, Ranked

Image via MovieStillsDB Published Nov 15, 2026, 2:45 PM EST Adrienne Tyler is a movies & TV features writer, with a focus on horror. She has written for Netflix, FanSided, & more. She was a regular guest on the Netfreaks podcast and was a YouTuber at some point. Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. Sign in to your ScreenRant account The fantasy genre is one of the most popular and beloved ones on TV, delivering some of the best TV shows of all time, and some fantasy shows are universally loved. Some TV genres are more versatile than others, easily blending with others and giving artists a lot more creative freedom. One of them is fantasy, which often blends with drama, sci-fi, and even horror to bring some of the most creative TV shows. Fantasy shows take the audience into completely new worlds, with their own rules, traditions, and culture, and inhabited by a variety of characters, human or otherwise. Others, instead of transporting viewers to other worlds, give a twist to the real world with the addition of magic, monsters, demons, and other fantasy elements. What makes the best and most beloved shows stand out is their ability to give viewers an immersive experience, accompanied by interesting and relatable characters. It's worth noting that the best and most beloved fantasy shows aren’t limited to one format, as there are live-action shows accompanied by animated ones, both family-friendly and aimed at mature audiences. Some of these shows are adaptations of other works, others are original stories, and some of them spawned some of the biggest franchises in the genre, leaving an even bigger legacy. 10 Over the Garden Wall Over the Garden Wall is an animated dark fantasy TV show created by Patrick McHale and based on his animated short film Tome of the Unknown. Over the Garden Wall follows Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Greg (Collin Dean), half-brothers who find themselves in a mysterious forest trying to find their way home. In the process, they meet different and strange beings that help them on their journey. Over the Garden Wall is a mix of dark fantasy, a cozy vibe, and a whimsical fairy tale with an engaging story, emotional depth, and relatable characters. In just 10 very short episodes, Over the Garden Wall tells a complete story with a truly unexpected twist, and its overall quality makes it highly rewatchable. 9 Game of Thrones Based on George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones takes viewers to the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. Game of Thrones follows simultaneous plotlines as different noble families fight to gain control of the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms. Game of Thrones is one of the best fantasy TV shows of all time thanks to its high production value, writing, performances, high-stakes, worldbuilding, and complex characters, as well as its adaptation of Martin’s works. 8 Adventure Time Adventure Time is an animated fantasy TV show created by Pendleton Ward. Adventure Time follows boy Finn (voiced by Jeremy Shada) and his best friend and adoptive brother Jake (John DiMaggio), a dog who can change his size and shape, as they go on different adventures in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo. Adventure Time combines action, comedy (both for children and adults), and emotional depth with relatable characters despite their surreal characteristics and setting. While one of Adventure Time’s biggest strengths is its sense of humor, the show has also been praised for how it addresses serious topics, as it does with the stories of characters like the Ice King and Marceline. 7 Supernatural Created by Eric Kripke, Supernatural is a dark fantasy TV series that introduced the world to brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles). The Winchester brothers hunt ghosts, monsters, demons, angels, and other supernatural beings to stop the Apocalypse and save the world. Supernatural was a huge pop culture phenomenon during its run, with a massive and loyal fan base that has been key to keeping the show’s legacy alive. Supernatural has been praised for the chemistry between Padalecki and Ackles, the bond between the Winchesters, the show’s tone, depth, and complex characters. 6 Stranger Things Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things is a fantasy horror TV show and one of Netflix’s biggest hits to date. Stranger Things takes the audience back to the 1980s and to the fictional town of Hawkins to meet Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), a young girl who escaped from Hawkins Lab, where she had been experimented on since she was born. With the help of her new friends, Eleven uncovers the disturbing secrets of the Lab and the dangers of a parallel dimension they call the “Upside Down.” Stranger Things is a perfect mix of fantasy, horror, drama, sci-fi, touches of comedy, and a lot of 1980s nostalgia, with many engaging mysteries, endearing and relatable characters, and a coming-of-age story. Stranger Things won the audience over with its characters (particularly Steve), their dynamics, and the mysteries left by every season that made way for several (and very interesting) fan theories. 5 Arcane COURTESY OF NETFLIX Created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, Arcane is a steampunk action-adventure animated show set in the universe of League of Legends. Arcane takes viewers to a world where the wealthy city of Piltover is in increasing conflict with the oppressed underbelly of Zaun. After a tragedy, orphaned sisters Vi (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and Powder (Ella Purnell) are separated, with Powder taken by a crime boss and turned into a mercenary. Arcane is one of the best animated TV shows of all time, praised for its animation, worldbuilding, complex and well-developed characters, emotional depth, themes, and expansion of the universe of League of Legends, without requiring previous knowledge of it. 4 Avatar: The Last Airbender Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, Avatar: The Last Airbender is set in a world formed by four nations – the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads – and where some people can manipulate and control the element corresponding to their nation. These people are known as “benders”, and there’s one who can manipulate all elements. This person is the Avatar, and the current one is 12-year-old Aang, whose mission is to maintain peace among the four nations, which isn’t easy as there’s an ongoing war. Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the most beloved fantasy TV shows thanks to its emotional depth, story, themes, worldbuilding, characters, and it spawned a franchise. 3 Doctor Who Doctor Who is one of the biggest TV shows of all time, and introduced the world to one of the most iconic characters in TV history: the Doctor, an extraterrestrial from a humanoid species known as Time Lords, from the planet of Gallifrey. The Doctor travels across time and space in his time-traveling spaceship called the TARDIS, usually with a human companion. Thanks to the Doctor’s ability to regenerate and the endless variety of adventures he can go on, Doctor Who is one of the richest, most entertaining, fascinating, and long-lasting TV shows of all time. The charm of the Doctor, his different personalities, his different companions, and the many adventures they have gone on have won generations of viewers over, along with its emotional depth and the creative way in which it addresses serious topics. 2 The Twilight Zone Created by Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone is one of the most influential TV shows of all time, shaping the fantasy, horror, and sci-fi genres. The Twilight Zone is an anthology series, in which every episode tells a different story with a different cast. The episodes of The Twilight Zone stood out for their twists and endings with a moral, as well as for their social commentary and for addressing various serious topics. The Twilight Zone has some truly timeless episodes, thanks to their quality and themes, which have allowed the show to reach a wider audience and different generations. 1 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Created by Joss Whedon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer follows Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), the latest in a succession of young women chosen by fate and known as “Slayers.” As the current Slayer, Buffy must fight vampires, demons, monsters, and other forces of darkness, aided by her Watcher, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), and her best friends Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon). Buffy the Vampire Slayer is still one of the most popular and beloved TV shows of all time thanks to its strong lead female character, the development and complexity of its characters, the way it portrayed being a teenager and becoming a young adult, its fantasy elements, themes, and overall quality. Release Date 1997 - 2003-00-00 Network The WB Showrunner Joss Whedon