7 Netflix Fantasy Shows With Flawless Worldbuilding

Image via MovieStillsDB Published Nov 7, 2026, 8:30 AM 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 Netflix has delivered some of the best fantasy TV shows of all time, and a key part of the success of many of them is their flawless worldbuilding. While Netflix is still better known for its licensed content, it now stands out the most for its original movies and TV shows. Under the banner of Netflix Originals, the streaming giant has produced several TV shows across different genres, with some of them, like Ozark, Mindhunter, and Stranger Things, now found among the best TV shows of all time. Although Netflix has covered most genres with its original TV shows, it has found a lot of success in the world of fantasy. Netflix has brought a variety of live-action and animated fantasy TV shows, some of them adaptations of pre-existing works (mostly books), others reboots, some others new additions to well-known franchises, and others original works. Some notable original Netflix fantasy shows are The Sandman, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the live-action adaptation of One Piece, and Sweet Tooth, all of them taking viewers into different worlds. However, as great as most Netflix original fantasy shows have been, not all of them have had perfect worldbuilding. This has been a key element in the success of most fantasy shows, giving the audience an immersive experience by taking them into completely different worlds. It’s worth noting, however, that for this list, anime shows don’t count, as those deserve a list of their own thanks to their complex worldbuilding. The Witcher MovieStillsDB Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novel series of the same name, The Witcher got its first English-language adaptation in 2019 thanks to Netflix. The Witcher takes the audience into the Continent, a completely fictional world where magic exists, as well as a variety of monsters. The Witcher follows monster hunter Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill and Liam Hemsworth), sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra), and Princess Ciri (Freya Allan), whose paths meet due to destiny. Although The Witcher has had an inconsistent quality, as it started strong but dramatically declined in season 2 and has since tried to improve, what can’t be denied is that its worldbuilding has been impeccable. The Witcher has focused on immersing viewers rather than explaining everything, allowing the audience to learn the rules, folklore, secrets, and more of this universe through the characters and their experiences. Shadow and Bone Based on Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows novels, Shadow and Bone is one of Netflix’s most popular fantasy TV shows of all time. Shadow and Bone takes viewers into the Grishaverse, a world formed by the nations of Ravka, Fjerda, Shu Han, Kerch, Novyi Zem, and the Wandering Isle, all of them inspired by real-life countries. In this universe, magic exists, and those who use it are known as “Grisha.” The Grisha are practitioners of “The Small Science”, which allows them to manipulate matter at the molecular level. Now, Ravka is one of the few places where the Grisha can live without fear of persecution, and it’s home to Alina (Jessie Mei Li), an orphan and cartographer of the Royal Corps of Surveyors in the First Army and the Sun Summoner, a Grisha who can summon light. As such, she’s the only person who can destroy the Fold, an area of impenetrable darkness. Shadow and Bone brings to life a culturally diverse universe with a unique type of magic, its own social classes, folklore, politics, and conflicts. Unfortunately, Shadow and Bone was only given two seasons to show its rich universe. Alchemy of Souls Alchemy of Souls is a South Korean TV series that takes place in the fictional country of Daeho. There, mages can overcome their fates through forbidden magic known as the “Alchemy of Souls”, through which souls can switch bodies. The soul of warrior Naksu is accidentally trapped in the body of Mu-deok, and while in that body, she falls in love with Jang Uk, who comes from a noble family. Alchemy of Souls’ Daeho brings together traditional Korean elements mixed with a unique magic system, with the show explaining the rules and origins of those magical powers. The title spell is also key to the development of the show’s universe, as its impact goes beyond souls switching bodies, having social, biological, and political consequences, too. The Dragon Prince The Dragon Prince is an animated TV show created by Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmond. The Dragon Prince is set on the fictional continent of Xadia, where magic comes from six primal sources: the Moon, Sky, Sun, Earth, Ocean, and the Stars. In this world, dragons, elves, and humans once coexisted in peace until humans began to practice dark magic, through which they used the life essence of magical creatures for spells at the cost of the corruption of their spirits. Human King Harrow of Katolis and his people kill the King of the Dragons, Avizandum, and steal the egg of his unborn prince. Some time later, Harrow’s sons, Crown Prince Ezran and Prince Callum, along with young assassin Rayla, discover the Dragon Prince’s egg fully intact, and set out to return it and hopefully end the war. The Dragon Prince’s mix of historical conflict, clashing cultures, and magic makes it one of the most fascinating universes on Netflix. Arcane Arcane is a steampunk action-adventure animated TV series set in the universe of League of Legends. Arcane introduces viewers to the utopian city of Piltover and the oppressed underground city of Zaun, with conflict between them increasing more and more. Zaun residents and orphaned sisters Violet and Powder are taken in by the leader of the failed rebellion, but when tragedy strikes, Powder is taken by crime lord Silco and trained to become a mercenary known as “Jinx.” Years later, the conflict is not just between Piltover and Zaun, but also between Violet and Jinx. Arcane brilliantly brought to life a world created in video games and made it accessible to a TV audience, but without sacrificing its richness and complexity. Arcane offers political and social conflicts, technology, magic, family drama, and emotional depth, becoming one of the best Netflix TV shows ever. Avatar: The Last Airbender The animated TV series Avatar: The Last Airbender has one of the best worldbuilding in TV history, so of course, its live-action version had to be great too. Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender takes viewers into a world divided into four nations: the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads. In this world, there are people, known as “benders”, who can manipulate one of the four elements. Only one can master all four elements and is known as the “Avatar.” Twelve-year-old Aang (Gordon Cormier) is the next Avatar, and as such, his mission is to maintain the balance of the world and nature to bring peace, especially since there’s a war going on, started by the Fire Nation. Avatar: The Last Airbender is an immersive experience as it takes the audience into this rich universe through impressive production, visual effects, and consistent storytelling, though it doesn’t quite match the perfection of the animated show. Wednesday Image courtesy of MovieStillsDb Based on Charles Addams’ The Addams Family characters, Wednesday follows the Addams’ daughter (played by Jenna Ortega) rather than focusing on the entire family. Wednesday, then, sees Wednesday Addams being transferred to Nevermore Academy, a private school for outcasts and monsters. Once there, Wednesday becomes involved in a murder mystery, while also discovering that she inherited her mother’s psychic abilities. Wednesday is quite unique among Netflix’s fantasy shows, as it presents a world with real-life elements blended with magic, gothic aesthetic, elements from the classic Addams Family universe, and modern-day social dynamics and conflicts. Wednesday has successfully added to and expanded the world of the Addams Family, while also being its own thing. Which type of fantasy setting on Netflix are you most excited to dive into next? Epic, sprawling worlds with deep lore and complex politics (e.g., The Witcher, Shadow and Bone) Epic, sprawling worlds with deep lore and complex politics (e.g., The Witcher, Shadow and Bone) 0.0% Modern or school-based settings that mix magic with everyday life (e.g., Wednesday, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) Modern or school-based settings that mix magic with everyday life (e.g., Wednesday, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) 0.0% Animated or stylized universes with unique magic systems (e.g., Arcane, The Dragon Prince) Animated or stylized universes with unique magic systems (e.g., Arcane, The Dragon Prince) 0.0% Live-action adaptations of beloved classics or franchises (e.g., Avatar: The Last Airbender, One Piece) Live-action adaptations of beloved classics or franchises (e.g., Avatar: The Last Airbender, One Piece) 100.0%