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Since the early 2010s, fantasy television has been getting more and more popular, and has become a rising trend in the world of media. Networks are more willing now to dump more and more of their budgets into large-scale fantasy productions, which is why there are so many of them nowadays. Admittedly, it can be kind of hard to keep up with it all in this new wave of television, especially at the frequent rate in which new TV series are coming out.
Every so often, a fantasy series comes out that knocks it out of the park, but only a select few each year really get this chance. Even in the last year or two, there have been some real diamonds in the rough, some of which deserve more attention. The following lists the best fantasy TV shows from 2025 and 2026 that are absolutely perfect, even if they only have one or two seasons so far.
6
‘Widow’s Bay’ (2026-Present)
Widow’s Bay is sort of a mishmash of several different genres. It’s primarily a horror/comedy at its heart, but it can also be considered a supernatural drama of sorts. And yes, it can also be considered a fantasy series, especially in the way that it features mythical creatures, many of them from folklore and legend. Premiering just this April, the series is set in the fictional town of Widow’s Bay, New England, which is afflicted with a terrible curse. This curse brings nightmares to life, awakening the dead and bringing some of the most horrific monsters from local legend to life. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the mayor of the town believes the curse to be a bunch of humbug, much to the dismay of the townsfolk.
This series is so much fun to watch because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Sure, there are some high stakes, but the juxtaposition of a skeptical mayor faced with undeniably supernatural phenomena is often hilarious. It’s a quirky, eccentric story that feels truly singular in the world of television, which is why so many viewers have spoken so highly of it. Even though it’s far from the most fantastical series on this list, it’s an absolute riot and a masterpiece in the making.
5
‘The Mighty Nein’ (2025–Present)
The Mighty Nein is an animated Amazon Prime Video series based on a custom campaign in the popular tabletop role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons. More specifically, the show is based on a campaign played in the second season of the Critical Role podcast, and was released following the success of Critical Role‘s other animated series, The Legend of Vox Machina. Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein take place in the same immersive, lore-rich world, albeit on two completely different continents.
Like Vox Machina, the cast of Critical Role actually voice their in-game characters, making it familiar and nostalgic for fans of the original podcast. It also makes the characters feel more authentic, since the creators have already poured so much of themselves into them. The story of The Mighty Nein is about a group of misfit criminals who carry the fate of the world in their hands when an arcane artifact is rediscovered. What results is plenty of humor, action, and some genuinely moving drama. Like Vox Machina, this show is absolutely stellar, and received rave, near-perfect reviews all around.
4
‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood’ (2025–Present)
Outlander has been a pretty popular fantasy series that has been running since 2014. Based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon, the series is primarily a historical fantasy, following a British nurse in World War II named Claire (Caitríona Balfe) as she is magically transported through time to various important eras. She falls in love with a Scottish Highland warrior in 1743, who is one of the key characters in the entire series. Not only does the show feature major historical events, but heartwarming romance, as well.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood serves as a prequel series, focusing on the parents of the nurse’s love interest, Jamie (Sam Heughan), in 18th-Century Scotland. The series also flips to World War I, following Claire’s parents. So, there’s still plenty of romance to be had in this one, even if time travel isn’t quite as common. Still, for only having two seasons so far, Blood of My Blood has been met with A-plus reviews from critics and audiences alike, with some fans even calling it better than the original show.
3
‘Devil May Cry’ (2025–Present)
Devil May Cry is an animated series based on the video game series of the same name. Historically, video game adaptations have been seen as cheap cash grabs with little to no substance, and very little quality put into them; however, many adaptations of late have been breaking that curse. Make no mistake, Devil May Cry is absolutely one of those. Based on a video game or not, the show is truly excellent, featuring all the gritty visuals, gruesome violence, and hideous monsters that made people love the original games.
The story follows Dante (Johnny Yong Bosch), a red-clad, white-haired demon hunter who himself is actually half-human, half-demon. He is called into battle when a new demonic entity threatens to open the gates of Hell, unleashing the demonic horde upon humanity, which means it’s time for Dante to earn his paycheck. Even though the show is being scrapped following Devik May Cry‘s third season, the one that has been released so far is top-tier television, and is a really special treat for fans of the original video game series, or for those who like fantasy in general. It’ll resonate especially well with fantasy fans from the 2000s, as low fantasy shows involving demons were super popular at the time.
2
‘Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord’ (2026–Present)
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is the newest Star Wars animated series from Dave Filoni, who also created all of the other animated series in canon. This show stars Maul (Sam Witwer), formerly Darth Maul, as he builds a new criminal syndicate in the shadow of the Galactic Empire. Set between the third and fourth films, this show introduced some new characters, brought some familiar faces back, and came with pulse-pounding action and a surprising grittiness to it.
Whether fans agree or not, franchise creator George Lucas has stated that Star Wars is absolutely fantasy, and not sci-fi, because he felt it was more in line with mythology rather than typical sci-fi tropes. Regardless, Maul – Shadow Lord has been one of the greatest Star Wars series to date, with some intense lightsaber duels and a new plotline that has fueled fan speculation online. It will be interesting to see what happens next. Even though it’s only got one season thus far, it’s still perfect in all regards, and has been met with universal acclaim, especially from the fanbase.
1
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (2026–Present)
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the newest TV show set in the world of Westeros, originally penned by George R. R. Martin. As many already know, Martin’s fantasy novel series eventually became the cultural phenomenon that is Game of Thrones, which later spawned two spin-off series. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is one of these series, set decades prior to Game of Thrones. It is based on a series of novellas written by Martin, which tell a more intimate, smaller tale than presented in the main series.
The primary characters of this series are Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Aegon “Egg” Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell), a knight and his squire who spend their time wandering Westeros, encountering enemies, and forming an unlikely friendship. The novellas were known for their chemistry and comedy, which the show has emulated perfectly. Like the other series set in the same universe, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has been an absolute masterpiece, even though it’s only got one season so far. Fans can’t wait to see what misadventures their heroes will get up to next.
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Dawson Nyffenegger
Almontather Rassoul
