Netflix has a ton of excellent sci-fi shows, including popular hits like Stranger Things, Dark, and Three Body Problem. But beyond those well-known series, there are some hidden gems that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve. If you’re looking for a new sci-fi show to binge-watch, these forgotten series are definitely worth checking out.
For over ten years, Netflix has created its own shows, and while many fantastic sci-fi series have appeared on the platform, many have been forgotten over time. Just because they aren’t currently popular doesn’t mean these shows aren’t good – they still offer unique and compelling stories, imaginative worlds, and creative ideas for sci-fi fans.
The Midnight Gospel (2020)
Animated Cosmic Chaos Fuels One Of Netflix’s Most Thoughtful Sci-Fi Journeys
While many people focus on the unique and vibrant animation of The Midnight Gospel, the show’s science fiction concepts are truly remarkable. The series centers around Clancy Gilroy, a spacecaster (voiced by Duncan Trussell), who uses an interdimensional simulator. Each episode throws Clancy into a different simulated world, allowing the show to explore strange planets and thought-provoking, existential questions through a science fiction framework.
What sets Midnight Gospel apart is its unique combination of philosophical ideas with classic science fiction themes. Despite its vibrant and chaotic visuals, the show explores deep questions about consciousness, technology, and the meaning of existence in different realities. Its format allows it to tackle these topics with a level of honesty rarely seen in science fiction.
Even though it only lasted one season, The Midnight Gospel is still one of the most innovative sci-fi shows Netflix has ever created. Its unusual storytelling isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for something creative, thought-provoking, and visually stunning, this hidden treasure is definitely worth another watch.
Osmosis (2019)
A Cerebral Exploration Of Technology, Intimacy, And The Cost Of Engineered Love
The 2019 French sci-fi series Osmosis didn’t get much attention, even though it had a fascinating premise: a company using nanotechnology to find people their perfect matches with almost complete accuracy. While Paul (Hugo Becker) and Esther (Agathe Bonitzer) are the main characters, the show’s most compelling element is its setting – a stylish, futuristic Paris where technology promises guaranteed love, but at a significant cost.
Osmosis delivers the emotional punch of top-tier Netflix dramas, but with a unique, thought-provoking twist. The show explores how technology, while intended to connect us, can actually erode our sense of self, freedom, and trust in others. Unlike many sci-fi stories, it doesn’t rely on big action sequences or dramatic visuals, instead focusing on a quiet, unsettling, and deeply human story.
It’s a shame that Osmosis was canceled after just one season, because it had some really interesting ideas. Despite this, the show remains a smart and subtle piece of science fiction on Netflix, beautifully exploring themes of love and fate in a world influenced by data.
Inside Job (2021-2022)
A Sharp Conspiracy Satire That Turns Every Wild Theory Into Creative Sci-Fi Worldbuilding
The animated series Inside Job presents a hilarious world where every conspiracy theory is actually real. A shadowy organization called Cognito Inc. secretly runs everything. The show follows Reagan Ridley (voiced by Lizzy Caplan), a brilliant scientist who tries to use her skills to improve a deeply flawed world. While it’s a comedy, Inside Job is also impressively inventive when it comes to its science fiction ideas.
Each episode of Inside Job explores a different, bizarre part of its world, filled with secret governments, moon duplicates, reptilian humanoids, and technology that can erase memories. Instead of making fun of science fiction ideas, the show fully commits to them, creating a world that’s both hilariously entertaining and surprisingly well-connected. The relationship between Reagan and her unpredictable father, Rand (Christian Slater), unexpectedly adds a lot of heart to the series.
Despite getting good reviews, Netflix unexpectedly canceled Inside Job after just two seasons, preventing it from gaining a larger audience. Still, the show’s clever satire and complex world-building make it a smart and highly rewatchable sci-fi gem that’s been largely overlooked.
Tribes Of Europa (2021)
A Post-Apocalyptic Adventure That Delivers Ambitious Worldbuilding And Gripping Factional Conflict
Netflix’s Tribes of Europa is set in a future Europe torn apart by conflict. The series centers on three siblings – Kiano, Liv, and Elja – who find themselves struggling to survive in this dangerous new world. What makes the show unique is its expansive scope, with each tribe possessing its own unique culture, style, and level of technology, creating a detailed and immersive post-apocalyptic sci-fi experience.
Tribes of Europa is a standout sci-fi series thanks to its combination of thrilling survival elements and thought-provoking political themes. Set in a future recovering from a cataclysm, the show features both futuristic technology and warring groups, all while maintaining a sense of urgency and creativity. Despite being relatively short, the show feels epic in scope due to its quick pace and the massive scale of the danger it presents.
Even though Netflix didn’t make a second season, the first season of Tribes of Europa is still a creative and engaging look at what the future might hold. If you’re a sci-fi fan who enjoys ambitious stories, impressive visuals, and well-developed worlds, this show is definitely worth checking out – it’s a hidden gem.
3% (2016-2020)
A Sharp, Character-Driven Dystopia Built Around Tough Moral Choices And Complex World Dynamics
I first discovered 3% when Netflix was starting to make a name for itself with international shows, and it really stood out. It wasn’t about flashy effects; it was a really raw, believable dystopian world built on a smart story. The show follows Michele and a bunch of other young people trying to get through something called ‘the Process’ – it’s this incredibly tough competition that promises a place in a perfect, luxurious world called the Offshore. It’s a real struggle to see who makes it!
Unlike many dystopian TV shows, 3% feels deeply impactful because it tackles issues of inequality and unfairness. It consistently makes viewers think about who gets chances in life, who creates and maintains social classes, and how far people will go to improve their circumstances.
Despite having a loyal following, 3% isn’t often talked about these days, even though it was one of Netflix’s most unique and well-made science fiction series. Its gripping plot and constantly developing story make it a great choice for viewers looking for smart, thought-provoking sci-fi.
Travelers (2016-2018)
A Time-Travel Thriller That Grounds Its High Concept In Smart Rules And Emotional Character Arcs
The sci-fi series Travelers puts a fresh spin on the classic time-travel premise of preventing a terrible future. Instead of grand gestures, the show focuses on the details, the restrictions faced by its time-traveling agents, and the characters themselves. The operatives, like Grant MacLaren (Eric McCormack), enter the past by inhabiting the bodies of people just before they die, which immediately creates challenging ethical and emotional dilemmas.
What makes Travelers so engaging is its focus on realistic details. Each mission the travelers undertake has limitations, and their choices have real repercussions – a single mistake could alter the future. This commitment to consistency makes the time travel feel believable. Plus, the internal conflict each traveler faces – balancing their mission with the life of the person they’re inhabiting – adds depth and emotional resonance to the story.
Although many critics loved it, Travelers wasn’t talked about for long after Netflix cancelled it. Still, it’s one of the streaming service’s best sci-fi shows – well-made with a smart, intricate plot – and perfect for anyone who enjoys time travel stories.
The OA (2016-2019)
A Genre-Bending Mystery That Mixes Sci-Fi, Metaphysics, And Emotional Ambition Like Nothing Else
The series The OA starts with the return of Prairie Johnson (Brit Marling), a young woman who was blind for years but suddenly reappears with her sight restored. She claims to be able to travel between different dimensions. What begins as a realistic mystery quickly becomes a creatively ambitious story about experiences near death, alternate worlds, and how believing in something together can be powerful.
I’ve always been captivated by The OA because it’s just so daring. It doesn’t rely on flashy effects; instead, it uses beautiful visuals and carefully developed characters to explore really deep ideas. The dynamic between Prairie and her captor, Hap, is especially unsettling and really drives the whole mysterious story forward. It’s a show that truly takes risks, and I love it for that.
Despite being cancelled before it could finish its story – a common fate for sci-fi shows on the platform – The OA remains popular due to its unique and heartfelt approach. It’s one of the most ambitious and emotionally powerful sci-fi series Netflix has offered, making it a standout among shows that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve.
Sense8 (2015-2018)
A Global Sci-Fi Epic That Uses Telepathy To Explore Connection, Identity, And Shared Humanity
Created by the Wachowskis, Sense8 centers around eight people from different parts of the world who suddenly find they’re connected mentally. Similar to other great sci-fi shows on Netflix, Sense8 takes this interesting idea and turns it into a surprisingly realistic and moving story. The show combines science fiction and personal drama, using the idea of a mental connection between these characters to examine empathy on a worldwide scale.
Despite not being widely known, Sense8 is easily one of the best science fiction shows of the 2010s. It’s unique because it feels both deeply personal and incredibly vast. The show connects characters across the globe, allowing them to share abilities, feelings, and experiences, which leads to some of the most creative moments you’ll find on Netflix. It features exciting action, genuine emotional connections, and a detailed, imaginative world.
Despite having a dedicated fanbase, Sense8 remains one of Netflix’s most underrated science fiction shows. It’s remarkable for its diverse cast, bold storytelling, and unique approach to the genre, proving how exciting and innovative sci-fi can be.
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2025-11-23 04:32