7 Great Sci-Fi Shows Hidden On Netflix

Netflix has a huge collection of shows, including many excellent ones that didn’t become hugely popular. While shows like Stranger Things and Black Mirror get a lot of attention, some of Netflix’s best sci-fi series haven’t gotten the recognition they deserve. With so many new and older titles added every year, it can be tough to find the really good ones.

Many great sci-fi series on Netflix haven’t gotten the attention they deserve, often due to poor marketing, the need for subtitles, or simply being released at the wrong time. But for viewers who are willing to explore beyond the most popular shows and aren’t afraid of subtitles, these series offer exciting and rewarding experiences with the same high quality as other well-known sci-fi hits.

7) Biohackers

I recently watched this German thriller, and it really pulled me in! It follows Mia Akerlund, a medical student who starts at Freiburg University with a secret agenda. She quickly tries to get close to Professor Lorenz, a famous biologist doing some incredible research, but I soon realized she wasn’t there just to study. She’s actually digging into a personal tragedy, and it seems like it’s somehow connected to the professor’s work. It’s a really intriguing setup!

Biohackers is a compelling and realistic look at synthetic biology and genetic engineering, so much so that the journal Science praised its accurate depiction of lab environments. The show uses impressive visuals – like glowing plants, pills that let you breathe underwater, and implanted microchips – to explore the idea of modifying living things. With just six episodes per season, it’s easy to watch all at once, and the actors Luna Wedler and Adrian Julius Tillmann have great chemistry. While some have compared it to the German sci-fi series Dark, Biohackers is a unique show in its own right.

6) Travelers

Created by Brad Wright, known for his work on Stargate, this sci-fi series offers a fresh take on time travel, avoiding typical paradoxes and relying more on story than special effects. Set hundreds of years in the future, the show depicts a desperate humanity on the brink of extinction. They’ve developed a way to send consciousness back in time, allowing agents like FBI agent Grant MacLaren (Eric McCormack) to inhabit the bodies of people just before they die. These agents then attempt to complete missions that could save humanity, but they also struggle with the challenges of living the lives of the people they’ve taken over.

The TV show Travelers received perfect scores from critics on Rotten Tomatoes for its first two seasons, thanks to its clever writing and the actors’ ability to play both their future and present-day selves convincingly. Over three seasons, the show became more complex. Although Netflix cancelled it after season three, the creator, Brad Wright, made sure the series ended in a way that felt complete and satisfying.

5) Osmosis

This French science fiction series takes place in Paris in the near future and explores the potential benefits and drawbacks of highly advanced dating apps. These apps use algorithms that can read your mind to find your ideal partner. The story centers on siblings Esther and Paul Vanhove, who’ve created a groundbreaking dating technology using an implant that scans brain activity to identify perfect matches. As the company prepares to launch this technology after a quick initial test, we follow several people whose lives become connected through it.

Despite receiving perfect scores from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, the Netflix series Osmosis flew largely under the radar. Reviewers particularly appreciated its thoughtful exploration of technology and relationships. The Verge highlighted how the show avoids simple ‘good versus bad’ depictions of technological futures. Unlike the often pessimistic Black Mirror, Osmosis considers both the positive and negative sides of letting algorithms manage our connections with others. Although Netflix canceled it after just one season, leaving some storylines unfinished, it remains a compelling and complete story about love in the modern world.

4) The Eternaut

This 2025 Netflix series adapts the classic 1957 Argentine graphic novel, El Eternauta, a landmark work of apocalyptic science fiction. The story begins when a blackout plunges Buenos Aires into turmoil, and Juan Salvo becomes separated from his daughter. Things quickly worsen as deadly, toxic snow begins to fall, and Juan must join forces with other survivors to find his daughter and uncover the source of the strange snowfall, all while navigating a dangerous, broken world with makeshift equipment.

The Netflix series cleverly updates a classic story while staying true to its original themes of outside influence and oppressive power. Ricardo Darín is outstanding as Juan, an ordinary man caught in extraordinary circumstances. Reviewers have likened it to shows like The Last of Us and Station Eleven, highlighting its focus on characters and beautiful visuals. The first season starts a bit slowly, but each episode ends with a surprising reveal that keeps you hooked. Although initially intended to have multiple seasons, the first season tells a complete story and provides a satisfying conclusion for viewers.

3) Sense8

This exciting Netflix series comes from the creators of The Matrix (Lana and Lilly Wachowski) and Babylon 5 writer J. Michael Straczynski. It follows eight strangers around the world who unexpectedly find they’re connected as ‘sensates’ – people who can share thoughts, feelings, and skills with each other, no matter how far apart they are. For example, Nomi, a hacker, can suddenly use the fighting abilities of Sun, a businesswoman in Seoul who secretly competes in underground fights, while a Chicago police officer named Will begins to instinctively understand the skills of Wolfgang, a safe-cracker in Berlin. As they explore these connections, they realize someone is pursuing them.

I have to say, even though it wasn’t a total hidden gem, Sense8 really captured my heart. I especially loved how it portrayed LGBTQ+ characters – it even won a GLAAD award! The show was stunningly filmed all over the world, and you could really tell the Wachowskis put a lot of effort and style into every episode. I was devastated when Netflix cancelled it after just two seasons, but the fans rallied and convinced them to give us a proper ending with a fantastic finale. Honestly, if you’re into thought-provoking sci-fi, Sense8 is absolutely worth checking out – that finale alone makes the whole series worthwhile.

2) 1899

Passengers on the Kerberos, a steamship sailing from London to New York around the turn of the century, hoped for a fresh start in America. Instead, they encounter a disturbing sight: the Prometheus, a ship that disappeared months before, found adrift at sea with only one boy on board. As the Kerberos crew investigates, bizarre events begin to occur – passengers experience unsettling visions, the ship itself seems to change, and hidden secrets from everyone’s pasts are revealed. The story quickly transforms from a historical drama into a thrilling, unpredictable mystery.

The creators of the hit show Dark, Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, brought us 1899, Germany’s most ambitious and costly TV series to date, featuring stunning historical sets. Though not strictly science fiction, 1899 takes surprising turns, and a major plot twist at the end changes how you understand everything that came before. Netflix cancelled the show after only one season, despite plans for more, but the eight episodes are still compelling. If you enjoyed Dark, or shows like Severance and Westworld, 1899 offers a fascinating blend of historical drama, science fiction, and thought-provoking ideas, all wrapped up in a complex mystery.

1) Maniac

In a New York City that isn’t quite our own, two people sign up for an experimental drug trial promising to fix any mental health issue. Annie is hoping to get more of the drugs that allow her to revisit memories of her late sister, while Owen, from a wealthy but troubled family, is searching for a reason to live. Led by the eccentric Dr. Mantleray and a gloomy supercomputer, the trial participants share drug-induced hallucinations that play out like different movie genres – everything from 80s crime stories and 1940s mysteries to epic fantasy quests. Each experience reveals the hidden traumas and deepest desires of those involved.

Created by Cary Joji Fukunaga (director of True Detective Season 1) and writer Patrick Somerville (The Leftovers), Maniac brought together the stars of Superbad for this 10-episode series. Critics at publications like Rolling Stone, TIME, and The New York Times loved the show’s imaginative and dreamlike quality, often comparing it to the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. While many shows on this list build tension slowly, Maniac moves at a fast pace despite its complex story. However, it remains surprisingly overlooked and deserves more recognition as one of Netflix’s original series. Though strange and unconventional, Maniac’s science fiction elements beautifully explore themes of human connection, making it a truly unique show. If you enjoy surreal and genre-bending sci-fi, Maniac is a memorable standout.

Looking for hidden sci-fi gems on Netflix? Tell us about your favorite underrated shows in the comments and share your thoughts in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-22 17:42