Following the huge success of Game of Thrones, many fantasy shows appeared, but only a few seemed capable of reaching the same level. Most of those haven’t lived up to expectations, though one still has potential. Game of Thrones set a high bar, particularly in its early seasons, which were some of the best fantasy television ever made. Overall, the show exceeded what most fantasy fans even dreamed of in the 2000s.
It’s understandable that many shows tried to follow in the footsteps of Game of Thrones after it ended. However, achieving the same success wasn’t just about having a large scale and realistic feel. It also required broad popular appeal, something none of the shows hoping to replace it have been able to capture. While several promising fantasy series have emerged in recent years, none have truly become the next Game of Thrones.
5) The Rings of Power
Few fantasy series could match the popularity of Game of Thrones, but The Lord of the Rings had a significant advantage with its long history and established fanbase. J.R.R. Tolkienās work already had devoted readers, and the movies attracted a wider audience, making The Rings of Power seem like a natural follow-up to Game of Thrones. Amazon invested heavily in the show, and visually, itās impressive. Unfortunately, the seriesā take on Tolkienās world has been controversial, and it hasnāt captured the same large audience as the HBO hit. While Season 2 shows improvement, itās unlikely The Rings of Power will become the next Game of Thrones.
4) The Wheel of Time
Like The Rings of Power, The Wheel of Time arrived with a lot of anticipation but quickly faced criticism from fans of the books. While Season 3 of The Wheel of Time finally seemed to be hitting its stride, Amazon unexpectedly canceled the show, ending any chance of it becoming the next Game of Thrones. Now, viewers who were enjoying the series are left searching for a new fantasy epic to fill the void.
3) The Witcher
When The Witcher first arrived on Netflix, it looked like the next big fantasy hit. The first season was a bit confusing with its timeline, but it started strong. Henry Cavill was excellent as Geralt, the show had a similar dark and realistic feel to Game of Thrones, and the characters of Ciri and Yennefer showed a lot of potential. However, the series declined after the first season, straying from the original books and eventually needing to replace Henry Cavill. This loss of direction prevented it from ever reaching the same level of popularity as Game of Thrones. While the final season might offer some improvement ā Season 4 did manage a partial recovery ā itās likely too late for the show to become a major cultural phenomenon.
2) His Dark Materials
When Game of Thrones ended, His Dark Materials arrived on HBO just months later with the potential to become the networkās next hit. Though very different in style and story, it was positioned to attract a similar audience, appealing to fans of both magical adventures like Harry Potter and the darker fantasy of Game of Thrones. Despite being a well-made show that fit nicely into the fantasy genre, it didnāt gain much attention. Itās a series that deserves more recognition, even if itās unlikely to reach the same level of popularity as Game of Thrones.
1) House of the Dragon
With the story of the Iron Throne concluded, what could be better than another conflict over who gets to sit on it? House of the Dragon appeared poised to become the next Game of Thrones, and it still has a good chance. As the show heads into its third season later this year, we can anticipate the most dramatic installment yetāif showrunner Ryan Condalās claim of it being the ābiggest season to dateā holds true (according to Entertainment Weekly). House of the Dragon has everything needed to match its predecessorās success: political maneuvering, well-developed characters, plenty of action, and, of course, dragons. While it hasn’t reached the same level of intensity as the original Game of Thrones just yet, it took a few seasons for that series to truly become a phenomenon as well.
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2026-02-18 02:10