The 10 Greatest Fantasy Series Over the Last 15 Years

The popularity of Game of Thrones over the last 15 years has sparked a new wave of excellent fantasy television. Thanks to the success of A Song of Ice and Fire, which first brought fantasy to a wider audience, fans of the genre have been enjoying a wealth of quality shows.

Fantasy television is currently enjoying a fantastic period, with incredible shows like the time-traveling romance of Outlander and the wonderfully quirky comedy of Adventure Time. These are some of the best fantasy series from the last fifteen years.

The Magicians

Initially, The Magicians might seem similar to Harry Potter. Like the books it’s based on, it’s set at a school for students learning magic. However, despite this familiar setup, the show quickly establishes its own unique identity and isn’t simply a copy of the popular series.

Unlike Harry Potter, The Magicians delves into much more mature and unsettling themes, offering a realistic portrayal of the challenges of growing up. With impressive visuals and a creative plot, it’s become one of the most acclaimed fantasy series ever made.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

In the last fifteen years, since Disney bought Lucasfilm and began heavily profiting from the Star Wars franchise, we’ve seen a constant stream of live-action TV shows. While some, like The Mandalorian, have shown potential, others, such as Ahsoka, have been easily forgotten, and some, like The Acolyte, have been genuinely disappointing.

While Andor was the strongest Star Wars show Disney+ has produced so far, it shifted away from the usual fantastical adventures and focused on a more realistic, political spy thriller. Skeleton Crew, however, is a hidden treasure that fully embraces the imaginative side of Star Wars. Inspired by The Goonies, its story of a group of kids on a risky pirate quest captures the best of what Star Wars can be.

Outlander

The TV show Outlander, based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon, blends several genres—fantasy, historical fiction, romance, and time travel. It stars Caitríona Balfe as Claire Randall, a former WWII nurse who unexpectedly travels from 1945 to 1743.

She’s unexpectedly transported to the past where she finds love with a dashing Scottish warrior amidst the historical Jacobite rebellion. Think of it as a blend of the time-travel romance of Time After Time and the action-packed adventure of Highlander – and it’s just as entertaining as you’d imagine!

The Wheel Of Time

Based on Robert Jordan’s popular book series, The Wheel of Time is classic high fantasy. The story centers on powerful magical forces – known as the One Power – and a battle between good and evil, represented by the Dark One and the Dragon. Legend says the Dragon caused a cataclysmic event in the past, and his reincarnation, the Dragon Reborn, will either save the world or destroy it completely.

This show is a dream come true for fantasy fans. It features a large cast of characters and is headlined by the incredibly talented Rosamund Pike.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms

Though the first Game of Thrones spin-off, House of the Dragon, received mixed reviews, the second, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has been a big success. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has breathed new life into the series.

While House of the Dragon struggled to replicate the grand scale of Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms found success by focusing on character and connection. Instead of a sprawling story of kings and power, it’s a charming, low-key adventure about a humble knight and his spirited young companion.

Stranger Things

Despite some weaker later seasons where the show shifted towards big visual effects and a superhero feel, Stranger Things is still a fantastic series. Its first season, in particular, was a brilliant achievement, successfully blending classic movie influences into a compelling television experience. Overall, the show’s strengths significantly overshadow its flaws.

After its first season, the quality of Stranger Things became inconsistent. While some seasons, like the third, didn’t quite deliver, others, such as the fourth, recaptured the magic of the original. Despite its ups and downs, Stranger Things has undoubtedly become a major cultural event and will likely be remembered as a significant part of television history.

Gravity Falls

I absolutely love Gravity Falls! It’s this incredibly clever cartoon created by Alex Hirsch, and honestly, it feels like a kid-friendly version of Twin Peaks. The show centers on a brother and sister who spend the summer with their great-uncle in this strange town called Gravity Falls. They quickly realize the town is full of weird, supernatural secrets, and they end up working together to unravel them. It’s just a really fun and mysterious show!

A truly great fantasy series requires a writer with a powerful imagination, and Alex Hirsch definitely delivers. Gravity Falls is wonderfully strange, full of surprising twists, and incredibly fun to watch.

His Dark Materials

The initial effort to bring Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials to the screen was only partially successful. While the 2007 film, The Golden Compass, earned a decent amount of money at the box office, reviewers weren’t impressed. They felt it didn’t capture the power of the books and didn’t compensate for that with impressive visual effects.

The TV series, written by Jack Thorne (who also wrote Adolescence), stayed very true to the original books, making it a more captivating watch. While updating the story for modern audiences, His Dark Materials doesn’t shy away from the books’ challenging and controversial views on religion.

Game Of Thrones

Despite a disappointing finale, Game of Thrones remains one of the best fantasy TV series of all time. It popularized the genre and demonstrated that fantasy stories could appeal to a broad audience, not just dedicated fans.

Game of Thrones drew in viewers who weren’t typically fans of fantasy by telling relatable stories about universal themes like loss and betrayal, but setting them in a medieval world with dragons and magic. At its peak, it wasn’t just the best fantasy show—it was considered one of the greatest television shows ever made.

Adventure Time

Cartoon Network

Although Adventure Time first aired a little over 15 years ago in 2010, most of its episodes fall within the period we’re looking at, and it’s consistently been the top fantasy show. It takes classic fantasy elements and presents them with a unique, whimsical, and often bizarre style.

Though filled with magic, royalty, and mysterious places, the story is really a heartwarming and funny tale about friendship. It centers on Finn, a boy, and Jake, his incredibly talented dog and adoptive brother, as they explore a wonderfully weird and imaginative world together.

2026-03-07 03:03