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Forget ‘Game of Thrones’: These 5 Fantasy Shows Have Much Better Writing

By Sofia Martinez · Culture & Entertainment Editor

April 21, 2026· 6 min read

Dawson Nyffenegger

Published Apr 21, 2026, 7:52 AM EDT

Game of Thrones **_is basically _the _go-to fantasy TV show. Released in 2011, the series ran for eight seasons and boasted an enormous production value, a massive ensemble cast, and a complex narrative involving romance, war, action, adventure, and political drama. Based on the original novels by George R. R. Martin, the show kick-started a huge trend of fantasy television (which continues today) and became a cultural phenomenon. It even got a couple of spin-off series.

It's widely seen as one of the greatest fantasy TV shows ever made. The problem is, audiences were divided on the show's final season, with many deeming it rushed, nonsensical, and highly disappointing. So while it is pretty good, it's far from perfect. However, there exist a select few fantasy TV shows that actually outdo _Game of Thrones _in just about every way imaginable, though they never saw the same level of success. **These are the five fantasy TV shows that have much better writing than Game of Thrones. **

'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance' (2019)

_ Three Gelfling talk to each other with concerned expressions in The Dark Crystal: Age of ResistanceImage via Kevin Baker/©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance _is based on the 1982 **Jim Henson **film The Dark Crystal. The series serves as a prequel, exploring the origins of the strange yet wonderful world of Thra and the titular Dark Crystal, which mysteriously cracks one fateful day. The Crystal's cracking releases magic that brings two new species into being: the Mystics, who are wise, magical sages that serve as guardians of the land, and the vulture-like Skeksis, who initially get along with the native Podlings and Gelflings of Thra, but secretly plan to use the Dark Crystal's power to forge an empire.

Like the original movie, the series is done with puppets and includes intricate and gorgeous set designs that really let the imagination run wild. This show received stellar reviews from all over the world. Unfortunately, it just didn't pull in the numbers that Netflix was hoping for, leading to its cancellation after just one season. This was a truly unforgivable sin by Netflix, because this series had so much potential. **It's far more imaginative than Game of Thrones, immersing viewers in this wacky, weird world that doesn't at all resemble anything viewers have ever seen before. **

'Avatar: The Last Airbender' (2005–2008)

_ Aang in Avatar: The Last AirbenderImage via Nickelodeon

Avatar: The Last Airbender _is a classic fantasy cartoon that surely needs no introduction. As many already know, the story follows a continent comprised of four nations. Each of these nations corresponds to the elements of air, fire, earth, and water. The industrial Fire Nation has launched a massive invasion of the other nations, blanketing the continent in war. Doing the majority of the fighting are special individuals called "benders," who can manipulate their nation's elements as they please. Though times are rough, legends tell of an Avatar who will rise from his slumber, master bending all four elements, and bring peace to the four nations.

Even though this is a Nickelodeon show, it does a lot of things that other Nicktoons don't. For one, _Avatar _has real continuity, meaning it must be watched from beginning to end if one wants to understand the story. Of course, it does contain its fair share of comedy, but there's also great action and adventure, along with some genuine moral wisdom. This has allowed it to appeal to both kids and adults and remain timeless over the years. In fact, excitement about it has scarcely died down since it came out, which is why a live-action version is currently being produced by Netflix, with its second season on the way. _Avatar _is a bona fide masterpiece, and anyone who has seen it in its entirety will likely agree.** There's little doubt that it outdoes _Game of Thrones _in several aspects. **

'Kingdom' (2019–2021)

_ Bae Doona looks stressed in a village with other people in Kingdom.Image via Netflix

Kingdom _is a South Korean fantasy-horror series set at the end of the Middle Ages, following the Imjin War between Korea and Japan. At the time, the Korean Peninsula was known as the Kingdom of Joseon, which is where the story takes place. The King of Joseon has taken on a new wife, who is now pregnant with his child. She belongs to the Haewon Cho Clan, a power-hungry family that intends to use the unborn baby as a means of securing a claim to the throne. Standing in their way is the King's adult son from a previous marriage. Unfortunately, the King passes away from smallpox before his baby is born, meaning his adult son is next in line. To secure their claim to the throne, the Haewon Cho secretly uses a mythical resurrection plant to bring him back from the dead, accidentally unleashing a zombie horde in the process.

The zombies in this series are not like your regular zombies. They are wicked fast, and they only emerge during the night. During the day, they are nothing more than ordinary corpses. While this show was met with excellent, near-perfect reviews, it was sadly soft-canceled by Netflix before it could reach a proper conclusion. Still, this series is absolutely brilliant, blending political intrigue, feuding noble families, zombies, and a little bit of horror into an overlooked period in world history. **It wouldn't be wrong to call this series a masterpiece from beginning to end, one that is definitely much better than Game of Thrones. **

'Arcane' (2021–2024)

_ Jinx in 'Arcane' Season 2Image via Netflix

Normally, TV adaptations of video games are pretty horrendous and are generally seen as a quick cash grab that rarely does service to the spirit or feel of the original video game. Arcane _is very much an exception to this rule. It's based on the insanely popular MOBA video game League of Legends and follows the adventures of two of the game's playable champions. Though it only lasted for two seasons, truth be told, that's all it really needed to tell the story it wanted to tell, which means it got a proper conclusion that rounded things off nicely.

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The second season is commonly seen as a slight dip in quality, but it's still absolutely masterful in every way. The 3D animation style is gorgeous and perfectly captures the visual vibe of the original game. It's not just for fans of the game either, as it attracted plenty of non-fans and even won an Emmy. For tales of love, crushing betrayal, and action, which strays into aspects of fantasy, sci-fi, and steampunk, Arcane _is a fantastic show that outdoes many others in the genre by a mile. **

'The Legend of Vox Machina' (2022–Present)

_ Image via Amazon / Courtesy Everett Collection

The Legend of Vox Machina _comes from pretty humble beginnings. Initially, it was a custom campaign played on the tabletop role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons. The campaign was broadcast by a group of friends belonging to the _Critical Role _podcast, which became very, very popular. Eventually, they struck a deal with Prime Video, and the rest is history. Yes, this show is animated, but it is most certainly geared towards adults with its content, make no mistake.

One of the best things about this series is that the original voice cast from _Critical Role _play their in-game characters, making the show feel familiar and much more personal. It boasts a world rich with history and lore, to the point that it's honestly kind of impressive that someone was able to create such a vast universe. It's so in-depth that it doesn't even feel like a _Dungeons & Dragons _campaign in the slightest. **It perfectly blends comedy, personality, romance, and adventure, making this one of the best, if not the best, fantasy TV shows ever made.