The Rings of Power has returned, and Middle-earth is heading towards another enormous conflict. Season 3 premiered on Prime Video on November 11, 2026, with the first four episodes arriving together. Set five years after the fall of Eregion, the new season follows the escalating war between Sauron and the Elves as the Dark Lord moves closer to forging the One Ring. For viewers who enjoy enormous fantasy worlds, ancient prophecies, powerful villains and kingdoms fighting for survival, this is exactly the kind of television worth exploring.
However, Middle-earth is hardly the only fictional world capable of delivering that experience. Television has produced some extraordinary fantasy adventures featuring dragons, immortal creatures, magical kingdoms and characters whose decisions can change entire civilizations. We have ranked 10 fantasy shows like The Rings of Power that deserve a place on your watchlist, considering their world-building, storytelling, memorable characters and sheer entertainment value.
10. Carnival Row (2019–2023)
Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne lead this dark fantasy series, which imagines a Victorian-inspired city where humans and mythical creatures struggle to coexist. The story follows Rycroft Philostrate, a human investigator, and Vignette Stonemoss, a faerie refugee whose arrival forces him to confront his past. Their personal relationship develops against a backdrop of political corruption, discrimination and mysterious murders.
What makes Carnival Row particularly interesting is its approach to fantasy world-building. Instead of focusing entirely on kings, armies and magical battles, the series examines what happens when different species are forced to share a society with unequal rights. Faeries, fauns and other supernatural beings have their own histories, cultures and conflicts, making the fictional city feel considerably larger than the central investigation.
It does not have the enormous geographical scale of The Rings of Power, but its atmosphere and mythology make it an excellent alternative. The two-season series is particularly worth watching for viewers who enjoy darker fantasy stories with political themes and supernatural mysteries. It also offers a different kind of Orlando Bloom performance from the one that made him famous in The Lord of the Rings films.
9. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
If the greatest attraction of The Rings of Power is its detailed fantasy world, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance deserves considerably more attention. Set on the magical planet of Thra, the series follows three young Gelfling who discover the disturbing truth behind the Skeksis and their control over the planet. Their discovery leads them towards a rebellion that could save their civilization from destruction.
The series comes from the creative universe established by Jim Henson’s 1982 film The Dark Crystal. Its most remarkable achievement is its use of elaborate puppetry, practical creature effects and detailed environments instead of relying entirely on computer-generated imagery. The result is a fantasy world that feels physically tangible, with unusual creatures and landscapes that have a personality of their own.
The Skeksis are particularly memorable villains because their appearance and behaviour make them genuinely unsettling. Their desire to preserve their power drives the central conflict, while the Gelfling characters gradually discover the strength needed to challenge them. Unfortunately, Netflix cancelled the series after its first season, leaving its larger story unfinished. Nevertheless, the available episodes deliver some of the most imaginative fantasy television of recent years.
8. Shadow and Bone (2021–2023)
Netflix’s Shadow and Bone takes viewers into the Grishaverse, a fantasy world where people with supernatural abilities exist alongside powerful armies, royal families and dangerous political factions. The story follows Alina Starkov, a young soldier who discovers that she possesses an extraordinary ability that could help destroy the Shadow Fold, a dangerous region filled with monstrous creatures.
Her discovery attracts the attention of General Kirigan, a powerful figure whose intentions become increasingly difficult to trust. As Alina learns more about her abilities, she becomes caught in a conflict involving political ambition, ancient magic and the future of her country. The series also introduces the Crows, a group of criminals whose adventures add another layer of excitement to the larger story.
What makes Shadow and Bone appealing to fans of The Rings of Power is its combination of magical mythology and political conflict. Its different nations have their own identities, military structures and rivalries, while the Grisha powers give the world a distinctive magical system. Ben Barnes also delivers an excellent performance as Kirigan, making him one of the show’s most compelling characters.
The series ran for two seasons before Netflix cancelled it in 2023. Its unfinished storyline is a disappointment, particularly because the Grishaverse has considerably more material in Leigh Bardugo’s novels. Still, viewers looking for an accessible fantasy adventure with strong characters and supernatural battles should give it a chance.
7. His Dark Materials (2019–2022)
Based on Philip Pullman’s acclaimed fantasy trilogy, His Dark Materials follows Lyra Belacqua, a young girl living in a parallel world where human souls exist outside their bodies in the form of animal companions called daemons. When her friend Roger disappears, Lyra begins a dangerous journey that reveals a much larger conspiracy involving powerful institutions, mysterious scientific experiments and an extraordinary substance known as Dust.
Dafne Keen leads the series as Lyra, with Ruth Wilson delivering a particularly memorable performance as the calculating Mrs Coulter. James McAvoy plays Lord Asriel, whose ambitions take him towards discoveries that could change the relationship between different worlds. As the story expands, Lyra meets Will Parry, and their journeys become connected to a conflict with consequences far beyond their original understanding.
His Dark Materials shares an important quality with The Rings of Power: its fantasy mythology is connected to a much larger history than the characters initially understand. Both shows introduce viewers to unfamiliar worlds, mysterious forces and conflicts involving powerful beings. However, Pullman’s story is more concerned with philosophical questions, religious authority and the nature of consciousness than conventional fantasy warfare.
Unlike several other entries on this list, His Dark Materials received a complete three-season adaptation. Its final season adapts The Amber Spyglass, the concluding novel in Pullman’s trilogy. For viewers who want an ambitious fantasy story with a proper ending, this is one of the strongest recommendations.
6. The Magicians (2015–2020)
Not every fantasy series needs medieval kingdoms, enormous armies and ancient prophecies to create an interesting fictional universe. The Magicians takes a different route by introducing Quentin Coldwater, a young man who discovers that magic is real and gains admission to Brakebills University, a secret institution where students learn to practise it.
However, the discovery of magic does not turn his life into a simple adventure. Quentin and his friends encounter dangerous spells, supernatural creatures and a mysterious fantasy world called Fillory. What initially resembles a magical university drama gradually develops into a much larger story involving multiple dimensions, powerful entities and threats that could destroy everything the characters know.
The show’s biggest strength is its willingness to challenge traditional fantasy storytelling. Its characters make terrible decisions, relationships become complicated and magical abilities frequently create problems rather than solving them. The series also draws inspiration from classic fantasy literature while giving its fictional universe a distinctly modern personality.
Fans of The Rings of Power may particularly enjoy its mythology and exploration of magical worlds, although the tone is considerably more irreverent. The Magicians ran for five seasons, giving its characters enough time to develop and its central story enough room to reach a proper conclusion. It is an excellent choice for anyone looking for fantasy television that balances adventure, comedy and darker emotional storytelling.
5. The Wheel of Time (2021–2025)
For viewers searching for something that comes closest to the scale and ambition of The Rings of Power, The Wheel of Time is an obvious recommendation. Based on Robert Jordan’s bestselling fantasy novels, the series follows Moiraine Damodred, a member of the powerful Aes Sedai organisation, as she searches for a person believed to be the Dragon Reborn.
Her journey brings her into contact with five young people from the Two Rivers, one of whom could possess the power needed to save the world or destroy it. Rand al’Thor eventually discovers the extraordinary importance of his identity, while his friends become increasingly involved in a conflict involving ancient enemies, magical forces and the approaching Last Battle.
The series has several elements that should immediately appeal to Tolkien fans. Its mythology involves ancient civilizations, prophecies, powerful magical orders and a struggle between the forces of Light and Darkness. The Aes Sedai also introduce an interesting political dimension because their influence extends across kingdoms, while their internal divisions create problems of their own.
Rosamund Pike is particularly effective as Moiraine, a character whose intelligence and determination often conceal how much she is willing to sacrifice. The show also gradually expands its world beyond the original group of characters, introducing powerful factions and increasingly dangerous threats. Although Prime Video ended the series after three seasons, those episodes provide a substantial fantasy adventure based on one of the genre’s most famous book series.
4. The Witcher (2019–present)
Geralt of Rivia is not particularly interested in saving the world, but the world has other plans for him. Played by Henry Cavill during the first three seasons and Liam Hemsworth from Season 4, the monster hunter becomes connected to Princess Ciri and the powerful sorceress Yennefer through a complicated series of events involving destiny, political ambition and ancient magic.
Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy novels, The Witcher creates a world where humans, elves, dwarves and supernatural creatures struggle to survive. Monsters are a regular threat, but the people who inhabit the Continent can often be more dangerous. Kingdoms compete for territory, powerful mages pursue their own agendas and ordinary people become trapped between competing interests.
The relationship between Geralt, Ciri and Yennefer gives the series an emotional foundation that prevents its larger conflicts from becoming merely a collection of battles. Geralt’s reluctance to become involved in political affairs contrasts with his growing determination to protect the people he cares about. Ciri’s developing abilities also introduce an increasingly important supernatural dimension to the story.
For fans of The Rings of Power, The Witcher offers a similarly complicated fantasy mythology with dangerous villains and different races competing for survival. Its approach is considerably darker, with graphic violence and morally complicated characters. Netflix has confirmed that Season 5 will be the final chapter of Geralt’s story, making the series an especially interesting option for viewers who want another large-scale fantasy saga.
3. House of the Dragon (2022–present)
Dragons, royal betrayals and a family tearing itself apart for control of a kingdom make House of the Dragon one of the strongest choices for viewers who enjoy the political conflicts in The Rings of Power. Set approximately 200 years before Game of Thrones, the HBO series follows House Targaryen during a period when its power is challenged by disagreements over royal succession.
At the centre of the conflict are Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, whose complicated relationship becomes increasingly destructive as competing factions gather around them. Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen adds another unpredictable presence, while the different members of the royal family pursue ambitions that frequently clash with one another.
The show’s dragons are its biggest visual attraction, but the political storytelling is what makes the series particularly compelling. Unlike many conventional fantasy adventures, House of the Dragon does not present its central conflict as a straightforward battle between good and evil. Its characters have understandable motivations, personal weaknesses and competing interpretations of what they believe is right.
The similarities with The Rings of Power are particularly noticeable in their exploration of powerful families, ancient bloodlines and kingdoms threatened by internal divisions. However, House of the Dragon focuses on a much more concentrated conflict rather than following several different civilizations across an enormous geographical area. With its third season now streaming in 2026, it is an excellent time to catch up on the Targaryen family drama.
2. Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
It is difficult to discuss fantasy television without mentioning Game of Thrones. HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire transformed the genre by combining medieval political drama, supernatural threats and enormous battles into a story that attracted audiences around the world.
The series takes place in Westeros, where several powerful families compete for control of the Iron Throne. The Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens and other houses pursue their own interests, while a much older supernatural danger begins to emerge beyond the Wall. Characters such as Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow and Arya Stark become central to a story in which alliances can collapse and even major characters are never guaranteed survival.
Its greatest strength is the way it treats power. Battles are important, but political decisions, family relationships and personal ambitions frequently determine the fate of entire kingdoms. The White Walkers also introduce a supernatural threat that gradually challenges the assumption that the struggle for the Iron Throne is the most important conflict in the world.
Fans of The Rings of Power will recognise several familiar ingredients, including ancient evil, mythical creatures, royal rivalries and detailed fictional histories. Game of Thrones is considerably more brutal and politically cynical, but its ability to make viewers care about multiple competing storylines remains impressive. The eight-season series has concluded, making it a particularly good choice for anyone looking for a complete fantasy television experience.
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022–present)
There is an obvious reason why another series set in Middle-earth deserves the top position on this list: no other television production offers quite the same combination of Tolkien mythology, enormous landscapes and the history of the Second Age. The Rings of Power explores a period thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, when powerful kingdoms are rising and Sauron is preparing his return.
The series follows several interconnected storylines involving Galadriel, Elrond, Celebrimbor, Durin IV and the people of Númenor. Each character encounters a different part of Middle-earth’s developing history, while the growing influence of Sauron gradually connects their individual journeys. The forging of the Rings of Power provides the central historical foundation, giving the series an opportunity to explore events that were only briefly described in Tolkien’s larger mythology.
Season 3 moves the story towards an even more dangerous period. Following the fall of Eregion, the Elves and Sauron are at war, while the Dark Lord secretly works towards creating the One Ring. The arrival of new characters, including Jamie Campbell Bower as Celeborn, adds another dimension to the continuing story.
What separates The Rings of Power from most other fantasy shows is the scale of its world. Its locations, languages, costumes and histories are designed around a fictional civilization with thousands of years of mythology behind it. The series also has the advantage of exploring a period that audiences have not previously experienced in a full live-action television adaptation.
It may not satisfy every Tolkien reader, particularly those who prefer the precise chronology and storytelling of the original books. However, for viewers who enjoy expansive fantasy adventures, ancient mysteries and the rise of legendary villains, Middle-earth remains difficult to beat. With Season 3 now streaming on Prime Video, there is plenty of new material to explore before the next chapters of the story unfold.
Picking your next fantasy series
Fantasy television offers considerably more than dragons and magical battles. The best series create worlds with their own histories, political systems, supernatural rules and characters whose decisions have consequences beyond their immediate surroundings. That is what makes The Rings of Power such an appealing starting point for discovering other fantasy adventures.
Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are excellent choices for viewers who prefer political rivalries and royal conflicts, while The Witcher and The Wheel of Time offer more traditional fantasy adventures. His Dark Materials is worth exploring for its unusual mythology, and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance delivers a visually distinctive experience. Which of these 10 fantasy series would you recommend to someone who has just finished watching The Rings of Power?
