10 Best Sci-Fi Anthology Shows of the Last 10 Years, Ranked

As such, over the course of the last decade, there has been a decent number of exceptional sci-fi anthology series. Like any show of this sort, they're not without their fair share of highs and lows; but what makes these series so outstanding is that when they hit those highs, they're some of the best sci-fi shows that fans have seen since 2016.

10 'The Boys Presents: Diabolical' (2022)

Based on Garth Ennis and Darrick Robertson's comic book series of the same name, Prime Video's The Boys has been satirizing the superhero genre, the entertainment industry, and American society as a whole since 2019. Later seasons have definitely declined in quality a bit, but this is still one of the most unique and entertaining superhero shows out there, with a fascinating universe perfectly fit for spin-offs. Enter The Boys Presents: Diabolical.

Not all of the show's eight episodes hit the mark, but the ones that do are must-watch content for fans of The Boys and the superhero genre alike. "One Plus One Equals Two," the only episode in the series that's canon, is particularly essential The Boys viewing, diving deep into Homelander's past in a fascinating way. Brilliantly animated and delightfully creative, Diabolical may not be perfect, but it's still one of the best animated series for adults of the last few years.

9 'Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld' (2025)

Disney has done all sorts of interesting things with Star Wars since their purchase of Lucasfilm all the way back in 2012. Most recently, that includes a trilogy of anthology shows, the Star Wars Tales series. The latest installment is Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, exploring a side of the Star Wars universe that hasn't been exploited nearly enough: the many adventures of the galaxy's bounty hunters and criminal underworld.

The show may not be perfect, but its score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes is proof enough that it's nevertheless a fantastic outing for Star Wars fans to enjoy. As if the enthralling presence and characterization of Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane weren't reason enough to watch any show, Tales of the Underworld also has some stunning animation and several bits of fan service that fans of the franchise are bound to love.

8 'Star Trek: Short Treks' (2018–2020)

Since its inception in 1966, the Star Trek franchise has been putting out great show after great show, constantly reinventing itself and twisting its own formulas on its head. The concept of a Star Trek anthology series was nothing but an item on fans' wishlists for the longest time, until in 2018, Star Trek: Short Treks finally hit the small screen.

Devised as a companion series to Star Trek: Discovery, this highly bingeable show was a delightful experiment that clearly worked rather well, so no fans would complain if a new Star Trek anthology show were announced sometime in the future. Creative and well-written, it's ideal comfort food for all fans of the franchise looking for more content.

7 'Secret Level' (2024–Present)

Throughout most of the history of video games, cinematic and televisual adaptations had a track record that was nothing short of awful. With time, though, studios and creatives started to figure out the formula to do legendary games justice when translating them to these media. Over the last few years, television in particular has been home to some of the greatest, most groundbreaking, and most exciting video game adaptations ever. That's where Secret Level comes in.

What could possibly be better than a great show that's adapting an equally great game? A great show adapting multiple great games, of course. Each episode of Secret Level offers a fresh, creative, bite-sized adaptation of a beloved game. Whether it's turning Pac-Man into a monster hunter in a gritty world or showing the start of a D&D campaign that should definitely be its own full-length show, Secret Level is full of cool ideas that make it one of the most underrated sci-fi shows of recent years.

6 'What If...?' (2021–2024)

After the Infinity Saga came to a resounding close with Avengers: Endgame, the Marvel Cinematic Universe had to figure out where it would go next if it wanted to keep itself relevant and fresh going forward. That included some experimentation, particularly during the early days of the new Multiverse Saga. Said experimentation led to the franchise's first animated series, as well as its first anthology series: What If...?

There are some serialized elements in What If...? that generally work quite well, but for the most part, this is an anthology show through and through. It may be one of the best animated shows of the 2020s, even if its ideas don't always hit the spot. Its passion for experimenting is always appreciated, and it makes for some truly thrilling MCU content that keeps the franchise intriguing.

5 'Electric Dreams' (2017–2018)

20th-century writer Philip K. Dick is one of the most groundbreaking and important sci-fi authors ever, and as such, adaptations of his work always have a high bar to clear if they want to be successful. Electric Dreams decided to play it safe and make several attempts to adapt Dick's work. Each of the series' ten episodes adapts a different Dick outing, nine short stories, and one novelette.

The adaptation of the novelette, "Autofac," is not only easily the show's best episode, but perhaps one of the best episodes of any sci-fi anthology show. But every other story in Electric Dreams is great, too, contributing to making this one of the most underrated anthology series of the 2010s. With exceptional production values and some really solid writing, this is a hidden gem that deserves far more love than it gets nowadays.

4 'Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi' (2022)

There's really no question about what the best installment of the Star Wars Tales trilogy is: That title would have to go to Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, one of the best Star Wars shows on Disney+. This is a must-see for all those who love the franchise, full of fascinating episodes that expand on the characters and lore of the galaxy far, far away.

Whether it's a whole arc following Dooku's days as a Jedi or an episode showing how Ahsoka got the white lightsabers she wields in Star Wars: Rebels, there is tons of entertaining content in Tales of the Jedi for fans to obsess over. It takes full advantage of the anthology format, and it has some excellent animation, proving once more why this medium is so perfect for the Star Wars universe.

3 'Infinity Train' (2019–2021)

Cartoon Network has made several exceptional shows throughout its history, and they're no strangers to the anthology format. Their experience with it eventually led to Infinity Train, one of the best Cartoon Network shows in years, and one of those anthology series where every episode is perfect. Every season of the series, referred to as a "book," follows different stories and characters.

Emotionally and psychologically complex in ways that children's shows rarely are, Infinity Train deals with themes of trauma and mental illness beautifully. It's also a visually stunning series full of extraordinary voice acting, making it a true complete package that's very much worth checking out for all those who enjoy sci-fi anthology shows.

2 'Love, Death & Robots' (2019–Present)

By this point, Love, Death & Robots has become so iconic that it's among the first series many people think of when they think of animated sci-fi anthology shows. It's well-earned fame, too: this Netflix original may not be without its fair share of duds (like virtually any sci-fi anthology that's lasted for as long as it has), but when a Love, Death & Robots episode hits, it hits hard.

People who love animation simply ought to check this show out at least once in their lives. Every episode uses a distinct animation style and tells a story with a sharply unique tone. Whether it's horror, fantasy, comedy, or—of course—pure science fiction, almost every Love, Death & Robots episode comes with a quality warranty. That's what makes this one of the best anthology shows of the 21st century.

1 'Adventure Time: Distant Lands' (2020–2021)

With elements of both fantasy and science fiction, Adventure Time is one of the most beloved and iconic children's series ever made. It's packed with fascinating characters exploring a richly vibrant world, a world ripe with spin-off and sequel potential. That brings us to Adventure Time: Distant Lands, a four-episode-long anthology miniseries diving deep into the unseen corners of the Adventure Time universe.

This is, of course, a show entirely designed for diehard fans of the franchise, but that doesn't detract from the fact that it's a masterpiece, one that can reasonably be called the best sci-fi anthology show of the last decade. Fun, funny, clever, and just as inventive as any Adventure Time fan would expect, this is in no way a cheap cashgrab: It's a loving, passionate addition to this enthralling world, showing what heights the anthology format can reach when done right.