7 Upcoming 2026 Fantasy Shows That Already Look Better Than ‘Game of Thrones’

1 week ago 7

Published Apr 4, 2026, 1:57 PM EDT

Remus is a writer, editor, journalist, and author with an eye for detail and an extremely active imagination. He is an enthusiast of everything to do with the graphic medium, whether it's Western comics and their adaptations or manga and anime. Remus is also the author of the sci-fantasy novel Once Upon a Time in Hyperspace and several works of short fiction in the mystery, comedy, and horror genres.

For better or worse, Game of Thrones is the fantasy show that all fantasy shows are compared to. It’s easy to see why, considering the series is one of the most acclaimed and commercially successful TV shows of all time. That said, Game of Thrones had its share of flaws, particularly in the later seasons, and there have been a few great fantasy shows released in subsequent years that have surpassed it.

There are several such shows to look forward to in 2026, including both exciting new releases and returning favorites. They may not all be directly comparable to Game of Thrones, but each of these shows promises to be a very entertaining experience for fantasy fans — perhaps even better than the landmark series. With that in mind, read on to discover our selection of upcoming 2026 fantasy shows that already look better than Game of Thrones.

1 ‘Daemons of the Shadow Realm’ (2026)

Release Date: April 4

A young warrior with the wind blowing around him in Daemons of the Shadow Realm

Based on the hit manga series by Hiromu Arakawa, Daemons of the Shadow Realm is a highly anticipated fantasy anime series produced by Bones Film and directed by Masahiro Andō. Set in a world where certain people can control supernatural creatures called Daemons, the series follows twins Yuru and Asa, who are prophesied to have the power to control all Daemons and must reunite after being separated at a young age. Kensho Ono and Yume Miyamoto lead the voice cast, which also includes Yuichi Nakamura, Misaki Kuno, Miyuri Shimabukuro, Takako Honda, Rikiya Koyama, and more.

Hiromu Arakawa is best known for creating the iconic Fullmetal Alchemist, one of the most popular fantasy anime franchises of all time, so there are a lot of expectations riding on Daemons of the Shadow Realm. Based on previews and what we know of the manga, the show looks poised to be one of the biggest anime releases of the year, with a mature fantasy plot, interesting characters, and solid worldbuilding. It’s a must-watch for fantasy fans, and accessible enough to be enjoyable for audiences who aren’t that familiar with anime as well.

2 ‘Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord’ (2026)

Release Date: April 6

Created by Dave Filoni, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is an animated series following the titular Sith lord in the years immediately after the Clone Wars, with the Empire having cemented its control over the galaxy. The show sees former Sith Lord Maul (Sam Witwer) attempt to find a new purpose for himself in the aftermath of the war, targeting a young Jedi on the run as a potential new apprentice. Besides Witwer reprising his iconic voice role from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the show’s voice cast also features Gideon Adlon, Wagner Moura, Richard Ayoade, and more.

Despite its outwardly science-ey appearance, Star Wars has always been a fantasy story at heart, and its newest animated installment is easily one of the most intriguing new shows of the franchise. Fans have been asking for a movie or show spotlighting Maul for a very long time now, so the series is highly anticipated, and going by the trailer, it looks like the show is exactly what we’ve all been waiting for all these years.

3 ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 (2022–Present)

Release Date: June 2026

Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon

Whether House of the Dragon is better than Game of Thrones is ultimately subjective, but the prequel series is undeniably a class above its parent series in terms of production and narrative. Set roughly 200 years in the franchise’s past, the show is adapted from co-creator George R. R. Martin’s 2018 book Fire & Blood and explores the history of House Targaryen, particularly the devastating civil war known as the “Dance of the Dragons." The show’s ensemble cast includes Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Sonoya Mizuno, Olivia Cooke, and more.

In the long-anticipated Season 3, House of the Dragon is set to explore some of the bloodiest events in the Dance of the Dragons, including the Battle of the Gullet, which is expected to be a visual highlight. Overall, the show has been a definite improvement on Game of Thrones, with a richer story and better dragons, and if everything goes according to plan, Season 3 could be its biggest yet. It’s not without its flaws, of course, but the first two seasons of House of the Dragon have both been tremendous visual spectacles exploring a truly epic saga, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.

Collider Exclusive · Middle-earth Quiz Which Lord of the Rings
Race Do You Belong To? Hobbit · Elf · Dwarf · Man · Orc

Middle-earth is home to many peoples — the courageous, the ancient, the stubborn, the ambitious, and the wretched. Ten questions will determine which race truly claims your soul. The answer may surprise you. Or it may confirm what you already suspected.

🌿Hobbit

🌟Elf

⚒️Dwarf

⚔️Man

💀Orc

What does your ideal day look like? How we rest reveals as much as how we fight.

How do you feel about the passing of time? Our relationship with mortality shapes everything we value.

Danger is approaching. Your first instinct is to: Fight, flight, or something in between — it's more revealing than you'd think.

You stumble upon a great treasure. What do you feel? What we desire — and what we do about it — is the true test.

How important is community and belonging to you? No race of Middle-earth is truly alone — but some prefer it that way.

How ambitious are you, honestly? Ambition is neither virtue nor vice — it depends entirely on what you want.

Where do you feel most at home in the natural world? Middle-earth is vast — and every race has its place within it.

What kind of strength do you most respect? Every race defines strength differently — and they're all at least a little right.

What do you want to leave behind when you're gone? Legacy is the story we tell ourselves about why any of this matters.

Be honest — what do you actually want most out of life? The truest question always comes last.

Middle-earth Has Spoken You Belong To…

The race that claimed the most of your answers is your true kin. If two tied, both are shown — you walk between worlds.

◆ A TIE — YOU WALK BETWEEN TWO RACES ◆

🌿

Your Race

The Hobbits

You are, at your core, a creature of comfort, community, and quiet joy — and there is nothing small about that. Hobbits are proof that heroism does not require ambition, that the bravest heart can beat inside the most unassuming chest. You value good food, warm hearths, close friends, and a world that stays largely untroubled by dark lords and quests. When adventure does find you — and it will — you rise to it not because you sought it, but because the people you love needed you to. That is not ordinary. That is the rarest kind of courage in all of Middle-earth.

🌟

Your Race

The Elves

Ancient, graceful, and carrying a weight of memory most mortals cannot fathom, you are one of the Elves. You see the world in its fullness — its beauty, its impermanence, the unbearable ache of watching everything you love eventually fade. You pursue perfection not from pride, but because excellence is how you honour the time you have been given. Others may see you as remote or melancholy. They are not wrong, exactly. But they mistake depth for distance. You feel everything — which is precisely why you have learned to carry it so quietly.

⚒️

Your Race

The Dwarves

Stubborn, proud, fiercely loyal, and possessed of a work ethic that would exhaust most other races before breakfast — you are Dwarf-kind through and through. You do not ask for approval and you do not offer it cheaply. Your loyalty, once given, is given for life. Your grudges last longer. You love deeply and defend ferociously, and the things you build — with your hands, with your sweat, with generations of accumulated craft — are made to last. Not for glory. Because anything worth doing is worth doing properly, and you have never once done anything by half measures.

⚔️

Your Race

The Race of Men

Mortal, ambitious, flawed, and magnificent — you belong to the most complicated race in Middle-earth, and that complexity is your greatest strength. Men are capable of cowardice and extraordinary bravery, of cruelty and breathtaking sacrifice, sometimes within the same breath. You feel the urgency of your finite years, and it drives you. You want to matter. You want to leave something behind. You fall, and you rise, and the rising is what defines you. Tolkien called mortality the Gift of Men — not a curse, but a fire that burns bright precisely because it does not burn forever. That fire is you.

💀

Your Race

The Orcs

Brutal, survivalist, and contemptuous of anything that can't defend itself — you answered with the instincts of an Orc, and there is a certain savage honesty in that. You do not dress up your desires in polite language or pretend you want things you don't. You want power, survival, and to never be at the bottom of any hierarchy ever again. Orcs are not evil by nature — they were made from something that was once good, and broken into this shape by forces they did not choose. What remains is fierce, territorial, and deeply aware that the world is not kind. You've made your peace with that. The question is what you do with it.

4 ‘The Vampire Lestat’ (or ‘Interview with the Vampire’ Season 3) (2022–Present)

Release Date: June 7

Developed by Rolin Jones and adapted from Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles series, Interview with the Vampire is one of the most popular horror drama shows released in recent years and the first series of the Immortal Universe. After completing its adaptation of the novel with Season 2, the series is adopting a new title, The Vampire Lestat, for its third season, which is adapted from the second novel in Rice’s series. The Vampire Lestat shifts the focus from Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) to Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid), following the vampire as he becomes a rock star in the 1980s and recounts his version of his origins and long life.

Considering the wild success of Interview with the Vampire’s first two seasons, its upcoming rebirth is certainly something to look forward to, especially as the show will be spotlighting Sam Reid’s fan-favorite character, Lestat. The new season promises to be a no-holds-barred rock saga, fully embracing the passion and hedonism that characterize the central vampire. With any luck, The Vampire Lestat could be one of the most entertaining shows of the year, further cementing the Immortal Universe’s reputation as an acclaimed fantasy TV franchise.

5 ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Season 2 (2024–Present)

Release Date: June 25

Image via Netflix

A live-action adaptation of the animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender was developed by Albert Kim and is set in a world where humans are divided into four nations based on the classical elements: the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads. The story follows 12-year-old Aang, the last surviving Ari Nomad and the next Avatar (a person who can master all elements), as he attempts to end the Fire Nation’s plans for world domination. Gordon Cormier leads the cast as Aang, with Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Ken Leung, Daniel Dae Kim, and Miya Cech in other lead roles.

After releasing a successful first season on Netflix in 2024, Avatar: The Last Airbender is returning in 2026 with Season 2, which will see Aang and his friends find their way to the Earth Kingdom. Fans of the franchise are quite excited to see the live-action take on the region, particularly the walled city of Ba Sing Se, brought to life in the show with impressive practical sets. Overall, it looks like the show will be bigger, bolder, and better than ever in its sophomore outing.

6 ‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity’ (2026)

Release Date: July

Ichigo Kurosaki focusing in battle, in the series, Bleach.

The final installment of the iconic anime series Bleach, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity is produced by Studio Pierrot, with Tomohisa Taguchi returning as chief director. Based on the final chapters of Tite Kubo’s manga series, the story will pick up after the world-shaking events of the previous cour, exploring the final climactic battle between protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki and series antagonist Yhwach. The voice cast features Masakazu Morita, Fumiko Orikasa, Takayuki Sugô, and more.

Bleach is one of the most popular anime franchises of all time, and as the final chapter in its long-running story, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity is easily one of the biggest releases of the year for fans of fantasy anime. The previous cours have won widespread acclaim for their fluid animation and cinematic levels of action, and the Thousand-Year Blood War series is widely acknowledged as an anime masterpiece. For fans of the show, The Calamity is just as big as the final season of Game of Thrones, but (hopefully) with a better ending.

7 ‘The Witcher’ Season 5 (2019–2026)

Release Date: TBD

Liam Hemsworth as Geralt looking up in The Witcher Season 4 finale.

Adapted from Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series and developed by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, The Witcher is set in the medieval fantasy land of the Continent and follows quarter-elf sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra), Crown Princess Cirilla of Cintra (Freya Allan), and the titular Witcher Geralt of Rivia as they navigate the many dangers of their world. After a successful four-season run, the show is all set to conclude its story with Season 5, which will once again see Liam Hemsworth in the role of Geralt.

While it’s undeniably one of Netflix’s most popular shows, The Witcher has had a bit of a rough journey over its lifetime, but the series is still a genuinely engaging world that fans around the world have fallen in love with. The show’s final season has a lot of loose ends to tie up, with the central characters still separated from each other and an ominous prophecy hanging over them, and fans are eagerly awaiting news of its arrival. Unfortunately, though the season has wrapped filming, and it’s confirmed for a 2026 release, we don’t have an exact release date for it yet.

Release Date December 20, 2019

Network Netflix

Directors Stephen Surjik, Charlotte Brändström, Edward Bazalgette, Loni Peristere, Louise Hooper, Bola Ogun, Alex Garcia Lopez, Gandja Monteiro, Sarah O'Gorman

Writers Haily Hall, Clare Higgins, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Jenny Klein, Tania Lotia

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