There’s no question that as soon as it premiered,Game of Thronesquickly became the blueprint for fantasy television. Like all massively popular and successful TV series, a slew of copycat shows cropped up afterGame of Thronespremiered, and fantasy television entered mainstream spheres once again.Television has always been a great place for speculative fiction, andGame of Throneswas a reminder of thisfor the 21st century. Though the series is often defined by the sex and violence that punctuate so many of the episodes, the political intrigue and well-paced character arcs are just as critical.
One of the biggest criticisms ofGame of Throneswas that it was afantasy TV that wasted its potential. The final season ofGame of Throneswas panned by both critics and audiences for failing its characters and narrative momentum. However, this doesn’t change how influential the series was and is and how much contemporary projects owe to it. Not only didGame of Thronespave the way for faithful and detailed adaptations of high fantasy books, butit also proved that fantasy has the potential to appeal to all audiences, not just longtime fans and niche groups.
His Dark Materials
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Based on author Philip Pullman’s beloved novel trilogy, His Dark Materials is a fantasy/drama television series that follows Lyra, a brave young woman from another world. Lyra’s quest to find her kidnapped friend leads her to uncover a sinister plot of a secret organization, encounter extraordinary beings, and protect dangerous secrets. Lyra will find that her life is inextricably linked with another as they discover they may be the ones to change the world.
His Dark Materialsis achildren’s fantasy book series adults lovefor a reason, as Philip Pullman’s novels are magical enough to transport the reader into another reality while making searing criticism about the issues of the world.Lyra, the protagonist, is similar to characters like Arya and Sansa,with plenty of grit, determination, and a well-developed character arc. Like the individuals inGame of Thrones, Lyra and her allies go up against some of the most insidious characters possible, but they’re never one-dimensional.
There’s no question thatGame of Thronesis not for audiences of all ages, which makes series likeHis Dark Materialsperfect for younger viewers looking for complex fantasy shows.
There’s no question thatGame of Thronesis not for audiences of all ages, which makes series likeHis Dark Materialsperfect for younger viewers looking for complex fantasy shows. While there are magical series for children, they sometimes underestimate the viewer’s ability to understand nuanced characterization and world-building, butHis Dark Materialsdoesn’t do that. Additionally,His Dark Materialsmight have more hope thanGame of Thrones,but it isn’t afraid to throw in some bleak moments throughout the seasons.
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The Witcher
The Witcher, released in 2019, follows Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter navigating a turbulent world where humanity’s darker nature often eclipses the monstrous.
There are plenty of overpowered characters like Geralt found inGame of Thrones, as both shows prioritize intensity, tragedy, and skill in battle in their characters. However,Geralt isn’t just a force of nature on the battlefield, as his experiences inThe Witcherpush him to be a better personand get emotionally involved with the people around him. His connection to Ciri, the princess, sets him on a course to become involved in more politics and battle than he ever dreamed.
Shows likeThe Witcherlearned fromGame of Thronesthat flash and spectacle aren’t enough to keep audiences engaged. While both series use plenty of explicit content, it’s subverted by humor and quieter moments that the viewer can relate to. Also based on an intricate work of high fantasy,The Witcherfollows the story from the books by Andrzej Sapkowski,who is just as committed to the expansion of his universe and its logic as the author ofGame of Thrones, George R.R. Martin.
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The Last Kingdom
Based on the Saxon Stories novel series by Bernard Cornwell, The Last Kingdom tells the story of a man who seeks to reclaim his birthright. Set in 872, the kingdoms that makeup England have come under Dane rule, with Wessex the last one standing under King Alfred. The protagonist, Uhtred, is born of noble descent but is captured by the Danes and raised to be one. As he ages, he must choose between his ancestral home or the family that caught but raised him. Uhted will wrestle with his loyalties as he battles between his Saxon and Dane lineages.
Exploring the conflicts between the Vikings and the Saxons during the seventh century,The Last Kingdomis based onThe Saxon Storiesnovels by Bernard Cornwell.LikeGame of Thrones, no one is safe inThe Last Kingdom,with beloved characters dropping left and right.The Last Kingdomisn’t overly concerned with historical accuracy, giving it a universal feel and connecting it to the world of high fantasy. From the beginning,The Last Kingdomwas compared toGame of Thronesbecause of how similarly the conflicts are structured.
Viewers who tuned intoGame of Thronesfor the gore and the glory will find a lot to love inThe Last Kingdom, which is the next logical step in the precedent set byGame of Thronesfor violence on television.
The Last Kingdomhas some of thebest TV show battle scenesthroughout the seasons, with great and powerful armies clashing with plenty of blood and guts for the audience to enjoy. Viewers who tuned intoGame of Thronesfor the gore and the glory will find a lot to love inThe Last Kingdom, which is the next logical step in the precedent set byGame of Thronesfor violence on television. It could be argued thatThe Last Kingdomfails to stand apart fromGame of Thrones, butit takes the best parts of the seminal series for a reason.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
The Rings of Powerwas in a difficult position from the show’s inception, as it would have to expand upon beloved IP while also distinguishing itself as a separate entity.J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringsseries is a definitive work of high fantasy,and theGame of Thronesnovels wouldn’t exist without it. However, shows likeGame of Thronescreated a niche forThe Rings of Powerto fill and encouraged increased plot twists and unbelievable violence within the world of the story.
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Game of Thronesdeals with different houses and groups rather than other races, like elves, men, dwarves, etc., inThe Rings of Power, but both shows grapple with how cultural clashes can erupt into full-blown wars. However,The Rings of Powerdeals with a more concrete and obvious evil through Sauron,whereasGame of Thronesmakes each of its characters more nuanced and morally uncertain. Despite this, it’s clear thatThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Poweris aware of the success ofGame of Thronesand is looking to capture it.
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House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
The somewhat controversial prequel toGame of Thrones,House of The Dragon, isn’t a carbon copy, but it pays tribute to the original show and draws heavy inspiration from it.Of course, this is almost always the case with a spinoff series, andHouse of the Dragonhas been pushing itself to escape the shadow ofGame of Thronessince the series premiered. Instead of following many different people across the Seven Kingdoms and the wider world,House of the Dragonfocuses almost exclusively on the Targaryens.
ThoughHouse of the Dragonisn’t aspinoff darker than the TV show it’s based on, it touches upon a more singular tragedy within the world ofGame of Thrones.The conflict between two powerful members of House Targaryen is explored inHouse of the Dragon,and the audience gets to witness the fallout and loss in the wake of this war. While this narrows the scope ofGame of Thrones, it allows for even more complex character development and interrogates the history that led to the conflict in the original series.
House of the Dragon (2022–Present)
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Vikings
Vikings, released in 2013, chronicles the legendary exploits of Ragnar Lothbrok and his Viking comrades. As Ragnar rises to power, becoming King of the Viking tribes, the series explores his devotion to Norse traditions and his familial connections, portraying him as both a warrior and a leader with divine lineage.
Based on Norse folktales and mythology,Vikingsis a strong answer to series likeGame of Thronesand practically levels up the stakes and tension of the explosive action sequences. ThoughVikingstechnically chronicles a period of real history, this is ancillary to the meat of the show, which are incredible and complex fight scenes. LikeGame of Thrones,Vikingsfollows many morally unscrupulous individuals who will go to extreme lengths for power and influence.
The scale ofVikingsis reminiscent ofGame of Thrones, as both series span countries and see their characters travel long distances to participate in wars and raids.
The scale ofVikingsis reminiscent ofGame of Thrones, as both series span countries and see their characters travel long distances to participate in wars and raids. Additionally, in longevity,Vikingscame close toGame of Thronesrun with six seasons total and a spinoff series,Vikings: Valhalla.In terms of legacy,Vikingshasn’t had the impact ofGame of Thrones,as it takes a more simplistic route in communicating the characters and their motivations. However, this doesn’t make it any less entertaining and fun.
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The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine, a member of the powerful all-female organization Aes Sedai, as she leads a perilous quest with five young individuals. Moiraine suspects one among them could be the prophesized reincarnation of a mighty figure destined to either save or doom humanity.
Shows likeThe Wheel of Timewouldn’t exist withoutGame of Thrones.The Wheel of Timeis a goodSong of Ice and Firereplacementbecause of the many parallels. For many years, works like Robert Jordan’sThe Wheel of Timenovels were typically adapted to film with mixed results. It’s an ambitious piece of literature that requires a lot of careful exposition and world-building that becomes rushed or clunky in movie format. However,on television,The Wheel of Timehas found its footing and is filling the hole left byGame of Thrones.
Most works of high fantasy have a lot in common. The fact thatThe Wheel of Timebooks were released beforeGame of Thronesspeaks to how intertwined and intertextual these TV shows are.Magic systems and fearsome orders of powerful people set the stage inThe Wheel of Time,and trust only goes so far when so many deals and plots are happening behind the scenes. WhileThe Wheel of Timehasn’t hit the same heights asGame of Thronesyet, the second season improved upon the show’s formula.
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Shadow and Bone
Shadow and Bone is a fantasy series set in a world divided by a barrier of darkness. Released on June 24, 2025, it follows a young soldier who discovers a unique power that could reunite her country amid a backdrop of scheming forces, including thugs, thieves, and assassins.
When adapting Leigh Bardugo’s work for the screen, it’s clear that the team behindShadow and Bonelooked toGame of Thronesfor inspiration. WhileBardugo’s books primarily follow the perspective of Alina Starkov, the protagonist,Shadow and Boneadds additional characters from the companion seriesSix of Crowsand jumps around to multiple perspectives in every episode. Alina still takes center stage, but instead of only learning about events and backstories from her point of view, the audience has insight into different facets of the story.
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Game of Thronesis known for weaving together the narratives of many different charactersand slowly foreshadowing their coming together to share information and align themselves or finally clash in an explosive fight. Additionally,Shadow and Bonespends ample time on the works of kings and governments as much as it does the magic system. Within the characterization and relationships between people, the moral ambiguity and darkness of the characters are similar toGame of Thrones.
The Winter King
Based on Bernard Cornwell’s book series, The Winter King is a historical fiction series that covers the first novel’s events. The series retreads the tale of King Arthur with a new imagining; Arthur has been exiled, with the Saxons now in control of Camelot’s throne, with Merlin nowhere to be found.
Though it ran for just one season,The Winter Kingwas an interesting take on Arthurian legendbased on the works by Bernard Cornwell. Instead of characterizing Arthur as a child learning from Merlin or a young prince struggling to find his footing as a future king,The Winter Kingmakes Arthur a political and warlike figure who must fight to reclaim his throne. This kind of struggle for power and succession is something thatGame of Thronestouches upon heavily.
Projects like this modern take on Arthurian legend wouldn’t exist without the groundwork for gritty fantasy that was laid byGame of Thrones.
WhileGame of Thronestakes place in a fictional land,it’s clear that Westeros is an Anglicized landand is easily comparable to stories about Britain. It’s highly likely that Martin drew inspiration from classic works of fantasy like the tales of King Arthur when he initially wroteGame of Thrones. However, projects like this modern take on Arthurian legend wouldn’t exist without the groundwork for gritty fantasy that was laid byGame of Thrones.
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Britannia
Set in 43 AD, Britannia is an epic drama depicting the Roman Imperial Army’s quest to conquer the enigmatic Celtic land. The series explores a realm dominated by warrior queens and druids wielding mystical powers, capturing the intense clash between civilization and ancient tribal beliefs.
Set in England during the Roman invasion of 43 AD,Britanniaimagines a spiritual and mystical version of history where the Druid people are in conversation with godsand prophecies, which drives their actions against the Romans. While there are a few elements of history woven throughoutBritannia, first and foremost, the series is a fantasy and leans into its magic system as much as it does the character’s political machinations. Though it’s not quite as serious asGame of Thrones, it still delivers on violence and impact.
LikeGame of Thrones,Britanniarevolves around conflicts of territory and the right to rule, with each camp fighting tooth and nail to stake their claim on the land. Additionally,Britannialeans heavily into the threat of violence and the intensity of its setting but is even more explicit about the magic system early on thanGame of Thrones. ThoughBritanniais set in the real world, it’s easy to get lost in its otherworldly elements and to see how much the series borrows from its predecessors.
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