22 Shows Like 'Game of Thrones' That Channel the HBO Drama's Magical, Power-Hungry Vibes
You’ll feel like you’re back in Westeros in no time.
During Game of Thrones’s near decade-long tenure on the small screen, it was nearly impossible to escape. For at least 24 hours after each episode aired, it often felt like GoT was the only thing anyone was talking, tweeting, or even thinking about, and—in a rare case for long-running TV shows—that hype only increased as time went on.
The key to the HBO hit's success was its perfect blend of fantastical worlds, family drama, courtly intrigue, steamy romance, and intense action that allowed it to appeal to just about anyone. And while there may not be any other show that exactly captures that award-winning alchemy, there are plenty of must-watch series out there that contain at least a few of those components, and which should be able to tide you over until it’s time to return to Westeros for your next rewatch or as you wait for the latest season of its spinoff, House of the Dragon. Here, we’ve rounded up shows like Game of Thrones, from the obvious to the less clear-cut.
'Black Sails' (20142017)
Think of this as “Game of Thrones, if they were all pirates.” Black Sails essentially serves as a prequel to the classic novel Treasure Island. Its five seasons are set in the early 1700s and feature an extensive cast of disorderly pirates who have declared “war against the world,” according to the intro to the first episode. To that end, they do plenty of pillaging and plundering and ultimately find themselves at war with the British Empire over control of New Providence, the largest island of the Bahamas.
‘The Borgias' (20112013)
The scheming, scandal-prone Borgias could give the Lannisters a run for their money. This Showtime series follows the real-life Spanish Borgia family and their attempts to bribe, blackmail, and murder their way into the power and wealth of the papacy during the Renaissance.
'Britannia' (20172021)
So much of Game of Thrones's plot revolved around a bloodthirsty quest for power, and that’s also the case for Britannia, which dramatizes the Romans’ attempts to conquer Britain starting in 43 AD. It features plenty of scheming on the Romans’s side, and quite a few fantasy elements, as they’re up against Celtic druids with mystical powers and a habit of taking spiritual trips into other realms.
'Camelot' (2011)
Another power-hungry show, 2011's Camelot tells the story of the sorcerer Merlin (Joseph Fiennes), who helps put a young Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower) on the British throne in an attempt to create peace in the country—despite challenges for the throne from Arthur’s cutthroat half-sister Morgan (Eva Green). Unfortunately, this show lasted only one season, but it’s still worth a watch, thanks to its strong writing, great costumes, and star-studded cast.
'Downton Abbey' (20102015)
Downton Abbey may not seem like an obvious follow-up to Game of Thrones, but hear us out: It’s a sprawling drama with a cast of interconnected characters, the lines of succession and inheritance play a major role throughout the show’s many plotlines, and, like GoT, it sparked a cultural phenomenon in its own right. Convinced yet?
'The Expanse' (20152022)
This long-running series has been widely dubbed "Game of Thrones in space" by its passionate fanbase, because of its grounded take on the typical space opera. It also helps that the source novels were written by one of George R.R. Martin’s former assistants (Ty Franck, who co-writes the books with Daniel Abraham, under the collective pen name James S.A. Corey). It takes place 200 years in the future, when humans have already colonized nearby planets, and follows the power struggle between the "Belters," a lower class that has spent generations mining the asteroid belt, and the "Inners," the oppressive upper class that lives on Earth and Mars.
'Fallout' (2024 )
This sci-fi series about groups of survivors of a nuclear apocalypse goes even further away from GoT's medieval influences, but it counts many of the series' thematic trademarks. Based on an IP that already counts intricate lore and a devoted fanbase? Check. Told across multiple storylines centering on different compelling characters? Double check. A surly, witty, sarcastic co-lead (played by Walton Goggins) with physical deformities that you can't help but love? Triple check. The only downside to watching this series as a Thrones fan is knowing how long you'll have to wait for Fallout season 2.
'Harlots' (20172019)
Harlots may depict a much lower-stakes power grab than those in Game of Thrones, but it’s no less intriguing. This Hulu series—a fictionalized portrayal of actual women from British history—tells the story of Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton), the owner of a brothel in London in the 18th century, who’s willing to do whatever it takes to elevate her daughters’ positions on the social ladder.
'House of the Dragon' (2022 )
This one’s a no-brainer: If you already love GoT, next on your list should be this prequel series, which goes back about 200 years before the events of the original show. Only two seasons are out so far, so you have plenty of time to catch up before House of the Dragon season 3 premieres in 2026—and, in the meantime, you can brush up on all your Targaryen knowledge, including the tally of living dragons and their riders.
'The Last Kingdom' (20152022)
If you’re looking for a series as epic in scope as Game of Thrones, The Last Kingdom might be your best bet. Its five seasons and sequel film—based on a long-running series of books, of course—span nearly a century, during which protagonist Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon), who’s born to a Saxon noble and raised by a Danish warlord, is drawn into grueling wars and rampant political scheming throughout the 9th and 10th centuries in a quest to create a united Kingdom of England.
'Mary George' (2024)
This recent series promises to provide the courtly intrigue you’ve missed since GoT ended. It stars Julianne Moore and The Idea of You's Nicholas Galitzine in the titular roles of Mary Villiers and her son George, who schemed to grab more power in the 17th-century British court—including by setting up George to begin an (ill-fated) affair with King James VI and I.
'Merlin' (20082012)
The second Camelot-inspired show on this list is a bit cheesier than the other but lasted much longer. Its award-winning five seasons star Colin Morgan as the titular sorcerer, who takes young Prince Arthur under his wing to protect him and mold him into a worthy king. Its genre could best be described as “medieval fantasy,” albeit in a much more family-friendly way than GoT’s take on the genre. And the overlaps don't stop there: Merlin and GoT have several cast members in common, with Charles Dance (a.k.a. Tywin Lannister) and John Bradley (Samwell Tarly) among the many actors who appeared in both shows.
'Outlander' (2014 )
For another sweeping drama with plenty of episodes to fill your free time, look no further than Outlander. It boasts more than 80 episodes across seven seasons, following the romance between Highland warrior Jamie (played by Sam Heughan) and Caitriona Balfe’s Claire, a World War II nurse who time-travels back to the 1700s to meet Jamie—plus, it features enough sex scenes to even make GoT blush.
'Pillars of the Earth' (2010)
There’s truly no shortage of wars of succession in British history: Pillars of the Earth takes place during the Anarchy, a period of political unrest and uncertainty that arose in the mid-12th century after the death of the only direct heir to the English throne. So, it’s got the political intrigue and medieval setting of Game of Thrones, plus an equally starry cast that includes Ian McShane, Matthew Macfadyen, Eddie Redmayne, Hayley Atwell, Sam Claflin, and Donald Sutherland, to name just a few.
'Reign' (20132017)
This CW series might be set about a century after the War of the Roses that inspired Game of Thrones, but it depicts yet another real-life game of thrones. Reign follows Mary, Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane), first in her rise to power as monarch of France and Scotland, and then in her (ultimately deadly) attempts to grab the English throne from her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I (Rachel Skarsten).
'The Rings of Power' (2022 )
Just as Game of Thrones is based on a lengthy series of beloved fantasy books by an iconic author, so too is The Rings of Power, which takes its inspiration from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. Interestingly, the show isn’t directly based on the events of any of Tolkien’s books but rather offers a prequel set thousands of years prior using information largely gleaned from LOTR’s appendices.
'Shōgun' (2024 )
This immersive period drama shows that thrilling court intrigue and devastating emotional arcs are not limited to Western history. Based on James Clavell's 1975 novel of the same name, FX's most expensive (and most successful) series transports viewers to Japan circa, as feudal Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and his allies Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai) and Englishman John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) prepare to fight a civil war for control of the country. If you won't take our word for it, consider Shogun's record-breaking Emmys run (and the promise of Shōgun season 2) enough reason to check out the truly epic series.
'Succession' (20182023)
With its vast roster of Roy family members, in-laws, and hangers-on all vying to take control of patriarch Logan Roy’s seat at the helm of a major media conglomerate, Succession is basically a modern-day Game of Thrones. Of course, it's without the fantasy elements, but you can expect characters who wage wars (just of the psychological variety, rather than in all-out physical battles).
'The Tudors' (20072010)
Six fans, assemble! This Showtime series dramatizes the life of King Henry VIII (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers). While it tells the stories of his (many) wives and mistresses—with plenty of steamy scenes to rival those in Game of Thrones—it also delves into the very GoT-esque political intrigue surrounding his reign and the battles he oversaw.
'The Wheel of Time' (2021 )
The Wheel of Time marks another of Amazon’s attempts to recreate the irresistible charm of Game of Thrones, and it might be among the best. Like GoT, it’s based on an extensive series of high fantasy novels, and dragons and prophecies play important roles in the plot. Even better: The 14 Wheel of Time novels were written by Robert Jordan, a friend of Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, who has credited Jordan with revolutionizing the fantasy genre and thus paving the way for Martin’s own series.
'The White Queen (2013) and 'The White Princess' (2017)
Fun fact: Game of Thrones is loosely based on the historical War of the Roses, which saw the Yorks and Lancasters (who sound a lot like the Starks and Lannisters) spend decades fighting over the English throne in the 15th century. The White Queen, and its follow-up series The White Princess, both dramatize the real-life War of the Roses, making them an excellent follow-up to any GoT rewatch. (A third series in the saga, The Spanish Princess, takes place after the war, but it’s still worth a watch if you’ve already made it this far.)
'The Witcher' (2019 )
Another fantasy book-to-screen adaptation, The Witcher is based on a series of books by Andrzej Sapkowski. Like GoT, this Netflix series features intensive world-building, main characters on a dangerous mission, and a healthy dose of magic—and it, too, has developed quite the devoted following. So far, three seasons of The Witcher are available to stream, and a fourth is on the way, with Liam Hemsworth set to take over the titular role from Henry Cavill.
