Dark fantasy is an increasingly popular subgenre of fantasy, one plagued with monsters and mayhem, perfect for gripping adventures covered in mystery. Where high fantasy focuses on heroism and the ultimate battle between good and evil, dark fantasy finds the poetic beauty of moral ambiguity.

Its characters struggle not only against villains but also with their inner demons. Dark is not simply the absence of light here (although that is one characteristic) but a shadowy substance that conceals terrors and truths all on its own.

A few key elements that generally define the dark fantasy genre include grim settings, complex and flawed protagonists, thoughtful examinations of the human condition, and graphic violence that serves the narrative. J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings popularized high fantasy's lavish nature, but it was Game of Thrones that introduced fans to the darker side of fantasy by being ripe with intrigue, betrayal, and dangers.

Another prime example of dark fantasy is Netflix’s breakout hit Stranger Things, which created a sublime blend of sci-fi/horror and made fans nostalgic for the 1980s, when movies like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and A Nightmare on Elm Street were all the craze. In this list, we look at 20 dark fantasy TV shows that translate the same tone and atmosphere to the small screens.

20 Sweet Tooth (2021 – Present)

Sweet Tooth is set in a post-apocalyptic world following the onset of a virus that killed half the population on Earth. At the same time, hybrid human children with animal characteristics emerge. As if their appearances weren’t strange already, these children also exhibit mysterious behavior. One such child, a naïve 10-year-old boy named Gus, who is part deer and part human, leaves his remote forest home for the first time to find his mother after his father’s death.

Dark and Realistic Portrayal of a Post-Apocalyptic World

Over the course of its first season, we see an intimate relationship form between Gus and Jepperd, a traveler he meets on his way to Colorado. The scenes depicting humanity’s suffering, hostile survivors, and hybrid children are dark and realistic. Developed by Jim Mickle for Netflix beach in 2021, Sweet Tooth is a horrifying attempt to place bets on the post-pandemic appeal of such a dark setting.

Luckily for the creators, the show was a critical success. It was renewed for a second season and a third is set to arrive in a couple of months.

19 American Gods (2017 – 2021)

Adapted from Neil Gaiman's 2001 novel of the same name, American Gods is a brilliant dark fantasy drama that stars Ricky Whittle as the series' lead, Shadow Moon. Shadow is an ex-convict who takes up a job as the bodyguard of the mysterious Mr. Wednesday. What he does not know is that his employer is actually the Norse god Odin. Soon, Shadow finds himself caught in a web of secrets connected to a conflict between the Old Gods and the New Gods.

A Visual Feast About Myth and Magic

Rather underrated when compared to some other shows on this list, American Gods is actually a critically acclaimed series. It won praise for its visual style, which included the creation of fantasy realms of myth and magic, as well as memorable characters like Mr. World, Bilquis and Red Sweeney. As a dark fantasy that blends ancient folklore into a modern mystery of faith, this one is worth watching. American Gods was also awarded two Primetime Emmy Awards.

18 His Dark Materials (2019 – 2022)

In His Dark Materials, we follow Lyra Belacqua, a young orphan girl who lives with the scholars at Jordan College, Oxford, in a parallel world where science and religion have clashed together. And the result is not food. Curious of the truth about her world, Lyra undertakes a quest to understand the mysteries, but ends up uncovering a sinister plot involving missing children and a substance called Dust.

A Contemporary Adaptation

Based on Philip Pullman's award-winning trilogy, the series plays out over three magnificent seasons. It brings an edge to Pullman’s stories by realizing organized religion with such contemporary beauty. Dafne Keen delivers outstanding leading performances as the fierce and unwavering Lyra. She is aided by talented actors like James McAvoy and Ruth Wilson. Heavy on CGI and Victorian fantasy elements, His Dark Materials is an epic adventure.

17 Teen Wolf (2011 – 2017)

Set in the fictional town of Beacon Hills, Teen Wolf follows teenager Scott McCall, who lives a normal teenage life. But after he is bitten by an alpha werewolf the night before his second year of high school, he transforms overnight into a creature he doesn’t understand. Not only must Scott navigate his new abilities and join forces with others like him to solve some dark cases, but he must also maintain his ordinary appearance.

When Werewolves Were All the Craze

Teen Wolf is one of those shows that have you hooked from the first few minutes itself. While it entertained many with its perfect blend of humor and heart and teenage drama, the core of the series lay in its horror elements. Tyler Posey owned the dual role of the school jock and new alpha, becoming the center of unexpected werewolf antics that assembled into a gripping mythology spread across six seasons. An era-defining MTV hit, Teen Wolf still has a devoted fan base.

Related: Teen Wolf: Most Emotional Moments, Ranked

16 The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022 – Present)

A highly anticipated project that arrived on Amazon Prime Video decades after the Hobbit trilogy and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power took viewers back to Middle Earth, this time to explore its history. Set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's LotR saga, it covers events like the forging of the Rings of Power and the rise of Sauron, as well as some noble characters facing the threat of evil to Middle-earth.

Reimagines Middle-Earth on a Greater Scale

Tolkien's epic dark fantasy novels are brought to life using lavish production values; from the misty Mountains to the forests of Lindon, from ancient cities to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, every aspect is rendered authentically. Standout performances from new and returning actors elevate the complex and sprawling narrative as it builds up to the show's overarching Fifth Age conflict. Overall, Rings of Power has given second life to a beloved fantasy saga.

15 The Twilight Zone (1959 – 1964)

Rod Sterling’s groundbreaking anthology series blended genres like dark fantasy, science fiction, and horror, to explore the despair and hopes of humanity through a series of standalone episodes. From supernatural shockers to chilling psychological tales, every short story exposed the mysterious lying untouched in our collective psyches and the society. Its Kafkaesque events led to three revivals, one of which was a movie directed by John Landis and Steven Spielberg.

The Twilight Zone Was Ahead of Its Time

Over the course of five seasons, The Twilight Zone became so iconic and unforgettable that it gave birth to a subgenre of introspective and taboo-breaking television. It left a legacy in dark fantasy due to scripts that involved parallel dimensions and monsters.

Additionally, the episodes were also laced with social commentary on prejudice, war, and the human condition. Serling made sure the series was beyond just scares; that it sparked conversations and empowered the voiceless, earning the series cult status.

14 Grimm (2011 – 2017)

Grimm is a dark fantasy police procedural drama set in Portland. It centers around detective Nick Burkhardt who discovers the truth about his lineage – that he is a descendant of a line of hunters who fight supernatural forces.

As a member of Grimms, his job is to police his realm’s paranormal entities and the monstrous acts they commit. As Nick navigates this new world and joins forces with one of his kind, known as Wesen, he faces the most dangerous creatures and secrets about ancient lore.

Definitely A Rare Cross-Genre Hit

It is not everyday you see a police procedural so effortlessly combined into a dark fantasy narrative. Sure, there’s Fox’s Lucifer but it’s more inclined towards dark humor. Grimm takes a novel approach by grounding its stories in real world cultures yet infusing them with perilous fantastical undertones. The attention to detail enriches every scary tale and genuinely delivers fright in abundance. That said, Grimm remains one of television’s most creatively consistent hits.

13 Kingdom (2019 – 2020)

A South Korean fantasy horror series, Kingdom is based on the webtoon series The Kingdom of the Gods written by Kim Eun-hee and artist Yang Kyung-il. It takes place in the start of 17th century Korea, during the Joseon period, when crown prince Lee Chang decides to investigate the mysterious plague spreading across his land and wiping out entire villages. Meanwhile, the opponents wanting to seize the throne from Chang give rise to a political conspiracy.

Political Intrigue Meets Dark Fantasy

In its brief two-season run, Kingdom managed to tell a story so rich and vibrant that it lingered as an aftertaste for viewers. The series married dark fantasy chills with gripping royal court drama as well as zombie mayhem. The gorgeous cinematography used to bring 17th century Korea to life deserves high praise. Lauded by critics as an “unusual, gory, but imaginative” series, Kingdom set a high bar for the genre with its grand production design and dense plot. Stream on Netflix

12 Angel (1999 – 2004)

Created by its parent, Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s creator, writer and director Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, this spin-off series takes an elaborate approach towards Angel, a vampire whose soul was restored by a curse.

Now haunted by guilt and remorse for torturing and murdering the innocent for centuries, Angel moves to Los Angeles to redeem himself. He starts helping others as a private investigator along with allies like Cordelia Chase and Wesley Wyndam-Pryce.

Darkly Entertaining Spin-Off Series

In the five seasons that it ran on The WB, Angel further evolved the beloved character through equal parts growth and sacrifice. While the spotlight was mostly on David Boreanaz, actors like Charisma Carpenter, Alexis Denisof, Glenn Quinn and more enriched the arcs with their electrifying chemistry and darkly entertaining adventures. Angel was not a hit from the start, but as seasons went on, the characters became darker and the plots grew heavier.

Related: The 10 Most Famous Immortal Characters in TV Shows, Ranked

11 Interview with the Vampire (2022 - Present)

When looking at adaptations of Anne Rice’s 1976 novel The Vampire Chronicles, it was long believed the 1994’s Interview with the Vampire was most faithful and haunting. But in 2022, showrunner Rolin Jones decided to breathe new life into the iconic gothic novel on television by starring Jacob Anderson as the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac.

With flashbacks spanning two centuries, we see a first-hand account of his past life and relationship with Lestat de Lioncourt in 18th century New Orleans.

Fantastic Tale About Vampires

Rice’s enigmatic prose is visualized in a stunning manner in Interview with the Vampire, which not only serves up dark fantasy elements and sublime horror, but also graces viewers with an increasingly playful romance between Louis and Lestat. Anderson and Sam Reid mesmerized fans with their captivating chemistry and vicious desires.

In addition, the production design, dazzling costumes, and horrifying twists and turns do an outstanding job at fleshing out the wholehearted toxicity they share.

10 Penny Dreadful (2014 – 2016)

Penny Dreadful premiered on Showtime in 2014, and it immediately became one of the most intriguing television series on the network. In it, the main character is a mysterious and powerful medium named Vanessa Ives, who gets embroiled in several supernatural-tied events. Their mission is to untangle mysteries and stop various terrifying evils from emerging from the shadows of their city, which in the first season is 1890s London.

Gothic Mashup of Literary Characters

The series creates a creative mashup of famous characters from Gothic literature – including Dorian Gray, Victor Frankenstein and his monster, Renfield, and Count Dracula.

While that alone makes for three spellbinding and enthralling seasons, the stellar performances by Eva Green and Josh Hartnett lend complex layers to the narrative. Intense at times, bloody at another, critics praise the series as a unique one, calling it “as riotous as it is ridiculous, taking the macabre to new heights (or depths).”

9 True Blood (2008 – 2014)

Created by Alan Ball, True Blood is adapted from a series of novels written by Charlaine Harris. It is set in the fictional rural town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, and revolves around Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress with telepathic powers.

Apparently, vampires in her town have “come out of the coffin” and are fighting for recognition and equal rights. Sookie’s life turns upside down after she encounters a mysterious Viking-era vampire Bill Compton and falls in love with him. What follows is violence, religious wars, and supernatural drama.

Delivers Campy Scares

True Blood redefined vampire folklore for a newer era by serving campy fun alongside its darker and more disturbing myths. Not only does the show build towards an apocalyptic showdown, but in the process, it also thoughtfully tackles divisive themes of faith and integration.

Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are stunning as star-crossed lovers delivering some of the vampire television's steamiest scenes. Beyond being absolutely entertaining, True Blood also shocks you with its action, violence, and intimate character arcs.

8 Supernatural (2005 – 2020)

Supernatural is among the longest-running fantasy horror series. Its premise goes something like this: After the mysterious death of their mother, brothers Sam and Dean Winchester dive into a darker side of America in search of their missing father.

Together, they journey across lonely roads in their Chevy Impala, hunting evil spirits, demons and monsters, engaging in blood-pumping battles, and looking for answers related to their tragic pasts while making new allies and enemies along the way.

One of the Longest-Running Genre Shows

A modern classic, Supernatural brought together the spookiness of dark fantasy and the intensity of a strong bromance to television for 15 seasons. Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki anchored the show with their electric chemistry and allowed their brotherly bond to evolve with time.

The show followed a monsters-of-the-week format for the most part and was enriched with plot twists, emotional crescendos, and moving family dynamics. Few long-form dramas are so creative and unconventional as Supernatural.

7 Wednesday (2022 – Present)

Based on the beloved character Wednesday Addams by Charles Addams, who originally belonged to the Addams Family multimedia franchise, Wednesday is a Gothic coming-of-age story starring Jenna Ortega in the titular role. She is a troubled but highly intelligent outsider who recently enrolled in Nevermore Academy. When a murder occurs, Wednesday investigates it with the help of her psychic powers and unmatched mystery-solving skills.

Updates Wednesday Addams for Gen Z

Ortega won a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor on Television among several others, which is testament to her delightful performance as the sharp-witted heroine. She is supported by Gwendoline Christie, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Emma Myers, and more. Creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar certainly had a vision for the series – one that pays homage to the beloved original but also stands out for its dark, relentless, and visually appealing tune.

Related: Wednesday: Every Supernatural Creature in Season 1, Ranked

6 The Sandman (2022 – Present)