Fantasy television positively exploded after Game of Thrones‘ success, but some of the best series in the genre came out before HBO’s hit. These titles proved that fantasy could appeal to a wide audience during their time on air, with many of them accumulating dedicated followings and securing lasting legacies because of it.

They also avoided the pressure to be the “next Game of Thrones,” ensuring that each of them brought something unique and interesting to the table. Viewers who only got into the genre because of Game of Thrones should go back and watch these older series, as they’re essential viewing for fantasy lovers.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

1997-2003

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a classic for good reason; the show revolutionized the fantasy genre in the ’90s with its kickass heroine and monster-of-the-week episodes. Although Buffy‘s special effects show its age, the series otherwise holds up well. Whether you’re rewatching it for nostalgic reasons or starting it for the first time, you’ll leave satisfied.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is by no means a perfect series, but it offers some of the best supernatural storylines on television. The series boasts incredible heroes, compelling villains, and fun adventures with a surprising amount of emotional depth. It was ahead of its time, and it remains among fantasy’s finest, even after all the post-Game of Thrones releases.

Charmed

1998-2006

Another game-changing fantasy show from the ’90s is Charmed, and while its legacy isn’t quite as massive as Buffy‘s, it’s still among the best additions to the genre in the past 30 years. Debuting in 1998, Charmed followed a group of sisters — who also happened to be witches — as they hunted supernatural threats.

Charmed does a great job with its themes of sisterhood, ensuring viewers feel connected to its leads and their relationships with one another. This makes the series’ emotional blows that much more memorable, and it helps sell the series’ drama.

Xena: Warrior Princess

1995-2001

Xena: Warrior Princess walked so that shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed could run, and it holds up surprisingly well for a series that’s 30 years old. Anyone who loves fantasy with a powerful heroine at the helm must watch the 1995 show. It’s a joy to see Lucy Lawless’ lead seek redemption by fighting powerful, ill-intended foes.

And Xena’s journey fully unpacks the complexity of her character, refusing to hold back because she’s the lead or because she’s supposed to fit neatly into some archetype. Xena: Warrior Princess also masterfully injects humor into its run, striking a great tone that makes falling into it an incredibly fun ride.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

2005-2008

Avatar: The Last Airbender came out in the early 2000s, and as it celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025, it might be even more popular than when it was on air. That’s understandable, as the Nickelodeon series is truly timeless. Its emphasis on hope while tackling endlessly relevant issues makes it a pleasure to watch, whether it’s for the first time or the 50th.

The Last Airbender‘s success can be attributed to its balance of humor and depth, lovable characters, and elemental magic system. All of them come together to form a genuine masterpiece of a series. The franchise is still expanding, but nothing beats the original.

2009-2010

Numerous fantasy anime debuted prior to Game of Thrones, but Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood really is the best of them. Premiering in 2009 — just two years before the HBO series — Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has everything you could want in a fantasy story.

Its premise, which sees two brothers on a journey to find the philosopher’s stone, digs into government conspiracies and moral dilemmas that make for gripping television. If that’s not enough incentive to dive in, its believable leads and complex side characters are some of anime’s best-written. Add in its smart approach to alchemy, and it’s an undeniably great fantasy title.

Pushing Daisies

2007-2009

Pushing Daisies is an incredibly underrated fantasy show with a bonkers premise at its center: a chef who has the ability to resurrect the dead. The 2007 series lives up to its fun concept, too, making its cancellation after just two seasons more disappointing. The two outings that do exist are charming and fun while tackling important topics, like mortality and grief.

Pushing Daisies remains a compelling watch almost two decades later, and it’s still incredibly unique compared to other fantasy fare. It’s criminal that it hasn’t become more recognized, as everything from its visuals to its romance to its humor works in its favor.

Carnivàle

2003-2005

HBO tried its hand at the fantasy genre with Carnivàle in 2003, almost a full decade prior to releasing Game of Thrones. Set amid the Great Depression, Carnivàle follows teen Ben Hawkins as he uncovers extraordinary abilities and becomes an important chess piece in a battle between good and evil.

Carnivàle took common themes and concepts and put a unique spin on them, at least for the time it was airing. It’s a shame it didn’t take off more, as it could have been an early fantasy hit for HBO. Sadly, it was canceled after two seasons, but it still makes for an engaging binge.

Merlin

2008-2012

Game of Thrones and Merlin overlapped just slightly, with the latter taking its final bow as season 2 of HBO’s adaptation was beginning. However, the majority of Merlin‘s run unfolded prior to Game of Thrones, drawing new fans to the fantasy genre with its spin on Arthurian legend. Its approach to the familiar characters and story felt fresh and exciting, and it still makes for a great viewing experience.

Colin Morgan’s performance as the show’s title character is one of the highlights of Merlin, and his chemistry with Arthur star Bradley James fuels the dynamic that made the series so successful. Merlin‘s ending also packs a powerful punch, one that will stay with viewers long after they’ve finished the show. It’s truly a standout of the 2000s and 2010s.

Supernatural

2005-2020

Credit: The CW Television Network, The WB Television Network

Supernatural had such a lengthy run that it overlapped with Game of Thrones‘ time on air, but the CW series premiered six years before the HBO show, capitalizing on the popularity of other monster-of-the-week shows. Supernatural owes a lot to Buffy, but it also became a phenomenon in its own right. There’s a reason it ran for 15 seasons.

Supernatural has a strong emotional core, with the bond between the Winchester brothers giving viewers more than enough reason to follow them into every daunting scenario they face. Of course, the emotional beats are perfectly balanced by the show’s signature humor. It’s refreshing that Supernatural never takes itself too seriously, and it allows it to reinvent itself repeatedly.

The Vampire Diaries

2009-2017

The Vampire Diaries debuted a couple of years before Game of Thrones, though it remained on air throughout the 2010s, just like the HBO show. The Vampire Diaries perfectly blended supernatural fantasy narratives with teen drama, making it an addicting watch from start to finish. Its first few seasons, in particular, are impossible to put down.

Elena’s discovery of the supernatural underbelly of Mystic Falls makes for a gripping ride full of twists and turns, and the Salvatore brothers are some of the best vampires to grace television in the past 20 years (though Interview With the Vampire now takes the cake). TVD is entertaining fantasy and makes for an incredible rewatch, cementing its lasting legacy.