TV Shows Like Stranger Things: Saying goodbye to Stranger Things is tough. With Season 5 officially wrapped, we’ve closed the chapter on Hawkins, the Upside Down, and the kids we literally watched grow up. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably staring at your TV screen feeling a distinct, demogorgon-sized hole in your watchlist.
But don’t cancel your subscription just yet. The world of sci-fi mystery didn’t end with Eleven. I’ve rounded up five shows that capture that same mix of “what the heck is happening,” alternate realities, and deep character drama.
Here are the Top 5 TV Shows Like Stranger Things, ranked from “creepy cool” to “absolute masterpiece.”
5. Archive 81
The Vibe: Lo-fi horror and slow-burn mystery.
- Release Date: Jan 14, 2022
- IMDb: 7.3 | Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
- Cast: Mamoudou Athie, Dina Shihabi
- Where to Watch: Netflix (Exclusive)
This one is for the people who loved the creepier, more investigative side of Stranger Things. It follows Dan, an archivist hired to restore a collection of damaged videotapes from the 90s. As he watches them, he gets pulled into the story of the woman who filmed them and the terrifying cult she was investigating.
It’s not full of monsters jumping out at you; it’s more about atmosphere. It gets under your skin. If you love unraveling a mystery piece by piece while sitting on the edge of your seat, Archive 81 is a weekend binge you won’t regret.
4. Alice in Borderland
The Vibe: Stranger Things meets Squid Game on adrenaline.
- Release Date: Feb 15, 2019
- IMDb: 7.8 | Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
- Cast: Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya
- Where to Watch: Netflix (Exclusive)
If you’ve been sleeping on this Japanese series, wake up. Imagine if the Upside Down was actually a deserted version of Tokyo where you have to play deadly, high-stakes games just to stay alive.
There are no demogorgons here, but the tension is unmatched. The show does a brilliant job of mixing survival horror with a mystery about who is pulling the strings. It’s fast-paced, ruthless, and visually stunning.
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3. The Umbrella Academy
The Vibe: Superpowered family dysfunction.
- Release Date: Feb 15, 2019
- IMDb: 7.8 | Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
- Cast: Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, Robert Sheehan
- Where to Watch: Netflix (Exclusive)
If the “found family” dynamic was your favorite part of Stranger Things, The Umbrella Academy is your next stop. It follows the Hargreeves siblings, seven estranged foster kids with superpowers who reunite after their father dies. Oh, and they have to stop the apocalypse. Like, multiple times.
It balances the end-of-the-world stakes with genuine comedy and family drama. It’s chaotic, weird, and has a killer soundtrack. It’s a bit lighter than the others on this list, but just as engaging.
2. Fringe
The Vibe: Stranger Things for grown-ups.
- Release Date: Sept 9, 2008
- IMDb: 8.4 | Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
- Cast: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble
- Where to Watch: Max (HBO Max) or Freevee (Free with ads on Amazon Prime). You can also rent/buy it on Apple TV or Amazon Video.
Before Stranger Things made parallel universes cool, Fringe was mastering the art. Produced by J.J. Abrams, this show is a procedural that quickly evolves into a massive sci-fi epic. You’ve got a mad scientist (Walter Bishop is a legend), an FBI agent, and a rogue genius solving “fringe” science crimes.
It has everything: alternate dimensions, shapeshifters, and heart-wrenching character arcs. If you miss the “science gone wrong” aspect of Hawkins Lab, this show is the blueprint.
1. Dark
The Vibe: The ultimate brain-twister.
- Release Date: Dec 1, 2017
- IMDb: 8.7 | Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
- Cast: Louis Hofmann, Oliver Masucci, Jördis Triebel
- Where to Watch: Netflix (Exclusive)
Topping the list is Dark, arguably the best sci-fi mystery Netflix has ever produced. It starts similarly to Stranger Things—a young boy goes missing in a small town (Winden) near a power plant. But that’s where the similarities end.
Dark takes that premise and spirals into a complex web of time travel, paradoxes, and family secrets that span generations. It is darker, smarter, and demands your full attention.
Seriously, put your phone away for this one. It’s a masterpiece that will leave your jaw on the floor.
Final Thoughts
We might never get another show exactly like Stranger Things, but that’s okay. Whether you want the brain-melting complexity of Dark or the survival thrills of Alice in Borderland, there is plenty of quality TV waiting for you.
So, grab the popcorn (and maybe a notepad if you’re starting Dark) and get streaming!
