Game of Thrones proved to be a massive critical and viewer success, drawing in 10s of millions of viewers for its final season. And, while the finale did have its critics, fans of the show were left wanting more. Fortunately, thanks to the plethora of streaming and on-demand services, there is a wealth of old and new shows that can fill the Westeros-shaped hole that was left in our lives following the show’s final airing in 2019.
1) House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is the obvious choice as a replacement for your weekly Game of Thrones viewing. This spin-off takes place 200 years before the events in Thrones and is based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood. There are dragons and familiar locations including King’s Landing, so the series will feel familiar to Game of Thrones fans. However, the Targaryen family tree can be tricky to figure out due to the sheer number of characters, which ExpressVPN has illustrated in great detail, so it’s worth checking out these illustrated guides to see how it relates to Game of Thrones as that is set roughly 200 years in the future.
2) Vikings
If you’re looking for big action scenes set against a gritty backdrop, the Vikings series from the History Channel offers all of that and more. It is loosely based around the legend of Ragnar Lothbrok and, while it doesn’t feature dragons, it has a similar feel that Game of Thrones fans will enjoy.
3) His Dark Materials
Fans of the fantasy genre should enjoy His Dark Materials, which is based on the novels of the same name by Philip Pullman. It has multiple universes, a cast that includes James McAvoy, and familiars, which are essentially talking animal companions. There are currently two series and a third series has been announced by the BBC and will air on HBO.
4) Rings of Power
One of the reasons that Game of Thrones became so successful, and spawned a number of spin-offs, is George R.R. Martin’s incredible world-building literary skills. You would be hard-pressed to find any larger or more fantastical world than Middle Earth: the setting for the Lord of the Rings movies and the Amazon Exclusive Rings of Power.
5) The Sandman
The Sandman is another fantastical adaptation, this time based on a series of graphic novels by author Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics. Launched on Netflix, the series is quite dark but has some very hard fantasy elements to it.
6) The Witcher
The Witcher is a Netflix show that is based on graphic novels of the same name, which themselves were used as the source material for the massively popular Witcher games. The Witcher features Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, although he has recently announced that he is stepping down from the role, as per IGN. Liam Hemsworth is set to take over the role.
There are reported to be several new shows from the Game of Thrones world hitting screens over the next few years. In the meantime, the shows above should provide some relief and provide similar entertainment, whether you are looking for huge fantasy worlds or series based on fantasy novels.
Picture: Netflix