10 Shows Like Game of Thrones You Need to Watch (2026)

Why You Loved Game of Thrones

Let’s be honest — Game of Thrones wasn’t just a TV show, it was a cultural event. You loved it for the ruthless political scheming, the sprawling world-building, the genuine shock when your favourite characters were killed off without warning, and the sense that no one was safe. It blended high fantasy with grounded, morally grey storytelling in a way nothing had done before. The scale was enormous, the battles were jaw-dropping, and the intrigue kept you theorising between episodes. You want that same feeling: a massive world with real stakes, complex power plays, and characters you can’t stop thinking about.

Shows Like Game of Thrones

1. House of the Dragon

The most obvious pick, but it earns its spot. House of the Dragon dives into the Targaryen civil war roughly 200 years before Daenerys, and it absolutely nails the political backstabbing and family betrayal that made the original so addictive. The dragon sequences are genuinely spectacular, and the performances — particularly the duelling factions of the Greens and Blacks — are top shelf. If you’re craving more Westeros, this is the purest hit you’ll get. Stream it on Binge in Australia.

2. The Witcher

Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels (and yes, the video games), The Witcher drops you into a morally ambiguous fantasy world full of monsters, mages, and monarchs jockeying for power. Henry Cavill’s Geralt is a stoic, sword-swinging highlight, and the intertwined timelines reward attentive viewers. It’s grittier and more monster-of-the-week than GoT, but the political undercurrents and lore run deep. Available on Netflix in Australia.

3. Vikings

If you loved the raw, bloody side of Game of Thrones — the battles, the honour codes, the brutal power struggles — Vikings is your show. It follows the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok and his descendants as they raid, conquer, and scheme their way across medieval Europe. The writing is sharp, the action is visceral, and the character arcs span years in deeply satisfying ways. Streaming on SBS On Demand (free) and Prime Video in Australia.

4. The Last Kingdom

Set during the Viking invasions of England, The Last Kingdom follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon raised by Danes, caught between two worlds. It’s tighter and more focused than GoT, but the shield-wall battles, political alliances, and constant betrayals scratch the exact same itch. Five seasons of consistently excellent storytelling — it never drops off the way some long-running shows do. Watch it on Netflix in Australia.

5. Rings of Power

Amazon’s take on Tolkien’s Second Age is visually the most stunning show on this list — every frame looks like a painting. It’s slower-paced than Game of Thrones and leans more into classic high fantasy, but the political machinations of Numenor and the elven kingdoms give it genuine weight. If you loved the world-building and epic scope of GoT, Rings of Power delivers that in spades. Available on Prime Video in Australia.

6. Shogun

This is the dark horse pick, and it might be the best show on this list. Set in 1600s Japan, Shogun follows an English sailor thrust into a world of feudal lords, samurai honour, and devastating political games. It captures that same feeling of a foreign, fully realised world where every conversation is a potential death sentence. The production quality is extraordinary, and it treats its Japanese characters and culture with genuine respect. Stream it on Disney+ in Australia.

7. Rome

Before Game of Thrones existed, HBO made Rome — and you can see the DNA clearly. It follows two soldiers through the fall of the Roman Republic, weaving their personal stories into the grand political drama of Caesar, Pompey, and the Senate. It’s grittier, more historically grounded, and absolutely packed with scheming, betrayal, and spectacle. Only two seasons, but both are brilliant. Available on Binge in Australia.

8. Wheel of Time

Amazon’s adaptation of Robert Jordan’s beloved fantasy series builds a massive world with a Chosen One prophecy, warring factions, and a magic system with real depth. It’s more classically heroic than GoT — think less moral greyness, more epic destiny — but the political intrigue between the Aes Sedai and the scale of the world-building make it a worthy companion. Stream it on Prime Video in Australia.

9. Outlander

Don’t let the romance label fool you — Outlander is a brutal, politically charged drama set across the Jacobite risings, the American Revolution, and beyond. Claire’s time-travelling journey from 1945 to 1743 Scotland delivers culture clash, battlefield horror, and genuine historical intrigue alongside its love story. If you appreciated the human drama woven through GoT’s fantasy, this will hook you. Watch it on Stan in Australia.

10. Knightfall

Set during the fall of the Knights Templar, Knightfall combines medieval warfare, secret societies, and the hunt for the Holy Grail into a pulpy, action-packed drama. It’s not as polished as GoT, but it captures that same medieval world of swords, faith, and political conspiracy. If you just want to see knights fighting and scheming, it delivers exactly that. Available on Stan in Australia.

What to Watch First

Start with Shogun. It’s the show that most closely replicates what made Game of Thrones special — a fully immersive world, razor-sharp political intrigue, stunning production values, and the constant feeling that everything could fall apart at any moment. It’s a complete, self-contained story that never outstays its welcome, and it’s genuinely one of the best things to air in the last few years. You’ll be hooked within the first episode.