Best TV Shows Like Stranger Things

Our favorite TV shows like Stranger Things are The OA and Paper Girls — overlooked, but strong if you want the “kids caught in impossible sci-fi events” energy.

Now that Stranger Things has officially wrapped its fifth and final season, fans are facing a familiar problem: what fills the Demogorgon-shaped hole in your watchlist? The Duffer Brothers’ Netflix juggernaut blended ’80s nostalgia, kids-on-bikes adventure, government conspiracy, and full-blown supernatural horror in a way few shows have ever pulled off — and finding worthy successors takes some digging.

The good news? Plenty of series capture pieces of that magic, whether it’s the small-town mystery, the telekinetic teens, the creature-feature scares, or the misfit-friends-on-bikes vibe. Below are the 15 best shows like Stranger Things worth your next binge, organized by what specifically scratches that Stranger Things itch.

Want personalized picks based on your mood, streaming services, and who’s watching? Try the free What to Watch tool at PickMyFlix — it spits out three perfect recommendations in under a minute.

What Makes a Show “Like Stranger Things”?

Before diving in, it helps to know what we’re matching for. Shows similar to Stranger Things generally share at least a few of these elements:

• Supernatural or sci-fi mystery at the center of an otherwise normal world
• Small-town setting with secrets bubbling under the surface
• Teens or kids as protagonists, often solving things adults can’t
• Government conspiracy or shadowy organization pulling strings
• ’80s nostalgia (or a similarly evocative period setting)
• A blend of horror, heart, and humor that keeps the tone moving

The shows below check most of those boxes — some hit nearly every one.

1. Dark (Netflix)

Best for: Fans of the missing-kid mystery and small-town secrets, dialed up to genius level.

This German sci-fi series is the most frequently recommended Stranger Things alternative — and for good reason. Dark opens with a missing child in a small town with hidden tunnels, a creepy power plant, and shadowy figures. From there it spirals into one of the most ambitious time-travel mysteries ever put on TV, spanning four families across multiple generations. It’s denser, darker, and more cerebral than Stranger Things, but the mystery payoff is unmatched. Three seasons, complete story, watch with subtitles.

2. The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)

Best for: Fans of dysfunctional kids with superpowers and a kick-ass soundtrack.

Based on the Gerard Way comic, The Umbrella Academy follows seven adopted siblings raised by a billionaire to become a crime-fighting team — until they grew up estranged. When their father dies, they reunite to uncover the truth about their powers and stop the apocalypse (multiple times). It shares Stranger Things’ found-family heart, snarky dialogue, killer needle-drops, and time-bending plot mechanics across four seasons.

3. Locke & Key (Netflix)

Best for: Fans of family-led supernatural mystery with magical artifacts.

Three siblings move into their late father’s ancestral home and discover keys that unlock supernatural powers — alongside a demonic entity that wants them. Based on the Joe Hill comic, Locke & Key delivers the same young-protagonists-versus-evil energy as Stranger Things, with a distinctly cozy-creepy tone. Three seasons, perfect for fans of the show’s lighter, more adventurous side.

4. Archive 81 (Netflix)

Best for: Fans of analog horror, cults, and “what’s going on here?” mystery.

A young archivist takes a job restoring damaged 1990s videotapes from a building fire — and finds himself pulled into a vortex involving a missing filmmaker, a demonic cult, and reality-warping events. Cancelled after one season but completely watchable, Archive 81 nails the same atmospheric dread, slow-burn mystery, and analog-era nostalgia that Stranger Things fans love.

5. The Society (Netflix)

Best for: Fans of teen ensembles, mysterious vanishings, and “what is going on here?” plotting.

When a group of Connecticut teens return from a school trip, they find their entire town is empty — every adult, every younger sibling, gone. With no way out and no idea what happened, they have to build a society from scratch. Cancelled too soon at one season, but the Stranger Things-adjacent mystery, ensemble teen cast, and unsettling tone make it a worthy binge.

6. The OA (Netflix)

Best for: Fans of mind-bending sci-fi mystery with cryptic, dreamlike storytelling.

Brit Marling stars as a young woman who returns home after a seven-year disappearance — no longer blind, with no clear explanation. She gathers a group of misfits to help her on a mission that involves near-death experiences, alternate dimensions, and interpretive movement. Yes, it’s weird. Yes, Netflix cancelled it after two seasons. Yes, it’s still one of the most original sci-fi mysteries ever made.

7. It: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max)

Best for: Fans of ’80s horror, child protagonists, and full-blown creature scares.

This prequel to Stephen King’s It (executive-produced by Andy and Barbara Muschietti) takes viewers back to 1962 Derry, Maine, decades before Pennywise terrorizes the Losers Club. With missing kids, a haunted town, and a villain to rival Vecna, It: Welcome to Derry might be the closest tonal match to Stranger Things’ horror beats currently on TV. Bonus: Finn Wolfhard fans will appreciate the connection to the It film franchise.

8. Twin Peaks (Paramount+)

Best for: Fans of small-town mystery, supernatural undertones, and the show that inspired it all.

There’s no Stranger Things without Twin Peaks. David Lynch’s 1990 classic about an FBI agent investigating the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer in a Pacific Northwest town established the entire “small town with terrifying secrets” template. Weird, hypnotic, and decades ahead of its time, Twin Peaks is essential viewing for anyone serious about the genre.

9. Black Mirror (Netflix)

Best for: Fans of standalone sci-fi episodes with a dark twist.

Charlie Brooker’s anthology series tackles a different sci-fi or technology nightmare every episode, ranging from social-media dystopias to virtual-reality horror to AI-driven catastrophes. Episodes like “USS Callister” and “San Junipero” deliver the same kind of inventive sci-fi storytelling and emotional gut-punches Stranger Things fans love — without the multi-season commitment.

10. Wednesday (Netflix)

Best for: Fans of teen sleuths solving supernatural mysteries.

Tim Burton’s hit Netflix series stars Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, who arrives at Nevermore Academy and starts investigating a series of monster attacks. It’s lighter than Stranger Things and aimed at a slightly younger audience, but the mix of teen friendships, monster mythology, and gothic atmosphere makes it a natural next watch.

11. The Midnight Club (Netflix)

Best for: Fans of Mike Flanagan’s work and creepy stories told around midnight.

From horror master Mike Flanagan, The Midnight Club follows terminally ill teens at a hospice who gather every night to tell scary stories — until those stories start coming true. Set in 1994, less than a decade after Stranger Things, the show delivers slow-burn dread, an excellent ensemble of young actors, and Flanagan’s signature emotional depth.

12. From (MGM+)

Best for: Fans of “trapped in a town with monsters” creature-feature horror.

A small American town traps every traveler who stumbles into it — and at night, supernatural creatures emerge from the woods to terrorize anyone outside. From (now in multiple seasons on MGM+) shares Stranger Things’ mix of community-vs-monster dynamics and slow-rolling mythology. Genuinely scary in ways the kid-led Stranger Things often wasn’t.

13. Yellowjackets (Paramount+ / Showtime)

Best for: Fans of teens forced into survival mode with possible supernatural undertones.

A high school girls’ soccer team crashes in the wilderness and has to survive for 19 months — and the show alternates between their teen survival story and their adult lives, where they’re still hiding what happened. Critically acclaimed, deeply weird, and full of slow-burn dread, Yellowjackets is a Stranger Things fan’s natural next obsession.

14. Severance (Apple TV+)

Best for: Fans of corporate conspiracy and reality-bending mystery.

Apple TV+’s breakout hit follows employees at Lumon Industries who undergo a procedure splitting their work memories from their personal lives. As the mystery deepens, Severance delivers the same “shadowy organization with terrible secrets” energy as Hawkins Lab, plus some of the most stylish direction on TV. Two seasons available, with more on the way.

15. Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 (Netflix)

Best for: Fans who literally just want more Stranger Things content.

Netflix’s animated companion series, set during the winter between Seasons 1 and 2, follows the kids on a new monstrous adventure in Hawkins. It won’t replace the live-action show, but for fans not ready to leave the Upside Down behind, it’s the most direct continuation available.

Quick Comparison: Where to Stream Each Show

Streaming availability can change. Always check the platform before subscribing.

How to Pick the Right Show for Your Mood

Not every Stranger Things fan is chasing the same thing. Here’s a quick guide:

• Want the closest thematic match? Start with Dark, then Locke & Key.
• Want supernatural teens? The Umbrella Academy, Wednesday, or I Am Not Okay With This.
• Want the ’80s horror vibes? It: Welcome to Derry or The Midnight Club.
• Want full-blown creature horror? From or Yellowjackets.
• Want shadowy-organization conspiracy? Severance or Archive 81.
• Want the foundational classic? Twin Peaks.

Still stuck? The free What to Watch tool from PickMyFlix takes your mood, streaming services, and favorite shows into account and recommends three perfect picks in seconds — no signup required.

Best TV Shows Like Stranger Things

No single show will replace Stranger Things — that specific blend of ’80s nostalgia, kid-led adventure, government conspiracy, and creature horror is nearly impossible to recreate. But the 15 series above each capture pieces of what made the Duffer Brothers’ show unforgettable: the mysterious small towns, the misfit friendships, the supernatural threats, and the hope that ordinary people can take on extraordinary evil.

Start with Dark if you haven’t yet (seriously — it might be the most rewarding TV mystery of the last decade), work your way through the list, and you’ll have months of binge-worthy viewing ahead.

Q: What is the closest TV show to Stranger Things? A: Dark on Netflix is widely considered the closest thematic match to Stranger Things. Both shows feature missing children, small-town secrets, supernatural mysteries, and shadowy organizations — though Dark trades ’80s nostalgia for time travel and leans more cerebral. It’s the show Stranger Things fans recommend most often.

Q: Are there any shows like Stranger Things on Netflix? A: Yes, Netflix has the largest collection of Stranger Things alternatives. Top picks include Dark, The Umbrella Academy, Locke & Key, The Society, Archive 81, The OA, Wednesday, The Midnight Club, and the animated companion series Stranger Things: Tales from ’85.

Q: Is Dark really like Stranger Things? A: Yes, Dark is one of the most frequently compared shows to Stranger Things. Both open with a missing child in a small town with hidden underground tunnels and a mysterious power plant, and both feature government conspiracies and supernatural elements. Dark leans darker and more time-travel-focused, while Stranger Things leans more nostalgic and creature-focused.

Q: What should I watch after Stranger Things ends? A: After Stranger Things 5 concludes the main series, the most natural next watches are the animated spinoff Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 on Netflix, Dark (also Netflix), and It: Welcome to Derry on HBO Max for a similar ’80s horror vibe. The Duffer Brothers also have new horror projects in development at Netflix.

Q: Is Stranger Things really over? A: Yes, the live-action Stranger Things main series concluded with Season 5 in late 2025. However, the universe continues with the animated series Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 and the Broadway play Stranger Things: The First Shadow, plus potential future spinoffs.

Q: How can I find more shows like Stranger Things based on my preferences? A: The easiest way is to use a recommendation tool that factors in your mood, streaming services, and favorite shows. The free PickMyFlix What to Watch tool generates personalized picks in under a minute — no signup or account required.