26 shows similar to Game of Thrones to watch next

26. The Boys

We’ve avoided superhero shows for the most part on this list, leaning more toward shows that share some aesthetic similarities to Game of Thrones…but some series are simply too good not to talk about. That’s the case with The Boys, an endeavor from showrunner Eric Kripke and Amazon Prime Video. If you’ve been feeling fatigue with the MCU, DCEU, and all those other monstrous superhero enterprises, then the delightfully dark reversals of The Boys might be just your ticket.

Hughie Campbell is an ordinary guy in a world that worships superheroes. He works at an electronics store, making his way up the ladder in hopes of a promotion. He has a girlfriend named Robin (Jess Salgueiro) who he’s madly in love with. Hughie’s life might not be exciting, but he’s happy in it.

Then a superhero carelessly kills Robin on accident. Hughie ends up embroiled in a legal battle with Vought International, the company that finances and merchandises all these famous superheroes (or “supes”). It soon becomes clear that the supe responsible for the murder couldn’t care less about making things right, and that Hughie’s only recourse will be a payout from Vought to keep his mouth shut. As you might guess, this doesn’t sit well.

Enter the Boys, a group of normal humans who hunt down supes. Led by Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), the Boys end up entangled with Hughie. One thing leads to another, and soon both parties have the blood of a supe on their hands.

Things only get messier from there. Opposite the Boys and Hughie is the idealistic young supe Starlight (Erin Moriarty), Vought’s newest recruit. Starlight is your classic superhero who wants to save the world and do good and all the other stuff that doesn’t really shake out once you become an adult. She soon discovers that Vought is a whole lot more corrupt than she could have ever imagined.

Some horrifically awful stuff follows, as well as some diabolically out-there gore and carnage. The Boys is a show that revels in its mayhem, while also delivering some poignantly timed criticisms about the hypocrisy of society. It’s a rollicking good time. Just be sure to bring your strong stomach with you — things can get pretty gruesome.

Two seasons of The Boys are currently available on Amazon Prime Video, with a third currently in production. A spin-off show set at a superhero college is also in production.

And that wraps up our list of 25 shows that live in the same realm as Game of Thrones. Which one will you watch next?

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels