TV Shows with the Most Creative World-Building Outside Sci-Fi

Television is great at letting creators build detailed worlds that unfold over many episodes. While sci-fi often uses futuristic technology for this, other shows use things like magic, different versions of history, or the supernatural to create their unique settings. These series prove that you can build immersive worlds in fantasy, horror, and even strange, dreamlike landscapes. The shows below are excellent examples of crafting memorable universes without needing spaceships or aliens.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

Westeros is a vast land shaped by its complicated politics and long-standing noble families. The story unfolds with a deep history, stretching back thousands of years, featuring both dragons and terrifying creatures from the frozen lands. From the honorable people of the North to the prosperous traders of Qarth, the world is filled with diverse cultures. The series portrays a harsh feudal system where seasons can last for years and power is constantly changing hands through conflict.

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)

As a huge animation fan, I’m completely captivated by the world of this series. It’s built around four nations, each representing one of the classic elements – water, earth, fire, and air. What’s really cool is that some people, called benders, can actually control their element using martial arts – it’s like telekinesis, but with a really physical style. The creators clearly drew inspiration from lots of different Asian and Indigenous cultures, giving the whole thing a unique and beautiful look and feel. The world feels alive with spirits and amazing creatures, but it’s also a place that feels real and geographically believable, which is a fantastic combination.

‘The Good Place’ (2016–2020)

As a total cinema lover, I was hooked by this comedy’s incredibly quirky take on the afterlife. It imagines a heaven and hell run like a massive bureaucracy, where everything – your eternal destiny – is determined by a points system based on how you lived. The world they’ve built is wonderfully weird, filled with things like an ‘Interdimensional Hole of Pancakes’ and neighborhoods designed by, get this, celestial architects! And the rules? They just keep adding more and more layers, revealing this whole complicated administrative system running the universe. It’s brilliantly inventive.

‘Twin Peaks’ (1990–1991)

David Lynch crafted a seemingly ordinary small town that also feels deeply unsettling. The town is populated by quirky residents who are hiding troubling secrets beneath a surface of classic American wholesomeness. Strange, supernatural forces live in the nearby woods and subtly affect the townspeople, often through locations like the mysterious Black Lodge. The series became known for its dreamlike, surreal quality, making it hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (2017–Present)

The Republic of Gilead is a totalitarian society that has taken over the United States. Built on strict religious rules and a rigid social hierarchy, it controls every part of life, especially reproduction, due to a worldwide drop in birth rates. The show powerfully illustrates how this oppressive regime maintains control through visual cues like specific clothing colors and carefully planned ceremonies, ultimately crushing individuality and forcing everyone to serve the state.

‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)

People live within three massive, layered walls built to defend against enormous, human-like creatures called Titans. Inside these walls, society is highly militarized and technology hasn’t advanced much beyond specialized gear for moving around vertically. As the story progresses, it reveals a much bigger world with a complicated past filled with war and genetic experimentation. The history becomes increasingly detailed, showing how information is controlled and rewritten to influence what people believe.

‘The Witcher’ (2019–Present)

The Continent is a diverse land where humans, elves, dwarves, and dangerous monsters all struggle to survive. Witchers are specially trained monster hunters, often seen as outsiders, who earn a living by taking on dangerous contracts. This world’s magic and monstrous creatures came into being through a rare celestial event. While kingdoms are constantly battling each other for power, they often fail to notice the supernatural dangers hidden in the wilds.

‘His Dark Materials’ (2019–2022)

This story takes place across multiple universes, with one central world ruled by a strong religious organization called the Magisterium. Everyone has a physical animal companion, called a daemon, which represents their soul and takes a final form when they become a teenager. The story centers around a strange substance called Dust, which links these different universes together. The world features a unique mix of Victorian style and magical technology, and is populated by humans, armored polar bears, and witches.

‘Penny Dreadful’ (2014–2016)

The series reimagines Victorian London as a haunting backdrop for famous gothic characters. Hidden within the city’s growing industrial landscape are vampires, werewolves, and the reanimated dead. It blends the stories of Frankenstein, Dracula, and Dorian Gray into one unified supernatural tale, creating a dark and unsettling mood where old magic and belief in spirits collide with the rise of modern science.

‘The Sandman’ (2022–Present)

The Dreaming is a huge, ever-changing world governed by Morpheus, the master of all dreams and nightmares. It features powerful, god-like beings called the Endless – who embody ideas like Death, Desire, and Despair – and operates as a family. Stories move between the real world and strange, dreamlike dimensions that follow their own unique rules. The entire history and mythology of humankind are woven into its rich and complex narratives.

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997–2003)

Sunnydale looks like an ordinary California town, but it’s built right over a powerful gateway to hell called the Hellmouth. This draws all sorts of dangerous creatures – vampires, demons, and threats that could end the world. The show reveals a secret past of female warriors, known as Slayers, who are chosen in every generation to battle these dark forces. It also creates a detailed system of demons and a hidden world of magic operating just beneath the surface of everyday suburban life.

‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’ (2009–2010)

Alchemy is a well-established science based on the principle that everything has an equal value. The story takes place in a Europe-like setting during the early 1900s, ruled by a military government that uses skilled alchemists as powerful weapons. This world has a consistent magic system where materials can be transformed, but attempting to create humans through alchemy is forbidden and always fails. The nation, which blends industry and fantasy, is facing threats from political plots and mysterious, ancient artificial beings.

‘Outlander’ (2014–Present)

The story revolves around mysterious standing stones in Scotland that allow people to travel through time. It alternates between the turbulent political landscape of Scotland in 1743, during the Jacobite rebellion, and the world of the 1940s. The series vividly portrays the traditional clan life of the Scottish Highlands, and later expands to France and America on the eve of revolution. While filled with historical detail, the show keeps the secrets of how the time travel actually works shrouded in mystery.

‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ (2019)

Thra is a beautiful and lively planet brought to life with incredible puppets and practical effects, filled with strange and wonderful plants and creatures. The peaceful Gelflings protect the planet’s heart, a powerful crystal, while the cruel Skeksis, resembling vultures, are slowly destroying the land in their quest to live forever. Everything on Thra is connected, with all living things relying on each other and the planet itself. This series builds upon the story of the original movie, showing us more of Thra’s many cultures and landscapes.

‘American Gods’ (2017–2021)

Immigrants brought ancient gods to America, and they still live among us, appearing as everyday people. These old deities survive by gaining belief and offerings, but they’re locked in a struggle for power with newer gods representing technology and the media. The show brings the power of belief to life, creating a world where spiritual realms exist alongside familiar places like roadside attractions and motels. It portrays America as a land built on secret magic and lost stories.

‘Carnival Row’ (2019–2023)

In The Burgue, a city inspired by Victorian-era aesthetics, magical creatures escaping war have sought refuge. However, beings like fairies and fauns now face prejudice and are forced to live in a poor, segregated district called the Row. This world mixes the magic of fantasy with the grit of steampunk technology, creating a dark, detective-style atmosphere. The story delves into issues of immigration, social inequality, and what it means to belong in a brand new, imaginative world.

‘Shadow and Bone’ (2021–2023)

Ravka is a country divided by the Shadow Fold, a dangerous stretch of endless darkness teeming with monstrous creatures. Within Ravka, the Grisha are soldiers with the unique ability to manipulate matter using a power called the Small Science. The world is inspired by the look and feel of Tsarist Russia, offering a fresh alternative to traditional medieval fantasy settings. The story centers around characters who must combine military tactics with their magical skills in a desperate attempt to eliminate the Shadow Fold.

‘Pushing Daisies’ (2007–2009)

The show feels like a living fairy tale, with bright, vibrant colors and perfectly balanced shots. Its main character has a remarkable ability – they can briefly bring people back from the dead, but at a cost: if they don’t touch the person again within a minute, someone else will die. The world is full of quirky people and unusual jobs, like professional pie bakers and synchronized swimmers. Despite the dark premise, the show maintains a consistently upbeat and playful mood throughout its brief run.

‘Good Omens’ (2019–2023)

I’m completely captivated by this story of an angel and a demon who’ve been friends since the very beginning – literally, since the dawn of time and humanity! What I find so brilliant is how it portrays Heaven and Hell, not as epic battlegrounds, but as hilariously flawed, bureaucratic messes – equally bad at running things down here. It takes all the big moments from the Bible and twists them with this wonderfully dry, British wit. And it’s not just a few isolated incidents; the story follows these two over six thousand years, showing how they’ve subtly shaped everything we’ve become. It’s a truly unique and funny take on history and the supernatural.

‘One Piece’ (1999–Present)

Most of the world is ocean, split by a huge mountain range known as the Red Line. Pirates hunt for the greatest treasure in the Grand Line, a dangerous place where the weather and magnetic forces are unpredictable. Every island has its own special environment and culture, from ancient jungles to kingdoms built from sweets. The story keeps things exciting by constantly revealing strange and wonderful new places.

‘The Magicians’ (2015–2020)

Magic is a tricky and unpredictable skill taught at the hidden Brakebills University in New York. The students discover that the magical world from the Fillory children’s books is actually real, but much more dangerous than the stories let on. The show takes classic fantasy ideas and adds a realistic, modern edge, exploring the challenges of learning magic alongside everyday problems. It combines a contemporary setting with the fantastical world of Fillory, which is governed by strange and often deadly rules.

‘What We Do in the Shadows’ (2019–Present)

Four vampires who’ve been roommates for centuries now live a surprisingly normal life on Staten Island. The show follows their everyday struggles, along with a hidden world of vampires, energy-draining individuals, and werewolf packs—all while dealing with typical bureaucratic red tape. We also meet an international vampire governing body and the messy local politics of the undead. Filmed as a mockumentary, the series balances supernatural drama with the relatable frustrations of living with roommates.

‘Sweet Tooth’ (2021–2024)

A deadly virus wipes out most of civilization, and soon, babies are born with both human and animal traits. As the old world falls apart, nature quickly takes over. Those who remain split into groups: some hunt these hybrid children, believing they’re linked to the virus, while others try to protect them. The story blends the danger of a post-apocalyptic world with a sense of hope and magic, hinting at a possible rebirth.

‘Carnivàle’ (2003–2005)

During the Great Depression, a traveling carnival wanders through the impoverished landscapes of the Dust Bowl, showcasing performers with extraordinary gifts. The story unfolds as a conflict between forces of good and evil, set against the backdrop of hardship and despair in the 1930s. The carnival’s world is built on a complex and mysterious history, filled with secret societies and predictions inspired by ancient Christian beliefs. This fantastical element clashes with the harsh realities of the time, creating a chilling and unsettling atmosphere.

‘House of the Dragon’ (2022–Present)

This series goes back in time to tell the story of when the Targaryen family was at its most powerful, and dragons filled the skies over Westeros. It delves into the power struggles within the royal palace and the brutal civil war called the Dance of the Dragons. The show also reveals more about the history of Valyria and the special connection between those who rode dragons and their magnificent beasts, enriching the lore of the Seven Kingdoms by showing a time when magic was at its strongest.

Tell us in the comments which TV show’s world you’d love to step into!

2025-11-27 00:22