The final season of Arcane arrived on Netflix, leaving many fans looking for their next animated obsession. The show, celebrated for its stunning animation, deep story of sisters Vi and Jinx, and the stark divide between the rich city of Piltover and the oppressed underground of Zaun, set a new standard for animated storytelling. If you’re missing the mix of emotional drama, action, and breathtaking art, these shows offer a similar journey into rich, imaginative worlds.
If You Loved Arcane’s Rich Fantasy Worlds
For viewers who were drawn into the detailed world of Runeterra, several other fantasy series build equally compelling universes.
The Dragon Prince
Co-created by a head writer from Avatar: The Last Airbender, this series begins a journey where two princes and an elf assassin must work together to stop a great war. The show shares Arcane‘s focus on complex family dynamics, manipulative villains, and a beautifully constructed world. It starts with a younger audience in mind but grows darker and more ambitious with each season.
DOTA: Dragon’s Blood
This animated series, based on the popular video game, is a great pick for fans seeking another high-fantasy world. The story follows Davion, a dragon knight who finds his life turned upside down when a dragon’s soul is merged with his own. The show features large-scale magical fights, political schemes, and a story that, like Arcane, can be enjoyed without any prior knowledge of the game.
The Legend of Vox Machina
This series brings a popular Dungeons & Dragons adventure to life. It follows a ragtag group of mercenaries who find themselves as the only ones who can save their realm from terrifying threats. The show balances adult humor and crude antics with genuine emotional depth and spectacular animated battles, appealing to those who enjoyed Arcane‘s blend of action and heart.
The Witcher
While a live-action series, The Witcher shares Arcane‘s gritty tone and focus on fractured family dynamics. The story centers on Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter whose life becomes tied to a powerful princess named Ciri and the sorceress Yennefer. The show explores themes of destiny and the families we create, set against a dangerous fantasy landscape.
Shows With Arcane’s Gritty Tone and Emotional Depth
If the dark themes and complex character relationships in Arcane resonated with you, these series deliver a similar emotional punch.
Castlevania
A landmark video game adaptation that helped establish Netflix as a home for quality animated series. The story begins when Dracula, enraged by his wife’s murder, declares war on humanity. A lone monster hunter, Trevor Belmont, leads the fight against the dark army. The series is known for its particularly bloody action, rich characters, and exploration of deep sorrow and damaged families, much like Arcane.
Attack on Titan
This acclaimed anime starts with a simple premise—humanity on the brink of extinction from giant humanoid monsters—but evolves into a deeply complex story. The series peels back layers of conspiracy and moral ambiguity, challenging the very concepts of heroes and villains. The main character’s traumatic transformation mirrors Powder’s evolution into Jinx, making it a compelling watch for Arcane fans.
Blue Eye Samurai
This Emmy-winning revenge story is set in Edo-period Japan and follows a mixed-race swordmaster named Mizu. Living in disguise, she embarks on a bloody quest for vengeance. The show features gorgeous animation, dramatic fights, and a narrative packed with unlikely alliances and deep themes of identity and belonging. Its raw emotional power and artistic style are strongly reminiscent of Arcane.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
From the studio Trigger and set in the universe of Cyberpunk 2077, this series plunges you into the neon-drenched, high-tech world of Night City. It follows a young boy named David as he tries to survive in a city that chews people up. The show is a rollercoaster of action, emotion, and style, tackling themes of identity and humanity in a technologically advanced world, much like the Piltover-Zaun dynamic.
Series That Push Animation Boundaries
For viewers who were captivated by Arcane‘ unique visual style, these shows also break the mold with their creative artistry.
Love, Death & Robots
This Emmy-winning anthology series is a perfect choice for those who admire creative and boundary-pushing animation. Each standalone episode features a different story and a unique art style, spanning genres from science fiction and fantasy to horror. It’s a showcase of what animation can achieve, offering the same “wow” factor as Arcane‘s visual innovation.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
One of the most beloved animated series of all time, Avatar creates a rich world where some people can “bend” the elements. It follows a young boy named Aang on his journey to master his abilities and stop a war. The series masterfully balances goofy humor with dark themes, and its characters grow and mature in authentic ways that will appeal to Arcane fans.
Scavengers Reign
Originally on Max and now on Netflix, this series is a stunning work of sci-fi art. It follows the survivors of a damaged spaceship who are stranded on a beautiful but incredibly dangerous alien planet. The show is praised for its imaginative creature and world design, and it explores human resilience in the face of overwhelming odds, offering a suspenseful and emotionally deep experience.
Credits: Netflix Tudum, Collider
