Let’s face it, a great sci-fi series is simply unmatched. Whether it’s confusing time travel loops, alien takeovers, or mysterious dystopias, science fiction always finds a way to attract us to its worlds, which are only a little (or a lot) different from ours. In addition, if you are a Netflix subscriber, you have some great options to pick from. In brief, 10 of the best sci-fi TV series on Netflix that you must see include a line-up ranging from action-packed space operas to mind-bending psychological thrillers.
10. Resident Alien
Start with something funny: Resident Alien. Alan Tudyk plays an alien who lands his spaceship on Earth in an accident, and awkwardly, he makes a little town in Colorado believe that he is a doctor and so he integrates. To begin with, he was a weapon meant to wipe out mankind, but as a result of a series of crazy incidents and lucky friendships, the plot gets turned upside down. Tudyk’s unconventional weirdness to this secret alien story makes it feel like a new thing and even a little bit of a cliché of human nature. It’s a scientific invention mixed with the humor of a small town, and it’s great fun to watch.
9. The Rain
Post-apocalyptic drama comes with a Scandi spin in The Rain, a Danish thriller about how a lethal virus, spread through rain, devastates the world. Two siblings venture out of their bunker to discover that the world has been completely remade and must struggle to survive in a brutal new world. The series is about how to adapt, learn to trust others, and maintain hope—even when your death is literally in the sky. Dark and brooding, it’s an engrossing watch for those who love pandemic survival tales.
8. Welcome to Eden
What starts as an invite to a luxurious island party quickly morphs into something far darker in Welcome to Eden. This Spanish-language series takes aim at influencer culture and cult dynamics, throwing its characters into a mysterious paradise that isn’t what it seems. With plenty of sci-fi undertones and suspenseful twists, this show keeps the tension high and the questions coming. You’ll be hooked trying to figure out what’s going on beneath the surface.
7. Love, Death & Robots
If variety is your thing, Love, Death & Robots is your sci-fi buffet. This animated anthology features standalone stories ranging from dark, dystopian futures to absurd, imaginative adventures. Each episode offers a new animation style, tone, and theme—sometimes wild, sometimes philosophical, always creative. With most episodes under 20 minutes, it’s dangerously easy to fall into a binge. Think of it as sci-fi tapas for your brain.
6. Lost in Space
This stylish reimagining of the original ’60s series tracks the Robinson family as they crash-land on a distant planet and battle against a variety of extraterrestrial threats. Lost in Space combines high-octane space action with emotional family drama to provide the tale with a heart at its center amidst all the high-tech excitement. Visually breathtaking and full of suspense, it’s a great choice for those who love great sci-fi remade for the new generation.
5. Alice in Borderland
Tokyo has never looked quite like this. In Alice in Borderland, a group of people finds themselves transported to a deserted version of the city, where survival depends on winning increasingly deadly games. Combining sci-fi elements with suspense and psychological drama, this Japanese series keeps the adrenaline pumping. It’s stylish, intense, and full of twists—and you’ll find yourself guessing who’ll survive right up until the end.
4. Dark
Get ready for a time-travel tale that will not spoon-feed you. Dark, Germany’s brain-twisting mystery series, follows a small town that’s unraveling because of a wormhole that intersects various timelines. The story is complicated, the characters are richly developed, and the atmosphere is heavy with foreboding. If you’re a fan of cerebral sci-fi that won’t let you rest, Dark will pay you back with one of the best-plotted stories in the genre.
3. Maniac
In the movie Maniac, two strangers—Emma Stone and Jonah Hill star as the two insane ones who decide to undergo an experimental treatment that guarantees to solve their psychological problems. However, instead of brightening up their minds, they are deeply immersed in a fantastic, imaginary, and mixed-up world where their fantasies, traumas, and science fiction themes meld. Its style of combining elements of both past and future, bizarre graphics, and heartfelt middle make this limited series one of the rarest and most provocative ones. By the time you finish it, you’ll have laughed, cried, and maybe even doubted your own reality.
2. The Umbrella Academy
Not your average superhero show, The Umbrella Academy tells the story of seven superpowered siblings adopted by a mysterious billionaire. Reunited after his death, they quickly become entangled in a time-traveling, world-ending crisis (or two). The show mixes weird humor, emotional depth, and chaotic family dynamics into a compelling story with killer music and memorable characters. Even if you’re not a superhero fan, this one’s worth a shot.
1. 3 Body Problem
Coming on top is 3 Body Problem, Netflix’s ambitious adaptation of Liu Cixin’s legendary sci-fi novel. This epic series starts with a series of unexplained deaths and opens out into a global and interstellar mystery surrounding first contact with an alien civilization. Produced by the people behind Game of Thrones, it’s visually stunning and mentally engaging. The show is set across decades and dimensions and raises questions about science, survival, and humanity’s role in the world. It’s ambitious, intellectual, and just the tip of the iceberg—Netflix has already ordered more seasons.
Ready to Binge?
From space-faring families to extraterrestrial threats and reality-warping simulations, these 10 shows show that Netflix is a treasure trove for sci-fi enthusiasts. Whether you like brain-teasing action, psychological suspense, or existential questions about the nature of reality, there’s something here to propel you into your next binge-watching frenzy. Streaming on—and don’t forget to question everything.