10 Shows Like 'House of the Dragon' You Can Watch Right Now
House of the Dragon (2022) wrapped up its second successful season last year, with Season 3 on the way. The series is an adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s fantasy novel Fire & Blood, telling the story of the reign of House Targaryen and the historical events leading up to the devastating war, The Dance of Dragons.
The show has achieved high critical acclaim and become one of HBO’s most-watched series due to its enormous scope, stunning visuals, and a story filled with political strife and corruption. While you eagerly wait for Season 3, check out our guide for 10 shows like House of the Dragon you can watch on Netflix, Max, Hulu, and more!
Rome boasts the same epic scale as House of the Dragon but leans on history rather than fantasy. The series follows Roman soldiers Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson), who witness the historical events leading up to Rome’s transition from a Republic to an Empire. It boasts a sprawling ensemble cast, stunning visuals, exquisite attention to detail, and a thrilling tale of dictators, emperors, wars, and succession struggles.
Rome will wholly transport you to Ancient Rome, capturing the glory of the empire through gorgeous costumes and gritty realism. While not entirely historically accurate, it boasts richer, deeper historical context than typical Ancient Rome TV shows and movies. Viewers seeking the setting of Gladiator (2000) and the sprawling scale of House of the Dragon will love Rome.
The Tudors is a historical drama that follows the early reign of Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), examining his relationships, desire for an heir, and difficulties in maintaining peace and order in England. Similar to House of the Dragon, The Tudors is quite a spectacle filled with sex, violence, corruption, and powerful families. The similarities between The Tudors and the Game of Thrones franchise may not be coincidental, as many suspect the Tudor dynasty inspired Martin’s work.
While The Tudors has a massive scale, it’s a little more soapy than either Rome or House of the Dragon. It puts the spotlight on the most scandalous aspects of its history, thrilling viewers with a racy, engaging, and dramatic narrative, but still carries a level of sophistication reminiscent of House of the Dragon. The series is an excellent choice if you love scandalous history, such as that tackled in Mary & George (2024).
It’s harder to get closer to House of the Dragon than Game of Thrones, since they take place in the same universe. Game of Thrones is set 200 years before House of the Dragon and follows a series of political conflicts as numerous families attempt to seize the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Both series take place predominantly on the fictional continent of Westeros and delve into the sexism, vengeance, rivalry, and moral ambiguity that come with the pursuit of power.
Game of Thrones is one of the greatest TV shows ever made, standing apart from other series due to its complex worldbuilding and characterization. Few shows cover as much ground as Game of Thrones does across eight seasons. Its sophistication is on par with that of House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), though it features higher levels of shock factor and tension.
Vikings is a historical drama inspired by the legend of the Viking Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), who grapples with chieftain Earl Haraldson (Gabriel Byrne) over the direction and expanse of Viking raids. The scope, tone, and blood-spatter of Vikings is similar to House of the Dragon, but it also offers viewers a fascinating look into Norse oral traditions. Although not very historically accurate, it draws viewers in with its epic battle scenes and intriguing characters.
Viewers will especially love the first few seasons, which center on Ragnar and delve deep into the intriguing tale of how he rose from a farmer to a fierce Viking. Like The Tudors, it also blends soapy drama with a historical setting. If you love House of the Dragon and are looking for a show with a similar vibe but a unique historical premise, Vikings is the way to go.
Viewers who enjoy House of the Dragon’s political commentary will enjoy Succession. The series follows Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) adult children as they vie to inherit his global media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo amid his declining health. It goes deeper than House of the Dragon’s tale of a power struggle, offering an in-depth look into a smaller-scale family conflict through a sharp and darkly humorous lens.
Succession feels like a more modern and realistic version of House of the Dragon. It tackles succession struggles, placing them in the context of modern-day conflicts between boomers and millennials, as well as the convoluted world of business and family inheritance. Although the show trades bloody battlefields for business meetings, it still manages to evoke a similar level of tension as House of the Dragon, but with a modern, satirical premise reminiscent of Veep (2012).
Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series of the same name, The Witcher follows Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), a monster hunter who finds himself linked by destiny to Princess Ciri (Freya Allen), a woman from a powerful bloodline. The Witcher boasts House of the Dragon’s blood, sex, and brutal fantasy landscape, but will also appeal to viewers looking for a deeper dive into magic and monsters. It also allows for a more intimate story by trading its sprawling ensemble cast for a few lovable characters, including Cavill’s dashing, gruff, and charismatic Geralt.
Although The Witcher is more magic-based than House of the Dragon, it still features similar politics as it explores power conflicts and political unrest. The series blends politics, drama, and fantasy to create a story rich in character development and storytelling. Viewers seeking the sophistication of House of the Dragon’s storytelling and worldbuilding, but on a smaller scale, will enjoy The Witcher.
Like House of the Dragon, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an epic fantasy series with meticulous worldbuilding. Inspired by the appendices of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the series delves into the history of Middle-earth, including the creation of the Rings of Power. The loose interpretation of Tolkien’s work may not appeal to hardcore franchise fans, but it’s an excellent show for viewers eager for additional stories set in Middle-earth.
With cutting-edge visual effects, The Rings of Power is also quite the spectacle. At times, it feels like a cross between House of the Dragon and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005), as it boasts the scale of the former but the more family-friendly, fantastical vibe of the latter. It’s a gorgeous and thrilling take on Middle-earth and will appeal to anyone looking for another detailed, exquisite fantasy world to explore.
Shōgun is frequently compared to House of the Dragon, as they focus on a succession struggle and are paralleled by few in scope and ambition. The series tells the story of Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a fictionalized version of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who must use his military strategic brilliance to fend off his enemies and pave a path toward the title of shōgun.
Like House of the Dragon, Shōgun is a top-tier TV show with electric performances, mesmerizing visuals, and thrilling battle sequences, but it also has the added perk of delving into Japanese history and culture. It’s reminiscent of Rome in its impressive ability to transport viewers into the time period. If you want the scope of House of the Dragon and Rome but with more historical and cultural richness, Shōgun is an excellent alternative.
3 Body Problem comes from the same creators as House of the Dragon’s predecessor, Game of Thrones. The show is an adaptation of Liu Cixin’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past series, offering a twisty sci-fi tale that examines how a Chinese astrophysicist’s extraterrestrial studies during the Cultural Revolution impact a group of Oxford scientists in the present day.
Like House of the Dragon, 3 Body Problem spans a large expanse of time, adapts an ambitious work previously thought unadaptable, and boasts stunning visuals. However, instead of fantasy, it leans into hard sci-fi, exploring concepts in physics, science, and philosophy. As a result, it’s a much more cerebral show that will delight sci-fi fans and those looking for intimate, complex stories. 3 Body Problem will especially appeal to fans of Foundation (2021) and other works of hard sci-fi.
Those About to Die is an epic historical drama about Rome, the center of the Roman Empire, and its attempts to control the population through games, including chariot racing and gladiatorial combat. Although it doesn’t pull off its enormous vision as well as House of the Dragon, it boasts strong performances, spectacular and bloody fight scenes, and an intriguing story of people willing to die in the pursuit of power and glory.
The series parallels Rome with its historical setting and attempts to recreate Ancient Rome on the small screen. Those About to Die also gets into bloodier, grittier territory than Rome, appealing to viewers interested in a brutal spectacle on par with House of the Dragon. If you are looking for the epic scope of House of the Dragon paired with the brutality of Vikings, you’ll love Those About to Die.
