Fantasy is one of the most popular film, TV, and book genres, perhaps because its stories take place in a realm where anything is possible: magic, wizards, witches, demons, dragons, and flaming swords. Furthermore, fantasy stories take us on epic quests braving fire, ice, curses, and battles. Fantasy stories dance in and prey on our imagination, making us believe in the impossible. They dare us to dream beyond our wildest fantasies, providing an escape from our everyday lives.

While the background may be magical and unrealistic, the characters in these stories share many of the same hardships that we do, facing obstacles like fighting to protect a loved one, overcoming fear, or discovering who they truly are. These challenges often mirror our own, making us feel not so different from the characters in the magical world on screen.

Over the years, there have been many epic fantasy television shows to indulge in, and between shows on Hulu and shows on Netflix, among others, there's more to choose from than ever. In addition, many fantasy shows are intertwined with other genres, such as Star Trek (fantasy and sci-fi), Supernatural (fantasy and horror), and Pushing Daisies (fantasy and romantic-comedy). Today, fantasy shows continue to be as popular as ever, as evidenced by the new Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power being among the most talked about upcoming shows. Besides the new LoTR show, there is already a big fantasy collection to enjoy. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the most magical fantasy shows that transport us to surreal worlds.

8 Lost

The cast of Lost.
ABC

Passengers of Oceanic Flight 815 thought it was just another day when they boarded their airplane. However, things quickly turned strange when the plane experienced first turbulence, then a massive storm which caused a crash landing on a desolate island, leaving behind many survivors. However, the island has secrets and so do the passengers of Flight 815. Could the island be their salvation or their damnation? During its time, Lost was one of the most popular shows on ABC and ran for six seasons. It engulfed viewers into the mystery of the island and the dark pasts of its inhabitants, using enigmatic fantasy elements to entice audiences. However, while the series started strong, it failed to deliver conclusions or explanations for many of its fantastical plot points. To this day, viewers still speculate about many of Lost’s unanswered questions.

7 Redwall

Redwall-1
Paramount

The 1999 Redwall cartoon brings to life the classic bestselling books by author Brian Jacques. Redwall follows Matthias, a young mouse living at Redwall Abbey who dreams of becoming a great warrior, like Martin the Warrior, one of the founders of Redwall. To fulfill his dream, Matthias must defeat many enemies, including King Bull Sparra (an insane sparrow), Asmodeus Poisonteeth (an enormous snake with a taste for mice), and Cluny the Scourge and his army of rats who try to conquer Redwall. Overall, this delightful cartoon is a fun, family-friendly epic adventure perfect for children and adults alike. Recently, Variety reported that Netflix will be making their own animated adaption of Redwall but has yet to release any more information.

6 Dark Crystal

Brea in The Dark Crystal.
Netflix

Journey into the magical, mystical world of the Gelflings, slender, elvish humanoids who inhabit the planet of Thra. In The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, three Gelflings, Rian, Deet, and Brea, embark on a quest to save their home from Skeksis and a growing power known as the Darkening. The series acts as a prequel to the 1982 film The Dark Crystal and, like the movie, the show creates a stunning universe, relying on colorful backdrops, strange creatures, and enchanting music to tell its story. However, despite its success and winning a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program, Netflix canceled the show after just one season.

Related: 20 of the Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy TV Shows on Netflix

5 Outlander

Outlander-1
Sony Pictures

What would you do if you were caught between two worlds with two completely different lives and even husbands? In Outlander, World War II has recently ended and, after serving in the British Army as a nurse, Claire Randall hopes to live a happy life with her husband, Frank. However, Claire mysteriously time travels to the year of 1743 and enters a world of turmoil, and everything she knows is gone. Claire finds herself caught between a feud of rebel Highlanders and British redcoats. To protect herself, she must marry one of the Highlanders, Jamie, and their union quickly evolves into one of passion. Now, Claire is intertwined with two different worlds and two different husbands. What life will she choose? Outlander takes viewers to a world of brave battles, moments of passion, and heartbreaking sacrifices.

4 Once Upon a Time

The cast of Once Upon a Time.
ABC

Once Upon a Time welcomes viewers to the town of Storybrooke, a seemingly normal town from the outside but a fairytale gone amuck in the inside. In this seaside town in Maine, fairy tale characters live as residents, unaware of their identity thanks to a spell cast on them by the wicked Queen Regina, who is mayor of Storybrooke. When Emma Swan arrives in town, she of course has no idea who she is or her past. Yet, the fate of the town rests in her hands. Now, she must break the curse and return the fairytale characters to their rightful homes. Once Upon a Time is a magical ride, combining classic fairy tale elements with a modern twist, transporting viewers without leaving the present-day world.

Related: The Witcher Season 2 Review: The Best Fantasy Series Since Game of Thrones

3 The Witcher

Henry Cavill in The Witcher.
Netflix

"Toss a coin to your Witcher, oh, valley of plenty." If you haven’t seen Netflix’s The Witcher, then you should toss your attention to your screen and binge-watch the first two seasons. Based on the book series by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher follows two heroes who are linked to each other by destiny: Geralt of Rivia and Princess Ciri. In the fictional world known as The Continent, Witchers are powerful witches tasked with the mission of killing predatorial monsters. Yet, Witchers are feared more than respected because they are known to be fierce fighters with strong abilities. At all costs, Geralt must protect young Ciri from the dangers of the world and unseen forces trying to harm her.

2 Game of Thrones

The cast of Game of Thrones.
HBO

Even if you’ve never watched a single episode of Game of Thrones, you’ve probably still heard of the wildly successful and critically acclaimed medieval show. Why? For many people, Game of Thrones (or GoT) is the perfect blend of violence, romance, heartbreak, betrayal, love, and sacrifice. Based on the best-selling novels by writer George R.R. Martin, GoT brings to life the fictional world of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms, which are spread across nine regions, each with its own unique set design and visual palette. The story follows several characters whose lives are all intertwined with one another. Basically, everyone is locked in one fierce fight to rule the world and claim the Iron Throne for themselves. While it may not have ended as fans had hoped, there is no doubt that Game of Thrones ignited a fierce love of fantasy in culture over the past decade.

1 Doctor Who

The doctors in Doctor Who.
BBC

Doctor who? It’s a valid question, but if you don’t know the answer, you’re probably not the biggest fantasy/sci-fi fan around. Spanning nearly 60 years with 26 seasons (and 13 since its appropriate reincarnation in 2005), Doctor Who is the longest-running show on this list. In fact, it’s the longest-running science fiction television show in the world. Since 1963, the Doctor, a mysterious Time Lord, has been traveling the universe in the TARDIS, a time traveling machine disguised as a blue police box. The Doctor’s quest is to travel through time, and with minimal resources, tries to save innocent people and stop evil, all while trying not to change the course of history (at least too much). Overall, Doctor Who is a fun, exciting series that will transport viewers to places beyond their imagination, and with the doctor reincarnating every so often, fans get to see a wonderful variety of actors taking on the iconic role and pick their favorites.