The Stranger Things journey, which began in 2016, is finally coming to an end with Season 5.

Over the years, the series has become a cultural phenomenon with Season 4 pulling in more than 140 million household views on Netflix. Fans love it for its mix of 80s nostalgia, small town mysteries and its supernatural horror.

While you wait for the Hawkins gang to return, you’d probably be craving something with the same suspenseful element. Luckily, there are plenty of series out there that have the same thrills, mysteries, and emotional depth as Stranger Things.

Here are the best ones to binge in the meantime.

1. Dark (2017–2020, 3 Seasons)

If Stranger Things hooked you with the disappearance of Will Byers, you’ll love Dark. This German sci-fi series also begins with a missing child but quickly expands into a complex story about time travel and four interconnected families.

While Stranger Things balances its horror with lighthearted moments, Dark leans heavily into suspense and a much darker, more serious sci-fi tone.” It leans more into philosophy and tragedy, with characters trapped in an endless time loop.

If you love eerie mysteries, time travel, and mysteries of a small town, this is for you. With only three seasons already released, you can binge-watch the entire story and get a complete, satisfying ending.

2. The Umbrella Academy (2019–2023, 4 Seasons)

This series follows a dysfunctional group of adopted siblings with superpowers. They reunite after their father’s death, but can’t stand working together. When the world is threatened with an apocalypse, they’re forced to join forces.

The Umbrella Academy mixes sarcasm, family drama, and time travel chaos. It is as if Eleven’s powers were scattered across a group of quirky misfits.

Why watch it? If you enjoyed the mix of humor, powers, and family bonds in Stranger Things, this one’s a no-brainer.

3. Lockwood and Co (2023, 1 Season)

This British Netflix series has a dark, suspenseful tone, with teens hunting deadly ghosts. The storyline is similar to Stranger Things in which the Hawkins gang combats creatures like the Demogorgons, the Mindflayer and Vecna.

The story begins with a teenage girl named Lucy Carlyle who has supernatural abilities. After a tragic accident at her first job, Lucy decides to join a small ghost-hunting agency called Lockwood & Co.

Unfortunately, the series was canceled after one season, but it captures the adventurous teen spirit and supernatural danger that make Stranger Things so addictive.

4. The Haunting of Hill House (2018, 1 Season)

Based on Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel, this Netflix horror drama tells the story of the Crain family. They move into Hill House to renovate it, only to find themselves haunted by terrifying ghosts.

The Netflix innovative horror series has only one season with ten episodes, released in 2018. It is a perfect choice for Stranger Things fans who want deeply emotional, blending family trauma with spine-chilling horror. While it doesn’t put an entire town at risk like Stranger Things, it digs into the bonds and fears within a single family.

If you loved the emotional bond of Eleven and her friends but want something scarier, this show is for you.

5. Archive 81 (2022, 1 Season)

An archivist named Dan Turner is hired to restore old videotapes recorded in 1994. As he repairs them, he uncovers disturbing secrets about a filmmaker investigating a haunted apartment building.

The supernatural horror series has one season of eight episodes. The show layers mystery with supernatural dread, slowly pulling the viewer deeper into its terrifying web.

While it focuses on older characters, its chilling atmosphere makes it a great pick for Stranger Things fans

6. Alice in Borderland (2022-Present, Season 3 coming Sept 25, 2025)

Based on a Japanese manga created by Haro Aso, this series follows friends who are suddenly transported into a deadly alternate version of Tokyo. To survive, they must play life-or-death games, each tied to a playing card.

The stakes are higher than anything in Hawkins, but the themes of survival, trauma, and friendship will feel familiar. Stranger Things fans will find this series captivating, with teenage heroes tackling deadly challenges in a dark, alternate world.

The upcoming Season 3 will drop on Netflix on September 2, 2025.

7. I Am Not Okay With This (2020, 1 Season)

This short-lived Netflix gem follows Sydney Novak, a high school girl. Like Stranger Things, the teenage girl discovers supernatural powers and faces dark secrets in her town, much like Eleven.

For fans who loved Eleven’s struggles with her powers and identity, I Am Not Okay With This could be an ideal choice.

8. X-Files (1993-2018, 11 Seasons)

A true classic, The X-Files follows FBI agents Mulder and Scully as they investigate unexplained cases involving aliens, conspiracies, and the paranormal.

Stranger Things is heavily inspired by X-Files, as it also focuses on government cover-ups and paranormal events involving children being experimented on. The Duffer Brothers have also acknowledged that they are fans of X-Files.

With 11 seasons and 218 episodes, the show can feel like a long commitment, but it’s absolutely worth watching.

9. The Midnight Club (2022, 1 Season)

The Midnight Club takes place in a hospice for terminally ill teens. A group of patients forms a secret club and meets every night to share scary stories. But soon, the stories start coming true.

It has a similar vibe to Stranger Things, where the Hawkins kids bond while facing the unknown. In Stranger Things, the boys gather around a table to play Dungeons & Dragons. In The Midnight Club, the teens gather around a table to share horror stories.

The show has only ten episodes, but is structured like an anthology.

10. From (2022–present, Season 4 coming Nov 2025)

Form is set in a mysterious town where no one can escape. At night, terrifying monsters come out and the trapped strangers must fight to survive.

It’s one of the scariest horror series in recent years and a perfect choice for fans who want Stranger Things with even more edge. A must-watch for hardcore sci-fi horror fans.

If some of the series are not available in your country, you can follow our guide to change your region on Netflix.

Stranger Things may be ending, but that doesn’t mean the supernatural fun has to stop. Whether you want something emotional, mysterious, action-packed or classic, there are plenty of shows to keep you hooked until Season 5 arrives.

You can also check out the list of the best family movies to watch with kids.