Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows Ever Ranked

Dystopian fiction has long been a vital part of the science fiction and horror genres, but in the 21st century, it has truly emerged as a dominant category in its own right. This list showcases the finest in TV dystopias, featuring a wide range of dark futures from zombie-infested wastelands to AI-driven apocalypses, and even smaller, yet no less chilling, scenarios such as societies controlled by social media scores or worlds where every moment is recorded directly into the brain like video files.

From devastating plagues and nuclear winters to robot uprisings, time travel-induced paranoia, and mysterious vanishings, these 19 TV shows (along with one miniseries) encapsulate the most ingenious, terrifying, and often deeply moving dystopian narratives ever crafted. Whether it's a post-apocalyptic setting or a more subtle dystopia where office workers have microchips splitting their consciousness, what unites them is a compelling, dark vision of the future, whether near or distant, brimming with intensity, intrigue, and boundless imagination.

For those interested in cinematic dystopias, don't miss out on our curated lists, including the Top 10 Apocalypse Movies of All Time and the 6 Post-Apocalyptic Movies You've Probably Never Seen. Additionally, IGN readers have shared their picks for the Favorite Post-Apocalyptic World from Movies and TV!

However, if your preference leans towards television, then stay with us as we explore iconic series such as Fallout, Severance, The Walking Dead, The Handmaid's Tale, The Last of Us, and many more. Without further ado, here are the Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows of All Time!