Top 10 Web Series Like Stranger Things in 2025 (Top Netflix & Amazon Picks)

Web Series Like Stranger Things – The original viewing of Stranger Things was the moment you had that electric nostalgia, fear and sheer joy. The continued seasons of this Netflix series not getting your eyes to sleep in mode and really needed to know what the Upside Down was? Yeah, we’ve all been there. We have been exploring similar web series such as Stranger Things on the internet. We have dedicated hours (probably too many, as our family members say) to it in search of that same magic. And be ye to tell me, the hunt has been well worth the cost. 

OTT Ratings has made the final list of Top 10 Web Series Like Stranger Things. These are popular web series of 2025 as per the Netflix Selections. These OTT similar web series deliver the same levels of spine-chilling fictions, action-filled, mystery twists and turns and characters like the Stranger Things. 

Before that we also published the Top 10 Must Watch Web Series Like Bridgerton on Netflix (2025 Updated) which our readers like the most and we suggest you explore the same.

Top 10 Web Series Like Stranger Things in 2025 (Netflix Picks)

1. Dark (Netflix Original)

Had Stranger Things and a German textbook on philosophy had a baby, it would be Dark. It is a head-twisting thriller that improves the idea of unexplained events in small towns and turns it to eleven (pun intended). Dark is the story of four related families living in a fictitious town of Winden in Germany and discovering a time-traveling conspiracy across multiple generations.

About Dark Series Detail

• Release Date – 2020
• Total Season – 3
• Category – Adult
• ⁩Genre – Thriller
• Starring: Louis Hofmann, Oliver Masucci, and Jördis Triebel
• Creators: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The reasons why this web series like Stranger Things: 

• Elements a much more complicated and stratified plot compared to Stranger Things.
• Complex time-travel narrative which can be difficult to follow after the first watch.
• Dark, suspenseful, and very moody tone.
• Interesting plot that captures the attention of the audience.
• Not an easy watcher movie – not to be multitasked with.

Why Watch It?

• Touches on real philosophical issues such as fate vs. free will and cycling nature of time.
• Demonstrates the impact of moves on several generations.
• Powerful and intriguing plot.
• The setting in German and the non-English language make it even more unique and refreshing.
• Very unlike the normal American supernatural series.

Read More – How to Download Netflix Shows on Your Laptop (2025 Guide) | Offline Viewing Tips & Tools

2. The Umbrella Academy

Family dysfunction plays off with superhero anarchy, time-traveling apocalypse – not to love? The Umbrella Academy is an adaptation of the comic series of Gerard Way (the My Chemical Romance frontman) based on the story of seven adopted siblings with superpowers reconnecting following the mysterious death of their father.

About Umbrella Academy Series Detail

• Release Year- 2024
• Total Season – 4
• Category -⁨U/A 16+
• Genre- ⁩Action
• Starring: Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, and David Castañeda
• Creators: Steve Blackman

The reasons why this web series like Stranger Things: 

• Gives a great vibe of a found-family a la Stranger Things.
• Includes super-powered brothers, each with different personalities and powers.
• These powers include super strength, time travelling to talking with the dead.
• Has comedy of banter and action scenes.
• Holds on to a rather touching and heartfelt center.

Why Watch It?

• Has good character chemistry with Hawkins group.
• Demonstrates attachment where characters fight and yet love and lay their lives on behalf of one another.
• There is a retro soundtrack to give it the Stranger Things nostalgic feel.
• The offbeat and charming tone is introduced with the quirky humor.
• Light comedy makes it chilling in a genre which is generally bleak.

3. Locke & Key

Based on the comics series by Joe Hill (also the son of Stephen King, by the way – the family business) Locke and Key is supernatural comfort food. The Locke family relocates to their family estate in Massachusetts after the murder of their father and they find magical keys that unlock the door to other abilities and dimensions.

About Locke and Key Series Detail

• Release Year – 2022
• Total Season- 3
• Category – Adult
• Genre – Fantasy
• Starring: Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, and Emilia Jones

The reason why this web series is akin to Stranger things: 

• Plays with real life scares and heartfelt family time.
• Magical keys bring new threats and opportunities.
• Like Stranger Things in its ability to uncover more secrets per season.
• Slow, involving mystery keeps the audience entertained.
• An unwavering episode to episode suspense element.

Why Watch It?

• It is characterized by gorgeous visual effects and rich and well-developed mythology.
• The young cast gives the performances that are authentic and emotional.
• Shares the same sentiment of kids vs. the supernatural as Stranger Things.
• Gives it a different spin which makes it stand out.
• Addresses actual trauma and sorrow, and brings the fantasy details to life.

4. 1899

The makers of Dark bring you another psychological mystery that is going to leave you doubting the reality itself. Placed in a migrant steamship on its way to Europe to New York, 1899 begins as a period drama but then immediately falls into the depths of psychological horror and the sci-fi aspect.

About 1899 Series Detail

• Release Year 2022
• Total Episodes 8
• Category – ⁨U/A 16+
• Genre – ⁩Thriller
• Starring: Emily Beecham, Aneurin Barnard, and Andreas Pietschmann
• Creators: Jantje Friese, Baran bo Odar

Why it reminds me of Stranger Things: 

• Provides a Stranger Things-esque approach to dread.
• A mysterious drifting ship uncovers some spooky secrets to the passengers.
• Combines two or more languages and cultures into one unified thriller.
• Invents a mystery worldwide, and is capricious.
• Maintains suspense in the viewer all up to the end.

Why Watch It?

• More intellectual yet again mind-bending, causing one to doubt everything.
• Has spectacular production design.
• The plot of the mystery is developed in a manner that creates endless theories and discussions.
• Ended in the first season, still has an entire compelling story.
• There is still something worth watching in the first season even after the cancellation.

5. Sweet Tooth

The cute title is just a deception, Sweet Tooth is an emotionally charged read that will make you grab tissues. We follow Gus, an endearing deer-boy, in a hidden world, post-apocalyptic in a planet of a mysterious virus, in which animal-children have been born with human traits as they seek their mother amidst the dangerous world.

About Sweet Tooth Series Detail

• Release Year – 2024
• Total Season- 3
• Category – ⁨U/A 16+⁩
• Genre- Drama
• Starring: Nonso Anozie, Christian Convery, and Adeel Akhtar

The reasons why this web series like Stranger Things: 

• Captures the same innocence and wonder as early Stranger Things
• Gus’s journey mirrors Eleven’s shift from naivety to harsh reality
• Features a strong mentor–child bond similar to Hopper and Eleven
• Emotional character growth drives the story
• Delivers a heartfelt, Stranger Things–like connection between leads

Why Watch It?

• Balances dark themes with hope and optimism
  Avoids typical post-apocalyptic misery and focuses on resilience
  Highlights the value of found family and choosing kindness
• Features stunning cinematography
• Showcases both the beauty and danger of a transformed world

6. Shadow and Bone

In need of that ensemble with a magical fantasy touch, Shadow and Bone is the choice you have made. According to the novels of the Grishaverse created by Leigh Bardugo, this show takes us on a journey to a world afflicted by war where the Shadow Fold, a strip of darkness inhabited by monsters, tore it asunder, and Grisha endowed with magic are both worshiped and dreaded.

About Shadow and Bone Series Detail

• Release Year – 2023
• Total Season – 2
• Category – ⁨U/A 16+
• Genre – ⁩Fantasy
• Starring: Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, and Ben Barnes

Why it similar to Stranger Things:

• Strong found-family dynamics similar to Stranger Things
  
• Warm, engaging friendships between Alina, Mal, and the Crows
  
• Includes romance, betrayal, and high-stakes heists
  
• Packed with plot twists that keep viewers hooked
  
• Delivers the same “tackle impossible odds together” energy you get from the Hawkins crew

Why Watch It?

• Outstanding world-building with rich cultures, powers, and political intrigue
  
• Comparable to Stranger Things’ detailed Upside Down in depth and immersion
  
• Features movie-quality visual effects and stunning costumes
  
• Ben Barnes as the Darkling is a major highlight
  
• Perfectly balances epic scale with intimate character moments

7. Archive 81

In this criminally underestimated gem found footage is combined with supernatural mystery. The series Archive 81 chronicles the life of archivist Dan Turner, who is contracted to repair a set of damaged videotapes, which were filmed in 1994. However, as he watches the footage, he gets obsessed with knowing the truth about a bizarre fire and the filmmaker of the documentary who vanished.

About Archive 81 Series Detail

• Release Year – 2022
• Total Episodes – 8
• Category – ⁨A
• Genre – ⁩Horror
• Starring: Mamoudou Athie, Dina Shihabi, and Matt McGorry

Why this web series similar To Stranger Things:

• Captures the same eerie, compelling atmosphere as Stranger Things–style shows
  
• Uses a dual-timeline structure that keeps you engaged throughout
  
• Follows Dan’s present investigation alongside disturbing restored footage
  
• Includes cults, demons, and parallel dimensions
  
• Delivers plenty of genuinely scary moments, definitely a lights-on watch

Why Watch It?

• Found-footage format builds strong intimacy and tension
  
• Mystery unfolds layer by layer, each reveal raising new questions
  
• Shares Stranger Things–style themes of conspiracies and government cover-ups
  
• Leans into a darker, more adult horror tone

• Dan and Melody’s unconventional connection becomes surprisingly emotional

8. The Midnight Club

The director of this supernatural drama, Mike Flanagan, is the master of Netflix horror, and his work, a hospice of terminally ill teenagers, is the setting of the story. The residents are in the Midnight Club, which meets every night to share scary tales but after one of them dies and unusual occurrences start happening the boundaries between reality and fiction become unclear.

About Midnight Club Series Detail

• Release Year – 2022
• Total Episodes⁨ – 10
• Category – A
• Genre – ⁩Drama
• Starring: Iman Benson, Igby Rigney, and Ruth Codd
• Creators: Leah Fong, Mike Flanagan

The reasons why this web series like Stranger Things: 

• Captures the relatable coming-of-age element similar to Stranger Things
  
• Kids face both supernatural dangers and their own mortality
  
• Uses a storytelling-within-storytelling structure
  
• Allows for multiple genres and tones across episodes
  
• Keeps the narrative fresh, emotional, and unpredictable

Why Watch It?

• Balances real scares with deep emotional storytelling
  
• Friendships at Brightcliffe feel as authentic as Hawkins’ bonds
  
• Explores themes of grief, hope, legacy, and the meaning of life
  
• Heavier in tone than Stranger Things but equally compelling
  
• Emphasizes friendship overcoming darkness

Read More – Best Web Series Like Family Man In 2025 | Indian Spy & Thriller Series You Must Watch 

9. Tales from the Loop (Amazon Prime Series)

According to the Simon Stalenhags art, Tales of the Loop is a science fiction anthology series which is based on the life of the townspeople living and working above the Loop, which is an underground research facility where impossible things become a possibility. Every episode is dedicated to other characters who experience strange phenomena and technologic anomalies.

About Tales from the Loop Series Detail

• Release Year – 2020
• Total Episodes – 8
• Category – Adult
• Genre – Science Fiction, Haunting, Psychological

The reasons why this web series like Stranger Things: 

• Presents a small-town sci-fi mystery similar to Stranger Things
  
• More contemplative and philosophical in tone
  
• Focuses on how extraordinary events impact ordinary people
  
• Features slow, thoughtful pacing that allows emotions to resonate
  
• Creates a quiet, meditative atmosphere throughout the story

Why Watch It?

• Offers visual poetry and strong emotional intelligence
  
• Less action-heavy than Stranger Things but carries the same sense of wonder
  
• Evokes the feeling of hidden magic within everyday life
  
• Features stunning retro-futuristic production design
  
• Uses self-contained episodes connected through the Loop’s impact on the town

10. Sense8

It may appear that the sci-fi drama of grand scope by the Wachowski brothers is an unusual choice to make, yet listen to us. Sense8 is about eight people of various nationalities who have just become mentally and emotionally connected to each other. They are able to telepathically communicate, exchange skills and experience and enter the lives of each other literally.

About Sense8 Series Detail

• Release Year 2018
• Total Season 2
• Category – A
• Genre – ⁩Sci-Fi
• Starring: Tuppence Middleton, Brian J. Smith, and Bae Doona
• Creators: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, and J. Michael Straczynski

The reasons why this web series like Stranger Things: 

• Emphasizes connection, empathy, and found-family themes
  
• Features eight strangers forming bonds stronger than blood
  
• Captures a similar “us against the world” energy as the Hawkins crew
  
• Reflects the core emotional appeal shared with Stranger Things–style stories
  
• Perfect thematic fit for a list of similar web series

Why Watch It?

• Ambitious production filmed across multiple continents
  
• Celebrates genuine diversity and global storytelling
  
• Features top-tier action and exceptional fight choreography
  
• Requires initial patience as characters and plot unfold
  
• Delivers huge emotional payoffs once the story clicks
  
• Despite cancellation, the finale provides a satisfying conclusion to the sensates’ journey

Why is Stranger Things a Popular Series?

We should discuss the reasons for why Stranger Things remains a popular web series between viewers, Indiana and its cursed inhabitants before we get to our choices. The Demogorgons or the Mind Flayers are not the only terrifyingly awesome ones. The series hits the nail on the head with its mixture of a coming-of-age story, government intrigues, supernatural horror and authentic friendship that makes us ugly-cry one second, and clap the next.

The Duffer Brothers literally painted a love letter to the 80s but made it current and up to date. That is what we went after when we were selecting these recommendations programs that feature at least some of those magic ingredients.

The Secret of Why Above Mentioned web series like Stranger Things

When viewing our Top 10 Web Series Like Stranger Things in 2025 (Netflix Picks), it may appear that they are not necessarily all imitations of the masterpiece of the Duffer Brothers, which is not only deliberate but also purposeful. The similarities of these shows are not superficial such as flashlight-wielding children or supernatural monsters. They know what is really unique about Stranger Things: the emotional heart.

We think that character relationships are the key aspects of the best shows in this genre, and that is what we are certain to focus on at the OTT Ratings. The paranormal aspects are sure fun, though we are also tuning in to watch how Dustin and Steve turn into bromates, or how Hopper and Joyce will finally have their happy ending. We have an investment in the found families that take place when individuals encounter the impossible jointly.

All these ten shows are aware of that basic truth. It can be Hargreeves siblings haggling over their way across the apocalypses, the sensates, and their innermost selves, or the Midnight Club kids and how they help each other out of the terminal disease they have, but it is always about human connection against the tremendous odds.

The OTT Ratings Verdict

It has been an adventure to put together this list of Top 10 Web Series Like Stranger Things in 2025 (Netflix Picks). The shows offer something different each season and simultaneously capture that magic touch that makes us obsess over Hawkins and its incessantly threatened inhabitants.

Others are darker (stare at you, Dark and 1899), whilst still others are more whimsical (Sweet Tooth, we are looking at you), but others always lie somewhere in that sweet spot Stranger Things is occupying. However, they all provide that addictive mystery, heart and the supernatural quotient that makes us keep going back to find that just one more episode.

You can not fail with any of such options in our sincere opinion at OTT Ratings. Take any of the premises that appeals to you most, whether it is time-traveling family drama, magical keys unlocking mysteries or post-apocalyptic deer-boys spreading hope. The series provide several seasons of binge-worthy content that will fill that gap in your heart that Stranger 

Things left.

The good thing about life in the streaming world of 2025 is that we will be spoiled with options of good supernatural storytelling. These performances demonstrate that the formula which is comprised of compelling characters, impossible situations and of real stakes to the emotions can be applied to a range of genres, countries, and tones.

Our Thoughts on Top 10 Web Series Like Stranger Things

Now that we are done learning about the Top 10 Web Series Like Stranger Things in 2025 (Netflix & Amazon Picks), it is important to note that the best show to watch as a viewer would be the one that appeals to you the most in terms of what you like most about Stranger Things. Craving complex mythology? 

Dark and 1899 have you covered. Tired of being alone? The Umbrella Academy and Sweet Tooth are like spades. Desire children facing-impossible-odds energy? Locke and Key are calling you by name. The reason this moment in streaming history is thrilling is that these shows go to extremes with just the right respect to what makes the genre so great. They are not merely imitating the homework of Stranger Things – they are stealing and making something of their own. And honestly? That’s exactly what we need.

Then grab your snacks of choice, turn off your phone (you will need no distractions at all throughout most of these), and be ready to find your new obsession. You can wait till the next season of Stranger Things or simply need something that can remind you of the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of the show, all of which are covered by these ten series.

We are constantly on the search of the next big binge-watch at OTT Ratings, and we believe that these choices will make you completely entertained. So now that you’ll excuse us, we are going to have some date with re-watching… all of these programs. Happy streaming, folks!

FAQ’s – Web Series Like Stranger Things