Ranked roundup
The best series of the 2020s
25 ranked · updated September 2026
The 2020s have redefined television through bold animated storytelling, complex explorations of found family, and visceral genre-bending narratives. This selection captures the era's definitive shift toward high-stakes character development and emotional intimacy, proving that the most compelling dramas are those that challenge our understanding of morality and belonging.
How this ranking works
Ranked by a Bayesian-weighted score combining each title's average rating and rating count (minimum 100 ratings to qualify, weighted toward titles with more votes), filtered to series released in the 2020s.
Arcane
Christian Linke
Arcane earns its top rank through breathtaking visual artistry and a masterfully nuanced exploration of the tragic, systemic divide between sisterhood and social ruin.
Explores: Sisterhood, Dystopian Society, Technological Advancement vs. Social Decay.
Invincible
Invincible revitalizes the superhero genre by pairing brutal, high-octane action with a deeply unsettling examination of the complicated legacy between a father and his son.
Explores: Father-Son Relationship, Superhero Legacy, Brutal Superhero.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen secures its place by blending relentless, high-stakes supernatural combat with a grim, evolving mythology that keeps the stakes feeling consistently dangerous and immediate.
Explores: Cursed Objects, Exorcism, High School Sorcerers.
The Owl House
Dana Terrace
The Owl House stands out for its heartfelt commitment to themes of acceptance and found family, wrapped in a vibrant, imaginative world that celebrates being an outcast.
Explores: Coming-of-age, Found Family, Acceptance.
Off Campus
Gina Fattore
Off Campus excels by grounding its sports romance in authentic emotional healing, allowing its characters to navigate the messy transition from college life into adulthood.
Explores: Fake Dating, Emotional Healing, Coming-of-age.
Hazbin Hotel
Vivienne Medrano
Hazbin Hotel uses a bold, musical approach to dark comedy, offering a refreshing and stylish perspective on the possibility of redemption for the most unlikely misfits.
Explores: Redemption, Second Chances, Misfit characters.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is a profound meditation on the passage of time, using a quiet, melancholy pace to explore the lingering weight of regret.
Explores: Mortality, The Value of Time, Regret and Remembrance.
Love, Victor
Elizabeth Berger
Love, Victor earns its spot by providing a sincere and relatable look at the complexities of sexual identity and the universal struggle for self-discovery during high school.
Explores: Sexual Identity, Self-discovery, High School Life.
FROM
John Griffin
FROM masters the art of atmospheric dread, creating a claustrophobic sense of mystery that forces its residents to confront survival horror in a terrifying, inescapable town.
Explores: Trapped in a mysterious town, Monsters in the woods, Survival horror.
Heartstopper
Alice Oseman
Heartstopper is essential viewing for its gentle and honest portrayal of first love, capturing the fragile, transformative experience of navigating queer identity during teenage years.
Explores: First Love, Self-Discovery, High School.
SPY x FAMILY
Spy x Family perfectly balances espionage thrills with heartwarming domestic comedy, anchored by the charming, high-stakes dynamic of a family built entirely on hidden secrets.
Explores: Found Family, Secret Identity, Fish Out of Water.
The Last of Us
Neil Druckmann
The Last of Us delivers a harrowing, post-apocalyptic character study that prioritizes the moral ambiguity of survival over the typical conventions of the zombie genre.
Explores: Survival, Found Family, Moral Ambiguity.
Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man is defined by its chaotic energy and visceral gore, utilizing a dark, fast-paced narrative to explore the desperate measures taken to escape crushing debt.
Explores: Debt, Devil Hunters, Transformation.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation stands out for its ambitious approach to character growth, documenting the complex second chance of a man finding redemption in a new world.
Explores: Second Chance, Redemption, Character Growth.
The Queen's Gambit
Scott Frank
The Queen's Gambit is a masterclass in period drama, focusing on the intersection of brilliant, singular talent and the isolating, destructive nature of personal addiction.
Explores: Chess, Addiction, Orphan.
It's Okay to Not Be Okay
Park Shin-woo
A standout among the best series of the 2020s.
Explores: healing through love, emotional baggage, found family.
TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You
A standout among the best series of the 2020s.
Explores: Love at First Sight, Newlywed Life, Arranged Marriage (Implied).
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Rafał Jaki
A standout among the best series of the 2020s.
Explores: Cybernetic augmentation, Dystopian society, Mercenary life.
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun
A standout among the best series of the 2020s.
Explores: School Spirits, Urban Legends, Forbidden Romance.
Horimiya
A standout among the best series of the 2020s.
Explores: Hidden Identities, Unexpected Friendship, Social Outcasts.
Alchemy of Souls
Hong Jeong-eun
A standout among the best series of the 2020s.
Explores: Destiny vs. Free Will, Master-Disciple Relationship, Forbidden Love.
Heated Rivalry
Jacob Tierney
A standout among the best series of the 2020s.
Explores: Rivalry, Forbidden Love, Career Ambition.
When Life Gives You Tangerines
Lim Sang-choon
A standout among the best series of the 2020s.
Explores: First Love, Childhood Sweethearts, Island Life.
Dan Da Dan
A standout among the best series of the 2020s.
Explores: Supernatural Powers, High School, Romance Subplot.
Young Royals
Lisa Ambjörn
A standout among the best series of the 2020s.
Explores: Royal Life, Boarding School, Class Differences.
Common questions
What are some highly-rated animated series from the 2020s?
Several acclaimed animated series from this decade include Arcane, which explores a dystopian conflict, Invincible, a brutal superhero drama, and The Owl House, a fantasy-comedy. Additionally, Hazbin Hotel and Jujutsu Kaisen are noted for their unique dark comedy and supernatural action elements.
Are there any good LGBTQ+ coming-of-age dramas released recently?
Yes, several series focus on self-discovery and LGBTQ+ identity. Heartstopper is a highly regarded series about the first love between two boys, while Love, Victor explores the personal journey of a student adjusting to a new city and his own sexual identity.
What are the best supernatural or horror series of the 2020s?
For those seeking supernatural or horror themes, the series FROM is a standout mystery-thriller about residents trapped in a nightmarish town. Additionally, Jujutsu Kaisen offers a intense look at exorcism and cursed objects, while The Last of Us provides a gritty post-apocalyptic survival experience.