What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedArcane
Christian Linke · Series · 2021
If you loved Arcane, start with Green Snake (2021) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Arcane across media.
If you loved Arcane, you are drawn to stories where personal bonds fracture under the weight of systemic societal collapse.
Books on the same thread
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins · Book · 2008
Explores: authoritarianism, class inequality, spectacle of violence.
Much like the sisters in Arcane, the protagonist here navigates a brutal class-based hierarchy where survival demands impossible sacrifices and the dismantling of an oppressive, spectacle-driven status quo.
Northern Lights
Philip Pullman · Book · 2001
Explores: Good vs Evil, Free Will vs Determinism, Loss of Innocence.
You will find the same atmospheric tension present in Arcane within this world, where a young protagonist faces horrific scientific experimentation and a dark, multi-layered struggle for survival.
Attack on Titan 1
Hajime Isayama · Book · 2012
Explores: Existential dread, Humanity vs. monsters, Political corruption.
The existential dread and political corruption that define the conflict in Arcane are echoed here as humanity fights to survive against overwhelming forces in a crumbling post-apocalyptic society.
The Steampunk Bible
Jeff VanderMeer · Book · 2012
Explores: Technological Utopianism/Dystopianism, Retrofuturism, Alternative History.
Arcane translates the visual language of steampunk into a living city, and this collection of essays provides the essential context for the retro-futuristic aesthetic and invention fueling that world.
Films on the same thread
Akira
Katsuhiro Otomo · Film · 1988
Explores: Psychic Powers, Government Conspiracy, Youth Rebellion.
The chaotic urban decay and government conspiracies that threaten the characters in Arcane are mirrored in this gritty tale of psychic power and rebellion within a collapsing, neon-drenched city.
Green Snake
Film · 2021
Shares a thread with Arcane: Sisterhood.
The central focus on sisterhood and the desperate struggle to protect family amid a harsh, dystopian landscape perfectly captures the emotional core that makes Arcane so deeply compelling.
Castle in the Sky
Hayao Miyazaki · Film · 1986
Explores: Anti-war, Environmentalism, Orphan protagonists.
The blend of wonder and industrial peril in this film reflects the same steampunk sensibilities found in Arcane, following young protagonists caught in a high-stakes race for power.
Batman: Year One
Sam Liu · Film · 2011
Shares a thread with Arcane: Moral Ambiguity.
This story captures the same moral ambiguity and urban rot found in the streets of Zaun, focusing on how individuals navigate systemic corruption and the necessity of vigilantism.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
While lighter in tone, this series mirrors the complex group dynamics and character-driven stakes that define the relationships between the ensemble cast of Arcane during their high-fantasy adventures.
Lore
Aaron Mahnke · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Dark History, Supernatural, Mysterious Events.
The tragic narratives and dark historical explorations featured here resonate with the somber, unsettling undercurrents that frequently haunt the characters and setting of Arcane.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Arcane based on a specific conflict between cities?
Yes, Arcane centers on the stark discord between the twin cities of Piltover and Zaun. The narrative explores a war fueled by magic technologies and clashing convictions that forces two sisters to fight on rival sides.
Who created the show Arcane?
Arcane was created by Christian Linke. The series debuted in 2021 and follows the intense struggle between the twin cities of Piltover and Zaun, focusing on the fractured relationship between two sisters caught in a war of magic and ideology.
What is the primary conflict presented in Arcane?
The primary conflict in Arcane involves the deep-seated discord between the twin cities of Piltover and Zaun. This war is driven by the development of magic technologies and opposing convictions, which ultimately pits two sisters against each other on the battlefield.
Does Arcane focus on the relationship between sisters?
Yes, Arcane focuses on two sisters who find themselves on rival sides of a war. The story is set against the backdrop of the twin cities Piltover and Zaun, where the sisters navigate the consequences of clashing convictions and the rise of dangerous magic technologies.