From Daeho to The Witcher’s Continent: 7 Netflix Fantasy Shows With Flawless Worldbuilding

Netflix’s fantasy range

Netflix has developed original television across many genres, and fantasy has become one area of notable success. Its shows include adaptations of books, reboots, additions to established franchises and original works.

The Sandman, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the live-action One Piece and Sweet Tooth are among the examples named. The list focuses on worldbuilding as a way to draw viewers into distinct fictional settings, while leaving anime shows aside.

The Continent and its rules

The Witcher, adapted from Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, debuted on Netflix in 2019 as the first English-language adaptation. It is set on the Continent, where magic and many kinds of monsters exist, and follows Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer of Vengerberg and Princess Ciri as their paths converge through destiny.

The show’s quality has been inconsistent, with a strong start followed by a sharp decline in season 2 and later efforts to improve. Its worldbuilding, however, is described as a strength: viewers learn the universe’s rules, folklore and secrets through the characters’ experiences rather than through constant explanation.

A richly divided Grishaverse

Shadow and Bone draws on Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows novels. Its Grishaverse includes Ravka, Fjerda, Shu Han, Kerch, Novyi Zem and the Wandering Isle, nations inspired by real-world countries; people who use magic are called Grisha.

Grisha practice the Small Science, manipulating matter at the molecular level. Ravka is one of the few places where they can live without fear of persecution, and it is home to Alina, an orphan, cartographer and Sun Summoner who can call light and is the only person able to destroy the Fold.

The series builds a culturally diverse world with distinctive magic, social classes, folklore, politics and conflicts. It ran for two seasons, a limitation on how much of that setting could be shown.

Magic shapes Daeho

Alchemy of Souls is a South Korean series set in Daeho, a fictional country where mages can use forbidden magic called the Alchemy of Souls to switch souls between bodies. Warrior Naksu’s soul becomes trapped in Mu-deok’s body, and she falls in love with Jang Uk, a member of a noble family.

Daeho combines traditional Korean elements with a distinct magic system, while the story explains the powers’ rules and origins. The title spell affects more than body-swapping: it has social, biological and political consequences for the world.