Sci-fi has long been a staple of Netflix’s catalog, with original series like Stranger Things and Dark serving as flagship genre-defining hits. The platform has also bolstered its library with licensed titles such as Resident Alien and The Lazarus Project, proving its ability to offer both globally beloved series and lesser-known cult favorites. Few streaming services can rival Netflix’s sci-fi credentials.
The only downside to having such heavy-hitting, culture-shaping shows on the platform is that plenty of others inevitably slip through the cracks. While subscribers flock to the biggest names in the genre, there are dozens of excellent sci-fi shows on Netflix that remain underappreciated. Some are international productions with niche followings, while others never got the mainstream recognition they deserved despite strong critical acclaim.
These underrated gems absolutely must not be missed by sci-fi fans. These obscure sci-fi TV shows on Netflix deliver gripping stories, inventive concepts, and fascinating world-building. Each one proves that sometimes the best discoveries on the platform aren’t the chart-topping blockbusters, but the hidden treasures waiting just beneath the surface.
10
Tribes Of Europa (2021)
A Post-Apocalyptic Future Divided By Warring Factions
Set in the year 2074, the German sci-fi show Tribes of Europa imagines a fractured continent following a mysterious global disaster. Europe is split into competing microstates, with tribes battling for power and survival. The story of Tribes of Europa follows siblings Kiano (Emilio Sakraya), Liv (Henriette Confurius), and Elja (David Ali Rashed), whose lives change after they stumble upon a powerful cube that could reshape the future.
What makes the series so compelling is its mix of post-apocalyptic grit with a distinctly European flavor. The show isn’t afraid to explore sociopolitical allegories, mirroring real-world tensions in its portrayal of fractured unity and tribalism. At the same time, it delivers high-stakes battles, striking visuals, and unique world-building that set it apart from other dystopian dramas.
Despite its strong concept, Tribes of Europa never became a breakout hit, overshadowed by bigger Netflix sci-fi offerings. Still, its ambitious scope and imaginative setting make it one of the obscure sci-fi TV shows on Netflix most worth uncovering.
9
Osmosis (2019)
Love And Technology Collide In A Futuristic Paris
French sci-fi drama Osmosis explores the dark side of love and technology. The show is set in near-future Paris, where a revolutionary dating app claims to perfectly match people by accessing their brain data. Paul (Hugo Becker) and Esther Vanhove (Agathe Bonitzer), the siblings behind the project and the tech company that launches it, find themselves at the center of a storm as participants begin to suffer unexpected consequences.
The series blends romance, psychological thriller, and speculative science fiction into a unique hybrid. By questioning the nature of love, free will, and technological control, Osmosis taps into themes that sci-fi fans love – how innovation can both elevate and endanger humanity. It’s cerebral, sleek, and hauntingly relevant.
Though short-lived, Osmosis remains a standout hidden gem in Netflix’s catalog, and an incredibly easy-to-binge sci-fi show. It stands out for its originality and philosophical edge, making it a must-watch for viewers craving smart, concept-driven storytelling beyond the typical dystopian action formula.
8
The Imperfects (2022)
Genetic Experiments Create Reluctant Monsters In Hiding
The Imperfects centers on three young adults – Abbi (Rhianna Jagpal), Tilda (Morgan Taylor Campbell), and Juan (Iñaki Godoy) – who discover they’ve been turned into “monsters” after undergoing experimental gene therapy. Each character struggles with new powers they never asked for, from banshee screams to shapeshifting, while searching for the scientist responsible.
Part superhero drama, part monster series, The Imperfects brings a refreshing twist to Netflix sci-fi. Its focus on reluctant antiheroes sets it apart from traditional chosen-one narratives. The trio’s journey is messy, funny, and heartfelt, combining elements of coming-of-age storytelling with body horror and comic book energy.
Unfortunately, the show was canceled after just one season, leaving fans wishing for more. Still, its sharp writing, likable leads, and clever spin on genetic engineering tropes make The Imperfects one of the more intriguing obscure sci-fi TV shows on Netflix that deserves another look.
7
Maniac (2018)
A Mind-Bending Psychological Trip Through Human Connection
Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, Maniac is a limited series starring Jonah Hill as Owen Milgrim and Emma Stone as Annie Landsberg, two strangers drawn into a mysterious pharmaceutical trial. The experiment promises to cure psychological pain, but instead plunges them into surreal shared dreamscapes that blur the line between reality and illusion.
With its retro-futuristic design, Maniac looks unlike any other Netflix series. Each episode shifts genres and tones, from fantasy quests to crime noir, while exploring trauma, loneliness, and the need for human connection. It’s a heady mix of sci-fi experimentation and emotional storytelling.
Though acclaimed by critics, Maniac never achieved mainstream popularity, partly because of its eccentric style and ambiguous narrative. Still, it’s a rare gem in the Netflix library – a daring series that proves sci-fi can be just as much about inner landscapes as futuristic technology.
6
Pantheon (2022-2023)
Uploading Consciousness Comes With Unexpected Consequences
Based on short stories by Ken Liu, Pantheon is an animated sci-fi drama with one of the most thought-provoking premises of recent years. The show follows Maddie (Katie Chang), a teenager who discovers her deceased father’s consciousness has been uploaded into a digital system, sparking a global conflict over the future of humanity.
The animation format allows Pantheon to explore massive ideas – digital immortality, AI warfare, and the merging of human and machine consciousness – in ways that live-action might struggle to capture. Its tone balances intimate family drama with large-scale sci-fi spectacle, offering something fresh for both animation fans and genre enthusiasts.
Although Pantheon only ran for two seasons, it’s one of the most ambitious sci-fi TV shows on Netflix. It deserves recognition for its sharp writing, thematic depth, and stunningly realized vision of a future where technology outpaces human control.
5
Omniscient (2020)
A City Where Privacy No Longer Exists
Brazilian sci-fi series Omniscient envisions a future city where everyone is constantly monitored by surveillance drones. The system claims to keep crime rates near zero, but when Nina (Carla Salle) discovers a murder that goes unpunished, she begins questioning the infallibility of the system and uncovers darker truths.
The show thrives on its balance of tense thriller plotting and philosophical questions about freedom versus safety. By taking modern concerns about surveillance and pushing them to an extreme, Omniscient taps into anxieties that feel all too real. Its minimalistic production design further enhances the sense of clinical control.
Though overshadowed by other international and sci-fi hits like 3% or Dark, Omniscient is a bold and unsettling vision of a future where technology dictates every choice. It’s an overlooked entry in Netflix’s sci-fi lineup that delivers both suspense and food for thought.
4
Sisyphus: The Myth (2021)
A Genius Engineer Fights To Change An Inevitable Future
This South Korean sci-fi drama blends action, mystery, and time-travel intrigue. Sisyphus: The Myth tells the story of Han Tae-sul (Cho Seung-woo), a brilliant engineer who uncovers shocking truths about his brother’s death, and Seo-hae (Park Shin-hye), a time traveler from a dystopian future. Together, they fight to prevent a catastrophic timeline from unfolding.
What sets Sisyphus apart is its mix of blockbuster spectacle with deeply emotional stakes. The series delivers explosive action sequences and dazzling effects, but at its heart is the relationship between Tae-sul and Seo-hae, whose struggle mirrors the myth of Sisyphus itself – endless, tragic, yet filled with determination.
Though it didn’t get the same global buzz as Squid Game or Alice in Borderland, Sisyphus remains an inventive and gripping sci-fi and a top-tier Netflix K-Drama. For fans of high-concept time travel stories, it’s one of the most underrated Netflix titles out there.
3
Sense8 (2015-2018)
Eight Strangers Around The World Share A Psychic Connection
Created by Lana and Lilly Wachowski, Sense8 follows eight individuals across the globe who suddenly find themselves psychically linked. Characters like Will (Brian J. Smith), Riley (Tuppence Middleton), and Sun (Doona Bae) must navigate their shared bond while being hunted by a secretive organization.
The show excels at blending science fiction with themes of empathy, diversity, and interconnectedness. Its global scope is ambitious, filming across multiple countries to reflect its international cast and narrative. Sci-fi fans who love stories about collective consciousness and human evolution will find plenty to admire.
Though canceled after two seasons, Sense8 developed a passionate fanbase, eventually receiving a feature-length finale. It remains one of Netflix’s boldest sci-fi experiments – an emotionally rich series that dared to be as much about love and identity as it was about futuristic powers.
2
Travelers (2016-2018)
Time Travelers Work To Save Humanity From Disaster
Travelers takes a grounded approach to time travel. The narrative focuses on operatives from a future where humanity faces collapse, who send their consciousnesses back into people living in the 21st century. FBI agent Grant MacLaren (Eric McCormack) leads a team tasked with preventing disasters while navigating the personal lives of their hosts.
What makes Travelers stand out is its commitment to blending intimate character drama with big-picture sci-fi stakes. The conflict between duty to the mission and responsibility to their hosts’ lives creates layered, compelling storytelling. The time-travel mechanics are cleverly grounded, avoiding flashy gimmicks for a more realistic depiction.
Despite critical praise, Travelers never gained mainstream recognition, making it a quintessential hidden gem. Its three-season run offers a complete, satisfying arc, cementing it as one of the most rewarding obscure sci-fi TV shows on Netflix for fans of cerebral, character-driven science fiction.
1
The OA (2016-2019)
A Mysterious Young Woman Returns With Secrets Of Another Dimension
The OA is one of the most enigmatic and original shows Netflix has ever produced. Prairie Johnson (Brit Marling), a blind woman who reappears after seven years with her sight restored, tells a group of strangers an astonishing story involving near-death experiences, captivity, and interdimensional travel.
The show defies easy categorization, blending science fiction with fantasy, mystery, and spirituality. Its willingness to take creative risks – both narratively and thematically – made it unlike anything else on the platform. Sci-fi fans drawn to ambitious, thought-provoking storytelling will find The OA endlessly fascinating.
Although it was canceled after two seasons, leaving its story unfinished, The OA remains a cult favorite. Its influence can still be felt in conversations about Netflix’s most daring original shows. For many, it’s the ultimate hidden gem, the very definition of what makes discovering obscure sci-fi TV shows on Netflix so rewarding.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
