12 Best Shows Like The Walking Dead to Watch Next (2026)
Find intense survival dramas and zombie-heavy series like The Walking Dead, from The Last of Us to Black Summer, Dead Set, and more eerie picks.
If you’re searching for shows like The Walking Dead, you probably want tense survival stories, uneasy alliances, and a world where every decision matters. This list leans into those same pressures with titles such as The Last of Us, Black Summer, Dead Set, and Sweet Home, each offering a different spin on horror, drama, and thriller elements. You’ll also find Walking Dead universe entries like Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: Dead City, and The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live for readers who want more from that world. From zombie apocalypses to plague-ravaged survival tales, these picks keep the stakes high and the atmosphere bleak.
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01
Black Summer
action · drama · horror · thriller
In the dark, early days of a zombie apocalypse, complete strangers band together to find the strength they need to survive and get back to loved ones.
Why watch: If you enjoy stripped-down zombie survival with action, drama, and horror, this is a strong pick. Its early-apocalypse setup and strangers-joining-for-survival premise should feel especially familiar.
Directed by John Hyams, Abram CoxCast Jaime King, Justin Chu Cary, Christine Lee, Zoe Marlett, Kelsey FlowerNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
02
The Walking Dead: Dead City
action · adventure · drama · horror · thriller
Maggie and Negan travel to post-apocalyptic Manhattan - long ago cut off from the mainland. The crumbling city is filled with the dead and denizens who have made it a world full of anarchy, danger, beauty, and terror.
Why watch: If you want a direct continuation of the Walking Dead universe, this one fits well. The move to a cut-off Manhattan adds an isolated, danger-filled setting that keeps the stakes high.
Directed by Michael E. Satrazemis, Edward Ornelas, Kevin Dowling, Gandja Monteiro, Loren YaconelliCast Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, Logan Kim, Gaius Charles, Zeljko IvanekNetflixAmazon Prime VideoAMC+More details on IMDb → -
03
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
drama · horror · thriller
Rick and Michonne are thrown into another world, built on a war against the dead... And ultimately, a war against the living. Can they find each other and who they were in a place and situation unlike any they've ever known before? Are they enemies? Lovers? Victims? Victors? Without each other, are they even alive – or will they find that they, too, are the Walking Dead?
Why watch: If you like character-first stories inside the Walking Dead world, this is worth a look. It centers on Rick and Michonne and leans into drama, horror, and thriller tension.
Directed by Bertie Ellwood, Michael E. Satrazemis, Michael Slovis, Amber TemplemoreCast Andrew Lincoln, Danai Gurira, Pollyanna McIntosh, Terry O'Quinn, Lesley-Ann BrandtAMC+More details on IMDb → -
04
Z Nation
action · comedy · drama · horror · romance · sci-fi
Three years after the zombie virus has gutted the country, a team of everyday heroes must transport the only known survivor of the plague from New York to California, where the last functioning viral lab waits for his blood.
Why watch: If you want a zombie series with more humor mixed into the chaos, this may be the right fit. Its action, comedy, and horror blend gives it a lighter edge than many straight survival dramas.
Directed by Abram Cox, Dan Merchant, John Hyams, Alexander Yellen, Jodi BinstockCast Russell Hodgkinson, Nat Zang, Keith Allan, Kellita Smith, Anastasia BaranovaTubiPeacock PremiumAMC+More details on IMDb → -
05
Newtopia
action · comedy · drama · fantasy · horror · romance · thriller
Jae-yoon, a late military enlistee, and his girlfriend, Young-joo, break up over the phone over growing misunderstandings. But a zombie outbreak rocks the world. A national emergency is declared, a plane crashes in the city center, and Jae-yoon and his unit get trapped on top of a Seoul skyscraper. Young-joo risks the zombie-filled streets to find him. Can their love survive the apocalypse?
Why watch: If you like apocalypse stories that mix danger with romance and comedy, this could appeal to you. The Seoul skyscraper setup and zombie outbreak give it a fast, high-pressure premise.
Directed by Yoon SunghyunCast Park Jeong-min, Kim Jisoo, Lee Hak-joo, Kim Jeong-jin, Kim Jun-hanAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
06
Marvel Zombies
animation · action · adventure · drama · fantasy · horror · sci-fi
After the Avengers are overtaken by a zombie plague, a desperate group of survivors discover the key to bringing an end to the super-powered undead, racing across a dystopian landscape and risking life and limb to save their world.
Why watch: If you enjoy superhero action mixed with undead threats, this stands out from the rest of the list. Its animated format and dystopian survival setup make it a different kind of zombie story.
Directed by Bryan AndrewsCast Iman Vellani, Todd Williams, David Boat, Robin Atkin Downes, Terri DouglasDisney PlusMore details on IMDb → -
07
The Stand
adventure · drama · fantasy · horror · sci-fi · thriller
In a world mostly wiped out by the plague and embroiled in an elemental struggle between good and evil, the fate of mankind rests on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abagail and a handful of survivors. Their worst nightmares are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the Dark Man.
Why watch: If you prefer large-scale plague stories with fantasy and thriller elements, this is a good match. Its focus on a small group of survivors facing a bigger struggle between good and evil broadens the survival angle.
Directed by Josh Boone, Bridget Savage Cole, Danielle Krudy, Chris Fisher, Vincenzo NataliCast James Marsden, Odessa Young, Alexander Skarsgård, Whoopi Goldberg, Gordon CormierParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
08
Dead Set
1 BAFTA TV Award nomination
drama · horror · reality-tv · sci-fi · thriller
Zombies are rampaging throughout Britain. Blissfully unaware of gory events outside, the Big Brother housemates are in for the ultimate eviction night...
Why watch: If you like horror with an unusual premise, this one is easy to recommend. The zombie outbreak outside a reality TV house creates a confined, tense setup that feels different from standard apocalypse stories.
Directed by Yann DemangeCast Paul 'Bubble' Ferguson, Jaime Winstone, Andy Nyman, Riz Ahmed, Davina McCallAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
09
The Last of Us
Won 9 Emmys Outstanding Drama Series (2023) · 40 nominations
action · adventure · drama · horror · sci-fi · thriller
Twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed, Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the United States and depend on each other for survival.
Why watch: If you want a critically praised, character-driven survival journey, this is a strong choice. Its action, adventure, and horror mix suits viewers who like emotional stakes alongside danger.
Directed by Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann, Peter Hoar, Ali Abbasi, Jeremy WebbCast Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced, Young MazinoMaxMore details on IMDb → -
10
Sweet Home
drama · fantasy · horror · thriller
As humans turn into savage monsters and the world plunges into terror, a handful of survivors fight for their lives — and to hold on to their humanity.
Why watch: If you enjoy stories about people fighting to survive while holding onto their humanity, this should fit well. Its fantasy, horror, and thriller blend points to a dark but emotionally focused watch.
Directed by Lee Eung-bok, Park So-hyun, Jang Young-woo, Kate MarleyCast Song Kang, Lee Jin-wook, Lee Si-young, Go Min-si, Kim Hee-JungNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
11
Fear the Walking Dead
drama · horror · sci-fi · thriller
What did the world look like as it was transforming into the horrifying apocalypse depicted in "The Walking Dead"? This spin-off set in Los Angeles, following new characters as they face the beginning of the end of the world, will answer that question.
Why watch: If you want to see the early days of the apocalypse in a familiar universe, this is an easy pick. It follows new characters as the world begins to fall apart, which may appeal if you like origin-story style survival drama.
Directed by Michael E. Satrazemis, Stefan Schwartz, Andrew Bernstein, Heather Cappiello, Adam DavidsonCast Colman Domingo, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Danay Garcia, Rubén Blades, Jenna ElfmanNetflixAmazon Prime VideoAMC+More details on IMDb → -
12
The Cured
drama · horror · sci-fi · thriller
What happens when the undead return to life? In a world ravaged for years by a virus that turns the infected into zombie-like cannibals, a cure is at last found and the wrenching process of reintegrating the survivors back into society begins.
Why watch: If you’re curious about a twist on zombie fiction, this one stands apart. Its story of a cure and reintegration after years of infection gives it a different kind of tension than a typical outbreak tale.
Directed by David FreyneCast Elliot Page, Sam Keeley, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Stuart Graham, Paula MalcomsonAMC+Paramount PlusMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
Whether you want grim zombie survival, post-apocalyptic journeys, or character-driven stories under pressure, this lineup gives you plenty to explore next. Titles like The Last of Us, Z Nation, and Dead Set each approach the genre from a different angle, while the Walking Dead spin-offs stay closest to the core mood you already know. Bookmark this page and come back when you want another round of bleak, suspenseful TV. It’s updated regularly so you can keep finding fresh options that fit the same appetite for danger and survival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these shows similar to The Walking Dead?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.