Dystopian fiction has long been a pivotal element within the realms of science fiction and horror, but in the 21st century, it has emerged as a dominant genre in its own right. This list showcases the pinnacle of dystopian television, spanning from harrowing zombie landscapes to AI-driven apocalypses, and even subtler yet chilling scenarios such as societies ruled by social media metrics or worlds where every sight is recorded in your mind like video files.

From massive plagues and nuclear winters to robot uprisings, time travel-induced paranoia, and mysterious disappearances, these 19 TV shows (alongside one miniseries) represent the most ingenious, terrifying, and often profoundly moving dystopian narratives ever crafted. Some depict life after an apocalypse, while others explore the daily struggles of individuals with microchips splitting their consciousness in an office setting. What unites them is a dark, foreboding vision of the future, whether near or distant, brimming with intensity, intrigue, and boundless imagination.

For those interested in cinematic dystopias, be sure to explore the Top 10 Apocalypse Movies of All Time and the 6 Post-Apocalyptic Movies You've Probably Never Seen. Additionally, IGN readers have cast their votes for their Favorite Post-Apocalyptic World from Movies and TV!

However, if your focus is on television, delve deeper with us into iconic series like Fallout, Severance, The Walking Dead, The Handmaid's Tale, The Last of Us, and many more. Here are the Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows of All Time!