Dystopian fiction has long been a staple in the realms of science fiction and horror, but in the 21st century, it has emerged as a formidable genre of its own. This list showcases the pinnacle of TV dystopia, featuring everything from zombie-infested landscapes to AI-driven apocalypses, and even subtler nightmares like societies governed by social media metrics or worlds where every visual experience is recorded in your brain as a video file.

From devastating plagues and nuclear winters to robot uprisings, time travel-induced paranoia, and mysterious disappearances, these 19 TV shows (alongside one miniseries) encapsulate the most ingenious, terrifying, and often poignant dystopian narratives ever produced. Whether depicting a post-apocalyptic world or simply showcasing an office where employees have a microchip splitting their consciousness, the unifying thread is a dark, gripping vision of the future—both near and distant—that pulses 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 voted on their Favorite Post-Apocalyptic World from Movies and TV!

However, if it's television that captures your interest, delve further as we explore standout series such as Fallout, Severance, The Walking Dead, The Handmaid's Tale, The Last of Us, and more. Here are the Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows of All Time!