10 Best Fantasy Shows If You Like Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Percy Jackson and the Olympians was released in 2023 and is based on Rick Riordan’s popular fantasy book series of the same name. Percy Jackson has received positive reception for its compelling characters, smart writing, and stellar action sequences, but with only around eight episodes per season, fans don’t have a lot of time with their new favorite show. Thankfully, there are several similar shows good enough to hold fans over while they wait for the third Percy Jackson season, which will release in late 2026.

The series centering on the titular young demigod is an incredibly faithful retelling of its source material, and luckily for fans, it’s already been green-lit for a third season. Between popular action cartoons and modern mythological stories, there’s plenty out there for Percy Jackson fans to sink their teeth into. There’s no better way for fans to bide their time in between episodes.

Percy Jackson Season 1 poster

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10

Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac Is One of the Greatest Anime of All Time

It is Easily the Classic Quintessential Mythological Anime

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Saint Seiya is one of the most acclaimed and influential anime of all time, having inspired several Gundam series. It follows Seiya, a young man who is on a quest to protect the goddess Athena along with several other “saints.” Aside from Athena, other significant members of the Greek pantheon are featured in the anime, including Poseidon and Hades. As far as classic anime go, Saint Seiya still holds up remarkably well today.

With superb action, compelling tournament arcs, and an intricate plot, it’s easy to see why Saint Seiya became such a global phenomenon. There are plenty of similarities between the 1986 anime and Percy Jackson: both shows blend Greek mythology with a coming-of-age adventure that centers on young heroes discovering a larger destiny. Anyone who enjoyed Percy Jackson‘s focus on friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice will love Saint Seiya’s myth-inspired settings, intense action, and coming-of-age story.

9

Hercules Features Many of the Same Gods & Goddesses as Percy Jackson

Most of the Major Players Make Appearances in Both TV Shows

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Hercules: The Animated Series released in 1998 and features a teenage Hercules interacting with the Greek Pantheon on a much greater scale than the original Disney movie. Obviously, the show functions as a prequel to the original film, since Hercules wasn’t aware he was descended from the gods until he was already a young adult. But the ’90s cartoon has enough time to fully flesh out every god and goddess that appeared in the Hercules movie, as well as crossing over with other Disney characters like Aladdin.

Both Hercules: The Animated Series and Percy Jackson reimagine Greek mythology through the lens of a young hero who’s trying to grow up while dealing with gods, monsters, and their own destiny. Like Camp Half-Blood, Hercules attends the Prometheus Academy to learn how to use his abilities and navigate the expectations placed on him by the gods. Both shows mix mythology with modern humor, which makes the ancient legends feel approachable and relatable for all audiences.

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8

Record of Ragnarök Is an Anime Centered Around a Tournament Between Gods and Mortals

Gods and Legends From Almost Every Belief Makes An Appearance In the Series

Record of Ragnarok III Key Visual Cropped

Record of Ragnarök takes many of the most popular gods and goddesses and pits them against notable mortals in a tournament to the death. If the mortals somehow manage to win, the world will be spared and Ragnarök will not come to pass. Record of Ragnarök is currently in its third season and has some of the best fights in modern anime, making it the perfect series for battle-loving Percy Jackson fans.

The anime does heavily reimagine several popular deities, sometimes to the chagrin of its fans, but it is faithful most of the time. In both Percy Jackson and Record of Ragnarök, though, the show presents a world where divine beings directly influence humanity’s fate. Both shows feature powerful, flawed gods and humans who confront overwhelming mythological forces while questioning their courage, worth, and fate. Record of Ragnarök is perfect for Percy Jackson fans who enjoy the darker, more violent elements of the mythological stories.

7

Class of the Titans Has a Similar Group of Young Demigods Challenging a Familiar Enemy

“Cronus” Name Might Be Spelled Wrong in the 2005 Series, But He’s Just as Formidable

The Clash of the Titans Decendants Image via Turner Entertainment

Class of the TItans is something of a hidden gem that follows many of the same story beats as Percy Jackson. The young group of demigods faces off against Kronos (which is spelled Cronus in the 2005 series) while training at Olympus High School in New Olympia. Despite its solid action and fun story, Class of the Titans was canceled after two seasons, making it one of the forgotten series of the early 2000s.

Class of the Titans has never really found mainstream popularity, but with renewed interest in Greek mythology thanks to Percy Jackson, there’s no better time to check it out. Much like the differing personalities at Camp Half-Blood, Class of the Titans centers on an extremely compelling and dynamic cast of characters who must work together despite arguments, insecurities, and personal struggles. There’s just as many Olympian gods, prophecies, and magical artifacts in Class of the Titans as Percy Jackson.

6

American Gods Features Much More Than Just the Greek Pantheon

The Show’s Major Focus Is North Mythology, But Greek Gods Make Appearances

American Gods (Series)

Based on Neil Gaiman’s 2001 novel, American Gods received largely positive reviews for its rich visuals, relatable themes, and interesting modern take on ancient myths. Unlike Percy Jackson, which primarily focuses on demigods, American Gods centers on the demigods’ parents. Moreover, it gives more of a focus to the other pantheons, like Norse and Egyptian. The show eventually concluded in 2021 after three seasons, but it rightfully earned its overall 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Despite running for three seasons, American Gods only has 26 episodes, making it the perfect binge between seasons of Percy Jackson. Ian McShane’s performance as Odin is breathtaking and easily the highlight of the entire show. The 2017 series takes the same fascination with mythology living beneath everyday Americans and pushes it into a much darker, adult-oriented direction filled with mysterious adventures, powerful mythological figures, and philosophical themes. American Gods is a great choice for any mythological aficionados.

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5

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Stands the Test of Time

The Classic Show Still Has Many Dedicated Fans, Despite Being Somewhat Infamous

hercules and Typhon in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

At one point in time, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys was one of the highest-rated television shows. The campy series has now fallen into relative obscurity, and it’s fallen through the cracks for most mythology fans. Much like Percy Jackson, the 1995 fantasy show brings Greek mythology to life through monster battles, Olympian gods, magical quests, and a heroic protagonist who tries to protect ordinary people from mythological chaos.

At this point, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is more known for spawning its spin-off series Xena: Warrior Princess than anything else. Nonetheless, the show is still an incredible high fantasy series, perfect for any fans of Greek mythology. There are some obviously dated parts of The Legendary Journeys, but most of it holds up as an extremely enjoyable watch, perfect for the wait in between Percy Jackson Seasons 2 and 3.

4

KAOS Follows a Modern Zeus Attempting to Control a Modern World

Jeff Goldblum’s Amazing Performance Really Brings the Series Together

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Out of all the shows to cover Greek Mythology, KAOS is easily the most creative. It follows a modern Zeus, played by Jeff Goldblum, as he attempts to get the rest of his pantheon and the mortals in line. Despite incredible ratings and several awards, KAOS was unceremoniously canceled after a single season. Its short length makes it the perfect gap-bridger between episodes of Percy Jackson, though dedicated KAOS fans would’ve appreciated more time with Goldblum’s insecure Greek god.

With only eight episodes, fans can binge KAOS within a single weekend. The 2024 Netflix show takes the idea of Greek gods secretly shaping the modern world and turns it into a bold, stylish, and emotionally complex drama about power, prophecy, and rebellion against fate. It captures the same appeal of ancient myths colliding with modern life as Percy Jackson, but in a far more mature, surreal, and psychologically layered way.

3

The Odyssey Miniseries Is Often Undeservedly Forgotten

Many People Aren’t Even Aware the Show Exists

Odysseus From The Odyssey Miniseries Image via Hallmark Entertainment

The Odyssey, a 1997 adventure miniseries, is an extremely faithful retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey. Because it follows King Odysseus of Ithaca as he battles monsters, angry gods, and magical forces, it is a perfect watch for fans who want to know more about the myths that Percy Jackson Season 2 centers on, given that Riordan’s The Sea of Monsters features a lot of Odyssey-style elements. Much like Percy’s quest across mythological America, The Odyssey follows a young-at-heart hero on a dangerous journey.

Both shows emphasize cleverness, resilience, and loyalty, with plenty of action, adventure, and complicated gods. The miniseries has two episodes that are each more than an hour in length, but The Odyssey’s short watchtime makes it the perfect watch after an episode of Percy Jackson.

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Despite Being a Spinoff, It is More Beloved Than the Original

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Xena: Warrior Princess is the more popular spinoff series of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. The show centers on the titular Xena, an former warlord who travels across the ancient mythological world, trying to redeem herself by protecting civilians, fighting tyrants, and confronting gods. Time and time again, Xenda proves that she is far more competent than any of her male combatants.

Xena: Warrior Princess, like Percy Jackson, is beloved for mixing Greek mythology with action, humor, emotional character growth, and surprisingly deep themes of friendship, redemption, and morality. Lucy Lawless’s charismatic performance elevated the epic fantasy and playful campiness of Xena: Warrior Princess, making it the perfect next watch for Percy Jackson fans.

1

Blood of Zeus Features a Demigod With the Weight of the World on Their Shoulders

Heron’s Story Is Incredibly Similar to Percy’s

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Blood of Zeus is a Netflix original anime, featuring a story somewhat similar to Percy Jackson and The Olympians. While the show is catered to adult audiences, it also features a young demigod with the weight of the world on their shoulders. The main character, Heron, even shares Percy’s affinity for sword-based combat. The anime is flawless, as proven by its consistent 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes across all three seasons, largely thanks to its slick visuals, large-scale storytelling, and high stakes.

Both Percy Jackson and Blood of Zeus do an excellent job of humanizing the Olympian gods: Zeus, Hera, and other deities are deeply flawed, emotional beings whose rivalries and mistakes directly affect mortals. Both series excel at making Greek mythology feel exciting and accessible through monster battles, prophecies, and modern storytelling rhythms, and Blood of Zeus’s darker take captures the same thrill as Percy Jackson.


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Percy Jackson & the Olympians


Release Date

December 19, 2023

Network

Disney+

Showrunner

Jonathan E. Steinberg, Dan Shotz

Directors

James Bobin


  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Walker Scobell

    Percy Jackson

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Leah Sava Jeffries

    Annabeth Chase

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Aryan Simhadri

    Grover Underwood

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Charlie Bushnell

    Luke Castellan


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