We’ve still got a while before Severanceseason 3 is released, but there are some other recent twisted sci-fi shows worth streaming while we wait. 2025 has been a great year for the genre, and Severance season 2 has stood out as a prime example. Released on January 17, 2025, this installment left us with an infuriatingly intriguing cliffhanger, but we at least got confirmation for season 3 shortly after.
Severance season 1 hit AppleTV+ in 2022, so we had a long three-year wait for the continued story after Mark Scout first caught our attention. Hopefully, it won’t take nearly as long between Severance season 2 and season 3. Creator Dan Erickson said that he is aiming for a late 2026 or early 2027 premiere—certainly good news, but still a while away.
In the meantime, Severance fans can turn their attention to some of the other sci-fi series with newer offerings. Whether these have just begun their first season in 2025 or have recently returned for a new installment, audiences can find a similar sort of mind-bending sci-fi thrills in these shows as they did in Severance‘s first two seasons. Hopefully, they can ease the wait.
5
Foundation
Season 3 Released On AppleTV+ On July 11, 2025
Foundation
8/10
- Release Date
-
September 23, 2021
- Network
-
Apple TV+
- Showrunner
-
David S. Goyer
- Directors
-
Alex Graves, Roxann Dawson, Jennifer Phang, Mark Tonderai, Andrew Bernstein
- Writers
-
Jane Espenson, Leigh Dana Jackson, Liz Phang, Eric Carrasco, David Kob, Addie Manis, Marcus Gardley, Lauren Bello, Olivia Purnell
Foundation is another AppleTV+ series, and its first season premiered on the streaming platform a year before Severance, in 2021. Based on the Foundation novels by Isaac Asimov, the TV series was created by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman. Foundation has a massive cast, which includes names like Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell, Leah Harvey, Laura Birn, and more.
Foundation is a more traditional sci-fi than Severance. Set in a distant future, the series sees humanity spread throughout the galaxy and follows mathematician Hari Seldon, who predicts the crash of this galactic empire. It’s full of classic sci-fi action, with twists and turns that guide audiences through concepts of politics, philosophy, morality, and more.
On the surface, Foundation and Severance seem to share little in common. The former series lacks the “workplace comedy” tropes. However, both shows revolve around similar themes, with powerful institutions ruling over the lives and minds of the lesser. Viewers of Foundation are pushed to ask themselves questions about free will and societal expectation, all the while enjoying a visually stunning experience.
4
Black Mirror
Season 7 Released On Netflix On April 10, 2025
Black Mirror
6/10
- Release Date
-
December 4, 2011
- Network
-
Channel 4, Netflix
- Showrunner
-
Charlie Brooker
- Directors
-
Owen Harris, Toby Haynes, James Hawes, David Slade, Carl Tibbetts, Ally Pankiw, Bryn Higgins, Dan Trachtenberg, Euros Lyn, Jodie Foster, Joe Wright, John Hillcoat, Sam Miller, Tim Van Patten, Uta Briesewitz, Colm McCarthy, Jakob Verbruggen, James Watkins, John Crowley, Otto Bathurst, Anne Sewitsky, Brian Welsh
- Writers
-
Jesse Armstrong
The sci-fi anthology series, Black Mirror, created by Charlie Brooker, explores the darker sides of technology and human nature. Each episode contains a standalone story, typically set in the near future, though always within a dystopian, high-technology society. Black Mirror takes heavy inspiration from The Twilight Zone, but with more consistent themes revolving around social issues and technology.
Though again, there are significant differences, Mark Scout’s story could have easily been an episode of Black Mirror.
Black Mirror provides another twisted, cerebral experience for fans of Severance. Though again, there are significant differences, Mark Scout’s story could have easily been an episode of Black Mirror. Those looking for something similar would surely enjoy episodes like “White Christmas” or “Nosedive,” since they match Severance‘s corporate or cognitive fracturing concepts.
Though some episodes of Black Mirror are about as different from Severance as could be, many of this series’ offerings have that similar unsettling, or mind-bending feel. Of course, as an anthology, the pace of each episode will be a bit faster than Severance—less of a slow burn because every episode has its own complete conclusion. If you’re looking for something like Severance but in more bite-sized pieces, Black Mirror should scratch the itch.
3
Murderbot
Season 1 Released On AppleTV+ On May 16, 2025
Murderbot
9/10
- Release Date
-
May 15, 2025
- Network
-
Apple TV+
- Showrunner
-
Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
- Directors
-
Aurora Guerrero, Roseanne Liang
- Writers
-
Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Murderbotis another AppleTV+ series, this time a sci-fi action comedy. It’s created by Paul and Chris Weitz, and is based on the book series, The Murderbot Diaries, by author Martha Wells. Murderbot stars Alexander Skarsgård in the titular role—a self-aware security android with dark humor and a gripping internal monologue. The series premiered on May 16, 2025.
Skarsgård’s self-proclaimed Murderbot isn’t as violent as his name suggests. It’s far more interested in bingeing TV dramas than killing, and its primary task is to protect. However, Murderbot grapples with its newfound autonomy in the AppleTV+ series, attempting to construct its own identity as it frees itself from corporate control. Naturally, this is very different from Severance, but there is still an intriguing overlap here.
Those who love Severance for its covert (and often overt) statements about corporate dehumanization, identity in relation to memory, and resistance against the powers that be are sure to be intrigued by Murderbot. Like Mark S., the titular robot of this series is endeeringly naive, but with that sliver of rebellion growing steadily stronger. Murderbot also has the added touch of comedy to balance, but with far more action than Severance (a win-win).
2
Revival
Season 1 Released On Peacock On June 12, 2025
Revival
6/10
- Release Date
-
June 12, 2025
- Directors
-
Amanda Row
- Writers
-
Heather Taylor, Ashley Park, Noelle Carbone
-
Melanie Scrofano
Dana Cypress
-
Romy Weltman
Martha ‘Em’ Cypress
Revival is a Syfy network supernatural horror noir series based on the comic book series of the same name by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton. The TV show comes from creators Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce, and stars Melanie Scrofano, Romy Weltman, David James Elliott, Andy McQueen, and more. Revival season 1, made of seven episodes, began streaming on Peacock on June 12, 2025.
This supernatural series, set in Wausau, Wisconsin, follows a massive event known as “the Revival,” during which deceased residents of the town suddenly return from the dead. These aren’t mindless zombies. They behave exactly as they did in life. Following this event, Officer Dana Cypress gets pulled into a murder investigation, with the primary twist being that the victim is now alive.
Once again, Revival is unlike Severance in its basic premise. However, just as Lumon’s Severed employees are seen as less-than-human, the “Revivers” are immediately othered by their peers. This leads to an internal debate around identity and agency, in addition to institutional control and morality. Revival‘s tone is much less cerebral, and the supernatural elements are unique, but it will still keep audiences thinking and guessing.
1
The Institute
Season 1 Released On MGM+ On July 13, 2025
MGM+’s The Institute is a supernatural psychological horror series based on the 2019 novel of the same name by Stephen King. Developed by Benjamin Cavell and directed by Jack Bender, The Institute‘s first season, released on July 13, 2025, contains eight episodes and stars Joe Freeman, Ben Barnes, Mary-Louise Parker, Simone Miller, Fionn Laird, Julian Richings, and more.
The Institute follows Freeman’s character, Luke Ellis, who awakens in a secret Maine facility known as the Institute. This is where gifted teens are held and subjected to grueling experiments aimed at weaponizing their abilities. Former cop Tim Jamieson (Barnes) begins to uncover the truth about the Institute’s agenda as Luke and his captive friends plan their big escape.
Both shows revolve around characters who are trapped against their will within a secret institution, which hides behind a respectable facade.
Fans of Severance are likely to find The Institute to be more resonant than other comparisons. Both shows revolve around characters who are trapped against their will within a secret institution, which hides behind a respectable facade. There are themes of government control and identity, but, unlike Severance‘s sterile surrealism, The Institute explores these ideas through supernatural elements.
Overall, it’s evident that there are no recent sci-fi series that are precisely like Severance. The appeal of this AppleTV+ series is that it is so unique, after all. However, the show’s themes and approach have drawn inspiration from or inspired other recent offerings, allowing us to find some substitutes until Severanceseason 3 finally premieres.
Severance
8/10
- Release Date
-
February 18, 2022
- Showrunner
-
Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman
- Writers
-
Dan Erickson
