7 mind-bending sci-fi web series that pull you into strange, unsettling worlds

If you enjoy stories that blur the line between reality and imagination, sci-fi web series offer some of the most gripping experiences on screen. 

From disturbing futures shaped by technology to eerie mysteries involving time, memory, and identity, these shows don’t just entertain—they stay with you long after the credits roll. 

Here are seven outstanding sci-fi series that take viewers on immersive, thought-provoking journeys through unsettling worlds and bold ideas.

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Black Mirror – Netflix

This acclaimed anthology series explores how modern technology can quietly transform—and sometimes destroy—human lives. Each episode presents a standalone story, making it easy to jump in at any point. From social media obsession and artificial intelligence to surveillance and virtual relationships, the show takes familiar concepts and pushes them to disturbing extremes. Its strength lies in how close these fictional futures feel to real life, making every episode unsettling and deeply reflective.

Severance – Apple TV+

Set inside the strange Lumon Industries, this series revolves around employees who voluntarily undergo a medical procedure that separates their work memories from their personal lives. Mark Scout works in the Macrodata Refinement department, living two completely disconnected existences. When a new employee, Helly R, begins questioning the system, the calm surface starts to crack. Slowly paced yet deeply eerie, the series explores identity, free will, and the cost of extreme work-life separation.

Dark – Netflix

This complex German series begins with the disappearance of children in the quiet town of Winden, but soon expands into a layered story of time travel and generational secrets. Teenager Jonas Kahnwald stumbles upon a cave that allows travel across different eras, revealing shocking connections within his own family. As past, present, and future collide, the show builds an intricate puzzle that demands attention and rewards patience with powerful emotional payoffs.

1899 – Netflix

Set aboard a steamship traveling from Europe to New York, this atmospheric mystery unfolds when the crew receives a signal from a ship that vanished months earlier. Doctor Maura Franklin, struggling with memory gaps, becomes central to the unfolding mystery. As passengers from different cultures reveal hidden pasts, strange events begin to blur reality. The series slowly tightens its grip, creating a haunting sense of paranoia and existential dread.

Silo – Apple TV+

In a massive underground silo, thousands of people live under strict rules, believing the outside world is uninhabitable. Juliette Nichols, a skilled engineer, begins questioning the system after a series of suspicious deaths. Her search for truth exposes secrets buried deep within the silo’s structure. Tense and methodical, the show builds its mystery layer by layer, making every revelation feel earned and chilling.

The Expanse – Amazon Prime Video

Set in a future where humanity has colonised the solar system, this series blends political tension with space adventure. James Holden and his crew are pulled into a dangerous conspiracy after responding to a distress call, while political leaders on Earth and Mars struggle to prevent war. With realistic science, strong character arcs, and moral complexity, the show delivers large-scale storytelling without losing emotional depth.

Also Read: 7 Sci-Fi Movies That Bend Reality and Patience on YouTube, Netflix, Apple TV+ and More

Maniac – Netflix

This offbeat sci-fi drama centres on an experimental drug trial that promises to cure mental pain. Two strangers, Owen and Annie, experience shared dream-like realities during the experiment, confronting their fears, trauma, and loneliness. As the trial begins to malfunction, the series becomes a poignant exploration of mental health and human connection. Visually inventive and emotionally rich, it stands apart from typical sci-fi storytelling.