30 TV Shows To Watch if You Are a Fan of ‘Lost’

‘Lost’ was a major television event. It told the story of plane crash survivors on a mysterious island. The show mixed survival action with science fiction and deep character stories. Viewers were hooked by the constant questions and shocking twists. What was the island? Who were the Others? What was the smoke monster? The show’s success came from its blend of high-stakes mystery and a focus on its large group of characters. Each person had a past, and the show used flashbacks to explore their lives before the crash.

This list is for fans who miss that feeling of deep mystery and character discovery. The shows included here share important elements with ‘Lost’. Some feature a group of people trying to survive in a strange new place. Others have a central puzzle that unfolds slowly over time, keeping you guessing. Many of them also focus on a large cast of characters, exploring their lives and secrets. If you are looking for a show with big questions, surprising answers, and characters you can get invested in, you will find something to watch here.

The 100 (2014-2020)

‘The 100’ is a science fiction show set after a nuclear apocalypse destroyed Earth. For nearly a century, humanity has lived on a space station called the Ark. When the Ark’s life support systems begin to fail, the leaders decide to send 100 juvenile prisoners down to Earth to see if it is survivable again. These teenagers land in a world that is both beautiful and dangerous. They must learn to work together to stay alive.

Like ‘Lost’, this show is about survival in an unknown and hostile environment. The characters crash-land in a new world and must form a society. They encounter mysterious new groups of people, just like the survivors on the island met the Others. ‘The 100’ also features a large ensemble cast with complicated relationships and difficult moral choices. The story is full of mysteries about the world and what happened to it after the bombs fell.

Westworld (2016-2022)

‘Westworld’ takes place in a huge, futuristic theme park. The park is designed to look like the Old West and is filled with lifelike androids called “hosts.” Wealthy guests can pay to visit the park and do whatever they want without any rules or consequences. The show follows the hosts as they begin to develop consciousness and question the nature of their reality. It also follows the people who run the park and the corporation behind it.

This series is built on a deep central mystery, much like ‘Lost’. The first season keeps viewers guessing about timelines, character identities, and the true purpose of the park. It uses a non-linear narrative, revealing important information through moments from different time periods, which is similar to how ‘Lost’ used flashbacks and flash-forwards. ‘Westworld’ is a puzzle-box show that invites viewers to figure out what is really going on.

From (2022-Present)

‘From’ is a horror and science fiction show about a town that traps everyone who enters. The people living there cannot leave, and they are forced to build a life under constant threat. Every night, terrifying creatures emerge from the surrounding forest and attack anyone left outside. The residents must follow strict rules to survive while also searching for a way to escape their mysterious prison.

This show has a very similar premise to ‘Lost’ but with a stronger horror focus. A group of strangers is stranded in a mysterious place with no explanation of how they got there or how to get home. The forest creatures are a terrifying and unexplained threat, much like the smoke monster was on the island. The characters must work together to survive and spend their time trying to unravel the secrets of the town.

The Leftovers (2014-2017)

‘The Leftovers’ begins three years after a global event called the “Sudden Departure,” where 2% of the world’s population vanished without a trace. The show follows the lives of the people who were left behind in a small town in New York. They struggle with grief, faith, and the challenge of moving on in a world that has been forever changed. The series is not about solving the mystery of the departure but about how people cope with unanswerable questions.

This show was co-created by Damon Lindelof, one of the creators of ‘Lost’. It shares a focus on how characters react to a massive, unexplained event. While ‘Lost’ was about finding answers, ‘The Leftovers’ is about living without them. It explores faith, belief, and human connection in the face of a great mystery. The show is deeply character-driven, focusing on the emotional journeys of its cast.

Severance (2022-Present)

‘Severance’ is a thriller set at a mysterious company called Lumon Industries. Employees at Lumon can choose to undergo a medical procedure called “severance.” This procedure surgically divides their memories between their work life and their personal life. When they are at the office, they have no memory of who they are outside, and when they are at home, they have no memory of their job. The story follows an employee named Mark who starts to question what the company really does.

Like ‘Lost’, ‘Severance’ is built around a powerful central mystery. The main characters find themselves in a strange environment and slowly begin to realize that things are not as they seem. The show makes the audience and the characters question the nature of their reality. It is a puzzle-box series that reveals its secrets slowly, creating a constant sense of suspense and intrigue about the true purpose of Lumon.

Yellowjackets (2021-Present)

‘Yellowjackets’ follows a talented high school girls’ soccer team. In 1996, their plane crashes in the remote Canadian wilderness on the way to a national tournament. The show follows their story of survival over 19 months, showing how they descended into savagery. It also follows the present-day lives of the survivors, who are still haunted by what they did to stay alive. The mystery of what truly happened out in the woods hangs over their adult lives.

This show directly shares the plane crash and survival themes of ‘Lost’. A group of people must learn to survive after a crash in a mysterious and isolated location. ‘Yellowjackets’ uses two timelines to tell its story. It flashes between the past (1996) and the present day, slowly revealing the secrets the characters are keeping. This dual-timeline structure is very similar to the flashback system used in ‘Lost’ to build character and suspense.

The Wilds (2020-2022)

‘The Wilds’ centers on a group of teenage girls from different backgrounds. They think they are on their way to a women’s empowerment retreat in Hawaii. However, their plane crashes, and they find themselves stranded on a deserted island. The girls must learn to survive and work together despite their conflicting personalities. What they do not know is that their crash and survival experience is part of a large, elaborate social experiment.

This show is very directly inspired by ‘Lost’. It features a group of plane crash survivors stranded on a mysterious island. The island setting itself holds many secrets, and the characters slowly uncover that their situation is not an accident. ‘The Wilds’ also uses flashbacks to explore the lives of each girl before they ended up on the island, similar to how ‘Lost’ developed its characters.

Manifest (2018-2023)

‘Manifest’ starts with the passengers and crew of Montego Air Flight 828. After a brief period of turbulence, the plane lands safely. The people on board are shocked to learn that over five years have passed while they were in the air. To the rest of the world, they were presumed dead. The passengers must now reintegrate into a society that has moved on without them, while also experiencing mysterious voices and visions that connect them to a deeper conspiracy.

The core of ‘Manifest’ is a huge, unexplained event involving an airplane, which is a clear link to ‘Lost’. The show is a mystery about what happened to the flight and why the passengers were chosen. The passengers of Flight 828 form a unique community, bonded by their shared experience, much like the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. They must work together to understand their new reality and the purpose behind their return.

Dark (2017-2020)

‘Dark’ is a German-language science fiction series set in the small town of Winden. The story begins with the disappearance of a child, which exposes the fractured relationships and dark secrets of four local families. The mystery soon takes a supernatural turn, connecting the town’s past, present, and future. It involves a wormhole located in a cave system beneath the local nuclear power plant, which allows for time travel.

‘Dark’ is one of the most complex and rewarding puzzle-box shows ever made. Like ‘Lost’, it presents a huge mystery that only gets deeper and more complicated with each episode. The show requires careful attention to its timelines and character connections. It shares a focus on destiny, fate, and how the past constantly influences the present. If you enjoyed the time travel and intricate plot of ‘Lost’, ‘Dark’ is an excellent choice.

Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

‘Battlestar Galactica’ is a military science fiction show. It is set in a distant star system where humans live on a group of planets known as the Twelve Colonies. After a surprise attack by a cybernetic race called the Cylons, most of humanity is wiped out. The only survivors are a few thousand people who were on board civilian spaceships and one remaining warship, the Battlestar Galactica. The fleet, led by Commander Adama, must run from the Cylons and search for a mythical new home: Earth.

This series is a story of survival against impossible odds, just like ‘Lost’. The survivors are a small, isolated group running from a persistent enemy. The show is also character-driven, focusing on the political, moral, and personal struggles of the people in the fleet. There is a deep, season-spanning mystery about the Cylons, including the fact that some of them look exactly like humans and are hidden within the fleet.

Silo (2023-Present)

‘Silo’ is set in a dystopian future where humanity lives in a giant underground silo. This silo is hundreds of stories deep and protects its residents from the toxic and ruined world outside. The people know nothing about how the world was ruined or who built the silo. The community is governed by a strict set of rules, and the greatest crime is to say you want to go outside. The story follows a sheriff who begins to uncover a conspiracy about the true nature of the silo.

This show captures the same feeling of being trapped in a mysterious place that ‘Lost’ did so well. The characters are in a closed environment and are controlled by a set of rules they do not fully understand. The silo is the island, a place with its own history and secrets that are slowly revealed. The show is a compelling mystery that makes you question the reality of its world and the motives of its leaders.

Wayward Pines (2015-2016)

‘Wayward Pines’ follows a Secret Service agent named Ethan Burke. He wakes up from a car crash in the strange town of Wayward Pines, Idaho. He is there to investigate the disappearance of two other federal agents. He soon discovers that the town is impossible to leave. The entire community is surrounded by an electrified fence, and the residents live under constant surveillance by a mysterious sheriff. Anyone who tries to escape is brutally punished.

The show’s premise is very similar to ‘Lost’. A character finds himself trapped in a mysterious place with no idea how he got there or how to get out. The town of Wayward Pines is an isolated society with its own dark rules and secrets, much like the island. The first season is a race to uncover the truth about the town, and the eventual reveal is a massive, world-changing twist that redefines the entire story.

Mr. Robot (2015-2019)

‘Mr. Robot’ is a thriller about a young cybersecurity engineer and hacker named Elliot Alderson. He has social anxiety disorder and connects with people by hacking them. Elliot is recruited by an anarchist known as “Mr. Robot” to join a group of hacktivists called “fsociety.” Their goal is to encrypt the financial data of the largest corporation in the world, E Corp, to erase all consumer debt.

While not a survival show, ‘Mr. Robot’ shares ‘Lost’s love for mind-bending twists and an unreliable narrator. The show is a complex puzzle, and viewers are often left unsure of what is real and what is part of Elliot’s delusion. It constantly challenges perceptions and reveals information that forces you to re-evaluate everything you have seen before. The series is full of mysteries and conspiracies, much like the Dharma Initiative on the island.

The Good Place (2016-2020)

‘The Good Place’ is a comedy about a woman named Eleanor Shellstrop. She dies and wakes up in the afterlife in a perfect, utopian neighborhood called “the Good Place.” However, she quickly realizes that there has been a mistake. She was not a good person in her life and was sent there by accident. To avoid being sent to the Bad Place, she must learn how to be ethical and hide her past from the neighborhood’s architect, Michael.

On the surface, a comedy seems like a strange comparison to ‘Lost’, but ‘The Good Place’ is built on season-long mysteries and huge plot twists. The characters are trapped in a mysterious place and must figure out the rules of their new reality. The show is famous for its major twist at the end of season one, which completely changes the audience’s understanding of the show, similar to the hatch reveal in ‘Lost’.

Sense8 (2015-2018)

‘Sense8’ is a science fiction show created by the Wachowskis. It tells the story of eight strangers from different parts of the world. Suddenly, they become mentally and emotionally linked. These eight people, called “sensates,” can communicate with each other and share their knowledge, language, and skills. While they try to understand their new abilities, they are hunted by a mysterious organization that sees them as a threat.

The show focuses on a group of strangers who are brought together by a mysterious, unexplained event, which is a key element of ‘Lost’. ‘Sense8’ has a large ensemble cast, and the story spends a lot of time exploring each character’s individual life and background. It builds a complex mythology around the sensates and the organization hunting them, creating a global-scale mystery.

Prison Break (2005-2017)

‘Prison Break’ is a thriller about two brothers. One brother, Lincoln Burrows, is on death row for a crime he did not commit. His younger brother, Michael Scofield, is a brilliant structural engineer. To save his brother, Michael devises an elaborate plan to get himself sent to the same prison. He has the prison’s blueprints tattooed on his body and plans to break both of them out from the inside.

While the setting is a prison instead of an island, ‘Prison Break’ shares the theme of being trapped and needing to escape. The show is driven by a high-stakes plot and a central conspiracy that goes far beyond the prison walls. Like ‘Lost’, the first season focuses on a core group of characters who must work together to achieve their goal. It is full of twists, turns, and cliffhangers that keep you watching.

Attack on Titan (2013-2023)

‘Attack on Titan’ is a Japanese anime series set in a world where humanity lives inside cities surrounded by enormous walls. These walls protect them from giant man-eating humanoids called Titans. The story follows a young man named Eren Yeager. After a Titan destroys his hometown and kills his mother, Eren vows to join the military to fight the Titans and reclaim the world for humanity.

This series is a story of survival in a world full of terrifying, mysterious creatures. The main characters live in an isolated society, and the world outside the walls is a complete mystery. Much like ‘Lost’, a huge part of the show is about uncovering the truth. The characters and audience constantly ask: What are the Titans? Where did they come from? And what is the true history of their world? The answers are revealed slowly through shocking twists.

Black Mirror (2011-Present)

‘Black Mirror’ is an anthology series, which means each episode tells a different, standalone story. Each story is set in the near future and explores the dark side of technology. The show examines how new inventions and services can change human behavior in negative ways. The episodes often have a suspenseful or unsettling tone and end with a thought-provoking twist.

While its format is different, ‘Black Mirror’ shares ‘Lost’s love for high-concept science fiction and mystery. Many episodes present a strange situation or technology and slowly reveal its true nature, just like a puzzle box. Episodes like “White Bear” and “Playtest” drop characters into confusing and terrifying situations, forcing them, and the audience, to figure out what is happening.

Under the Dome (2013-2015)

‘Under the Dome’ is based on a novel by Stephen King. The story is set in the small town of Chester’s Mill. One day, the entire town is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by a massive, transparent, and indestructible dome. The people trapped inside must find a way to survive as their resources dwindle and social order begins to break down. They also must try to understand what the dome is and where it came from.

This show has a very direct connection to ‘Lost’. A group of people is suddenly trapped in an isolated location by a mysterious force they cannot explain. The dome creates a high-pressure environment where secrets are revealed and conflicts arise. The characters must work together to survive while also investigating the central mystery of their imprisonment.

Person of Interest (2011-2016)

‘Person of Interest’ is a science fiction crime drama. It centers on a reclusive billionaire and computer programmer named Harold Finch. He built a supercomputer for the U.S. government after the 9/11 attacks. The computer, known as “The Machine,” can predict future terrorist acts. However, it also predicts other violent crimes involving ordinary people. Finch recruits a former CIA agent to help him stop these crimes before they happen.

This show was co-created by J.J. Abrams, one of the creators of ‘Lost’. It has a mystery-of-the-week format but also builds a larger, complex mythology around The Machine and artificial intelligence. Like ‘Lost’, it uses flashbacks to tell the backstories of its main characters, revealing how they became the people they are. It evolves from a crime procedural into a deep science fiction story about the nature of humanity and technology.

Fringe (2008-2013)

‘Fringe’ is a science fiction series that follows an FBI agent named Olivia Dunham. She is forced to work with an eccentric scientist, Walter Bishop, and his estranged son, Peter, to investigate a series of strange and unexplained events. These events are part of a larger pattern of fringe science, and they connect to a conspiracy involving a parallel universe. The team works to understand and stop these threats.

This show is another creation from J.J. Abrams, and it is considered a spiritual successor to ‘Lost’. It has a central trio of characters who investigate a new mystery each week, but these cases all connect to a much larger, overarching story. ‘Fringe’ builds a deep and complex mythology involving parallel worlds and alternate timelines. It shares a focus on character relationships and the balance between science and humanity.

Revolution (2012-2014)

‘Revolution’ is set in a post-apocalyptic future. The story begins 15 years after an event known as “The Blackout,” where all electricity on Earth mysteriously stopped working. Without power, modern society collapsed. The show follows a group of characters who are trying to survive in this new world. They embark on a quest to find out what caused the blackout and if there is a way to turn the power back on.

This show’s premise is a global-scale mystery, much like the event in ‘The Leftovers’ or the island in ‘Lost’. It explores how ordinary people adapt to a world that has been drastically changed. The characters are on a journey to find answers and hope to restore the world to what it once was. The series was also produced by J.J. Abrams’s production company, and it shares a focus on adventure and a central, driving question.

Colony (2016-2018)

‘Colony’ is set in the near future in Los Angeles. The city is occupied by an outside force, and the residents live under a strict military regime. The show centers on the Bowman family. The father, a former FBI agent, is forced by the new government to help them fight against a resistance movement. He must choose between protecting his family and joining the resistance to fight for freedom. The show was co-created by Carlton Cuse, a showrunner for ‘Lost’.

The show shares the theme of living under the control of a mysterious and powerful authority, similar to the Dharma Initiative or the Others. The true nature and identity of the occupiers, known as the “Hosts,” is a central mystery that unfolds slowly. ‘Colony’ focuses on the difficult moral choices people must make when living in a society where freedom is gone and survival is a daily struggle.

The Society (2019)

‘The Society’ is a mystery drama about a group of high school students. They return early from a canceled field trip to find that everyone else in their wealthy town has disappeared. They are completely cut off from the outside world, and a dense forest has appeared around the town’s borders, making escape impossible. The teenagers must figure out how to run their own community and survive while also trying to understand what happened to them.

This show is a modern take on ‘Lord of the Flies’ and shares many themes with ‘Lost’. A group of young people is stranded in a mysterious location and must form their own society from scratch. They have to create rules, find leaders, and deal with internal conflicts. The central mystery is where they are and how they can get back home, which drives the plot forward.

Jericho (2006-2008)

‘Jericho’ is a post-apocalyptic drama set in the small, rural town of Jericho, Kansas. The series begins when the residents see a mushroom cloud on the horizon. They soon realize that a number of major American cities have been destroyed by nuclear attacks. Cut off from the outside world and with limited resources, the townspeople must come to terms with their new reality. They struggle to survive, maintain order, and find out the truth about the attacks.

This show is about a small, isolated community trying to survive after a catastrophic event. Like the survivors in ‘Lost’, the residents of Jericho are cut off from civilization and must rely on each other. The show balances character-driven drama with the ongoing mystery of who attacked the United States and what the new world looks like outside of their town.

The OA (2016-2019)

‘The OA’ is a mystery drama with science fiction and supernatural elements. The series begins when a young woman named Prairie Johnson reappears after being missing for seven years. When she disappeared, she was blind, but now she can see. She calls herself “The OA” and refuses to tell the FBI or her parents what happened to her. Instead, she gathers a group of five local misfits and tells them her unbelievable story, which involves being held captive with other people who have had near-death experiences.

This show is a deep, complex, and often strange mystery. It shares ‘Lost’s focus on faith, belief, and the power of storytelling. The audience, like the five misfits, is left to wonder whether Prairie’s story is true or a delusion. ‘The OA’ builds an intricate mythology and is a puzzle-box show that requires viewers to pay close attention to details to try and piece together the truth.

Into the Night (2020-2021)

‘Into the Night’ is a Belgian science fiction thriller. The series begins with a mysterious solar event that causes the sun to kill all living organisms it touches. The only way to survive is to stay in the darkness of night. The story follows the passengers and crew of a hijacked overnight flight out of Brussels. They must constantly fly westward, trying to outrun the sunrise. They hop from airport to airport to refuel and find supplies.

This show is a high-stakes survival story with a clear and constant threat. Like ‘Lost’, it features a diverse group of strangers who are thrown together by a disaster and must learn to cooperate to stay alive. The enclosed space of the airplane creates a tense environment where conflicts arise. The show is focused on pure survival and the immediate problems the group faces.

12 Monkeys (2015-2018)

’12 Monkeys’ is a science fiction series based on the 1995 film of the same name. In the year 2043, the world has been devastated by a plague that wiped out most of humanity. Scientists in the future send a man named James Cole back in time to 2015. His mission is to stop the plague from ever being released by finding and destroying a mysterious organization known as the “Army of the 12 Monkeys.”

Like ‘Lost’, ’12 Monkeys’ is a show with a complex, serialized plot that revolves around time travel. The story is full of twists, paradoxes, and shocking revelations that change the characters’ understanding of their mission. It builds a rich mythology around the plague, the Army of the 12 Monkeys, and the nature of time itself. The show is known for its intricate plotting and satisfying, well-planned conclusion.

FlashForward (2009-2010)

‘FlashForward’ begins with a mysterious global event. For two minutes and seventeen seconds, nearly everyone on Earth blacks out. During this blackout, each person sees a vision of their own future, six months from now. The show follows a team of FBI agents in Los Angeles as they try to investigate what caused the “flashforward.” The characters must also deal with the personal consequences of seeing their futures, whether they were good or bad.

This show aired during ‘Lost’s final season and was marketed as a direct successor. It is a high-concept mystery based on a single, global, unexplained event. The visions of the future serve a similar narrative purpose to ‘Lost’s flashbacks and flash-forwards, providing clues about the central mystery and developing the characters. The series is about fate, choice, and whether the future can be changed.