Best Netflix Series You’ve Never Heard of (But Should Check ASAP)

Looking for something fresh to queue up right now can feel like scrolling forever, so this list rounds up lesser known Netflix series that quietly deliver strong stories across sci fi, mystery, fantasy, horror, and thrillers. You will find shows from around the world with distinct voices, compact seasons, and clear hooks that make it easy to jump in. Each pick includes the basics on the premise, where it is set, and who made it, so you know exactly what you are getting. Save a few to your list and you will always have a new world to step into when you open the app.

‘1983’ (2018)

This Polish alternative history thriller imagines a world where a terror attack halted the fall of communism and kept the Iron Curtain in place. A law student and a disgraced detective uncover a conspiracy that reshaped the nation. The series was developed for Netflix by Joshua Long and shot across Warsaw and other Polish cities. It is a single season in Polish with English subtitles and an English dub available.

‘Osmosis’ (2019)

This French sci fi drama follows a startup that claims to decode true love by reading the brain. As test subjects connect to the technology, their private lives and memories become product data. The show was created by Audrey Fouché and filmed in Paris with a sleek near future aesthetic. It runs one season in French with subtitle and dub options.

‘The Stranded’ (2019)

Thailand’s first Netflix original series centers on elite students trapped on an island after a tsunami. Strange phenomena and local legends complicate their attempts to leave as secrets surface. The show was created by Ekachai Uekrongtham with episodes directed by Sophon Sakdaphisit and others. It is a concise single season in Thai with multiple subtitle tracks.

‘Luna Nera’ (2020)

Set in seventeenth century Italy, this dark fantasy tracks a group of women accused of witchcraft and the rising power of a secret sisterhood. The story draws from historical records and Italian folklore to build its world. It was created by Francesca Manieri, Laura Paolucci, and Tiziana Triana and filmed in Lazio. You get one short season in Italian with subs and dubs.

‘The Barrier’ (2020)

This Spanish dystopian drama takes place in a near future Madrid under a military government after environmental collapse. A nurse fights to reunite her family as class divisions harden behind checkpoints and walls. The series stars Unax Ugalde and Olivia Molina and uses real Madrid locations for scale. It is a single season in Spanish with full subtitle support.

‘The Gift’ (2019–2021)

Known as ‘Atiye’ in Turkey, this mystical thriller follows an Istanbul artist linked to ancient symbols uncovered at Göbekli Tepe. As she investigates, the plot weaves archaeology, family history, and time bending elements. The series was created by Jason George and Nuran Evren Şit and stars Beren Saat and Mehmet Günsür. It spans three seasons in Turkish with global subtitle and dub options.

‘Katla’ (2021)

This Icelandic mystery unfolds in a town near a constantly erupting volcano where ash covered figures begin to appear. The story blends folklore with slow burn science fiction as families confront impossible returns. Showrunners Baltasar Kormákur and Sigurjón Kjartansson anchor the production in real southern Iceland landscapes. It currently has one season in Icelandic and Swedish with subtitles and dubs.

‘Trese’ (2021)

Adapted from the Filipino comic, this animated horror series follows a detective who mediates disputes between Manila’s underworld and supernatural beings. Urban myths and creatures from Philippine folklore shape each case of the week. The show features English and Filipino voice casts led by Shay Mitchell and Liza Soberano. It is a limited season that plays well for both anime and horror fans.

‘Spectros’ (2020)

Set in São Paulo’s Liberdade district, this supernatural thriller ties Japanese Brazilian culture to vengeful spirits awakened by a cursed artifact. Teen protagonists uncover a history that crosses oceans and generations. The series was created by Douglas Petrie alongside Brazilian writers and directors. It runs one season in Portuguese with multiple subtitle options.

‘Glitch’ (2022)

This South Korean series blends mystery and offbeat humor as a woman searches for her missing boyfriend and stumbles into a UFO obsessed community. The investigation connects old friends and a possible mass sighting. Creator Jin Han-sae teams with director Roh Deok for a grounded take on fringe culture. It is a single ten episode season in Korean with subs and dubs.

‘Typewriter’ (2019)

From India, this compact horror series follows a group of kids who plan to capture a ghost in a Goa bungalow and uncover a long buried crime. The narrative moves between past and present with a cursed book at the center. Creator Sujoy Ghosh builds atmosphere with coastal locations and practical scares. You get one tight season in Hindi with subtitle and dub support.

‘The Mire’ (2018–2024)

This Polish crime anthology, released locally as ‘Rojst’, explores murders and corruption across shifting decades in the same forested region. Each season focuses on different investigators while keeping threads that connect the cases. The production recreates late communist and post transition eras with careful detail. It is a multi season watch in Polish with global subtitles.

‘Tidelands’ (2018)

Australia’s first Netflix original drama blends crime and fantasy in a coastal town where former smugglers and half human sirens clash. A returning ex con uncovers family secrets tied to the sea. The series stars Charlotte Best, Elsa Pataky, and Aaron Jakubenko and uses Queensland locations. It is one eight episode season in English.

‘The Kingdom’ (2021–2023)

This Argentine political thriller begins with the assassination of a presidential candidate and the sudden rise of his televangelist running mate. The plot digs into power, money, and religious influence through court cases and media battles. Creators Claudia Piñeiro and Marcelo Piñeyro lead a cast that includes Diego Peretti, Chino Darín, and Mercedes Morán. It runs two seasons in Spanish with subtitles and dubs.

‘The Longest Night’ (2022)

A high security psychiatric prison in Spain goes into lockdown as armed men surround the complex to capture a notorious serial killer. The story plays out in real time during a winter holiday with split loyalties among guards and inmates. Óscar Pedraza directs a tense ensemble across multiple cell blocks and control rooms. It is a single season in Spanish with full subtitle support.

‘Paranormal’ (2020)

This Egyptian series adapts Ahmed Khaled Tawfik’s bestselling novels about a skeptical hematologist drawn into investigations of unexplained events. Episodes hop between haunted houses, ancient curses, and childhood traumas tied to 1960s Cairo. Director Amr Salama anchors the period setting with vintage production design and regional folklore. It runs one season in Arabic with subtitles and dubs.

‘Invisible City’ (2021–2023)

Set in Rio de Janeiro, this fantasy drama explores Brazilian folklore as river guardians and forest spirits cross into modern life after a tragedy. A detective uncovers links between environmental crimes and entities like the Curupira and the Cuca. Created by Carlos Saldanha, the show blends urban mystery with mythic ecology. It spans two seasons in Portuguese with global subtitle and dub options.

‘Good Morning, Verônica’ (2020–2024)

This Brazilian crime thriller follows a São Paulo police clerk who secretly investigates fraud and domestic abuse cases overlooked by her department. The plot exposes corruption networks, cults, and predatory criminals through case files and undercover work. Based on a novel by Ilana Casoy and Raphael Montes, it stars Tainá Müller and Eduardo Moscovis. Three seasons are available in Portuguese with subtitles and dubs.

‘The Eddy’ (2020)

Set around a struggling Paris jazz club, this limited series tracks the owner’s financial troubles, band dynamics, and a criminal entanglement. Creator Jack Thorne and executive producer Damien Chazelle frame performances that were recorded live on set. The narrative switches between French, English, and Arabic to reflect the city’s mix. It is a single season with eight episodes.

‘Giri/Haji’ (2019)

This London and Tokyo set thriller follows a Japanese detective searching for his missing brother, a yakuza enforcer tied to a gangland murder. The series intercuts police work with family fallout and political pressure between rival syndicates. Joe Barton created the show, which features Takehiro Hira, Kelly Macdonald, and Will Sharpe. It is one self contained season with bilingual dialogue and subtitles.

‘The Chestnut Man’ (2021)

This Danish crime series adapts Søren Sveistrup’s novel about a serial killer who leaves handmade chestnut dolls at crime scenes. Detectives piece together links to a missing child case and a high profile political family. The production uses Copenhagen locations and forensic procedure to build out the investigation. It is a one season watch in Danish with subtitles and dubs.

‘Equinox’ (2020)

Inspired by a popular Danish podcast, this mystery follows a woman investigating the mass disappearance of her school class in 1999. The case connects to pagan rites, radio call ins, and fragmented memories that return in adulthood. Creator Tea Lindeburg structures the story across two timelines anchored in Copenhagen. It runs a single season in Danish with subtitle and dub options.

‘To The Lake’ (2019–2020)

Adapted from Yana Vagner’s novel, this Russian thriller follows two families fleeing Moscow after a deadly epidemic sparks martial law. The group navigates frozen landscapes, armed checkpoints, and internal conflicts as they head for a remote lake. Filming took place around Moscow and Karelia to capture winter survival logistics. Two seasons are available in Russian with subtitles.

‘Bloodride’ (2020)

This Norwegian anthology delivers six standalone horror stories linked by a creepy bus ride framing device. Episodes range from a tech startup with a sinister secret to an isolated farm guarding a violent legacy. Each installment runs under an hour, making it easy to sample different subgenres. It is a single season in Norwegian with subtitles and dubs.

‘Queen Sono’ (2020)

Billed as Netflix’s first African original series, this Johannesburg set spy drama centers on an elite operative confronting a private military company and political manipulation. The show incorporates regional languages and locations across South Africa and neighboring countries. Created by Kagiso Lediga, it stars Pearl Thusi and Vuyo Dabula. One season is available with multilingual audio options.

‘Betaal’ (2020)

This Indian horror miniseries pits paramilitary contractors against colonial era zombie soldiers awakened in a blocked tunnel. The story folds corporate development, local resistance, and folklore into a siege narrative. Patrick Graham and Nikhil Mahajan direct the four episode run with a contained setting and practical effects. It is presented in Hindi with subtitles and dubs.

‘Leila’ (2019)

Set in a near future India ruled by sectarian enclaves, this dystopian series follows a mother searching for her daughter after a forced separation. The narrative explores surveillance, purity laws, and resistance movements inside walled sectors. Based on Prayaag Akbar’s novel, it stars Huma Qureshi and Siddharth. One season is available in Hindi with subtitle support.

‘Bordertown’ (2016–2020)

This Finnish crime drama features detective Kari Sorjonen, whose casework in a small border city reveals serial offenders and cross border trafficking. The show is known locally as ‘Sorjonen’ and uses a mix of standalone and serialized cases. Ville Virtanen leads the cast, with plots grounded in forensic and behavioral analysis. Three seasons stream in Finnish with subtitles.

‘Perfume’ (2018)

This German thriller reimagines Patrick Süskind’s classic by following investigators as a group of former boarding school friends becomes tied to scent based murders. Flashbacks and present day scenes reveal experiments with human odor and control. Filming took place in North Rhine Westphalia and uses a muted visual palette for the crime scenes. It is a single season in German with subtitles and dubs.

‘The Journalist’ (2022)

Set in Tokyo’s media world, this drama examines press freedom and government scandal through a reporter pursuing a falsified accounts case. Based on Isoko Mochizuki’s book and a 2019 film, the series shows newsroom processes from sourcing to legal pushback. It stars Ryoko Yonekura and Go Ayano and focuses on contemporary political context in Japan. One season is available in Japanese with subtitles and dubs.

‘Into the Night’ (2020–2022)

This Belgian thriller begins on a red eye flight when passengers learn the sun has become lethal and divert west to stay alive. The story follows the crew as they refuel in sealed airports and bargain with military units and civilians. Seasons expand the survival problem with engineering fixes and shifting alliances. It streams in multiple languages with subtitle and dub options.

‘Tribes of Europa’ (2021)

Set in a fractured Europe after a mysterious blackout, this German series follows three siblings from a peaceful tribe caught between rival factions. The plot centers on a crashed aircraft and a cube that could change the balance of power. Production design leans into distinct cultures with their own tech and codes. It is a concise season that ends on a clear hook.

‘The Valhalla Murders’ (2019)

This Icelandic crime drama pairs a Reykjavík detective with a profiler returning from Norway to track a killer linked to an old abuse case. The investigation points to a closed boys’ home and missing records. The series uses real locations and a grounded forensic approach. It is a limited run in Icelandic with subtitles and dubs.

‘The Woods’ (2020)

Adapted from Harlan Coben’s novel, this Polish mystery follows a prosecutor whose sister vanished at a summer camp years ago. New evidence from a fresh case suggests the original crime was never solved. The story moves between past and present with careful clues and red herrings. It is a single season in Polish with full subtitle support.

‘The Mess You Leave Behind’ (2020)

From the creator of ‘Elite’, this Galician set thriller follows a literature teacher who takes a job in a small town after the previous teacher died. She finds incriminating files and students who know more than they say. The series layers school politics with local power brokers and hidden debts. It is a closed story told over one season in Spanish.

‘Unit 42’ (2017–2019)

This Belgian procedural tracks a Brussels cybercrime team investigating ransomware, identity theft, and darknet cases. Each case blends digital evidence with classic detective work and victim impact. The show emphasizes toolchains and lab work without losing character focus. Two seasons are available in French with subtitles.

‘Control Z’ (2020–2022)

Set in a Mexico City prep school, this teen thriller starts when a hacker exposes students’ secrets during an assembly. A quiet classmate with sharp observational skills begins to trace the attacker. Episodes explore surveillance, social ranking, and online manipulation. It runs three seasons in Spanish with subtitle and dub options.

‘Yakamoz S-245’ (2022)

This Turkish companion to ‘Into the Night’ follows marine researchers who take refuge on a submarine as the solar catastrophe unfolds. Tensions rise between civilian scientists and naval command as they navigate contested waters. The series connects to events and characters from the wider timeline without requiring prior viewing. It is one season in Turkish with global subtitles.

‘Elves’ (2021)

This Danish miniseries sends a family to a remote island for the holidays where their daughter discovers a strange creature in the woods. Locals enforce strict rules that hint at an older pact with dangerous beings. The tone mixes cozy winter vibes with increasingly creepy encounters. It is a short seasonal watch in Danish with subtitles.

‘The Break’ (2016–2018)

Known locally as ‘La Trêve’, this Belgian series follows a detective who relocates to a rural town and investigates a death tied to local industry and football. The first season unfolds through therapy sessions and withheld memories. The second season tackles a new case with the same lead and fresh suspects. Both seasons stream in French with subtitles.

‘Better Than Us’ (2018–2019)

This Russian sci fi drama centers on a next gen android that bonds with a young girl and becomes the focus of corporate and police pursuit. The family at the center must hide the robot while navigating custody battles and black market tech. The show presents near future labor shifts and legal questions around autonomy. Two seasons are available in Russian with dubs and subs.

‘Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes’ (2021)

Set in a Norwegian town with a struggling funeral home, this dark comedy starts when a woman mysteriously revives after being declared dead. Her return triggers unusual cravings and a spike in the business. The series balances dry humor with folklore tinges and small town quirks. It is a single season in Norwegian with subtitles.

‘The Innocents’ (2018)

This British supernatural drama follows two runaway teens who discover one can shapeshift when under stress. A shadowy physician studies similar cases while a community of affected people tries to control the condition. The show leans on intimate stakes and character driven choices over spectacle. It is one season in English with global availability.

‘Somebody’ (2022)

This South Korean thriller revolves around a dating app developer whose platform is exploited by a meticulous killer. A detective and the developer’s friends piece together patterns hidden in messages and user behavior. The series focuses on social engineering, consent, and vulnerability in connected spaces. It is a limited season in Korean with subtitles and dubs.

‘The A List’ (2018–2021)

Set at a coastal summer camp, this British teen mystery introduces a new queen bee whose arrival brings mind games and uncanny events. The story reveals experiments and secret facilities beyond the cliffs. Episodes mix friendship drama with sci fi elements and cliffhangers. Two seasons are available in English on Netflix.

Tell us which hidden Netflix series you are adding to your list and share your own deep cuts in the comments.