15 Best Adventure Shows Like 'Avatar: The Last Airbender,' Ranked
Updated
Mike Thomas is the TV Resource Editor for Collider and is responsible for crafting TV guides and materials for fans who want to learn more about their favorite shows. He's also helped cover several shows with various reviews and interviews with the cast and crew behind hits such as One Piece, Loki, and X-Men '97.
His love for high fantasy, musicals, and comic books is why he can spend hours breaking down the genius of Bahubali or the lyrical artistry of the Disney hit Encanto. During his free time, Mike's passion for movies continues with his podcasts The Chatter After, The Chatter After Live, and The Amateur Otaku, all shows where he can dive deep into why all stories matter.
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It’s rare to find a series that knocks it out of the park in nearly every category, but somehow Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender became one of the most beloved franchises in the world. Avatar is a fantasy series featuring strong world-building, fantastic characters, and an inspirational story that defined a generation.
The show follows Aang and his friends as they go on a life-changing journey to save the world from the reign of Fire Lord Ozai. The series is an anime-inspired fantasy adventure and blends both Eastern and Western philosophy into an action-packed series anyone can enjoy. Avatar: The Last Airbender is one-of-a-kind, but if you’re looking for more adventures and lore-filled worlds to explore, we have other similar shows for you to check out after the credits roll on Avatar.
15 'Gravity Falls' (2012–2016)
Something that Avatar: The Last Airbender does well is blending fun, kid-like storytelling with mature themes and character arcs. Another series that does this excellently is the one and only Gravity Falls. The main trio of Dipper Pines (Jason Ritter), Mabel Pines (Kristen Schaal), Grunkle Stan (Alex Hirsch), and Soos Ramirez (Alex Hirsch) is abundantly lovable, very akin to how much people adore Team Avatar.
Gravity Falls is a show that loves good worldbuilding—just like Avatar: The Last Airbender—as Dipper and Mabel slowly discover that they are in a world that is not as natural as they once believed. They consistently rise to the occasion, have phenomenal character arcs, and experience thrilling action from episode to episode. —Eddie Possehl
14 'Adventure Time' (2010–2018)
Just as Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the most popular animated shows out there, Adventure Time has the exact same reputation. Much like Gravity Falls, Adventure Time handles mature themes and journeys via childlike storytelling and humor. Jake the Dog (John DiMaggio) and Finn the Human (Jeremy Shada) are excellently written and have amazing growth over the course of the show's 8-year run.
They both slowly transition from episodic storytelling to serialized storytelling in a manner that is natural and flows well. There is deep world lore in each series that makes everything feel so expansive and lived-in. It's also another series that has a group of younger characters rising to the occasion and kicking butt, against all odds. —Eddie Possehl
13 'Hunter X Hunter' (2011–2014)
Avatar: The Last Airbender features a group of youthful, yet powerful, characters that must go on a long cross-world journey to reach their destinations—physically and within their character arcs. The same can be said about Hunter X Hunter. Both shows also have young, pure-of-heart protagonists in Aang and Gon Freecss (Megumi Han and Erica Mendez).
Because of this, there's a feeling of hope and light that radiates through both shows, regardless of how genuinely dark they can get. These young men—both some of the strongest people in their respective universes—always lock in when they need to and are perfect heroes to follow. Not to mention, the power systems of Bending and Nen are well-developed, allowing for some great power-scaling and action. —Eddie Possehl
12 'One Piece' (1999–Present)
Another world-trekking adventure with a lovable, hopeful protagonist comes in the form of none other than One Piece—also known as one of the most famous television shows of all time. Within both shows, the characters go from island to island, city to city, to accomplish their goals. Aside from that, both of these amazing protagonists have loyal supporting casts that become perfect characters to follow.
You know you've written a good show when the supporting cast can be just as interesting, if not more so, than the protagonist themselves. This couldn't be more true for Avatar: The Last Airbender and One Piece. The Straw Hat Pirates and Team Avatar are abundantly similar, each with characters that are superbly developed. —Eddie Possehl
11 'Ben 10' (2005–2008)
While it may not come to one's mind at first, Ben 10 is actually more similar to Avatar: The Last Airbender than one would think. It's got pretty much everything Avatar: The Last Airbender does: a young hero who can be a little irresponsible because he's a kid who holds the power of all the elements/aliens, has a close group of people around him to keep him on track, and has tough foes directly connected to his power.
Ben 10 is another series that is phenomenally famous. It's among the most popular and profitable franchises out there, and the way that Ben Tennyson (Tara Strong) grows by the end of the show is akin to how much Aang does — the airbender does it better, though, let's be honest. But the hero is far closer to Aang as a character than one would assume. —Eddie Possehl
10 'The Legend of Korra' (2012–2014)
If you just finished Avatar: The Last Airbender, then the next thing you should watch is its sequel series, The Legend of Korra. Here, we follow Avatar Korra, the successor to Avatar Aang. The world is long past the 100-year war, and Korra must learn what it means to be the Avatar in the modern age.
Here, the new Team Avatar faces off against anarchists, terrorists, and the spiritual imbalances that plague this new era. The Legend of Korra doesn’t follow in the footsteps of Avatar and instead forges its own path. One that is equally as engaging and deserves more recognition. Following a series like Avatar is incredibly difficult, but Korra finds a way to stand out regardless.
9 'The Dragon Prince' (2018–2024)
Set in the magical land of Xadia, The Dragon Prince is a series very similar to Avatar. The world’s magic comes from six sources: the sun, stars, sky, ocean, moon, and earth. Humans and Elves are at war in this world, and the only ones who can usher in an era of peace are the princes of the human world, Callum and Ezran, and an Elf assassin named Rayla.
The Dragon Prince is written by Aaron Ehasz, one of the prominent writers behind Avatar: The Last Airbender. You can feel that same Avatar DNA in this series. The characters, world-building, and magic system are different but still familiar. The Dragon Prince is a fantasy epic that leaves you wanting more.
8 'Young Justice' (2010–2022)
This series sees the sidekicks take the lead. Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Superboy form a team of teenage heroes that go on covert ops missions for Batman and the Justice League. Young Justice gives us a different look at the DC Universe, and by using these young heroes, the series gets to tell more intimate stories. Seeing these young heroes grow and mature throughout the seasons is what makes the ride worth it. The team must face off against the classic staple of DC villains and must learn what it takes to be superheroes.
These heroes are the next generation and must fight alongside the Justice League to keep the world safe. The team evolves and changes throughout the series, but the themes continue. Young Justice is a series that takes everything we love about DC Comics and gives it a new and exciting spin.
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Sci-Fi/Quizzes/Hero Match
PAUL ATREIDESCAPTAIN KIRKPRINCESS LEIAELLEN RIPLEYMAX ROCKATANSKY
Collider QuizWhich Sci-Fi Hero
Are You8 Questions · 5 LegendsFive iconic heroes. Five completely different ways of facing an impossible universe. One of them shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of refusing to back down. Eight questions will tell you which one.On The Manifest
Paul Atreides
Captain Kirk
Princess Leia
Ellen Ripley
Max Rockatansky
Jump 01 / 080% Plotted
Question 01LEADERSHIP
01How do you lead when the stakes couldn't be higher?The way you lead under pressure is the most honest thing about you.
Pick one, then Next
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Question 02STRENGTH
02What is your greatest strength in a crisis?The quality that keeps you alive when everything else fails.
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Question 03MOTIVATION
03What is the thing you'd sacrifice everything else for?Your deepest motivation is your truest compass.
Pick one, then Next
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Question 04PEOPLE
04How do you relate to the people around you?Who you are to others under pressure is who you really are.
Pick one, then Next
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Question 05THREAT
05You're facing a threat that no one else believes is real. What do you do?How you respond when you're the only one who sees it defines everything.
Pick one, then Next
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Question 06COST
06What has your heroism cost you personally?Every hero pays. The question is what, and whether they'd pay it again.
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Question 07RULES
07How do you feel about the rules of the world you're in?Every hero has a relationship with the system. What's yours?
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Question 08PURPOSE
08When everything is on the line, what keeps you going?The answer is the most honest thing about you.
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Your Hero Has Been IdentifiedYour Sci-Fi Hero Is
Your answers point to the iconic sci-fi hero who shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of facing the impossible.
DunePaul AtreidesArrakis · Dune, 2021The hero who knows exactly what becoming one will cost.
You carry a weight most people would crumble under: the knowledge of what you're capable of, and the burden of what you might have to become.Why This Is You
- You see further ahead than others and you plan accordingly, even when the vision frightens you.
- You are driven by loyalty to your people and a sense of destiny you didn't ask for but can't escape.
- Paul Atreides is not simply a hero. He is someone who understands the cost of power and chooses to bear it anyway.
- That gravity, that willingness to carry what others won't, is exactly you.
From The Collider File
- Dune: Part Three closes Denis Villeneuve's trilogy on December 18, 2026, adapting Dune Messiah.
- Messiah is the book that turns on its own hero, which is why Villeneuve waited to film it.
Sees It ComingCarries The WeightArrakis
Star TrekCaptain KirkUSS Enterprise · Star Trek, 1966The captain who refuses to accept that a no-win scenario exists.
You lead with instinct, warmth, and an absolute refusal to accept a no-win scenario, because you've always believed there's a third option nobody else has thought of yet.Why This Is You
- You take the mission seriously without ever taking yourself too seriously.
- Your crew would follow you anywhere, not because you demand it, but because you've earned it.
- Kirk's genius isn't tactical, it's human. He reads people, bends rules with purpose, and wills outcomes into existence through sheer conviction.
- That combination of warmth, audacity, and relentless optimism is unmistakably yours.
From The Collider File
- Paul Wesley's Kirk took the center chair in Strange New Worlds season 4, which premiered July 23, 2026.
- The producers have confirmed Kirk stays with the show through its final season.
No-Win ScenarioCrew FirstStarfleet
Star WarsPrincess LeiaThe Rebellion · A New Hope, 1977The one who holds the line when the line is all that's left.
You are the kind of person who holds the line when everyone else is losing faith, not because you're fearless, but because giving up simply isn't something you're capable of.Why This Is You
- You lead through conviction. Your voice carries because your belief is unshakable.
- You gave up everything ordinary the moment you chose the cause, and you've never looked back.
- Leia is not a supporting character in her own story. She is the moral center of the entire rebellion.
- That same fierce, principled, unbreakable core is what defines you.
From The Collider File
- Carrie Fisher was 19 when she shot A New Hope, and Leia's first scene in the saga is a refusal.
- Lucasfilm ruled out recreating her digitally, so her last appearance was built from footage she had already filmed.
Holds The LineThe CauseRebellion
AlienEllen RipleyThe Nostromo · Alien, 1979No speeches. Just the person still standing at the end.
You are not reckless, not grandiose, and not particularly interested in being anyone's hero. You just refuse to stop when it matters.Why This Is You
- You see threats clearly, you document the truth even when no one listens, and when the time comes you handle it yourself.
- Ripley's heroism is earned, not performed. She doesn't have a speech. She has a plan and the nerve to see it through.
- You share her composure under the worst possible pressure, and her refusal to pretend the monster isn't there.
- When it counts, you don't flinch. That's everything.
From The Collider File
- FX renewed Noah Hawley's Alien: Earth for a second season, pushing the franchise onto the home planet.
- Sigourney Weaver has said she is seriously weighing a return to Ripley after reading a new script.
No SpeechesHandles ItNostromo
Mad MaxMax RockatanskyThe Wasteland · Mad Max, 1979Lost everything, kept going anyway.
You have been through fire that would break most people, and what came out the other side is something the world underestimates at its peril.Why This Is You
- You don't ask for help, don't need validation, and don't wait for anyone to tell you the rules no longer apply.
- Your loyalty, when it finally arrives, is absolute, but it's earned in silence and tested in action, not in words.
- Max is not a nihilist. He is someone who lost everything and found, against his will, that he still has something worth protecting.
- That bruised, stubborn, ultimately human core is exactly yours.
From The Collider File
- George Miller has a script for the next Mad Max, The Wasteland, but has said only that we will see whether it gets made.
- The 1979 original was shot for a few hundred thousand Australian dollars and became one of the most profitable films ever made.
Outlasts ItEarned LoyaltyWasteland
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7 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' (2008–2020)
The Star Wars Universe is vast, and The Clone Wars has everything we love about it. Here, we’re following Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano — three Jedi trying to bring balance to the galaxy. Showrunner Dave Filoni left Avatar: The Last Airbender after Book One and created this fantastic Star Wars prequel.
This series is set between Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. With that said, The Clone Wars is a series that stands on its own, and the long-form series approach means it explores the galaxy in a way the films never could. Giving us a chance to dig deeper into the lives of Anakin and Obi-Wan and introducing us to unforgettable new characters like Ahsoka makes The Clone Wars one of the best stories Star Wars has to offer.
6 'Voltron: Legendary Defender' (2016–2018)
Voltron: Legendary Defender is a reboot of the '80s classic Voltron. Shiro, Pidge, Keith, Lance, and Hunk are the paladins and members of Team Voltron. These Earthlings must learn to work as a team and pilot their robot lions to save the galaxy. Each paladin has their own robotic mech, and together they form the mighty Voltron. This space adventure series takes place throughout the universe as the team liberates planets and continues to become a more powerful unit to defeat the Galra Empire.
Voltron: Legendary Defender is a sci-fi space adventure that brings a compelling narrative and amazing action. While the series does have its downsides, like seeing the same Voltron animation for eight seasons. The show still manages to be an absolute blast. Making it one of the best adventure series of the last decade.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.