Some of the scariest sci-fi shows are those that make the viewers feel an unending sense of dread. Sci-fi is a genre that has ample scope and the blend of technology and horror has always been extremely inviting. While there have been some of the scariest sci-fi movies, there have also been many must-watch scariest sci-fi shows that provide bone-chilling horror and unnerving premises. Here are 10 such scariest sci-fi shows that will force viewers to be at the edge.
The X Files, Black Mirror, and other scariest sci-fi shows
1. From

Created by John Griffin and starring Harold Perrineau, Eion Bailey, and others, this sci-fi horror series is one of the scariest sci-fi shows in modern times. The show focuses on a family of four that drive into a nightmarish town and then find themselves unable to leave the town. Other residents of the town are also trapped inside and everyone has to stay inside their houses at night otherwise they are hunted and killed by horrifying nocturnal creatures that come from the surrounding forest. The show has gained acclaim for its story and performances and is full of twists and turns as a small group of townsfolk try to unravel the mystery and get out of the town. The storyline is captivating and intense and is packed with unnerving elements like human-like monsters and existential dread. From ghostly apparitions to haunted clues in the forest, it is one of the must-watch scariest sci-fi shows.
2. The X Files

Starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, this sci-fi drama show is one of the most iconic series from the 1990 and also one of the scariest sci-fi shows. Created by Chris Carter, the show revolutionized television by bringing the uncanny to the small screen. The show focuses on two FBI agents Fox Mulder (Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson), who must solve the unexplained cases that come up in the department. A pop culture staple, the series has everything—from alien stories to people with strange mental and physical capabilities. Even after so many years, the series promises to give its viewers spin-chilling horror elements and merges psychological horror with the unexplained. It even has bits of body horror and covers topics like occults, quantum physics, and much more. Eerie and thrilling, the show also has plenty of conspiracies that run throughout the airing of the series and that makes it one of the scariest sci-fi shows.
3. Devs

Created by Alex Garland, this sci-fi thriller series features Sonoya Mizuno, Nick Offerman, and others. The series is about Lily Chan (Mizuno), a software engineer at a company called Amaya. However, she soon becomes embroiled in conspiracies and mysteries as her boyfriend dies under mysterious circumstances on the first day of his new job at the Devs team at Amaya. The show explores themes of free will and determinism and has received positive reviews for its premise, cinematography, and performances. The show is thought-provoking and is surrounded by plenty of conspiracies. It is one of the scariest sci-fi shows as it delves deeper into the concepts of reality and explores the ideas of determinism. The fact that the show espouses free will to be an illusion makes the show filled with existential dread. Further, the show also showcases the chillingly dark side of technology and is therefore an unnerving sci-fi series.
4. Stranger Things

Starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, and others, this sci-fi horror show is created by the Duffer Brothers and packs as much horror as it packs 1980s nostalgia. One of the most acclaimed shows in the present times and one of the scariest sci-fi shows, the series is about the residents of the town of Hawkins, Indiana, which suffer from supernatural occurrences and interdimensional monsters when an illegal science experiment goes wrong. Set in the 1980s, the show has plenty of pop culture moments but the show never lacks in its sense of dread and mystery. There is grotesque body horror as various monsters like the demogorgons and the mindflayer, wreak havoc upon the town. It also focuses on Russian conspiracies and offers viewers increasingly dreadful threats. Noted for its soundtrack, cinematography, and performances, the popular series is also one of the scariest sci-fi shows.
5. Black Mirror

Created by Charlie Brooker, this British anthology sci-fi series is one of the scariest sci-fi shows. Its premise is simple, it features a futuristic yet dystopian world where advancements in technology have led to the rise of a society where people are trapped within the world of technology. The show has constantly pushed the envelope through its inventive plots about technology’s dark side. There is an overarching sense of dread in the series where each episode is capable of many twists and turns and technology is the only monster in the series. From the rise in social media validation to the increasing loss of privacy, the show handles all these themes in a unique fashion and is a cautionary tale about the unhindered growth of technology. The show holds up a mirror to society and reflects humanity’s most depraved side back at them. Disturbing and futuristic, the show is one of the scariest sci-fi shows.
6. Helix

Starring Billy Campbell, Matt Long, and others, this sci-fi horror drama is one of the scariest sci-fi shows and is created by Cameron Porsandeh. The show focuses on a team of scientists who work for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The group travels to a research facility in the Arctic and have to investigate the potential outbreak of a disease. However, they increasingly face supernatural incidents and are stuck in a horrifying life-and-death situation in the cold and claustrophobic environment. The series showcases how the actions of the scientists have a ripple effect upon humanity and presents a horrifying picture of a world that could be overtaken by disease. The series’ message is potent as any viral emergency feels relevant in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. From strong suspense to exceptional performances, it is one of the must-watch scariest sci-fi shows.
7. Dark

Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, this German sci-fi thriller series became a viral hit received acclaim for its complex plotline, the sheer vastness of its narrative, and the tone of the show. Even though the series has moments of emotionality and drama, it is still considered one of the scariest sci-fi shows as it focuses on town in Germany, where its residents are caught in the sinister web of time travel. The time travel spans across several timelines and generations and has themes of existentialism, human nature, and life. Starring Louis Hoffman and others, the show is mind-bending and forces viewers to give their undivided attention. Thought-provoking, dreadful, and well-plotted, the show is one of the must-watch scariest sci-fi shows. The true horror of the show lies in the fact that a small incident in time can have a ripple effect across generations.
8. The Twilight Zone

One of the most influential and scariest sci-fi shows of all time, this anthology series was created by Rod Serling and served as the inspiration for a number of shows in the genre. The series blended horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and focused on the characters of the show experiencing supernatural occurrences. The show’s popularity was immense and the title became a shorthand for anything weird or unusual that happened. The show spawned an entire media franchise and laid the foundations for body horror and sci-fi. The series is one of the scariest sci-fi shows and has lots of twists and turns, along with philosophical episodes as well. The series provided a level of depth to sci-fi and horror shows that was previously not seen and many of the messages in the show remain poignant and important, even till this day.
9. The OA

Created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, this sci-fi mystery drama focuses on a young woman called Prairie, who had gone missing and comes back mysteriously after seven years. Even though she was blind before, Prairie can now see and she calls herself the “OA”. The show was a critical and commercial hit and many viewers were annoyed when the series was cancelled with a cliffhanger ending. However, the show blends the sci-fi and the supernatural and is one of the most inventive series. It is immersive, thought-provoking, and dives into mind-bending concepts. The show blends quantum theory with spiritualism and has a suspenseful and mysterious tone throughout. It is one of the most unique show and fans of the sci-fi genre should definitely check this one out. Further, it focuses on psychological horror and is one of the scariest sci-fi shows.
10. Severance

One of the most popular shows in recent times, this sci-fi psychological thriller is created by Dan Erickson and features Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, and others. Inventive and thought-provoking, the show is one of the scariest sci-fi shows. The show features a terrifying premise where employees of a biotechnology corporations have undergone a “severance” procedure that allows their brain to have no memories when they are at work and have no recollection of their job when they are back home. This results in two different personalities and the show focuses on the conspiracies that are going within the company. The show was a critical and commercial hit and was noted for its production design, story, and performances. The show presents viewers with the scary premise of your consciousness being split into two selves. The Lumon Industries is presented as an eerie corporate dystopia and the sterile office environment feels claustrophobic and dreadful. Chilling and unnerving, it is one of the must-watch scariest sci-fi shows.