In recent years, there has been a surge in video game adaptations, with many thriving on television. Among these, “Halo” has stood out. This high-budget rendition of the well-loved military sci-fi saga captivated audiences when it debuted on Paramount+ in 2022. The show stars Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief, a genetically enhanced super soldier leading his team to safeguard Earth against a coalition of alien species in the 26th century.

Featuring iconic armored characters and exceptional sci-fi action sequences, “Halo” thrilled viewers for two seasons until its unexpected cancellation by Paramount. This decision followed mixed reactions from fans and the show’s high expenses, coinciding with Paramount’s merger with Skydance, a media corporation headed by David Ellison, son of billionaire Larry Ellison. Fortunately for fans, Netflix picked up “Halo” in October 2025, rescuing it from cancellation and adding it to its growing list of revived series.

With “Halo” slated for a third season at Netflix, fans eager for similar content might seek alternatives during the wait. Although Netflix can’t rival Paramount+ in sheer epic sci-fi offerings, it still boasts a selection of excellent series featuring grand, armored heroes that cater to the military sci-fi genre’s enthusiasts.

For movies, “Pacific Rim” by Guillermo del Toro would rank high for “Halo” enthusiasts. In the realm of Netflix series, the animated “Pacific Rim: The Black” provides a natural choice. This television adaptation expands del Toro’s cinematic universe and even surpasses its sequel, “Pacific Rim: Uprising,” blending military action and grand-scale political tension akin to “Halo.”

“Pacific Rim: The Black” takes place in a world where Kaiju monsters emerge from an oceanic portal, with humanity countering through massive robotic Jaegers. Set in a near-decimated Australia, the series follows siblings Taylor (Calum Worthy) and Hayley Travis (Gideon Adlon) as they search for their parents after the initial Kaiju assault. Stumbling upon an inactive Jaeger, they find a new hope to combat the Kaiju while uncovering their family’s fate.

Though its plot diverges from “Halo,” “Pacific Rim: The Black” shares its tone with gripping stakes, intense action, and dramatic elements. With its focus on mechanical suits, robust sci-fi sequences, and suspenseful moments, the series offers an engaging watch to satisfy fans until Netflix releases the next “Halo” installment.

Blending superhero adventure with alien action, Netflix’s 2019 adaptation of the iconic manga “Ultraman,” itself based on the tokusatsu series that began in 1966, is perfect for “Halo” fans seeking more armored heroes battling villains in a quest to vanquish evil. Though the “Ultraman” franchise spans decades and encompasses numerous television adaptations, movies, and comics, just to name a few, the Netflix animated series is a total reboot designed to appeal to newcomers and longtime fans alike.

The show tells the story of super-powered teen Shinjiro (Josh Hutcherson) who defends the Earth from threats both alien and terrestrial, having taken up his father’s mantle as Earth’s greatest defender, Ultraman. But the world of good and evil isn’t as simple as it used to be, with diabolical threats sometimes hiding in the form of Earth governments and clandestine military divisions possessing dark agendas. And as a young man still learning to navigate the adult world, Shinjiro’s quest comes with unique troubles all their own.

Running for three seasons, “Ultraman” is a first-rate anime and classic tokusatsu hero adventure, delivering everything a “Halo” fan could ask for in terms of space combat, action, and excitement.

Netflix doesn’t have many live-action science fiction shows like “Halo,” which is probably why the streamer scooped up the video game adaptation. But one of the few live-action sci-fi adventures that fits that bill is “Lost in Space,” a 2018 series that reinvents an iconic sci-fi favorite for a new generation. The original “Lost in Space” was a 1960s family-friendly series that found popularity around the same time as classics like “Star Trek” and “Doctor Who.” But while those franchises have been TV mainstays, it took “Lost in Space” nearly 50 years to get a reboot, overcoming a ’90s box office flop and a television revival that was canceled before hitting the screen.

Like the original show, Netflix’s “Lost in Space” follows the Robinsons as they set out on a mission to colonize another planet far from Earth. But things go wrong when their ship encounters mysterious problems that send them to an uncharted region of space. Now, the family must try to survive while searching for a way home, aided by B-9 (Brian Steele), an alien artificial intelligence who becomes attached to the young Will Robinson (Maxwell Jenkins). But they’re also faced with problems from within, as they soon suspect that one among them could be sabotaging the mission.

Thematically, “Lost in Space” and “Halo” have little in common, but if it’s slick, big-budget sci-fi action you want, this is the best show on Netflix to watch.

If you’re looking for a show that set the stage for an entire genre — including the likes of “Halo” –  then “Gundam” should be first up on your queue. Thankfully, one of the most recent iterations, “Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance,” can be found on Netflix. It’s one of the latest in a long line of anime that dates back to 1979, set in a world where soldiers command massive mobile suits even more powerful than those seen in “Halo.”

“Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance” chronicles one of the bloodiest battles in the fictional universe’s history, the One Year War, a protracted conflict between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon. The series centers on Captain Iria Solari (Celia Massingham), a mobile suit who leads a unit of soldiers against the Earth Federation as they seek to put the nail in the coffin of the Principality of Zeon. But the emergence of a new model of mobile suit controlled by the Earth Federation turns the tide in their favor, and Solari suddenly finds herself commanding an army with its back against the wall.

Though it might be a little more challenging to drop in on the “Gundam” universe midstream, it’s well-worth the effort, as it’s arguably the franchise that started the entire sci-fi military action genre on the screen. And if you love it, there’s decades of animated adventures worth revisiting.

When it comes to Netflix anime that will appeal to “Halo” fans, there are clearly plenty to choose from. But the closest match narrative wise is “Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune,” a series following a group of space marines in a protracted war among the stars. While only boasting a single season, it’s one of the best in its genre, with the kind of military action and outer-space battle sequences any fan of “Halo” will appreciate.

Like “Halo,” “Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune” examines the complicated issues of military service in a sprawling empire. Here, we find Earth at a time when space exploration has led to the discovery of alien worlds, and humanity has joined an interstellar alliance known as the Trade Federation. Due to dwindling economic prospects, military service is the first place young people go to find a future, only for them to encounter a devastatingly high casualty rate as conflict consumes galactic affairs. 

Focusing on a team of new recruits led by a boy named Akira (Stephen Fu), the series follows a unit of young soldiers on their first missions as they discover the harsh realities of interstellar war. With high-gloss 3D animation and an uncompromising look at the life of space marines, “Yakitori” is among the best sci-fi anime shows on Netflix.