Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone is simply one of a kind. It's a virtual, philosophical journey into the twisted and the unknown. Despite dating back over 6 decades, it still shines as a groundbreaking and distinctly imaginative TV series. While anthology-style TV shows without recurring characters or plots were somewhat common in the early days of TV, and are still seen occasionally today, few have replicated the consistent vision Rod Sterling was able to maintain.

While there have been several attempts to capture the spirit of the original Twilight Zone over the years, including multiple official reboots, none have exactly replicated what made it special. Though they're few and far between, there do exist a handful of shows like The Twilight Zone over the years and decades that contain some overlap - or at least should scratch the itch of Twilight Zone fans.

10 Tales From The Crypt (1989-1996)

As fans are aware, The Twilight Zone mainly resides in the realm between horror, sci-fi, suspense and general weirdness. Those who favor the more chilling aspects of the show - ie, something in the vein of "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" will surely appreciate this ghoulish horror show on HBO. During its run in the early 90s, fans were treated to a slew of creative premises rife with creepy plots and things that go bump in the night. Like The Twilight Zone, each of the 93 episodes is self-contained and offers a creative tale with thrills and unexpected twists.

9 Black Mirror (2011-present)

• Streaming on Netflix

Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror stresses psychological elements and sci-fi flair to convey socially relevant messages. Aside from vague cross-referencing, each episode contains a standalone premise and setting. Brooker even cites the direct influence of Serling's show, as he sought to create an anthology revolving around contemporary and often controversial issues through a fantasy lens. Rather than leaning heavily on the obscure, though, this show centers around a dystopian world eerily similar to ours, where the excesses of technology have produced negative results for humanity.

8 Thriller (1960-1962)

• Available to stream on the Roku Channel

Similar to how Rod Serling emphatically kicks off The Twilight Zone with his memorable intros, horror legend Boris Karloff serves as the fitting host for this spooky, suspenseful TV series.

Despite its brief run of only 2 seasons, Thriller was chock-full of atmosphere and nuance during its stint in the early 60s. Initially starting as more of a crime-suspense show in the vein of Hitchcock, the later episodes begin to decorate the scenes with some more darkly-tinged gothic horror. The series even includes acting greats such as William Shatner, Leslie Nielsen, and Mary Tyler Moore, who add to the richness of this unique program. With elements of mystery, crime, and spooky undertones, Thriller should definitely appeal to Serling fans looking for shows like The Twilight Zone.

7 Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (1992-2000)

• Available to stream on Paramount+

Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? proved to be a surprisingly inventive and entertaining romp for many. It certainly leaned in the direction of horror tropes, with topics ranging from ghosts and demons to aliens and curses. Yet, themes of paranormal phenomena and otherworldly elements are usually used creatively. There are some very bizarre, Twilight Zone-esque premises like an anthropomorphic computer virus and Gilbert Gottfried serving as a DJ for a radio station from the afterlife.

6 Darkroom (1981)

For those who think Thriller isn't obscure enough, there is this little-known anthology from the early '80s, hosted by James Coburn. The show draws more comparisons to another Serling project known as Night Gallery, but nonetheless offers some twisted concepts and creepy settings in each of its 7 episodes. Though each episode is self-contained, a central theme exists as a spooky, desolate house, which the audience is led through in each introduction. The tension rises as the camera's brought up to a darkroom in a crawlspace beneath the stairs, at which point the 60-minute episode consisting of 2 or 3 unique tales commences.

5 Amazing Stories (1985-1987)

• Available to buy on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play and Vudu.

Given the track record of Steven Spielberg, who frankly needs no introduction, it shouldn't be surprising that a sci-fi series helmed by the iconic director is so entertaining. This show actually exists in 2 forms - the classic from the mid-1980s, and a flashier modern rendition made for Apple TV+, which began early 2020.

The show captivates its viewers with impressive visuals and intriguing storylines. Plots include a downtrodden protagonist gaining a "magnetic" personality after a meteor shower and a mistaken identity with a mummy. Despite never quite taking off in the ratings, Amazing Stories received a whopping 12 Emmy nominations and won 5, making it one of the most critically successful shows like The Twilight Zone. Further demonstrating its theatrical quality, it was even going to be the original home for the '87 film Batteries Not Included.

4 The Outer Limits (1963-1965)

• Available to stream on The Roku Channel and Pluto TV.

This sci-fi anthology comes with both an older and a more modern rendition. Yet, while both versions have their fans, the classic from the mid-60s is the one for Twilight Zone fans to watch. As it happens, The Outer Limits occupies a spot on TV Guide's "100 Greatest Episodes of All Time" with "The Zanti Misfits," which features alien criminals housed on Earth. There's no shortage of imaginative and memorable trips into these eerie sci-fi worlds. Writing credits include renowned science fiction writer Harlan Ellison and Psycho's screenwriter Joseph Stefano. Those who appreciate The Twilight Zone's straight-up sci-fi romps should find much to enjoy here.

3 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1965)

• Available to stream on Peacock, The Roku Channel, Tubi, and Classix.

As most fans know, The Twilight Zone isn't all about the paranormal and mind-bending concepts. The show also holds an appreciation for clever crime capers and nuanced, suspenseful plots. For those that favor this aspect of the show, directing icon Alfred Hitchcock produced this anthology of crime and mystery. While it still delivers bouts of classic Hitchcock thrills, this program - along with the lengthier Alfred Hitchcock Hour - stresses crafty tales of suspense and shocking twists. In fact, the show was named by the Writers Guild of America as one of the "101 Best-Written TV Series."

2 Night Gallery (1970-1973)

It would stand to reason that fans of Serling's classic anthology would be drawn toward another similar project of his. Being at least marginally younger than its older sibling, Night Gallery presents the majestic, twisted worlds of Serling in glorious color, with scripts still mostly originating from the man himself.

Still, while this show offers similar self-contained journeys into trippy ideas, it brings with it more of a horror and macabre bent. An example of a standout episode is the pilot, which features a painting that seemingly changes and displays real ghostly happenings. For the most part, this atmospheric romp proudly carries the torch and spirit of shows like The Twilight Zone into the 70s.

1 Electric Dreams (2017)

• Available to stream on Prime Video

Much like the writer behind The Twilight Zone, science fiction author Philip K. Dick had a knack for painting some twisted, mind-bending scenes - often coaxing his fans to ponder the nature of reality and life itself. In fact, he was the mind behind hits like Minority Report, Total Recall, and Blade Runner.

Yet, he's also crafted a slew of equally imaginative short stories. Electric Dreams draws upon this rich pool of content for its episodes and dresses it up with sleek visuals to boot. Concepts range from bubble city dystopias to characters (literally) living dual lives. Despite its limited run of 10 50-minute episodes, each of the standalone tales presents a rich sci-fi setting and some gripping emotional narratives.