If you’ve been hooked on Netflix’s hit series Wayward, you know how thrilling it is to follow a small town full of secrets. The show is set in the mysterious town of Tall Pines, Vermont, where a local cop and a group of teenagers uncover the sinister truths behind a reform school for troubled teens. Its suspenseful storytelling, eerie atmosphere, and dark secrets have left viewers craving more. If you want similar shows like Wayward filled with mystery, tension, and hidden agendas, here are 15 picks you won’t want to miss:
15 Shows Like Wayward That You Can’t Miss
1. Wayward Pines
A Secret Service agent investigates a strange small town where leaving is impossible and everyone seems controlled. The slow reveal of dark secrets and eerie atmosphere make it a natural match for Wayward. The tension of unraveling mysteries keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
2. Shelter
Teenager Mickey Bolitar moves to a new town after a personal tragedy, only to face a friend’s mysterious disappearance. Like Wayward, it blends teen drama with suspenseful small-town secrets. The investigation leads to shocking twists tied to his own family.
3. The Institute
Luke Ellis, a teenage prodigy, is kidnapped and placed in a facility for gifted children, where experiments grow increasingly dangerous. The theme of confinement, manipulation, and hidden agendas mirrors Wayward’s dark and mysterious tone. The suspense builds as Luke plans his escape.
4. The Wilds
A group of teenage girls crash on a remote island and realize their situation is part of a secret social experiment. The sense of isolation, survival challenges, and hidden agendas make it similar to Wayward. Character backstories slowly reveal secrets under pressure.
5. Pieces of Her
Andy Oliver witnesses her mother take down an attacker with unexpected skill, revealing a past full of danger and secrets. The unfolding mystery and family-related suspense resemble the narrative tension of Wayward. Each discovery deepens the intrigue.
6. Stranger Things
In Hawkins, Indiana, a group of kids encounters a secret government experiment and a parallel dimension. Its mix of small-town setting, dark secrets, and suspenseful supernatural elements makes it a perfect fit for fans of Wayward. The tension escalates with every episode.
7. Dark
This German series explores time travel, family secrets, and strange disappearances in a small town. Like Wayward, the story relies on layered mysteries and slow reveals that keep viewers guessing. The suspense and psychological tension are intense and addictive.
8. The Outsider
A detective investigates a brutal murder that appears impossible to explain. As the story unfolds, supernatural possibilities emerge, heightening suspense. The mix of crime investigation and psychological tension echoes Wayward’s mysterious storytelling.
9. Beforeigners
People from different historical periods start appearing in the present, creating societal and personal chaos. Like Wayward, it combines mystery with a small-town or community setting that hides unexpected secrets. Suspense grows as the origin of these arrivals is revealed.
10. The Leftovers
After 2% of the population mysteriously disappears, the remaining people cope with trauma and unexplained events. The eerie, tense atmosphere and focus on unraveling hidden truths is similar to the suspenseful tone of Wayward. Every character has secrets that gradually emerge.
11. Twin Peaks
The murder of a high school girl shakes a small town, revealing bizarre and dark mysteries. The combination of quirky characters, hidden agendas, and a suspenseful narrative mirrors Wayward’s small-town intrigue. The show pioneered the “creepy town with secrets” formula.
12. The Returned
Dead residents return to a quiet town, unsettling the community and sparking mysterious events. Like Wayward, the show focuses on small-town secrets, suspense, and psychological tension as characters confront the impossible. The slow build of suspense keeps viewers engaged.
13. Under the Dome
A town is suddenly trapped under a mysterious dome, cutting it off from the outside world. The theme of confinement, isolation, and emerging secrets makes it reminiscent of Wayward. Residents must navigate tension, fear, and hidden agendas.
14. Colony
In a dystopian future, a family struggles under alien occupation while uncovering conspiracies in their city. Like Wayward, it combines a tense, controlled environment with mysterious secrets and a fight for survival. The stakes rise as the story progresses.
15. The Society
Teenagers find themselves in a perfect replica of their town without any adults. Like Wayward, isolation, power struggles, and hidden dangers create suspense. As they try to build a new society, secrets from their town and families emerge.
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So, which one did you like the most from our list of Shows like Wayward?