The 34 best shows of 2025: TechRadar's top TV picks on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and more

It's been another packed year of terrific TV shows. Indeed, the world's best streaming services have given us plenty of must-see series to watch over the past 12 months – and we thought we'd tell you what our favorite ones were.

To book a spot on this list, shows had to meet one or more of these criteria: be one of the most-watched series of 2025, hold a critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes (RT) above 90%, and/or just be one that our experts thoroughly enjoyed in spite of their viewing figures and critical reception.

Two final bits of housekeeping: one, you'll find our choices categorized by the streamer they released on. And, two, we couldn't write about every program we enjoyed this year, so you'll find a 'best of the rest' selection at the end of each section. If your favorite show of 2025 might be highlighted there instead. So, without further ado, here are TechRadar's 34 top TV picks for the year that was. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Best Apple TV shows of 2025

Foundation season 3

Ebling, Magnifico, Han, Gaal, Toran, and a soldier standing in a line in Foundation season 3 episode 9
(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Murderbot season 1

Alexander Skarsgård wears a robot suit in Murderbot series
(Image credit: Apple TV+ )

Pluribus season 1

Carol on the phone while looking teary-eyed in Pluribus episode 1
(Image credit: Apple TV)

Severance season 2

Adam Scott in Severance season 2 holding blue balloons down an ominous hallway
(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Slow Horses season 5

Jackson Lamb taking a phone call as he eats a meal in Slow Horses season 5
(Image credit: Apple TV+)

The Studio season 1

Four TV executives sitting and standing around a table in Apple TV Plus show The Studio
(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Best Disney+ shows of 2025

Andor season 2

Cassian looking at someone off-camera from a TIE fighter cockpit in Andor season 2
(Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

Daredevil: Born Again season 1

Daredevil screaming in Muse's lair in Daredevil: Born Again episode 6
(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Best HBO Max shows of 2025

The Gilded Age season 3

The cast of The Gilded Age look at each other across a ballroom
(Image credit: HBO)

The Last of Us season 2

Ellie and Joel holding rifles as they walk through a forest in The Last of Us season 2 episode 6
(Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

Peacemaker season 2

Christopher Smith giving a thumbs up with a car on fire in the background in Peacemaker season 2
(Image credit: DC Studios/Max)

The Pitt

Noah Wyle looks concerned in a hospital hallway
(Image credit: HBO)
  • Watch The Pitt on HBO Max
  • Honorable mentions: Duster, Heated Rivalry season 1, IT: Welcome to Derry, The Righteous Gemstones season 4, Task season 1, The Chair Company season 1, The White Lotus season 3

Best Hulu shows of 2025

A Thousand Blows

A close up of Hezekiah wearing a dusty yellow coat in A Thousand Blows on Disney Plus
(Image credit: Disney Plus)

Alien: Earth season 1

A close up of a sweating Morrow as a Xenomorph sneers behind him in Alien: Earth
(Image credit: FX Networks/Hulu/Disney+)

The Bear season 4

Carmy pointing at someone off-camera in The Bear season 4
(Image credit: FX)

High Potential season 2

Cleaner turned crime-solving genius Morgan (Katlin Olson) holds up a crime scene photo in crime dramedy series High Potential
(Image credit: ABC)

Only Murders in the Building season 5

Selena Gomez, Martin Short and Steven Martin stand in shock, with a necklace over Steve's right shoulder.
(Image credit: Disney/Hulu)

Paradise

Sterling K. Brown as Agent Xavier Collins in Paradise
(Image credit: Hulu)

Welcome to Wrexham season 4

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney take to the pitch in Welcome to Wrexham
(Image credit: FX/Disney Plus)

Best Netflix shows of 2025

Adolescence

A still from Netflix's new miniseries Adolescence starring Stephen Graham
(Image credit: Netflix)

Long Story Short

Animated characters sit in a car including a distressed looking father and two children who are crying and arguing
(Image credit: Netflix)

Squid Game season 3

Gi-hun crying as he's held down by pink jumpsuit-wearing soldiers in Squid Game season 3
(Image credit: Netflix)

Stranger Things season 5

Eleven standing in a room with Hopper to her right holding a shotgun in Stranger Things season 5
(Image credit: Netflix)

Toxic Town

The cast of Toxic Town stand in a field
(Image credit: Netflix)

Wednesday season 2

Jenna Ortega's Wednesday Addams standing in Nevermore Academy's courtyard in Wednesday season 2
(Image credit: Netflix)
  • Watch Wednesday season 2 on Netflix
  • Honorable mentions: Big Mouth season 8, Boots, Death by Lightning, Dept. Q, The Eternaut, Forever, Last Samurai Standing, Million Dollar Secret, The Night Agent season 2

Best Paramount+ shows of 2025

Landman season 2

Tommy leans on a post
(Image credit: Paramount)

MobLand

Harry points a gun to the floor in MobLand
(Image credit: Paramount Plus)

Best Peacock shows of 2025

The Celebrity Traitors UK

The cast of The Celebrity Traitors
(Image credit: BBC)

Twisted Metal season 2

Twisted Metal
(Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Best Prime Video shows of 2025

Fallout season 2

Lucy MacLean holding a shotgun next to a rusty car near New Vegas in Fallout season 2
(Image credit: Lorenzo Sisti/Prime Video)

Gen V season 2

A close up of a surprised Marie holding her hands right up to the camera in Gen V season 2
(Image credit: Prime Video)

The Girlfriend

Robin Wright and Olivia Cookie look at Laurie Davidson on either side of him
(Image credit: Amazon Prime Video)

Invincible season 3

A bloodied and crying Mark Grayson in the Invincible season 3 finale
(Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

The Mighty Nein season 1

Jester standing at the front of the titular group in The Mighty Nein
(Image credit: Prime Video)

Source: TechRadar