Puzzle plot TV Series
Nonlinear timelines, twists and structural games that reward attention.
Ranked by how defining this tag is for each show · 129 series
10/10 means the show is a defining example. Shows scoring below 7/10 don't make the list.
Dark
555K 26 2017–2020
Time travel · Puzzle plot
10/10
Sherlock
1.1M 15 2010–2017
Genius lead · Detective mystery
9/10
Westworld
560K 36 2016–2022
Big-budget spectacle · Puzzle plot
9/10
1899
125K 8 2022–2022
Mystery box · Puzzle plot
9/10
Twin Peaks
91K 18 2017–2017
Experimental · Stylized direction
9/10
Bodies
69K 8 2023–2023
Time travel · Puzzle plot
9/10
12 Monkeys
54K 47 2015–2018
Time travel · Puzzle plot
9/10
Kaleidoscope
48K 9 2023–2023
Heists & cons · Puzzle plot
9/10
Cruel Summer
22K 21 2021–present
Puzzle plot · Mystery box
9/10
The Prisoner
16K 17 1967–1968
Puzzle plot · Dystopia
9/10
Baccano!
14K 16 2007–2008
Puzzle plot · Anime
9/10
Jonathan Creek
10K 32 1997–2016
Puzzle plot · Detective mystery
9/10
The Singing Detective
5K 6 1986–1986
Experimental · Unreliable narrator
9/10
ID:Invaded
4K 13 2020–2020
Puzzle plot · Anime
9/10
Prison Break
675K 90 2005–2017
Cliffhanger-driven · Serialized
8/10
Death Note
492K 37 2006–2007
Anime · Intellectual challenge
8/10
Mr. Robot
472K 45 2015–2019
Unreliable narrator
8/10
Severance
399K 25 2022–present
Mystery box · Workplace
8/10
How to Get Away with Murder
180K 90 2014–2020
Cliffhanger-driven · Mystery box
8/10
Watchmen
147K 9 2019–2019
Social commentary
8/10
Russian Doll
117K 15 2019–2022
Time travel · Existential dread
8/10
Legion
104K 27 2017–2019
Experimental · Stylized direction
8/10
Behind Her Eyes
95K 6 2021–2021
Secrets & lies
8/10
Steins; Gate
95K 26 2011–2015
Time travel · Anime · Mystery box
8/10