The　Fischer-Tropsch　synthesis　is　a　crucial　process　for　producing　sustainable　and　high-value-added　energy　from　non-petroleum　resources.　Transition　metal　carbides　(TMCs)　have　been　identified　as　an　effective　and　highly　efficient　catalyst　for　this　process.　This　review　comprehensively　and　systematically　summarizes　recent　advances　in　the　synthesis　of　TMCs,　with　a　focus　on　molybdenum　and　tungsten　carbide-based　catalysts.　The　strategies　widely　adopted　for　enhancing　the　catalytic　activity　of　these　catalysts　are　reviewed,　and　theoretical　calculation　approaches　to　elucidate　their　catalytic　mechanisms　in　the　Fischer-Tropsch　synthesis　at　a　molecular　level　are　presented.　Furthermore,　the　review　proposes　perspectives　for　designing　novel　and　highly-efficient　molybdenum　and　tungsten　carbides　based　catalysts　for　the　Fischer-Tropsch　synthesis.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.