The Best Anime Like Chainsaw Man

The popular manga series Chainsaw Man has certainly made an impression on the manga world. It looks terrifying yet wonderful, with its character designs and a story that matches them perfectly. Fans are eagerly waiting for the anime adaptation to come out, after the trailer for it was released.

With the anime still only in its first season, there are plenty of other anime shows that fans can watch to tide them over. Some might be a little light on the horror elements, but these anime shows are great choices for Chainsaw Man fans.

Updated on November 29, 2024, by Mark Sammut: Galleries have been added for every anime like Chainsaw Man mentioned below, along with information like their available streaming services.

Also, when it comes to Fall 2024 anime, Chainsaw Man fans should check out the following:

• Dandadan – Great mix of action and comedy, with an expressive art style that complements both.
• Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms – Alien mechs combine with humans, with both entities having unique personalities. Most episodes include a fight sequence or two, and they are generally quite good.

28 Kaiju No. 8

An Unlikely Man Finds Himself As The Key To Defeating Humanity’s Enemies

Kafka Hibino and Mina Ashiro are childhood friends who lost their childhood home to a kaiju attack. The two of them vow to join the Defense Force when they grow up. Sadly, Kafka didn’t achieve this goal and now works in the clean-up crew. However, his life changes when he rescues a coworker from a kaiju attack. Now, Kafka finds himself with the ability to turn into a kaiju and uses this to realize his dream of being in the Defense Force.

If Chainsaw Man fans are looking for a similar hero to Denji, Kaiju No. 8 is one of the best choices to watch. Kafka has a lot in common with Denji, and the action in the show is also very similar to Chainsaw Man.

27 Ninja Kamui

Similar Insanity And Gore That Chainsaw Man Fans Love

Higan/Joe Logan is a former ninja assassin who worked for his clan before defecting. He managed to build a normal life for himself with a wife and son in America, but the demons of his past come back to haunt him. After his family is killed by his former clan, Joe sets out on a path of revenge to end them. This is a great option if Chainsaw Man fans are looking for an anime that has the same vibes of craziness and violence.

It’s a classic revenge story that’ll take viewers on an emotional rollercoaster. The fights are pretty fluid and easy to watch, particularly in the first few episodes. Unfortunately, Ninja Kamui loses quite a bit of steam during its second half as the fights shift to mecha-style suits, killing most of their intensity in the process.

26 Blue Exorcist

Main Hero With Demonic Powers Who Is An Outcast

Rin Okumura starts off as a troublesome, but normal teen until he’s attacked by demons. It’s revealed that he and his twin, Yukio, are the sons of Satan and Satan wants him to return to the demon world so they can conquer the human world together. Rin decides to become an Exorcist after witnessing the death of his father figure, Father Shiro, at the hands of demons. Attending the prestigious True Cross Academy, Rin’s journey to becoming an Exorcist begins.

Blue Exorcist is a good anime for fans who love a mix of fantasy and action happening in the modern world. Though Rin is fighting on the side of good, there are plenty of people around him who are afraid of him because of his powers and shun him. But he doesn’t let this deter him from his goals of getting stronger to one day defeat Satan.

25 Gleipnir

Different Story, But Similar Violence And Monster Fights

Shuichi Kagaya is a high school boy who has a rather unique power. He can transform into a dog mascot-looking being with superhuman abilities. After saving a girl who jumped off a bridge one night, Shuichi finds his life turned upside down when the girl, Claire, appears before him at school the next day. Claire forces him to reveal his monstrous form and blackmails him into helping her find her sister, Elena, who is also able to transform into a monster-like being.

This anime is an underrated gem that has the perfect mix of action and mystery with a supernatural twist. The characters are pretty twisted and flawed, but not in a bad way that makes them unwatchable. The violence might not be as graphic as Chainsaw Man, but there is enough of it that’ll make it hard to look away.

24 Inuyashiki

Underdog Protagonists Who Change The World Around Them

Ichiro Inuyashiki is a man with a normal, if boring, life. His family is more or less indifferent to him, and his frequent health problems don’t offer him a moment of peace. One day, his life is turned upside down after he’s injured by an explosion of extraterrestrial origin and wakes up to find that his body has been replaced with a mechanical one. Inuyashiki decides to use his newfound powers to help others. Meanwhile, Hiro Shishigami also got caught in the explosion and received a mechanical body, but doesn’t use his body modifications for good.

It’s not every day that an older person is the protagonist in an anime. But Ichiro shows that a young lead isn’t necessary for a successful show. Shishigami is also a pretty cool villain who leaves viewers feeling a mix of emotions. He has moments of pure evil, as well as moments where he shows concern about his mother and friends.

23 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Similar Action, But Different Genre

David Martinez is a young man who lives in Santo Domingo, a poor district in Night City. David’s life takes a tragic turn at the beginning of the series, and he is lost on where to go in life until he meets Lucy. She brings David into the criminal underworld of Night City and he becomes a mercenary for the group Lucy works for.

This show is considered one of the best anime to release in 2022 thanks to its amazing story and characters along with the animation. It’s the perfect show for those looking for cyberpunk, sci-fi, and psychological thriller anime. Even if people weren’t fans of Cyberpunk 2077, this show is a standalone story that deserves a chance.

22 Demon Slayer

Slaying Demons In Style

One of the best and most popular anime out there right now, Demon Slayer follows Tanjiro Kamado. He’s a young man who joins the Demon Slayer Corps after his family is slaughtered and his younger sister Nezuko is turned into a demon by one. Together with their friends, Zenitsu and Inosuke, they go on missions to stop the demons from terrorizing humanity and end their leader, Muzan, once and for all.

Demon Slayer has taken the anime world by storm since its debut. With great characters, character development, an amazing story, and stellar animation, this anime has a lot going for it. Even supporting characters like the Hashira or villains like the Twelve Kizuki have managed to become memorable because of how strong and amazing they are.

21 Hellsing: Ultimate

Heroes That Feel More Villainous Than Heroic

This anime doesn’t hold back on violence. Hellsing: Ultimate is about Alucard, a vampire who is considered the strongest of his kind. He hunts other vampires for the Hellsing Organization which protects humanity from creatures of the night. With his new vampire assistant, Seras Victoria, Alucard, and the organization make it their mission to destroy any and all evil that threatens their queen and country.

Full of violence and blood, this anime has everything horror fans would want. Alucard isn’t entirely good, but he’s not entirely evil, which makes him a compelling character to watch. The only thing that’s certain is that he’s loyal to Integra and respects Seras.

20 Kekkai Sensen, AKA Blood Blockade Battlefront

Supernatural Setting with Eccentric Characters

Living with supernatural creatures is part of everyday life in tHellsalem’s Lot, formerly known as New York City. To prevent these supernatural creatures from terrorizing the outside world, a protective bubble covers the city to keep them in. The anime follows a young man named Leonardo Watch, who was living a normal life until he got the “All-Seeing Eyes of the Gods” at the cost of his sister’s eyesight. Now, he’s searching for a cure for her while also learning about his new abilities.

This show has a great balance of action and comedy with a sci-fi twist that will keep fans entertained. Though there are only 12 episodes, it manages to do a lot at a good pace that some anime can’t do with more episodes and has amazing characters to a good storyline.

19 Ajin: Demi-Human

A Protagonist Who Is More Anti-Hero

Kei Nagai is a seemingly normal young man in high school who has a rather uneventful life. One day, he gets hit by a truck and lives. He and everyone around him realize that he’s an Ajin, an immortal being with regenerative abilities and being able to summon “black ghosts.” Kei finds himself now living on the run and finds himself in the middle of an upcoming war between Ajin and humans.

Though there are only two seasons, Ajin: Demi-Human was one of the most popular anime during its time. Kei is not a traditional protagonist out to do the right thing, but a young man who is not afraid to use people in order to achieve goals. Sato, the main antagonist, is one of the most chilling villains. He is a scary mix of charismatic and convincing as he recruits other Ajin for his cause to wipe out humanity.

18 Berserk

Similar Dark Story Tones And Graphic Violence

One of the best dark fantasy anime and manga of all time, Berserk follows Guts, a man who works as a mercenary after his adoptive father tried to kill him when he was a child. He’s recruited into the Band of the Hawk led by Griffith, a man with some ambitious plans. Together, they fight in many battles and help end a war, but Guts leaves the group not long after. He returns after hearing that Griffith has been taken prisoner and helps save him.

However, Griffith sacrifices the group for power in the worst way possible and this marks the beginning of Guts’ journey to get revenge. Berserk has something for just about everyone wanting to see a fantasy show that has the perfect blend of horror and psychological thriller. It might not be the most graphic out there, but the violence in this anime is not for the faint of heart. For anyone wanting to start this, the 1997 series and the Golden Age Arc trilogy movies are the best to watch.

17 Gantz

Fighting Supernatural Beings to Survive

This anime shows that the afterlife might not be the peaceful utopia one would hope for. After friends Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato are hit and killed by a train, they find themselves in a mysterious apartment with other people and a large black sphere known as Gantz.

It is revealed that their lives now belong to Gantz and that they must participate in a survival game in which they must fight alien creatures. Gritty and gruesome, Gantz is a great sci-fi horror that’s hard to look away from once it starts. There are plenty of bloody action sequences that might make those with weak stomachs feel a little squeamish.

16 Attack On Titan

Gritty Horror Themes Leave Fans Shaken

Remaining consistently good from its debut to its end, Attack on Titan started off as a show in which humanity has lived within large walled cities to protect themselves against the man-eating Titans. Eren Yeager and his friends joined the Survey Corps to try and help take back some of the land. The battle went far beyond the walls of the city, however, and Eren has seen both sides of the war. By the end, the only thing he can focus on is his goal: ending all Titans.

Not only is there a great story, but also very good character development. It’s pretty dark and starts off strong, while also being suspenseful. Fair warning though: viewers should avoid getting too attached to the characters. Just about everyone, main and supporting, is fair game for getting killed off.

15 Hell’s Paradise

Parallel Problems Set in a Different Time Period

Gabimaru is an assassin who’s been captured by his enemies and is set for execution. However, all attempts to execute fail because of his superhuman anatomy. It’s up to Sagiri Yamada Asaemon to find a way to kill him. Instead of doing this, Saigiri decides to give Gabimaru a chance to gain full pardon if he helps her find the Elixir of Life.

If fans are looking for something with ninjas that has action, dark fantasy, and some psychological thriller elements, this is a good one to watch. With many elements mixed in with a little horror and adventure, it’s sure to keep viewers watching and on the edge of their seats.

14 Devilman Crybaby

Protagonist with Devil Powers Fighting for Good

A manga with plenty of anime adaptations, Devilman follows Akira Fudo, who becomes possessed by the demon Amon. Though Amon is known as one of the strongest demons in existence, Akira can control him thanks to his pure soul. Together they become the Devilman and strive to stop demons from terrorizing humanity.

Whether viewers watch the 1972 series, Amon: The Apocalypse of Devilman, or Devilman Crybaby, all the anime works are great watches. Full of violence, blood, and deaths of beloved characters, the series has a lot of good things going for it that’ll keep viewers glued to the screen. Nowadays, Devilman Crybaby is the best entry point into this universe, especially since the Netflix anime tells a complete and standalone story in just 10 episodes.

13 Another

No Shortage Of Horror and Gore

One of the most popular horror anime, Another is about a high school student named Kouichi Sakakibara who transfers to a new school. He notices that something is off about his class, specifically his classmate, Mei Misaki. He later learns about a curse put on his class and tries to find out more about it. Students and even people such as family members or school staff are at a high risk of being killed by the curse for just being associated with Kouichi and his class.

For anyone looking for a murder mystery with horror elements, this anime is the one to watch. The story has plenty of plots and twists that keep viewers watching to see what happens next, and who might be next to get taken out by the curse.

12 Special Mention: Castlevania

Horror and Gore Galore

Based on the video game series of the same name, this show follows Trevor Belmont, a vampire hunter, who seeks to stop Dracula from wiping out humanity. To do this, he teams up with Alucard, Dracula’s son, and Sypha Belnades, a mage, to keep humanity safe.

Even if viewers haven’t played the games, it’s not needed to understand what’s going on. Fans will get to see how Dracula was before he became the villain they know and love. Between the familiar characters and a great storyline, this is one anime that vampire fans will love.

Technically,
Castlevania
is not an anime; however, it is close enough to warrant a mention.

11 Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress

Protecting Humanity from Demons with Demonic Powers

This post-apocalyptic anime has fantasy and steampunk elements. During the Industrial Revolution, a mysterious virus infected humanity, turning most of them into zombie-like creatures called kabane. The kabane are protected by a layer of iron and most weapons aren’t effective against them. Ikoma, an engineer, has invented a weapon that’s able to piece their skin but is bitten in the process.

He is able to keep himself from being fully infected and becomes a human-kabane hybrid. He and a group of survivors travel to find a safe place, fighting hordes of kabane throughout their journey. For those looking for a show that’s more zombie survival-esque, this show is worth the watch. Featuring a great story, strong characters, and great animation, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is an excellent treat.

10 Blood+

Using Dark Powers To Fight Evil

The predecessor of the popular horror anime Blood-C, Blood+ was one of the darkest anime shows of its time. Saya Otonashi is a high school girl who has no memory of her past but seems normal overall. She is attacked by a mysterious creature that feeds on human blood and learns that she is the only one capable of defeating it and others like it. Saya embarks on a journey to defeat these mysterious creatures and find out more about her past, which might be a lot darker than she’s anticipating.

While Blood+ and Blood-C are a part of the Blood series, they are different shows that share a few similarities. Even now, Blood+ still holds up against more modern works. Both series have plenty of action and amazing stories that are worth watching.

9 Dorohedoro

Similar Dark Humor and Grim Elements

This post-apocalyptic anime follows a man named Caiman, who has the head of a lizard and no memory of his past life after being transformed by a sorcerer. Caiman and his friend Nikaido set out to find the sorcerer responsible for this. They draw attention because of their violent attacks on sorcerers. It also doesn’t help that Caiman is immune to the magical effects of most sorcerer attacks.

The animation and design of the background and characters are unique compared to most anime. All the characters have cool designs that are just as unique and are almost similar to Chainsaw Man characters. They give the series some lighthearted moments in between the dark ones.