Best Anime Like Tokyo Ghoul

Over the past decade, anime has become more and more popular because people now realize that it is a legitimate form of entertainment. Most shows may cater to teenagers and young adults, but there are plenty of series for more mature audiences, and Tokyo Ghoul is not intended for children. The series takes place in an alternate world where people live alongside Ghouls, creatures who feed on human flesh.

The story centers around Ken Kaneki, a young student who becomes half-ghoul after being attacked by a female Ghoul. When he realizes what has happened to him, he must learn to live with his new diet and abilities. He gets involved in several battles, and he joins various groups along the way until he finds himself living a peaceful life. Tokyo Ghoul is a great example of Gothic anime, and there are other series with similar themes and visuals that fans would likely enjoy. Let’s go over some of the best anime like Tokyo Ghoul.

Updated March 28, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Due to a questionable adaptation, Tokyo Ghoul seems destined to never make its return to animated content, which is a shame since the manga is an all-time great. Fortunately, fans who want something that can fill the void have plenty of anime similar to Tokyo Ghoul that they can check out. Two more shows have been added as recommendations.

16

Chainsaw Man

An Action-Packed Anime With A Protagonist Who Fuses With A Devil

Despite being a Shonen anime compared to Tokyo Ghoul‘s Seinen classification, Chainsaw Man primarily targets older viewers, with both the manga and anime featuring gory and, at times, uncomfortable action. Akin to Kaneki, Denji gains a transformation when he is on the verge of death due to combining with a Devil called Pochita. Now, Denji can transform into the eponymous Chainsaw Man, an unapologetically brutal “hero” who can and will tear his enemies apart.

Similar to Tokyo Ghoul, Denji’s present situation causes him to be dragged completely into an extremely dangerous world, forcing him to become part of the Public Safety Division that deals with Devils. Although they generally exist to protect the peace, the PSD is far from a noble institution, particularly when it comes to its leader, Makima.

15

Devilman Crybaby

Losing Yourself To Overwhelming Power

Very loosely based on Go Nagai’s influential Devilman manga, Devilman Crybaby is a purposefully hard-to-watch show that touches on a few similar themes as Tokyo Ghoul. Both anime revolve around weak protagonists who gain power from a questionable source that gradually influences their personalities, causing them internal strife as they try to resist becoming somebody they do not recognize.

Filled with religious imagery, intense sequences, sexual themes, and horrifying violence, Devilman Crybaby is not for everyone, nor should it be. However, anyone craving a show that takes an ambitious and subversive look at tropes commonly found in Battle Shonen will want to give this a look. Beware, this anime is solely for adults.

14

Ajin: Demi-Human

A “Normal” Guy Is Forced Into A Hellish World

Netflix has a decent number of great anime series, including lesser-known shows like Ajin: Demi-Human. The series features 3D animation, and there are surprisingly quite a few similarities between it and Tokyo Ghoul. Kei Nagai is the main protagonist, and he discovers that he is an Ajin after getting fatally injured in a traffic accident.

Like Ghouls, Ajin are humanoid beings, but Ajin are immortal and do not need to feed on humans. Instead of Kagune, the Ajin can summon black ghosts for battle, and they can produce harsh screams. Kei was forced into this world just like Kaneki was, and the humans capture and experiment on Ajin, which is similar to how the CCG treats Ghouls.

13

Future Diary

Teenagers In Battles To Death

Tokyo Ghoul is known for being edgy, and that is the reason why fans of the series will enjoy Future Diary. This survival game anime centers on Yukiteru Amano, a teenage loner who befriends a god of space and time. The god turns Yukiteru’s phone into a Future Diary, which allows him to partially see up to 90 days into the future.

The protagonist then finds himself in a battle royale with 11 other individuals, and the winner will become the next god who will stop an upcoming apocalypse. Future Diary has the type of teenage drama and action that Tokyo Ghoul fans enjoy, and to make things even more interesting, most of the characters are insane to some degree.

12

Psycho-Pass

A Gore-Filled Psychological Thriller

At first glance, an anime like Psycho-Pass would not seem interesting to Tokyo Ghoul fans, but they should give it a shot. Psycho-Pass is set in a world where cybernetic augmentation has run rampant, and there is a system in place that determines a person’s likelihood of committing a crime.

The first part of Tokyo Ghoul:re felt more like a crime-solving or thriller series, which is exactly what Psycho-Pass is, so fans will enjoy that aspect. In terms of violence, Psycho-Pass does not shy away from it, and the series’ main police force possesses special authority similar to the CCG.

11

Neon Genesis Evangelion

An Iconic Anime That Tears Down Its Protagonist

Many consider Neon Genesis Evangelion to be one of the best mecha anime of all time, which is understandable given its brilliant storytelling and characters. On the surface, Evangelion and Tokyo Ghoul are completely different, but fans who like Kaneki will also like Shinji Ikari.

Both characters are forced into bloody conflicts which place the weight of the world on their shoulders. They are also forced into leadership roles that they are not prepared for. Fans who watched Kaneki break down throughout Tokyo Ghoul will notice that the same thing happens to Shinji.

10

Another

A Gore-Filled Horror Anime With An Air Of Mystery

There are several great horror anime to choose from, and Another is one of the more popular series. Another starts in 1998, and it deals with a student’s unexpected death. Her classmates cope by pretending she is still alive, but doing so causes them to summon an evil spirit that goes on a killing spree.

The series features a surprising amount of gore, which Tokyo Ghoul fans will be accustomed to. Another may be a gruesome series that centers around a mystery, but it explores dark themes just like Tokyo Ghoul.

9

Terra Formars

Good Action Science-Fantasy Anime With Intense And Violent Fights

When Ghouls fight, they activate their Kagune, which alters their bodies in some way. This type of body transformation occurs in Terra Formars as well, which is why Tokyo Ghoul fans will find it interesting. The anime also features a good amount of violence and action.

Terra Formars is a great science fantasy anime that centers around a conflict on Mars. Unfortunately, the planet is filled with mutated cockroaches who all look like massive humans. Two manned missions are sent to Mars, and they consist of humans who survived a special operation that allows them to transform into animal and insect hybrids.

8

Claymore

A Cult Classic Anime With A Similar Tone To Tokyo Ghoul

Claymore may not be the best anime for newcomers, but it shares a lot of similarities with Tokyo Ghoul and is great for seasoned fans. The story focuses on a female warrior named Clare, who underwent a procedure to become a claymore. These warriors are part Yokai, and they are tasked with eliminating man-eating monsters and other warriors with their Yokai powers.

Clare and Kaneki share similar personalities, and they both have to fight monsters who appear to be human. Both series fit into the horror, mystery, and action genres, and they deal with romance in similar ways as well.

7

Blue Exorcist

Consistently Entertaining Shonen Anime With Humans Vs Demons Story

Blue Exorcist deals with the ongoing conflict between demons and the various classes of demon hunters. The main character is Rin Okumura, who happens to be the son of Satan, which explains why he is capable of producing and manipulating intense blue flames.

Like Tokyo Ghoul, Blue Exorcist features a group tasked with trying to maintain peace despite the existence of powerful non-human entities, and both main characters are forced to deal with major life changes. Blue Exorcist may not be as violent, but it still tells a decent story that spans multiple seasons, most of which improve on their predecessors.

6

Gantz

The Edgiest Action-Horror Anime Ever

Some consider Tokyo Ghoul to be edgy, and if that is a good thing, then Gantz is another anime that is worth seeing. Gantz is as edgy as an anime can be. It contains a great deal of introspection, action, gore, and intimate moments.

Like Tokyo Ghoul, the main character gains abilities after his world is turned upside down. Gantz focuses on a high school boy who dies and gets resurrected. When he comes back, he is given an alien suit and is then forced to fight monsters in an intense game of death. The series tries to delve into the terror that dwells within society and the human heart.

5

Shiki

A Slow-Paced But Effective Horror Vampire Anime

Shiki is another great horror series. It takes place in the small rural town of Sotoba, which is being plagued by strange deaths. The story focuses on the town’s doctor, as well as a teenage boy who is dealing with the death of his friend. Together, they try to uncover the cause of the deaths.

It turns out that the town has a vampire problem, which explains the series’ gore. Like Tokyo Ghoul, Shiki tries to humanize monsters who feed on human flesh, but it also forces the audience to question how to deal with non-human family members.

4

Attack On Titan

The Definitive Human Vs Monster Anime

As far as violence and gore are concerned, Attack on Titan has both, and, like Tokyo Ghoul, humanity has to deal with man-eating monsters that are terrifying and fairly hard to kill. Eren Jaeger is the main protagonist, and like Kaneki, he was turned into a monster by someone else.

AoT goes through quite a few changes through its four-season run, taking its world and characters in unexpected directions that, while polarizing, are always fascinating. Tokyo Ghoul is known for its modern setting and vulnerable characters, whereas AOT delves more into terror and political ideology, but both anime are incredible.

3

Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress

A Relentless Action Anime With A Fun Take On Zombies

Wit Studio’s big break came with Attack On Titan, and they used that newfound fame to create Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. This 12-episode series is set in a world where a mysterious virus surfaces during the Industrial Revolution. This virus transforms humans into zombie-like creatures, which can only be killed if their glowing heart is destroyed.

The main character is Ikoma, a young steamsmith who manages to survive being infected by a zombie. Like Kaneki, Ikoma gains abilities after surviving his ordeal, and he is then forced to live in a world that sees him as nothing more than a monster.

2

Parasyte -The Maxim-

A Psychological Thriller That Lives Up To Its Title

When it comes to psychological anime, Parasyte -the maxim- ranks near the top. Shinichi was a shy and kindhearted high school student, but that all changed on the night alien parasites descended upon Earth. One of these parasites entered his body, but he stopped it before it could devour his head.

The parasite took control of Shinichi’s right arm instead, and the two become unwilling partners to survive encounters with other parasites. Shinichi gradually becomes less empathetic as the series goes on, while the parasite, Mogi, gains empathy. Like Kaneki, Shinichi has this new life thrown at him, and he is forced to deal with monsters who want him dead.

1

Deadman Wonderland

Vicious Action, Likable Protagonist, And Awesome Prison Setting

Deadman Wonderland may be a Shonen series, but Seinen anime fans will likely enjoy it as well. The series focuses on Ganta Igarashi, a high school student who is framed for killing his entire class. He is sentenced to Deadman Wonderland, a prison that also serves as an amusement park.

While there, he gains his Branch of Sin, an ability that allows certain people to freely control and manipulate their blood. Tokyo Ghoul and Deadman Wonderland have protagonists who are quite similar, as they are both trying to survive in a new world that was thrust upon them. Both series also feature similar abilities and combat. Also similar to Tokyo Ghoul, Deadman Wonderland‘s anime does not quite capture the magic of the manga, mostly due to ending after one season.