Top 10 Best Dark Action Anime Like Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen has taken the anime world by the throat and hasn’t let go. From the brutal killing of characters by Gege Akutami to the cursed energy system and the actual consequences of the battles being fought, JJK has set a new standard for dark shonen anime out there. The problem comes when you’ve finished all of the episodes out there and you’re just left sitting there with nothing to watch. Well, lucky for you we’ve compiled ten dark action anime like Jujutsu Kaisen.

1. Chainsaw Man

If Jujutsu Kaisen is dark, then Chainsaw Man is something else. This is another work from MAPPA, the same studio behind JJK, and it’s an adaptation of the manga from Tatsuki Fujimoto about Denji. He’s a poor devil hunter who merges with his chainsaw devil Pochita and becomes something terrifyingly powerful. This series is so crazy that you’ll just wind up finding out that your favorite character dies in a random episode.

The characters you come to love die without fanfare, and the series makes you feel every single one of those deaths. The animation is top tier, the Devils are frightening in their design, and the series constantly switches between bleak comedy and horror. If you loved JJK for its unpredictability, then Chainsaw Man has it in spades.

2. Demon Slayer

While Demon Slayer may appear to be a brighter and more relaxed show than Jujutsu Kaisen on the surface level, don’t be fooled. The emotional center of Demon Slayer is based on loss because, within the first episode of the show, Tanjiro Kamado’s entire family is slaughtered, and his sister is turned into a demon.

The world is dark, the demons are terrifying, and the Upper Moons are some of the most OP villains out there. The Mugen Train Arc alone is enough to put Demon Slayer on this list.

3. Tokyo Ghoul

This is likely the most obvious recommendation, and it definitely earns it. Tokyo Ghoul is a show about Ken Kaneki. He’s a college student who becomes a half-ghoul after a near-fatal accident and then tries to learn how to survive in a world that wants to kill him from all sides.

The first season of Tokyo Ghoul is really good and Kaneki’s transformation into a half-ghoul and the exploration of his own identity, belonging, and absolute tendency for violence are things every JJK fan should love. Warning though, the anime starts to fall apart after Season 1, especially in Root A, but the manga is great if you want to get more out of it.

4. Dororo (2019)

Here’s a series that doesn’t get talked about enough. Dororo takes place in feudal Japan and centers on the main character named Hyakkimaru, a boy born without limbs, eyes, or skin because his father made a deal with 48 demons to gain power. As he dispatches each demon, he regains a body part.

The 2019 remake by MAPPA is gorgeous. It’s dark and quiet in a way that makes the violence more impactful, and even has a lot to say about philosophy. If you liked the moral depth of the world-building in JJK, Dororo operates on that level.

5. Made in Abyss

Made in Abyss is probably the most deceptive anime ever created. It starts off like a joyful adventure where a young girl named Riko goes into a huge, mysterious hole called the Abyss with a robot boy named Reg to find her missing mother.

It has a very nice art style that’s almost childlike. The setting is vibrant and colorful but then the show slowly starts to take away all of that. As Riko and Reg go deeper, the true horror of the Abyss is slowly revealed to the viewer.

6. Parasyte: The Maxim

Parasyte is another hidden gem from the mid-2010s that still manages to hold up well. An alien parasite invades Earth and infects human hosts, but in the case of our protagonist, Shinichi Izumi, the parasite known as Migi does not reach his brain and instead merges with his right hand. The result is a thrilling survival story as he fights to find out what it means to be human and not a monster.

The horror is gruesome and the themes are surprisingly deep. The way Shinichi becomes increasingly distant from himself as the series goes on is just like Yuji Itadori’s inner struggle against Sukuna.

7. Attack on Titan

Everybody knows how good this series is but if you, for some inexplicable reason, haven’t watched Attack on Titan and you’re sitting there looking for dark anime recommendations, then stop reading this article and go watch it right now. It’s the gold standard of dark anime.

It has an oppressive setting, ever-expanding lore that continually recontextualizes everything you thought you knew, and a willingness to take down the very heroes you’ve come to care about as part of a larger, more complicated picture. The final arc is insanely thrilling but the journey from Episode 1 to the finale is the best part.

8. Berserk (1997)

Berserk is where dark fantasy anime starts and ends. The “Berserk” anime, released in 1997, depicts the Golden Age Arc of the legendary manga by Kentaro Miura, which tells the story of Guts, a young mercenary with a giant sword and a troubled past that would break any ordinary person. This goes along with his adventures with the Band of Hawk, led by the enigmatic Griffith.

The ending of the Golden Age Arc is one of the most heart-wrenching conclusions to an anime ever made. The anime may be old, but its story is forever young. JJK may be inspired by Berserk, and this should be a must-watch for every anime fan.

9. Claymore

Claymore is a series set in a medieval world overrun by shape-shifting monsters known as Yoma. It follows Clare, a half-human, half-Yoma warrior who hunts her kind in service to an organization she doesn’t particularly trust.

The setting is dark, the powers are grim and deliberate in their design, and the all-female cast of Claymore warriors are burdened in a way that makes every battle feel important. It’s also got the same theme of protagonists who are burdened with something monstrous within and must decide what to do about it.

10. Devilman Crybaby

Save this anime for when you’re ready for something really disturbing. Masaaki Yuasa’s “Devilman Crybaby” (2018 Netflix adaptation of Go Nagai’s classic “Devilman” manga) is unlike anything else on this list. Akira Fudo becomes possessed by a demon to fight other demons and protect humanity, but the world around him descends into paranoia, mob violence, and apocalyptic horror.

This is a short series but it will stay in your mind long after it’s over. The ending alone guarantees “Devilman Crybaby” a place in the GOAT podium of the darkest anime ever made.