Best Anime Like Demon Slayer

Koyoharu Gotouge’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba debuted on Weekly Shonen Jump in 2016, producing 23 volumes before coming to an end in 2020. The manga was successful enough to spawn a 2019 anime by Ufotable, which had a somewhat slow start before exploding in popularity thanks to the 19th episode’s stellar final scene. Since then, Demon Slayer has been firmly established as one of the biggest shonen properties of all time, with the anime going on to produce multiple seasons and two movies. While gradually creeping towards its end, the adaptation still has a few manga arcs to cover before concluding Tanjiro’s story; consequently, Kimetsu no Yaiba is not going to disappear from the public consciousness anytime soon.

Ufotable’s series set a high standard for action anime in general, and very few shows can match Demon Slayer in terms of production value. However, at its core, the show tells a fairly by-the-numbers action shonen story, and it is not that difficult to find anime like Demon Slayer that touch upon similar themes and ideas. The challenge is discovering alternatives that can reach the bar set by Ufotable’s series.

Updated on March 9, 2025, by Mark Sammut: Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has been confirmed for a September 12, 2025, release outside of Japan, starting the anime’s cinematic trilogy. Exciting as that pending release is, Infinity Castle is still months away by this point; consequently, fans might wish to check out some of the best anime similar to Kimetsu no Yaiba. Two more anime have been added as recommendations: Shiki and Solo Leveling. The latter is just about to end its second season.

25

Hell’s Paradise

Action-Fantasy Anime With A Samurai Setting

Spring 2023 had quite a few exciting anime, and while most of the shows were not all that similar to Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc, Hell’s Paradise was the one exception. Based on a Shonen Jump+ manga, the anime follows a group of convicts who are sent to a mysterious island to find an elixir of life, creating a battle royale sort of scenario. If someone finds this item, they are granted their freedom. As these characters are primarily murderers, they are accompanied by executioners who are meant to take off their heads if they step out of line.

Gabimaru the Hollow is one such criminal, and he might be the scariest of the bunch. However, he has a reason to survive and change: his wife. Hell’s Paradise follows Gabimaru and his executioner as they explore a surreal island defined by horrific monstrosities, death, and flowers. Similar to Demon Slayer, Hell’s Paradise is very action-heavy and is not afraid to throw out buckets of gore; in fact, the latter can get more violent and unsettling than the former.

24

Kaiju No. 8

Overcoming Larger-Than-Life Threats

Airing alongside the Hashira Training Arc, Kaiju No. 8 was the most hyped new anime of Spring 2024, a situation that could have backfired if the first few episodes failed to hit the ground running. Fortunately, that was not the case, and Production I.G’s series is an easy recommendation for anyone remotely interested in battle shonen stories. Despite the popularity of franchises like Godzilla, kaiju anime are not particularly common, especially removed from the mecha genre; consequently, Kaiju No. 8 feels fresh, even though it is not doing anything particularly original.

While they have a lot of differences, Kaiju No. 8 and Demon Slayer share one important thing in common: humanity is fighting an uphill battle against significant supernatural entities. In this alternate reality, kaiju attacks are very common, and they tend to be unpredictable and feature a wide assortment of monster types. Naturally, Japan has developed a special unit whose members use unique weapons to take out these threats, which is not that different from the Hashira in Demon Slayer.

Beyond that, Kaiju No. 8‘s male protagonist is refreshingly different for a shonen lead. In his early 30s, Kafka has regularly failed to qualify for the Defense Force; however, he gets a final chance when he accidentally swallows a small kaiju and gains unique powers. While he can transform and become incredibly powerful, he is still pretty weak as a human.

23

The Elusive Samurai

A Historical Epic With Fantastic Animation

While lacking a prominent supernatural element, The Elusive Samurai should otherwise be a safe pick for Demon Slayer fans, particularly ones who want an action-heavy show set in historical Japan. Set during the 14th century, the anime tells the story of Hojo Tokiyuki, a child lord who had to go into hiding after his clan was eradicated. Hoping to start a revolt and bring his family’s name back into power, Tokiyuki begins to study under the tutelage of a unique monk, all the while collecting allies who are drawn to his charisma.

The Elusive Samurai primarily revolves around Tokiyuki’s attempts to stay one step ahead of the Ashikaga clan, something he accomplished by hiding in plain sight and relying on his incredible fleeing ability. While trying to keep a low profile, the lord’s big heart means he cannot take a backseat when innocent lives are in danger, prompting Tokiyuki and his allies to take on threats beyond their current abilities.

Although no demons are involved, The Elusive Samurai certainly exaggerates history to an extent, giving its characters powers that are borderline supernatural. The action sequences are almost always fantastic, and they can get quite bloody as well. The anime even has over-the-top humor similar to Demon Slayer, although The Elusive Samurai is arguably funnier.

22

Chainsaw Man

Humans Vs. Devils

One of the most hyped anime of 2022, Chainsaw Man arguably struggled to live up to expectations, unreasonably high as they were. Nevertheless, season 1 is still pretty great and does a good job of setting things up for a sequel. In this universe, Devils are real and manifest from the emotions of humans. As these creatures are extremely dangerous and powerful, the Public Safety Division was created to hunt them down, although its members tend to have very short careers (and lives).

On the verge of death, Denji merges with his Devil friend, allowing him to not only survive but transform into the eponymous Chainsaw Man. Driven by nothing but his animalistic urges, Denji agrees to join the Public Safety Division, starting him down a path of personal growth and bloodshed.

21

Shiki

A Horrifying War Between Humans And Vampires

One of the greatest horror anime of all time, Shiki is nothing like Demon Slayer in most areas, so this recommendation is mainly for people who want to see a somewhat similar premise handled in a very different way. A countryside town has recently found itself falling victim to strange deaths, along with rumors about walking corpses. Unable to face the reality that something sinister is feasting upon them, the citizens generally try to continue like nothing is wrong, a false comfort that eventually comes crumbling down.

Similar to Demon Slayer, Shiki is about humans fighting back against monsters, with vampires being used instead of demons. However, rather than indulge in glorious sword battles, these humans take a rather uncomfortable approach to the situation. Shiki is filled with intense and upsetting moments.

20

Undead Murder Farce

A Historical Supernatural Epic With A Dark But Silly Tone

Undead Murder Farce is an absolute blast. Similar to Demon Slayer, the 2023 anime blends a historical setting with supernatural elements, taking specific inspiration from fictional sources like Sherlock Holmes. There are vampires, immortals, oni, Frankenstein’s Monster, magicians, and even Arsene Lupin. If that sounds excessive, well, it is. However, everything comes together to create a ridiculously entertaining and surprisingly balanced whole.

Undead Murder Farce is primarily a mystery series with action rather than a full-blown fight fest, so the pacing is slightly slower than the typical battle shonen. That said, the second half of the series has quite a few battles, all of which are well-animated and incredibly engaging due to featuring such a diverse roster of characters with unique abilities. The core trio are fantastic too, being both charismatic and enigmatic.

19

Basilisk

A Battle Royale Between Two Ninja Clans

An oldie but a goodie, Basilisk is gory, action-packed, and narratively tense. Set during the 1500s, the story follows two ninja clans that crave each other’s destruction, resulting in an agreement to stage a war pitting their best warriors in a to-the-death battle royale. Caught in the middle are Kouga and Iga, lovers from opposite sides who struggle to decide their allegiances.

While the Romeo & Juliet-style story is pretty engaging, Basilisk is primarily worth watching for his top-notch fight sequences, which are fantastically animated and constantly unpredictable. At its best, Gonzo was capable of producing some of the greatest animation in the industry, and this series represented the studio at its peak.

The sequel season is awful.

18

Drifters

Gloriously Violent Fights

Drifters can be difficult to recommend since a sequel seems unlikely to ever come to fruition, which is a shame as season one is among the most enjoyable action anime of the 2010s. Similar to Fate, the isekai series brings together famous historical figures and makes them fight to the death; however, Drifters takes place in a fantasy world and essentially divides its characters into two groups.

Unapologetically gory and over-the-top, the anime does not hold back during its many fights, which compare favorably with most other series. Silly as its core premise might sound, Drifters offers an interesting take on the isekai theme, and the anime has a lot of fun presenting outlandish versions of figures like Joan of Arc and Oda Nobunaga.

17

Claymore

Yoma

Based on Norihiro Yagi’s shonen manga, Claymore takes place in a world where humans live in constant fear of Yomas, which are essentially shape-shifting demons. As these creatures can easily overpower a regular person, towns and villages hire powerful knights called Claymores to take down these threats. Half-human, half-Yoma, these women are generally stripped of emotion, with their identity being largely defined by their loyalty to their organization.

Clare is one such Claymore, and while on a mission, she saves an orphaned boy named Raki. The latter ends up joining the former on her travels, creating a bond that inspires Clare to grow and change. Featuring good production value courtesy of Madhouse and a story that starts slowly but blooms into something fairly complex and engaging, Claymore is a minor classic.

16

Bleach

One Of The Big Three

One of battle shonen’s big three manga, Bleach enjoyed a decent anime run between 2004 and 2012 before making a successful comeback in the Fall 2022 season. Currently adapting the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, the show has never been better, and Pierrot has pulled no punches when it comes to the animation.

In this universe, spirits can roam the land as Hollows, which are put to rest by a secret otherworldly organization known as the Soul Society. One night, a normal student named Ichigo meets Rukia, a Soul Reaper, and soon finds himself face to face with a Hollow. Bleach gets complicated quite quickly, and the anime nearly always nails its battle sequences.

15

Blue Exorcist

Half-Human, Half-Satan

Blue Exorcist takes place in the modern-day wherein there is a secret academy that trains teenagers how to exercise demons. Rin is the son of the devil and is treated like a second-class citizen, even though he wants to slay demons as much as anyone else.

Will he succumb to the power of the devil or will he become the hero he wants everyone to see him as? Blue Exorcist is like Harry Potter meets Demon Slayer as far as the themes go. Although Rin takes center stage for most of the story, he is hardly the only notable character, and the anime dedicates a lot of time to exploring the other exorcists, creating a dynamic comparable to the Hashira.

14

Golden Kamuy

Brilliant Action & Hilarious Humor

Golden Kamuy is set around the early 1900s involving the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese War. The war is all but over now and Saichi is trying to forget his past all while trying to uncover a treasure trove of gold.

The maps he needs are tattooed on the backs of men so let’s just say he does what he needs to in order to get what he needs. Demon Slayer blends action and comedy to a polarizing degree, with the latter being quite divisive among many viewers. Golden Kamuy is much the same way as it can go from extremely bloody action and high-stakes to goofy shenanigans at the drop of a pin; however, an argument could be made that Golden Kamuy handles humor better than Demon Slayer.

13

The Fate Series

The Pinnacle Of Action Anime?

In all honesty, the Fate series does not have all that much in common with Demon Slayer, outside the fact that they are both action anime made by Ufotable. Narratively, Fate/Zero and Fate/stay night revolve around the Holy Grail War, a battle royale where mages summon heroes from history to fight until only one is left standing. The shows are brutal, complex, and ambiguous in the presentation of most of their characters.

Despite not sharing much common ground when it comes to story or plot, Demon Slayer and Fate are ideal companion pieces as they both showcase Ufotable’s near-unparalleled talent for animating visceral and smooth action sequences.

12

Seraph Of The End: Vampire Reign

Humans Vs. Vampires

Thanks to a disease wiping out most adults, humanity has been largely subjugated by vampires, who use the surviving children as a blood bank. Seeking to escape with the other kids, Yuu and Mikaela make a run for it, only for the plan to end in disaster. Somehow, Yuu makes it out and finds a human resistance force, which he quickly joins to satisfy his thirst for revenge. Meanwhile, Mikaela is turned into a vampire. Seraph of the End chronicles Yuu and Mikaela’s growth, eventual collision, and friendship, all the while dissecting both the human and vampire societies that are at war.

Consisting of two seasons, Seraph of the End is an enjoyable, if unspectacular shonen anime with a solid premise and above-average action. While rushed at times, the series gets by on spectacle and the intriguing dynamic between its two leads.

11

Inuyasha

Isekai, Romance, & Demons

Inuyasha might have served as some sort of inspiration for Demon Slayer, as they are both about slaying demons. It’s set in both the present and the past, with the past segments taking place in the golden age of Japan.

It’s an isekai wherein a young girl, Kagome, falls into a well that transports her back to the past. Japan is overrun with demons and only Kagome and her half-demon love interest, Inuyasha, can save the day.

10

Dororo

A Ronin Epic With A Supernatural Twist

Due to his awful father, Hyakkimaru was born missing most of his body parts, each of which was handed over to a demon. The boy survives until adolescence and starts a blood-soaked quest to regain what was stolen from him, a journey that involves eliminating each of these demons.

An adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s classic shonen manga, Dororo is a timeless tale that should satisfy Demon Slayer fans yearning for more ronin-esque action anime. Dororo‘s heart is the relationship between Hyakkimaru and the anime’s eponymous child, an endearing orphan who forms an unbreakable bond with the capable swordsman.

9

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

A Shonen Grandfather

Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is right up there with Dragon Ball and Fist of the North Star as one of the most important manga of all time. In fact, Koyoharu Gotoge directly cites JoJo as an influence on Demon Slayer, although the author does not specifically mention what elements inspired him the most. At a glance, the two manga/anime do not have that much in common, with their power systems, settings, humor, and even action sequences being quite different.

That said, despite their different components, they both excel in generally the same areas. Both series surround their protagonists with more experienced or complementary allies, emphasizing the importance of working as a unit to take on far stronger foes. They tend to mix action and comedy fairly well, all the while featuring arcs that shake up the general setting. Also, while Stands are their own thing, JoJo‘s Hamon/Ripple shares similarities with Demon Slayer‘s Breathing.

Most importantly, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is awesome.

8

Ragna Crimson

Humanity Under Siege By Dragons

At times, battle shonen anime can seem like they are cycling through mythological creatures. Many shows can be described as “humans vs. some type of monster,” with the former being greatly outmatched and relying on a select group of heroes who can just about survive against the overwhelming supernatural threats. Ragna Crimson is very much cut from this cloth as the anime takes place in a fantasy world where humans are not the dominant species and live in fear of dragons. After essentially playing with their food for a very long time, the latter decides it is time to start eradicating humanity, a situation that sparks Ragna, a weak human who admires a hero named Leonica, to give up everything to create a future not filled with grief. Before long, he is accompanied on his mission by Crimson, a dragon who has a burning hatred for his kind.

Although its core concept is not all that original, Ragna Crimson gets by on the strength of its characters, particularly Crimson and a few of the antagonistic dragons. Ragna is a fairly straightforward shonen protagonist who is largely driven by emotion, and while he can be a bit uninteresting, his aggressive and blunt nature complements Crimson’s strategic mind and manipulative tendencies. The action sequences are not quite on the same level as Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen, but they are entertaining in their own right.

7

Samurai Champloo

Two Samurai & Girl

A classic by Shinichiro Watanabe, Samurai Champloo can be recommended in basically every situation. Craving an action anime? Samurai Champloo. Feel like laughing? Samurai Champloo. Interested in hip-hop? Samurai Champloo. Naturally, the 2004 series should be watched by Demon Slayer fans, particularly those who enjoy the latter’s historical setting. Samurai Champloo is set a few decades earlier during the Edo period, but it is not that far removed from Demon Slayer‘s Taisho era.

The story follows two samurai who agree to accompany a girl who is searching for the Sunflower Samurai. This goal mostly serves as an excuse for the trio to travel across Japan, engaging in mostly self-contained stories, battles, and shenanigans. Samurai Champloo‘s action sequences are plentiful, smoothly animated, and frequently bloody, making them fairly similar to Demon Slayer​​​​​​. That said, the older series almost has a slice-of-life tone at times due to sticking to an episodic structure.

6

Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress

The Mugen Train Arc, But Zombies

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is primarily known for its parallels to Attack on Titan‘s opening season, although their similarities are superficial. The show might be a better fit for people searching for anime like Demon Slayer since they both take place in relatively similar periods and prioritize action.

The eponymous “iron fortress” is a train and serves as Kabaneri‘s main setting, giving the series a unique connection to Demon Slayer‘s Mugen Train arc and movie. Rather than demons, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress‘ humans exist in a world overrun with zombies, and these undead creatures are not of the slow-as-molasses variety.