What Is Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba?
The anime Demon Slayer has made waves in recent years. It follows the tale of a young and aspiring demon slayer named Tanjiro Kamado. In his world, Japan is overrun by man-eating demons who cause nothing but death and destruction. To Tanjiro, this was nothing but a myth at first. However, his whole world changes when demons massacre his entire family one night. All that is left is Nezuko, his sister, who is now a half-demon. With that said, what anime genre is Demon Slayer? Both the manga and anime (Demon Slayer season 2 included) fall under the Shonen category. Like most Shonen anime, it’s riddled with tons of action, fantasy, and violence. However, it’s not your run-of-the-mill action anime that simply indulges in senseless action and violence. That’s because the anime also explores complex themes such as hope, loss, and persistence. These, along with compelling and relatable characters, have made it one of the most popular anime today.
25 Best Anime Like Demon Slayer
What anime should you watch if you like Demon Slayer? If that’s the question you’re asking, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are the top 25 best anime like Demon Slayer you can watch in 2022.
1. Akame Ga Kill!
One of the anime most like Demon Slayer is none other than Akame Ga Kill! Like Demon Slayer, it focuses on the story of one young boy named Tatsumi. He’s a common villager like Tanjiro. However, instead of fighting demons, he fights against the corruption that permeates the Imperial Capital. He’s recruited by Night Raid – a group of assassins that are out to wage war against that same corruption. With that said, Akame Ga Kill! isn’t exactly like Demon Slayer in every aspect. Nonetheless, it’s worth binging if you’re into Shonen anime with lots of action, fantasy, and adventure.
2. Attack 0n Titan
One good anime like Demon Slayer is undoubtedly Attack On Titan. Like Demon Slayer, it’s a dark fantasy series that’s based on a popular manga of the same name. It even follows a similar setting because it features man-eating monsters (Titans) and a protagonist who loses a family member. Things naturally flow from there as the humans face off against the giant Titans out to destroy humanity. It’s certainly a similar anime to Demon Slayer in many aspects and is equally enjoyable.
3. Berserk
If you enjoy the Demon Slayer anime because it’s an action-oriented dark fantasy, then you’ll certainly love Berserk. However, instead of historical Japan’s Taisho era, this anime is set in something similar to the middle ages. It follows a great swordsman and mercenary named Guts, whose life is characterized by nothing but war. Along with him is Griffith, a mercenary leader who’s at odds with Emperor Ganishka. When clashes between the two powers unfold, the world as they know it begins to change as different dimensions overlap.
4. Black Clover
Black Clover is another great anime like Demon Slayer on Netflix. It follows the tale of a young orphan named Asta whose life goal is to become Emperor Mage. He shares the same dream with his childhood friend, Yuno, who lives in the same orphanage in the Clover Kingdom. The only problem is that Asta is born with no such talent for magic, whereas Yuno is magically gifted. As a result, their pathways diverge into different routes while they still fight for the same dream.
5. Bleach
The Demon Slayer show is famous for its fantastical world-building and plot filled with adventure. However, binge-watching and finishing the series can leave you feeling a little empty afterward. That’s why people look for similar anime like Demon Slayer to fill that hole left in their hearts. One anime that can do the trick might very well be Bleach, a popular anime that ran 366 episodes. It aired from 2004 to 2012 and followed the story of a guy named Ichigo Kurosaki. He’s your average joe – regular in every sense of the word. That is until he obtained the powers of a Shinigami (grim reaper). Since then, he has to live his life fighting off evil spirits and ushering the deceased to the afterlife.
6. Blue Exorcist
What is the closest anime to Demon Slayer? As the name implies, Blue Exorcist is another demon anime like Demon Slayer that involves fighting off evil spirits. However, unlike Demon Slayer, this time the demonic realm and human realm (Gehenna and Assiah) remain strictly separate. That is until demons begin to creep into the human realm, causing all kinds of chaos. Now, it’s up to Rin Okumura, an aspiring legendary exorcist, to rid humanity of the evil scum. However, the problem is he has to destroy his father, Satan, to reach his goal.
7. Cells at Work!
Anyone who has taken biology in high school knows that the human body is a complex organic system. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to learn about – especially when you have an entire anime dedicated to it. That’s right. Cells At Work! is an anime all about the human body’s cells. Its main characters are one red and white blood cell that often coincide with fighting off bacteria and other pathogens. Sure, it’s not like other anime like Demon Slayer, which is all about ghouls and monsters. Nonetheless, its brand of comedy is fun to watch, and it’s surprisingly accurate if you want something slightly informative.
8. Claymore
Another anime like Demon Slayer that deals with vanquishing demons is Claymore. It’s set in a world riddled with demons called “youma” that are deadly threats to humanity. To combat the deadly force, an organization is set up to train young half-youma girls to fight to protect others. However, the protagonist in this anime isn’t a young countryside youth like in Demon Slayer. Instead, the main lead is a half-youma named Clare, who almost loses herself to her youma side. After this incident, she was assigned to more and more dangerous missions for the organization. The story follows her tale and adventures in the organization fighting the dangerous youma.
9. Dororo
Despite its age, Dororo remains one of the best anime like Demon Slayer, which stands the test of time. It features Hyakkimaru, a young boy whose body was dedicated to demons when he was born. His father, who betrayed and discarded him, sacrificed his body to obtain great power. Hyakkimaru’s only hope now is to have his body parts replaced by the doctor who raised him. As he becomes reborn with prosthetics, he finds himself developing superhuman senses that help protect him from demons. Of course, it also helps that some of his limbs double as weapons – perfect for self-defense.
10. Fairy Tail
One of the longest-running anime like Demon Slayer is none other than the classic Fairy Tail. It ran from 2009 to 2019 – an entire decade – and released 328 episodes. The story features the fantastical adventures of one of the teams under the Fairy Tail guild. It follows Natsu Dragnir, a fire dragon hunter, along with his teammates Lucy Heartfilia and Happy. Throughout their series of quests and adventures, they also encounter more members like Erza Scarlet and Gray Fullbuster.
11. Fate Stay Night
Another great anime like Demon Slayer is Fate Stay Night. However, unlike Demon Slayer, it isn’t about simply slaying otherworldly creatures bent on destroying humanity. Instead, it focuses on Shirou Emiya, a young warrior mage unwillingly caught in the mysterious Holy Grail War between “Servants.” Throughout the series, he encounters various mages who take part in the war. Each one is seeking to take hold of the Holy Grail, a legendary item that can grant any wish.
12. Fire Force
Fire Force is another anime like Demon Slayer that’s all about dark fantasy, action, and adventure. However, unlike Tanjiro’s story, Fire Force focuses on spontaneous human combustion. Yes, that’s right. In this world, humans magically combust and burst into flames, turning into human torches that create chaos. As a result, humans have formed an organization called the Fire Force to combat the series of ignitions. They’re also tasked with investigating the phenomenon so that they can uncover the truth behind these tragedies. The series mainly follows a protagonist named Shinra Kusakabe, whose family died in a fire many years ago.
13. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
If you’re looking for an epic anime like Demon Slayer, look no further than Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. It’s one of the most popular Shonen anime out there – and it’s understandable why. The story is full of the best elements you’d want in a dark fantasy adventure. Moreover, it has compelling characters and a riveting plot that will reel you in. The story revolves around two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who attempted to resurrect their deceased mother through alchemy. However, they pay the price for their forbidden act, and each brother has to sacrifice parts of his body. The only option left is studying alchemy and obtaining the Philosopher’s Stone to regain everything they lost.
14. Goblin Slayer
Grand epic adventure anime like Demon Slayer usually have multiple things in common. They take place in a fantasy world with protagonists who have seemingly larger-than-life end goals. That’s certainly true of Goblin Slayer – but despite its similar premise, it’s unique and entertaining in its own right. The story follows a novice priestess in a fantasy land where random dice rolls determine the fate of each person. She joins an Adventurer’s Guild and finds herself quickly connected to a group of fellow rookies. However, everything goes wrong on her first mission as she’s the only one left alive after a brutal Goblin attack. Now, she’s only left with her savior, the Goblin Slayer, whose ultimate goal is to destroy all Goblins.
15. InuYasha
One of the best classic anime like Demon Slayer is InuYasha. It follows the story of Kagome Higurashi, a 15-year-old middle-schooler from Tokyo who’s suddenly transported to the Sengoku period. Afterward, she meets a half-demon named InuYasha and suddenly shatters the Shikon Jewel that spawned from inside her. Now, she has to find the jewel’s fragments with InuYasha and keep them from getting into the wrong hands. Specifically, that of the malicious half-demon named Naraku.
16. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
One of the most popular anime like Demon Slayer is JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Sure, it’s a bit quirky and strange, but it’s packed with the best elements of fantasy adventure stories. The story follows the Joestar family, a line of powerful Brits who are meant to fight evil supernatural entities. It showcases many different protagonists, each from the Joestar lineage, and their quest for justice. The show starts with Jonathan in the 1880s and each succeeding storyline is succeeded by a descendant. It’s well-known for its quirky and bizarre humor and brand of action – but that’s part of the fun. Give it a shot the next time you want to watch a different anime like Demon Slayer.
17. Jujutsu Kaisen
One of the best anime like Demon Slayer is none other than Jujutsu Kaisen. In this world, every living thing has something called “Cursed Energy” within them. These come from the negative feelings that often permeate living beings. Unfortunately, people can’t control this negative energy, and it gives birth to Curses – evil spirits that bring calamity upon humans. Thankfully, the world has a silver lining in the form of Jujutsu Sorcerers – a secret organization that combats these forces. Our protagonist, Yuji Itadori, is one such sorcerer who’s bent on killing Ryomen Sukuna, a powerful Curse he hosts.
18. My Hero Academia
If you’re looking for an anime with a similar art style to Demon Slayer, we recommend My Hero Academia. It’s set in a sci-fi fantasy world where humans, more often than not, possess superpowers called “Quirks.” However, our hero, Izuku Midoriya, is one of those rare few who possess no Quirk at all. Nonetheless, he dreams of becoming a great superhero and joining the superhero academy one day. Fortunately for him, he meets All Might, the top superhero who gives him his Quirk, the One For All.
19. Re:Zero
Re:Zero is another anime like Demon Slayer in that it falls under the dark fantasy adventure genre. However, what makes it unique is its premise and plot as its main character, Subaru Natsuki, transmigrates accidentally. He suddenly finds himself in a fantasy world and meets Emilia, a half-elf girl whom he dies helping. Yet, just as he breathes his last, Subaru finds himself alive once more – mere hours before his imminent death.
20. The Rising of the Shield Hero
Another great dark fantasy anime like Demon Slayer is called The Rising Of The Shield Hero. It follows the story of Naofumi Iwatani, a man who suddenly transmigrates into another fantasy-filled world. Here, he along with four other transmigrators become the “Legendary Four Heroes,” each possessing a legendary item. This propels him into the adventure of a lifetime as he has to move forward as this land’s fated hero.
21. Rurouni Kenshin
One of the best classic anime like Demon Slayer is Rurouni Kenshin. It premiered back in 1996 and, despite its age, is a must-watch anime for Shonen fans. The story revolves around a vagabond named Himura Kenshin who leaves his life as an assassin during the Meiji restoration. He sets off and finds himself in none other than Tokyo in the 11th year. There he meets an ex-thief and Kendo master who joins him in fighting enemies that resurface from his inescapable past.
22. Tokyo Ghoul
Another great anime like Demon Slayer is none other than Tokyo Ghoul. In this land, demons live among humans and seem to live like them in every way. That is except for the fact that they crave human substance. Our protagonist, Ken Kaneki, learns of this reality when his friend Rize attempts to eat him on an outing. Afterward, he becomes a half-demon and falls into the world of demons. His life changes forever because of this and he must now live with his new identity in this new reality.
23. Ushio and Tora
One of the nicest anime like Demon Slayer in the dark fantasy genre is Ushio and Tora. It follows our protagonist Ushio, who one day uncovers a monster hiding in his basement. Through this monster, he learns of his ancestor, Lance of the Wild, who impaled the beast 500 years before. This forces him to free the monster to help him restore balance to the world – and thus begins his journey.
24. Yuyu Hakusho
Yuyu Hakusho is another supernatural anime like Demon Slayer that’s certainly entertaining. Sure, it aired in the early 90s and feels a bit aged. Nonetheless, it’s one of the best adventure anime out there – especially if you like martial arts. The story follows Yusuke Urameshi, a 14-year-old thug who dies a noble and inadvertent death. This prompts the kingdom of the dead to reconsider his death, and he is granted a resurrection. However, little did he know that he’d become a detective for the spirit world in the process. As a result, he has to find three demons who took three relics from the world of darkness.
25. D. Gray-Man
Lastly, another enjoyable anime like Demon Slayer is D. Gray-Man. It aired from 2006 to 2008 and then again for a while during 2016. The show is about another exorcist-based organization called the Shadow Congregation. This time, the story zooms in on Allen Walker – one of the exorcists in the special order — whose main aim is to destroy the living weapons called the Akuma and their leader, the Millennial Count. Like other Shonen fantasy adventures, D. Gray-Man features a classic rivalry between humans and enemy creatures. You should certainly give it a shot if you liked Demon Slayer.
Where Can You Watch Anime Shows Like Demon Slayer?
Perhaps you tuned into Netflix to watch Demon Slayer in all its glory. However, just because Netflix has the famed show doesn’t mean it’ll have everything else. With that said, where can you legally watch other anime like Demon Slayer? Furthermore, you can also access niche streaming sites like Crunchyroll or Funimation if all you want to watch are anime. However, some of these services only exist in certain locations, so it’s best to check that before jumping in. Lastly, if you like watching the latest anime, we recommend sites like U-Next and D Anime Store. However, keep in mind that these websites only exist in Japan and are all in Japanese. It’s great for language learners or Nihongo experts. Moreover, they’re the best sources to access all the latest anime if you live in Japan. To access georestricted content, try ExpressVPN today!
Should You Binge on Other Anime Like Demon Slayer?
Is Demon Slayer one of the best anime? According to a lot of anime fans, yes, it is. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t watch other anime like Demon Slayer to satisfy your craving for a good Shonen. There are tons of Demon Slayer-like anime you can watch on various streaming services. These anime usually have good reputations in the anime community and are certainly worth binging. Even if they’re not exactly like Demon Slayer, they’re good stories in their own right and are worth checking out. If you’re a fan of Demon Slayer and want more content, you can’t go wrong with any of these recommendations. Just make sure you have the time and self-control for them because you’ll probably binge them non-stop.
