Best Anime Like Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku

Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku features the story of Gabimaru the Hollow, a ninja on death row. The shinobi is given one last chance to live as he is sent to an island to retrieve an elixir of immortality for the Shogunate. Gabimaru is sent alongside other convicts, each with their own executioner to watch over them. As the retriever of the elixir of immortality will be pardoned for his or her crimes, an epic conflict ensues.

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Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku shows a dark and violent world, and many anime fans have longed for it. As fans wait for new episodes to debut, they can indulge in other similar anime. Portraying supernatural themes and delving into what it means to be human or a monster, these series should satisfy fans of Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku.

Updated August 14, 2024 by Oluwatokiloba Folami: The Hell’s Paradise anime series has Gabimaru go on a treacherous journey to find an elixir of immortality, even as he encounters dangerous convicts and mythical monsters. As a dangerous convict himself, Gabimaru is not to be underestimated, but to face the extraordinary, he too must rise above the norm. Gabimaru’s journey is a dangerous one, with dangers and betrayals all too common. With its dark themes, many fans are captivated and want more.

Thankfully, various other series portray similar dark themes present in Hell’s Paradise, and some even go above and beyond to ensure viewers are constantly engaged as they explore the most primary instincts of humans, whether it be to explore the unknown or to confront their inner desires.

1 Samurai Champloo

Various Warriors Duke It Out For Different Reasons

With its combination of various genres, Samurai Champloo quickly became widely renowned after its release. The series portrays Fuu, the waitress who gets together with the wild fighter, Mugen, and the skilled Ronin, Jin. With two contrasting fighting styles come two contrasting personalities. However, Mugen and Jin are tied to Fuu by "fate" and must now help her to find the "samurai who smell of sunflowers."

Like Hell’s Paradise, Samurai Champloo is set in the Edo period of Japan. While Fuu, Mugen, and Jin aren’t battling mythical creatures to find an elixir of immortality, they come across a wide range of fighters with different styles and end up learning from each other, despite the sharp contrast in their respective personalities.

2 Katanagatari

The Protagonists Are Considered Living Weapons In A Similar Time Period

• Japanese Title: Katanagatari
• Studio: White Fox
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Romance

Like Hell’s Paradise, Katanagatari takes place in an Edo-Japan period. The protagonist of the series, Shichika Yasuri, like Gabimaru, specializes in using his body as a living weapon. Unlike Gabimaru who fights to reclaim his freedom, Shichika Yasuri fights because of his interest in the female strategist, Togame, who enlists his help to collect twelve "Deviant Blades."

Despite the differences in the objectives of the characters, Hell’s Paradise and Katanagatari portray very similar themes as their protagonists journey alongside a female warrior/strategist to achieve their goals. On their respective journeys, they come along with a plethora of warriors and ninjas who fight for various reasons, whether it be to keep a weapon to themselves or to eliminate the competition in finding an elixir of life.

3 Tokyo Ghoul

Portrays Similar Dark And Violent Themes

This anime series is highly renowned for its sinister themes of gore and betrayal in a dysfunctional society. The presence of ghouls in Japan has made the streets unsafe at night, and Ken Kaneki, a young naive boy is suddenly dragged into a dark world when he comes across the ghoul, Rize Kamishiro, and becomes a human-ghoul hybrid.

Like Hell’s Paradise, Tokyo Ghoul portrays very dark themes and the presence of supernatural combatants. In Hell’s Paradise, Gabimaru seeks a life of peace, but Kaneki Ken is dragged from his life of peace in Tokyo Ghoul. As both series have similar but distinct storylines, fans of Hell’s Paradise are sure to enjoy Tokyo Ghoul.

4 Tower Of God

A Supernatural But Unknown Environment Is Explored

The plot of the series centers around Bam, a young boy who decides to ascend the tower to reunite with his old friend. However, ascending the tower is no easy feat as many chosen individuals called Regulars are promised their deepest desires should they manage to get to the top. Meanwhile, Bam was not chosen and, therefore deemed an Irregular.

The most noticeable similarity between Tower of God and Hell’s Paradise is undoubtedly the themes of survival and competition that their protagonists face in an unknown environment. In Hell’s Paradise, Gabimaru the Hollow is sent to an island with unique fantastical creatures that proclaim themselves as Gods. Meanwhile, Tower of God features a tower with a lot of mystery and intrigue surrounding it.

5 Vinland Saga

Bloody Battles And A Need For Redemption

Although Vinland Saga and Hell’s Paradise are distinct in their world-building, their narratives and main characters are quite similar. Like Gabimaru, Thorfinn was bred for war. Since losing his family and loved ones at a young age, all Thorfinn thought about was revenge. However, unable to get revenge, Thorfinn eventually tries to redeem himself by denouncing war and violence.

Gabimaru doesn’t take it to such extreme ends as denouncing war. But after meeting his wife, he begins to desire the need for redemption and little to no bloodshed. For fans who enjoy Gabimaru’s bloody battles, Vinland Saga is one show to check out.

6 Demon Slayer

Supernatural Creatures And Themes Of Morality

After seeing his family killed by demons and his sister turned into one, Kamado Tanjiro swears to slay demons and find a way to turn his sister back. With his long journey of demon slaying and looking for a cure, Tanjiro’s story is similar to Gabimaru's, who confronts the Tensen to look for the elixir of immortality.

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Although Gabimaru and Sagiri are not related, the relationship between them is similar to Tanjiro and Nezuko’s bond. As Tanjiro’s story can be likened to Gabimaru’s, fans of Hell’s Paradise are sure to find Demon Slayer intriguing, as the general supernatural concept of the story is exciting.

7 Btooom!

A Protagonist Stuck on a Deadly Island

Ryota Sakamoto is a 22-year-old who loves playing the combat video game Btooom. One day, he wakes up stranded on an island inhabited by other players. Realizing he is trapped in a real-life version of his favorite video game, Ryota must find a way to keep himself alive as he confronts the dark reality of what he has to do to survive.

Like in Hell’s Paradise, Ryota and the other players are stuck on an island where the rules of the jungle are in effect. Similar to Gabimaru’s predicament, Ryota must survive many dangers as he finds a way to escape the island.

8 Dororo

Fighting To Get Something Back

Hyakkimaru, one of the protagonists of Dororo, bears many similarities with Gabimaru the Hollow of Hell’s Paradise. Both served as ronins who experienced treacherous journeys to get something back, whether it be their freedom or body parts.

In Dororo, Hyakkimaru was born to Kagemitsu Daigo, a man who formed a pact with 48 demons so that he could rule the land with wealth and prosperity. However, power through such means often comes with great consequences, and Hyakkimaru suffered for the sins of his father. After Hyakkimaru discovers the source of his plight, he meets Dororo, and they travel together in a dark tale of self-searching and redemption .

9 Rurouni Kenshin

Kenshin Is No Gabimaru, But He Has A Similar Past

The Rurouni Kenshin anime is another anime like Hell's Paradise, which portrays the life of Himura Kenshin, a samurai formerly known as Hitokiri Battosai. In the past, Kenshin used to be a bloodthirsty samurai who left countless dead bodies in his wake. However, after an accident involving a loved one, Kenshin decided to reform his ways and became a wandering samurai (Rurouni) who uses a reverse blade, swearing never to take a life.

Similar to Hell’s Paradise protagonist, Gabimaru the Hollow, Rurouni Kenshin’s protagonist, Himura Kenshin, has a dark past and seeks redemption for his past crimes. Moreover, with similar elements of action and adventure, fans of Hell’s Paradise will find Rurouni Kenshin endearing to watch.

10 Dorohedoro

Gritty Atmospheres

Caiman, an inhabitant of the Hole, was made more reptile than man, and his memories were erased. Living in the Hole, a dark and lawless district where the strong prey on the weak, residents of the Hole have grown accustomed to being used as experiments for sorcerers, a race of people who can use magic. However, despite his predicament, Caiman bravely seeks to undo his predicament by finding the sorcerer responsible for erasing his memories and turning him into a reptile. Deciding to brave the dangerous journey ahead, Caiman’s best friend, Nikaido, joins him on his sorcerer-hunting adventures.

Although portraying different central themes, Dorohedoro and Hell’s Paradise are similar in that they both portray bloody battles involving the supernatural. Moreover, like the characters in Hell’s Paradise, Dorohedoro’s characters are deeply involved with supernatural creatures, even if they look human-like.