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.
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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
Chainsaw Man
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2022 - 2022
- Studio
- MAPPA
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Tatsuki Fujimoto
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu, Crunchyroll
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
Devilman Crybaby
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2018-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- Science SARU
- Creator
- Go Nagai (Original Devilman Manga)
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
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.
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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
Ajin: Demi-Human
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 16, 2016
- Studio
- Polygon Pictures
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Gamon Sakurai
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
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
Future Diary
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 10, 2011
- Japanese Title
- Mirai Nikki
- Studio
- Asread
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Sakae Esuno
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
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
Psycho-Pass
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2012 - 2019-00-00
- Studio
- Production I.G, Tatsunoko Production
- Creator(s)
- Gen Urobuchi
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
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
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1995 - 1996
WHERE TO WATCH
- Japanese Title
- Shinseiki Evangelion
- Studio
- Gainax, Tatsunoko
- Creator(s)
- Hideaki Anno
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
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.
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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
Another
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 10, 2012
- Studio
- P.A. Works
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Yukito Ayatsuji
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
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
Terra Formars
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2014 - 2016-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Creator(s)
- Yû Sasuga, Kenichi Tachibana
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Freevee, Crunchyroll
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
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2007 - 2007
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator(s)
- Norihiro Yagi
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
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
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2011 - 2011-00-00
- Directors
- Tensai Okamura, Koichi Hatsumi, Daisuke Yoshida
- Writers
- Ryōta Yamaguchi
- Japanese Title
- Ao no Exorcist
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures, Studio VOLN
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Kazue Kato
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
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.
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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.