Many shounen anime are understandably major crowd-pleasers when it comes to the genre overall thanks to being lighthearted and colorfully action-packed, but seinen series like this year's Golden Kamuy and even shounen giant Attack on Titan season 4 show how compelling darker anime can be.
Making an excellent grim anime can be its own challenge, as it can't afford to be dark for darkness' sake. However, many Redditors have cited some of the best dark anime they've ever seen. More expected anime like Berserk and Neon Genesis Evangelion were noted, but there are also some more subversive ones like Made in Abyss.
Made In Abyss (2017-)
Stream On Amazon Prime Video
On the more unexpected side, at least based on the series' art direction, Made in Abyss is one of the most popular ongoing dark anime. It recently finished airing its long-awaited second season to similar acclaim as its predecessor. Redditor shilunliu cited it as a top recommendation, and said "don't get fooled by the chibi characters, not a kid's show."
Made in Abyss follows Riko, a young girl aspiring to be an elite Diver like her mother that went missing exploring the depths of the titular Abyss. She meets and befriends the robotic boy Reg along the way and, despite the endearing character designs, delves into increasingly dark emotional and psychological elements the further they go in unraveling the secrets of the Abyss.
Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995-1996)
Stream On Netflix
Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most iconic series available, mecha or otherwise, and is also a notoriously depressing anime to boot. In another recommendation thread, Redditor napoleonfanboy said "The latter half of Neon Genesis Evangelion and The End of Evangelion fits that bill," regarding especially dark anime series.
Evangelion is known to be something of a deconstruction of the typical mecha anime subgenre, as it serves as a deeply psychological and thematic exploration of the pitfalls of various mental illnesses. It doesn't hold back on the sociopolitical commentary either, with the story focusing on groups of children essentially being drafted into a war by a shadowy paramilitary organization to fight off an alien invasion.
Devilman Crybaby (2018)
Stream On Netflix
A demonic-themed dark fantasy series, the Netflix anime adaptation of Go Nagai's Devilman (subtitled Crybaby) garnered a solid critical reception while simultaneously being looked at as famously bleak. Redditor Sujallamichhaneakasl spoke highly of the series' impact and said "Calling that show dark would be an understatement. Artstyle is unique, animation is fluid and the whole ordeal really messes you up."
Devilman Crybaby centers around two friends who seek to discover the devils hidden in the world. However, in a chaotic mixup, the soft-at-heart Akira Fudou bonds with a devil to save Ryou Asuka. Using devils as a vehicle, Crybaby dives into themes of intense existentialism, bigotry, and coming-of-age as a male adolescent.
Monster (2004-2005)
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One of the best seinen anime as per MyAnimeList, mangaka Naoki Urasawa's Monster is a thoroughly riveting crime-thriller. Redditor pRophecysama chimed into a comment threat recommending it as one of the darker anime ever released and went as far as to say "I'd honestly hold off on monster [because] once you watch it everything else seems s***** in comparison."
Like other dark, more maturely-inclined anime and manga, Monster holds little back in getting into the grimness of philosophy and psychology's most unsettling corners. Following Kenzo Tenma, a Japanese former doctor living in Germany, he sees his life spiral out of control after the young boy he sacrificed his job to save emerges years later as an elusive and cultish serial killer.
Black Lagoon (2006)
Stream On Hulu
Black Lagoon is a solid choice for fans that want a combination of bombastic, bloody action as well as grim social commentary. Redditor Vainglory1 thought it was a noteworthy dark anime and said "It’s not completely dark but there are definitely some immoral evil and some dark parts here and there." Black Lagoon begins with a mid-20s Japanese salaryman who inadvertently becomes a pawn in a nuclear weapons trade in which his corrupt employers took part.
Growing cynical of his life in Japan, as a result, he joins the titular mercenaries to start again. Where the series gets particularly dark is in its morally ambiguous cast's incredibly nihilistic worldviews, as well as the commentary on how world governments and the criminal underworld often go hand in hand with setting the status quo.
Steins;Gate (2011)
Stream On Hulu
Though certainly not as over-the-top as mecha anime, Steins;Gate is another critically-acclaimed sci-fi series that subverts the elements of its subgenre. Redditor ChaseCid vouched for it and noted that it's "Not fully dark, but has significant dark themes present and moments that are amplified by the lighter tones surrounding other parts of the anime."
Steins;Gate is on the darker side more unconventionally, as its early goings almost lull the audience into a false sense of security with grounded, slice-of-life-like storytelling. But that's before unraveling into a deeply conspiratorial story with genuine life-or-death implications when the characters stumble upon the secrets behind time traveling.
Berserk (1997-1998)
Stream On Netflix (December 2022)
Often hailed by longtime fans of the medium as the greatest seinen manga ever written and illustrated, the late Kentaro Miura's Berserk is one of the most enthralling fantasy series to watch or read. It hasn't had the best of luck when it comes to consistent (and high-quality) TV anime adaptations, but the 1997 original series is still looked upon warmly.
Naturally, many fans like Redditor StarWarsNerd57 included it in their dark anime recommendations shortlist. Berserk can be relentless in how punishing it depicts its Game of Thrones and The Witcher-like world and how cruelly it treats its main cast but, should fans choose to read on, it fully reaps the themes of inspiring human resilience and healing it has always sowed. And that's without sacrificing its atmosphere and worldbuilding as a dark-fantasy story.
Vinland Saga (2019-)
Stream On Netflix
It doesn't go to the same bleak depths as the likes of Berserk, but Makoto Yukimura's Vinland Saga has all the nuance and engaging, character-driven storytelling that fans would want from a darker anime. Redditor Cynique_Noir also gave it a shout in a thread of suggestions, with much of what makes Wit Studio's anime adaptation such an arresting watch coming from the emotionally impactful backstories of its cast.
This sweeping, Viking-themed epic follows young Thorfinn's bloody quest for vengeance against the man who killed him. Vinland Saga becomes thoroughly introspective on the part of its characters, with Thorfinn's supporting cast providing just as interesting motivations.
Psycho-Pass (2012-)
Stream On Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video
While Ghost in the Shell is understandably seen as the most influential cyberpunk anime, Psycho-Pass is an admirable modern entry in the subgenre. Redditor Cynique_Noir put it in their list of recommendations and, at least for the first season, it's one of the most impressive modern anime originals.
Psycho-Pass takes place in a techno-dystopian future where the Japanese government monitors its citizens' propensity toward being criminals and, should they fail this test, are dealt with by Enforcers, even lethally. As one would expect from such a premise, Psycho-Pass' darkness stems from its Minority Report and Blade Runner-like narrative influences.
Kaji: Ultimate Survivor (2007-2008)
Stream On Crunchyroll
One might not normally think that an anime series revolving around gambling could be particularly dark, but Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor accomplishes just that. Commenting on the series' merit, Redditor majora24 mentioned how "it has a lot of mind games" that help make it so consistently tense.
Focusing on the depressingly down-on-his-luck protagonist, the titular Kaiji is pressured by loan sharks to settle a debt a coworker burdened him with. As a result, Kaiji joins a cutthroat underground gambling tournament where competitors essentially play for their lives. The intense games of strategy and ruthless backstabbing make Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor a grueling watch in the best ways.