The Best Horror Anime of 2025

In 2025, the anime world delivered a fantastic range of horror and supernatural stories that truly grabbed viewers and kept them on the edge of their seats. Both returning favorites and new adaptations of beloved manga topped streaming charts, thanks to their dark storylines and striking visuals. This year, the genre really focused on deeper psychological themes and building suspenseful atmospheres. Here’s a look at some of the best horror anime that aired or debuted this year.

‘Kingdom’ (2012–2025)

This sweeping historical drama continues to vividly portray the harsh realities of ancient Chinese warfare, filled with intense battles and complex political schemes. The story centers on a young orphan striving to become a renowned general, all while facing betrayal and widespread conflict. Lately, the series has delved deeper into the psychological impact of war, particularly the horrors of sieges and the devastating loss of life. Its skillful blend of military strategy and brutal action makes it a favorite among viewers who enjoy gritty historical stories.

‘The Feast of Amrita’ (2023–2025)

A teenage girl living in an apartment building starts experiencing bizarre and frightening events. As things escalate, she witnesses her neighbors turning into monstrous beings, blurring the line between what’s real and what isn’t. The story uses a distinctive visual style to create a sense of fear and confinement within the city environment, expanding on the unsettling world established in earlier horror projects.

‘Darwin’s Game’ (2020–2025)

An ordinary student finds themself caught in a deadly mobile game where players fight to the death using unique powers. The latest season is even more intense, featuring increasingly complex and dangerous traps. To stay alive, players must make difficult ethical decisions while being hunted by ruthless opponents. The animation emphasizes the fast-paced, violent combat and keeps the main characters in constant danger.

‘T・P BON’ (2024–2025)

The show centers around a student who joins a group dedicated to rescuing people from major disasters throughout history – but with a strict rule: they can’t change the past. As they travel to incredibly dangerous and heartbreaking moments – like outbreaks of disease and times of war – the series leans into horror, showing the true terror of these events. It’s a unique blend of sci-fi and the harsh realities of history.

‘Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction’ (2024–2025)

In Tokyo, two teenage girls go about their everyday lives under the shadow of a giant alien spaceship. Though the series often feels upbeat, it subtly explores themes of anxiety, societal breakdown, and the loss of human connection. As things get worse, the girls are forced to confront the frightening possibility that the world may be facing total destruction.

‘Wistoria: Wand and Sword’ (2024–2025)

In a world powered by magic, a boy born without any magical talent must rely on his swordsmanship to navigate a treacherous dungeon. The monsters lurking in the dungeon’s depths are terrifyingly designed, creating a strong horror atmosphere. He’s constantly facing impossible challenges, battling creatures that break the rules of nature and magic. The stark difference between the cheerful world above and the dark, dangerous dungeon adds to the feeling of dread.

‘Bye Bye, Earth’ (2024–2025)

Belle Lablac lives in a world filled with animal-people who see her as a frightening monster. She travels across bizarre and dreamlike lands, battling strange creatures with a magical sword that can transform. The story delves into themes of feeling like an outcast and the fear of physical difference, shown through Belle’s encounters with disturbing creatures. The richly detailed world is both gorgeous and deeply creepy, making every new discovery feel significant.

‘Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms’ (2024–2025)

A student receives a mechanical arm that’s not only intelligent but also has its own unique personality, and it seems to come from an alien source. Things quickly become dangerous when aggressive robotic beings start pursuing the student and their friends throughout the city. The story delves into the disturbing physical and psychological effects of merging with alien technology. The fights are intense and violent, and those caught in the conflict suffer serious consequences.

‘Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season’ (2024–2025)

This latest installment of the series explores the disturbing phenomena affecting its supernatural characters in more detail. The story focuses on the frightening nature of these apparitions and the emotional toll they take on those haunted by them. As always, the show boasts a unique and visually striking style, even when depicting unsettling moments. The conversations between characters are complex and create suspense, building a strong atmosphere of supernatural mystery.

‘Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master’ (2024–2025)

This fantasy series takes place in a kingdom where people can turn into giant ravens. It centers on the power struggles within the royal court, complicated by terrifying monsters and long-hidden secrets buried in the mountains. Expect political maneuvering mixed with shocking violence and supernatural discoveries. The story offers a grim twist on classic fantasy, exploring the wild, instinctual side of these raven transformations.

‘Sengoku Youko’ (2024–2025)

Set in a fantastical take on Japan’s Sengoku period, this story depicts a war between humans and demons, filled with epic battles and incredible magic. It centers on two siblings fighting to save the world from truly evil spirits. The horror comes from the terrifying designs of the demons and the heavy emotional impact of endless war. It’s a thrilling blend of historical action and dark fantasy, creating a desperate struggle for survival.

‘TASUKETSU -Fate of the Majority-‘ (2024–2025)

Participants are trapped in a terrifying game where they must decide who lives and who dies, judged by specific rules. This creates intense psychological stress, destroying trust and unleashing shocking cruelty. A hidden figure orchestrates the game as a twisted social experiment. As fewer people remain, they begin to understand the horrifying reality of their situation, and the danger escalates with each round.

‘Delico’s Nursery’ (2024–2025)

This gothic series centers on a family of noble vampires navigating the difficulties of parenthood alongside their supernatural responsibilities. However, beneath the surface of everyday family life lies a dangerous world of old rivalries and hidden secrets that could shatter the vampire community. The show explores both the frightening aspects of being a vampire and the external dangers that threaten their family’s existence, creating a compelling mix of supernatural drama and suspenseful atmosphere.

‘Mayonaka Punch’ (2024–2025)

I’m completely hooked on this show about a group of vampires trying to make it as online creators! It’s hilarious, but it’s also surprisingly intense. They’re constantly walking a tightrope, trying to hide what they are from the world while battling their own inner demons and, let’s be real, their thirst. The world isn’t exactly welcoming to supernatural beings, so they’re always in danger of being exposed, and it makes for some seriously gripping drama. It’s a really cool mix of comedy and genuine suspense.

‘Bucchigiri?!’ (2024–2025)

Troubled teens are thrown into a world of supernatural combat when they meet powerful spirits who give them incredible abilities. The show has a fast-paced, gritty style with intense animation and character designs that reflect the dangerous underworld it portrays. Horror comes from both vengeful ghosts and the gruesome physical changes characters experience while fighting. This creates a constant sense of urgency, making every battle feel like a desperate fight for survival.

‘Ninja Kamui’ (2024–2025)

Once a skilled ninja, he abandoned his clan to start a new life, but his family was tragically killed by his former ninja brothers. Driven by revenge, he resurfaces, combining traditional martial arts with advanced technology to hunt down those responsible. The series is notorious for its brutal violence and grim atmosphere, focusing on the terrifyingly calculated methods of the ninja assassins as they operate in the present day.

‘Metallic Rouge’ (2024–2025)

Set on a Mars of the future, this story follows an android girl and her companion as they pursue the Immortal Nine – a group of rebellious, artificial beings. The narrative blends intense action with disturbing body horror, as characters morph into heavily armored fighting machines. Beyond the combat, the story explores the androids’ internal struggles with identity and what it means to be human, all within a gritty, neon-lit, and dangerous sci-fi world.

‘High Card’ (2023–2025)

In this series, players wield magical cards that grant them incredible powers, drawing them into a hidden war for dominance. Expect intense, stylized action and mind games as characters risk everything in each battle. Using these powers comes at a cost, often with frightening consequences that warp both the user and their surroundings. The story moves quickly, constantly building suspense as the secrets of the cards – and the war itself – are uncovered.

‘Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest’ (2019–2025)

A student, constantly bullied, finds himself in a magical world, only to be abandoned by those he thought were his friends and trapped in a dangerous dungeon. To survive, he’s forced to eat monsters, gaining their abilities but losing his own sense of humanity. The latest season follows his continued struggles in a world that fears and despises him. The story centers on his fight for survival and his dramatic change from helpless victim to a powerful, and often brutal, hunter.

‘Ishura’ (2024–2025)

With the Demon King defeated, a fierce competition begins to determine the next great hero. These powerful warriors all have devastating abilities, capable of leveling cities in moments. The series focuses on the terrible consequences of their battles – the destruction and the emotional toll on those who survive. Adding to the grim tone, the heroes themselves aren’t always clearly ‘good,’ as they struggle for ultimate power.

‘The Witch and the Beast’ (2024–2025)

A man burdened by a curse and a young girl journey through a fantastical world, searching for the witch who stole their identities. Along the way, they face terrifying supernatural threats, from haunted villages to disturbing magical experiments. The story has a dark, gothic feel and explores the dangerous side of magic. Driven by a mutual thirst for revenge, the two companions work together to fight against the evil that plagues their world.

‘Go! Go! Loser Ranger!’ (2024–2025)

This show flips the superhero story on its head, revealing that the so-called heroes are actually enslaving the monsters they claim to fight. A minor monster manages to get close to the heroes, intending to expose their dark secret and tear them down from the inside. The series is disturbing because of how horribly the monsters are treated and the cold-hearted actions of the heroes. It’s a dark and brutal take on the ideas of justice and what happens when power goes unchecked.

‘Lazarus’ (2025)

In 2052, a groundbreaking drug created by a Nobel laureate is discovered to be a deadly, slow-acting poison. The story follows a team’s desperate race against time to find the scientist and develop an antidote before humanity is wiped out. The series delves into the terrifying psychological impact on a world facing certain extinction, balancing intense action with the chilling reality of an unavoidable medical disaster.

‘Link Click’ (2021–2025)

This thrilling series follows two friends who can step into photographs, allowing them to fulfill risky assignments for others. But their past adventures come back to haunt them, creating terrifying present-day consequences. They’re pursued by a shadowy enemy with similar abilities, who is using them to commit murder and control people. The show is known for its emotional impact and consistently suspenseful moments.

‘Natsume’s Book of Friends’ (2008–2025)

A young boy with the ability to see ghosts comes into possession of a special book that lets him command them. Though often touching, the show’s current season delves into the scarier and more isolating parts of the spirit world. Some of these spirits are frightening and seek revenge, drawing on traditional Japanese ghost stories. The series beautifully balances moments of peace and terror as the main character tries to find a way for humans and spirits to coexist.

‘Fire Force’ (2019–2025)

Elite firefighters confront a terrifying event: people bursting into flames and becoming monstrous creatures called Infernals. As the story nears its end, secrets about the flames’ origins and a doomsday cult aiming to set the world ablaze are revealed. A central theme is the horror of losing oneself to the fire, and the animation beautifully captures both the mesmerizing power and destructive force of the flames.

‘Kaiju No. 8’ (2024–2025)

This series follows a cleanup worker who gains the power to transform into a giant monster, all while keeping his abilities secret from the military. It’s packed with huge, action-filled battles against terrifying creatures that could destroy the world. The story explores the disturbing physical changes the hero goes through, alongside the intense combat of the forces fighting the monsters. The monsters themselves are incredibly detailed and destructive, creating a real sense of danger.

‘Blue Exorcist’ (2011–2025)

Despite facing fear and judgment from those around him, the son of Satan pushes forward with his goal: to become an exorcist and ultimately defeat his own father. This season delves into the mysterious history of the Knights of the True Cross and introduces even stronger demons. The show blends typical high school experiences with intense, frightening fights against supernatural forces, and the demons themselves are particularly terrifying thanks to their detailed and unsettling designs.

‘Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun’ (2020–2025)

A teenage girl strikes a bargain with a school ghost, hoping to have a wish come true. This season explores the sad histories behind the school’s mysterious happenings and the hidden, dangerous side of the supernatural. The show’s distinctive visuals stand out against its often dark and intense ghost stories. As the story unfolds, the line between the world of the living and the dead becomes harder to define, and the characters encounter escalating dangers.

‘Solo Leveling’ (2024–2025)

Jinwoo Sung is quickly becoming more powerful as he takes on ever more dangerous dungeons and confronts figures from the distant past. Season two ramps up the action with even tougher battles against terrifying monsters that push him to his absolute limits. The series’ horror comes from the harsh reality of how characters gain strength and the unsettling secrets behind the portals. The animation brilliantly showcases the fast-paced, violent fights with incredible detail and a captivating atmosphere.

‘Hell’s Paradise’ (2023–2025)

A dangerous crew ventures to a strange island seeking the secret to immortality, but they face terrifying gods and monstrous creatures. The island itself is a twisted, nightmarish version of paradise, filled with bizarre plants and animals. The second season ramps up the danger with new groups arriving, and the shocking truth about who really controls the island begins to emerge. Expect intense, disturbing imagery and brutal encounters that feel like waking nightmares.

‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ (2023–2025)

I’m a huge fan of this series! It follows Richter Belmont, who’s continuing his family’s legacy of vampire hunting, and it’s set during the French Revolution – which is such a cool backdrop. The second season gets really intense; this powerful vampire is trying to take over humanity using some seriously creepy magic. What I love most is how beautifully animated it is, and they don’t pull any punches with the action and horror – it’s really brutal and satisfying. The whole gothic vibe of the revolution just makes the vampire fights even more awesome.

‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’ (2022–2025)

The recent episodes of the series bring the long-running conflict between the Soul Reapers and the Quincy to a dramatic and explosive end. This installment boasts incredibly imaginative and frightening character designs, some of the best the series has ever seen. The story leans into horror with villains who have reality-bending abilities and intensely violent battles. Top-notch animation and effects make the supernatural warfare feel more impactful than ever.

‘Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-‘ (2016–2025)

Subaru Natsuki finds himself in a dangerous fantasy world where he can come back to life after death. The latest season is particularly challenging for him, forcing him to confront powerful and cruel enemies known as the Archbishops of Sin. The show is scary because of its intense and violent depictions of Subaru’s deaths, and the sheer power of those he’s up against. A key part of the story is the emotional toll of repeatedly failing and trying again.

‘Dan da dan’ (2024–2025)

A girl fascinated by ghosts and a boy who believes in aliens are on the run from both supernatural forces and creatures from outer space. The show is fast-paced and features strange, unsettling designs that mix traditional scary stories with science fiction. They have to team up to get back body parts that have been taken by angry ghosts. The animation perfectly shows how wild and frightening their experiences with the unknown are.

‘Uzumaki’ (2024–2025)

Based on Junji Ito’s famous manga, this story follows a town gripped by an obsession with spirals. As a terrifying curse takes hold, the townspeople undergo disturbing physical and psychological changes. The black and white animation brilliantly recreates the eerie and dreamlike quality of the original manga. It’s a truly haunting work of psychological and body horror that stays with you long after you finish watching.

‘Leviathan’ (2025)

This series takes place in a world recovering from a global war fought with bio-engineered monsters. It follows the crew of a large airship as they navigate a dangerous landscape haunted by these still-living, intelligent weapons. They face terrifying creatures originally created for destruction, and must fight to survive. The show’s stunning animation and grim, historical setting combine to create a truly unsettling and epic atmosphere.

‘Devil May Cry’ (2025)

Devil May Cry returns with Dante, the iconic demon hunter, battling the forces of hell in a thrilling action-horror series. The show is visually striking and dark, emphasizing the intense and brutal fights between Dante and terrifying demons. The horror comes from the monsters’ frightening appearances and the grim reality of the invaded world. The animation perfectly showcases the fast-paced, powerful battles with a unique, stylized take on violence.

‘Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc’ (2025)

Denji meets Reze, a girl with incredible explosive power, and their complex, often heartbreaking relationship unfolds against the backdrop of dangerous devil hunting. The movie’s horror comes from shocking body transformations and a realistic look at the difficult life of those who protect the public. Top-notch visuals and effects make the action even more intense and amplify the story’s emotional impact.

‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle’ (2019–2025)

The epic battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and Muzan Kibutsuji reaches its climax inside the ever-changing Infinity Castle. The demons there have incredibly powerful and unique skills, driving the heroes to their limits. The fighting is made even more intense by the dire consequences and the brutal fate that awaits those who are defeated. The animation remains stunning, delivering some of the most visually impressive action sequences in anime.

‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ (2020–2025)

A dangerous ritual involving resurrected ancient sorcerers plunges the world into turmoil. This anime stands out with its uniquely terrifying and imaginative supernatural abilities. The horror comes from the shocking and brutal deaths of those involved, and the devastating impact this ‘Culling Game’ has on the world. The series intensely portrays the emotional and mental struggles of the characters as they desperately try to survive.

Let us know what you think of these horror series! Tell us in the comments which ones were the scariest and kept you awake at night.

2025-12-24 23:50