Summary
FromSoft’s entry into the gaming world withDark Soulsmarked the start of a genre that changed gaming forever. With the Dark Souls series and the subsequent Bloodborne entry, soulslike games became a phenomenon that was no longer restricted to one gaming studio. These games are known for their dark fantasy worlds, intricately devised lore, and extensively challenging gameplay.
Thankfully, for those who appreciate these immersive experiences but find the steep learning curve daunting, several anime series offer a similar dark and gripping atmosphere without the need to navigate through the complicated gameplay. These shows feature intense storylines, complex characters, hardcore action, and personal struggles, that reflect the intricate plots and character development seen in many Souls games.
8Akame ga Kill!
The Cost of Peace
Akame ga Kill! explores the harsh reality of peace. It touches upon the idea that peace is hard to obtain and cannot be achieved simply by forming strong friendship bonds. Sacrifices are essential, and often, bloodshed is necessary to combat cruelty. The series follows Tatsumi, a young warrior who travels to the capital in search of a better life for his village. He soon uncovers the dark truth behind the corrupt government that rules the land.
In a desperate attempt to fight this injustice, Tatsumi joins a group of assassins known as Night Raid, who aim to overthrow this oppressive regime. Although Night Raid ultimately succeeds in its mission, its journey is laden with obstacles and losses that are bound to bring tears to everyone’s eyes.
7Goblin Slayer
The Ruthless Slayer of the Weakest Prey
Goblin Slayer is a gripping dark fantasy anime that follows the story of a lone adventurer dedicated to eradicating goblins from the world, and for a good reason. Goblins are typically portrayed as small shrieking creatures with little to no IQ, but in this world, they come in different, more intense types. However, all of them have one thing in common: the natural urge to wreak havoc in the land, and spread chaos.
The protagonist, Goblin Slayer, is driven by a single goal: to avenge his family and protect his people from goblins. He teams up with other skilled warriors to tackle dangerous quests and fight this constantly growing goblin threat. The series is noted for its intense action, dark themes, and character development, but it also realistically portraysthe psychological horrorsand physical impacts of violence, which some viewers may find unsettling.
6Tokyo Ghoul
The Horrors of Ghouls Within Humanity
okyo Ghoul follows the story of a meek, unassuming student, Ken Kaneki, who lives in a world infested with ghouls. These are violent creatures that blend in with humans, disguising themselves as one of them. They can’t consume human food and rely on eating humans for nourishment.
Without realizing it, Kaneki ends up right in the midst of the ghouls' lair and must navigate cautiously to avoid their fairly massive and cannibalistic appetites. His life takes a drastic turn after encountering Rize Kamishiro, a female ghoul who brutally injures him and transforms him into a half-ghoul. Now, he faces the challenge of coming to terms with his new identity while struggling to balance his human emotions with his ghoulish instincts.
5Fate/Zero
Despair After Longing Efforts
The Fate series is a set of anime, manga,and visual novelsthat have managed to deliver some of the best and most iconic fantasy storylines in the anime verse. Fate/Zero is a prequel to the primary visual novel Fate/Stay Night and is set ten years before its events. It follows Kiritsugu Emiya, a conflicted assassin who’s seen nothing but despair in his life and longs for world peace.
Fighting for his grand motives, Kiritsugu participates in the Fourth Holy Grail War, a secret magical tournament that offers anyone the power to fulfill any wish. This war is a death match between the strongest, most heroic figures from the past, brought back to fight once more. The winner is awarded the Holy Grail, which is a mysterious magical object capable of granting any wish.
4Castlevania
Gothic Horror In Medieval Times
Every once in a while, Netflix comes up with a masterpiece of an anime series that takes the world by storm. This is exactly what it did with thelegendary game turned mega-popular anime, Castlevania. Staying true to its roots, Castlevania is a dark fantasy, action anime set in a fictional version of the Middle Ages filled with vampires, corrupt humans, and holy wars.
It follows the story of a notorious monster hunter known as Trevor Belmont, the last surviving member of a disgraced clan of monster hunters who takes it upon himself to stop the rampaging vampire count, Dracula. Driven by the wrongful execution of his wife, Dracula seeks to destroy the human race out of sheer hatred and rage. However, Trevor, alongside a group of skilled fighters, aims to stop Dracula before he goes for the innocent masses.
3Claymore
A World Consumed by Yoma
Claymore is a dark fantasy shonen series set in a medieval world overrun by monstrous, human-preying creatures known as Yoma. To combat this threat, an organization creates half-human, half-Yoma warriors called Claymores, who are blessed with extraordinary strength and combat skills.
The story follows Clare, a determined Claymore who’s on a quest for vengeance against the Yoma that destroyed her life. As her journey unfolds, she grapples with doubts about her identity, confronting the delicate balance between humanity and monstrosity. What sets Claymore apart from other dark fantasy anime is its strong focus on consequential character development and good pacing. It’s also very ambiguous about its antagonist and focuses more on a character’s individuality rather than their overall morality.
2Berserk
The Darkest Fantasy You’ll Ever See
For soulslike fans looking for anime that evoke a similar feeling, Berserk may just be the most souslike anime to ever exist. The main character, Guts,is an anguished man with a dark pastand a large sword that is well over the height of an average person. Despite the countless tragedies he has faced, each misery only fuels his determination to keep moving forward.
The series features intense storytelling, phenomenal character development, and equally impressive world-building. It also has themes that are well within the confines of what a ‘soulslike’ anime is supposed to be. It’s an anime that offers a profoundly dark experience and can leave viewers with a sense of lingering melancholy.
1Attack On Titan
Mysteries After Mysteries
Attack on Titanis one of the darkest, most intricately planned anime to ever grace the world and leave an entire generation shaken to its core. Everything about this anime, from its massive world-building to its unbelievably interconnected premise, makes it a series that’s truly worthy of being on a ‘soulslike anime’ list.
Attack on Titan follows humanity’s fight for survival within massive walls that shield them from the giant man-eating monsters called Titans. Eren Yeager, a young man from the walled city, dreams of exploring the world beyond. His quest for freedom leads him to uncover dark secrets about the Titans and his people’s history. As Eren digs deeper, he faces harsh truths that challenge his understanding of humanity and their battle for survival.
