Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba follows young Tanjiro who picks up the mantle of demon slayer on his quest to avenge his family and cure his sister. Since its 2019 U.S. premiere of season one, both the television series and movie gained ground among international anime fans, and Demon Slayer is now a wildly popular show in the mainstream.
If you’ve seen all twenty-six episodes of season one, watched season two (episodes 27-33) that adapts the Mugen Train arc for TV, and the Entertainment District arc (episodes 34-44) that make up the remainder of the second season two, then you’ve got some time to fill while waiting on the Swordsmith Village arc.
As of yet, Demon Slayer’s third season has no firm release date. So while you wait, here’s a list of anime similar to Demon Slayer to (re)watch if you’re looking to keep the dark fantasy, action anime, and demon-hunting vibe going.
15. Bleach
Where to watch: Hulu and Crunchyroll
If you’re looking for a gateway anime to lure your friends into the action-adventure sub-genre; you can’t go wrong with one of the “big three,” Bleach. Adapted from Tite Kubo’s massive manga run, Bleach boasts 366 episodes following high schooler Ichigo’s transformation into a Soul Reaper and evolution into a hunter. Ichigo must track down and stop malevolent spirits, called Hollows, from devouring human souls. It’s tense, action-packed, and character-driven with sharp animation and dynamic character designs. Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with going with a classic and settling in for the long haul. Better yet, the series’ final arc is set to arrive in October 2022.
14. D.Gray-Man
Where to watch: Hulu and Crunchyroll and Funimation
Set in alternate 19th-century Japan, D.Gray-Man follows Allen Walker, a young man who joins the Black Order, an organization of exorcists to learn to wield his holy weapon, called an Innocence, and combat evil. With a steampunk aesthetic, the storyline revolves around Walker and other magical warriors battling demons known as Akuma, which can pop out of people at random. The Black Order must rally together to defeat Millennium Earl, an evil madman, intent on using the Akuma to eradicate humankind. D.Gray-Man leans into its dark fantasy edge which means it’s a slow burn. But if you persevere, the storytelling and action come into their own.
13. Ushio and Tora
Where to watch: Buy from Amazon
In Ushio and Tora, a teenage Ushio finds a hidden cellar in his father’s temple and discovers Tora, a demon, pinned down by a magical spear beneath the temple. The spear draws monsters and demons to the temple and the duo must fend off these supernatural threats. It’s an odd couple team up in vibrant color and just the right amount of mayhem and humor.
12. Inuyasha
Where to watch: Netflix and Prime Video and Crunchyroll
If style is what drew you to Demon Slayer then check out Rumiko Takahashi’s Inuyasha. It’s a time-hopping tale about a school-age girl who is transported into a feudal Japan overrun by demons. She meets a half-dog demon, Inuyasha. The duo, along with a small group of eclectic allies must recover the pieces of the broken Jewel of Four Souls and keep it out of the hands of evildoers. Despite being an older anime, Inuyasha remains a stylistic wonder anchored by charismatic characters, high-octane fight sequences, charming characters, and solid storytelling.
11. Hunter x Hunter
Where to watch: Crunchyroll and Peacock
It can’t be said enough, Hunter x Hunter is one of the best shōnen action anime ever. The anime follows Young Gon as he sets out to find his missing father. Along the way, he makes new friends, enters a martial arts tournament, and comes face to face with monstrous creatures. It’s a familiar premise that will grab your attention, but the character depth, darker tone, an engrossing and increasingly complex story arc, and dynamic action sequences are what really tie it all together.
10. Fate Series
Where to watch Fate/Zero: Hulu and Funimation
Where to watch Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Blade Works: Hulu and Crunchyroll
Although Fate/Zero and Fate/Stay Night center around a magical battle royale known as the Holy Grail War, watching legendary heroes duel each other makes it the perfect action anime to satisfy Demon Slayer enthusiasts. It’s stylistically unique and driven by brutal dark fantasy at its best.
9. Claymore
Where to watch: Hulu and Funimation
Based on Norihiro Yagi’s manga of the same name, Claymore follows Clare, a Claymore, or half-human, half-Yoma hybrid, as she battles shape-shifting demons, known as Yoma, on behalf of an organization for the survival of humankind. This revenge series pulls very few punches, it’s a guarantee you’ll walk away with strong feelings.
8. Dororo
Where to watch: Prime Video
A young ronin Hyakkimaru, and his imp companion Dororo, set off on a quest to recover his body after his father sold them as part so demons. Trained as a swordsman, Hyakkimaru now must kill the 12 demons to reclaim his body parts. This dark fantasy world is the perfect backdrop for this revenge journey full of magical mayhem and endearing companionship between the titular characters. Dororo is a great addition to your demon-hunting anime watchlist.
7. Princess Mononoke
Where to watch: HBO Max
Hayao Miyazaki blends epic flights of dark fantasy with superb animation to create a world riddled with monsters and demons. Although the Studio Ghibli all-star might seem like an odd comparison to Demon Slayer, the action, complex relationships, and the manner of demon vanquishes are all shared hallmarks of both anime works. Princess Mononoke revolves around a forest princess who defends her people against encroaching colonizers. The storytelling is great with plenty of action to hold your attention and supernatural elements to satisfy.
6. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Where to watch: Hulu and Crunchyroll and Funimation
Demon Slayer is the natural successor of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. So if you haven’t seen FMAB, then now’s the time to learn about these brothers on a quest for the Philosopher’s Stone to restore their bodies to normal after an alchemic mistake. The series is complete so there’s no fear of waiting through season cliffhangers. The artwork is top-tier, the animation gorgeous, and the action kinetic as the storyline blurs the lines between heroes and villains.
5. Soul Eater
Where to watch: Hulu and Crunchyroll and Funimation
Soul Eater takes you into an academy where all the students want to be demon hunters. Paired with an anthropomorphic weapon, each student trains to be a reaper. It’s a dark fantasy action anime with unique character designs and it’s a story about fighting monsters and ghouls that falls directly in line with the themes and action-oriented storytelling of Demon Slayer.
4. Jujutsu Kaisen
Where to watch: HBO Max and Crunchyroll
Popular in its own right, Jujutsu Kaisen gives Demon Slayer’s fight/action sequences and artful animation a run for its money. Jujutsu Kaisen centers Yuuji Itadori, a sorcerer, who’s part of a monster-hunting organization, in search of a cursed talisman he can use to exorcize himself. This is a dark fantasy world where evil spirits called “Curses” have free reign, which of course leads to exciting encounters and magical shenanigans. Since a new season and story arc won’t premiere in the U.S. until 2023, now’s the time to get into the series’ nearly-perfect first 24 episodes.
3. Blue Exorcist
Where to watch: Netflix and Hulu and Crunchyroll and Funimation
This dark fantasy centers on two brothers, Rin Okumura and Yukio, training at a secret academy to vanquish demons. The twins discover they’re the sons of their human mother and Satan; and that Rin’s the heir to Satan’s powers. Now if that isn’t a central dilemma complicated enough to build a dynamic anime series to, nothing is. Its slick animation and engaging story make it a definite must-watch.
2. Ninja Scroll
Where to watch: Prime Video and Crunchyroll
Ninja Scroll follows Jubei, who after being forced to slay his entire clan of warriors, becomes an aimless assassin. As he roams, he crosses an organization of demonic ninjas known as the Devils of Kimon intent on overthrowing the government. Now only Jubei and a shogun spy named Dakuan are all that can stand against world domination. Written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Ninja Scroll is a timeless classic bringing the best of the trademark brutality and aggression 90s anime is known for. It’s almost mandatory to watch. Without Ninja Scroll, the complex storyline and mix of animation techniques that make Demon Slayer so addictive wouldn’t exist. But keep in mind that the intended audience for Ninja Scroll are adults.
1. Berserk
Where to watch: Buy from Amazon
Based on Kentaro Miura’s manga of the same name, Berserk is a twenty-five-episode anime series (1997) about Guts, a skilled, lone swordsman, and Griffith, leader of the “Band of the Hawk” mercenaries. They join forces, winning battles as an unmatched battle group. But a falling out leads Guts to leave the Hawks, which triggers a chain of events that leads to a confrontation with the gods that costs him an eye and arm. Despite the insurmountable odds and extreme grief, Guts survives.
He becomes known as the Black Swordsman thereafter and sets off on a quest for revenge against the God Hand and their apostles. Berserk is not for the faint of heart, all its themes are mature. This classic stands the test of time and it invented many of the themes that make Demon Slayer the incredible dark fantasy it is.
When Is Demon Slayer Season 3?
If you just want more Demon Slayer, you don’t have to wait too long for season 3. The Demon Slayer season 3 release date falls on April 9, 2023. However, there’s a film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village, that incorporates the premiere episode of the upcoming season – and that’s out now.
