Demon Slayer follows a young man named Tanjiro as his family is killed by a demon and his sister is transformed into a demon in the process. Rather than accepting his sister's fate, Tanjiro insists on saving her life and turning her back into a human.

Demon Slayer is undoubtedly one of the most beloved anime in the past few decades, and although the depth and complexity of the series is its signature, there are other shows that can offer viewers a similar experience. For fans that truly love Demon Slayer, there are plenty of other anime to check out that explore dark, supernatural themes, epic fights, and compelling plots.

Updated on August 4th, 2022 by Tanner Fox: Often considered to be in contention for a spot among the new shonen "Big Three" series, Demon Slayer combines a beautiful art style and a compelling story with high-octane action and a subtle blend of humor that culminates in a series on which none should miss out.

That said, while a Demon Slayer season 3 has been confirmed, it could be quite some time until the franchise reemerges. Fortunately, there are plenty of very similar shonen series that fans may want to check out in the meantime if they're looking for the best anime like Demon Slayer.

D.Gray-Man (2006–2008)

Streaming On Hulu

This is a somewhat older series, and, although the manga has endured some hiatuses, the adaptation has a special place in the anime world. D.Gray-Man is set in Gothic Europe in a world where demons known as Akuma can pop out of people at any time.

Exorcists are magical warriors who patrol the streets to lure out and destroy Akuma, but that's not all there is to it. Hero Allen Walker soon gets embroiled in the Millennium Earl's wicked plot to destroy and remake the world, and only Allen and the other exorcists can stop him.

My Hero Academia (2016– )

Streaming On Hulu

This series is another strong contender to be a member of the new generation's big three. My Hero Academia imagines a world where most people are born with superpowered quirks, meaning there are more than a few heroes and villains doing battle in the streets.

In a world in which most of the population has a unique superpower known as a quirk, Izuku Midoriya, the series protagonist, was born without one. However, a chance run-in with his all-time favorite hero All Might changes things, and he inherits his idol's power and embarks on a journey to become the greatest hero ever to live.

Fire Force (2019– )

Streaming On Hulu

Fire Force takes place in a world that rebuilt itself from a Great Cataclysm—which was an apocalyptic fire—some 250 years ago. But, there still isn't peace; some people erupt into Infernals, or fire demons, and the fire soldiers must battle them and send their souls to heaven.

Worse yet, there is a cult of white-robed villains who seek to reignite the Great Cataclysm, and Fire Force's hero Shinra Kusakabe and his allies must put an end to this threat at all costs—or all will be lost in the flames.

Cells At Work! (2018– )

Streaming On Netflix

At first, this series may seem decidedly different from Demon Slayer, but the core idea is the same. This educational anime imagines each specialized cell in the human body as a uniformed worker, and there are more than a few germs to fight.

In an amusing and educational way, Cells at Work! is a "monster hunter" anime that depicts the microscopic battles taking place in the human body every day. Germs and viruses are huge and scary, and knife-wielding white blood cells must fight them to the death.

The Rising Of The Shield Hero (2019– )

Streaming On Hulu

This is an isekai series where young adult Naofumi Iwatani finds himself summoned to a European-style fantasy world that's about to face a deadly siege by legions of monsters and undead. He bears magical shields, while three more heroes wield a sword, bow, and spear.

It's not easy fighting off such a multitude of monsters, especially when Naofumi finds himself an outcast who must fend for himself after he's betrayed. So, he forms a new party and takes the fight to the enemy by any means necessary—but time is running out!

Beserk (2016–2017)

Streaming On Netflix

The Beserk manga series has had several anime adaptations, but fans should naturally start with the first to be released, 1997's Berserk. This series focuses on the Black Swordsman arc of the manga and follows a talented swordsman who s a group of mercenaries.

While the series only ran from 1997-98, it was a commercial and critical success, with many praising its mature themes and suggesting that it is one of the finest examples of dark fantasy anime of all time.

Re:Zero - Starting Life In Another World (2016– )

Streaming On HBO Max

Re:Zero tells the story of a young man named Subaru who is transported to a fantasy world from the modern-day. In this world, Subaru learns that, whenever he dies, he comes back at a certain point before his death, giving him the chance to try again.

While Re:Zero has only had one season so far, it is an incredible anime that is a must-watch for anyone. Not only is the conceit of the show interesting and unique, but it's also home to some of the best anime characters of the past few years.

Ushio & Tora (2015– )

Ushio & Tora tells the story of a young man, Ushio, who discovers a demon, Tora, beneath his temple with a spear embedded in the creature's chest, pinning him to the wall and keeping him in place.

Eventually, this begins to attract other demons and monsters to the temple, forcing Ushio to free Tora in order to help fight them. Ushio ultimately teams up with Tora, and the two begin to fight various supernatural forces around the world.

Dororo (2019)

Stream On Amazon Prime

Based on the manga of the same name and set in the Sengoku Period of Japanese history, Dororo follows the story of a young ronin named Hyakkimaru who, along with a character named Dororo, must battle several demons in order to get his stolen body parts back.

In the same vein as Demon Slayer, Dororo focuses on a world in which demons are prevalent and the main characters must battle them. This series has some intense fight scenes and should be more than capable of keeping Demon Slayer fans interested.

Goblin Slayer (2018– )

Available For Purchase On Google Play, YouTube, & Amazon

Goblin Slayer, as the name suggests, is an anime about slaying goblins. Set in a fantasy world that bears a close resemblance to popular real-world video game RPGs and is complete with 'levels' and quests that are posted on an inn's noticeboard, Goblin Slayer has all the action and fantasy that a fan of Demon Slayer would enjoy.

That being said, the first episode is infamous for its disturbing content and would almost certainly not be suitable for all viewers, so caution is warranted.