Goblin Slayer’s first season did not find success until several months after it first aired, which is surprising because the first episode was an instant gripper. The transition from an innocent fantasy setting to horror and ultraviolence is extremely unique. Goblin Slayer is well known for its gritty and unapologetic approach to storytelling and a journey filled with danger, powerful monsters, and the incessant need for revenge.
Fans of this series who find themselves yearning for more of its intense narrative style should know that there is a selection of anime series that share thematic elements akin to Goblin Slayer. With that in mind, here are some of the best anime, like Goblin Slayer.
10 Claymore
This dark anime is set in a fantasy world filled with humanoid shape-shifters called Yoma who kill and feed on humans. A group of Yoma-human hybrids known as The Organization kill Yoma for a fee, akin to the Witchers from the iconic book series.
These hybrids are all females who are called Claymores and Silver-eyed Witches by the general public. The show also features a protagonist who is more cunning than direct in their approach to dealing with threats. The story is not its strong suit, but rather the fast-paced and heart-throbbing action.
9 Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon
This fantasy series also features a guild-like system where members go on adventures, clearing dungeons and defeating monsters, but instead of working in an organization, they are familiars to famous gods and goddesses. Although it is generally light-hearted, there are some moments with darker elements that resemble Goblin Slayer’s.
In the protagonist’s quest to become strong enough to ask for his crush’s hand, he must battle many monsters in dungeons and earn money to upgrade his weapons, skills, and abilities which in turn give him power to take on stronger monsters.
8 Made In Abyss
Made in Abyss became very dark and twisted just a few minutes into the show, just like Goblin Slayer. The childish animation and art style were enough to convince people otherwise before giving them the shock of a lifetime when they discovered the horrors of the world.
The series is set on an island with a bottomless hole called the Abyss. The hole is filled with many horrors, and the island sends children there to discover hidden treasures. There is also an adventurer ranking system that is used to determine how formidable an adventurer is.
7 Demon Slayer
Demon Slayer, like Goblin Slayer, tells the story of a character who dedicates his life to slaying monsters who terrorize the world. The demons in this world were once humans who were turned, directly or indirectly, by Kibutsuji Muzan, whom the protagonist, Tanjiro, aims to kill.
The stunning animation by Ufotable makes this one of the most visually pleasing anime ever, with action sequences feeling like something straight out of imagination. There are also little to no elements of a fantasy world, but it shares too many similarities with Goblin Slayer to be overlooked.
6 Berserk
Berserk is a story set in medieval times of swords and knights, filled with monsters, magic, and horrors at every turn. It is well known as one of the darkest pieces of art to ever come out of the anime industry, with the protagonist venturing out on a mission of revenge.
The world is brutal and filled with elements and topics not fit to be consumed by children, just Goblin Slayer. The demeanor and outward personality of the protagonists are also very similar, with both being men of few words who prefer to talk with their weapons instead.
5 Drifters
Kouta Hirano’s Drifters is an anime that pays homage to a lot of historical figures, as its storyline revolves around the assembly of various figures throughout history who were presumed dead or missing throughout time to engage in battles against the Ends who threaten the peace of a fantastical world filled with different races.
There is no shortage of violence or bloodshed as the show revolves around battles, so fans of the carnage present in Goblin Slayer will have a lot of fun exploring this anime.
4 Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga is a story set during the Viking era in Northern Europe which follows the growth of a young man named Thorfinn. It is a tale featuring various Nordic warriors with different goals and political ambitions.
The lack of fantasy elements brings more realism and relatability to this story, unlike one where magic can be used to instantly end a fight or heal a character, making battle wounds look trivial to the audience. Blood and gore seem to be the order of the day, with Vinland Saga not holding back one bit when it comes to those aspects.
3 Chainsaw Man
MAPPA did a great job bringing the Chainsaw Man manga to life in all its glory. The accurate depiction of the various devils present and the high-stakes battles for the fate of the world, filled with blood and violence are sure to captivate any fans of Goblin Slayer.
The main protagonist, Denji, and the league of devil hunters give their all to hunt down the devils that plague humanity, especially the infamous Gun Devil, which is the strongest of them all, and responsible for many disasters.
2 Fire Force
In a world where people spontaneously combust and become living infernos, the Fire Force is tasked with controlling the increasing casualties and finding a way to avert such situations. The Force is filled with humans that can control fire to a certain level, or even create it.
It is not as dark as Goblin Slayer, but it tells such a great story using amazing plot devices and concepts that make it easy to like. There are also several conspiracies and mysteries that are uncovered as the story progresses.
1 Attack On Titan
The innocence displayed in the first episode of Attack on Titan is reminiscent of that of Goblin Slayer, right before the true nature of their world was revealed, a hellhole run over by man-eating titans and several conspiracies spanning many decades.
Few anime can create a compelling story with plot twists around every corner, like Attack on Titan. It is also one of the best and most popular anime of the last few years, so one can never go wrong with adding this masterpiece to their list.