Highlights

• Immerse yourself in dark fantasy worlds with complex lore and exciting stories like those found in Soulslike games.
• Explore anime series like Akame ga Kill!, Tokyo Ghoul and Fate/Zero for exciting storylines and character development.
• Alternatively, you can find solace in dark fantasy anime like Claymore and Berserk.

FromSoft’s entry into the gaming world with Dark Souls marked the beginning 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 limited to one game studio. These games are known for their dark fantasy worlds, intricately crafted story, and extremely challenging gameplay.

Thankfully, for those who appreciate these immersive experiences but find the steep learning curve daunting, there are several anime series that offer a similarly dark and gripping atmosphere without having to navigate complicated gameplay. These shows feature intense storylines, complex characters, hardcore action, and personal struggles that mirror the intricate storylines and character development of many Souls games.

8 Akame-ga-Kill!

The price of peace

Akame ga Kill! explores the harsh reality of peace. It explores the idea that peace is difficult to achieve and cannot be achieved simply through strong bonds of friendship. Sacrifice is essential and bloodshed is often 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 country.

In a desperate attempt to fight this injustice, Tatsumi joins a group of assassins called Night Raid, whose goal is to overthrow this oppressive regime. Although Night Raid ultimately accomplishes his mission, his journey is filled with obstacles and losses that will bring tears to anyone’s eyes.

7 Goblin Slayer

The ruthless hunter of the weakest prey

Goblin Slayer is a gripping dark fantasy anime that tells the story of a lone adventurer dedicated to eradicating goblins from the world, and for good reason. Goblins are usually depicted as small, screeching creatures with little to no IQ, but in this world they come in different, more intense types. However, they all have one thing in common: a natural urge to wreak havoc and spread chaos across the land.

The protagonist, Goblin Slayer, has only one goal: to avenge his family and protect his people from goblins. He teams up with other skilled warriors to complete dangerous missions and fight the ever-growing goblin threat. The series is known for its intense action, dark themes, and character development, but also realistically portrays the psychological horrors and physical effects of violence, which some viewers may find disturbing.

6 Tokyo Ghoul

The horrors of ghouls in humanity

Okyo Ghoul tells the story of gentle, humble student Ken Kaneki, who lives in a world full of ghouls. These are violent creatures that mingle with humans and disguise themselves as such. They cannot eat human food and only feed on humans.

Without realizing it, Kaneki ends up in the middle of the ghouls’ lair and must carefully navigate to avoid their rather massive and cannibalistic appetite. His life takes a drastic turn after he encounters Rize Kamishiro, a female ghoul who brutally injures him and turns him into a half-ghoul. Now he faces the challenge of coming to terms with his new identity while trying to balance his human emotions with his creepy instincts.

5 Fate/Zero

Despair after longing efforts

The Fate series is a series of anime, manga, and visual novels that provide some of the best and most iconic fantasy stories in the anime universe. 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 has experienced nothing but despair in his life and longs for world peace.

Kiritsugu fights for his great goals and takes part in the Fourth Holy Grail War, a secret magical tournament where everyone is given the power to grant any wish. This war is a battle to the death between the strongest and most heroic figures of the past, brought back to fight again. The winner receives the Holy Grail, a mysterious magical object that can grant any wish.

4 Castlevania

Gothic horror in the Middle Ages

Every now and then, Netflix releases a masterpiece of an anime series that takes the world by storm. That’s exactly what happened with the legendary 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 tells the story of a notorious monster hunter named Trevor Belmont, the last surviving member of a disgraced clan of monster hunters, who sets out to stop the angry vampire Count Dracula. Driven by the wrongful execution of his wife, Dracula seeks to destroy humanity out of pure hatred and rage. Trevor, however, along with a group of experienced fighters, wants to stop Dracula before he attacks the innocent masses.

3 Claymore

A world consumed by Yoma

Claymore is a dark fantasy shonen series set in a medieval world overrun by monstrous, man-eating creatures called Yoma. To counter this threat, an organization creates half-human, half-Yoma warriors called Claymores, who are blessed with extraordinary strength and fighting skills.

The story follows Clare, a determined Claymore seeking revenge on the Yoma who destroyed her life. Over the course of her journey, she wrestles with doubts about her identity and is confronted with the delicate balance between humanity and monstrosity. What sets Claymore apart from other dark fantasy anime is its strong focus on consistent character development and good pacing. It is also very ambiguous in terms of its antagonist, focusing more on a character’s individuality than their overall morality.

2 Berserker

The darkest fantasy you will ever see

For Soulslike fans looking for anime that evoke a similar feeling, Berserk is perhaps the Soulslike anime of all time. The main character, Guts, is a tormented man with a dark past and a large sword that is far beyond the size of the average human. Despite the countless tragedies he has experienced, each hardship strengthens his resolve to keep going.

The series features intense storytelling, phenomenal character development, and equally impressive world-building. It also has themes that fall well within the boundaries of what a “soulslike” anime is supposed to be. It is an anime that offers a deeply dark experience and can leave the viewer with a feeling of lingering melancholy.

1 Attack on Titan

One mystery after another

Attack on Titan is one of the darkest and most elaborately plotted anime to ever grace the world, shaking an entire generation to its core. Everything about this anime, from its massive world-building to its incredibly interconnected premise, makes it a series truly worthy of being on any list of “Soulslike Anime.”

Attack on Titan follows humanity’s struggle for survival within massive walls that protect 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 the history of his people. As Eren digs deeper, he is confronted with harsh truths that challenge his understanding of humanity and its struggle for survival.