10 Dark Fantasy Manga Perfect For Berserk Fans, Ranked

Dark fantasy stories aren’t easy to read. They move away from traditional heroic adventures and happy endings, plunging you into a world where things often look hopeless for the main character. However, these stories can be incredibly compelling. Kentaro Miura’s Berserk beautifully demonstrated this, showing readers that even tragedy can be beautiful and that powerful stories can emerge from pain and despair. Fans of Berserk often find themselves searching for another manga that captures the same dark and gripping atmosphere.

It’s no secret that Berserk is a hugely influential work in dark fantasy, and few manga can compare. Its combination of intense violence, deep philosophical themes, and the heartbreaking story of Guts truly stays with you. However, dark fantasy offers much more than just Berserk. This list highlights some of the most captivating stories in the genre, tales where simply surviving feels like an incredible feat. Keep reading to discover some of the best dark fantasy series that will deliver a similar emotional impact to Berserk.

10) Blade of the Immortal

Blade of the Immortal tells the story of Manji, a skilled swordsman burdened by a dark past. Once a criminal who killed many samurai—including his sister’s husband—Manji received a severe curse. An 800-year-old nun infected him with bloodworms that make him virtually unkillable, healing any injury and even reattaching lost limbs. To break the curse, Manji is tasked with killing 1000 wicked men.

What starts as a seemingly straightforward mission quickly becomes much harder for Manji. Teaming up with a young girl named Rin, he soon discovers her quest for revenge will change his own life. And the arrival of the Mugai-ryu introduces a shocking twist: they might be connected to the shogunate. Blade of the Immortal isn’t just the story of a dishonored samurai; it’s a deep exploration of what it means to live forever and how that affects a person.

9) Ubel Blatt

I’m completely hooked on Ubel Blatt! It’s a dark and gripping story about betrayal and getting even. The story centers around Koinzell, a seriously skilled swordsman with a hidden past. Turns out, twenty years ago, he was known as Aschriit, one of fourteen elite warriors sent on a dangerous mission against Wischtech. But after they won, seven of his team turned on the others, killing four of them and claiming all the glory. Aschriit somehow lived through it, and now he’s back as Koinzell, driven by one thing: revenge. It’s a fantastic setup!

What makes Ubel Blatt unique is its take on heroes and villains. Instead of noble heroes, we see corrupt figures seeking power, while the true heroes are already gone. The story follows the last survivor as they embark on a perilous quest for revenge. The manga masterfully combines intense action, complex political schemes, and a world where right and wrong aren’t clear, highlighting both the motivating force and the lasting damage that revenge can inflict.

8) Fire Punch

Let me tell you about Fire Punch by Fujimoto – it’s wild! It’s set in this crazy, frozen future where things are really bleak. The story centers around Agni and his sister, Luna, who live in a pretty hopeless village. They’re both ‘Blessed,’ meaning they have special powers, and in their case, it’s amazing regeneration. They actually use this power to help the village survive – they chop off parts of themselves to feed everyone, which sounds gruesome, but it’s a core part of the story!

The situation becomes tragic when a powerful individual named Doma arrives and destroys the village with fire. Doma’s flames only extinguish once their target is dead, and because Agni can heal, he’s now constantly surrounded by fire. Sadly, Luna perishes in the blaze, and this drives Agni to seek revenge.

7) Chainsaw Man

Tatsuki Fujimoto delivers another incredible work with Chainsaw Man, a unique mix of dark fantasy, horror, and comedy. Fujimoto skillfully balances humor with the grim realities of its world. The story centers on Denji, a poor and desperate teenager, and his devilish pet, Pochita. They take on dangerous jobs – even for the Yakuza – just to survive. But after a devastating betrayal leads to his death, Denji fuses with Pochita and is reborn as the powerful Chainsaw Man.

Denji gets recruited by the Public Safety Division to work as a Devil Hunter, teaming up with seasoned professionals led by Makima. Although his life appears to be improving, things aren’t what they seem. Denji’s simple desire for a normal life and basic comforts is what makes Chainsaw Man such a compelling story.

6) Made in Abyss

Made in Abyss is a story set within a mysterious, enormous pit. Despite the name, it’s not necessarily a dark or depressing tale. The story follows Riko, an orphan who lives in a town built around this foggy pit, where brave adventurers venture down in search of ancient treasures. The Abyss is filled with both wonder and danger, and everything in between.

I’ve been following the story of Riko and her robot companion, Reg, as they descend into the mysterious Abyss in search of Riko’s mother. It’s a really captivating journey, but the deeper they go, the more unsettling and dangerous things become – and there’s this constant threat of a strange curse. What really stands out about this manga is how incredibly well-developed the world is. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before, even compared to something like Berserk. It draws you into a vibrant, yet deeply unsettling, world where appearances are deceiving and you can’t trust anyone or anything.

5) Gantz

Gantz offers a darker and more violent spin on the popular isekai genre. The story follows Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato, two high school students who die trying to save someone and unexpectedly find themselves in a mysterious room with other people who have recently died.

The group discovers a black sphere named Gantz, which equips them with weapons and suits for dangerous missions. These missions involve fighting a wide range of enemies, from aliens and ancient protectors to massive city-wide threats. Successfully completing missions earns them points they can use to either buy their freedom or bring fallen comrades back to life.

4) Dorohedoro

Looking for a strange and unsettling manga? Check out Dorohedoro. It’s set in a rundown, industrial area called Hole, where a man named Kaimen wakes up with a lizard’s head and a person stuck inside his throat! As Kaimen and his friend Nikaido investigate, they try to find the sorcerer who caused his bizarre condition.

The story revolves around a unique method of gathering information: forcing every sorcerer they capture to answer the mysterious question, “What did the man say?” This sends Kaimen on an incredible journey, facing enemies far more powerful than himself. It’s a fantastic dark fantasy manga with everything you could want – time loops, struggles with self-image, a heartwarming story about chosen family, and mind-bending philosophical mysteries.

3) Claymore

Claymore is an action-packed manga with strong female characters that delves into complex emotions and shades of gray morality. The story is set in a medieval world terrorized by Yoma – shape-shifting monsters who prey on humans by disguising themselves as people. The only defense against these creatures are the Claymores, powerful female warriors who are themselves half-human, half-Yoma, and are both admired and feared for their abilities. The characters often grapple with balancing their responsibilities with their own sense of self.

Clare is a Claymore warrior with little status, and she aims to follow in the footsteps of Teresa. When Teresa is killed by the powerful Yoma, Priscilla, Clare is determined to get revenge, especially since she had grown to see Teresa as a mother figure. Throughout her journey, Clare confronts difficult truths about her own life. Though the fight scenes are intense, Claymore is often likened to Berserk because of its thought-provoking look at the cost of fighting and the gradual loss of one’s identity.

2) Vinland Saga

If you combined the world of Vikings with the intensity of Berserk, you’d get Vinland Saga. While it begins as a story of revenge, it quickly explores much deeper and more complex ideas. The setting is 11th-century Europe, during the height of the Viking age.

Thorfinn, a young boy, watched his father get killed and dedicated his life to getting revenge. He shockingly began to follow and serve the very man responsible, Askeladd. Their lives were filled with raids and battles in a war-torn England where slavery was commonplace.

While not a standard dark fantasy, Vinland Saga earns its place on this list through its powerful exploration of difficult themes like violence, war, slavery, and what’s right and wrong. The characters are incredibly well-developed, the world is richly imagined, and the author skillfully combines history and fiction to create a truly memorable story.

1) Vagabond

The story of Vagabond follows a skilled swordsman whose life revolved around fighting and killing, leading his village to reject him. At 17, he fled with a friend, but during the Battle of Sekigahara, he deserted his side when they were defeated. Now considered a criminal, he’s rescued by a monk who challenges him to find purpose and change his ways.

Once he adopted the name Musashi, I was completely drawn into his life as a wanderer. It’s such a powerful story of him discovering who he is, all while constantly facing tough opponents! What really blew me away about Vagabond is learning how much Takehiko Inoue admired Kentaro Miura. That influence is so clear – the artwork is absolutely stunning, and the story itself is just as captivating. It’s a truly beautiful experience, both visually and emotionally.

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2025-12-30 02:12