Super Sentai is the most well-known type of Tokusatsu, which are Japanese live-action shows and movies famous for their special effects. While Tokusatsu often includes fantasy, horror, and sci-fi, Super Sentai specifically focuses on teams of superheroes.
Super Sentai shows usually follow a team of three to six young heroes. These heroes are skilled in martial arts and equipped with unique weapons, making them Earth’s protectors. Their powers can come from magic, technology, or even helpful aliens. No matter the source, they’re always recognizable by their bright, color-coordinated outfits.
The original Super Sentai series, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, debuted in 1975, but it took a few years for the show to find its familiar format. Surprisingly, a collaboration between Toei and Marvel Comics played a role in shaping this format, even though their joint productions aren’t officially considered part of the Super Sentai franchise. Toei’s 1978 live-action Spider-Man series first featured the concept of superheroes controlling large robots, which later became a key characteristic of the genre.
Best Super Sentai Series as of November 2025
As a long-time fan, I’ve been watching the Super Sentai Series for years, and as of November 2025, Toei has made an amazing 49 different seasons! While other companies have tried similar shows, Toei is the only one that officially makes them under the ‘Super Sentai Series’ name. But honestly, picking the best seasons is really tough! So, I put together a list of them all, starting with the very first and going right up to the most recent.
Choujin Sentai Jetman (1991)
It’s 199X, and the organization Sky Force defends Earth from unusual dangers. Their scientists created Birdonic Waves, a technology that could grant people incredible powers. However, the terrorist group Vyram attacked before Sky Force could fully assemble a team of five empowered heroes. Only one soldier, Ryu Tendo, successfully received the Birdonic Wave enhancement.
After Sky Force’s headquarters was destroyed, the last of the Birdonic Waves were dispersed around the world, each connecting with a different person. Now, Ryu and his commander, Aya Odagiri, are in a desperate search to find these four individuals. When found, they will join forces as the Jetmen, a team determined to defeat Vyran and bring him to justice.
As a huge Super Sentai fan, I always thought Jetman was special! It really felt like a tribute to the classic anime, Gatchaman. What’s really interesting is that for a long time, it was the last series before 2014’s ToQger that never got turned into a Power Rangers season. Plus, it was the first Super Sentai show that wasn’t connected to Power Rangers to actually come out on video here in North America, which was a big deal for fans like me!
Chōjin Sentai Jetman stood out for bringing more serious and complex storylines to the Super Sentai Series. It featured complicated romantic relationships and explored the difficult pasts of its heroes. Interestingly, the personalities of the five Jetman members were based on the characters from The Breakfast Club. (You can watch Chōjin Sentai Jetman for free on Tubi TV).
Gosei Sentai Dairanger (1993)
Around 8,000 years ago, three tribes in southern China joined together to create the Daos Empire. The empire thrived for a time, but then the aggressive Gorma tribe began a campaign to conquer all other tribes and eventually the world. This led to a 5,000-year war between the Gorma and Dai tribes, with only the Shura tribe ultimately surviving and becoming the ancestors of modern humans.
The Gorma are back, but Earth has a new defense. Long ago, the Dai discovered a way to harness life energy, called qi, allowing them to transform into powerful animals. Now, with the help of the enigmatic Master Kaku, five young people are training to use these abilities and become the Dai-Rangers, Earth’s last hope.
Many North American viewers might recognize Gosei Sentai Dairanger, also known internationally as Star Rangers. That’s because its fight scenes were used in the second season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. It was also one of the first Super Sentai series released on video in North America, becoming available in 2015. You can now watch the series for free on Tubi TV.
Samurai Sentai Shinkenger (2009)
For centuries, humans have been secretly battling ancient evil spirits called Gedoushu. To protect against this threat, the Emperor of Japan selected five samurai clans – the Shinkengers – to be humanity’s defenders. These warriors have trained for 18 generations, mastering both swordplay and elemental magic, passing down their skills through their families.
Takeru Shiba is now the leader of the Shiba clan, a family historically responsible for protecting the world as the Shinkengers. He gathers four loyal warriors to fight against the Gedoushu, a dangerous enemy that has returned. But as they begin their work, the team suspects Takeru is keeping secrets from them.
Samurai Sentai Shinkenger stands out for a couple of key reasons. It was the first Super Sentai series to be filmed in high definition (720p). More importantly, it moved away from the science fiction focus that had been common in the series for a long time, and instead embraced traditional Japanese stories and design for its world and characters.
Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger (2011)
Led by Captain Marvelous, the Gokaigers are a group of space pirates. But similar to the Straw Hat Pirates from One Piece, they act more like heroes fighting for freedom than traditional pirates. They arrive on Earth hoping to find “the greatest treasure in the universe,” and are motivated by the promise of riches.
The treasure isn’t what it seems – it’s connected to the Ranger Keys, which hold the power of 34 heroic teams who previously saved the universe. These teams gave their lives to defeat the evil Zangyack Empire. Now, with the former emperor’s son launching a new attack, a group of pirates must learn to use the fallen heroes’ powers to protect the universe once again.
Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger was created to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Super Sentai series, but it also became a hit on its own merits. A key reason for its popularity was its unique premise: a team of thieves who ultimately become heroes. This was a fresh approach, as most previous Super Sentai shows featured protagonists who were already good people, if not outright heroes from the start.
Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger (2013)
Long ago, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, a dangerous alien race called the Dark Species Deboth attacked. They nearly wiped out the dinosaurs, but some of them managed to transform into powerful spirit guardians called Zyudenryu. These Zyudenryu then sealed the Deboth away in ice.
The Deboth Army is back and intends to wipe out humanity, just like they did the dinosaurs. Luckily, the Zyudenryu still exist, but they need humans to partner with them and use their incredible powers. These human-Zyudenryu teams, known as the Kyoryugers, are Earth’s final chance at survival.
As a big fan of tokusatsu, I remember when Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger came out – it was a real step forward visually! It was the first Super Sentai series shot in full 1080p HD, which was awesome. But what really struck me was the cast. They weren’t the usual teenagers; some of the main actors were in their early thirties, which felt different and honestly, pretty cool. And speaking of different, the team broke a long-standing tradition – they didn’t have a yellow ranger! It was a surprisingly fresh take on the formula.
How we chose the Best Super Sentai Series
This list of the Best Super Sentai series was created using two main factors. First, we considered how good the series was overall and how much fans enjoyed it. Second, we looked at how much each show broke the mold and surprised viewers with unexpected twists on familiar themes.
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2025-11-04 23:29