Fighting is one of the most popular genres in anime, and despite the abundance of fighting anime, fans can’t seem to get enough of it.
While there are still no rivals to Naruto and Dragon Ball Z (which don’t feature on this list for just that reason), it’s time to recognize some modern fighting anime too.
So, along with a few classics, we’re listing some modern-day underrated fighting anime shows. As we said, there’s no shortage of fighting anime, but recommenders find it hard to look past the usual suspects.
We don’t!
That’s why if you are looking for new fighting anime recommendations, you are at the right place. We bet you’ll find at least 1 fighting anime series you haven’t seen before.
And with that not-so-subtle flex, let’s start the list.
Best Fighting Anime Shows
19. The God of High School
- Creator: Yongje Park
- Studio: MAPPA
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 13
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Let’s kick things off with an anime based on a South Korean manhwa that only got a webtoon release.
Set in South Korea, The God of High School follows Mori, a 17-year-old Martial Art Prodigy. He enters an inter-school fighting tournament called God of High School, where fighters compete for a grand prize – 1 wish fulfilled, no questions asked.
But as mythical beings enter the scene, fans are treated to plenty of fighting styles and some expertly choreographed one-on-one action.
18. Vinland Saga
- Creator: Makoto Yukimura
- Studio: Wit Studio, MAPPA
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 24
- Watch On: Netflix
The Saga takes place in 1013 AD England where a son is looking to avenge his father while England and Denmark are at war.
Thorfinn is a young Viking whose father was killed by a mercenary, Askeladd. To avenge his father, Thorfinn joins Askeladd’s mercenary gang to one day challenge and kill him with honor. But, as the war rages on, the two end up fighting side by side.
Vinland Saga has an 8.8/10 IMDb rating with nearly 39k votes, so it’s in no sense a hidden gem. However, it hasn’t got the hype it deserves.
We hope that changes after Vinland Saga Season 2 releases.
17. Devil May Cry: The Animated Series
- Creator: Capcom
- Studio: Madhouse
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 12
- Watch On: Funimation
Based on the Capcom video game series of the same title, Devil May Cry follows Dante after the events of Devil May Cry and before Devil May Cry 2.
Dante is half-demon and half-human and runs a devil-hunting business. Thanks to his ammunition expertise and swordsmanship, business is booming- but it doesn’t pay well.
As Dante fights the demons and battles a crippling debt, a new “job” comes up. However, this might be his toughest one yet.
If you like guns, swords, blood, and gore- Devil May Cry is something you should play as well as watch.
16. Hajime No Ippo
- Creator: George Morikawa
- Studio: Madhouse, MAPPA
- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 127
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Hajime No Ippo follows the story of Ippo Makunouchi, a high school student who keeps to himself and gets bullied for it. One day, when some bullies are beating him up, Mamoru Takamura – a pro boxer – saves Ippo and takes him to a gym. In the gym, Ippo takes out his frustration on a sandbag.
That’s where his boxing talent comes into the light, and his journey of becoming a professional boxer begins.
Hajime No Ippo is a great watch if you like sports x fighting anime. It’s an underdog story that’s full of gripping boxing fights.
15. AJIN: Demi-Human
- Creator: Gamon Sakurai
- Studio: Polygon Pictures
- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 26
- Watch On: Netflix
Would you like to see John Wick-like gun action in a 3D anime? Of course you would. And even if you don’t, we recommend you give it a shot, because it is too damn fun.
Ajin is a term used for humans with regenerative abilities and immortality.
The series is about Nagai Kei, a young boy who discovers he is an Ajin after a fatal accident. Now, the Government, bounty hunters, and evil Ajins are after the young boy because of his newly discovered power.
This anime gets dark in terms of action, story, and characters- not suitable for kids under 18.
14. Tower of God
- Creator: S.I.U. (Lee Jong Hui)
- Studio: Telecom Animation Film
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 13
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
The only complaint you’ll have after watching Tower of God is that it only has 13 episodes. It’s the last-man-standing battle royale for everything the world has to offer, and the action is exhilarating.
Tower of God is the story of Bam, a young boy living in the slums surrounding a massive Tower. And when Bam’s only friend, Rachel, is invited into the Tower, he would do anything to see her again.
Somehow managing to open the doors, Bam enters the Tower only to find Rachel but soon realized he’s part of something big now.
13. Mob Psycho 100
- Creator: One
- Studio: Bones
- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 31
- Watch On: Funimation
Love over-the-top action, One Punch Man is the GOAT. Already watched? Watch Mob Psycho 100.
An 8th grader, Kageyama Shigeo, has psychic abilities. However, he is afraid of his powers and keeps them shackled. Besides, the young boy – a.k.a Mob – just wants to live an ordinary life.
But with extraordinary abilities come extraordinary circumstances. While he just wants to be friends with the cutest girl in class, Kageyama keeps coming up against others like him.
Mob Psycho 100 gave us one of the best fight scenes in anime history when Mob & Koyama went all out. And it’s filled with more fights just as beautifully choreographed.
12. Megalobox
- Creator: Katsuhiko Manabe, Kensaku Kojima
- Studio: TMS Entertainment, 3xCube
- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 26
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
The title gives away the theme. But if you couldn’t make it out, Megalobox is an anime about boxing with boxers covered in metal exoskeletons.
Set in a not-so-distant future, Megalobox is about Junk Dog, a megaloboxer who makes a living by fighting fixed boxing matches. Junk Dog picks a fight with Megalobxing Champion, Yuri, who easily beats him. But, the Champion asks Junk Dog to enter Megalonia, a Megaloboxing Championship Tournament.
The series follows Junk Dog’s journey from entering the tournament by crook to making his way to the top.
11. Kill la Kill
- Creator: Trigger, Kazuki Nakashima
- Studio: Trigger
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 24
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
Another one for the over-the-top lovers, Kill la Kill is a weird and wonderful combination of superb action, satire comedy, and plenty of fan-servicing.
It’s the story of Ryuko Matoi, a young girl who is after her father’s murderer. When she joins the Honnouji Academy, she encounters students wearing Goku Uniforms, which make them superhumans. After finding a “uniform” of her own, Ryuko will challenge the other girls and hunt for her father’s murderer.
While the “fan-servicing” is in full flow with the tiniest of costumes for every main character, the excellent fight sequences are better.
10. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Creator: Koyoharu Gotouge
- Studio: Ufotable
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 26
- Watch On: Netflix
Samurais and Demons hunting each other in cold blood is a treat to watch in what is one of the best fighting anime shows in recent years.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba follows the story of a teenager, Tanjiro Kamado, whose entire family is killed by a Demon. Tanjiro is the only survivor, and his younger sister, Nezuko, transforms into a Demon.
As he looks for a cure for his sister, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps to avenge his family and protect others from the same fate.
9. Land of the Lustrous
- Creator: Toshiya Ōno
- Studio: Orange
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 12
- Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
This is one of the best fighting anime that you might not have seen.
Land of the Lustrous is set in a distant, dystopian future on an Earth ravaged by meteorites. All living things have perished, but over time, a new species has emerged, called the Gems.
The Gems are at war with the Lunarians, also called Moon Dwellers, who want to capture the Gems and turn them into showpieces. The Gems have a complete civilization and want to protect it at all costs.
If the premise sounds interesting, wait till you see some of the action.
8. Tokyo Ghoul
- Creator: Sui Ishida
- Studio: Pierrot
- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 96
- Watch On: Hulu
Although it’s the premise and storytelling that made Tokyo Ghoul one of the most popular mature anime, its action isn’t far behind.
This dark fantasy anime is set in a world of Humans and Ghouls. Ghouls are humanoid creatures who need to consume human flesh to survive.
The series follows Ken Kaneki, a teenager who becomes a part-Ghoul after a Ghoul attacks him but fails to kill him. Now, Ken has to learn to live as a Ghoul while keeping his real identity hidden if he is to live.
7. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures
- Creator: Hirohiko Araki
- Studio: David Production
- Seasons: 5
- Episodes: 176
- Watch On: Netflix
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures is one of the best action anime- filled with fights, adventures, and engaging subplots.
This unconventional anime is about the adventures of the Joestar family, and it spans centuries. Each season presents the story of a different JoJo embarking on a journey to fulfill the destiny that has intertwined Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando.
So, there’s no true synopsis of this anime.
But, if you’re looking for sheer entertainment, look no further. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure will quench your thirst for action, adventure, and fighting.
6. My Hero Academia
- Creator: Kohei Horikoshi
- Studio: Bones
- Seasons: 6
- Episodes: 120
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
If the studio keeps creating fights like All Might Vs. All For One, My Hero Academia will break into the top 10 fighting anime of all time lists.
My Hero Academia is a sci-fi/superhero anime set in a world where 80% of the population has a superpower(Quirks). However, the series follows a young boy who was born without a Quirk.
Izuku Midoriya always wanted to be Japan’s mightiest hero, but he didn’t have a Quirk. But his dream starts taking shape when All Might, the most powerful hero in Japan, bestows his Quirk on Izuku.
Now, he’ll have to join a school and learn to control his powers.
5. Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song
- Creator: Tappei Nagatsuki, Eiji Umehara
- Studio: Wit Studio
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 13
- Watch On: Funimation
This anime original follows an AI named Diva. Diva was created to make the world a happy place by singing. However, she gets disrupted by another AI. This unknown AI is from a future where AI has taken over the world and wants to eradicate humanity.
So, the unknown AI asks for Diva’s help to save humanity in the future.
It only has 1 season, which finished airing in June 2021. And there’s not even a whisper about another season, but that doesn’t mean you should sleep on it.
4. Hunter X Hunter
- Creator: Yoshihiro Togashi
- Studio: Nippon Animation
- Seasons: 6
- Episodes: 148
- Watch On: Netflix
Hunter X Hunter is a top 10 fighting anime of all time. And we’d also take this time to weigh in on the “Bleach vs. Hunter X Hunter” debate – Hunter X Hunter is the better watch.
Hunter X Hunter follows the story of Gon Freecss, a young boy who wants to become a Hunter. Hunters are professional mercs who specialize in tracking down the rarest of things.
And after Gon finds out that his father, Ging Freecss, is one of the world’s best Hunters, Gon signs up for the Hunter Examination.
Gon’s journey is full of adventure and action, and it gave us Netero vs. Meruem, another top-tier anime fight scene.
3. Tokyo Revengers
- Creator: Ken Wakui
- Studio: Liden Films
- Season: 1
- Episodes: 24
- Watch On: Crunchyroll
A 26-year-old freelancer, Takemichi Hanagaki, finds out that he can travel back in time. And when he learns about the death of his childhood girlfriend, Hinata, he decides to go back in time and change the events that caused her death.
However, changing the past causes more than one anomaly in the future. And so, Takemichi realizes that saving Hinata means letting others die.
Based on gang wars in Tokyo, Tokyo Revengers has raw and bloody hand-to-hand fights that break out into massive brawls in no time.
For those searching for a fighting anime minus superpowers and extravagant action, Tokyo Revengers is just that.
2. One Punch Man
- Creator: One
- Studio: Madhouse, J.C.Staff
- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 24
- Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
Probably one of the most popular and best action anime, albeit over-the-top.
One Punch Man is the story of Saitama, the man who’s a hero for fun. With the toughest training regimen, Saitama became the strongest man in the world, capable of killing anyone or anything with a single punch.
But after some time, winning so easily got boring for him.
So, along with his disciple, Genos, Saitama joins the war between the Hero Association and the Monster Association. And as he defeats bizarre but dangerous monsters, Saitama will finally experience the blood rush and the adrenaline he craves.
1. Attack on Titan
- Creator: Hajime Isayama
- Studio: Wit Studio, MAPPA
- Seasons: 4
- Episodes: 87
- Watch On: Funimation
Attack on Titan is set in a world ravaged, and humanity is pushed to the verge of extinction by Titans- giant humanoids who feast on humans.
However, from behind the tallest walls, humanity is fighting back with the strongest soldiers who can shapeshift into Titans themselves.
Not sure about all the “best anime of all time” shouts, but Attack on Titan is definitely one of the best fighting anime shows. Titans vs. the Survey Corps are some of the best fights in anime, with Levi vs. The Beast Titan topping our list.
That concludes our best fighting anime list.
Instead of recommending the same old classics like Bleach, we’ve tried to bring in fresh contenders to give you something new to watch. Hope you love it and if you do, maybe you’re also looking for the best dark anime to watch right now!
