Top 18+ Best Dark Anime on Crunchyroll
Top 18+ Best Dark Anime on Crunchyroll, According to IMDb Ratings (2023)
Anime can often be surprisingly dark, and some are too difficult to digest. Some genres have more darkness than others, like thriller anime, which often depict complicated, gray plots and gory visuals. For those whose tastes are a little darker, we've selected the best, based on their ratings.
Contents
Top 18+ Best Dark Anime on Crunchyroll, According to IMDb
20) Dead Man in Wonderland
| Anime Name | Deadman Wonderland |
| IMDb rating | 7.1 |
| Number of episodes | 12 |
| Genres | Action, Horror, Sci-fi, Supernatural |
| Studio | Manglobe |
| Broadcast | 2011 |
Ganta Igarashi's life is turned upside down when he visits the prison amusement park with his classmates on a school trip.
His classmates are all massacred by a stranger in a red outfit, but it is he who is held responsible for the massacre and is sentenced to the same prison. Now he must survive the prison's sadistic inmates as he searches for his classmates' killer.
19) Goblin Slayer
| Anime Name | Goblin Slayer |
| IMDb rating | 7.5 |
| Number of episodes | 12 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, Fantasy |
| Studio | White fox |
| Broadcast | 2018 |
follows the simple premise of a man determined to eradicate all the goblins in the world, but it's bloody and brutal enough to earn a place among the best dark anime on Crunchyroll.
When the new adventurer Priestess is kidnapped by goblins, she is rescued by the titular Goblin Slayer, a Silver-rank adventurer. Now she accompanies him on his journey with new teammates along the way.
18) Future journal
| Anime Name | Mirai Nikki |
| IMDb rating | 7.5 |
| Number of episodes | 26 |
| Genres | Action, Supernatural, Suspense |
| Studio | read. |
| Broadcast | 2011 – 2012 |
Yukiteru Amano's supposedly imaginary friend turns out to be the god of time and space, known as Deus Ex Machina. After receiving a special ability that allows his cell phone to predict the future, Yukiteru is plunged into a bloody battle royale.
The winner will be the next god of time and space. In this difficult situation, Yukiteru meets , a beautiful girl who joins forces with him against the rest of the participants.
17) Another
| Anime Name | Another |
| IMDb rating | 7.5 |
| Number of episodes | 12 |
| Genres | Horror, Mystery, Supernatural |
| Studio | PAWorks |
| Broadcast | 2012 |
Kouichi Sakakibara transfers to class 3-3 of Yomiyama North High School after suffering an accident. While in the hospital, he meets a girl with an eyepatch, who also turns out to be his classmate.
At school, Kouichi's classmates befriend him, but he notices that everyone in class, including the teacher, is pretending that Mei doesn't exist.
16) Tokyo Ghoul
| Anime Name | Tokyo Ghoul |
| IMDb rating | 7.7 |
| Number of episodes | 48 (4 seasons) |
| Genres | Action, Horror |
| Studio | Pierrot |
| Broadcast | 2014 – 2018 |
In society, there is a faction of people who consume human flesh and possess special predatory organs. These people are called Ghouls.
unwittingly becomes one of these people when he has an unhappy date with .
The woman turns out to be a ghoul and dies in an accident, leaving an injured Kaneki with his organs to survive and making him a half-ghoul.
15) Resonant Terror
| Anime Name | Zankyou no terror |
| IMDb rating | 7.8 |
| Number of episodes | 11 |
| Genres | Mystery, Suspense |
| Studio | MAP |
| Broadcast | 2014 |
After a terrorist attack on a nuclear power plant, the government is terrified to discover that a nuclear prototype has been stolen. The terrorists call themselves "Sphinx" and release a video threatening to cause even more damage if the mystery they left behind is not solved.
Unknown to everyone, the terrorists are two young men, Nine and Twelve, who survived a secret science experiment and are currently posing as high school students.
14) Death Parade
| Anime Name | Death Parade |
| IMDb rating | 7.8 |
| Number of episodes | 12 |
| Genres | Drama, Supernatural, Suspense |
| Studio | Crazy's house |
| Broadcast | 2015 |
Whereas for most people, there are only two options after death: hell or heaven. But for these two people who died at the exact same time, what awaits them after death is a bar called Quindecim.
There, they are greeted by the bartender, Decim, who issues them various life-threatening challenges before passing judgment. has a unique setup and is one of the best dark anime on Crunchyroll.
13) Akame ga Kill!
| Anime Name | Akame ga Kill! |
| IMDb rating | 7.8 |
| Number of episodes | 24 |
| Genres | Action, Fantasy |
| Studio | White fox |
| Broadcast | 2014 |
Tatsumi is an innocent village boy who arrives in the capital with his friends. But the town proves inhumanely cruel as his friends are tortured and killed.
But then he meets an expert assassin working for the rebels who are trying to save the country from their corrupt prime minister. Moved by Akame's ideals, Tatsumi joins her assassin team, the Night Raid.
12) Higurashi: When they cry – Gou
| Anime Name | Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Gou |
| IMDb rating | 7.9 |
| Number of episodes | 24 |
| Genres | Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Suspense |
| Studio | Passion |
| Broadcast | 2020 – 2021 |
Keiichi Maebara is a transfer student who moved to the small mountain village of Hinamizawa in June 1983. He becomes friends with his classmates, Mion, Satoko and Rika, and frequently spends time with them.
But soon, Keiichi begins to notice strange behaviors from his friends, who seem to be hiding something from him. Soon, terrible tragedies begin to haunt the city.
11) Re: Zero, Starting life in another world
| Anime Name | Re:Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu |
| IMDb rating | 8.1 |
| Number of episodes | 38 (2 seasons) |
| Genres | Drama, Fantasy, Suspense |
| Studio | White fox |
| Broadcast | 2016 – 2020 |
When he is transported to a fantasy world, he meets a beautiful girl named Satella and sets out to help a little girl named Felt with Satella.
When they arrive at a bar near Felt's house, Subaru and Satella are violently killed by a woman named Elsa. However, Subaru finds himself back in the moment when he was first transported to this world.
is surprising in its sadness and the suffering of its protagonist, and is considered one of the best dark anime on Crunchyroll.
10) Madoka Magical Girl
| Anime Name | Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica |
| IMDb rating | 8.2 |
| Number of episodes | 12 + 1 movie |
| Genres | Drama, Suspense |
| Studio | TREE |
| Broadcast | 2011 |
is brilliant in its interpretation of the magical girl genre with shocking darkness. The story begins with two friends, Madoka and Sayaka, who are high school students, Mami, with whom they become friends.
When Mami saves them from a witch, they learn about magical girls and their duty. When they are asked to become magical girls themselves, they do not know the misery and darkness that await them.
9) Psycho-Pass
| Anime Name | Psycho-Pass |
| IMDb rating | 8.2 |
| Number of episodes | 22 |
| Genres | Action, Science Fiction, Suspense |
| Studio | GI production |
| Broadcast | 2012 |
In the futuristic world, there is a system called Sybil System which evaluates a person's mental state and criminal tendencies, known as .
If the Psycho-Pass is higher than that of a certain person, then that person is excluded from society. In such a world, an idealistic recruit joins the police force as an inspector and joins forces with the jaded Enforcer.
8) Ultimate Hellsing
| Anime Name | Hellsing/Ultimate |
| IMDb rating | 8.2 |
| Number of episodes | ten |
| Genres | Action, Horror, Supernatural |
| Studio | Madhouse, Satelight, Graphinica |
| Broadcast | 2006 – 2012 |
is the commander of the Hellsing organization, which exterminates supernatural forces that seek to destroy humanity.
The organization's deadliest weapon is a named who, along with Seras Victoria, her new vampire servant, destroys everything and everyone who opposes the organization.
7) Destiny/Zero
| Anime Name | Fate Zero |
| IMDb rating | 8.2 |
| Number of episodes | 25 (2 seasons) |
| Genres | Action, Fantasy, Supernatural |
| Studio | ufotable |
| Broadcast | 2011 – 2012 |
Fate/Zero is the prequel to its 2006 predecessor and introduces the Fourth Holy Grail War. With formidable adversaries and their most dangerous spirit heroes, the war is deadlier than ever.
Kiritsugu Emiya, a notorious mercenary, is determined to win the war to end the world's suffering, even at the cost of sacrificing his beloved wife.
Fate/Zero is often considered the best of the Fate series and is among the best dark anime on Crunchyroll.
6) The Promised Neverland
| Anime Name | Yakusoku in Neverland |
| IMDb rating | 8.3 |
| Number of episodes | 23 (2 seasons) |
| Genres | Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense |
| Studio | Clover works |
| Broadcast | 2019 |
The Promised Neverland begins with the happy and idyllic lives of the orphaned children of Grace Field. However, the picturesque scenes soon turn into a nightmare when Emma and Norman discover that the orphanage is a breeding operation.
Children are sold to monsters to be eaten. Along with their best friend, Ray, the children hatch a plan to help the other children escape.
Although the second season was completely disappointing despite stellar source material, the first season was good enough to be considered one of the best dark anime on Crunchyroll.
5) Made in the Abyss
| Anime Name | Made in the Abyss |
| IMDb rating | 8.4 |
| Number of episodes | 25 (2 seasons) + 1 film |
| Genres | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Science fiction |
| Studio | Citrus Cinema |
| Broadcast | 2017 – 2022 |
The secret of the Abyss is unknown; it is an endless pit of mysterious origin, and humans have been trying to solve the mystery for many years with divers.
Riko is a novice diver who wants to go deep into the Abyss to find her missing mother, but her low rank won't allow it. When she finds a boy with amnesia, whom she names , and who turns out to be a robot, the duo sets off to discover the truth about the Abyss.
4) The Vinland Saga
| Anime Name | The Vinland Saga |
| IMDb rating | 8.8 |
| Number of episodes | 48 (2 seasons) |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, Drama |
| Studio | White Studio |
| Broadcast | 2019 – 2023 |
Thorfinn was born in times of war, where death and bloodshed never ceased. But even then, his father always taught him kindness and morality.
But when his peace-loving father is murdered by , all the kindness shatters in Thorfinn as he seeks revenge on his father's killer.
During the war between Britain and Denmark, Viking mercenaries rage as Thorfinn searches for Askeladd.
3) Steins;Door
| Anime Name | Steins;Door |
| IMDb rating | 8.8 |
| Number of episodes | 24 |
| Genres | Drama, Science fiction, Suspense |
| Studio | White fox |
| Broadcast | 2011 |
While attending a scientific seminar, “mad scientist” Rintarou Okabe witnesses the death of the brilliant researcher. However, Kurisu turns out to be alive and thanks Okabe for saving her life.
She also joins his science club after discovering that the microwave invented by Okabe and his team is actually a time travel device. This sci-fi thriller is among the best of the best and definitely one of the best dark anime on Crunchyroll.
2) Death note
| Anime Name | Death threat |
| IMDb rating | 9.0 |
| Number of episodes | 37 |
| Genres | Supernatural, Suspense |
| Studio | Crazy's house |
| Broadcast | 2006 – 2007 |
Suffering from boredom, Ryuk drops a Death Note on Earth, and is found by , a brilliant young man.
After learning the rules of the Death Note from Ryuk, Light begins killing criminals all over the world under the nickname Kira.
But when the world's greatest detective, L, joins the case, Light must do everything to hide his true identity from Kira.
1) Attack on Titan
| Anime Name | Shingeki no Kyojin |
| IMDb rating | 9:00 a.m. |
| Number of episodes | 89+ (4 seasons) |
| Genres | Action, Drama, Suspense |
| Studio | Wit Studio (Season 1 – 3) MAP (season 4) |
| Broadcast | 2013 – ongoing |
Often considered one of the best anime of all time, Attack on Titan is a worldwide sensation. It is also one of the best dark anime on Crunchyroll.
After the appearance of the man-eating humanoid, humanity was forced to live between three great walls. One fateful day, the Titans broke through the outermost wall, Wall Maria, and wreaked havoc on the village of Shiganshina.
That day, 's life changed forever, and as he became a soldier with his adopted sister Mikasa and his best friend Armin, he vowed to kill all the Titans.
The list of 18 best dark anime ends here. The anime on this list shows a variety of darkness, some in their brutality and others in a philosophical way. But one thing common among them is that all these anime are entirely entertaining.
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