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Berserk features one of the most beloved dark fantasy stories today. It places its protagonist Guts in many dire situations that will cause him immense psychological trauma, anguish, and misery. Although these events may challenge Guts’ mental and physical capabilities, he’ll always find his way past these unforgivable roadblocks.
Berserk starts off depicting Guts’ livelihood alongside a powerful syndicate called the Band of Hawks. Then years pass, and Guts becomes a commander and helps his leader Griffith walk away victorious in every bout. Unbeknownst to Guts, evil lurks in the shadows, and this mysterious entity will change his life for the worse.
If you’re having trouble finding anime similar to Berserk, fear not! We’ve discovered 10 alternate shows that’ll give you a similar experience as Berserk.
Additionally, for each anime we’ve reviewed, we’ve included a link that allows you to view our full thoughts about the series to see if it’s worth your time.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet your appetite when you’ve finished streaming Berserk!
Claymore
Similarities – Hardcore Protagonists Embarking On A Perilous Journey
Whenever discussing Claymore alongside Berserk, many point out that it’s essentially Berserk’s female counterpart. Claymore places its protagonist in similar traumatic and dangerous situations that will challenge her. Both protagonists are after criminals who’ve wronged them in their past lives.
They will stop at nothing to make those people pay. Like Guts, Claymore’s Clare is a brutal and no-nonsense person with a hidden lighter side. She’ll make many friends who’ll change her perceptions of life. Some will train her to become a more formidable warrior.
Clare’s enemies are horrifying. Regardless if they’re grotesque monsters or have hideous intentions, the foes that inhabit her world will send chills down your spine. Claymore and Berserk feature stellar action sequences that lean heavily into gore and brutality.
If you’re sensitive to disturbing imagery or brutality, I’d suggest avoiding Claymore like the plague. If not, then its dark fantasy setting awaits you.
Attack On Titan
Similarities – Medieval Setting & Brutality
Attack On Titan’s popularity is on par with Berserk’s long-lasting legacy. Attack On Titan is another worthy contender in the brutal and traumatic anime sphere. Fans will find its Titans disturbing and terrifying and its characters’ battles with them exhilarating and slightly over-the-top.
Attack On Titan offers better hand-drawn and computerized animation than Berserk, especially compared to Berserk’s lackluster CGI follow-up films and seasons. From Wit Studio to MAPPA, Attack On Titan’s maintained excellent visual fidelity that feels timeless and easier to digest.
Outside the Titans, Attack On Titan doesn’t offer much variety regarding other mythical creatures like Berserk does. You’ll mainly see our heroes fighting Titans or problematic humans whose ideologies don’t reflect the betterment of humankind.
While this may feel like a bummer to Berserk fans, Attack On Titan offers enough clever plot twists, mystery, and suspense to hold their attention.
You can read our thoughts on Attack On Titan in our full-season review here!
Devilman Crybaby
Similarities – Violence & Demons
Berserk owes a lot of its world, characters, and storyline to Devilman. Devilman Crybaby is a remake of one of Go Nagai’s most beloved and influential works. While the animation in Devilman Crybaby may look off-putting and strange, its plot, characters, and dark atmosphere make up for it.
Devilman Crybaby follows Akira Fudou and his friend Ryou Asuka attending a late-night party. Suddenly, demons arrive and start murdering everyone in sight. Before they can harm Ryou, Akira sacrifices himself to save him. Unfortunately for the demons, Akira unwittingly merges with the devil Amon, becomes Devilman, and lays waste to them.
In the morning, Akira discovers that his body has undergone a dramatic overhaul, and he has a weird craving for blood. Having to balance his life as Devilman, Akira must keep his demonic urges at bay while protecting his loved ones from danger. Like Berserk, Devilman Crybaby doesn’t hold back with its violence, suggestive themes, and nightmarish imagery.
Berserk fans that enjoyed characters like Guts and Griffith will adore Akira and Ryou’s dynamic as the series progresses. Furthermore, Devilman Crybaby presents similar themes like betrayal, friendship, and fate. If you’re looking for an action-packed anime with a meaningful story and memorable characters, check out Devilman Crybaby.
You can read our thoughts on Devilman Crybaby in our full-season review here!
Gungrave
Similarities – Themes & Characters
Gungrave was released at a time when adapting video games to different art forms was pointless. Most game-to-anime adaptations didn’t capture the same energy or failed to replicate the source material in any way. While Gungrave isn’t a masterpiece, it was a part of the many few video game anime adaptations that pleased fans.
Like Berserk, Gungrave features satisfying action sequences, excellent characters, and similar themes from seeking justice to enacting vengeance. The battles its characters endure feel tense and dramatic. The animation peaks during these instances which will make any anime fan’s heart pump.
Despite having a more mafioso theme, fans will pinpoint similarities between the Band of Hawks and Gungrave’s Big Daddy’s mafia group. Our story follows Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell, two friends who have astounding criminal records. They eventually join a large mafia syndicate run by Big Daddy but are forced into the lowest ranks of the group.
However, this motivates Harry to one day overthrow Big Daddy and become his mafia’s new leader. Brandon wants to appease Big Daddy to get his lover back, but he has no issues helping his buddy achieve his wishes. Therefore, the anime focuses on Brandon and Harry’s mission to overthrow Big Daddy and rescue Brandon’s crush.
Vinland Saga
Similarities – Dark Fantasy & Revenge Plot
Vinland Saga was a classic viking-themed manga series that fans were delighted to see get an anime adaptation. With its vast historical world, well-written characters, and engaging storyline, fans had high expectations for Wit Studio. Thankfully, the well-acclaimed studio pulled off a satisfying adaptation.
England and the Danes are at war in our story. This war has been going on for a while, as many people perish. While many aren’t fans of the war, the Vikings disagree and adore every minute of it. Every viking except for Thorfinn. Despite his hatred for war, Thorfinn is set on murdering Askeladd, a man who took his father’s life.
Like Berserk, Vinland Saga features many scenes where our hero encounters murder, death, anguish, and psychological trauma. Every scene is accompanied by beautiful visuals and animation to allow viewers to empathize with its cast and their dilemma.
While Vinland Saga has some lighthearted moments, fans enjoy the show’s darker approaches toward storytelling and world-building. If you’re looking for an anime with dashes of realism and emotional scenarios, then Vinland Saga’s worth checking out.
Monster
Similarities – Psychological, Characters, Suspense
Monster is a slow-paced crime anime full of suspense and mystery. Like Berserk, its characters are well-rounded and developed. Its antagonist Johan Liebert shares similar charisma, careful planning, and sadistic tendencies as Griffith. These characters are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goal.
Monster’s Tenma may not have the same physique or dashing looks as Guts. However, what he lacks in brawn he makes up for with his intelligence. Furthermore, Guts and Tenma embark on a quest to eliminate their respective antagonists to clear their minds of any regret or anguish.
Guts’ journey feels more dangerous than Tenma’s but Monster offers enough tension to keep viewers from clicking off. This is a show that rewards fans who have patience as it gradually reveals some interesting information about its world and characters to them.
If you’re looking for a show that’s less about the action and more about mind games and other thought-provoking elements, check out Monster.
Ninja Scroll
Similarities – Swordsmanship & Drama
From a slow-burner to an anime film that lets loose, we find ourselves at Ninja Scroll. This is the epitome of a B-movie-level anime. Where the anime lacks in character development, it makes up for with exhilarating sword and demon fights. These fights can get a bit brutal, so Berserk fans will feel right at home with this one.
Our tale follows Jubei, a swordsman who is seeking new missions to tackle. He’s lived a tragic life full of betrayal and neglect. He often keeps to himself and avoids any issue related to politics. His life takes a turn when he meets Kagero, a female ninja who was about to transform into stone if not for his assistance.
Kagero informs Jubei about her disease investigation that wiped out an entire village. Despite declining, Jubei gets forced into the situation when a government spy poisons and blackmails him. This is a brutal anime with action sequences that feel slightly realistic.
Like Guts, Jubei is a phenomenal swordsman. He fights numerous demons and formidable foes who delve into swordsmanship, martial arts, and other combat types. While the story and characters aren’t as complex as what you’d find in Berserk, you’re sure to walk away from this anime pleased.
Fist of the North Star
Similarities – Action & Adventure
Many shows owe a lot to Fist of the North Star for its portrayal of masculine gentlemen fighting evil foes. Like Berserk, Fist of the North Star features some fun fights and has its protagonist Kenshiro embarking on an adventure of some kind.
Kenshiro and Guts are noble warriors who combat other powerful foes and show little signs of mercy. With each fight they endure, the stronger these two become. Kenshiro isn’t all-talk like Guts, and Berserk fans will adore him for his quiet nature.
Fist of the North Star’s comedy is leagues above Berserk’s. The way Kenshiro takes out certain foes may appear humorous because of the villains’ dialogue. Berserk’s not known for its comedy anyway, but it’s worth highlighting in case anyone wanted a show that’s as brutal and melancholy as Berserk.
Hellsing Ultimate
Similarities – Intense Violence & Dark Fantasy
Hellsing Ultimate is another anime with intense action and likable characters. Like the previous entry, this show offers some morsel of comedy thanks to its female protagonist Seras. While Seras has carnivorous tendencies, she can lean into her goofy habits occasionally.
That said, Hellsing Ultimate’s protagonist Alucard is anything but funny. This terrifying vampire is a formidable gunman with incredible strength and powers. The villains he fights are just as maniacal and psychotic as he is. While some villains feel like death fodder for others, everyone gets some time to shine.
Regarding Berserk, Hellsing Ultimate features a slew of bloodshed and dark fantasy elements. Alucard and Seras will be tangling with many creatures in the realistic and fantasy spectrum from corrupted priests to the walking dead. The villain variety is as vast as Berserk’s and the fights don’t hold back on showing torn limbs and body parts.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (Series)
Similarities – Muscular Protagonists & Violence
What started as a niche franchise, ended up becoming an action-packed adventure anime with a cult-like following. Enter JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, an anime that features muscular men and well-skilled women fighting each other for specific reasons.
Like Berserk, this show features a slew of interesting martial artists, swordsmen, monsters, abilities, etc. What sets this part would be its anthology-like storyline. This is an anime that features several parts, each following a different member of the Joestar family and their endless struggle with an evil man named Dio Brando.
While Dio isn’t always the show’s main villain, he feels like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s most recognizable one. At the same time, the other villains in this show have wonderful personalities, motives, and abilities. Each part centers around a self-contained narrative but introduces aspects from previous ones like familiar characters and powers.
From its adventurous atmosphere to its memorable characters and action-centric moments, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a phenomenal anime to follow up on after you got your taste of Berserk.
So there we have it, our 10 anime/TV show alternatives to watch when you’ve caught up with Berserk!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
This was eyebrow-raisingly well-written.
Great recs too, I’m rather new to anime despite circling the dark fantasy seinen drain over the years – still haven’t taken a deep dive and Berserk was my landing point so I’m looking forward to these.
Wondering why FMA Brotherhood didn’t make the list? The demonology and Alchemy themes of FMA go hand in hand I thought. Any other demonic specific entries?