"Gritty" Shows similar to Black Lagoon or Soul Eater?

I never thought I would make a post asking for recs because I'm usually the one giving them out, but I feel like I've hit a wall in terms of finding an anime to watch.

I've been rewatching shows like Black Lagoon, Gangsta, Mitchiko to Hatchin, and Jormungand- I love the grit, the slightly dark aesthetics, and badass female characters such as Mitchiko, Koko, Revy, Chiquita (that's NOT to say that mainstream anime don't have amazing female casts, I love the beautiful women from Fairytail and Gintama for example).

The thing is that I don't necessarily need a another gang/militia anime like Black Lagoon, Gangsta, Mitchiko and Jormungand- I would also be interested in a dark action/supernatural show like Soul Eater, Samurai Champloo, Hellsing Ultimate, Jigoraku, Blood+, Witchblade, High School of the Dead, etc, all of which are some of my favorite anime.

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AutoModerator2026-01-15 21:15

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kingdevil6522026-01-15 21:17

Akira

SouekiSennoSTM2026-01-15 21:20

- Banana Fish
- The Fable

OrangeCreamy2026-01-15 21:20

Ok not super natural but I just watched the first ep of “Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table”…very dark and good action imo. VERY good if you haven’t seen it. Also beautiful style

Unusual_Rush_11892026-01-15 21:24

If you haven't watch Noir, it's similar, thinking of female MCs specifically. Also Psycho Pass, Ghost in the Shell SAC, Ergo Proxy, Gunslinger Girls, Kino's Journey (both versions are good)

For non female MCs, Overlord and Death Note are obvious next tries.

No_Durian_69872026-01-15 21:28

Texhnolyze is the grittiest I’ve seen

Strict_Swordfish_8472026-01-15 21:34

Akame ga Kill! It definitely rings the bell for supernatural dark action. The show is also unique, I haven't come across anything like it since. Akame is the GOAT of badass female characters.

fr4n882026-01-15 21:39

Jormungand is the most similar anime to Black Lagoon I've watched.

yeenevalose2026-01-15 21:55

Baccano

WareKaraNari2026-01-15 21:57

Death Frenzy
Gantz
Psychopass

Not sure if it's gritty enough but Valkyria Chronicles too

ThinRule11932026-01-15 22:01

Watch gachiakatu it’s made by the same people who animated Soul Eater and it’s a brand new show

No-Faithlessness40832026-01-16 02:27

Fun fact kei urana was a assistant for Atsushi Ohkubo and worked under him while he was making his own series

He recently praised her work and even admitted he believed she surpassed him and described her as a successor he was proud of and the two seem to have a good friendship

That’s the main reason for the similarities not only did she work for him but was a genuine fan of his works

You can see heavy similarities in close up zoom shots of characters faces to be exact. similar to moments in soul eater where a character starts to lose it

One shot of maka specifically stands out

Muffin-zetta2026-01-15 22:03

Soul eater is gritty?

Dizzy-By-Degrees2026-01-15 23:00

Spooky at least.

Has a few episodes where it just becomes a horror show. Maybe in a post-AoT and Jujutsu Kaisen world it's not that big a deal but different form other stuff that was out at the time.

Muffin-zetta2026-01-15 23:08

Nah, I just googled 2008 anime saw chaos head, rin, ghost in the shell 2.0, and the dead space anime all came out the same year. So it wasn’t even gritty for the time.

Dizzy-By-Degrees2026-01-15 23:25

There's a difference between 2008 anime and 2008 anime people remember to watch in 2026. Nobody is watching or recommending the Dead Space tie-in anime. But they will remember that Soul Eater and Code Geass having some intense moments and recommend those because they got spooky for a bit.

Icchan_2026-01-15 22:04

I'm not sure if Soul Eater is gritty... but hmm..

Hellsing Ultimate
Odd Taxi.

SaintevilSA2026-01-15 22:55

Berserk, Akira, Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin, Parasyte -the maxim-

Dizzy-By-Degrees2026-01-15 23:02

Akudama Drive, Madoka Magica, Ergo Proxy, Vampire Hunter D, Cyber CIty Oedo

a-nun-ee-moose2026-01-15 23:50

Texhnolyze

QuietlyObservering2026-01-16 00:09

Based on your request, try looking into any of the following:

Psycho Pass
Baccano!
Vinland Saga
Golden Kamuy
Hell’s Paradise
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
91 Days
AJIN: Demi-Human
Megalobox
Parasyte -the maxim-
Claymore
Inuyashiki
Kaiju No. 8
Heavenly Delusion
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

I could honestly keep going, however I reckon that should be enough to get you going! Enjoy! :)

CommentStrict89642026-01-16 00:18

Psycho-pass.

blackninjakitty2026-01-16 00:24

Gachiakuta - the manga’s artist was an assistant to the artist for Soul Eater and Fire Force and it really shows, but the series is much more reserved in terms of fan service which I appreciate.

LilMissy12462026-01-16 00:54

Jormungand, Phantom Requiem, Gunslinger Girl, and maybe Darker than Black?

Playest_42472026-01-16 01:03

If you liked Black lagoon you should check out jurgamond

Playful-Airport77772026-01-16 01:04

Dororo

boyanci2026-01-16 01:33

If you like soul eater you should definitely watch fire force. Final season airing right now.

bocchibunn2026-01-16 01:37

Another Blood+ fan!!!

I think maybe try out Fire Force (created by the same mangaka as Soul Eater), Tokyo Ghoul, maybe Re:Life? Lycoris Recoil had some grit to it, kind of.

echoshadow52026-01-16 01:43

Moribito - Guardian of the Spirits

Kino’s Journey

Dorohedoro

Made in Abyss

My-Hime

Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Akiba Maid War

Another

Blood+

Blood C (not to be confused with S2 of Blood+, this is another alternate universe of the same story)

Claymore

Ga-Rei-Zero

Kite

Reincarnated as a Sword

No-Faithlessness40832026-01-16 02:16

While it didn’t get completely adapted its short and sweet I recommend

Deadman wonderland

Top_Result_15502026-01-16 02:17

Soul eater is one of the silliest shows out there what do you mean lmao.

ExecratedReliquary2026-01-16 02:45

Canaan, since no one has said it yet.

Also Ga-Rei Zero for sure.

Read or Die, Gunslinger Girl, Corpse Princess, Witch Hunter Robin.

Seconding Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne and Seirei no Moribito.

VancityGaming2026-01-16 05:55

Kaiji Ultimate Survivor