Best Anime Series to Watch: 12 Picks for Different Tastes
Key takeaways
- Choose a series based on the kind of story you want: action, fantasy, suspense, comedy, romance, or sports.
- Start with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood for a sweeping fantasy adventure, or Death Note for a straightforward thriller.
- Awards can help you discover newer series, but they are not a universal ranking of every anime.
- For later seasons and story arcs, check whether they require earlier installments before starting.
The best anime series depends on what you want to watch: a fast-paced action story, a thoughtful fantasy, a tense thriller, or a romance with room to develop. This guide brings together acclaimed favorites and newer standouts, with a quick note on each title’s tone and the kind of viewer it suits.
There’s no objective all-time ranking here.
The picks are organized by what makes them worth considering, so you can find a good starting point without treating awards or popularity as a guarantee that every series will suit you.
Best anime series for action and adventure
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
A strong first choice if you want a story that blends fantasy adventure with emotional stakes. Brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric travel through a world shaped by alchemy, searching for a way to undo the consequences of a disastrous experiment.
The series has a broad appeal: it offers action and humor, but also makes room for questions about sacrifice, power, and responsibility. Choose it if you want a substantial story with a clear central journey rather than an open-ended string of adventures.
Attack on Titan
For viewers drawn to dark, high-stakes action, Attack on Titan begins with humanity under threat from enormous creatures called Titans. Its early survival premise leads into a larger story of conflict, secrets, and competing loyalties.
It’s an intense pick, with graphic violence and a deliberately serious tone. Go in knowing that its mysteries unfold over time; it’s better suited to viewers who enjoy a story that keeps expanding than to anyone looking for light background viewing.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Demon Slayer follows Tanjiro Kamado as he trains to fight demons and searches for a way to help his sister. Its clear emotional goal makes it easy to understand, while its sword fights provide the main draw for action fans.
Start with the first season, not the later Hashira Training Arc. That arc won Best Continuing Series at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, but it’s part of a larger story rather than a standalone entry point.
Solo Leveling
If you want a newer action pick, Solo Leveling centers on Sung Jinwoo, a hunter who gains the ability to grow stronger in a world threatened by monsters. Its appeal is direct: a vulnerable protagonist, escalating challenges, and plenty of combat.
It won Anime of the Year, Best New Series, and Best Action at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Those wins make it a useful recent discovery, not an all-purpose verdict on the best anime ever made.
Best anime series for thoughtful fantasy and drama
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Many fantasy stories focus on the quest to defeat a great evil. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End looks at what comes afterward: the elf mage Frieren reflects on her former companions and sets out on a new journey with a different understanding of time and connection.
Its quieter pace gives the characters’ memories and relationships room to matter. It’s a good fit if you like fantasy settings but would rather follow reflective character development than nonstop battles. The series won Best Drama at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
The Apothecary Diaries
Set in an imperial court, this series follows Maomao, a sharp-minded young woman with a deep interest in medicine and poisons. Her observations draw her into courtly mysteries, where small details can have serious consequences.
Choose it for clever problem-solving, court intrigue, and a lead character whose curiosity drives the story. It’s less focused on conventional action than on watching Maomao notice what others miss.
Delicious in Dungeon
For fantasy with a comic streak, Delicious in Dungeon turns dungeon exploration into an unusual cooking adventure. A party of adventurers travels through a dangerous labyrinth and makes meals from the creatures they encounter.
The food premise gives the show its humor, but it also makes the fantasy world feel practical and lived-in. Try it if you enjoy ensemble casts and imaginative settings, especially when you want a lighter counterpoint to grim fantasy.
Best anime series for mystery and suspense
Death Note
A supernatural notebook gives high school student Light Yagami the power to kill anyone whose name he writes in it. The story quickly becomes a contest of strategy between Light and the detective known as L.
Death Note is a straightforward recommendation for viewers who like psychological suspense and cat-and-mouse plotting. Its hook is easy to grasp, and the tension comes from watching each side try to anticipate the other’s next move.
Steins;Gate
Steins;Gate starts with a group of friends experimenting with a strange invention and gradually develops into a science-fiction thriller. It takes time to establish its characters and playful tone, so it may not be the best choice if you want an immediate rush of action.
Stay with it if you enjoy mysteries that build through details and changing relationships. Its contrast between casual early scenes and mounting tension is central to the experience.
Best anime series for comedy, romance, and sports
Mob Psycho 100
Mob is a quiet middle-schooler with overwhelming psychic abilities. The series uses that premise for explosive action and broad comedy, but its heart is in Mob’s effort to understand himself and relate to other people.
It suits viewers who want a funny, energetic show with more going on beneath the spectacle. If character growth matters as much to you as inventive fights, this is a strong pick.
Haikyu!!
This volleyball series follows Shoyo Hinata as he pursues the sport despite his short stature and limited experience. The matches are the obvious attraction, but the team dynamics and individual rivalries give them their emotional shape.
You don’t need to be a volleyball fan to follow the stakes. Haikyu!! is a good choice if you want an upbeat sports story about practice, teamwork, and learning to compete with better players.
Blue Box
Blue Box combines school romance with sports. Taiki plays badminton and has feelings for Chinatsu, a basketball player whose dedication to her goals shapes the story as much as the romantic tension.
Pick it if you want a relationship that develops alongside everyday ambitions rather than a romance separated from the characters’ other interests. It won Best Romance at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
Spy x Family
A spy, an assassin, and a telepath form an unlikely family, each concealing something from the others. The setup drives a warm comedy built on misunderstandings, pretend domestic normality, and the gap between what the characters know.
It’s an accessible option if you want something lighter than a thriller or battle-focused series. The premise gives it comic momentum, while the found-family dynamic keeps the episodes grounded.
Which anime should you start with?
If you’re new to anime, try Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood for a wide-ranging adventure, Death Note for an easy-to-follow thriller, or Spy x Family for comedy. For something gentler, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End offers reflective fantasy; for high-energy action, consider Demon Slayer or Solo Leveling.
If you already know what genre you like, start with the matching section above rather than choosing by award alone. The 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards recognized series across categories such as action, drama, and romance, but those results reflect a particular awards cycle—not a universal ranking of every anime.
One practical distinction: later seasons and story arcs may be praised on their own, but they aren’t always good entry points. For Demon Slayer, begin with the first season. For any series you’re unsure about, sample the opening episode and see whether its pacing, humor, and tone work for you.
Final picks at a glance
- For a sweeping fantasy adventure: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- For thoughtful fantasy: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- For suspense: Death Note
- For action: Demon Slayer or Solo Leveling
- For comedy: Spy x Family or Mob Psycho 100
- For romance: Blue Box
- For sports: Haikyu!!
The best anime series for you is the one that matches the kind of story you want right now. Pick a genre, choose a starting point that doesn’t require earlier installments, and let the show’s first episode do the rest.
