Brutally enchanting as it was usually made, dark fantasy anime series truly captivates the unforgiving and unparalleled thrill of action themes in an anime. That’s why anime like Berserk is the top query on the internet. If you can’t get enough of Berserk, you will continue to seek its violent spice across all anime series recommendations from your browser, elevating the eagerness of watching more of it—and actually liking it! Berserk has indeed set the standard of what a gut-wrenching anime series looks like, making you crave for more.  

If you are trying to soak yourself in bloody action and battle scenes, you’re just in the right place. This article will bring you the exact same themes of supernatural anime series that may push you into your absolute limits of watching! You will be brought into different worlds and perspectives that will exert your excitement upon binge-watching several dark fantasy anime series like Berserk.

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Vinland Saga

Some say revenge is a dish best served cold, but for Thorfinn, it is somehow a lifelong obsession. In a bloodbath revenge anime series, the quest for meaning in a Vikings setting reveals Thorfinn’s vengeance against his father’s killer, evolving his character into the real world of violence and peace, leading him to feel what it truly means to be a great warrior. Trying to seek justice for his painful loss, Thorfinn ventures into the harsh heights of war, surviving and experiencing the consequences of revenge.

Aside from its naturally dark themes of brutality and violence, the highlight of Vinland Saga is that it goes around glorifying violence with a slow-burn twist. Several war and battle scenes will leave you in awe, appreciating the deeper premise the whole story establishes. Also, moral lessons about what it is to be a true warrior can be shown justified—and even make you reconsider its essence.

The Heroic Legend of Arslan

Survival truly is a brutal victory. Following the story of Prince Arslan of Pars, when forced to flee from his own land, after he was betrayed and defeated by Lusitania due to a trusted official’s treachery. Fleeing the capital along with General Daryun to gather allies and reclaim his kingdom, he must overcome all the obstacles on his way to claim what was his in the first place. Arslan will then venture to prove his worth and restore his rightful place as the king 

This anime series comes naturally to be similar in many ways with Berserk, yet set in another world and age. Its fantastical nature comes from magical battles in regal times, giving you a unique context of adventure while also dealing with darker themes. What you would like the most from the story is the fact that it focuses more on themes that will surely resonate with you in terms of loyalty, betrayal, and the will to do what makes you feel complete.

Blade Of The Immortal

Having to live in this chaotic world is already an aggravating curse; what more if you’re forced to live with this life…forever? Experiencing a lifelong curse, Blade of the Immortal delves more into the story of an unkillable samurai trying to seek redemption through death. Introducing Manji, an immortal infected with sacred bloodworms that heal any of his wounds, starts his journey to kill a number of evil men to redeem his past and regain his capability to be mortal, while struggling to grip into his torturing burden of eternal life. 

If you loved the revenge plot from Berserk, this anime series truly will hold you captive with its great storyline, discussing the moral complexity of revenge. What makes it better is the fact that it presents more of the story’s flawed characters whose justifications for violence can reveal disturbing truths about human nature in general. Both its emotional and philosophical themes will drive you crazy and can even make you reconsider this as your favorite of all dark fantasy anime series from the list!

Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal

Have you ever watched an anime series with no dialogue at all? Indeed, silence speaks volumes for this anime series. Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal follows the story of Spear, a caveman, and Fang, a dinosaur that forge an unlikely bond in a world where survival itself is a heavy and painful battle to face every single day. With truly no virtual dialogue to offer—as language still doesn’t exist in this world. In Primal, Spear and Fang communicate through their emotions and gestures. This concept makes it one of the most unique ones to watch, I presume. 

With no dialogue and any language presentation, this anime series highlights more into the storytelling and presentation of survival years before we were actually granted with knowledge to go on. The story achieves a balance between survival battles and the will to live that will make you embrace the discomfort you will feel amidst not having pure talking. If you haven’t watched it yet, you’re terribly missing out on one of the most interesting dark fantasy series in anime!

Dororo

Tragic—one word to describe Dororo’s overall storyline, catering all of your curiosity about the series. Following the story of a warrior with prosthetic limbs, Hyakkimaru hunts the demons who possess his body parts, along with a young thief named Dororo, making every battle deep and personal. Together, they cradle the world with pure camaraderie and an eagerness to live. 

This anime series lies more in the exploration of humanity beyond its physical form. The action balances well with the melancholic and emotional depth of the story, making it very heartwarming as you watch. Also, it can make you reimagine traditional Japanese folklore while also enjoying the darker elements in it.

Devilman Crybaby

When demons return to reclaim Earth from humanity, there goes Akira Fudo, who becomes the powerful Devilman with a sensitive human heart. Still in the apocalyptic tale, it intensifies the story with its kind-hearted protagonist caught between humanity and a monstrous war. How will Akira be able to overcome this? 

Devilman Crybaby is definitely not for the faint of heart. It follows with gory, emotionally devastating, and shocking action scenes that mirror the title in some way. Prepare your tissues with the flow of the story, though, you might probably need it the most as you watch!

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade

In a post-war Japan where civil unrest lies beneath a regime, a member of the elite counter-terrorist unit confronts his own morals and humanity after witnessing a young girl’s suicide bombing. Following more into Kazuki Fuse’s life, he got the chance to encounter the said bomber’s sister, who, by chance, made him discover more about the complex world of politics and empire. 

This anime is simple; it is typically political and has hidden answers that might as well interest you. You will love the realistic touch of systems in the story, making it relevant to modern societal issues in today’s world. If you love series with more than just a darker fantasy genre, this is definitely for you!

Claymore

Dominated by shape-shifting demons called Yoma, half-human and half-demon female warriors known as Claymores walk a perilous line to hunt these monsters down. The story focuses more on Clare, a low-ranked Claymore, together with a human boy who accompanies her, as they journey toward the path where vengeance, battles, and peace are prioritized. Their main goal? To protect humanity while surviving in a world overrun by monsters.

In a more women-dominant story, Claymore can be distinguished uniquely with portrayals of strong female protagonists. Clare goes well with this dark fantasy that is quite rare to be found in some anime series. With its uniqueness in concept, the series itself elevates beyond a simple action anime!

Fist of the North Star

A hopeless world and a savior. When a nuclear apocalypse has reduced humanity to wastelands where the strong prey on the weak, there appears Kenshiro, master of the Hokuto Shinken martial art, to become the hero of this hopeless core of their world. Through his strategies in battling, he then protects the weak and punishes the wicked. 

If you badly wanted an old-school classic, Fist of the North Star is a must-watch with its still relevance in modern issues we face nowadays. The series will make you an empath, appreciating the protagonist more than you usually did in the past years! In fact, its animation style and dialogues still influence many watchers even decades after its first release, making it worth the hype.

Bastard!!

In a heavy metal fantasy series wherein magic operates by scientific principles and ancient gods threaten humanity, Dark Schneider, a legendary wizard, got to be reincarnated in the body of an innocent boy and faces more of the world’s magical demons and overpowered enemies! As a cocky sorcerer, he and his wits fights his way through an apocalyptic world where power and magic becomes everything to live. 

Bastard!! succeeds more by being absurd and wild, making it fun for you to watch—despite it being chaotic. It also delivers dark, magical battles like Berserk while trying to delve uniquely into science and accurate world-building. This over-the-top anime will surely make you laugh and be thrilled at the same time.

Conclusion

Stop, search, and watch! As dark fantasy anime like Berserk continue to push intense action and mind-blowing plot twists, these lists of anime recommendations will make you crave for more. Whether you’re looking for something historic or gory, the list has it all for every fan of the genre. So what are you waiting for? Dive in and let the darkness unfold!