anime for horror fans

Highschool of the Dead left a lasting impression with its mix of horror, action, and fan service. If you’re a fan of its zombie-filled chaos and are searching for similar adrenaline-pumping anime, this list is for you. These shows bring their unique spins on survival, action, and supernatural elements, guaranteed to keep you hooked. And without further ado, here are the best anime similar to Highschool of the Dead! 1. School-Live! A group of high school girls faces a zombie apocalypse while living in their school. They manage to survive by barricading themselves inside and maintaining a facade of normalcy for the sake of one mentally fragile friend. The story alternates between their struggles to endure the harsh realities of their situation and moments of camaraderie and hope. School-Live! shares many similarities with Highschool of the Dead, including the school setting and the constant threat of zombies. What sets it apart is its emotional depth, as it delves into how the characters cope with trauma and denial in a way that hits harder emotionally. If you liked the mix of action and heart in Highschool of the Dead, this one’s for you. 2. Attack on Titan Eren Yeager and his friends live in a world where humanity is confined behind enormous walls to protect themselves from man-eating Titans. After witnessing a Titan destroy his home and kill his mother, Eren vows to exterminate every last one of them. The series follows the intense battles between humans and Titans as secrets about their world unravel. As an anime similar to Highschool of the Dead, Attack on Titan is a survival story at its core, with characters constantly on edge as they fight for their lives. The visceral action and high-stakes drama make both series equally thrilling. If you enjoyed the adrenaline-fueled pace of Highschool of the Dead, Attack on Titan is an absolute must-watch. 3. Tokyo Ghoul Kaneki, a college student, is turned into a half-ghoul after a date gone horribly wrong. Now caught between the human and ghoul worlds, he struggles to survive while learning the rules of his new reality. The series delves into his internal battle as he fights to protect those he cares about while grappling with his monstrous side. Tokyo Ghoul captures the same themes of survival and transformation as Highschool of the Dead. Both protagonists are thrust into dangerous, unfamiliar worlds and must adapt quickly to survive. The dark, eerie tone and brutal combat in Tokyo Ghoul will keep you on edge, just like the relentless zombie onslaught in Highschool of the Dead. 4. Hellsing Ultimate The Hellsing Organization is tasked with combating supernatural threats like vampires and ghouls. Their ultimate weapon, Alucard, is a powerful vampire who relishes in the chaos of battle. The series is packed with intense action, dark humor, and graphic violence as Alucard and his allies take on increasingly powerful foes. Hellsing Ultimate shares the same love for gore and action as Highschool of the Dead, but it leans even harder into its mature themes. Both series are unapologetically violent and feature protagonists who thrive in the chaos of their respective worlds. If you’re looking for something darker and bloodier, Hellsing Ultimate won’t disappoint. 5. Deadman Wonderland After being falsely accused of murdering his classmates, Ganta is sent to Deadman Wonderland, a prison where inmates compete in deadly games for entertainment. He discovers he has a unique ability to manipulate his own blood as a weapon, which he must use to survive and uncover the truth about the real killer. Being an anime similar to Highschool of the Dead, this series plunges its protagonist into a life-or-death scenario filled with action, gore, and psychological tension. Both shows feature characters fighting against insurmountable odds in brutal environments, making Deadman Wonderland a great choice for fans of survival horror. 6. High School DxD Issei Hyoudou’s life changes when he’s killed on his first date and resurrected as a devil servant to the beautiful Rias Gremory. Now part of a devil faction, Issei juggles his new life while fighting supernatural enemies and navigating his growing feelings for Rias. While High School DxD focuses more on comedy and ecchi moments, it shares the over-the-top action and fan service that made Highschool of the Dead so entertaining. Both shows don’t shy away from mixing intense battles with lighthearted (and often very fanservice-y) scenes, making this a fun and action-packed alternative. 7. Parasyte: The Maxim Shinichi’s life takes a horrifying turn when his right hand is infected by a Parasyte, an alien organism that failed to take over his brain. As he battles other Parasytes, he struggles with what it means to be human and how to coexist with the alien inside him. Parasyte mirrors Highschool of the Dead in its exploration of humanity’s fight for survival against a monstrous threat. The action scenes are brutal, and the series delves into philosophical questions about morality and identity, much like the struggles faced by the characters in Highschool of the Dead. 8. Angel Beats! Otonashi wakes up in the afterlife and joins a group of students fighting against a mysterious girl known as Angel. As they work to uncover the secrets of their world, Otonashi learns about the regrets and dreams that tie them all together. Although Angel Beats! focuses more on emotional storytelling, it shares the survival element and group dynamic that made Highschool of the Dead so engaging. The blend of action, humor, and heartfelt moments makes it a great pick for those who enjoyed the camaraderie in High School of the Dead. 9. Akame ga Kill Tatsumi joins the Night Raid, a group of assassins fighting to overthrow a corrupt empire. Alongside his comrades, he faces deadly enemies and must come to terms with the heavy cost of their mission. Akame ga Kill and Highschool of the Dead both feature high-stakes action and a willingness to kill off major characters, keeping viewers on edge. The intense battles and emotional weight of the story … Read more