13 Best Seinen Manga Ever Released, Ranked

At its core, the Seinen genre of manga sounds pretty typical. Seinen generally refers to young men demographic, putting a step above shonen in terms of maturity. However, this often turns out to involve some dark, emotional, or even gory series. When it comes to the best Seinen manga ever released, these are our favorites, listed in a general order.

1. Tokyo Ghoul

Both Tokyo Ghoul and its sequel, Tokyo Ghoul:re, are standout examples of this genre. It tells the story of Ken Kaneki, a boy who suddenly becomes a ghoul and must battle against his horrifying, deathly hunger for human flesh. This is by far one of the goriest series on this list and is, therefore, not for the faint of heart. But it masterfully navigates heavy themes and remarkable twists with ease

2. Monster

This dark tale starts out about a doctor who chooses to save a young boy’s life, only for it to be his biggest regret. It takes you so on many winding twists and turns. This is the type of story that will stay with you long after you finish it. The main character, Kenzo, is so complicated and conflicted in his journey. Plus, it has arguably the most terrifying manga villain of all time.

3. Berserk

Noted for some of the most sinister scenes in manga history, Berserk is a legendary and ground-breaking Seinen manga for a reason. This is the type of series that has some of the most disturbing scenes ever created in manga history. If you can stomach how far this Seinen series goes, it will likely be among your favorites of all time.

4. Vinland Saga

This dramatic retelling of Vikings centers on Thorfinn, a boy who suffers great tragedy and rises from a young age to get revenge. It is so unlike other coming-of-age tales, as it is extremely violent, dark, and full of gruesome deaths. The story expands as the chapters go on, resulting in a riveting retelling of the Viking era.

5. Oyasumi Punpun (Goodnight Punpun)

This is one of the most heartbreaking, bizarre, and life-changing Seinen series you can read. It follows Punpun, a boy who sees normal humans as birds and how he deals with mental illness and some disturbing circumstances of life. Despite its premise, I only recommend this series to adults, which navigates the turning point of life without holding back. It can be almost therapeutic in this way.

6. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War

Yes, believe it or not, one of the funniest and best romance manga series of all time also happens to be a Seinen. This series shows the breadth of this genre, as two student council members battle to not be the first one to confess their feelings. The constant antics the group of main characters get up to in each chapter feels like a hilarious sitcom, but it never forgets its overarching plot.

7. Oshi no Ko

This series starts out about a teen pop idol in Japan who finds out she is pregnant and soon devolves into a gut-wrenching exploration of the entertainment industry that is best experienced with little information. The leads, including the pregnant teen Ai, are some of the most compelling protagonists on this list and have a dedicated fandom for a reason.

8. Akira

While the anime film adaptation of Akira usually gets all the attention, it was based on a 1982 manga. It is also well worth a look for its influences on many Seinen manga. Admittedly, I will say I prefer the anime movie version a bit more, but the source material manga delves a bit further, which is welcome to existing fans.

9. Parasyte

So many of the manga series with the “boy turns into monster” trope have this wonderful series to thank. Its exploration of the main character Shinichi’s development as he gains a parasite in his right hand is worth a look. The smaller scale of this series doesn’t quite get as ridiculous as a series like Tokyo Ghoul, allowing the relationship Shinichi has with his family, love interest, and more to shine.

10. March Comes In Like a Lion

Unlike other Seinen manga on this list, this is, technically, a sports series in a way, as it focuses on the professional shogi player Rei. However, the real crux of this series is one of the most heartbreaking and incredible looks at trauma and depression in manga history. There is a reason Rei is my go-to anime profile picture for many places, as he is the epitome of a character you root for.

11. Delicious in Dungeon

This adventurous fantasy series examines a party and the various foods they eat, as they go on a journey to save a loved one. It balances the action, alluring meals, and comedy with a deft hand. This is a series that never takes itself too seriously, which feels like a breath of fresh air in this genre.

12. Bocchi the Rock!

This musically-charged series follows the anxious and awkward Hitori Goto as she joins a band to fulfill her dream of being a rock musician. Bocchi fans are as dedicated as they come, and for a good reason. This series explores how music affects its diverse cast of characters in some thrilling ways.

13. Uzumaki

The beloved horror magnum opus series from Junji Ito will have you literally spiraling with how disturbing and gruesome it gets. This is one of the best horror manga of all time. It is rare that a horror manga series is able to genuinely scare and surprise since it is a static page in a book, but Ito manages to pull it off all throughout Uzumaki.