Redo of Healer (2021) gained notoriety for its uncompromising exploration of vengeance, power dynamics, and the psychological scars left by systemic abuse. Following the journey of Keyaru, a healer who rewinds time to exact brutal retribution on his former tormentors, the series subverts traditional fantasy tropes by presenting a protagonist who is as much a villain as he is a victim. These themes of underdog triumph through ruthless pragmatism and the subversion of the “noble hero” archetype have created a niche for dark, revenge-driven narratives.
While Redo of Healer remains controversial, many other titles explore similar themes of survival, betrayal, and the quest for justice in cruel worlds. The following 15 series are underrated gems that deserve more attention for their unique animation, gritty storytelling, and complex moral dilemmas.
1. Failure Frame (2024)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
- Plot: Abandoned in a lethal dungeon by a cruel goddess who deemed his skills “trash,” Touka Mimori uses his status-effect abilities to survive and hunt down those who betrayed him.
- Similarities: Mirroring Keyaru’s journey, it features a protagonist discarded for having a “weak” class who then uses unconventional, “worthless” powers to methodically eliminate his high-ranking enemies.
- Details: 12 Episodes; Studio Seven Arcs; 7.4 MAL.
2. Ubel Blatt (2025)
- Streaming: Disney+, Crunchyroll
- Plot: Decades after being betrayed by his comrades, a legendary hero reincarnates as a half-human youth to systematically execute the “Seven Heroes” who stole his glory.
- Similarities: It shares the central theme of a betrayed hero returning from the brink of death to hunt down those who became national icons through his suffering.
- Details: 12 Episodes; Studio Satelight; 7.2 MAL.
3. Gungrave (2003)
- Streaming: Funimation, Prime Video
- Plot: Brandon Heat is betrayed and murdered by his best friend, only to be resurrected as a silent killing machine to dismantle the criminal empire they built together.
- Similarities: Like Keyaru, Brandon is a victim of deep personal betrayal by someone he trusted, leading to a supernatural “rebirth” focused entirely on cold, calculated revenge.
- Details: 26 Episodes; Studio Madhouse; 7.8 MAL.
4. 91 Days (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
- Plot: Set during the Prohibition era, Avilio Bruno infiltrates the mafia family that murdered his parents, carefully orchestrating their downfall from within.
- Similarities: It focuses on the slow-burn, psychological aspect of revenge where the protagonist must endure proximity to his abusers to eventually destroy them.
- Details: 12 Episodes; Studio Shuka; 7.8 MAL.
5. Revenger (2023)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A master assassin seeks to help those who have no power to exact revenge themselves, working through a mysterious organization that deals in “dark justice.”
- Similarities: Shares the gritty, “justice at any cost” mentality and highlights the dark underbelly of a society where the powerful exploit the weak.
- Details: 12 Episodes; Studio Ajia-do; 7.1 MAL.
6. Blade of the Immortal (2019)
- Streaming: Prime Video
- Plot: Manji, an immortal swordsman cursed for his past sins, agrees to help a young girl hunt down the master swordsmen who slaughtered her family.
- Similarities: Focuses on the physical and psychological toll of a long-term revenge quest and features a protagonist with a unique healing/immortality factor.
- Details: 24 Episodes; Studio LIDENFILMS; 7.5 MAL.
7. Deadman Wonderland (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Plot: Framed for the massacre of his entire class, Ganta is sent to a private prison where he must use “Branches of Sin” (blood manipulation) to survive.
- Similarities: Features a protagonist trapped in a sadistic system who must adapt and become violent to survive and eventually find the “Red Man” responsible for his misery.
- Details: 12 Episodes; Studio Manglobe; 7.1 MAL.
8. Gachiakuta (2025)
- Streaming: Disney+, Hulu
- Plot: Framed for murder and thrown into a literal pit of trash, Rudo uses his unique “Giver” abilities to turn discarded items into weapons to fight back against the surface world.
- Similarities: Highlights a societal “underdog” who is discarded by the elite and returns with a “trash” power that proves overwhelmingly lethal.
- Details: Ongoing; Studio Bones; 8.0 MAL.
9. Magical Girl Raising Project (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: What starts as a cute competition between magical girls quickly devolves into a brutal, high-stakes battle royale where losers face permanent death.
- Similarities: Subverts the “innocent” fantasy trope by introducing extreme violence and psychological trauma in a setting that usually implies heroism.
- Details: 12 Episodes; Studio Lerche; 6.9 MAL.
10. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (2004)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Plot: In a futuristic reimagining of the classic novel, a mysterious Count returns to Paris to systematically ruin the lives of those who conspired against him.
- Similarities: It is the quintessential revenge story, focusing on the meticulous planning and the loss of humanity that occurs when one dedicates their life to vengeance.
- Details: 24 Episodes; Studio Gonzo; 8.1 MAL.
11. Elfen Lied (2004)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
- Plot: A mutant girl with invisible telekinetic arms escapes a research facility, seeking refuge while being hunted by those who experimented on her.
- Similarities: Heavily features themes of trauma, extreme violence, and the blurred lines between victim and monster.
- Details: 13 Episodes; Studio Arms; 7.5 MAL.
12. Texhnolyze (2003)
- Streaming: Prime Video, Funimation
- Plot: In a crumbling underground city, a prize fighter loses his limbs and is “rebuilt” to navigate a world of warring gangs and existential dread.
- Similarities: Shares the bleak, nihilistic atmosphere and the concept of a protagonist being broken down and physically rebuilt to survive a hostile environment.
- Details: 22 Episodes; Studio Madhouse; 7.7 MAL.
13. Happy Sugar Life (2018)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime
- Plot: Satou Matsuzaka will do anything—including kidnapping and murder—to protect her twisted version of “love” and the secret life she shares with a young girl.
- Similarities: Features a morally bankrupt protagonist who justifies horrific actions through their own distorted logic and past traumas.
- Details: 12 Episodes; Studio Ezo’la; 6.8 MAL.
14. Akame ga Kill! (2014)
- Streaming: Hulu, Crunchyroll
- Plot: A country boy joins a group of assassins dedicated to overthrowing a corrupt empire that tortures and exploits its citizens.
- Similarities: Like Redo, it depicts a world where those in power are irredeemably evil and can only be stopped through extreme, graphic violence.
- Details: 24 Episodes; Studio White Fox; 7.5 MAL.
15. The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter (2021)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: The son of a low-ranking noble discovers a secret dungeon and gains the ability to edit reality at the cost of his own “Life Points.”
- Similarities: While lighter in tone, it shares the “underdog gaining a broken power” trope and the specific power system mechanics found in dark fantasy isekai/adventure series.
- Details: 12 Episodes; Studio Okuruto Noboru; 6.4 MAL.
Why These Anime Work for Redo of Healer Fans
Fans of Redo of Healer typically gravitate toward stories that don’t shy away from the dark consequences of betrayal and the satisfaction of seeing a marginalized character rise to power. These series provide a similar “catharsis” by allowing protagonists to discard traditional morality in favor of survival and retribution. Whether through the strategic infiltration of 91 Days or the visceral power-scaling of Failure Frame, these anime explore the same fundamental question: what happens to a person when the world gives them every reason to burn it down?
