Blood Blockade Battlefront (Kekkai Sensen) combines wild energy, unpredictable superpowers, and deep character arcs in a chaotic, post-apocalyptic New York analog known as Hellsalem’s Lot. With its frenetic pace, stylish animation, and emotional undercurrents, the series stands out for subverting expectations while delivering explosive battles and heartfelt moments.
Fans love the show for its unconventional power systems, focus on underdog heroes, and the way it mixes humor, mystery, and intensity. If you’re craving more anime with similar vibes—but off the beaten path—you’re in luck. Here are 15 underrated series that echo the spirit of Blood Blockade Battlefront through shared themes, distinct storytelling, and captivating world-building.
1. Kyousougiga (2013)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 10
- MAL Rating: 7.79
- Studio: Toei Animation
Plot: In a kaleidoscopic mirror city, a girl named Koto and her brothers search for their missing parents amid gods, monsters, and chaos.
Similarities: Like Blood Blockade Battlefront, it embraces a high-energy, nonlinear narrative set in a bizarre city teeming with spiritual and sci-fi oddities. The power structures are surreal, and its themes of family resonate deeply.
2. Boogiepop Phantom (2000)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.13
- Studio: Madhouse
Plot: A string of mysterious disappearances and strange phenomena surround a city haunted by an urban legend known as Boogiepop.
Similarities: Its atmospheric storytelling, psychological depth, and fractured narrative resemble Kekkai Sensen’s more introspective episodes. Both explore the supernatural beneath urban life.
3. UN-GO (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 7.36
- Studio: Bones
Plot: A detective and his mysterious shapeshifting companion solve crimes in a post-war Tokyo where truth is manipulated.
Similarities: Produced by Bones like Blood Blockade Battlefront, it blends mystery, politics, and the supernatural, with a stylish flair and layered storytelling.
4. Concrete Revolutio (2015)
- Streaming: Funimation (may vary by region)
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.02
- Studio: Bones
Plot: In an alternate Japan, a Superhuman Bureau monitors rogue heroes and monsters during a chaotic era of conflicting ideologies.
Similarities: Also animated by Bones, it features colorful aesthetics, anti-hero narratives, and a timeline-shifting story—perfect for fans of kinetic, layered storytelling.
5. Baccano! (2007)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 8.37
- Studio: Brain’s Base
Plot: Set in 1930s America, multiple storylines involving immortals, alchemists, and gangsters collide aboard a mysterious train.
Similarities: High-speed editing, ensemble cast chaos, and a non-linear narrative style echo Kekkai Sensen’s structure and tone.
6. Kekkai Sensen & Beyond (2017)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.70
- Studio: Bones
Plot: Leonardo and the Libra crew return for more episodic madness in Hellsalem’s Lot, facing supernatural threats and emotional pasts.
Similarities: Technically a sequel, but often overlooked. It dives deeper into side characters while retaining the original’s momentum and visuals.
7. Kaiba (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 8.16
- Studio: Madhouse
Plot: In a dystopian future, memories can be digitized and stolen, and a mysterious boy searches for his identity.
Similarities: While visually minimalist, it shares Kekkai Sensen‘s emotional depth and surreal world-building, mixing action with philosophical themes.
8. Dorohedoro (2020)
- Streaming: Netflix
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 8.05
- Studio: MAPPA
Plot: A lizard-headed man with amnesia hunts sorcerers in a grimy, chaotic world filled with black humor and dark magic.
Similarities: Gritty urban fantasy, bizarre powers, and a dark but comedic tone make this a top-tier recommendation for Blood Blockade Battlefront fans.
9. Michiko & Hatchin (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 22
- MAL Rating: 7.84
- Studio: Manglobe
Plot: A wild criminal and a timid girl journey across a fictional South American country to find the girl’s father.
Similarities: Like Kekkai Sensen, it mixes intense action with personal journeys, all tied together by a stylish, jazz-infused aesthetic.
10. Ergo Proxy (2006)
- Streaming: Hulu, Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 23
- MAL Rating: 7.92
- Studio: Manglobe
Plot: In a post-apocalyptic future, a detective uncovers the truth behind a series of murders and mysterious entities known as Proxies.
Similarities: Shares dystopian urban settings, layered narratives, and a slow unraveling of deeper existential themes.
11. No Guns Life (2019)
- Streaming: Hulu, Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.26
- Studio: Madhouse
Plot: A former soldier with a literal gun for a head solves crimes in a noir cyberpunk city full of augmented humans.
Similarities: The gritty setting, unique character designs, and post-war trauma themes align well with Kekkai Sensen’s aesthetic and tone.
12. Hakaba Kitarou (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 7.63
- Studio: Toei Animation
Plot: A darker retelling of the GeGeGe no Kitaro legend, featuring yokai, death, and morbidly comedic tales.
Similarities: Supernatural entities in a human world, oddball humor, and emotional melancholy match Blood Blockade Battlefront’s more eerie moments.
13. Sarazanmai (2019)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 7.51
- Studio: MAPPA, Lapin Track
Plot: Three middle-schoolers are transformed into kappas and must collect the desires of the undead to return to normal.
Similarities: It’s weird, heartfelt, and symbolic—filled with fast-paced editing and bizarre situations, much like Kekkai Sensen.
14. World Conquest Zvezda Plot (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.07
- Studio: A-1 Pictures
Plot: A mysterious girl leads a quirky team aiming to conquer the world—with a young boy joining the rebellion.
Similarities: Unconventional heroes, chaotic world logic, and a balance of absurdity and emotion bring strong Kekkai Sensen parallels.
15. Hamatora: The Animation (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 6.90
- Studio: NAZ
Plot: A detective duo with supernatural “Minimum” powers solves crimes while confronting societal inequalities.
Similarities: Combines detective work with quirky powers, a stylish neon-soaked aesthetic, and tight-knit team dynamics, echoing Blood Blockade Battlefront’s Libra unit.
Why These Anime Work for Blood Blockade Battlefront Fans
Each anime listed captures different facets of what makes Blood Blockade Battlefront such a standout experience: offbeat humor, ensemble casts, supernatural power systems, and heart-punching emotional beats—all wrapped in creative animation and genre-bending worlds. If you loved the chaos and charm of Hellsalem’s Lot, these hidden gems will scratch that same wild, imaginative itch while offering fresh takes and storytelling innovation.
