D.Gray-man stands as one of the most compelling yet overlooked entries in the shonen genre, weaving together gothic aesthetics, supernatural warfare, and profound character development in an alternate 19th-century setting. The series follows Allen Walker, a young exorcist wielding the mysterious power ofInnocence to combat the Millennium Earl’s demonic Akuma army, but what truly sets it apart is its unflinching exploration of death, loss, and the price of fighting evil.
While D.Gray-man has earned recognition for its unique blend of action, mystery, and supernatural elements, many other anime series share its DNA of complex power systems, underdog protagonists who rise through adversity, and willingness to subvert typical shonen expectations.
1. Flame of Recca (1997)
Streaming: Available on select platforms
MAL Score: 7.36/10 | Episodes: 42
Recca Hanabishi discovers he’s descended from an ancient ninja clan and possesses the power to manipulate fire and supernatural weapons. His participation in a deadly martial arts tournament becomes a crucible that tests both his abilities and resolve.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Like Allen Walker, Recca carries the burden of an important lineage while wielding supernatural powers that connect him to an ancient conflict. Both series feature protagonists who must master mysterious abilities while fighting to protect others, and both excel in their tournament-style arcs that showcase character growth through intense battles.
2. Pandora Hearts (2009)
Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
MAL Score: 7.64/10 | Episodes: 25
Oz Vessalius is cast into a nightmarish dimension called the Abyss, where he forms a contract with a mysterious entity to return to his world. As he uncovers the truth about his fate, dark secrets about his family and the world itself begin to surface.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Pandora Hearts was clearly heavily inspired by D.Gray-man’s plot, themes, characters, and aesthetic. Both series feature protagonists with mysterious connections to supernatural powers, gothic atmospheres, and complex mythologies involving ancient conflicts between good and evil forces.
3. Trinity Seven (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
MAL Score: 7.05/10 | Episodes: 12
Arata Kasuga’s world is destroyed by a supernatural phenomenon, leading him to join a magical academy where he must master ancient magic alongside seven powerful female mages. Together, they work to prevent the complete destruction of reality.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both series center on young men thrust into supernatural organizations that train them to wield ancient powers against apocalyptic threats. The concept of mastering mysterious forces to prevent world destruction, combined with strong ensemble casts, creates similar narrative dynamics.
4. Ga-Rei: Zero (2008)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Score: 7.31/10 | Episodes: 12
Yuu Isayama and Kagura Tsuchimiya are part of a special government organization that fights supernatural creatures called spirits. Their deep bond is tested when dark forces manipulate their relationship, leading to tragic consequences.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both series explore the psychological toll of fighting supernatural enemies while maintaining close bonds with fellow warriors. The themes of corruption, sacrifice, and the price of wielding power against evil forces create similar emotional weight and character development arcs.
5. Kekkaishi (2006)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Score: 7.59/10 | Episodes: 52
Yoshimori Sumimura and Tokine Yukimura are teenage demon hunters who protect their school, which sits on a powerful spiritual site that attracts dangerous creatures. Despite their family rivalry, they must work together to maintain the barrier that keeps evil at bay.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both feature young protagonists who inherit the responsibility of fighting supernatural threats using traditional techniques passed down through generations. The episodic structure of hunting different creatures while building toward larger mysteries mirrors D.Gray-man’s early arcs.
6. Ghost Hunt (2006)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
MAL Score: 7.75/10 | Episodes: 25
Mai Taniyama joins a paranormal investigation team led by the enigmatic Kazuya Shibuya, where she encounters various supernatural phenomena. Each case reveals deeper mysteries about the spirit world and the true nature of those investigating it.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both series blend supernatural investigation with genuine horror elements and feature protagonists who gradually uncover their own mysterious connections to the supernatural world. The episodic format building toward revelations about larger conspiracies creates similar pacing and tension.
7. Chrono Crusade (2003)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Score: 7.54/10 | Episodes: 24
Rosette Christopher, a gun-wielding nun, partners with the demon Chrono to hunt other demons in 1920s America. Their partnership comes at a great cost, as their power drains Rosette’s life force with each battle.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both series feature religious organizations fighting supernatural evil with protagonists who pay a physical price for their power. The gothic atmosphere, focus on sacrifice, and exploration of what it means to fight evil while being connected to dark forces create strong thematic parallels.
8. GetBackers (2002)
Streaming: Limited availability
MAL Score: 7.38/10 | Episodes: 49
Ban Mido and Ginji Amano run a retrieval service, using their supernatural abilities to recover anything for their clients. Their seemingly simple jobs often lead them into dangerous conflicts involving underground organizations and hidden conspiracies.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both series feature partnerships between characters with complementary supernatural abilities who take on increasingly dangerous missions. The gradual revelation of the protagonists’ mysterious pasts and connections to larger conflicts creates similar narrative progression.
9. Law of Ueki (2005)
Streaming: Limited availability
MAL Score: 7.78/10 | Episodes: 51
Kousuke Ueki gains the power to turn trash into trees and enters a supernatural tournament where middle school students with various powers compete for the chance to become the next god. Each battle tests not just strength, but moral character.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both series feature unique power systems where abilities come with specific costs and limitations. The focus on moral character development through supernatural battles, combined with tournament-style progression, creates similar character growth dynamics.
10. Scrapped Princess (2003)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Score: 7.36/10 | Episodes: 24
Pacifica Casull is prophesied to destroy the world on her 16th birthday, leading to constant pursuit by those who would kill her to prevent the apocalypse. Protected by her adoptive siblings, she searches for the truth behind her destiny.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both feature protagonists burdened with apocalyptic destinies who must navigate the fine line between salvation and destruction. The themes of fighting fate while being connected to forces beyond one’s control create similar existential weight.
11. Witch Hunter Robin (2002)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Score: 7.25/10 | Episodes: 26
Robin Sena joins STN-J, an organization that hunts witches using both technology and supernatural abilities. As she investigates cases involving rogue witches, she begins to question the nature of her own powers and the organization’s true goals.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both series explore the moral complexity of hunting supernatural beings while featuring protagonists who discover uncomfortable truths about their own nature. The gradual shift from episodic missions to larger conspiracy revelations follows similar narrative patterns.
12. Darker than Black (2007)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
MAL Score: 8.05/10 | Episodes: 25
Hei works as a supernatural assassin in a world where people with special abilities, called Contractors, have lost their human emotions. Each mission reveals more about the mysterious phenomenon that created these powers and the price of using them.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both series feature protagonists who sacrifice their humanity to wield supernatural powers in service of larger organizations. The exploration of what it means to lose oneself while fighting for others creates similar philosophical depth.
13. Shounen Onmyouji (2006)
Streaming: Limited availability
MAL Score: 7.35/10 | Episodes: 26
Abe no Masahiro, grandson of a legendary onmyoji, struggles to live up to his family’s reputation while learning to work with his twelve divine generals. Set in Heian-era Japan, he faces supernatural threats while coming to terms with his inherited powers.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both feature young protagonists carrying the weight of family legacy while learning to master inherited supernatural abilities. The combination of historical settings with supernatural warfare and the burden of living up to expectations creates similar character development challenges.
14. Zombie-Loan (2007)
Streaming: Limited availability
MAL Score: 6.84/10 | Episodes: 11
Michiru Kita can see rings around people’s necks that indicate their proximity to death. When she encounters two classmates who have made a deal to return from death as zombie hunters, she becomes entangled in their supernatural debt collection business.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both series deal with the theme of death as a central element and feature protagonists who become involved with organizations that deal with supernatural threats. The exploration of the price of cheating death and the burden of seeing supernatural phenomena creates similar gothic atmospheres.
15. Rental Magica (2007)
Streaming: Limited availability
MAL Score: 7.12/10 | Episodes: 24
Itsuki Iba inherits his father’s magical consulting company and must lead a team of mages in solving supernatural problems for clients. Despite lacking magical ability himself, he possesses a mysterious eye that can see and nullify magic.
Similarities to D.Gray-Man: Both feature young leaders of supernatural organizations who possess unique abilities that set them apart from their peers. The episodic structure of taking on supernatural cases while building toward revelations about the protagonist’s mysterious nature follows similar storytelling patterns.
Why These Anime Work for D.Gray-Man Fans
These 15 series succeed in capturing what makes D.Gray-man special: the willingness to explore the psychological cost of fighting evil, the development of complex power systems with meaningful limitations, and protagonists who must grow stronger while grappling with forces beyond their understanding. Each offers the same sophisticated blend of supernatural action and character development that D.Gray-man fans crave, proving that the most memorable anime often come from exploring the shadows between heroism and sacrifice. Whether through gothic atmospheres, moral complexity, or the burden of inherited destinies, these underrated gems demonstrate that the best supernatural anime aren’t afraid to ask difficult questions about the price of power and the nature of fighting for what’s right.
