Hunter x Hunter, first released in 2011, follows young Gon Freecss on his quest to become a professional Hunter and find his absent father, blending high-stakes adventures with intricate world-building and emotional depth. At its core, the series explores power systems like Nen, underdog stories of perseverance, and clever subversion of expectations in shonen tropes, turning familiar elements into profound narratives.
These 15 underrated anime deserve more attention for capturing similar essences through lesser-known gems, offering fresh takes on growth, strategy, and surprise that often fly under the radar despite their innovative storytelling and animation.
1. Made in Abyss (2017)
Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE.
MAL Rating: 8.65.
Episode Count: 13 (Season 1).
Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Masayuki Kojima at Kinema Citrus; known for fluid, atmospheric animation.
Awards/Recognition: Won Crunchyroll Anime Awards for Best Score in 2018.
In a vast chasm called the Abyss, orphan Riko and her robot companion Reg descend into its deadly depths to find Riko’s mother, facing escalating horrors and mysteries. Like Hunter x Hunter, it features an underdog story of young protagonists navigating a perilous world with a complex curse-based power system, subverting innocent adventure into dark, expectation-defying twists.
2. Tower of God (2020)
Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll.
MAL Rating: 7.55.
Episode Count: 13 (Season 1).
Notable Staff/Studio: Telecom Animation Film; adapted from a webtoon with crisp, dynamic visuals.
Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best Action at Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2021.
Bam climbs a mysterious tower to reunite with his friend Rachel, allying with others in brutal tests that reveal hidden powers and betrayals1. It mirrors Hunter x Hunter through its underdog protagonist rising via strategic alliances and a layered power system of Shinsu, often subverting shonen climb-to-the-top tropes with moral ambiguity.
3. World Trigger (2014)
Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Netflix.
MAL Rating: 7.58.
Episode Count: 73 (Season 1).
Notable Staff/Studio: Toei Animation; praised for tactical, grid-based animation styles.
Awards/Recognition: None major, but lauded for innovative fight choreography.
In a city invaded by alien Neighbors, low-ranked agent Osamu teams with transfer student Yuma to defend against threats using Trigger technology. Similar to Hunter x Hunter, it emphasizes underdog growth in team-based battles with a versatile power system of Trion, subverting expectations by prioritizing strategy over raw power.
4. Dr. Stone (2019)
Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Netflix.
MAL Rating: 8.28.
Episode Count: 24 (Season 1).
Notable Staff/Studio: TMS Entertainment; features unique scientific animation and diagrams.
Awards/Recognition: Won Best Protagonist at Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2020.
After humanity is petrified, genius Senku awakens to rebuild civilization from scratch using science, clashing with those who prefer a primitive world. It shares Hunter x Hunter‘s underdog story of intellect triumphing over brawn, with a knowledge-based power system that subverts action tropes through clever inventions and alliances.
5. Akame ga Kill! (2014)
Current Streaming Availability: HIDIVE, Netflix.
MAL Rating: 7.47.
Episode Count: 24.
Notable Staff/Studio: White Fox; noted for gritty, high-contrast animation.
Awards/Recognition: None major, but recognized for bold narrative risks.
Tatsumi joins the assassin group Night Raid to overthrow a corrupt empire, wielding Imperial Arms in deadly confrontations. Echoing Hunter x Hunter, it delivers subversion of expectations in shonen by killing off characters unpredictably, alongside deep character development and a relic-based power system.
6. The Promised Neverland (2019)
Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Hulu.
MAL Rating: 8.49.
Episode Count: 12 (Season 1).
Notable Staff/Studio: CloverWorks; employs tense, shadowy animation for suspense.
Awards/Recognition: Won Best Fantasy at Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2019.
Orphans Emma, Norman, and Ray discover their idyllic home is a farm for demons and plot a daring escape. Like Hunter x Hunter, it focuses on underdog kids outsmarting superior foes with intellectual power systems, subverting escape tropes into psychological thrillers.
7. Dororo (2019)
Current Streaming Availability: Prime Video.
MAL Rating: 8.24.
Episode Count: 24.
Notable Staff/Studio: MAPPA and Tezuka Productions; blends hand-drawn and CGI for fluid swordplay.
Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best Adaptation at Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2020.
Cursed warrior Hyakkimaru, born without limbs or organs, teams with orphan Dororo to reclaim his body from demons. It parallels Hunter x Hunter with an underdog quest for self-discovery, featuring a supernatural power system and subverted ronin tropes through emotional depth.
8. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor (2007)
Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll.
MAL Rating: 8.27.
Episode Count: 26 (Season 1).
Notable Staff/Studio: Madhouse; uses exaggerated, intense facial animations for tension.
Awards/Recognition: None major, but critically acclaimed for psychological depth.
Debt-ridden Kaiji gambles in high-stakes games aboard a ship, using wits to survive deadly bets. Similar to Hunter x Hunter, it highlights underdog resilience in strategic mind games, subverting action with a psychological power system of risk and bluffing.
9. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (2007)
Current Streaming Availability: HIDIVE.
MAL Rating: 8.13.
Episode Count: 26.
Notable Staff/Studio: Production I.G; renowned for realistic fight choreography.
Awards/Recognition: Won Best TV Anime at Tokyo Anime Awards 2008.
Spear-wielder Balsa protects a prince possessed by a water spirit from assassins and imperial forces15. It captures Hunter x Hunter‘s essence with an underdog protector story, martial arts power system, and subversion of fantasy tropes through cultural depth.
10. Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin (2010)
Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll.
MAL Rating: 8.48.
Episode Count: 26.
Notable Staff/Studio: Madhouse; gritty, realistic animation style.
Awards/Recognition: None major, but praised for historical accuracy.
Seven teens endure brutal abuse in a 1950s reformatory, forging bonds to survive and seek justice post-release. Like Hunter x Hunter, it explores underdog camaraderie and growth, subverting shonen with harsh realism and emotional character development.
11. Ping Pong the Animation (2014)
Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll.
MAL Rating: 8.62.
Episode Count: 11.
Notable Staff/Studio: Tatsunoko Production; distinctive, sketch-like animation.
Awards/Recognition: Won Best Animation at Tokyo Anime Awards 2015.
Rivals Smile and Peco navigate personal struggles through competitive ping pong, pushing their limits. It mirrors Hunter x Hunter‘s underdog rivalries and character development, subverting sports tropes with psychological introspection and unique visuals.
12. March Comes in Like a Lion (2016)
Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Netflix.
MAL Rating: 8.36 (Season 1).
Episode Count: 22 (Season 1).
Notable Staff/Studio: Shaft; artistic, metaphorical animation sequences.
Awards/Recognition: Won Best TV Anime at Tokyo Anime Awards 2017.
Depressed shogi prodigy Rei finds solace in a supportive family while climbing the ranks. Similar to Hunter x Hunter, it features an underdog’s emotional journey with strategic mind games, subverting slice-of-life through deep mental health themes.
13. Land of the Lustrous (2017)
Current Streaming Availability: HIDIVE.
MAL Rating: 8.38.
Episode Count: 12.
Notable Staff/Studio: Orange; pioneering full-CGI gemstone animation.
Awards/Recognition: Won Best CGI at Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2018.
Immortal gems battle lunar invaders, with fragile Phosphophyllite seeking purpose amid loss. It echoes Hunter x Hunter with underdog self-discovery and a crystalline power system, subverting fantasy via existential questions and stunning visuals.
14. Dorohedoro (2020)
Current Streaming Availability: Netflix.
MAL Rating: 8.05.
Episode Count: 12.
Notable Staff/Studio: MAPPA; chaotic, graffiti-inspired animation.
Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best Animation at Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2021.
Amnesiac Caiman hunts sorcerers in a dystopian Hole to regain his human form, aided by friend Nikaido. Like Hunter x Hunter, it offers gritty underdog hunts with a magic power system, subverting norms through absurd humor and moral gray areas.
15. Sonny Boy (2021)
Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll.
MAL Rating: 7.77.
Episode Count: 12.
Notable Staff/Studio: Madhouse; surreal, reality-bending animation.
Awards/Recognition: None major, but noted for experimental storytelling.
Students trapped in alternate dimensions develop strange powers, questioning reality and friendships. It parallels Hunter x Hunter‘s subversion of expectations with underdog survival and abstract power systems, using philosophical narratives and unique art.
Why These Anime Work for Hunter x Hunter Fans
These series resonate deeply with Hunter x Hunter enthusiasts by weaving intricate power systems, heartfelt underdog arcs, and clever twists that challenge shonen conventions, all while delivering engaging stories that prioritize character growth over spectacle. They offer a refreshing escape from mainstream hits, blending older classics with recent innovations to explore themes of perseverance and surprise in underrated packages. Whether through strategic battles or emotional depths, they prove that lesser-known anime can match or even exceed the thrill of Gon’s adventures.
