If you enjoyed Chainsaw Man, you probably have questionable humor, a high tolerance for stylized violence, and a strange soft spot for emotionally broken characters. Perfect — you’re among friends. Below are 10 anime I’d recommend while looking you straight in the eye and saying: “Trust me. This one will hurt too.”
1. Devilman Crybaby
Devilman Crybaby is basically an animated existential punch to the face. Demons, rotten humanity, sex, violence, and a soundtrack that feels like it’s playing directly inside your soul while it’s being ripped out.
If Chainsaw Man hooked you with emotional chaos and that constant “this is going to end badly” feeling, you’ll find the same energy here — just without jokes to soften the blow. This is the kind of anime that ends and leaves you staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m. thinking, “Maybe humans are the problem.”
2. Dorohedoro
Imagine a filthy, violent, absurd world where sorcerers experiment on humans and nobody seems particularly bothered by it. Dorohedoro is grotesque, hilarious, and oddly cozy — like a blood-soaked hug.
Just like Chainsaw Man, the charm lies in contrast: extreme violence + lovable characters + dark humor that shows up at the worst possible moments. You laugh, then wonder if you should. Spoiler: you should.
3. Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen is the more popular, better-looking cousin of this chaotic genre. Curses, deaths, insanely well-animated fights, and characters you love… right up until the story decides to erase them without warning.
If you liked Chainsaw Man for its visceral combat and the sense that no one is truly safe, you’ll feel right at home here. Just don’t get too attached. This anime doesn’t care about your feelings.
4. Parasyte
Parasitic aliens invade human bodies and start eating people. A classic bad day. Parasyte blends body horror, moral dilemmas, and the timeless question: “What does it mean to be human?”
Like Denji, the protagonist shares his body with something monstrous — and learns that survival may require sacrificing parts of his humanity. Fewer chainsaws, more existential crisis. The suffering remains guaranteed.
5. Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul starts with a simple premise: a student becomes half-monster and must learn to live with it. It ends with trauma, psychological torture, and a completely shattered identity.
If Chainsaw Man appealed to you because of the protagonist’s physical and emotional transformation, you’ll find the same process here — just sadder and with fewer jokes about boobs. Pain is pain.
6. Akame ga Kill
This anime starts like a standard shounen adventure… until you realize the author hates every character equally. Akame ga Kill specializes in making you care about someone and then killing them immediately.
If death in Chainsaw Man feels casual and cruel, here it’s practically a competitive sport. The anime emotionally trains you not to get attached to anyone. Therapy afterward is your responsibility.
7. Inuyashiki
An elderly man and a teenager are turned into living killing machines. One chooses to save lives. The other… decides to explore moral limits using innocent people.
If you liked Chainsaw Man for its raw violence and its exploration of humanity’s ugliest sides, Inuyashiki will make you uncomfortable in exactly the right way. The dark humor comes with a knot in your stomach.
8. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Neon lights, cybernetic implants, stylized violence, and a system that chews people up and spits out corpses. Edgerunners is gorgeous, frantic, and emotionally devastating.
Like Chainsaw Man, it makes you laugh, cheer, and get attached… just to pull the rug out from under you with maximum force. It’s the kind of anime that ends and makes you think, “Yeah. Worth the pain.”
9. Hellsing Ultimate
Vampires, Nazis, absurd gunfights, and enough blood to cause a global plasma shortage. Hellsing Ultimate does not recognize the concept of “too much.”
If the most violent and stylish side of Chainsaw Man is what hooked you, you’ll feel right at home here. Less emotional depression, more elegant carnage — a healthy outlet for a troubled soul.
10. Berserk
Berserk is suffering in its purest form. A cruel world, a broken protagonist, and a story that constantly asks, “What if everything got even worse?”
If Chainsaw Man taught you that life is unfair and the universe owes you nothing, Berserk reinforces that lesson with artistic cruelty. Read or watch knowing this: there are no happy endings here — only scars.
Conclusion
If you made it this far, congratulations: your taste in anime is just as questionable as mine.
These series share Chainsaw Man’s love for chaos, dark humor, and the certainty that happiness is always temporary. But relax — suffering with style is still better than suffering alone. And in the end, laughing in the middle of despair is also a form of survival.
