Goblin Slayer was met with a lot of mixed reviews due to obvious reasons seen in the very early moments of the first episode. A lot of people just up and abandoned it without giving it a fair shot.
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Luckily, those that did stick with it put videos up on YouTube of the more epic scenes and talked about what made the show so great. More and more people gave it a second chance, and it was popular enough to get a film and renewed foran upcoming second season. This anime has so many layers, and a lot have claimed that it is the closest thing to how a Witcher anime should be, with the title character’s preparation, tactics, and ruthless approach to dealing with their enemies.
10Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered But Overly Cautious
A goddess companion for the main character, a demon lord to overcome, and the obligatory overpowered hero — this entry is rich in isekai tropes. The element of this anime that might intrigue viewers to give it a chance is how the protagonist uses cunning and prepares for multiple outcomes with a stern and serious expressive nature.
With an “overpowered” hero and the show being more light-hearted, the fights do not feel like that of Goblin Slayer, where a character you care deeply about could die at any point or worse. Had this anime been less comedic, its premise could have placed it higher on this list.
This dark fantasy anime has a lot that makes it reminiscent of Goblin Slayer, and it has been called “Berserk’s Little Sister.” The story is not the most exciting ride, but it will still scratch the itch of anyone looking for a darker hack-and-slash fantasy story in a world that has magic and monsters.
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The show will come with several lore elements to keep the viewers engaged, and the art style is very fitting for the overall tone of the anime. The main protagonist also uses cunning and tactics to overcome more serious threats, much in the way Goblin Slayer does.
8Granblue Fantasy: The Animation
Anime adaptations from video games are nothing new, a lot of them can get away with having a story on the lackluster side — Granblue Fantasy is one of those anime. The visuals and colors are a real treat to just take in and enjoy as the story unfolds in the same way you pan a camera as running across a game world.
The world setting of magic, machines, and high fantasy styles of fighting create very beautiful scenes to watch and will satisfy the cravings of anyone looking for such an experience. This anime would be ranked near the top of this list if it were as dark-toned and mature as Goblin Slayer, but for everything else, it is worth the watch.
7Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
Just like with Goblin Slayer, there is a guild-style organization in this overly long-named entry that pays adventurers to go off and kill monsters, albeit in a more video game-styled way. The adventurers need to delve deep into a dungeon to kill monsters and return with what they dropped to make money.
The cash helps them upgrade weapons and abilities to kill stronger monsters to get better drops and repeat. Is It Wrong to attempt to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? It is usually a lot more light-hearted than goblin slayer, costing it a higher place on this list; however, some episodes and scenes go into a very dark place that makes the tone much more like Goblin Slayer.
6Made in Abyss
This utter gem of an anime saw little to no appreciation when it first came out, just like Goblin Slayer. Due to its charming and childlike aesthetic, very few people gave it a chance and realized just how dark and twisted it is. In the world ofMade in Abyss, there is an island, and on that island, there is a hole, a very deep hole.
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This island sends children into the upper part of this hole to retrieve treasures, while an organization much like that of Goblin Slayer’s has a ranking system for how skilled its members are. These skilled members face the nightmarish horrors that lurk as they go deeper, and with each layer, a new world of enthralling visuals awaits viewers.
Berserkis a very brutal anime set in a dark fantasy world of violence and harsh truths. Guts, the central protagonist of the Berserk franchise, is on a journey of revenge, and both the tone of the anime and the demeanor of the protagonist are reminiscent of Goblin Slayer.
In terms of aesthetics, Goblin Slayer resembles more of a high fantasy world, while Berserk is that of a medieval Europe feel; this will make viewers feel like they are watching something similar, yet different.With the passing of its original creator, some fans are left worrying about what direction the story and tone may take.
4Vinland Saga
Like both Berserk and Goblin Slayer, this anime is very heavy on violence and a dark tone, but it drops any fantasy element to make the presence of wounds a more serious level of urgency. Set in a Viking-style world setting, the story of theVinland Sagais a captivating one of warriors of different goals — some fight for revenge, others fight for their homelands and the kings that rule them, and some fight for the thrill of battle.
3Attack On Titan
One of the most well-known anime on this list,Attack On Titan, captures the same atmosphere Goblin Slayer aims for. With its very “all hope is lost” and “we’re all going to die” spirals of despair that characters go through, few anime do it as amazingly as Attack On Titan. That’s why it is worth watching, especially if you’re someone who liked Goblin Slayer. Both the Titans and the green plague are seen as a threat because of their large numbers and the protagonists, who wish to hunt and exterminate every last one of them.
2Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
This is the second adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist, and of the two, it is less dark and depressing. Brotherhood more closely resembles the manga by giving us very well-developed characters and a well-thought-out storyline with a level of pacing rarely found in other anime.
It’s no surprise it is seen as one of the best animes of all time with how well it does everything. It follows a story of redemption based on a poor description that costs two brothers more than they could have expected, with a blend of action, drama, fantasy, and terror that will enthrall and captivate its viewers.
1Grimgar: Ashes And Illusions
Goblin Slayer is no isekai, so this list tried to avoid any entries that were; however, Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions capture perfectly what makes Goblin Slayer so amazingly that this does not feel like an isekai and rarely even acknowledges that it is one.
The main characters in Grimgar are not OP; they are almost the opposite, while everyone else that got transported to another world with them is thriving; they have been struggling to kill even a single goblin and have barely progressed. It is a story of struggle, fearing death at the hands of their enemies, and the pain of loss. This somber dark fantasy is a true gem for any fan of Goblin Slayer to take in.
