Top 20 Horror manga you should read right now. [2026 List]

20. Chainsaw Man

The name says it all! Denji's life of poverty is changed forever when he merges with his pet chainsaw dog, Pochita! Now he's living in the big city and an official Devil Hunter. But he's got a lot to learn about his new job and chainsaw powers!



Notes:
- Nominated for the 2020 Manga Taisho Award.
- Winner of the 2021 Kono Manga ga Sugoi Award.
- Winner of the 66th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shounen category.
- Winner of the 2021 and 2022 Harvey Award for Best Manga.

Chainsaw Man has finished publishing and it has 97 Chapters. It is also Known as: チェンソーマン, Chainsawman, Chensoo Man, CSM, Людина-бензопила, Человек-бензопила, رجل المنشار, مرد اره ای, មនុស្សរណា, チェンソーマン, チェンソーマン 第二部, 电锯人, 鏈鋸人, 電鋸人, 체인쏘맨, Chainsaw Man: Public Safety Saga

19. Tokyo Ghoul

Shy Ken Kaneki is thrilled to go on a date with the beautiful Rize. But it turns out that she’s only interested in his body—eating it, that is. When a morally questionable rescue transforms him into the first half-human half-Ghoul hybrid, Ken is drawn into the dark and violent world of Ghouls, which exists alongside our own.



Note: Includes 1 extra chapter.

Tokyo Ghoul has finished publishing and it has 144 Chapters. It is also Known as: 東京喰種トーキョーグール, Toukyou Kushu

18. Berserk

His name is Guts, the Black Swordsman, a feared warrior spoken of only in whispers. Bearer of a gigantic sword, an iron hand, and the scars of countless battles and tortures, his flesh is also indelibly marked with The Brand, an unholy symbol that draws the forces of darkness to him and dooms him as their sacrifice. But Guts won't take his fate lying down; he'll cut a crimson swath of carnage through the ranks of the damned—and anyone else foolish enough to oppose him! Accompanied by Puck the Elf, more an annoyance than a companion, Guts relentlessly follows a dark, bloodstained path that leads only to death...or vengeance.



Notes:
- Volumes 1-5 contain the 16 prequel chapters 0A - 0P.
- Chapter 83 was omitted from Volume 13 due to the author’s request.
- Volume 14 includes “Berserk: The Prototype”.
- Due to the author's passing, starting from Chapter 365, the manga is illustrated by Studio Gaga (Miura's assistants) and supervised by Kouji Mori (a close friend of Miura's).

Berserk is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ベルセルク, Berserk: The Prototype

17. Attack on Titan

A century ago, the grotesque giants known as Titans appeared and consumed all but a few thousand humans. The survivors took refuge behind giant walls. Today, the threat of the Titans is a distant memory, and a boy named Eren yearns to explore the world beyond Wall Maria. But what began as a childish dream will become an all-too-real nightmare when the Titans return and humanity is once again on the brink of extinction … Attack on Titan is the award-winning and New York Times-bestselling series that is the manga hit of the decade! Spawning the monster hit anime TV series of the same name, Attack on Titan has become a pop culture sensation.



Volume 3 contains the special story "Rivai Heishichou" (リヴァイ兵士長, Captain Levi).
Volume 5 contains the side story "Ilse no Techou" (イルゼの手帳, Ilse's Notebook).

Attack on Titan has finished publishing and it has 141 Chapters. It is also Known as: Shingeki no Kyojin, 進撃の巨人, L'attaque sur les titans, Атака титанов, ھێرش بۆ سەر زەبەلاحەكان, 進擊的巨人, SNK, AOT, Ilse no Techou, Rivai Heishichou

16. I Became an Evolving Space Monster

In the vast expanse of space, inside a cargo compartment made of cold metal, I couldn’t help but acknowledge one thing: I had become an antagonistic extraterrestrial life form in an SF survival game.

I Became an Evolving Space Monster is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Eu Me Tornei um Monstro Espacial Evolutivo, Evolución: El Camino Del Monstruo Espacial, I Became an Evolving Space Monster, Jinhwahaneun Ujugoemul-i Doeeossda, Я стал эволюционирующим космическим чудовищем, Evolution: Road to Space Monster

15. Na Honja Necromancer

The world is ending. Monsters from legends appear everywhere. They eat people, conquer the streets, and begin to make dungeons in the buildings and subways. If you could choose one job in this decrepit world, what would you choose? For a “necromancer” extinction is my playground and death my wealth.

Source: MU

The Lone Necromancer is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: The Only Necromancer, Solo Necromancy

14. Wo Zhen Bushi Xie Shen Zougou

Lin Jie, a transmigrator, is the owner of a bookstore in another world. He’s kind and warm-hearted, often recommending healing books to customers who are going through a tough time. From time to time, he secretly promotes his own work too. Over time, these customers begin to respect him greatly, some even frequently bringing local specialties to repay his favor. They often seek his professional opinion when it comes to selecting books, and share their experiences with this ordinary bookstore owner to people around them. They respectfully and intimately refer to him using names such as the “Demon God’s Lackey” and “Propagator of the Flesh and Blood Gospel”.

Source: MU

I'm Really Not the Evil God's Lackey is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Flame of Countless Adversity

13. Yakusoku no Neverland

Emma and her friends have a pretty good life at the orphanage they grew up in. Though the rules may be strict, the caretaker is kind. But why are the children forbidden from ever leaving...?

The Promised Neverland has finished publishing and it has 181 Chapters. It is also Known as: 約束のネバーランド, Yakusoku no Neverland

12. Quan Qiu Bing Feng: Wo Dazaole Mori Anquan Wu

The world is plunged into an icy age, and 95% of humanity is wiped out! In his previous life, our hero Zhang Yi was tragically killed by the very people he helped, thanks to his kind heart.

But fear not, for Zhang Yi has been reborn and now possesses the awesome power – space manipulation! He's gone completely bonkers hoarding supplies for the icy apocalypse and is ready to rule the frozen wasteland! He vows to unleash a hundred times the pain on those who harmed him in the past!

Quan Qiu Bing Feng: Wo Dazaole Mori Anquan Wu is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Freezing the World: I Built a Doomsday Safehouse, Global Freeze: I Created an Apocalypse Shelter, Quán Qiú Bīng Fēng: Wǒ Dǎzàole Mòrì Ānquán Wū, The World Is Frozen: I Built a Doomsday Safe House, 全球冰封: 我打造了末日安全屋, 冰封为王, 冰封末日, 地球速冻, 寒武纪大地主

11. I Am a Hero

Hideo Suzuki is a thirty-five year old mangaka assistant struggling to be the hero in his own life by breaking back into the lime light with a new serial all the while juggling his relationship with his girlfriend and his own delusions.

However, as hard as Hideo may try, the world seems to have a different set of plans for him; sinister and dark machinations that completely overturn his reality as he knows it.

I Am a Hero has finished publishing and it has 264 Chapters. It is also Known as: アイアムアヒーロー, I Am a Hero

10. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run

America, 1890. The longest and most significant race ever, the Steel Ball Run, is about to start. It's a race from San Diego, California, to New York City, New York, and while horses are the traditional racing medium, anything can be used. The winner is the one with the most points, via checkpoint placement, when they reach New York—the prize: $2,000,000.

Gyro Zeppelli, a mysterious man with an equally mysterious steel ball, is planning on winning the race. Johnny Joestar (JoJo) is a former jockey who's cockiness got him paralyzed from the legs down. An accidental contact with the steel ball made his leg twitch, so he's in the race the learn about Gyro's steel ball. But the challenges of Diego Brando, a popular European jockey, Pocoloco, a slave with the Devil's Luck, Sandman, a native american who is sprinting all the way to NYC, and others will make it hard for Gyro and JoJo to win.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run has finished publishing and it has 95 Chapters. It is also Known as: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 7: Steel Ball Run, ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 Part7 STEEL BALL RUN, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run, SBR

9. Jungle Juice

Su-Chan Jang is an extraordinary college student at the top of the social food chain. But underneath the perfect facade, he hides a pair of insect wings that suddenly grew when he used a mysterious bug spray called "Jungle Juice.” Su-Chan's life crumbles when he bares his wings to the world to save someone's life. When all hope seems lost, Su-Chan stumbles upon a hidden world of insect humans where everyone is accepted for what they are. But the law of the jungle governs this secret society and all must fend for themselves in order to survive.

Jungle Juice is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Jungle Juice

8. Tokyo Ghoul:re

The Commission of Counter Ghoul is the only organization fighting the Ghoul menace, and they will use every tool at their disposal to protect humanity from its ultimate predator. Their newest weapon in this hidden war is an experimental procedure that implants human investigators with a Ghoul's Kagune, giving them Ghoul powers and abilities. But both the procedure and the newly formed Qs Squad are untested. Will they become heroes… or monsters?

Tokyo Ghoul:re has finished publishing and it has 179 Chapters. It is also Known as: 東京喰種-トーキョーグール-:re, トーキョーグール:re, Tokyo Ghoul: "Joker", Tokyo Kushu:re, Toukyou Kuushu:re

7. Mieruko-chan

One day a girl suddenly starts seeing heteromorphic "gabbling" looking creatures who can't be seen by any ordinary people. She doesn't try escaping them, nor does she attempt confronting them.. instead she tries her hardest to keep a normal appearance and live on as usual.

(Source. MU)

The Girl That Sees "Them" is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 見える子ちゃん, Child That Can See It, Girl That Can See It

6. The Live

After losing his wife and daughter in a horrific accident, Yun-Jae finds himself stuck in his routine until he receives a diary from his future self. “I can see… my wife and daughter again?” Through winning the “games” in the “parallel world,” one will receive a “prize,” and using this, he could revive his dead family… but out of all the survivors of this cruel world, Yun-Jae is the only one with the knowledge of the future. Will he be able to turn his greatest wish into reality?

The Live has finished publishing and it has 176 Chapters. It is also Known as: THE LIVE

5. Gantz

Thought your life was bad? Sometimes, death is worse. There is no salvation, peace, nor god waiting to receive you into their care. But wait, a god? Maybe you are talking about that big black ball stuck in the room with you. Now you are thrown into a game, fighting green aliens and robot monsters for the chance to survive.

When Kei Kurono is killed, he thus finds himself caught in such a game; a test of his skills, morals and will to survive. His life is not his own, his death spat and trampled upon over and over again. What happens if he does not listen? God knows.

A word of warning: Gantz is not for the faint-hearted, but neither is it as simple as it looks. Gore, rape and violence is rampant, as are portrayals of greed, violence, and all the ugliness that one sees in society today.

Gantz has finished publishing and it has 383 Chapters. It is also Known as: GANTZ, Gantz/Osaka

4. Shotgun Boy

While running for his life in the woods, bullying victim Gyuhwan stumbles upon a shotgun and just enough shells for his classmates. It’s a recipe for disaster. But fate takes an unexpected turn when he returns to find his classmates under attack by brain-eating creatures. Now, the only thing that stands in the way of their ravenous feast is a boy with a shotgun.

Shotgun Boy has finished publishing and it has 69 Chapters. It is also Known as: 猎枪少年, 獵槍少年, 獵銃少年, 엽총 소년, 엽총소년

3. Surviving Romance

Chaerin leads a blissful and comfortable life as the lead in a romance novel. She only has eyes for the male lead, Jeha, to the point where all the extras are literal black shadows. But then, one day, her story suddenly switches genres. All of a sudden, she discovers that if she wants to live, she has to band together with the extras she ignored before and work with them to survive!

Surviving Romance has finished publishing and it has 101 Chapters. It is also Known as: 戀愛生存戰, Survive Romance, Survive romanX

2. Jisatsutou

Treating non-successful suicidal patients requires a lot of money and resources. With low budget and a personal respect argumentation, a doctor will ask a non-successful suicidal patient if they still want to live on or not. If not, the government will respect their wish. However, the government doesn't just simply kill them...

Suicide Island has finished publishing and it has 168 Chapters. It is also Known as: 自殺島, Suicide Island

1. Higanjima: 48 Nichigo...

Higanjima: 48 Nichigo... is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 彼岸島 48日後…, Higanjima: 48 Days Later...