What is this genre all about? Psychological media delve into mental or emotional states of a character in the midst of a difficult situation, letting you observe them change as tension increases. Internal monologues are a key feature, allowing narration to delve into a character's mind, revealing their innermost ideas and motivations - even as they may be driven to the brink of sanity.
We present you the list of Psychological manga you should read right now.
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Top 20 Psychological manga you should read right now. [2026 List]
- 20. Hunter x Hunter
- 19. Chainsaw Man
- 18. Tutorial Neomu Eolyeobda
- 17. Eternally Regressing Knight
- 16. Tokyo Ghoul
- 15. Regressor Instruction Manual
- 14. Berserk
- 13. Death Note
- 12. Chi no Wadachi
- 11. Janburui Gisa
- 10. Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen
- 9. Kill the Villainess
- 8. Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
- 7. Yakusoku no Neverland
- 6. Gantz
- 5. Tokyo Ghoul:re
- 4. Case Closed
- 3. Oyasumi Punpun
- 2. A Pig-Slaughtering Knife Cutting Through All Realms - Makes Sense, Right?
- 1. The Villain Wants to Live
20. Hunter x Hunter
Hunters are a special breed, dedicated to tracking down treasures, magical beasts, and even other men. But such pursuits require a license, and less than one in a hundred thousand can pass the grueling qualification exam. Those who do pass gain access to restricted areas, amazing stores of information, and the right to call themselves Hunters.
Hunter x Hunter is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: HUNTER×HUNTER, HxH
19. 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
18. Tutorial Neomu Eolyeobda
Gandara's fusion fantasy novel, 'The Tutorial is Too Hard', is now here as a webtoon.
One day, amidst a boring life, an invitation message appears before my eyes. [Would you like to enter the tutorial world?]
Following it is a difficulty-selection window. Easy [Normal] Hard Hell. I select hell-difficulty without hesitation.
And I regret it.
I know it said hell-difficulty, but this is just too much.
(Source:MU)
The Tutorial is Too Hard is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Tutorial Neomu Eolyeobda
17. Eternally Regressing Knight
"You're a genius." Those words he heard as a child were poison.
Encrid dreamed of becoming a knight, but he soon realized it was futile.
"You want to live by the sword with that level of skill?" Some laughed at him.
"Just give up." Some advised him against it.
Despite that, his dream remained steadfast. He slept less, ran more, and trained harder.
One day, he died, having been stabbed in the neck. Encrid opened his eyes again to "today's" morning.
Eternally Regressing Knight is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: The Knight Only Lives Today
16. 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
15. Regressor Instruction Manual
He was suddenly summoned to another world one day. Monsters poured out, a huge disaster incoming. His ability the lowest.
[Player's level is low] [Your level is hopeless]
It doesn't matter whether you're the chosen warrior, a talented wizard, or someone who travelled back in time. One must do everything they can, in order to survive.
The Regressor's Instruction Manual.
"It doesn't matter if I'm trash." Is there anyone who wouldn't do anything they could to survive?
Regressor Instruction Manual is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: How to Use a Returner
14. 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
13. Death Note
Light Yagami is a brilliant 17-year-old student, one of the top scorers on his exams in all of Japan. One day as he leaves school, he finds a mysterious black notebook on the ground with "Death Note" written on it. The first thing written inside: "The human whose name is written in the notebook shall die." Light decides to use this to cleanse the world of evil by killing all the criminals. On the scene comes L, ace detective, who's determined to find Light—who the world now calls "Kira"—and track him down, thus bringing us an epic psychological thrill ride.
Death Note has finished publishing and it has 108 Chapters. It is also Known as: DEATH NOTE, Death Note
12. Chi no Wadachi
The illusion of that person leads me astray. Mother and son. This is the ultimate favoritism.
Blood on the Tracks has finished publishing and it has 153 Chapters. It is also Known as: 血の轍, A Trail of Blood
11. Janburui Gisa
When Nagyunn’s twin brother, Najin, is murdered before his very eyes, he vows to avenge his brother’s death by assuming Najin’s identity. But although the two may look alike, when it comes to fighting, Nagyunn lacks the talent and skill his brother possessed. In order to successfully execute his plot for revenge, Nagyunn resolves to train himself to become the prodigious knight-in-training his brother once was. Will Nagyunn be able to keep his identity a secret before others begin to catch on to his act?
Source: Webtoons
The Ember Knight is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: The Knight of Embers, The Last Knight of Embers, The Last Knight From The Fire
10. Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen
As leaders of their prestigious academy’s student council, Kaguya and Miyuki are the elite of the elite! But it’s lonely at the top… Luckily for them, they’ve fallen in love! There’s just one problem—they both have too much pride to admit it. And so begins the daily scheming to get the object of their affection to confess their romantic feelings first… Love is a war you win by losing.
Notes:
- The first 10 chapters were published in Monthly Miracle Jump. It switched to Weekly Young Jump starting with Ch. 11, with the chapter count being reset. This entry still includes the first 10 chapters from Miracle Jump.
- Winner of the 65th Shogakukan Manga Award for "Best General Manga" category in 2019.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War has finished publishing and it has 281 Chapters. It is also Known as: かぐや様は告らせたい～天才たちの恋愛頭脳戦～, Kaguya Wants to be Confessed To: The Geniuses' War of Love and Brains
9. Kill the Villainess
The villainess in the novel and only daughter of a marquis, Eris Mizelian, became jealous of the kind and lovely protagonist, Helena, and was executed for hatching a conspiracy.
‘I’ who reincarnated as her, have only one goal: to escape from this world and get back home.
I was even prepared to die to achieve this, but the laws of the world that bound “me” here were persistent.
The three male leads, the crown prince, the high priest, and even the warrior, who used to loathe Eris, begin to look her way as they notice her change from how she was before…
“Even so, I absolutely cannot love this world.”
Even if the only way to escape is by death.
Even if I were to take the hand of a sorceress in order to achieve it, I’ll definitely escape this world!
The otherworld escape of Eris, who rejects her fate!
Kill the Villainess has finished publishing and it has 102 Chapters. It is also Known as: Agnyeoreul Jugyeo Jwo, Kill The Villainous
8. Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
The students of class 3-E have a mission: kill their teacher before graduation. He has already destroyed the moon, and has promised to destroy the Earth if he can not be killed within a year. But how can this class of misfits kill a tentacled monster, capable of reaching Mach 20 speed, who may be the best teacher any of them have ever had?
Assassination Classroom has finished publishing and it has 187 Chapters. It is also Known as: 暗殺教室, Tokyo Department Sensou Taikenki, Tokyo Department Store War Chronicles
7. 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
6. Gantz
Tokyo teens Kei and Masaru are killed by a subway train but awaken in a room with an ominous black orb that gives them weapons, suits and orders. Fighting bizarre alien monstrosities in a deadly game, will they win their freedom or die for the final time?
Gantz has finished publishing and it has 383 Chapters. It is also Known as: GANTZ, GANTZ: T, GANTZ:T, GANTZ杀戮都市, Ганц, กันสึ, ガンツ, 杀戮都市
5. 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
4. Case Closed
Kudo Shinichi is a seventeen year-old high school detective whom people call the "Modern Sherlock Holmes." However, one night after a date with his childhood sweetheart, Ran, Shinichi witnessed an illegal trade and, caught off his guard, was knocked unconscious and fed a drug that was supposed to kill him... but he woke up and found himself shrunken to a seven year-old. In order to track down the men who did this to him, Shinichi hid his identity and lived with Ran, whose father happened to be a hopeless detective, and with that came a series of murders and mysteries that he must solve.
Detective Conan is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Meitantei Conan, 名探偵コナン, Meitantei Conan, Detective Conan Kaito Kid Special Collection
3. Oyasumi Punpun
Punpun is an ordinary young boy growing up in Japan whose age of innocence has reached its end after his father is arrested for spousal abuse and putting his mother in the hospital. With his uncle looking after him, Punpun grows into adulthood facing a series of events which change him, for better or worse, forcing him to contemplate just what it means to be an adult.
Goodnight Punpun has finished publishing and it has 147 Chapters. It is also Known as: おやすみプンプン, Dobranoc, Punpunie, Bonne nuit Punpun!, Boa noite, Punpun, Bona nit, Punpun, Buenas noches, Punpun, Gute Nacht, Punpun, 잘자 뿡뿡, 晚安布布, לילה טוב, פונפון, Buonanotte, Punpun, İyi Geceler, Punpun, ฝันดีนะปุนปุน
2. A Pig-Slaughtering Knife Cutting Through All Realms - Makes Sense, Right?
Ye Chuan — a mental patient — sees all living creatures as pigs. On the day of his job assignment, he awakened a life-class profession: Butcher. His teachers and classmates were bitterly disappointed, and even his childhood sweetheart left him. However, this seemingly useless profession granted him two unique traits: Deals extra damage to pigs, and damage from pigs is halved. And since everyone looks like pigs in his eyes, armed with just a butcher’s knife, Ye Chuan begins his incredible rise to godhood.
A Pig-Slaughtering Knife Cutting Through All Realms - Makes Sense, Right? is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Almighty Pig Slaughtering Knife, Pig Slayer, The Butcher Blade That Pierces All Realms, 一把杀猪刀，砍翻万界很合理吧？
1. The Villain Wants to Live
The Middle Boss of the AAA-CLASS game. The villain who dies 999 times out of 1,000 times. Deculein.
That person, was me now.
“You’re Going To Die On Almost Every Route.”
Deculein, like all villains, inevitably dies.
[First And Foremost Survival Goal : Be what the game requires you to be].
I’ll have to survive even if it means twisting my fate if I am destined to die.
The Villain Wants to Live is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: A Villain's Will to Survive, 악당은 살고 싶다 (악살싶)
