What is this genre all about? The thriller is a genre of fiction in which tough, resourceful, but essentially ordinary heroes are pitted against villains determined to destroy them, their country, or the stability of the free world. The hero of a typical thriller faces danger alone or in the company of a small band of companions. The protagonist may be a law enforcement agent, a journalist, or a soldier, but typically he or she is cut off from the resources of "their" organization. More often the hero is an ordinary citizen drawn into danger and intrigue by circumstances beyond their control. (Source: Wikipedia)
We present you the list of Thriller manga you should read right now.
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Top 20 Thriller manga you should read right now. [2026 List]
- 20. Kingdom
- 19. Death Note
- 18. Jungle Juice
- 17. Tough
- 16. Kim Bujang
- 15. Ajin
- 14. Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri
- 13. God Game
- 12. Maria no Danzai
- 11. Bastard
- 10. Lord of the Mysteries
- 9. Homesick
- 8. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run
- 7. Elfen Lied
- 6. Kurokoochi
- 5. Gantz
- 4. Akuyaku Reijou no Kyouji: Konyakusha wo Ubaitotte Gishi wo Oidashita Watashi wa, Douyara Ima kara Hametsu suru you Desu.
- 3. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- 2. Juujika no Rokunin
- 1. Lost End
20. Kingdom
Millions of years have passed since the times of legends, when the worlds of man and gods were still the same. In these times it was the desires of man that moved the world. It is the period of the 500 year war: the Era of Warring States. Kingdom is the story of a young boy who grew into a great general and all the trials and bloodshed that led him there.
is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: キングダム, Kingdom
19. 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
18. 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
17. Tough
This is a continuation of Koko Tekken-den Tough which ran for 42 volumes and followed the main character, Kiichi, when he was younger and was training under his father Seiko Miyazawa. This is a mixed martial arts fighter manga about the Miyazawa school of martial arts. Initially, it is about Kiichi trying to heal his father after he was nearly killed by his brother Kiryu but it then goes on to be less about that as his father recovers and some tournament style fighting begins.
Tough has finished publishing and it has 426 Chapters. It is also Known as: TOUGH－タフ－, Tough
16. Kim Bujang
Single father, company manager, and former black-ops member, Mr. Kim lived an ordinary life until his daughter, Minji, went missing. After discovering his daughter could be dead, Mr. Kim turns merciless and sets out for information. He will rescue his daughter by any means necessary, even if it means destroying everything and everyone standing in his path.
Source: Webtoon
Manager Kim is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Manajer Kim
15. Ajin
Ajin are humans that cannot die. Seventeen years ago, they first appeared on a battlefield in Africa. From then on, more of their kind are discovered within the human society. Their rarity in appearance means that, for experimental purposes, the government will generously reward anyone who captures one. In the present day, for what a certain high school student expects to be a typical summer holiday, his life is about to turn unexpected...
Ajin: Demi-Human has finished publishing and it has 86 Chapters. It is also Known as: 亜人, Ajin
14. Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri
One day in the 21st century, a gate opened in the middle of the Ginza district of Tokyo. Out of the gate poured soldiers and strange creatures, and they soon made Ginza look like an image of hell. The gate apparently connected Japan to another world, a world with a militant empire and many supernatural creatures. The Japanese Self-Defense Force decided to send a small group, led by a soldier who's also an otaku, into the other world on a reconnaissance mission. They're meant to learn what they can about the empire (and its plans), the world, and the people.
They're hardly in the world yet, though, when they come across a village destroyed by a giant fire-breathing dragon. The only survivor is an unconscious elven girl they find hidden in a well. Now they feel like they must warn the nearby towns about the dragon, and do what they can to help. On the way, they'll meet more magical, female companions, and learn more about this dangerous new world.
Gate: Where the JSDF Fought has finished publishing and it has 143 Chapters. It is also Known as: ゲート 自衛隊彼の地にて、斯く戦えり, Gate: Thus the JSDF Fought There, Gate: Jieitai Kare no Chi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri
13. God Game
Reiyan Asura, if that is his real name, awakens in a void, bound by chains. He doesn't remember who he is or how he arrived in this world of white. Little does he know, he's been entered with millions of others in a twisted game where only the strongest prevail. Reiyan is anything but strong, but does he have a buried secret that can help him survive?
Welcome to the God Game. Prove your worth or die entertaining Him.
God Game is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: God Game
12. Maria no Danzai
The Nagare family had a happy home with three parents and three children. However, their son Kiritaka was secretly bullied at school. Then, an incident occurs, and the mother Mari's love for her son goes out of control.
Maria's Judgement is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 聖母の断罪, • Lời tuyên án của Đức Mẹ, • دَينُونَة ماريا, • मारियाको निर्णय, • La Condena de María, • Seibo no Danzai, • Penghakiman Maria, • Возмездие Девы Марии, • Ang Paghatol ni Maria
11. Bastard
There is a serial killer in my house!
Bastard has finished publishing and it has 94 Chapters. It is also Known as: Bastard
10. Lord of the Mysteries
With the rising tide of steam power and machinery, who can come close to being a Beyonder? Shrouded in the fog of history and darkness, who or what is the lurking evil that murmurs into our ears?
Waking up to be faced with a string of mysteries, Zhou Mingrui finds himself reincarnated as Klein Moretti in an alternate Victorian era world where he sees a world filled with machinery, cannons, dreadnoughts, airships, difference machines, as well as Potions, Divination, Hexes, Tarot Cards, Sealed Artifacts…
The Light continues to shine but mystery has never gone far. Follow Klein as he finds himself entangled with the Churches of the world—both orthodox and unorthodox—while he slowly develops newfound powers thanks to the Beyonder potions.
Like the corresponding tarot card, The Fool, which is numbered 0—a number of unlimited potential—this is the legend of “The Fool”.
Lord of the Mysteries has finished publishing and it has 1430 Chapters. It is also Known as: LotM, 诡秘之主
9. Homesick
Rayne woke up with no memories of the apocalypse. Samael is just... a delinquent, who happened to find Rayne at a rooftop. They both ended up making a deal in order to survive in a world where cannibalistic monsters roam.
Homesick is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Homesick
8. 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
7. Elfen Lied
The story involves human mutations called "diclonii", who are born with horns on their heads and possess telekinetic powers, in the form of invisible "arms" called vectors. The power of these arms vary, but they can stop normal bullets and deflect some others. The number of them differ with each diclinous, as does their full range.
The tendency for violence among diclonii is high, especially as they grow older. As children, their violence stems from a certain playfulness, unlike the absolute hatred of humans in their later years. Diclonii are rare, as they are the members of their species that are able to reproduce naturally.
Silpelits are more common. They are the offspring of two humans, the male of which has been infected with the mutation. Interestingly, only males can pass on the genes, and all diclonii and silpelits turn out to be female. Certain scientists noticed an increasing number of babies with horns being born, along with those children murdering their own parents and others, and tried to contain the spreading and find out the cause by placing them in a Facility in cells where they are subject to inhumane experiments to test their abilities or where they await execution for being too dangerous.
The main non-mutant character in the story is Kouta, who ends up becoming increasingly involved with one diclonius in particular, the main mutant character Lucy, the only pure diclonius, as she seeks a way to infect or kill all of humanity. Lucy has a cruel and unsettling past, and she has long since lost her empathy for humans, except for Kouta.
However, Director Kakuzawa, who has diclonius ancestry although he doesn't have the vectors, has plans to mate with Lucy and start a true diclonius race. If Lucy is found and he manages to do so, humanity will be nonexistent.
Kouta and Lucy's lives have been intertwined since their childhood, but not necessarily in a good way. And after the virus is airborne and spread across all of Japan, what is the fate of humanity and who holds all of the answers?
Included one-shots:
Volume 1: MOL
Volume 2: Digitopolis
Volume 3: memoria
Volume 5: Elfen Lied
Volume 8: Mou Hitotsu no Shiawase na Mirai and Sake wa Nomu Hou Nomareru Hou?
Elfen Lied has finished publishing and it has 113 Chapters. It is also Known as: エルフェンリート, Elven Song, Elfenlied, MOL, Digitopolis, memoria
6. Kurokoochi
Kurokouchi Keita is the black sheep of the police force. He works alone, and doesn't think twice about extorting money from the dirty politicians by getting hold of their achilles heels. Using the money and whatever bits of information acquired through underhanded means, he gets closer and closer to the ultimate unresolved crime of the Showa era (1968); the 300 million bank heist.
One day, the new rookie Seike Mayo, is assigned as Kurokouchi's partner. Excellent, but naive, she is the exact opposite of Kurokouchi, but nonetheless, the duo combi relentlessly chase down the criminals.
Kurokoochi has finished publishing and it has 224 Chapters. It is also Known as: クロコーチ, Kurokōchi, Kurokouchi, Kurokochi, Inspector Kurokochi, Inspector Kurokouchi
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. Akuyaku Reijou no Kyouji: Konyakusha wo Ubaitotte Gishi wo Oidashita Watashi wa, Douyara Ima kara Hametsu suru you Desu.
Once a commoner, Wellmy Ernest ascended to nobility when her mother married an earl. She tormented her same-age half-sister at home and school, stole her heirship and fiancé, and finally sold her off to the allegedly cruel Lord of Magic. It's not like her plain, meek sister could oppose. Wellmy got everything she wanted.
One day, Wellmy receives an invitation to a late-night soiree from the Lord of Magic, likely to announce her sister as his fiancée. Wellmy attends with her mother and father, but what awaits them isn't the brilliant banquet they were expecting...it's a tribunal condemning them for their abuse of Wellmy's sister.
Which means everything has gone just as Wellmy planned...
This is the story of a lone villainess who plans to make her sister happy even if it means she's hated in return.
Proud to be the Villainess: I'm Doomed After Stealing my Half-Sister's Fiancé and Having Her Banished is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 悪役令嬢の矜持〜婚約者を奪い取って義姉を追い出した私は、どうやら今から破滅するようです。〜, Akuyaku Reijou no Kyouji: Konyakusha wo Ubaitotte Gishi wo Oidashita Watashi wa, Douyara Ima kara Hametsu suru you Desu.
3. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
"So, Hikaru is no more... If that's true then..."
Yoshiki and Hikaru are two boys who live in a certain village. They're the same age and have always been together growing up. But one day, Yoshiki noticed that "something else" has taken Hikaru's place. Even after learning of this, Yoshiki still wants them to be together. And so, his life with the "something" that looks like his friend begins.
At the same time, strange incidents keep occurring in the village...
The Summer Hikaru Died is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 光が死んだ夏, Hikari ga Shinda Natsu, The Summer Hikaru is Dead, The Summer the Light is Dead
2. Juujika no Rokunin
”Is it okay to kill people?"A treacherous revenge suspense by Shiryu Nakatake, a newcomer to Bessatsu Shonen Magazine."Shun, if someone is converted, let him go and do nothing. He should be given a chance to be reborn.""Grandpa, I hope he doesn't reincarnate himself."In order to defeat several non-human monsters, the boy also became something non-human.Shin Uruma, a sixth-grade student, was named "Experimental body: A" by five of his classmates and was severely bullied and lived in hell. His only peace was with his brother, who loved him, and his parents, who protected him.... . until the five monsters killed his family.When he finally loses everything and faces true hell, a dark "wish" is born inside Shun. He was reborn under the training of his grandfather, who served in a secret unit during WWII. Now, four years later, he appears in front of his fated enemy."I won't let ANYONE get in the way of my revenge."
Juujika no Rokunin has finished publishing and it has 234 Chapters. It is also Known as: 十字架のろくにん, Juujika no Rokunin
1. Lost End
Challenge it. As many times as it takes until your spirit breaks. In order to rekindle the life that has been extinguished, in the harsh and merciless mountains of the underworld — A staggering dark survival epic depicted with overwhelming artistic skill.
Lost End is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ロストエンド, LOSTEND
