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 19 Thriller manga you should read right now. [2026 List]
- 19. Kingdom
- 18. Death Note
- 17. Jungle Juice
- 16. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run
- 15. Juujika no Rokunin
- 14. Kim Bujang
- 13. Bastard
- 12. Gantz
- 11. Maria no Danzai
- 10. PIGPEN
- 9. My Home Hero
- 8. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- 7. Satanophany
- 6. Ajin
- 5. Maison Ikkoku
- 4. Dugeundugeun Gwiyeonsi
- 3. Sarinyejeongja
- 2. Pale Throne
- 1. Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio
19. 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
18. 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
17. 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
16. 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
15. 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
14. 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
13. Bastard
There is a serial killer in my house!
Bastard has finished publishing and it has 94 Chapters. It is also Known as: Bastard
12. 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
11. 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
10. PIGPEN
The protagonist finds himself adrift on an uninhabited island, where a mysterious family appears before him.
PIGPEN has finished publishing and it has 68 Chapters. It is also Known as: Pigpen
9. My Home Hero
Tetsuo Tosu is a typical father whose biggest worries are his job and his rebellious daughter, Reika. That is, until he finds a bruise on her face. His worst fears come true when he finds out she has a secret boyfriend...and he's part of a crime ring that's using her to steal her grandparent's wealth. If that wasn't bad enough, the thug catches Tetsuo snooping around and threatens to kill Reika as soon as she gets home. Fueled by fatherly instincts, Tetsuo murders the man...only for his wife to walk in and witness what he's done. Now with a corpse to hide and a crime ring hot on his tail, Tetsuo must resort to his love of detective novels and his wits to stay one step ahead of a grim fate...
My Home Hero has finished publishing and it has 224 Chapters. It is also Known as: マイホームヒーロー, My Home Hero
8. 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
7. Satanophany
A mysterious syndrome turns schoolgirls into homicidal monsters behind numerous atrocities in Japan. However, nothing is what it seems and when Chika Amagi is arrested for the brutal murder of five people, which starts a journey into uncharted and troubled waters!
Satanophany is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: サタノファニ, Satanofani
6. 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
5. Maison Ikkoku
The boarding house Maison Ikkoku is home to a strange medley of weird characters, including the young student Yusaku and the beautiful (and widowed) manager, Kyoko. We follow the efforts of Yusaku to win Kyoko's affections, with interference from the rest of the tenants.
Maison Ikkoku has finished publishing and it has 162 Chapters. It is also Known as: めぞん一刻, Maison Ikkoku
4. Dugeundugeun Gwiyeonsi
Struggling streamer Do-Yeon Choi downloads a mysterious dating sim game, Heart-Racing Ghost Dating Sim, only to find himself trapped in a deadly loop-- where the love interests are real-life ghosts with unresolved deaths. From haunted highways to murder cases, Do-Yeon must navigate a world where romance, horror, and mystery collide. Every wrong move could cost him his life...again.
Ghost Dating Simulation is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Heart-Pounding Cute Poem, Heart-Pounding Ghostly Poem
3. Sarinyejeongja
"I can see your number. The number of people you will kill in the future."
If he kills before they kill, the murder will not occur. The serial killer known as "Number" punishes the "Destined Murderers" one by one with this resolve. Could his wish to create a world without murder through murder ever be accomplished?
Destined Murderer is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: The Murderer
2. Pale Throne
Young Bai accidentally kills someone, from then on he enters the world of killers.
A black card appeared in front of the door of pale throne, who can get the ultimate weapon left by the the most successful killer?
To kill, to follow the road of killing, is it also the road to finding oneself.
Pale Throne is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: White Throne of Bones, Grey Throne, Gray Throne, 蒼白の玉座
1. Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio
Suddenly, a fleet of ships with mysterious superweapons called the “Fleet of Fog” appeared all around the world. Humanity didn’t have the technology to fight such a fleet, so they were driven out of the sea.
Seventeen years after the battle, Gunzou Chihaya and his crew mates aboard the I-401 and the personification (Mental Model) of the I-401, Iona, started fighting the Fleet of Fog.
Arpeggio of Blue Steel is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 蒼き鋼のアルペジオ, Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio
