If you have been looking for the best anime to watch, we bet names like Jujutsu Kaisen, Bleach and Demon Slayer keep popping up everywhere. And while they are great, most of us have watched them several times. So, if you’re looking for the best underrated anime, there’s plenty of good shows to watch. From psychological thrillers to emotional adventures and punch-packed action, these hidden gems are worth adding to your wishlist.
Read on to explore some of the best anime that may be underrated but are worth a try.
10 Best Underrated Anime to Watch Now
Below is our list of some of the most underrated anime that deserve a good watch.
Shinsekai Yori
If you like anime that starts innocently and gradually questions everything you have picked up, Shinsekai Yori might be one of the best underrated anime to watch right now.
Set over 1,000 years in the future, the plot follows Saki and her friends as they grow up in a society where humans have psychic abilities. As they get older, they begin exploring some seriously disturbing facts about the world they live in.
And, the best part? You don’t get all the answers instantly. The mystery, in this anime, unfolds slowly, where those little details you barely noticed become one of the most important parts of the plot. PS- the payoff is absolutely worth it.
Best for: psychological fans who crave dark, mystery worlds.
Odd Taxi
We agree- this one might not seem like something you’d binge initially, but it’s actually worth it. The story follows Odakawa, a quiet, grumpy taxi driver who spends most of his days driving strangers around. Things take a turn when a normal, random conversation with a college student, a nurse, comedians and an idol group helps him locate a missing girl.
While this one might not be the best isekai anime we crave, the real fun begins when all those meaningless details fall into place. All things said, Odd Taxi is a clever, dark and funny take on a completely different vibe of anime that is not too much into heavy action anime.
Best for: fans who love crime stories, thriller, drama and mystery.
Heavenly Delusion
If you absolutely devour watching post-apocalyptic stuff, this one should be one of your best underrated anime watch list. This show is all about creepy mysteries, post-apocalyptic worlds and stories that might question your own sanity.
The story revolves around Maru and Kiruko as they travel through ruined Japan in search of a mysterious place called Heaven. The plot also unfolds as you are introduced to a facility from an outside world, where children are being raised. Somehow, the storyline connects these two, leading to plenty of mysteries, unanswered questions and an anime you can easily get hooked on. This one might be considered one of the best isekai anime that are still undiscovered.
Best for: fans who love sci-fi, mystery and post-apocalyptic stories.
Summertime Rendering
If you fancy some mystery, creepy supernatural creatures and the concept of time loops, this one might be your next watch.
The plot follows Shinpei Ajiro, who returns to his small island hometown after the death of his childhood friend. But what seemed like a tragic accident suddenly starts seeming like there’s more to it. The story also introduces supernatural creatures called Shadow and a time-loop ability that allows Shinpei another chance to uncover what really happened.
One thing that sets this best underrated anime apart is how it approaches the concept of a time loop. Every reset into time allows the main character to learn something new. But every time he goes back in time, there are consequences he has to face.
Best for: fans who love psychological thrillers, suspense, drama and supernatural anime.
A Place Further Than The Universe
If you want something different than the usual battle-heavy anime, this best drama anime is wholesome and ridiculously emotional. The story follows four high school girls who plan a trip to Antarctica and discover new meanings of friendship, growing up, taking risks and doing something that feels more, well, you.
The anime balances humour with touching, emotional moments, giving viewers a light watch that isn’t too overwhelming and is also fun to catch up with.
Best for: fans who love coming-of-age stories or emotional anime.
ID: INVADED
This is one of those psychological thrillers that make no sense at first, but eventually, everything starts falling into the right places. The plot follows a special investigation team that enters the unconscious minds of serial killers and searches for clues to solve real-life murders.
While this sounds a bit complicated, each case this team solves throws a surreal world at you that is full of mystery and new characters.
It has those “just one more episode” kinda vibes that keep you hooked, without having to commit to 100+ episodes.
Best for: fans who love psychological thrillers, murder mysteries and mind-bending sci-fi plots.
91 Days
It’s basically a gangster movie in the form of an anime. With a plot set during Prohibition, Avilio’s family is murdered due to a mafia conflict. Several years later, he receives a mysterious letter letting him know who was responsible. With the objective to avenge, he returns to his hometown and infiltrates the crime family.
One of the good things about this best underrated anime is that there are no easy heroes or villains. Everyone has their own motives, making loyalty shift way too often.
Best for: fans who love dark mafia tropes and revenge plots.
Akane-Banashi
The story follows Akane Osaki, whose father was a rakugo performer. After he was abruptly expelled from the rakugo world, Akane spent years training to be the best rakugo so she could reach the highest of the ranks and prove her father’s talent was worth recognising.
Despite the plot being a bit simple, the show is actually quite addictive.
Best for: fans who love character-driven stories and competition anime.
Barakamon
Sometimes you don’t need those action-packed anime that are all about saving the world. Sometimes you may crave something that is lighthearted, wholesome and just fun. And, if you are in one of those moods, Barakamon hits just the right spot.
The story follows a young and talented calligrapher, Seishuu Handa, who is sent away to live in a remote island town after a very public breakdown. And while he expects that peace would follow, he instead finds himself surrounded by energetic locals. Eventually, Handa starts to loosen up and see life and his own work from a completely different perspective.
Best for: fans who crave slice-of-life anime or dramas based on friendships.
Lands of the Lustrous
If you are looking to watch something that is not a basic watch, Lands of the Lustrous can be your next watch. The plot is about crystalline beings, called Lustrous, who live in a distant future and have to defend themselves against mysterious enemies coming from the moon.
This is one of the most underrated anime that offers an unusual style of emotional character development and visuals.
Best for: fans who crave fantasy, unique world-building and beautiful visuals.
That’s A Wrap
If you have had your fill of the best-known action-packed or drama-intense anime, you now have an entire list of the best underrated anime to binge-watch. These anime can be streamed on Crunchyroll or other streaming platforms, depending on your location.
FAQs about the Best Underrated Anime to Watch RN
Below are some of the most common questions about some of the best underrated anime you can binge-watch right now.
What is the most underrated anime to watch?
Underrated can be pretty subjective. If you love a good story, Shinsekai Yori, Heavenly Delusions and Odd Taxi can be some of the excellent choices.
What are some good anime for beginners?
If you are new to anime, you can start with Odd Taxi and Barakamon. They can be an easy place to start, with an easy-to-understand plot and no commitment to 100+ episodes.
What can I watch after Jujutsu Kaisen?
If you love Jujutsu Kaisen, you can choose Shinsekai Yori as your next choice. However, if you are craving something mysterious, Odd Taxi offers a lot of that with a very strong plot.