swap_horiz Vagabond Alternatives

1

Parasyte

Parasyte tells the story of Shinichi Izumi, a high school student whose hand is infected by an alien parasite. Instead o...

Action Sci Fi Philosophical Horror

9.3 Excellent

2

20th Century Boys

Urasawas 20th Century Boys is a sprawling, time-bending mystery that follows a group of childhood friends as they are dr...

Sci Fi Time Travel Nostalgia Mystery

9.0 Excellent

3

Oshi no Ko

Oshi no Ko is a dark, gripping drama that explores the harsh realities of the Japanese entertainment industry. It follow...

Entertainment Drama Pop Mystery

8.6 Very Good

4

Battle Angel Alita

Battle Angel Alita is a classic cyberpunk adventure about a cyborg girl named Alita who is found in a scrapyard and rebu...

Adventure Action Sci Fi Cyborg

8.5 Very Good

5

Shinomori Samurai

Shinomori Samurai is a more grounded and realistic portrayal of the samurai era, focusing on political intrigue and the...

Action Political Intrigue Realistic Historical

8.6 Very Good

6

Vinland Saga

Vinland Saga, written and illustrated by Makoto Yukimura, is a historical epic set in 11th-century Europe, focusing on t...

Action Epic Philosophy Drama

8.6 Very Good

7

Rurouni Kenshin

Rurouni Kenshin, set during the Meiji Restoration, follows Kenshin Himura, a former assassin seeking redemption. The ser...

Action Classic Manga Action Adventure

8.0 Very Good

8

Shura no Mon (Gate of the Heavens)

Shura no Mon, by Kazuo Koike and Yoshinobu Yamato, is a historical manga set in the Edo period, focusing on a young samu...

Action Tournament Dark Fantasy Historical

7.5 Good

9

Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju

A breathtaking exploration of the traditional art of Rakugo, this series follows the life of a former convict who become...

Drama Artistic Historical Tragedy

9.8 Brilliant

10

Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima is a beautiful, cinematic love letter to classic samurai cinema. Set on the island of Tsushima during...

Action Open World Stealth Cinematic

8.9 Very Good

11

The Wind Rises

The Wind Rises is a fictionalized biography of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter plane. Wh...

History Drama Artistic Mature

8.4 Very Good

12

The Ravages of Time

The Ravages of Time, by Keiji Mizoguchi, is a meticulously researched historical manga set in the Joseon Dynasty of Kore...

Adventure Action Political Intrigue Art

8.4 Very Good

13

Orochi

Orochi, by Masashi Ueda, is a historical manga set in feudal Japan, focusing on the Sengoku period. It follows a young m...

Political Intrigue Samurai Historical Fiction Martial Arts

8.4 Very Good

14

Ping Pong the Animation

While technically a sports anime, Ping Pong is fundamentally a character-driven drama about two childhood friends with d...

Philosophy Drama Artistic Psychological

8.3 Very Good

15

Basilisk

Basilisk is a tragic, supernatural ninja story that pits two rival clans against each other in a battle to the death. Ea...

Action Rivalry Supernatural Historical

8.2 Very Good

16

Ninja Scroll

Ninja Scroll is a cult classic that defines the 'dark fantasy' ninja genre. It follows Jubei Kibagami, a wandering ninja...

Adventure Action Classic Supernatural

8.2 Very Good

17

Moon Samurai

Moon Samurai is a unique OVA blending samurai action with a futuristic, space-western setting. The series follows a skil...

Action Historical Samurai Space Western

8.1 Very Good

18

Kaze Hikaru

Kaze Hikaru, by Yji Terashima, is a historical manga set in the Edo period, following a young man who becomes embroiled...

Political Intrigue Comedy Samurai Historical Fiction

7.9 Good

19

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

This novel tells the story of a Russian aristocrat sentenced to house arrest in a luxury hotel across from the Kremlin....

Russia Character Driven Fiction Elegant

7.8 Good

20

House of Five Leaves

House of Five Leaves is a grounded, character-driven samurai drama that focuses on the internal lives of its cast rather...

Drama Mystery Historical Samurai

7.8 Good