10 Best Anime Like High School of the Dead

Daksh Chaudhary
Apr 9
6 min read

Updated: Apr 12

If you're looking for anime like High School of the Dead, it means you enjoy the fast-paced shows with lots of action, zombie chaos, and a touch of fan service. Luckily, many other anime have similar themes, whether it's fighting for survival, dealing with monsters, or just mixing horror and action in the craziest way.

In this list, we’ve picked 10 anime that give off the same wild and thrilling energy. Some are heavy on gore, some are packed with supernatural elements, and others have the same kind of “what would you do if the world ended tomorrow?” feeling.

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10/10 Corpse Party: Tortured Souls

Corpse Party: Tortured Souls anime similar to High School of the Dead

Now this one is pure horror and the best anime like High School of the Dead. Corpse Party is short, just four episodes, but it’s terrifying. A group of students perform a friendship ritual, but something goes wrong, and they end up trapped in a haunted school. And let’s just say, not all of them make it out.

The gore in this anime is on a whole different level. If you thought High School of the Dead was graphic, wait until you see Corpse Party. What’s interesting is that it’s based on a horror video game. That explains the creepy vibes and super disturbing scenes.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
July 2013	6.42	asread.	Horror, Mystery	Prime Video

9/10 Gantz

Gantz is one of the most intense and disturbing anime on this list. After dying in an accident, two boys find themselves forced to play a deadly game where they have to kill aliens. They get strange suits, weird weapons, and no clue what’s really going on.

What makes Gantz stand out is how unpredictable and dark it gets. Just like in High School of the Dead, characters can die at any time. Nobody is safe, and the violence is on a whole new level. If you’re okay with a bit of psychological horror, this one is worth watching.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
April 2004	6.97	Gonzo	Horror, Sci-Fi	Crunchyroll

8/10 Deadman Wonderland

Deadman Wonderland is all about a high school trip gone wrong, but wrong in a way that it flips the whole life of its main character upside-down. The main character, Ganta, gets blamed for a crime he didn’t commit and is sent to a private prison where prisoners are forced to fight each other. Yeah, it’s as crazy as it sounds.

It mixes school life with blood, twisted games, and survival, similar to High School of the Dead. And the powers? They come from blood manipulation. It’s weird, cool, and a little scary. Sadly, the anime didn’t cover the full manga, but the 12 episodes are still worth watching.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
April 2011	7.13	Manglobe	Supernatural, Sci-Fi	Crunchyroll

7/10 High School DxD

Compared to High School of the Dead, this one is a little less bloody and a lot more wild. High School DxD follows Issei, a high school student who ends up in a world full of demons, angels, and fallen angels. And yes, it has a lot of fan service, way more than High School of the Dead, if that’s what you're into.

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But there's more to it than just that. The battles are cool, the characters are fun, and the show doesn’t take itself too seriously. Studio TNK worked on this anime, and they really leaned into the action-comedy vibe. It’s a perfect choice if you like crazy school settings with supernatural fights.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
January 2012	7.32	TNK	Action, Supernatural	Crunchyroll

6/10 Elfen Lied

Elfen Lied is one of those anime that looks soft at first glance but is actually super dark and brutal. It tells the story of Lucy, a girl with deadly powers and a painful past. She escapes from a lab, and things go bad soon. People get torn apart, dark secrets are revealed, and the story shows just how cruel and broken the world can be.

What makes Elfen Lied similar to High School of the Dead is the intense violence and emotional drama. It also has a strong female lead and a lot of messed-up moments that might leave you shocked. Elfen Lied only has 13 episodes. That’s short, but it stays with you long after it's over.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
July 2004	7.46	Arms	Action, Horror	Crunchyroll

5/10 Shiki

Shiki best anime similar to High School of the Dead

Next on the list, we have something slow but creepy. Shiki is about a small village where people start dying under strange conditions. The cause? Vampires, but not the usual kind. This anime slowly builds up its tension, and before you know it, you’re hooked.

Unlike the fast-paced action in High School of the Dead, Shiki focuses on mystery and fear. It asks some deep questions too - who’s really the monster here? With 22 episodes, it's a quick watch. While the anime starts slow, the payoff is worth it if you like smart horror.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
July 2010	7.72	Daume	Horror, Supernatural	Crunchyroll

4/10 Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

Here’s a zombie anime that’s actually fun and scary at the same time. Zom 100 follows Akira, a guy who’s been stuck in a boring office job. But when a zombie outbreak hits, he doesn’t panic - in fact, he gets excited! Now he can finally live freely and do everything he’s ever wanted.

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This anime is like a brighter version of High School of the Dead. It has zombies, survival, and action, but it also has humor and a lot of adventure. Studio BUG FILMS did a great job showing both chaos and freedom in this anime.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
July 2023	7.74	BUG FILMS	Comedy, Suspense	Crunchyroll

3/10 Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul best anime like High School of the Dead

Tokyo Ghoul is known for being one of the most popular horror anime out there. It has got ghouls, bloodshed, and a lot of torture. The story is about Kaneki, a normal guy who becomes half-ghoul after an accident. Ghouls are creatures that look human but survive by eating flesh. Creepy, right?

Tokyo Ghoul is one of the best anime like High School of the Dead, and the two share a lot of similarities. Whether we talk about their dark setting or the main characters who change a lot over time, there's a lot of resemblance. Do you know that Tokyo Ghoul is made by Studio Pierrot, the same one behind Naruto? No wonder the animation is top-notch.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
July 2014	7.79	Pierrot	Action, Horror	Netflix

2/10 Parasyte: The Maxim

This anime is all about aliens that take over human bodies - sounds interesting, right? The main character, Shinichi, gets infected by one, but the alien fails to take full control. So now, his right hand, called Migi, has a mind of its own, and together, they fight other parasites.

Parasyte: The Maxim is all about two different creatures trying to survive, resulting in intense fights and creepy moments. If you liked how High School of the Dead mixed action with weird science, Parasyte will pull you in. Plus, it has only 24 episodes, making it easy to binge.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
October 2014	8.32	Madhouse	Action, Suspense	Netflix

1/10 Hellsing Ultimate

If you want something that’s dark, gory, and has vampires, then Hellsing Ultimate is for you. This anime follows Alucard, a super-powerful vampire who fights other monsters for the Hellsing Organization. Every episode literally feels like a mini horror movie, and the fights can be too much to handle.

The animation is smooth, the action scenes are insane, and the characters are unforgettable. Interestingly, Hellsing Ultimate was made as a remake of the original Hellsing anime, but this version sticks closer to the manga, and it’s a lot better.