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The Summer Hikaru Died has several scary scenes that can make the readers ensure the room lights are on. From the first chapter, the manga went hard on the horror scenes, with tension being the anime’s theme. Mokumokuren’s detailing has made it a great read for horror lovers. Due to its popularity, it has also been adapted into an anime, scheduled to release later in 2025.
Here are five anime that are scarier than The Summer Hikaru Died.
1. Gantz
- Creator: Hiroya Oku
- Number of Episodes: 26
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
- Animation Studio: Gonzo
Gantz has a dark setting and might not be for the faint-hearted. Kei Kurono dies in an attempt to save a homeless man, but unknowingly finds himself in a room full of deceased people. Apart from them, there was also a large mysterious ball, which came to them to provide instructions on the task ahead, weaponry, and black suits.
Soon, it was revealed to them that they had to hunt down aliens, transporting them to a different location. With next to no information, Kei finds his childhood friend, Masaru Katou, and forms a team with another unknown woman. Together, the trio embarks on their mission, with dangers lurking around every corner.
2. Berserk
- Creator: Kentarou Miura
- Number of Episodes: 49
- Where To Watch: Netflix
- Animation Studio: OLM, Millepensee, GEMBA
Coming from the Seinen genre, Berserk is one of the greatest anime ever. More than horror scenes or jump scares, Berserk offers dark and gruesome scenes that can send shivers down the spine. The torture of oneself and the gore bring out the rawness of Kentarou Miura’s magnum opus.
Following the life of Guts, who initially started as a young mercenary, but as the story progressed, his life started to become miserable. The protagonist suffered a lot and might have one of the saddest stories ever, but he keeps on pushing himself. The presence of demons, otherworldly beings, betrayal, physical torture, etc., makes it a masterpiece.
3. Paranoia Agent
- Creator: Satoshi Kon
- Number of Episodes: 13
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
- Animation Studio: Madhouse
In a race between paranoia and truth, Paranoia Agent does a commendable job of creating tension amongst the watcher. The infamous Shounen Bat started terrorizing Musashino City with a golden baseball bat. Detectives Keiichi Ikari and Mitsuhiro Maniwa are tasked with finding the Shounen Bat, who has successfully instilled fear within the townspeople. Adults and children are all scared, and no one knows who will be the next target. If only the detectives are successful, the people will be relieved from living under constant fear.
4. Monster
- Creator: Naoki Urasawa
- Number of Episodes: 74
- Where To Watch: Netflix
- Animation Studio: Madhouse
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster is an absolute masterpiece. The psychological thriller will make the viewers scared to know what happens next, yet they will not be able to get up from their seats without watching the next scene.
Popular surgeon Kenzo Tenma’s life takes a 180-degree turn when one of his former patients comes back to haunt him. Kenzo was branded as a killer and had to become a fugitive. Murders take place one after the other, and people get their heads turned due to the intense situations they face.
5. Serial Experiments Lain
- Creator: Chiaki J. Konaka
- Number of Episodes: 13
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
- Animation Studio: Triangle Staff
When technophobe girl Lain Iwakura opens a disturbing email from her recently deceased classmate, Chisa Yomoda, her life takes a turn for the worse. The fourteen-year-old gets teleported to a virtual world, Wired, where she encounters mysterious cryptic messages in a row. She is followed by unknown individuals who wear black attire and keep asking her questions. Lain discovers that the individuals know more about her than she does herself. Weird and crazy events start to happen, with reality acquiring a completely new meaning. With fear always lurking around the corner, Serial Experiments Lain requires thorough concentration to truly understand what is happening.
Also Read: 5 Underrated Manga Like Gachiakuta Worth Reading
Priyanko is currently pursuing his Master’s in Economics. He loves to read manga or watch anime in his spare time. He is a massive fan of One Piece, Naruto, and Haikyu. Amidst the Great Pirating Era, he wishes to become the greatest Hokage, even though he is short.
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