The 10 Best Manga I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, staying on top to keep up with every worthwhile release. Inevitably, the mainstream series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of undiscovered treasures waiting to be discovered.

One of the greatest joys for fans of the medium is finding a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. I present of the top obscure manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out ahead of the curve.

A few of these titles are still awaiting a large audience, partly due to they all lack anime adaptations. A few are less accessible due to where they're available. However, suggesting any of these will earn you some impressive fan credentials.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

• Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

This may seem like a strange choice, but bear with me. The medium embraces absurdity, and it's part of the charm. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series diverges from the template, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The unique hook, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who unwinds by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is one of the few published by a major house, and thus readily accessible to international audiences through a popular app. Regarding online access, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're seeking a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is a great choice.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

• Author: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the abundance of similar stories, but two series changed my mind this year. It reminds me of the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, unique visuals, and shocking ferocity. I stumbled upon it accidentally and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than aiding his quest for revenge. The storyline appears straightforward, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the absurd look of the enemies and the bloody fights is a compelling layer. This is a series with real potential to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

• Creator: Yuto Sano
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus; Viz

For readers who value visual splendor, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is breathtaking, meticulous, and unique. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the way the human died: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who perished by suicide causes blood loss, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that gives weight to these antagonists. It might become a major title, but it's limited due to its monthly schedule. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

• Creators: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Viz

This dark fantasy manga approaches the ubiquitous battle trope from a new viewpoint for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it depicts epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a cruel mercenary band to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the inclusion of futuristic tech feels forced at times, but The Bugle Call still surprised me with bleak developments and shocking story pivots. It's a grown-up battle manga with a cast of quirky characters, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of strategy and horror.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

• Artist: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A calculating main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its small claws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you