Twelve-year-old Gon Freecss is determined to become a world-class Hunter, a skilled individual that performs all manner of dangerous tasks, just like his long-absent father. However, Gon finds that the path to achieving his goals is more challenging than he could have ever imagined, but in order to overcome it, Gon recruits some powerful friends.
Hunter X Hunter is what I like to call a classic underrated shounen. I’ve never met a person who didn’t like it, only those who have never watched it. If you are looking for more anime recommendations like Hunter X Hunter, then head on down below.
Anime Like Hunter X Hunter
For Fans of Shounen Series That Grow Dark Over Time
Fullmetal Alchemist – Brotherhood
Talented in the art of alchemy, brothers Edward and Al Elric tried to bring their mother back from the dead, something that goes against all alchemic principles. When things go horribly wrong, Edward loses his left leg and Al loses his whole body, only saved after his brother sacrifices an arm to bind his soul to a suit of armor. Three years later, the brothers set out on a journey to find a mythical relic that may be able to return Al to his body once again. However, throughout their travels, the brothers find themselves pulled into a series of events that threaten everyone.
Both Hunter X Hunter and Fullmetal Alchemist start off rather youthful and silly, about characters eagerly heading out into the world. However, that cheerfulness often falls away to the dark stories that are told as the characters explore that world. Fullmetal Alchemist dives into darkness earlier and often stays there whereas Hunter X Hunter passes off horrific things and returns to being chipper.
Magi
After spending his life in isolation, Aladdin and his djinn Ugo set off on a journey to see the world. Soon after, he becomes friends with Alibaba, a young merchant that has ambitions of wealth, after he destroys his supply cart. In order to pay of the damages, Alibaba suggests the supremely powerful Aladdin helps him conquer a dungeon full of danger and wealth.
What these two series perhaps have most in common is the naivety of their protagonists. Both Aladdin and Gon start off the most bright-eyed and cheerful young boys venturing out into a huge new world for the first time. You know what? They pretty much stay that way, too. Any darkness is momentary, and typically for the sake of their friends.
Kemono Jihen
A boy nicknamed Dorotabo lives with his aunt in a rural Japanese inn after being abandoned by his parents. One day, a detective that specializes in the occult named Kohachi Inugami arrives from Tokyo. He is there to investigate mysterious livestock deaths and takes an interest in Dorotabo. The boy ends up helping Inugami and discovers that he is only half human. Possessing skill at dispatching beast-like entities known as Kemono, Inugami takes him back to work at his agency in Tokyo.
Like Hunter X Hunter is underrated among the other hugely popular shounens, Kemono Jihen is a pretty underrated series in the modern sphere. Like Hunter X Hunter, it doesn’t shy away from moments of gore or vicious levels of violence, yet the characters are often cheerful and comedic.
For Fans of Hunters
Toriko
In this world, happiness is measured by what you eat. As such, people are always on the hunt for ultimate ingredients that are gotten from powerful monsters. Those who battle these monsters for ingredients are Gourmet Hunters. This story follows Toriko, a Gourmet Hunter and his chef friend Komatsu. Toriko aims to cook the perfect meal while Komatsu wants to reach the level of master chef.
If you enjoyed the array of characters in Hunter X Hunter and how it showed off a diverse and fleshed out world, then Toriko can match that. It may be about hunting ingredients, but Toriko is still an action-packed shounen.
Tower of God
Bam spent his whole life trapped beneath a mysterious tower with his closest friend Rachel. One day, Rachel disappears, claiming she is going to climb the tower. Bam manages to open the door to it as well and attempts to climb in order to be reunited with Rachel. However, what awaits him is a new ordeal on each level, and he is not the only one trying to climb.
While Hunter X Hunter becomes about different things over time, you will watch Tower of God and immediately note how similar it is to the Hunter’s Exam arc. Furthermore, it packs in a similar amount of unique characters as well as some decent intrigues.
One Piece
With his dying breath, legendary Pirate King Gol D. Roger let the world know about his treasure, setting in motion the Grand Age of Pirates. Among the many crews that set out to look for the legendary One Piece treasure is Monkey D. Luffy, a young man that has assembled a rag-tag crew to sail the Grand Line and hunt down One Piece.
Well, they’re both shounen series, so the connection there is easy to make. Yet, they both do great jobs at creating a lively world full of dangerous and weird individuals. However, while Hunter X Hunter dives right in showing off weird characters, One Piece does take a little time to get going.
For Fans of Unique Power Systems
Naruto
Orphaned at a young age and ostracized by his village due to the nine-tailed fox demon that was sealed within him at birth, Naruto aims for the top. His dream is to eventually become the leader of his village, the Hokage. However, first he must actually become a ninja and gain strength enough to rise to this pinnacle.
In both series, their major powers – Nen and Ninjutsu – start off small and almost nonexistent. However, by the end, you’d think they wouldn’t even be able to breath without the assistance of their chakra. As each series goes on, the techniques grow grander and more ridiculous, but it makes for some great fights.
Black Clover
After being abandoned at the same church, Asta and Yuno grew up together. Together they also grew up aiming for the same title – The Wizard King, the strongest wizard in the kingdom. However, it soon became apparent that while Yuno has skill with magic, Asta couldn’t use it at all. This all changed when they were attacked and Asta was given a strange grimoire that granted him the ability to nullify magic.
Black Clover and Hunter X Hunter share a bit of an underrated reputation. However, the longer you watch them, the more enthralling each series becomes. They also share a cast of interesting characters, each with unique powers, though Hunter X Hunter remains superior in terms of unique characters.
Jujutsu Kaisen
In order to gain more power, demons search for fragments of the legendary demon Sukuna to consume them. One day, Yuuji Itadori, who just lost his grandfather, learns of this as he saves his school friends from being consumed by demons after they break the seal on one of the body parts of Sukuna that was at their school. In order to stand a chance, he eats it, revealing himself as a rare vessel that can utilize and control the curse of Sukuna, meaning when he dies, Sukuna’s curse dies with him.
While Hunter X Hunter likes to dip its toes into dark themes, then jumps back out, Jujutsu Kaisen remains dark pretty much the entire time. However, both series don’t just let their action languish in mundane powers that you see in every shounen. Instead, they really get quite creative with them, which makes the action all the more enjoyable.
Do you have more anime recommendations like Hunter X Hunter? Let fans know in the comments section below.
