Ravaging every land they touch, Vikings have become renowned for their thirst and talent for violence.
Thorfinn, a son of a great Viking warrior, spends his childhood on the battlefield in order to reap his vengeance on his father’s murderer. A man who murdered his family in front of him, plucked him from his home, and now commands him in a band of warriors.
Vikings – prized in other media, rare in anime. However, now you can sate your thirst for viking violence with Vinland Saga. While there isn’t much else about Vikings in anime, these other anime recommendations can help sate your thirst for violence and vengeance at least.
Anime Like Vinland Saga
For Fans of Historical Influences
The Heroic Legend of Arslan
The young prince Arslan is ready to prove himself on the battlefield, but on his first battle, his father is betrayed and his kingdom is conquered.
With his army in shambles, Arslan is forced to go on the run in search of allies to bring him back home.
Both Vinland Saga and The Heroic Legend of Arslan take place in a historical era.
While Vinland Saga is more true to the Viking era, The Heroic Legend of Arslan is set in a fictional world, but has very real Middle Eastern historical influences.
Both Vinland Saga and the Heroic Legend of Arslan are about young boys that are wronged, and then on their quest for revenge get embroiled in a war larger than themselves. However, while Thorfinn is a ball of wandering rage, Arslan is more your standard idealistic young prince.
However, both shows do well to really hammer home the skill difference between a young boy and a seasoned warrior in combat.
Golden Kamuy
After surviving the brutal Russo-Japanese war, Sugimoto gained the nickname “the immortal”. Upon returning home, he now seeks the promise of gold to the north in Hokkaido in order to provide for the blind wife and infant son of his comrade who died in the war.
During his hunt, he hears the tale of a hidden stash of gold belonging to criminals with a map made out of human skin. Dismissing it as a tale at first, he soon finds that the man who told him the story has those very same map-like tattoos.
Now on a race with a native Ainu girl whose father was murdered for the gold, they try to make it to the stash before the criminals.
Both Vinland Saga and Golden Kamuy detail a historical era that you don’t see much of in anime. The obscure Japanese history may only be interesting to a small selection of people, but Golden Kamuy has many ways to keep that history interesting.
While Golden Kamuy has a treasure hunting plot different from Vinland Saga’s quest for revenge, both series really excel in their characters. Thorfinn is often the most boring character in Vinland Saga, but the larger cast makes up for that. While Sugimoto is a little more complex, the side cast, particularly the antagonists, are never boring.
Sengoku Basara
In the Sengoku Period of Japan, constant struggle between local lords has fostered a chaotic Japan. Quelling these lords one after another under his might and military prowess was the Demon King of Owari, Oda Nobunaga who was slowly uniting Japan.
However, only two dared rebel against his rule, the One-eyed Dragon of Oshu, Masamune Date and the hot blooded warrior of the Takeda clan, Yukimura Sanada. Though Masamune and Yukimura share a similar goal of defying Oda rule, the two are locked in fierce rivalry that thwarts any hope of a united front.
However, under pressure from Oda’s looming force, they must learn to make peace and work together if they hope to survive.
Perhaps vikings aren’t as popular in anime because Japan has their own warriors of legend – samurai.
Both Vinland Saga and Sengoku Basara detail real historical eras surrounding these legendary groups of warriors. However, there is a distinct difference in the commitment to realism.
The fights in Sengoku Basara are more often over-the-top and flashy like a shounen anime, but it does still cover historical events. Vinland Saga also shows some real events, but the combat is distinctly more realistic.
Angolmois
As the Mongolian Empire rapidly expands in the 13th Century, they turn their eyes across the sea to Japan.
For Jinzaburou, once a trusted man of the Kamakura and now an exiled criminal, he finds himself at the first staging point of the invasion – the island of Tsushima.
As the first stop between Korea and the Japanese mainland, can they withstand the torrent of a Mongol invasion?
Whereas Vinland Saga documents the viking invasion of England, Angolmois details the Mongol’s attempted invasion of Japan via Tsushima Island.
However, while Vinland Saga primarily has you looking at the tactics of the invaders, Angolmois is instead following the defenders of the island who are greatly outnumbered, but do have an advantage of knowing the terrain.
Aside from their historical inspirations, both shows love to show you tactical, but still brutal battles where even the best laid plans do not always end happily for the main characters.
For Fans of Vengeance
Berserk
Gutts has been a mercenary for as long as he can remember, caring for nothing but moving to the next battle.
One fateful battle puts him at odds with the rapidly rising mercenary group, the Band of the Hawk. Their charismatic, idealistic leader Griffith soon makes him join by force, but the bond he forms with the Band of the Hawk may very well mean the end of the world.
Both Vinland Saga and Berserk follow main characters who essentially grow up on the battlefield as a mercenary.
However, while Gutts is not motivated by revenge at first, Berserk becomes a story of his singular focus on vengeance after brutal betrayal. Vinland Saga is actually the opposite. Thorfinn starts out motivated only by revenge, and when that is taken away, he struggles to find something else to hold onto.
Gungrave
Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowel grew up on the streets together and both turned to crime in order to get by. However, when their activities are noticed by the eyes of the expansive Millennion mafia syndicate, the pair find themselves brought under their wings and rising through the ranks.
Things go well until one fateful day that changes it all.
Years later, Brandon Heat is brought back from the dead to fight Millennion and its new leader, Harry MacDowel.
While Vinland Saga is set in a medieval era and Gungrave takes place in a fictional modern city full of crime, what both series have in common is their tales of betrayal and revenge.
At certain points, you see both main characters alive only to take vengeance. However, the more interesting parts of both plots are the intrigue that is unwinding behind the scenes.
Dororo
In order to become indomitable as a ruler, a samurai lord barters his son’s organs away to 48 demons and then abandons him. However, his son doesn’t die.
Instead, a medicine man saves him with primitive, but lethal prosthetics that allow him to hunt down the demons and regain his organs for an eventual battle with his father.
Both Vinland Saga and Dororo start with very young characters that go through something horrific. Instead of giving up and dying, they struggle to live and become fine warriors despite any handicaps.
This allows them to set forth on a path for vengeance in which the main character must struggle to decide whether or not they let that thirst for revenge consume them or not.
Of course, while Thorfinn is looking to avenge his father, Hyakkimaru is looking to kill his.
Goblin Slayer
A young priestess fresh out of the temple is excited to start her life as an adventurer. On her first day, she joins an adventuring party to go slay some goblins.
However, like so many young adventure parties before them, they underestimate the goblins.
It ends with two dead, one viciously raped, and the priestess saved from fate by a man whose only mission in life is to slay all the goblins.
Did you enjoy Vinland Saga because the main character became a deadly fighter since they started so young? Goblin Slayer is similar.
The main character went through a traumatic event, and thus dedicated his mind and body to violent, singular revenge. However, unlike Thorfinn that wanted to kill one man, Goblin Slayer is more about goblin genocide.
While Golbin Slayer is more a standard fantasy show rather than Vinland Saga’s historical fantasy, they are both violent and brutal shows.
91 Days
Set during Prohibition, a man named Avilio returns to Lawless, a town famed for brewing illegal liquor, after the murder of his family by the mafia.
A mysterious letter prompted him to return and infiltrate the Vanetti family to get his revenge.
This anime tells the story of 91 days leading to the tragic end between Avilio and Nero Vanetti, the Don’s son.
Both vikings and mafia stories are not often seen in anime, so in that respect, Vinland Saga and 91 Days have that in common.
However, what these series most have in common is that their main characters are primarily fueled by revenge for their family. Just as Thorfinn wishes to kill Askeladd for killing his father, so too does Avilio wish to take down the mafia family that killed his family.
While Vinland Saga evolves past that revenge story, 91 Days carries it out much like you would expect from a mafia story. Both shows are different in setting, but similar in brutality as well as forming odd bonds with your enemies.
Attack on Titan
Facing imminent extinction, humanity retreated behind a series of tall, thick walls to escape their most dangerous threat – massive human-like Titans with a taste for human flesh.
With an enemy that eats humanity for fun rather than food, they are constantly threatened. As such, it is the duty of every human to defend the species.
Enter Eren Yegaer who, after his village was destroyed by Titans breaching the outer wall, he and his adopted sister Mikasa join the Survey Corps. They are one of three factions of the military that scouts and combats Titans outside the walls.
After joining in the brutal war, Eren discovers a secret about himself that could unravel what the world thinks they know about Titans.
While both shows are quite popular anime with high production values, they also share the same core concept – revenge.
In the beginning, both Eren and Thorfinn are motivated by a very simple desire for revenge to the point where they are almost boring characters. However, as both Vinland Saga and Attack on Titan go on, they evolve from that simple revenge plot into something more intricate and ponderous.
If nothing else, Vinland Saga and Attack on Titan are for those that enjoy frequent dismemberment and death of even major characters.
For Fans of War Tactics and War Politics
Kingdom
In the Ancient Chinese Kingdom of Qin, war orphan and slave Xin trains with his fellow slave and best friend Piao to achieve their dream of one day being Great Generals of the Heavens.
However, after catching the eye of an imperial minister, Piao is taken to work at the royal palace until a coup sends him back to Xin. Piao arrives half dead in order to tell Xin to complete his mission for him.
This leads Xin to the young king, Zheng Ying, who Piao was posing as a double for. This encounter thrusts Xin in a brutal age of warfare and towards his destiny.
While Vinland Saga takes place in a real historical era, Kingdom takes place in a fictional era, inspired by real historical eras. This allows it more freedom with its characters and the story it wishes to tell.
What Vinland Saga and Kingdom have in common is they both frequently display not just skirmishes in a larger war, but the intrigue that goes on in a warring nation.
While Vinland Saga and its roster of characters are interesting, Kingdom goes above and beyond. This is the show for people that want a large cast of warrior characters.
Alderamin on the Sky
The world is currently embroiled by war between the Katjvarna Empire and the Kiorka Republic.
Within a corner of the empire, a young man prepares to take his High Grade Military Officer Exam. He is lazy and lecherous, but no one would expect his name would go down in history as a legendary military general.
This is his story.
While Vinland Saga is inspired by a real historical era, Alderamin on the Sky is innately different by being set in a fictional world with light magic influences and World War I levels of warfare technology.
However, what Alderamin on the Sky and Vinland Saga have in common is that when it comes to combat, the leaders have faith in tactics rather than numbers. While Vinland Saga is often more focused on the political aspect, the series shows the tactics used when it comes to battle. Alderamin on the Sky is the same way.
While Alderamin on the Sky has its political intrigues, the battles are definitely more of a focus.
Altair – A Record of Battles
Tughril Mahmut is a young pasha that serves the Divan of the Turkiye Stratocracy.
However, an aggressive empire threatens the peace of his nation and the Divan is divided between the opinions of warmongers and pacifists.
Mahmut soon embarks on a quest to keep the peace, but as he moves further into politics, what will he do if war is unavoidable?
Similar to the aforementioned series Kingdom, Altair takes place in a world that is clearly historically inspired, but also quite fictional. What Altair has in common with Vinland Saga is that it is a series that balances delicate politics with intricate battle tactics, and does well to show both off.
However, while Thorfinn pursues vengeance, Mahmut is in the pursuit of peace. However, regardless of the difference, they know how to craft an engaging plot of intrigue.
Jormungand
After being raised in a conflict area and living as a child soldier Jonah hates weapons, but when he takes a job as a bodyguard to the arms dealer Koko, he is left with no choice in the matter.
Alongside a number of other skilled bodyguards, Jonah must protect Koko and her idealistic goal of world peace in a vicious world.
While Jormungand has a Nordic name, it isn’t a Nordic-inspired anime like Vinland Saga. In fact, it isn’t even medieval. However, like Vinland Saga, Jormungand follows a child soldier in an arms dealer group not unlike a group of mercenaries. However, Jormungand follows a modern day-set child soldier.
Both Vinland Saga and Jormungand have a cold, emotionally stunted main character that ends up joining the group of the people they hate most. However, in Jormungand, he just hates weapons dealers in general for encouraging violence, not so much the clever and cunning woman he is working for.
Aside from a different setting, Jormungand also isn’t fueled by a revenge plot. It is more about intrigues unfolding as the crew takes different jobs.
Do you have more anime recommendations like Vinland Saga? Let fans know in the comments section below.
dad is that youuu
Yo, you forgot the absolute best anime that’s on par with Vinland saga. Angolmois:Record of Mongol Invasions. It’s super underrated but it’s basically Vinland saga in Japan. There’s no dumb fan service, nor annoying anime cliches. Just watch the op for it and you’ll get the idea. So please add this anime to this list.