22+ Manga That Will Break You (Recommendations)

Hello everyone, we’re back today with another fantastic topic that will break you. Yes, you guessed it right; today we will talk about 23 manga that will break you. Sad comics with terrible endings have their own appeal, and fans adore them.

Some individuals like Japanese comics with joyful endings, while others prefer sad ones. I like both since they both create a lasting impression, whether they are sad or happy.

If you enjoy reading this sort of manga, you’ve come to the perfect spot because today we’ll go through 23 manga that will break you. By the way, by the word “break”, I don’t mean they’re going to beat you. It suggests they will make you exceedingly sad or heartbroken.

So without any further delay, let’s get started.

Japanese Comics That Will Make You Breakdown In Tears (Recommendations)

23. Himizu

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
14/20	7/10	7/10	6/10	34/50

Sumida, a young teenage hopeless boy with no objectives in life, is the main character of Himizu. He only wants to live his life happily without interfering with the lives of others. But nothing in his life is normal.

He was abandoned by his parents and left to live alone (think how terrible it must have been for Sumida).

My heart was shattered after reading this manga. Each episode of this manga portrays Sumida’s tragic existence. Himizu is basically a story of despair that reveals the harsh reality of this society.

This Japanese comic is packed with feelings that are only based on the harsh reality of life. Himizu is a masterpiece, and I recommend reading it if you are looking for a manga that will break you.

22. Orange

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
14/20	7/10	8/10	5/10	34/50

If you believe Orange is just another cheerful romance manga, you’re mistaken. This Japanese comic follows Naho Takamiya, a girl who receives a letter from someone claiming to be her future self.

She never took the letter seriously and regarded it as a prank, but when something happened that was stated in that letter, she was taken aback. As she reads the letter, Naho’s future self expresses numerous regrets, urging Naho to act on her decisions.

Naho, together with her companions, seeks to utilize the knowledge she passed on in the future to prevent the new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse, from committing suicide.

But the question is, will they be able to save Kakeru? Orange is a really sad manga that will make you weep in the end.

21. Demon Slayer

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
15/20	7/10	7/10	6/10	35/50

Demon Slayer is an action-packed manga that focuses on the sorrow that our main character has experienced.

The plot revolves around Kamado Tanjiro, whose family was murdered by a ruthless demon. He was devastated after watching that awful tragedy, and I can’t even imagine how difficult it must have been for him.

Luckily, Kamado’s younger sister survived, and that’s when he decided to avenge his family by becoming a Demon Slayer.

Demon Slayer is a terrible and sorrowful manga that will shatter your heart. If you’re looking for a manga with tragic events, Demon Slayer is the manga for you.

20. Flowers of Evil

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
15/20	7/10	6/10	7/10	35/50

Takao Kasuga, an antisocial middle school kid, is the protagonist of Flowers of Evil. Kasuga is solely interested in two things. One is books, and the other is his crush, Nanako Saeki, the school’s most renowned girl.

He acted strangely one day and took Nanako’s gym clothing, only to discover that Nakamura, another girl, had witnessed him doing that. Despite his desire to live a quiet peaceful life, Takao’s odd conduct flipped his life upside down, earning him the titles of an indecent person and criminal.

What are Nanako’s current plans? Is she going to torture him? Is she going to mock him by exposing him in front of everyone? You can find that out by reading this manga. Before you start reading, please be aware that this is a really sad and depressing manga.

So, get prepared to be shattered after reading this Japanese comic.

19. Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
15/20	6/10	8/10	6/10	35/50

Imagine learning about your death 24 hours earlier. What are your plans? Isn’t it fair to say that the majority of us will dismiss it as a prank? Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit tells a similar story in which children are injected with a nano capsule in class 1. One thousand of these injections contain toxins that kill the consumer when he reaches the age of 18-24.

Furthermore, there is an organization that sends death notices to persons who will die within the next 24 hours. This terrible conduct is justified as an act of honor by claiming that they are assisting the country by determining who will die and who will not.

This manga is really sad and depressing since it depicts the tremendously sorrowful responses of people who know they will die in 24 hours. I strongly recommend you read this manga if you are looking for a manga that will break you.

18. Banana Fish

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
15/20	6/10	8/10	7/10	36/50

Banana Fish centers around the story of Ash Lynx, a really intelligent and handsome man who is in Golzine’s hands. Golzine is a mafia boss who converted Ash into a formidable assassin. To fulfill his desires, Golzine exploited Ash and used him as a toy.

His life changed when he met Eiji Okumura, a young photographer. During his tour of New York, he met Ash and they both got attached to each other. The story changed dramatically when a cold war broke out in the streets of New York.

What will happen, and how can the duo survive in this cold war? Banana Fish is a sad manga with a heartbreaking conclusion. It also contains a lot of action, so be sure you read it.

17. Fujimi Lovers

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
15/20	7/10	8/10	6/10	36/50

Can you imagine falling in love with a girl and then confessing to her, and she accepts your proposal but then disappears? This is Fujimi Lovers‘ story. The plot centers around Kouno Jun who is in love with Hasebe Rino since kindergarten.

Kouno proposed to her, which she accepted, but that’s not all. After accepting Kouno’s proposition, the girl vanished from the place. Kouno became confused and began questioning everyone about Hasebe, only to discover that no one knew anything about her.

Our MC lived a gloomy high-school existence with just Hasabe’s recollections until Hasabe returned as a transfer student one day. But this was not the Hasabe he had fallen in love with. Who is this girl, and how will our MC deal with this pain?

Fujimi Lovers is a sad manga that depicts how tough it is to survive without the person you love.

16. Ai-Ren

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
15/20	7/10	7/10	8/10	37/50

Before I start telling you about this manga let me tell you something, Ai–Ren is one of those mangas I consider perfect. It has a unique storyline that really hooks the reader till the end. Ai-Ren tells us the story of Ikuru Yoshizumi who’s living his life fighting a deadly disease for the last 10 years.

In search of a cause to live in his dying days, Ikuru requests for ownership of an AGH-RMS, a genetically modified person with a limited lifespan who is supposed to bring relief to individuals who are nearing the end of their lives.

Ai, an AGH-RMS who resembles a young girl, is given to Ikuru. Ikuru finds her own purpose for being in Ai, who is able to create her own identity as a result of her eternal love for Ikuru.

As unavoidable global conflict threatens the human race’s future, Ai and Ikuru cling to one another for safety and love. If you are looking for a manga that will break you then Ai-Ren is one of them.

15. Our Happy Time

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
16/20	8/10	7/10	7/10	38/50

Don’t judge this manga based on its title. Although the title of this manga is Our Happy Time, trust me when I say that nothing about it is happy. This comic is about Juri Mutou, the daughter of a famous pianist.

She had a rough childhood and her mother treated her badly. Juri attempted suicide three times because of her mother and always hated her. With her life tainted by a tragic history, her aunt Monica, a member of the church, asks her to visit a death-row inmate.

Yuu is a death row convict accused of murdering three people. He regularly receives messages from Monica, who wishes to assist him. But when Yuu decides to visit Monica to tell her he wants her to stop writing letters, he met Juri and after seeing her he hoped for a change for the first time in his life.

Can their meetup brighten up each other’s life? We can’t answer that. You have to read this manga to find out.

14. Attack on Titan

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
16/20	8/10	7/10	7/10	38/50

How can we forget about Attack on Titan in a list of manga that will break you? Attack on Titan is a story about a civilization that is attacked by some enormous fat giants. These colossal beings are called Titans, and they are killing everyone they come across.

The entire human society is on the verge of chaos, and it’s all due to those gigantic beings. These giants are so merciless that they do not even spare children or women. People are witnessing their loved ones being eaten in front of them and are unable to help.

Who are these gigantic creatures? Where do they come from? How can humanity put a stop to them? The only way to discover this is to read this manga.

13. Erased

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
16/20	8/10	7/10	8/10	39/50

Erased is a fantastic manga that is well-known for its supernatural aspects. It tells us about Satoru Fujinuma. Satoru was a young man who lived a peaceful life until a tragic tragedy turned his world upside down.

Satoru was devastated when his mother and friends were murdered. Satoru was born with the ability to rewind time into the past, and as a result of his abilities, he travelled 18 years back in time.

Can he save his friends and family from the horrible tragedy now that he has travelled back in time?

I recommend that you read this manga to find out who murdered his mother and friends. Erased is also well-known for its sorrowful and terrible incidents. So, what are you holding out for? Go ahead and start reading this fantastic manga.

12. Tokyo Ghoul

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
16/20	9/10	8/10	6/10	39/50

Tokyo Ghoul tells the depressing story of Kaneki, a good-hearted man who was transformed into a monster by the girl he liked. The manga begins with our MC preparing a date with Rize. Rize is a ghoul that just wants to consume Kaneki’s corpse, but she disguises herself as a normal human being.

When she failed to eat him, Ken Kaneki transformed into the first half-human, half-ghoul hybrid. Ken Kaneki has now entered the dangerous and terrific realm of ghouls, which coexists with the normal world.

Kaneki’s life was flipped upside down following this tragedy, and his dreadful life began. Tokyo Ghoul is an action-packed manga that will make you cry because of its sad story. If you’re looking for a manga that will break you, this is the one to read.

11. Guilty Crown

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
17/20	8/10	9/10	6/10	40/50

Guilty Crown is set in 2039. Japan has become an apocalyptic place as a result of a fatal virus. GHQ saved Japan from this sickness, but in return, they wanted the country’s independence.

The plot revolves mainly around Shu Ouma, a high school student endowed with extraordinary powers. Shu joined an organization after discovering his mysterious powers. The major goal of this group was to free Japan from GHQ’s control.

Guilty Crown is one of the finest action/sci-fi mangas ever published. It also includes some really dramatic moments, such as the finale of Guilty Crown, which will make you cry.

Do you think I’m kidding? You’ll understand once you’ve read this manga. So go ahead and start it today.

10. Bitter Virgin

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
17/20	7/10	8/10	8/10	40/50

Because of its brutal and incredibly emotional storyline, this manga ranks in the top ten on our list. Daisuke Suwa, the manga’s main character, lives in a poor town with his mother. In high school, he acts like a jerk and teases every lady except Hinako Aikawa.

Hinako appears to be a shy and innocent girl, and Suwa refers to her as Sweet Virgin because of her purity. He hid in a confessional box in a church one day due to a mix-up. What happened after that was heartbreaking.

Hinako arrived and admitted that her stepfather had abused her since she was a child. She even informed him about her kid, who is being placed for adoption. Suwa was shocked after hearing all of this and vowed to assist Hinako in overcoming her trauma.

Bitter Virgin is an extremely emotional manga that, in some ways, reflects the truth of what is going on in the society that urgently needs to be stopped. If you’re looking for a manga that will break you, this is the one to read.

9. Berserk

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
13/20	9/10	10/10	10/10	41/50

How could we miss this manga on a list of manga that will break you? Berserk is the story of a guy who is despised and betrayed by everyone in the world.

Berserk tells the story of Guts, a young man who saw his mother hanging from a tree when he first opened his eyes. He had a terrible childhood, and when he finally found someone on whom he could trust, that person abandoned him, leaving him alone and empty-handed.

Guts is now sick of it all and intends to kill everyone who has ever wronged him. He is also known as the Black Swordsman. Can he fulfill his goal to kill everyone who has harmed him? If you’re curious enough, read this manga.

8. Your Lie in April

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
18/20	8/10	9/10	7/10	42/50

The main character of this manga, Kousei Arima, is a passionate pianist who adores music. He loved to play the piano until his mother died one day, and he could never play it again because of his mother’s memories.

Because of the shock, he became tone–deaf, and no matter how hard he tried, he could never play the piano. But his life was completely changed in a good way when he met Kaori Miyazono, a gorgeous girl who plays the violin and is best at it.

Thanks to her, our MC, Kousei, is once again trying to play the piano. The plot of Your Lie in April is quite emotional and can make any person cry. I recommend this manga if you are looking for a manga that will make you cry.

7. Made In Abyss

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
18/20	8/10	9/10	8/10	43/50

Made In Abyss is a Japanese adventure/fantasy comic with a lot of sad and tragic incidents. The story begins with Riko, who lost her mother when she was two years old. An Abyss is a location comparable to the Black Hole.

After roughly a decade, she is set to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a renowned White Whistle, capable of conquering the inner depths of the Abyss. But whoever goes into the depths of the abyss never comes out.

Can she make it out of it alive? What secrets is she gonna find in there? Read this manga and find out.

6. I Want To Eat Your Pancreas

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
18/20	8/10	9/10	8/10	43/50

You may think that this is a horror manga where zombies want to eat someone’s pancreas. You are wrong if you think that. I Want To Eat Your Pancreas is a really beautiful manga that portrays love in a very unique way.

This manga is about Sakura Yamauchi, a girl who had no choice but to accept her fate. She has a fatal ailment in her pancreas and only has a few days to live. She keeps a diary as a hobby and writes about her life in it.

Her classmate discovered her journal and was taken aback when he learned of her secret. Except for Sakura’s family and that person, no one knows anything about her condition.

Despite their opposing personalities, they maintain an unbreakable relationship, and he stayed with her until she passed. This manga is enough to make a grown man cry (even as I write this I’m crying). This manga is a masterpiece so don’t miss it.

5. Solanin

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
18/20	9/10	9/10	9/10	45/50

Solanin is another fantastic manga that portrays a society in some way. This manga is both pleasant and sad at the same time, so have tissues handy when reading it.

Meiko Inoue is a college graduate who believes that there is a monster roaming the streets of Tokyo and that she is numb and bored as a result of that demon. She asked her boyfriend to leave his work in order to begin a new and adventurous life, and he agreed.

They both had plans to renew a music band and live happily ever after, but life isn’t always a bed of roses. Something dreadful happened, shattering their aspirations.

Solanin is a fantastic manga that beautifully depicts loss, despair, and happiness, as well as many other aspects of life.

4. To Your Eternity

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
19/20	9/10	9/10	9/10	46/50

The manga tells the story of a heartless, immortal, and mysterious entity brought to Earth. Let’s call that mysterious monster “It.” This manga shows us how this creature got his senses and made a lot of great friends.

But not for much longer. He also attracted some dangerous opponents and began to lose his companions one by one. The ending of To Your Eternity rips my heart. The MC is once again alone at the end of To Your Eternity.

If you’re looking for a manga that will break you then this is the manga for you.

3. Monster

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
19/20	10/10	9/10	9/10	47/50

Dr. Kenzou Tenma, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, was enjoying a peaceful life while treating and rescuing his patients.

But everything changed when he was forced to stop an operation on one patient and do it on another due to the hospital’s director’s orders.

He rescued that patient, but the other poor man died because he prioritized someone else over despite the urgent situation of the said poor man. Tenma is again in the same situation, but this time he chooses to operate on the orphan kid rather than the mayor.

Tenma was punished by the hospital’s director as a result of political pressure and was fired. What will you choose in this type of situation? Monster is an extremely heartbreaking and emotional Japanese comic that can break everyone’s heart.

2. A Silent Voice

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
19/20	10/10	10/10	9/10	48/50

This is one of my favorite manga series. It tells the story of a bully named Shouya Ishida and a deaf girl named Shouko Nishimiya. Shouya used to bully her all the time, but she could do nothing except weep.

He bullied her so badly that she dropped out of school. Shouya knew he was wrong and began hunting for her everywhere so he could apologize to her. He even learned sign language for her, but she was nowhere to be found (no one cares until it’s too late).

He saw her unexpectedly and walked up to her. In addition to asking for forgiveness, he also fell in love with her and promised to care for her until the end of his life.

The story of this manga is really heartwarming and I’m 1000000% sure that you’ll shed tears after reading it.

1. Oyasumi Punpun

Impact	Plot	Character Writing	Art	Total
20/20	9/10	10/10	10/10	49/50

Oyasumi Punpun tells the story of Punpun, an 11-year-old boy. Punpun had always been a romantic person who desired to be in a relationship. He always wanted to fall in love, and when he met his classmate, he did.

Punpun is a kind soul who is naive to the ways of the world. He gradually realized how tough it is to manage these connections. This is a depressing manga to which we can all relate.

If you’re feeling lost and unsure of what to do as you enter adulthood, I recommend reading this manga.

Which Manga Have You Watched? Is The Best?

Because of such melancholic and heartbreaking mangas, I am genuinely feeling sad after writing this blog (I feel like I am going through a breakup again). If you enjoy reading heartbreaking manga, you may begin by reading any of the titles listed above.

Comment below and let us know if any of these mangas shattered your heart. We’ll see you again soon. Goodbye, and take Care.