27+ BEST Adventure Anime! (RECOMMENDATIONS)

Updated on: July 25, 2022
by Ernie

Going on field trips are usually the best memories students can make. But hold on, they can also become their worst nightmares! Some embarrassing moments may occur, their transportation might run into some problems, or the living conditions there can be so miserable that not one kid will wish to go back.

To make up for our bad travel experiences, humans invented adventure anime! In this fake reality (sorry for the truth bomb!), we can watch people actually have fun, discover interesting places and concepts, all while improving their characters!

In adventure anime, the protagonist usually has some sad backstory, and hard motivation to reach their end goal. Here, I ranked the anime based on their story, the animation quality and the presence of an adventure element. Join the ambitious MCs on their way to find peace with this list of the 28 best series in the genre!

28. Tower of God

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
6/10	6/10	6/10	18/30

Tower of God was one of the anime to jump on the cringe train and place the word “God” somewhere in the title. It might have not been the first one to do that, but at the time of its airing literally, everyone named their anime something like that, and it was just despicable. But there were moments where the adventure is real and the fights can get hyped up.

Well, the anime won’t do justice either. While the concept of clearing your way through a tower to reach the top is catchy, the delivery could’ve been a bit better. Tower of God is a mediocre show hyped up to the max, but it might work for you!

27. Sword Art Online

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
5/10	6/10	8/10	19/30

If you somehow liked the premise of Tower of God, then let me introduce you to Sword Art Online! Hey, I don’t even have to introduce it, as probably everyone has heard about it already.

See, SAO is basically the same, but with less logic (haha! got em). The first bits of the series were actually pretty good, and we can say that SAO was innovative at its peak. Many isekai were inspired by its pioneer efforts, so the legacy of SAO is unquestionable!

26. Seven Deadly Sins

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
6/10	7/10	6/10	19/30

It’s always hard to downrate SDS, as this series really had some fire moments! Maybe if it wasn’t for the horrendous animation of the third season, we could enjoy this masterpiece to the fullest!

SDS is not perfect, but the whole setting is awesome. The power levels are very detailed, and the side characters easily carry the whole anime. It really is a shame that the quality dropped harder than the value of Venezuela’s currency! The first opening song was sooo good too!

25. Overlord

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
5/10	6/10	8/10	19/30

Writing about Overlord is becoming harder and harder as time goes on, as the different aspects I rate anime based on really shuffles the rank of some anime. Overlord is one of the problematic shows, as it sometimes easily rises to the top, but fails to carry out a punch at others.

Now, for example, I can’t really say that Overlord should be higher up, as there isn’t such an adventure in this anime that would compete with the upcoming titles. On the other hand, it’s a wonderful isekai, so if you are interested in big bad(good) demon lords, then check out Overlord!

24. To Your Eternity

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
6/10	9/10	4/10	19/30

To Your Eternity was a promising new release of the 2021 Spring season, but sadly the quality went down after the first few episodes. The pilot was insanely emotional, and it presented a wonderful opportunity to embrace the goals of human life, but we got poorly written action and supernatural stuff instead.

On the other hand, the adventure part in To Your Eternity is on point. To be honest, it really is interesting to watch the oblivious spirit and his company study the world, it is just sad that there is no meaningful connection along the way.

23. Spirited Away

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
9/10	4/10	7/10	20/30

Spirited Away is the most critically acclaimed anime currently, especially because it got the Oscars prize. Spirited Away was fun from the start, but there is a minor issue with it. There is not actually an adventure here.

Oooor maybe there is a little? In my definition, an adventure involves going on a long journey, exploring new stuff, and achieving your goals. But this time, Chihiro mostly stayed in the ghost castle!

These are just my minor complaints, and Spirited Away is absolutely worth watching! I’m sure the black masked monster will be your favorite too 🙂 Oh, did I mention? Spirited Away is a movie. Great for a one sitting adventurous experience.

22. Log Horizon

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
8/10	5/10	7/10	20/30

Log Horizon was way smarter than what we expected. Initially following the structure of many gaming-based isekai, this series seemed like a generic factory product too. But as time went on, the tables turned quickly.

Thought-out geopolitics and complicated situations are both in the center of the attention this time, which is not a baseline that common isekai would follow. Log Horizon is way more of a cultured anime, and only in a good sense!

21. Spice and Wolf

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
9/10	7/10	4/10	20/30

I wish Spice and Wolf could be placed higher! This anime is truly special in every way. The story is heartwarming, it teaches the basics of microeconomics, and Holo also proves to be the best waifu of all time!

But hold on, there are a few negatives about it too. Firstly, I don’t remember there being any spices, or any wolves present in the show! Holo was a fox spirit, dammit! Also, it was quite boring at some points.

Thankfully, the trading parts recovered any damage that the series suffered from the dumb mistakes along the way. If you are interested in medieval money-making then this anime was made for you!

20. Mushishi

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
9/10	6/10	6/10	21/30

Mushishi really shouldn’t be so underrated! This anime is wonderful in every sense. Deep philosophical thought was introduced in every episode, and the sheer simplicity of the show made it into something very mature.

Searching for the meaning of life is somewhat the goal of every person, but just a few licky can find it through an adventure. The Mushi, the spirits of our world, are the epitomes of meaning in meaninglessness. Can we find answers through them?

19. The Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
6/10	8/10	7/10	21/30

What about That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Imposter? I think it’s finally time for an Amongus anime! MAPPA will surely pick it up after finishing Chainsaw Man too!

Enough of the dumb jokes, we have to talk about serious jokes. This anime was just another smart attempt to popularize isekai, but it turned out actually good! I never thought that I could wholeheartedly like isekai, but TenSure gave me a delightful little breeze!

18. The Promised Neverland

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
9/10	4/10	8/10	21/30

The Promised Neverland Second Season wasn’t as good as the first one, but I guess we have to make a little compromise to have this list work out. The first season was brilliant, but it had no adventure. The second was not as good, but it had an adventure. So what should be done?

I’m going to pretend that TPN kept the good qualities from the start, but to make it fair I will take some points from the adventure section. Well, the detective work and the escape plan from the first season were wonderful, and I think this score is fitting!

17. Akame ga Kill!

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
8/10	6/10	8/10	22/30

Akame ga Kill! became pretty popular due to its dark and thrilling nature. To be honest, it was fun to watch! Almost everyone walked away with Esdeath being their fav character, but the other supports were pretty fun too!

The little problem with this series is still there: it is not about an adventure. The story plays out in a thought-out and fixed environment, and the characters have no intention to fake their deaths and go traveling. It’s SERIOUS!

16. Bleach

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
8/10	8/10	6/10	22/30

Bleach often fades into oblivion in comparison with Naruto and One Piece. The third member of the Big Three didn’t air nearly as long as the other two, and the theme wasn’t that popular either.

Despite this, I believe Bleach is a wonderful shonen! The power system is actually well thought out, and the villains absolutely make up for the lack of a good main cast. Aizen became a very popular antagonist in recent months, which can be the work of the hype built up for the upcoming anime project!

15. Digimon Adventure

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
6/10	10/10	6/10	22/30

Pokemon vs Digimon surely never gets old! While I’m a staunch believer of the Digimon supremacy (which you should follow as well), I also think that the two series differ enough to not take part in these childish arguments. They are not copies of each other!

The best season of the Digimon series is probably Tamers, but this time I have to give the credit to the first season. The adventure was just a perfect start out for the franchise, with loveable characters that got explored to the max. The evolutions were fun and unique, and this season also features the best journey that our heroes experienced!

14. Dororo

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
9/10	6/10	7/10	22/30

As you might know, Dororo is an old story. The first adaptation of the original manga came out in 1969, and after 50 years, we finally got a remake. It’s safe to say that the new version is just as good as the old one, and it goes even beyond that!

While adventure isn’t as nearly important in Dororo as in the main storyline, every bit of this anime shines. It just looks like MAPPA can’t make bad anime! Performing well at the pacing of the story, we can take a detailed look at the development of Hyakkimaru’s miserable life, and the strive of the little boy who accompanied him, Dororo.

13. KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
8/10	6/10	9/10	23/30

Konosuba presents an interesting take on the cliche-filled isekai genre. Finally focusing full-time on comedy, Konosuba is an obvious choice when it comes to having a fun time.

While the adventures aren’t in the primary focus, I can safely say that the show still falls in the category just fine. Every bit of Konosuba is pure enjoyment, and I can hardly bring up any negatives about it. Make sure to watch it!

12. Dr. Stone

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
7/10	9/10	7/10	23/30

While he surely doesn’t have a certificate, Senku is a madman who deserves to be called a doctor of science. He was single-handedly responsible for the rapid advancement of civilization, and if he weren’t around, we might still be in the stone age!

Well, not us. The story of Dr. Stone is captivating enough already, but if we also include the phenomenal humor that was embraced, we can safely say that this anime deserved the hype it received. Fans were thrilled to see the second season come out earlier this year, and they were not let down!

11. Berserk (Full Series)

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
10/10	9/10	4/10	23/30

Okay guys, hold your torches and pitchforks for a bit! I might get killed off by some of the angry fans in a few moments, but you have to understand the purpose of this list. Focusing on adventures, I believe judging every piece of Berserk at once is the right choice.

While the 1997 version is clearly better than the 2016 continuation, it lacks adventure elements. The Conviction Arc is clearly more of the same kind, along with the Black Swordsman Arc. But hey, Berserk is good enough to compensate for poor animation.

Mythology, realism, and despair go hand in hand. If you want to experience the hardest-hitting story, then check out Berserk. But read the manga!

10. Cowboy Bebop

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
10/10	6/10	8/10	24/30

Cowboy Bebop was always considered a classic, but many people still can’t reason why it is one or not. The fans usually bring up the borderline perfect writing, the fantastic musical score, and the memorable ending, but there is another little flavor of the show.

Taking time to properly demonstrate the everyday lives of the crew members made the series much more alive than it would have been without those little sidetracks that were taken along the way. Cmon, Valentine, Ein, Jet Black, and Edward were just as interesting as Spike was, and they deserved the time they got on screen!

9. Gurren Lagann

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
8/10	8/10	8/10	24/30

If you liked the previously mentioned Cowboy Bebop then Gurren Lagann will be something worth checking out too! This show is pretty much space action, and it might be even more of the kind!

Giant robots facing off against each other was always a profitable concept to pull out, and the studio behind this anime, Gainax, really didn’t spare any time to make things work here. Gurren Lagann is a well-balanced series, featuring thrilling action and emotional segments.

8. Magi series

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
8/10	8/10	8/10	24/30

Magi is a fantastic anime of its kind. Involving many folklore characters of the Middle Eastern and Arabic tales, we can observe the journey of Aladdin, Alibaba, and Sinbad as they make a trip to explore the world.

Both the Labyrinth of Magic and the Kingdom of Magic are well-done works, featuring original and different scenarios for the viewers to take a liking to. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t particularly interested in this setting, as Magi will do anything to make sure you had a fun time watching the show!

7. Made in Abyss

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
9/10	9/10	7/10	25/30

When you look deep into the abyss, what do you see?

I see an amazing anime that will never reach a conclusion! I’ve ranted about Made in Abyss enough already I think, but I will never forgive the author and the studio for milking it to the end and not giving a toot about the sentimental value.

By the way, this anime is about two kids who descend into an abyss to find out what’s at rock bottom. While it’s expected that the little girl’s mother is there, we really never get that reveal. On the other hand, it’s hella entertaining!

6. Naruto

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
8/10	10/10	8/10	26/30

Naruto was one of the big three along with One Piece and Bleach, but I think we can all agree that Naruto was the biggest of all. It basically paved a way for the Japanese animation industry to sell their stuff in the Western world as well. There are an uncountable number of fan-sub teams launched for the sole reason to translate Naruto. Soon they started working on other stuff as well, and the anime became an international hit due to an orange-suited boy.

Ninjas are fun, but fighting with magical powers is even better! Combining the wonderful ideas of many, Naruto became an insane story with many sidetracks as well. The age-old question still stands: was Madara right?

5. One Piece

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
9/10	10/10	7/10	27/30

If you watched the entirety of One Piece, there is a chance that you haven’t watched anything else, really. It takes so much time that the average anime watcher can’t even spend more time with any other media.

That is not a complaint of course, as One Piece is phenomenal! It is surely one of the best adventure anime out there, as that show is really the foundation of any adventure-type Japanese media. Sailing the seven seas to find a thing called One Piece? Yea, that’s it!

4. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
8/10	10/10	9/10	27/30

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure would be bizarre enough already, but what if I tell you that every single main character in this series has a name that starts with Jo? That’s exactly the reason why it’s the title of the show, haha.

Jumping between timelines is a usual thing for the JoJos, and the main story of this franchise is really ever-expanding. Introducing more and more new scenarios for the superhumans, JoJo has one of the most detailed universes in anime.

Anyone can easily become a fan of this show because of the insane twists, the manly action, and the original art style. Make sure to try it out yourself!

3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
10/10	8/10	10/10	28/30

Holding the title of the highest-rated anime for a long time, FMAB was destined to rank high on this list. While it’s not so much an adventure type of series like the previous or upcoming shows, it smashes the competition in every other sense.

Studio Bones can make good anime when they feel like it. Now, of course, I’m not trying to offend the fans of Noragami :)) FMAB is not an easy enemy to overperform in any aspect.

In a world where alchemy is everything, the talented young Edward and Alphonse Elric set off to recover their human bodies after an accident. Their limbs or whole bodies were replaced by automail. Finding the Philosopher’s Stone would be an easy way to achieve their goal, but can they get their wishes without an equivalent exchange?

2. Hunter x Hunter

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
9/10	10/10	9/10	28/30

Will this one ever end, huh? Not that it matters now, as Hunter x Hunter managed to climb to the second position on this list even without a proper ending. Many fans also call it Hiatus x Hiatus, so we can say that there’s hope put into the development of HxH.

HxH is all about adventure. When the young Gon set out to find his father, he couldn’t even imagine how many insane places and situations he would come across. Along with his fellow hunters, Gon uncovered the mysteries of his world. Maybe finding his father was just the first step into a restless life?

1. Vinland Saga

Plot/Storyline	Adventure	Animation	Total
10/10	9/10	10/10	29/30

Vinland Saga is a franchise truly worthy of being praised. Showing a semi-historical timeline, everyone was flattered to see how this Viking drama would play out. Set in the age of Canute the Great, we observed the lives of the greatest warriors.

Thorfinn was the son of Thors, one of the most respected Vikings of the time. After witnessing his father being assassinated by mercenaries, Thorfinn chose taking revenge to be his main goal, and he even accepted starvation and abuse to one day duel the murderer of his dad.

Vinland Saga is an amazing story of cruel people wandering the seas to raid villages of innocents and to settle their own power struggles. The show became so grandiose at the end, that not one viewer could walk past it without a word. And don’t forget the true king of Britannia, Askeladd!

Comment Or 🔫

These were my top picks for the adventure genre! I’m sure you will disagree with some of my points (or all of them), so make sure to tell us your ideas in the comments! So, what will you do? Get a hold of the Philosopher’s Stone, or seek revenge for your father?

Before setting off on an insane trip, make sure to read our other articles related to this list!