10 Best Halloween Anime to Watch for a Spooky Night (Ranked)

It’s officially that time of year when the veil thins and the eerie begins to take hold. Halloween is much more than just a day for elaborate cosplay and trick-or-treating; it’s the season dedicated to immersing ourselves in the most haunting and chilling media available. Beyond the usual lineup of Western movies and TV shows, the anime medium boasts an incredibly rich variety of terror, spanning supernatural thrillers, pure psychological mind-benders, and intense gore-fests. If you’re searching for the perfect fright, dive into our curated list of the best Halloween anime you absolutely must watch in 2025.

Selecting the right spooky series is crucial for a successful festive binge-watch. Whether your preference leans towards action-packed monster hunting or deeply unsettling existential dread, the anime world guarantees a fright for every fan. This collection features a perfect blend of recent critical sensations and timeless classics, ensuring a memorable, goosebump-inducing experience for the spooky season ahead.

The Halloween Horror Hit List

10. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress – High-Octane Zombie Siege

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress dives straight into a devastating zombie-like virus outbreak that gives rise to the Kabane—undead creatures whose sole purpose is to consume humans. The story centers on a desperate group of survivors who travel across the ravaged landscape aboard a massive, armored train. This series delivers the adrenaline rush of a classic zombie flick, feeling like an animated, post-apocalyptic take on the popular Korean film, Train to Busan.

• Review Summary: A steampunk-infused action horror series that focuses on intense siege warfare against relentless, metallic-hearted zombies.
• Key Features:
  • Solid zombie action anchored by continuous, claustrophobic siege sequences.
  • Features high-quality animation and fluid action courtesy of Wit Studio (Attack on Titan).
  • Introduces Kabaneri—half-human, half-Kabane hybrids—adding a unique layer of complexity to the monster dynamic.

9. The Summer Hikaru Died – Eerie Psychological Unease

One of the newest and most unsettling entries on this list, The Summer Hikaru Died, premiered in 2025 and focuses on the deep, mysterious bond between best friends Yoshiki Tsujinaka and Hikaru Indou. After Hikaru vanishes into the mountains and returns a week later, Yoshiki immediately senses that the person standing before him is not his friend, kicking off a series of strange phenomena in their quiet town.

• Review Summary: A chilling and mysterious character study that masterfully builds an atmosphere of psychological unease around a fractured, central friendship.
• Key Features:
  • An intensely unsettling atmosphere centered on themes of loss and identity.
  • Heavy focus on psychological paranoia and subtle body horror elements.
  • A blockbuster debut season that expertly sets the stage for a continuation of the dark mystery.

8. Another – The Deadly School Curse

Set within the walls of a high school plagued by a terrifying curse, Another follows transfer student Koichi Sakakibara as he arrives and begins to notice bizarre and inexplicable phenomena surrounding his classmates. To survive, he must reluctantly team up with the mysterious, isolated girl Mei Misaki to uncover the truth and put an end to the curse before the inevitable body count rises further.

• Review Summary: The quintessential supernatural high school horror anime, known for its gripping mystery and famously shocking, gore-filled moments.
• Key Features:
  • An iconic supernatural mystery featuring a terrifying school curse.
  • Known for its creative and shocking death scenes that drive the body count.
  • Features an intriguing, fatal mystery with a distinctly Final Destination-esque twist.

7. Soul Eater – Embracing the Gothic Halloween Aesthetic

If you crave the complete, stylized Halloween aesthetic—gothic outfits, a distinctively eerie atmosphere, and dreadful creatures—all wrapped into one anime, look no further. This dark fantasy series follows students from the Shinigami’s Death Weapon Meister Academy who partner with “weapon” humans to hunt down monsters and powerful witches, all in the name of global protection.

• Review Summary: A dark fantasy shonen series celebrated for its instantly recognizable gothic and stylized aesthetic that perfectly captures the playful yet spooky spirit of the holiday.
• Key Features:
  • An instantly recognizable gothic and stylized aesthetic.
  • A fun, kinetic mix of dark fantasy action and lighthearted shonen comedy.
  • The perfect series for a binge-watch due to its overall Halloween theme and memorable cast of spooky characters.

6. Higurashi: When They Cry – Small-Town Paranoia

This long-running horror and mystery franchise explores the relentless cycle of terror surrounding the remote town of Hinamizawa, where inhabitants vanish and die under unpredictable, horrifying circumstances every year. The protagonist, Keiichi Maebara, attempts to unravel the dark truths with his friends, but spirals into terrifying madness as he uncovers disturbing secrets.

• Review Summary: A deeply unsettling mystery that uses a unique, cyclical narrative structure to explore themes of psychological paranoia and small-town horror.
• Key Features:
  • A deeply unsettling narrative structure that resets the story, offering divergent perspectives and escalating dread.
  • Expertly blends supernatural horror with psychological paranoia and disturbing gore.
  • A guaranteed thrilling watch thanks to its isolated setting where you literally can’t trust anyone.

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5. Tokyo Ghoul – The Struggle for Identity in Darkness

This iconic action-horror anime plunges viewers into the world of Ken Kaneki, a student who tragically ends up as a human-ghoul hybrid after a terrifying encounter. Ghouls are horrifying, human-flesh-consuming creatures that have secretly taken over parts of Tokyo, forcing Kaneki to navigate two hostile worlds while grappling with his monstrous new identity and morality.

• Review Summary: A compelling action-horror series that delves into themes of morality, identity, and brutal survival, set against the backdrop of a ghoul-infested metropolis.
• Key Features:
  • An excellent blend of action, body horror, and deep psychological themes.
  • Features a highly compelling protagonist struggling with physical transformation and moral ambiguity.
  • A must-watch for its iconic visual style and intense, choreographed fight sequences.

4. Dandadan – Supernatural Comedy Done Right

If you’re seeking a unique blend of scares and laughs, Dandadan is a chaotic supernatural comedy centered around the unlikely pairing of ghosts and aliens. Momo Ayase and Okarun are continually caught in a whirlwind of wild, life-threatening supernatural incidents they must resolve, often battling bizarre yokai and creatures rooted in various Japanese folklores.

• Review Summary: A fresh, highly creative series that combines the best of supernatural themes with hilarious comedy and incredibly over-the-top, fast-paced action.
• Key Features:
  • A fresh mix of supernatural themes, hilarious comedy, and kinetic, over-the-top action.
  • Explores a vast array of yokais and creatures originating from various Japanese folklores.
  • The perfect choice for a lighthearted yet still spooky Halloween binge-watch.

3. Parasyte: The Maxim – Humanity and Evolution

This sci-fi horror masterpiece is centered on an invasion of parasitic aliens that descend upon Japan, infiltrating and taking over the brains of unsuspecting citizens. Shinichi Izumi is only partially infected, with the parasite taking over his right hand. This grants him a unique, symbiotic relationship with his parasite, Migi, as he must now evolve to defend humanity from the terrifying invasion.

• Review Summary: A gripping sci-fi horror thriller that uses its violent premise to explore thought-provoking themes about humanity, empathy, and the next stage of evolution.
• Key Features:
  • Deeply thought-provoking themes about humanity, morality, and biological evolution.
  • Features intense action and genuinely disturbing sci-fi horror imagery.
  • A tightly focused, 24-episode series that wastes no time in developing its gripping plot and action.

2. Perfect Blue – A Thriller Masterpiece

Regarded as one of the most influential anime movies of all time, Perfect Blue is a relentless psychological horror-thriller. It tells the dark tale of Mima Kirigoe, a former pop idol who transitions to acting, only to begin a terrifying spiral into insanity when a dangerous stalker crosses the boundary between her public and private life.

• Review Summary: A landmark masterpiece of psychological horror that masterfully blurs the lines between reality, performance, and delusion, making it an essential, mature viewing experience.
• Key Features:
  • A true masterpiece of psychological horror that challenges the viewer’s perception of reality.
  • Directed by the legendary visionary Satoshi Kon, known for his complex narratives.
  • A thrilling, emotionally intense rollercoaster ride perfect for a mature Halloween viewing.

1. Shiki – The Epitome of Slow-Burn Dread

Widely considered the ultimate Halloween anime by the horror community, Shiki is set in Sotoba, a tiny, formerly peaceful town. A series of tragedies begins following the mysterious death of Megumi Shimizu, kicking off an epidemic of sudden, inexplicable deaths. The town’s doctor, Toshio Ozaki, soon realizes the root cause is not a disease but something far more sinister and supernatural.

• Review Summary: A chilling, slow-burn masterpiece that uses a traditional horror setup to deliver sharp commentary on human nature, fear, and mass hysteria.
• Key Features:
  • A chilling, slow-burn narrative that methodically builds immense dread and crippling paranoia.
  • Offers excellent, subtle commentary on human nature and the dangers of mob mentality.
  • Guarantees a chilling, unforgettable payoff in its dramatic and horrifying final episodes.

Conclusion

That wraps up our definitive list of the best horror anime titles, handpicked to ensure you have the spookiest and most thrilling Halloween possible. This comprehensive selection offers everything from supernatural battles and psychological mind games to pure action-packed scares, guaranteed to perfectly complement the terrifying tone of the season.