10 best adventure manga that you should read

Adventure manga offers passage into realms beyond imagination, where mighty heroes battle ruthless villains, explore wondrous lands, and overcome deadly challenges. These stories take readers on epic quests, brimming with high-stakes drama, human resilience, and protagonists discovering their inner strength.

Beyond sheer entertainment, good adventure manga often provide thoughtful commentary on morality, redemption, friendship, and what it means to live freely. The best series capture our sense of wonder with strange magic systems, creative fight sequences, and bonds of loyalty against all odds.

Whether following pirates navigating dangerous seas, soldiers defeating monstrous giants, or alchemists seeking to undo taboo rituals, adventure manga unleashes spectacular journeys promising excitement and life lessons worthy of great epics. Let us set sail through 10 phenomenal titles no fan should miss!

One Piece, Fullmetal Alchemist, and 8 best adventure manga

1. One Piece

One Piece by Eiichiro Oda (Image via Shueisha)

When it comes to world-building, imagination, and sheer story scope, nothing compares to the vibrant pirate epic One Piece. Creator Eiichiro Oda has crafted a boundless world brimming with mysteries, quirky characters, and tyrannical villains, establishing it as one of the best adventure manga series ever.

Young pirate Monkey D. Luffy leads the zany Straw Hat crew seeking Gold Roger's ultimate treasure, the One Piece, to become King of the Pirates, making friends and battling legendary pirate foes along the way.

With over 1000 chapters of seafaring sagas unfolding for 27 years and counting, One Piece rewards readers with humor, horror, and heartbreaking drama against a fantastical backdrop of sailing ships, eccentric islands, and the enigma of the Grand Line itself.

2. Fullmetal Alchemist

Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa (Image via Square Enix)

Within Fullmetal Alchemist's mechanical prosthetics and military uniforms lies a thoughtful alchemical magic system governing the law of "equivalent exchange." This beloved adventure manga has captivated readers worldwide with its unique blend of science and fantasy.

When young genius Edward Elric loses limbs attempting to revive his dead mother, Ed becomes a State Alchemist to access military resources and research that could help restore his and his brother's bodies. Through transmutation battles, Ed and Alphonse uncover truths about human souls and bodies.

As Ed sacrifices his childhood to atone through automail limbs and altruism, the story travels from the quirky Tucker residence to the northern fortress of Briggs to the ancient Xerxes ruins. The Elrics uncover the horrific sacrifices behind the Philosopher's Stones before facing their greatest foe in this epic adventure manga.

3. Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama (Image via Kodansha)

In an apocalypse where the remnants of humanity shelter behind concentric walls, mindless smiling giants called Titans have overrun civilization, fueled by consuming humans. This intense adventure manga pushes boundaries with its dark themes and complex narrative.

When the 60-meter Colossal Titan smashes the outer gate, soldiers like Eren Jaeger, Mikasa, Sasha, and Conny join the elite Survey Corps under Captain Levi, fighting to reclaim land lost in Shiganshina's fall years ago. Eren's rage deepens as enemies reveal humanity's persecution.

Hajime Isayama reinvents Attack on Titan as intelligent Titans and new enemies push the Scouts beyond the walls to the Marleyan Empire, uncovering shocking truths about the Titans, the walls, and Eldia. Tense battles and shocking twists make this series very addictive.

4. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge (Image via Shueisha)

On the surface, Demon Slayer seems like a traditional historical dark fantasy where kind-hearted Tanjiro Kamado battles demons after his family is slaughtered and sister Nezuko turns into a demon. Yet this compelling adventure manga stands out through its emotional depth and stunning visuals.

Tanjiro joins the Demon Slaying Corps, seeking a cure for Nezuko while hunting flesh-eating demons. From the creepy Hand Demon to the flamboyant Twelve Demon Moons led by Muzan Kibutsuji, the King of Demons, Tanjiro teams up with friends like Inosuke and Zenitsu on his quest.

Training arcs bolster suspense before unleashing imaginative fight choreography, with Tanjiro mastering Water Breathing sword styles while Nezuko develops her Blood Demon Arts to create iconic moments against villains like the spider demons of Mt. Natagumo.

5. Hunter x Hunter

Hunter x Hunter by Yoshihiro Togashi (Image via Shueisha)

Don't let the bright colors and plucky protagonists fool you—this masterful adventure manga packs plenty of thrills in its deceptively lighthearted packaging.

The adventure fantasy follows Gon Freecss, a cheerful boy who strives to become a licensed Hunter to find his father. Hunters, divided into specialized categories like Blacklist Hunters and Gourmet Hunters, travel the world taking on special quests and tasks, from capturing outlaws to hunting treasures.

Gon soon befriends skilled apprentices Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, and together they journey through the dangerous Hunter Exam while uncovering dark conspiracies in the world of Hunters. With intricate world-building and engrossing story arcs, Hunter x Hunter appeals to fans young and old.

6. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki (Image via Shueisha)

What do vampires, the ancient Pillar Men, and Italian gangsters have in common? They're all enemies defeated by the heroic descendants of the Joestar bloodline in this flamboyant, beloved classic.

Spanning multiple generations, this unique adventure manga has enthralled readers for over 37 years. Set in an alternate history, each saga focuses on different protagonists bearing the Joestar name battling supernatural evil through creative special abilities and clever tactics.

From 19th-century aristocrat Jonathan Joestar to modern-day delinquent Jotaro Kujo to Giorno Giovanna in 2001 Italy, Hirohiko Araki's fabulously eccentric art and cunning battles against a variety of supernatural foes make this bizarre, genre-busting series a must-read adventure.

7. Berserk

Berserk by Kentaro Miura (Image via Hakusensha)

Not for the faint of heart, Berserk plunges readers into a dark medieval horror fantasy following the cursed journey of Guts, a vengeful warrior battling demonic beings and searching for sanctuary in a world permeated by evil. This dark fantasy adventure manga has defined the genre for generations.

Defeated by the charismatic Griffith and then joining his Band of the Hawk as a mercenary, Guts' world changes forever when circumstances spin into a demonic Eclipse, where Griffith sacrifices the Hawks to be reborn as Femto, the fifth member of the Godhand.

With his former ally now a demon god, Guts wields his Dragonslayer sword against Apostles, joining allies like sorceress Schierke on a blood-soaked journey as the Black Swordsman. Savagely gory yet philosophically profound, Berserk's high-stakes struggle makes it a sensation for die-hard fans.

8. Spy x Family

Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo (Image via Shueisha)

Looking for cute, quirky espionage adventures? Spy x Family delivers a fresh take on the adventure manga genre, following "Twilight," the alias of Westalis' greatest spy, assigned to monitor a political figure, Donovan Desmond, in the rival country Ostania to prevent rising tensions.

His mission? Build a family as a cover identity while undercover. Things get lively when Twilight adopts the child Anya, a psychic esper, and suddenly marries Yor, who maintains dual roles as both a city hall clerk and secret assassin.

This eccentric pretend family trio secretly works towards peace while navigating school, work, and the spy world. With a masterful combination of action, comedy, and family bonding, this endearing series proves having a loving family doesn't make you weak but stronger.

9. Bleach

Bleach by Tite Kubo (Image via Shueisha)

Created by Tite Kubo, Bleach stars Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki. When Ichigo gains Soul Reaper powers from Rukia Kuchiki, he faces threats to the mortal world like the mysterious Hollows that devour souls, continuing his role as protector even after Rukia regains her powers.

Teaming with his high school friends gifted with special powers, Ichigo battles deadly Shinigami captains and powerful Arrancar while uncovering secrets of the afterlife, the spirit-rich Soul Society, and the vast desert dimension of Hueco Mundo.

Overflowing with sharp weapons, snappy banter, and slick costumes amid the ever-expanding world of ghosts, Bleach solidified mangaka Tite Kubo as a master of supernatural spectacle.

10. Inuyasha

Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi (Image via Shogakukan)

Rumiko Takahashi dominates as the best-selling female comics artist, and her creation Inuyasha remains one of the most beloved adventure manga of all time. It follows schoolgirl Kagome, pulled into Japan's feudal Sengoku Era by Mistress Centipede, who seeks the magical Shikon Jewel hidden within Kagome's body.

After the jewel shatters and Kagome revives the hanyō (half-yokai, half-human) Inuyasha, they encounter and are joined at different times by Miroku, Sango, and Shippo on their quest against nefarious yokai like Naraku to recover the scattered shards of the Jewel.

Blending ancient Japanese history and folklore with unforgettable character dynamics spanning friendship, family bonds, and romance (that love triangle still rages fiercely!), Inuyasha remains a thoroughly captivating and magical adventure through time.

Conclusion

The exhilarating thrill of adventure manga lies in exploring strange new worlds, witnessing astounding abilities, and the triumph of courage and conviction. Within spectacular battles hide meaningful storytelling about discovering one’s potential, protecting beloved people, and the essence of humanity's condition itself.

From Fullmetal Alchemist’s thoughtful alchemy to Demon Slayer’s beautifully animated fights to Inuyasha’s iconic fantasy quest, these adventure manga deliver excitement and insights guaranteed to spark any reader’s sense of adventure.