10 Crunchyroll Action Thrillers That Top Attack on Titan

Let’s be honest – if you’ve dipped your toes into anime, you’ve heard about Attack on Titan. Over the last quarter-century, there haven’t been many shows that manage to beat it at its own game, and it’s earned its reputation as a peerless genre-defining beast. At first, it looks like your standard moody dystopian survival fest, but give it a few episodes and it mutates into something much stranger and more ambitious. The frantic plot twists, the enormous swings between action, politics, and gutting emotional moments – it all makes for absolutely unskippable telly (alright, unless you really hate giant monsters or screaming teens).

Now, to be clear – there are a handful of series out there that can edge out Attack on Titan in specific areas. Some top it for animation, some for choreography, others for big-ideas plotting. If you’re on the hunt for a new anime binge – or you just fancy arguing about which is more ‘art’ – let’s break down the contenders worth knowing about.

• Demon Slayer – No offence to Attack on Titan stans, but visually, Demon Slayer is in a league of its own. Ufotable’s blend of slick 2D and 3D elevates the action scenes to, frankly, ridiculous levels of spectacle. Yes, the characters and themes aren’t quite so deep – and it’s much less interested in politics or ambiguity – but if you want to sit back and let some of the best-animated swordfights ever made burn holes in your retinas, this is where you go.
  Watch if: You want a big, glossy action anime with surprisingly dark undertones and the odd moment of actual fun. It’s got hope, it’s got tragedy, it’s got jokes.
  Skip if: You want layered, complicated characters or meaty world politics. This one’s flashy, but straightforward.
• Jujutsu Kaisen – On sheer fight choreography, Jujutsu Kaisen leaves many bruised egos behind. The plot’s good (dark, supernatural, decent banter), but it’s the fights – hand-to-hand, with moves nicked from real martial arts – that make it a standout. It’s got the wit and the charm that AoT sometimes lacks, just don’t expect the same level of twisty, high-stakes plotting.
  Watch if: You’re craving a well-designed power system, gleaming action, and enough comedy to stop you slashing your wrists.
  Skip if: Blood and endless death aren’t your thing – it doesn’t hold back.
• Chainsaw Man – Only one season and one film in, but Chainsaw Man is already a fan-favourite for how well it sketches out its messy, addictive character connections. The Denji/Power/Aki trio is painfully believable, and the show does subtlety (and toxic relationships) with a deft hand. Plot-wise, it's messy on purpose – but if you loved AoT's emotional gut-punches, you'll get plenty here, only with even more 'what the hell am I watching?' moments.
  Watch if: You don't mind your supernatural action laced with a bit of actual character study, and spot-the-movie-reference is your idea of fun.
  Skip if: If gore and crude jokes make you wince, give this one a swerve.
• Vinland Saga – Another story of trauma and revenge, but Viking-flavoured and more philosophical. Where AoT lets Eren become properly monstrous, Vinland Saga steers Thorfinn in the opposite direction, exploring not just how revenge warps a person, but what’s left when it’s all over. Season 2 is far more introspective – be warned, not non-stop violence, but it’s not dull, either.
  Watch if: You like your historical anime to ask big ethical questions without losing its edge.
  Skip if: You only want fantasy spectacle and huge world-building – it’s not that kind of show.
• One Piece – If you're measuring sheer scale – both in story and real-world influence – One Piece leaves AoT in the dust. The world-building here is grotesquely expansive (not surprising, as it’s still going after a million episodes). The plot isn’t as tightly wound, but for fans who want to lose themselves in a ridiculously detailed universe stuffed with memorable oddballs, nothing else comes close.
  Watch if: You want a fantasy world you’ll actually want to live in, and don’t mind the binge commitment.
  Skip if: You want a show that gets to the bloody point.
• Parasyte: The Maxim – Think of this as AoT in miniature: less viral, but just as existentially grim. Humans face monstrous invaders, but Parasyte narrows the focus to the psychological – what it means to merge with the thing you’re fighting, and whether that makes you less than human. Absolutely riveting if you love character-focused survival drama, though it can get under your skin, literally.
  Watch if: You wanted more introspection and body horror in AoT.
  Skip if: You’re squeamish about body horror.
• Mob Psycho 100 – AoT's cast is impressively complicated, but Mob Psycho 100 beats it for pure character writing. It slows down when it needs to – sometimes drifting into slice-of-life or comedy – but that only makes you care more about the stakes.
  Watch if: You’re up for a hopeful, surprisingly smart coming-of-age with some punk energy.
  Skip if: You want unrelenting darkness or action and not much else.
• Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion – Where AoT's ending divided enough fans to fill three walls, Code Geass is famous for sticking the landing. The ending is so well-executed it practically forces you to rewatch the whole thing just to spot the groundwork. Moral ambiguity, political drama, and the kind of closure AoT readers wish they’d got.
  Watch if: You’re in the mood for intelligent power plays, mecha spectacle, and stories where no one's really the ‘good guy’.
  Skip if: You think all anime needs a traditional hero story.
• Monster – A psychological crime thriller rather than dark fantasy, but for sheer story craft, Monster just might have AoT beat. Pacing is slower, the animation less flashy (it’s pushing twenty years, to be fair), but if you want a grown-up study in guilt, monsters, and humanity, this is top-tier stuff.
  Watch if: You like shows that make you sweat and wonder, and don’t mind a slow burn.
  Skip if: Pure realism is a turn-off.
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Here’s the one that often comes out on top in the pub debate. FMAB just does almost everything right: personal/political stakes, a chunky power system, a pace that never drags, a genuinely satisfying ending. It’s lighter in mood overall (though still more shocking than your average shōnen), and every rewatch leaves you more impressed by how well it’s all fit together.
  Watch if: You love world-building, meticulously crafted magic, and characters you actually want to root for.
  Skip if: Unrelenting bleakness is what drew you to AoT in the first place.

Big picture: whether you’re after bloody action, labyrinthine politics, or just the chance to shout ‘what WAS that?’ at your screen, there’s plenty out there to rival – or even top – Attack on Titan, depending on what you crave. As for which is the GOAT, you'll have to pick your poison (and yes, someone will argue with you about it in the comments).