Must Watch Underrated Action Anime That You Don’t Wanna Miss

Underrated action anime are like hidden gems.

These are critically acclaimed but underappreciated anime. 

There’s so much to love about big-name action anime like My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, and Naruto.

But guess what? There’s a whole world of lesser-known anime series that are just as awesome.

If you’ve watched all the popular ones and need something fresh, or if you just like to keep it low-key, these underrated action anime are calling your name.

Dive in and find your next favorite underrated action anime recommendations!

Must-watch Action-packed anime series

Dead Mount Death Play

• Episodes: 24
• Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural
• Where To Watch: Crunchyroll, Bahamut Anime Crazy
• MAL Rating: 7.29

This anime might seem like a typical “reverse isekai” at first, where the hero goes from a weak world to a powerful one.

But this one subverts expectations. It ditches the tired trope of an overpowered protagonist crushing bland villains.

Our main character, Corpse God, used to be incredibly strong, but the world he has been transported to has very little mana.

He’s been weakened significantly, yet he still holds more power than most people.

What makes this a standout anime is that the key isn’t just winning fights, but when and why he chooses to use his limited abilities.

His approach to conflict reveals a surprising side to his character, challenging your initial impression and leaving you curious about his past.

This underrated action anime packs a punch with incredible fight choreography and a plot that’s easy to follow.

Buddy Daddies

• Episodes: 12
• Genres: Action, Comedy
• Where To Watch: Crunchyroll, Aniplus, TV Bahamut Anime, Crazy Laftel
• MAL Rating: 8.12

Before you judge this as simply another Spy x Family copy, consider your options carefully. It’s not even close. Far away from it, that is.

The main similarity between Buddy Daddies and the Spy X family is that they are both, or at least very nearly, spies.

Buddy Daddies is an entertaining action show with lots of hilarious moments scattered throughout, perfect for fans of comedy.

The plot of this underrated action anime series is very simple.

One fine day, four-year-old Miri Unasaka wanders around Japan in search of her father. She stumbles into a botched assassination attempt and is taken in by Kazuki Kurusu and Rei Suwa, two assassins.

It is obviously challenging for them to manage raising a child and their assassination work at the same time, yet they manage to raise Miri well.

They work in a dangerous environment, and an interesting subject that was also tackled was the moral dilemma of keeping Miri around even though doing so would put her at greater risk.

Tengoku Daimakyou (Heavenly Delusion)

• Episodes: 13
• Genres: Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi
• Where To Watch: Hulu, Star+, Disney+
• MAL Rating: 8.22

This is for you if you enjoy watching things that make you feel and think, and especially if you enjoy stories that are bold, raise tricky issues, leave you with a lot of unanswered questions, and do not provide clear answers.

If you are looking for a perfect sci-fi mystery anime, then Tengoku Daimakyou is the perfect anime for you.

The series masterfully blends twists and turns, dark reveals, and unpredictability.

Beyond all of these, Tengoku Daimakyo utilizes the one storytelling device—”show, don’t tell”—that most of the audience finds appealing.

In summary, the story takes place in a dystopian future where human society has been destroyed and there are numerous man-eating creatures that are destroying what’s left of the land and endangering the lives of the survivors.

Heavenly Delusion is criminally underrated action anime.

Yuusha, Yamemasu (I’m Quitting Heroing)

• Episodes: 12
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
• Where To Watch: HIDIVE, Ani-One Asia, Animax Mongolia, Anime Digital Network, Aniplus TV, Aniverse, Bahamut Anime Crazy, Bilibili Global, CatchPlay, Laftel, MeWatch, Sushiroll, TrueID, Viu, iQIYI
• MAL Rating: 7.22

You’ve probably heard of anime in which the main character steps in to save a weak ally or adversary; these settings and narratives have only recently emerged as an anime genre of their own.

Yuusha, Yamemasu starts with a familiar trope: humanity sends heroes to fight demons, ensuring the survival of one side over the other.

However, this story takes a sharp turn. After the world’s strongest hero defeats the Demon Queen and her Four Great Generals, peace reigns.

The hero is initially celebrated, but their immense power soon becomes a source of fear.

People worry he’ll become the next Demon King and ostracize him.

Left with no other option, the hero approaches the very enemy he vanquished—the Demon Queen.

He begs her for a job, offering to help rebuild her forces. Shockingly, she rejects him.

Undeterred, the hero persists, determined to find his purpose in this new reality.

Yuusha, Yamemasu is one of the best underrated action anime you haven’t seen.

Ousama Ranking (Ranking Of Kings)

• Episodes: 23
• Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
• Where To Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation
• MAL Rating: 8.51

Sosuke Toka’s manga, inspired by a classic folktale, has become a cult favorite anime series.

Like a folktale that resonates deeply, Toka’s work has transcended its origins.

It’s no longer just entertaining; it takes us on a profound journey, exploring themes of morality, friendship, and sacrifice.

Toka, a once-unknown author, has crafted a masterpiece that stands alongside the best.

The story unfolds naturally, revealing the complexities of human nature at every step. It’s truly impressive!

What captivated us about Ranking of Kings from the start was its promising premise: two competing brothers vying for the throne.

Bojji, the rightful heir despite being born disabled, is compassionate and surprisingly talented.

His rival, Daida, is younger, stronger, and incredibly arrogant.

The initial episodes center around the alliances forming around each prince, with characters driven by complex, often hidden motivations.

Each character is richly developed, navigating personal struggles that make them compelling and multilayered.

Easily a must-watch, underrated anime for action fans

Ishura

• Episodes: 12
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Where To Watch: Hulu, Disney+
• MAL Rating: 6.63

Ishura is a hidden gem anime when it comes to dark fantasy genre.

Deep storytelling, complex characters, and a visually captivating, thought-provoking world-building are the defining pillars of Ishura.

Ishura dives into complex themes like revenge, power, and self-discovery.

The show takes its time to explore these ideas fully, building a rich and multifaceted story.

This careful approach promises a rewarding experience for viewers who enjoy intricate narratives.

While the plot unfolds slowly, Ishura also balances things out with intense fight scenes to keep you engaged.

Majo to Yajuu (The Witch And The Beast)

• Episodes: 12
• Genres: Action, Fantasy
• Where To Watch: Crunchyroll, Aniplus Asia, Bahamut Anime Crazy, Bilibili Global, iQIYI
• MAL Rating: 7.39

Cursed by a witch, Guideau is determined to find the culprit and get revenge.

To achieve this, she joins the Order of Magical Resonance, an organization that handles all things related to magic.

In exchange for her assistance in solving various magical cases worldwide, the Order agrees to help Guideau in her quest.

Accompanying Guideau is Ashaf, a smooth and mysterious mage from the Order.

Together, they travel through different lands in search of the elusive witch.

As they journey deeper into the fantastical world of magic, their experiences become increasingly strange and intriguing.

Easily one of the must-watch underrated anime series that deserves more attention.

World Tigger

• Episodes: 73
• Genres: Action, , Sci-Fi
• Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
• MAL Rating: 7.58

The citizens of Mikado City are in for a rude awakening.

Their peaceful existence shatters when they discover they’re defenseless against their aggressive neighbors.

But just when all hope seems lost, a mysterious group emerges – Border.

Operating under the National Defense Agency, Border possesses a secret weapon: Triggers.

These devices allow users to channel Trion, a powerful internal energy, and transform it into weapons or shields.

Trion itself is an incredibly strong material used to create protective suits called “Trigger bodies” for Border agents.

Border meticulously ranks its members. The coveted Rank A signifies the strongest Triggers, capable of matching the firepower of their rivals.

The story had a lot going for it! It was interesting, the tone was engaging, and most of the characters were charming.

The music and voice acting were also top-notch. However, the pacing dragged a bit in some sections.

Apart from all of this, World Tigger is a must-see anime for action aficionados.

Akudama Drive

• Episodes: 12
• Genres: Action, , Sci-Fi, Suspense
• Where To Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation
• MAL Rating: 7.58

At its most basic, Akudama Drive is a dystopian anime featuring a cast of edgy characters and a straightforward plot packed with bloodshed and carnage.

And while the premise is somewhat accurate, it also goes a little bit further than that.

Our story follows an ordinary girl who gets tangled in a web of trouble.

Mistaken for a notorious criminal known as an Akudama, she’s slapped with a “swindler” label for a petty theft she didn’t commit.

Now on the run from the law, she’s forced to join forces with a motley crew of six other Akudama.

With danger at every turn, they must work together to complete a mysterious job: retrieve a package for an unknown buyer.

The reward? A cool $10 million for each of them, if they make it out alive.

Akudama Drive is probably one of our favorite anime recommendations for action lovers.

Sirius The Jaeger

• Episodes: 12
• Genres: Action, Supernatural
• Where To Watch: Netflix
• MAL Rating: 6.96

For ages, vampires in this world have been controlling human behavior and shaping events to ensure their own food supply.

In their eyes, the entire planet is like one big farm. But when people begin to realize what’s happening, they will take revenge.

The Jagers are a gang of vampire hunters who have made it their mission to find every vampire.

Yuliy, the sole survivor of a vampire raid that devastated his town, hunts with a burning vengeance.

That is, until Mikhail, his brother, comes back to life and informs him that the vampires are searching for the Arc of Sirius, the greatest prize owned by their people.

Sirius is one of the best must-watch action anime with great storylines. 

Inuyashiki

• Episodes: 11
• Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Suspense
• Where To Watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll
• MAL Rating: 7.64

The story follows Inuyashiki, a shunned old man.

After a fatal accident involving a spaceship crash, he’s brought back to life – but not quite as himself.

Now a powerful machine, Inuyashiki retains his human emotions and uses his newfound abilities to fight for justice.

However, another man, Shishigami, undergoes the same transformation. Unlike Inuyashiki, Shishigami embraces his dark side, unleashing a wave of violence.

The beauty lies in their shared abilities, highlighting the stark contrast between their choices.

Inuyashiki thrives on the good he does, while Shishigami revels in destruction.

This simple good versus evil setup avoids complex storylines and melodramatic twists, making the show easy to follow and enjoy.

Inuyashiki delivers a thrilling exploration of human nature, posing the question: what defines us – our actions or our intentions?

Inuyashiki is a hidden gem action anime series you won’t want to miss.

Trigun

• Episodes: 26
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
• Where To Watch: Crunchyroll, Ani-One, Asia Bahamut Anime, Crazy Bilibili Global
• MAL Rating: 7.83

Trigun is famous for its amazing action scenes. The story is about a man named Vash. Vash has a big bounty on his head—60 billion!

Why? People think he has caused a lot of trouble and harm, and many have died because of him.

But Vash says he’s just a normal guy who wouldn’t hurt anyone. He claims to be far from violence and never takes lives.

So, who is Vash really?

Trigun is one of our cult classic anime recommendations.

K Project

• Episodes: 13
• Genres: Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
• Where To Watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix
• MAL Rating: 7.43

“K” is a story about finding a murderer and how it impacts a war between superpowered clans.

This show mixes sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery, making it very appealing.

The first few episodes don’t explain much, but they leave enough questions to keep you watching.

This might be to make viewers feel what the main character, Yashiro, feels as his life changes suddenly.

The story really picks up in the latter half and is very exciting to watch.

In short, this story is great. It’s not the most original, but it’s not a complete cliché either.

K is one of the best action anime, not mainstream, that continues to grow on you with each new episode. 

Ragna Crimson

• Episodes: 24
• Genres: Action, Fantasy
• Where To Watch: HIDIVE, Muse Asia,
• MAL Rating: 7.54

At first, the story seems simple. But it gets more interesting with detailed world-building and new characters.

The main character is a young, talentless man in a community of dragon hunters.

These dragons are beasts that fight humans for control of the world.

Even though he lacks talent, he tries his best to help his friend, a young girl prodigy.

When he faces losing her, he gains the powers of his future self to change their fate.

The story then takes a turn.

The now overpowered main character goes on a mission to eliminate his enemies and protect his friend.

Despite his great power, he faces many challenges along the way. At first, it looks like a typical “defeat all enemies” story.

However, the detailed world-building adds twists and mysteries that make it exciting.

The show blends fantasy, contemporary, and futuristic elements, creating a world with advanced technology, magic, and many dragons. It’s fascinating, but it still needs more development.

The future looks promising if there are more seasons.

Ragna Crimson is one of the best action anime you need to watch