The 10 Best Manga I Enjoyed in 2025 (Flying Under the Radar).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every significant new series. As always, the biggest series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is stumbling upon a hidden series buried in publication schedules and then sharing it to friends. I present of the top obscure manga I've read in 2025, along with motivations for they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles lack a large audience, especially as they are without anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to where they're available. However, suggesting any of these will earn you some serious bragging rights.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

• Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but let me explain. Manga can be silly, and it's part of the charm. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an overpowered main character and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who unwinds by exploring strange labyrinths that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. For easy reading, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're looking for a short, lighthearted escape, this manga is an excellent option.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

• Artist: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the saturated market, but two series changed my mind this year. It recalls the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, unique visuals, and unexpected brutality. I started reading it by chance and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who purges ghosts in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than aiding his quest for revenge. The storyline appears straightforward, but the character development is thoughtfully executed, and the visual contrast between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with great promise to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

• Author: Yuto Sano
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz

For readers who value visual splendor, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is stunning, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the characters are all quirky and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a poor neighborhood where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga wields magic reflecting the manner of death: a suicide by hanging has the power to choke people, one who died from self-harm can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that gives weight to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's limited due to its slower publication rate. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song

• Writing Team: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Viz

This grim fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a novel angle for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it presents epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a ruthless soldier group to become a powerful tactician, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the insertion of sci-fi elements can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still delivered dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a sophisticated series with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Artist: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its little feet is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you