A Curated List of 10 Manga I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it's increasingly difficult to track every worthwhile new series. Predictably, the biggest series get all the attention, but there's a plethora of overlooked works ripe for exploration.

A key pleasure for a dedicated reader is stumbling upon a hidden series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're deserving of your time prior to a potential boom.

Some of these series have not yet reached a large audience, notably because they all lack anime adaptations. A few are trickier to read due to digital exclusivity. However, suggesting any of these provides some notable geek cred.

10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be 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. Comics are often fun, and it's part of the charm. I confess that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title diverges from the template, it embraces familiar conventions, 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 sneaking into mysterious dungeons that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is one of the few from a top company, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences on a digital platform. For easy reading, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're seeking a brief, enjoyable diversion, this manga is a great choice.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Artist: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the abundance of similar stories, but my opinion was altered this year. It reminds me of the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its ominous tone, distinctive artwork, and sudden violence. I stumbled upon it accidentally and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who kills evil spirits in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than aiding his quest for revenge. The plot may seem basic, but the portrayal of the cast is as delicate as the art, and the visual contrast between the silly appearance of the spirits and the bloody fights is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to go the distance — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is stunning, detailed, and distinctive. The story doesn't stray far of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a low-income area where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the way the human died: someone who hanged themselves manifests as a choking force, one who ended their own life can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai has potential for massive popularity, but it's limited due to its slower publication rate. Starting in 2022, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

• Writing Team: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Viz

This bleak fantasy manga tackles the ubiquitous battle trope from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it depicts massive army conflicts. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a brutal fighter company to become a formidable commander, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the inclusion of futuristic tech occasionally doesn't fit, but it still provided dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a grown-up battle manga with a group of eccentric individuals, an interesting power system, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Creator: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its tiny paws is the only thing that relieves his stiff shoulders. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you