My Top 10 Manga I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, staying on top to discover every worthwhile release. Predictably, the mainstream series get all the attention, however, countless gems of undiscovered treasures waiting to be discovered.

One of the greatest joys for fans of the medium is finding a largely unknown series in the sea of new chapters and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with motivations for they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

Some of these series are still awaiting a broad readership, notably because they all lack anime adaptations. Some could be trickier to read due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these provides some impressive fan credentials.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

• Authors: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but hear me out. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The charm, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who vents his stress by exploring strange labyrinths that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. 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.

Superior genre examples exist, 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 remains a leader, and if you're in need of a short, lighthearted escape, this manga is highly recommended.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the abundance of similar stories, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. It reminds me of the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, unique visuals, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who purges ghosts in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than fueling his retribution. The plot may seem basic, but the treatment of the characters is subtle and refined, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the absurd look of the enemies and the violent battles is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to become a hit — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

• Artist: Yuto Sano
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus; Viz

When artistic excellence matters most, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is breathtaking, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The story doesn't stray far of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a poor neighborhood where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who perished by suicide induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that adds depth to these antagonists. It might become a major title, but it's held back by its monthly schedule. From the beginning, only five volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This bleak fantasy manga examines the common conflict theme from a fresh perspective for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it showcases 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 helps him command armies on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a brutal fighter company to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts occasionally doesn't fit, but The Bugle Call still delivered grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a collection of odd personalities, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of strategy and horror.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A cold-hearted main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its tiny paws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you