Top Action-Horror Anime for the Spooky Season

Alright — time to put on your black trench-coat, sharpen your fangs, and get ready for a Halloween-sized binge of action-horror anime. These picks lean hard into monster fights, gore, supernatural terror, and badass protagonists (or anti-heroes) doing the heavy lifting. Let’s dive in.

1. Chainsaw Man (2022)
   Rating: ~9/10
   Vibe: Chainsaws, demons, and impulsive teen energy.
   After being betrayed, compensated only in debt and despair, Denji merges with his pet-devil Pochita and becomes a devil-hunter with literal chainsaw arms. Wild, gory, emotional and surprisingly funny. (Also, make sure to check out the newly released Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc in the theaters.)
2. Devilman Crybaby (2018)
   Rating: ~8.5/10
   Vibe: Apocalypse meets grotesque demon warfare.
   A sensitive guy becomes Devilman to protect others — but the power comes with terrible consequences. Violent, disturbing, and emotionally wrecking.
3. Blood‑C (2011)
   Rating: ~8/10
   Vibe: Shrine maiden + monster slaying + sinister revelation.
   Saya looks like a normal girl. She also hunts “Elder Bairns” — monstrous creatures that feast on humans. A mix of action and horror through sword-slashing and guts.
4. Tokyo Ghoul (2014)
   Rating: ~8/10
   Vibe: Flesh-eating ghouls + identity crisis + brutal fights.
   College student Kaneki becomes part-ghoul and is dragged into a world where monsters hide among humans. Creepy body-horror meets action.
5. Parasyte ‑the Maxim (2014)
   Rating: ~8.2/10
   Vibe: Alien parasites, body horror, survival-action.
   The parasite invades the human body; our protagonist fights for his right to be human while others lose theirs. Gritty, intense.
6. Hellsing Ultimate (2006-10)
   Rating: ~8.7/10
   Vibe: Vampires, guns, and supernatural war.
   The ultimate vampire Alucard works for the organisation Hellsing to destroy monsters of the night. Blood-soaked action with horror undertones.
7. Dororo (2019)
   Rating: ~7.8/10
   Vibe: Demons + prosthetic swords + redemption.
   Not pure horror, but enough demon-fighting and dark themes to qualify for spooky action. A young man born without limbs and organs fights to reclaim them.
8. Attack on Titan (2013-)
   Rating: ~8.9/10
   Vibe: Humanity vs. monstrous giants.
   Walls, titans, and blood. While it’s massive in scale and very action-packed, it has haunting moments of horror — terror, hopelessness, and monstrous threats.
9. GARO: The Animation (2014)
   Rating: ~7.5/10
   Vibe: Dark fantasy horror + demonic knights.
   Humans fight Horrors (monsters) using magical armours and swords — stylish and creepy enough for a Halloween mood.
10. Deadman Wonderland (2011)
    Rating: ~7.4/10
    Vibe: Gore-sport-horror + prison survival.
    A young teen framed for murder is sent to a bizarre prison where inmates fight deadly games. Lots of action + horror.

Quick Outro

There you go — ten anime that hit both the action-sweet-spot and the horror-chills you want for Halloween. From chainsaw-armed demon-hunters to vampires with guns raging their way through night — pick your style, grab your snack, dim the lights — and let the monsters in.

Image credit MAPPA