🔗 Share this article A Curated List of 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 keep up with every noteworthy title. Inevitably, the biggest series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of hidden gems ripe for exploration. A key pleasure for any manga enthusiast is unearthing a largely unknown series in the sea of new chapters and recommending it to friends. Here are some of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're worth checking out before they gain widespread popularity. Several entries here are still awaiting a large audience, especially as they haven't received anime adaptations. A few are trickier to read due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these provides some impressive fan credentials. 10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero Manga panel Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro Released by: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus This may seem like a strange choice, but hear me out. Comics are often fun, and it's part of the charm. I confess that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While The Plain Salary Man doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who relieves pressure 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 maintain his double life, 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 through a popular app. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a short, lighthearted escape, this manga is highly recommended. 9. The Exorcists of Nito Art from the series Artist: Iromi Ichikawa Released by: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the saturated market, but my opinion was altered this year. This series reminds me of the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and unexpected brutality. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly. Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than fueling his retribution. The storyline appears straightforward, but the portrayal of the cast is subtle and refined, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the bloody fights is an effective bonus. This is a series with the capacity to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue. 8. Gokurakugai Illustration Author: Yuto Sano Publisher: Shueisha Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on the series is spectacular, meticulous, and distinctive. The plot remains within to traditional battle manga tropes, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (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 working-class district where humans and beast-men coexist. The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga has powers relating to the manner of death: a suicide by hanging manifests as a choking force, one who ended their own life induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that adds depth to these antagonists. Gokurakugai could be the next big hit, but it's constrained by its monthly schedule. Since its debut, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement. 7. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song Manga panel Creators: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori Publisher: Shueisha Available on: Viz This dark fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it depicts massive army conflicts. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which helps him command armies on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a cruel mercenary band to become a powerful tactician, fighting to eventually earn his freedom. The setting is somewhat generic, and the inclusion of futuristic tech feels forced at times, but it still delivered grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a sophisticated series with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an interesting combination of military themes and dark fantasy. 6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao Manga panel Creator: Sho Yamazaki Publisher: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus A calculating main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since 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
With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, staying on top to keep up with every noteworthy title. Inevitably, the biggest series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of hidden gems ripe for exploration. A key pleasure for any manga enthusiast is unearthing a largely unknown series in the sea of new chapters and recommending it to friends. Here are some of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're worth checking out before they gain widespread popularity. Several entries here are still awaiting a large audience, especially as they haven't received anime adaptations. A few are trickier to read due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these provides some impressive fan credentials. 10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero Manga panel Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro Released by: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus This may seem like a strange choice, but hear me out. Comics are often fun, and it's part of the charm. I confess that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While The Plain Salary Man doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who relieves pressure 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 maintain his double life, 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 through a popular app. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a short, lighthearted escape, this manga is highly recommended. 9. The Exorcists of Nito Art from the series Artist: Iromi Ichikawa Released by: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the saturated market, but my opinion was altered this year. This series reminds me of the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and unexpected brutality. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly. Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than fueling his retribution. The storyline appears straightforward, but the portrayal of the cast is subtle and refined, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the bloody fights is an effective bonus. This is a series with the capacity to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue. 8. Gokurakugai Illustration Author: Yuto Sano Publisher: Shueisha Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on the series is spectacular, meticulous, and distinctive. The plot remains within to traditional battle manga tropes, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (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 working-class district where humans and beast-men coexist. The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga has powers relating to the manner of death: a suicide by hanging manifests as a choking force, one who ended their own life induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that adds depth to these antagonists. Gokurakugai could be the next big hit, but it's constrained by its monthly schedule. Since its debut, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement. 7. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song Manga panel Creators: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori Publisher: Shueisha Available on: Viz This dark fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it depicts massive army conflicts. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which helps him command armies on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a cruel mercenary band to become a powerful tactician, fighting to eventually earn his freedom. The setting is somewhat generic, and the inclusion of futuristic tech feels forced at times, but it still delivered grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a sophisticated series with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an interesting combination of military themes and dark fantasy. 6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao Manga panel Creator: Sho Yamazaki Publisher: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus A calculating main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since 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