My Top 10 Manga I Read This Year (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it's increasingly difficult to track every significant new series. Predictably, the biggest series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of hidden gems ripe for exploration.

One of the greatest joys for a dedicated reader is finding a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and then sharing it to friends. Here are some of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're deserving of your time before they gain widespread popularity.

Several entries here have not yet reached a large audience, partly due to they all lack anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to digital exclusivity. However, suggesting any of these will earn you some notable geek cred.

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

This may seem like a strange choice, but hear me out. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I confess that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an unbeatable hero and a game-influenced setting. The charm, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, 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 clock out punctually for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is a rare example published by a major house, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're seeking a few minutes of silly fun, this manga is an excellent option.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the genre's overpopularity, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. It reminds me of the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, stylized art, and shocking ferocity. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than aiding his quest for revenge. The plot may seem basic, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the absurd look of the enemies and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with the capacity to run for a long time — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

• Artist: 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 Gokurakugai is spectacular, meticulous, and distinctive. The story doesn't stray far from classic shonen conventions, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), 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 people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga wields magic reflecting the manner of death: a suicide by hanging can strangle others, one who ended their own life causes blood loss, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that provides substance to these antagonists. It might become a major title, but it's limited due to its slower publication rate. Starting in 2022, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

• Authors: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Viz

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a fresh perspective for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it presents 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, using his trumpet and upbringing in a cruel mercenary band to become a formidable commander, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the insertion of sci-fi elements feels forced at times, but The Bugle Call still provided dark turns and unexpected plot twists. It's a mature shonen with a collection of odd personalities, an interesting power system, and an enjoyable mix of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Creator: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that 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