23 anime · 4 free to stream

Best Horror Anime to Watch Free & Legally

Discover the top-rated horror anime ranked by score. Find where to stream each title for free in your region.

Top 10 Horror Anime

Berserk
8.6
1

Berserk

剣風伝奇ベルセルク

8.61|25 eps|Action, Adventure, Drama|OLM

In a world where mercenaries roam free, a young warrior named Guts earns his living by taking on high-paying jobs. Carrying a massive greatsword, Guts is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. His restless nature leads him to join the Band of the Falcon, a group led by the charismatic and cunning Griffith. The two engage in a fierce duel, with Griffith emerging victorious. As a condition of his defeat, Guts joins the Band of the Falcon, and over the next three years, he rises through the ranks to become one of its most formidable commanders. Guts' skills in combat are unmatched, and he single-handedly takes down entire groups of enemies. With Griffith's strategic leadership, the Band of the Falcon becomes nearly invincible on the battlefield. However, a dark and ominous presence begins to loom on the horizon, threatening to upend Guts' life and the very fabric of his world. As the stakes grow higher, Guts finds himself torn between his loyalty to Griffith and the growing sense of unease that something is terribly wrong. The stage is set for a brutal and unflinching exploration of the human condition, as Guts confronts the horrors that lie in wait and the true nature of his existence.

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Mononoke
8.4
2

Mononoke

モノノ怪

8.41|12 eps|Horror, Mystery, Supernatural|Toei Animation

In feudal Japan, a mysterious and deadly occult master, known only as the Medicine Seller, roams the land seeking malevolent spirits known as mononoke to vanquish. To effectively combat these malevolent entities, he must first unravel their mysteries, delving deep into their Form, Truth, and Reason. This perilous process involves a grueling psychological analysis and meticulous investigation, as he must confront and understand the mononoke before he can even hope to defeat them. The Medicine Seller's travels lead him to an ancient inn, where he discovers a pregnant woman named Shino, who has finally found refuge. However, as she settles into the inn's last available room, it becomes clear that the space is haunted by a deadly band of mononoke, the Zashiki Warashi. With his keen instincts, the Medicine Seller sets out to uncover the truth behind these malevolent entities, determined to prevent them from striking again. As the Medicine Seller delves deeper into the mystery, he must navigate the treacherous world of mononoke, where the lines between reality and the supernatural blur. With his skills and knowledge, he must confront the darkness head-on, all while keeping his own demons at bay.

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Hellsing Ultimate
8.3
3

Hellsing Ultimate

HELLSING OVA

8.34|10 eps|Action, Horror, Supernatural|Madhouse, Satelight, Graphinica

In a world where the shadows are home to unspeakable horrors, a secret organization has dedicated itself to eradicating the evil that lurks within. At the helm of this crusade is Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, a fearless leader who wields a formidable military force and has dedicated her life to vanquishing the undead. Her most potent ally is Alucard, a vampire with a unique ability to turn against his own kind, serving as a ruthless exterminator for Hellsing. Alucard is joined by his new companion, Seras Victoria, as they confront not only monstrous threats, but also those who would seek to undermine Hellsing's mission, regardless of their moral compass. As the battle for humanity's survival rages on, it becomes clear that appearances can be deceiving, and even the most unlikely allies can hold the key to victory. In this apocalyptic struggle, Hellsing Ultimate proves that the most effective weapon can be a force to be reckoned with, and that the line between good and evil is often blurred in the face of unrelenting terror.

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Parasyte: The Maxim
8.3
4

Parasyte: The Maxim

寄生獣 セイの格率

8.32|24 eps|Action, Horror, Sci-Fi|Madhouse

In a world where the boundaries between species are shattered, a mysterious invasion unfolds as parasitic aliens infiltrate human brains, manipulating their hosts to feed on unsuspecting victims. Among the afflicted is Shinichi Izumi, a 16-year-old high school student whose life takes a drastic turn when a parasitic entity, which he names Migi, lodges itself in his right hand instead of his brain. As Migi struggles to adapt to its new confinement, the unlikely duo forms an uneasy alliance, relying on each other to survive amidst the chaos. As they navigate this treacherous new reality, Shinichi and Migi must confront the sinister forces of their own kind, who seek to eradicate this novel threat to their dominance. With Migi's unique abilities and Shinichi's human instincts, they embark on a perilous journey to protect themselves and uncover the secrets behind the parasitic invasion. But as their bond grows stronger, they must confront the blurred lines between human and alien, and the true cost of coexistence.

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From the New World
8.2
5

From the New World

新世界より

8.24|25 eps|Drama, Fantasy, Horror|A-1 Pictures

In the small town of Kamisu 66, a select few have been gifted with extraordinary abilities known as Cantus, a manifestation of psychokinetic powers. Saki Watanabe, the last of her friends to awaken to this newfound capacity, joins the prestigious Sage Academy, a school for the gifted. However, not all students are created equal, and the sudden disappearance of a weaker classmate sends a chilling message. As Saki navigates her new life at the academy, she and her friends Maria, Shun, Satoru, and Mamoru stumble upon the enigmatic Monster Rats, creatures that revere those with Cantus as deities. When Saki uses her abilities to save one of these creatures, she is met with an unsettling display of devotion. As the group delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Monster Rats, they uncover a darker truth beneath the surface of their seemingly utopian world. As they search for answers, Saki and her friends begin to unravel the secrets of their "perfect" new world, revealing a sinister past that threatens to upend everything they thought they knew. With the stakes growing higher, they must confront the darkness that lurks beneath the surface, and the true nature of their extraordinary abilities.

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Dorohedoro
8.0
6

Dorohedoro

ドロヘドロ

8.04|12 eps|Action, Comedy, Fantasy|MAPPA

In the dystopian underbelly of Hole, a district where the law of the jungle prevails and death is a daily occurrence, magic users hold sway over the powerless inhabitants. These elite wielders of magic view the denizens of Hole as nothing more than insects, using them as pawns in their twisted games and discarding them like trash. The hospital in Hole is a constant reminder of the horrors that unfold, with the bodies of the murdered and mutilated piling up. Among the downtrodden inhabitants of Hole is Caiman, a reptilian creature with a burning desire to reclaim his humanity. Armed with nothing but his trusty bayonets and a mysterious immunity to magic, Caiman stalks the streets, driven by a singular quest for answers. His nightmares are a constant reminder of his cursed existence, and the only leads he has to restore his life to normal lie with the very magic users he's determined to take down. Standing by his side is Nikaidou, the enigmatic owner of the Hungry Bug restaurant, who seems to be the only one who can stomach Caiman's gruesome appearance.

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Higurashi: When They Cry
7.9
7

Higurashi: When They Cry

ひぐらしのなく頃に

7.87|26 eps|Horror, Mystery, Suspense|Studio Deen

In the picturesque village of Hinamizawa, a sense of tranquility permeates the air, but beneath the surface, a dark undercurrent swirls. Keiichi Maebara, a newcomer to the town, finds himself drawn into a tight-knit circle of friends, including Rena Ryuuguu, Mion Sonozaki, Satoko Houjou, and Rika Furude. As the annual festival approaches, Keiichi begins to uncover the village's troubled past, marked by a string of unsolved murders and disappearances. The more he digs, the more he realizes that his friends are hiding secrets, and the line between reality and madness starts to blur. As the eerie atmosphere intensifies, Keiichi's grip on sanity begins to slip. He becomes increasingly paranoid, wondering if he can truly trust his friends or if they're hiding something sinister. The closer he gets to the truth, the more he's consumed by a sense of foreboding. With each new revelation, the mystery deepens, and Keiichi finds himself hurtling towards a shocking climax. As the story unfolds across multiple arcs, Keiichi's journey becomes a descent into the heart of darkness, where the lines between truth and fiction are constantly blurred. Will he uncover the secrets of Hinamizawa, or will he succumb to the madness that threatens to consume him?

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Tokyo Ghoul
7.8
8

Tokyo Ghoul

東京喰種-トーキョーグール-

7.79|12 eps|Action, Fantasy, Horror|Studio Pierrot

In a city consumed by fear, a quiet college student named Ken Kaneki lives a sheltered life, avoiding the darkening streets of Tokyo. His monotonous routine is disrupted by the enigmatic Rize Kamishiro, who sweeps him off his feet with her bold advances. But beneath her charming exterior lies a sinister intent, and Kaneki soon finds himself in a desperate struggle for survival. As he lies in a hospital bed, Kaneki learns that his life was saved by a gruesome act: the transplantation of Rize's organs into his own body. The consequences of this drastic measure are catastrophic, as his body begins to mutate, blurring the lines between human and ghoul. Now, Kaneki must navigate a treacherous world where monstrous creatures lurk in the shadows, and the government agents tasked with eradicating them will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. As Kaneki struggles to maintain his humanity in the face of this bloody conflict, he finds himself torn between his desire to live a normal life and his newfound connection to the dark forces that threaten to consume him. With his sense of identity hanging in the balance, Kaneki must confront the horrors that surround him and find a way to coexist with the monstrous world that has emerged from the shadows.

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Shiki
7.7
9

Shiki

屍鬼

7.71|22 eps|Horror, Mystery, Supernatural|Daume

In the seemingly peaceful town of Sotoba, where relationships are tight-knit and daily life is predictable, a sense of unease settles in with the sudden and inexplicable demise of young Megumi Shimizu. As the summer sun beats down, more mysterious deaths begin to plague the community, leaving the town's doctor, Toshio Ozaki, convinced that a sinister force is at work. Joining forces with Natsuno Yuuki, a detached teenager, and the Tanaka siblings, Kaori and Akira, who were close friends of Megumi's, Toshio embarks on a quest to uncover the dark truth behind the unexplained fatalities. Their investigation leads them to the Kanemasa mansion, where a new family has taken up residence, shrouded in an aura of secrecy.

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Ling Cage
7.5
10

Ling Cage

灵笼: INCARNATION

7.50|6 eps|Action, Drama, Horror|YHKT Entertainment

As the once-blue skies turned a hazy gray, humanity's relentless pursuit of expansion led to a catastrophic event: the moon's alignment triggered a series of devastating earthquakes that ravaged the planet. The aftermath was nothing short of apocalyptic, leaving the world in ruins. Decades passed, and when the dust finally settled, humanity stumbled back onto the ravaged landscape, forced to confront a reality that was both familiar and alien. But as they emerged from the shadows, a haunting question lingered: could they reclaim their dominance over this ravaged world, or would they forever be bound to the mercy of a new, unforgiving environment?

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About Horror Anime

Horror anime delivers genuinely terrifying experiences through disturbing imagery, psychological dread, and supernatural terror. While anime horror often goes further than live-action counterparts, series like Junji Ito Collection, Another, and Shiki prove that animation can be a powerful medium for fear. From cosmic horror to body horror, anime explores the darkest corners of the genre.

Frequently Asked Questions

The scariest anime include Another, Shiki, Higurashi: When They Cry, Perfect Blue (movie), and Parasyte. These range from supernatural horror to psychological terror.

Most horror anime are rated R-17+ or PG-13 and contain graphic violence, disturbing imagery, or mature themes. Always check the rating before watching. Series like Parasyte and Another are not suitable for younger audiences.

Horror anime can be found on Crunchyroll's free tier and Tubi. Some titles like Parasyte are also available on Netflix with a subscription.

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