The entertainment industry has conditioned viewers to expect a classic narrative where good always wins over evil. Heroes overcoming impossible odds and eventually defeating the villain is a hallmark of so many blockbuster and beloved shows. But just as life itself rarely ever follows such simple binaries, the realm of entertainment, particularlyanime, has constantly subverted these tropes and delivered stories where the “bad guys” win.
Watching a hero win is definitely satisfying. But there is an undeniable intrigue in exploring narratives where the villains’ schemes work, eitherbecause of the protagonists’ own flawsor because the world is so harsh and bleak that it only feels fitting. These are the anime that challenge our perception of the world and force us to empathize with complex characters, and also accept that in some cases, the good guys don’t have what it takes to win.
From the predictable triumph of a brilliant mastermind to the tragic downfall of a well-intentioned hero, the 10 anime series on this list offer a refreshing departure from otherwise conventional series. They award the trophy to the bad guys and remind us that in the real world, the line between good and evil is almost always blurred.
10’Trigun' (1998)
It’s not every day that you see an anime set against the backdrop of a desolate, Western-inspired desert planet called No Man’s Land.Trigunfollows the exploits of Vash the Stampede, alegendary outlaw with a massive bountyon his head. He draws the attention of every gunslinging outlaw across the sand and is forced to navigate chaos and moral dilemmas to survive any encounter.
Trigunsubverts the traditional good-versus-evil narrative by placing the “villain,” the seemingly unstoppable Vash, as the unlikely hero. He is a pacifist haunted by the past, and even though he has an unwavering commitment to non-violence, he ends up unintentionally returning to his old ways, especially once his deadly brother Knives enters the scene. Almost all the “bad guys” in Trigun are compelling and complex characters, but Knives’ morally ambiguous win feels tragically inevitable.
9’Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor' (2007)
Life isn’t fair. That’s the ideaKaiji: Ultimate Survivordrills into your mind with its portrayal of one man’s unexpected descent into debt and despair. Kaiji Itou is a slacker whose co-worker fails to repay a debt and loan sharks turn to him for money. He gets roped into a high-stakes underground gambling ring and is soon drowning in debt. The only way out is toplay life-or-death gamescontrolled by a faceless group of billionaires who find entertainment in seeing people miserable.
The anime consistently puts the protagonist in situations where the odds are stacked against him. But it is the series’ antagonists that demand the most attention. They range from manipulative corporate authorities to ruthless game masters, and they employ a variety of psychological tactics to crush Kaiji’s spirits to make sure his little “wins” come at a devastating personal cost. Towards the end, Kaiji bets all his fortune and four fingers to win a greater sum and defeat Kazutaka Hyōdo, also known as the Chairman, but he loses and walks away with nothing.
8’Wolf’s Rain' (2003)
Wolf’s Rain
Wolf’s Rainintroduces you to a world on the brink of collapse and tells the emotional and visually stunning story of four wolves Kiba, Tsume, Hige, and Toboe, who, disguised as humans, find themselves drawn to the scent of Freeze City. They then embark on a quest to find Paradise, a place of salvation that exists at the end of the world, but first, they must battle villains and other destructive forces.
The anime is packed with so much intrigue and heartbreaking moments that you begin to wonder if survival is even worth the cost. All the wolves want is a chance at happiness and even after their arduous journey, they fail to overcome the evil forces led by Lord Darcia. His madness and despair lead to a world reset and forces the audience to ask whether Paradise was ever attainable.
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7’Shaman King' (2001)
Shaman King
Shaman Kingis an action-packed Netflix series that revolves around Yoh Asakura, a laid-back teenager with the ability to communicate with spirits. He trains and participates in the legendary Shaman Fight, a tournament held every 500 years to determine the next Shaman King, a being with the power to reshape the world. Yoh battles several opponents, including his own twin brother, Hao, whose goal is to eradicate humanity.
Hao is portrayed as an ancient shaman who learns to reincarnate himself and enters a moral conflict with Yoh, whose peaceful ideals go against his. Hao’s ultimate victory as the Shaman King marks the ending of the series. Even though Yoh and his allies fight bravely, Hao’s overwhelming power leaves little room for hope. The conclusion seems fitting given his strength, but it is also terrifying. Overall, the anime earned a devoted following for the thrilling battles.
6’YuYu Hakusho' (1992)
Yu Yu Hakusho
YuYu Hakushofollows Yusuke Urameshi, a delinquent high school student who sacrifices his life to save a child from a speeding car. This selfless act earns him a second chance, and he is reborn as a Spirit Detective, tasked with investigating supernatural cases and diving intoa world full of intense fightingand deeply personal vendettas.
The story takes a darker turn with the introduction of Sensui, a former Spirit Detective-turned antagonist whose plan is to open the gate of the Demon World and unleash pure evil upon the human world. Yasuke and his friends try everything they can to emerge triumphant against Sensui’s intricate schemes, but all the villain wants here is to find a worthy opponent and shatter his innocence and ideals. The anime ends with Yasuke defeating Sensui, but it basically gives him what he wanted from the beginning.
5’Hellsing Ultimate' (2006)
Hellsing Ultimate
Vampires, ghouls, fascists, and a secret war between the living and the undead, that’s the world presented byHellsing Ultimate, a blood-soaked, horror-tinged anime from 2006. The story centers around the Hellsing Organization, led by Sir Integra Hellsing, as they battle their way through supernatural threats and vampires with an equally formidable ally in their arsenal of weapons: Alucard, a powerful vampire bound to their service.
Hellsing Ultimateis also an unconventional anime that positions Alucard, a centuries-old vampire, as the primary protagonist. The series’ greatest antagonist, however, is the fanatical Millennium organization. It takes the series to apocalyptic heights by unleashing chaos, waging an enormous war, and annihilating everything in sight. The climactic battle between Alucard and Millennium’s leader, Major, ends with Alucard’s bloody defeat, and even though the protagonist comes back to life after 30 years, the Major still achieves his victory: war and destruction, regardless of the cost.
4’Berserk' (1997)
In the dark and medieval-inspired world ofBerserk, ambition and survival reign supreme. The main character is a lone mercenary named Guts, who wins almost any battle with his unmatched combat skills. But it is his toxic relationship with Griffith, the charming leader of a mercenary band called the Band of the Hawk, that pulls Guts down and leads him on a vengeful quest filled with darkness and demons, both real and self-made.
The camaraderie between Guts and Griffith is shattered when the latter’s intentions take a horrifying turn and lead to the infamous Eclipse event – a nightmarish ritual that forces one person to sacrifice another in exchange for godlike powers. This betrayal and Griffith’s transformation into Femto not only destroys the Band of the Hawk but also reshapes the entire world intoa grim and bleak reality.
3’Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans' (2015)
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
In the aftermath of a terrible conflict known as the Calamity War, the Earth has been divided into four sections, with Gjallarhorn responsible for maintaining peace. Tekkadan is a private company composed of child soldiers who want to break free from exploitation and carve out a better future for themselves. Led by the powerful Mikazuki and the idealistic Orga, the company rises above political turmoil and power struggles.
But the journey of challenging the oppressive systems that govern the world is hindered by the existence of the series antagonist, Rustal Elion, who eventually becomes the leader of Gjallarhorn and orchestrates the ruthless downfall of Tekkadan. Gjallarhorn’s dominance delivers a sobering conclusion where almost all heroes die a noble death and the bad guys win not with sheer strength but by manipulation.
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2’Devilman Crybaby' (2015)
Popular among fans,Devilman Crybabyis a tragic reimagining of Go Nagai’s iconic manga. The story centers around Akira Fudo, a kind-hearted teenager who gets persuaded by his friend and attends an immoral party, only to end up merging with a demon and undergoing a transformation into Devilman. Guided by Ryo, he wages an all-out war against demons that infiltrate the human world and use his powers in ways he never could have imagined.
Which is to say that Akira does everything right. But does he win? No. The true antagonist of the anime, Ryo (later revealed as Satan), delivers one of anime’s most shocking and gut-wrenching victories. Satan manipulates Akira and plans the downfall of humanity, betrays him and kickstarts an apocalyptic finale where all hope dies. It’s not as surprising an end for fans of the manga, but the fluid and uncompromising animation makes it all the more visceral to watch.
1’Neon Genesis Evangelion' (1995)
Neon Genesis Evangelion
A psychological rollercoaster that moonlights as a mecha action anime,Neon Genesis Evangeliontells the story of Shinji Ikari, a reluctant teenager who finds himself thrust into a world where monstrous, godlike entities known as Angels are hell-bent on destroying everything. To combat the threat, he mans the cockpit of the biomechanical Eva Unit-01 and deals with a lot of personal trauma and faces deep-seated fears to stop the world from going extinct.
But none of it is enough in the face of the true “bad guys” – the puppeteers behind SEELE. Their selfish motives and cold acts of violence lead to the devastating Human Instrumentality Project and, in the end, all the heroes are robbed of their identities. The ones that don’t die find their consciousness merged and trapped in a dead world, with no way to restore themselves. The series has this layered symbolism where SEELE’s victory is bleak but profound. The anime got both praise and controversy for revealing the true cost of heroism.
