The 10 Best Manga I Discovered Recently (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, staying on top to track every worthwhile title. Inevitably, the most popular series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of overlooked works ripe for exploration.

A key pleasure for any manga enthusiast is finding a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. Here are some of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're deserving of your time prior to a potential boom.

Several entries here are still awaiting a mainstream following, especially as they are without anime adaptations. A few are trickier to read due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these grants you some serious bragging rights.

10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero

• Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but hear me out. Comics are often fun, and there's nothing wrong with that. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man doesn't fully fit the genre, it uses similar story beats, including an overpowered main character and a game-influenced setting. The appeal, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who vents his stress by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is one of the few published by a major house, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a few minutes of silly fun, this manga is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Ordinarily, 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. This series evokes the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, unique visuals, and unexpected brutality. I stumbled upon it accidentally and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who kills evil spirits in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than supporting his vengeance. The premise sounds simple, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the absurd look of the enemies and the bloody fights is a nice extra touch. This is a series with the capacity to become a hit — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

• Author: Yuto Sano
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz

When artistic excellence matters most, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is spectacular, intricate, and unique. The plot remains within to traditional battle manga tropes, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the characters are all quirky and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a low-income area where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the manner of death: a hanging victim has the power to choke people, one who died from self-harm induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai has potential for massive popularity, but it's constrained by its slower publication rate. Since its debut, only five volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song

• Creators: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Viz

This grim fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it depicts large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a cruel mercenary band to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The world feels a bit standard, and the inclusion of futuristic tech occasionally doesn't fit, but The Bugle Call still surprised me with grim twists and unexpected plot twists. It's a mature shonen with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• 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 takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its tiny paws is a unique cure for his aches. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you