A Curated List of 10 Manga I Enjoyed in 2025 (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it becomes a challenge to discover every noteworthy release. Predictably, the mainstream series get all the attention, however, countless gems of overlooked works ripe for exploration.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is stumbling upon a largely unknown series in the sea of new chapters and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the top obscure manga I've discovered recently, along with reasons why they're deserving of your time before they gain widespread popularity.

Several entries here are still awaiting a mainstream following, notably because they haven't received anime adaptations. A few are harder to access due to digital exclusivity. However, suggesting any of these provides some serious bragging rights.

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

• Authors: 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 bear with me. Manga can be silly, and that's perfectly fine. I admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While this series isn't strictly an isekai, it uses similar story beats, including an overpowered main character and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He has no interest in 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 released by a leading publisher, and thus easily available to international audiences via a free service. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're in need of a brief, enjoyable diversion, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the abundance of similar stories, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. The Nito Exorcists reminds me of the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, unique visuals, and unexpected brutality. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who purges ghosts 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 fueling his retribution. The premise sounds simple, but the portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the absurd look of the enemies and the bloody fights is a compelling layer. This is a series with the capacity to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

• Artist: Yuto Sano
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus; Viz

For readers who value visual splendor, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is breathtaking, detailed, and distinctive. The plot remains within from classic shonen conventions, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a poor neighborhood where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: someone who hanged themselves can strangle others, one who died from self-harm induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that adds depth to these antagonists. Gokurakugai might become a major title, but it's limited due to its infrequent release pace. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

• Creators: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Viz

This dark fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it showcases 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, using his trumpet and upbringing in a cruel mercenary band to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the insertion of sci-fi elements feels forced at times, but The Bugle Call still provided bleak developments and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an interesting combination of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Creator: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its small claws is the only thing that relieves his stiff shoulders. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you