To say that the Anime landscape has exploded in 2025 is an understatement. From big hit movies like Chainsaw Man making more at the box office than many Hollywood-produced films in the same year, an Anime YouTuber making his own Anime, Conventions doing bigger numbers than ever, and Crunchyroll making the world angry by giving Soul Leveling every single award they could; overall, Anime is doing big business in both Japan and International Markets.
But, like so many other sites, we at The Outerhaven aren’t afraid to make recommendations for anime to watch from time to time, and also review just about everything under the sun. So, as we hit the end of the year, the question is: What is the Best Anime of 2025? Well, after a few of our writers pulled out their most overpowered moves in a battle that shook the world, we have a list of what we consider the Best Anime of 2025… In no order or set amount… The fight was a draw.
Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze
(Mikadono Sanshimai wa Angai, Choroi.)
Episodes: 12
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Karl
Summary: Yuu Ayase is a high schooler who struggles to live up to the legacy of his late mother, an actress. Some time after his mother’s death, Yuu is taken in by the wealthy Mikadono family and starts living with three talented sisters: The rookie actress Kazuki, the rising martial artist Niko, and the shogi prodigy Miwa. The three sisters are known in Yuu’s new school as the “Three Emperors”. As the four spend time together as a family, the sisters warm up to Yuu and develop romantic feelings for him.
Why is it worthy? In an era where just about every anime these days is a safe Isekai, it’s nice to find a good slice-of-life/romance anime where things are just chill. Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze tells three stories at the same time: The first being of Yuu and his desire to have a loving family after his mother passed away. The three sisters who carry the weight of needing to be perfect at the request of their father, and removing that burden to live their own lives. The slow-burning romance between Yuu and the three sisters leaves things in a “who will he pick?” situation.
Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze is one of those out-of-left-field anime shows that drags you in with a well-written story, characters who grow and develop over time, and enough interesting situations that make you think about the possibilities of future seasons. I found myself sitting and watching Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze instead of having it on as background noise like I originally intended, which makes this anime something that is worthy of a Best Anime of 2025 recommendation. Give it a look, you might just enjoy it.
Nyaight of the Living Cat
Episodes: 12
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Karl
Summary: A mysterious virus has spread that causes people to transform into cats when they cuddle with the feline animals. The protagonist, Kunagi, must fight his urge to snuggle with cats in order to survive this bizarre and crazy world.
Why is it worthy? Nyaight of the Living Cat is just one of those “so stupid an idea that it works” anime that grabs you with an absurd premise and never lets you go. The whole idea of a Zombie apocalypse that is not done with the undead, but with cats, is something that you would normally throw away from reading it, but the depth of the drama and seriousness that the characters take this whole situation is just so gripping that I couldn’t stop watching. Nyaight of the Living Cat was something that I not only showed my wife, and spent many nights watching it on delay, but also recommended this to anyone who would listen to my insane ramblings for 5 minutes.
New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
Episodes: 13
Streaming: Prime Video
Recommended By: Karl
Summary: Following on from the shocking revelation in the first season, Stocking’s demon nature is revealed to be the work of Corset’s brainwashing, and a resurrected Panty returns her to normal with the aid of Scanty and Kneesocks; the Demon sisters are consequently banished from Hell, while Corset is killed. Afterward, the Demon sisters take up residence at Cemetery Hills as reluctant allies to the Anarchy sisters, sharing a similar mission of collecting Hell Coins required for their own return home. The four also compete against the Anarchy sisters’ cousins, the angel brothers Polyester and Polyurethane, who harbor their own agenda against the angel sisters.
Why is it worthy? I feel like I don’t really need to tell you why this one is on the list. New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt follows up on the wildly insane and popular Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt almost 15 years ago, showing that you can’t keep a good anime down.
In an era where perverted, sexually laced, profanity-filled anime are pretty much done and dusted, New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt comes out like a force of an era that people have tried to kill off many times, showing that you can’t keep a good piece of “culture” down. Flaunting some of the most borderline-hentai images and vocal work in decades, New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt reminds us that sometimes you have to get nasty to get a laugh, and that no race, religion, sexuality, or genre is immune from being dragged through the mud and getting dirty… Now please, don’t make us wait another 15 years for Season 3.
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2
(Jidou Hanbaiki ni Umarekawatta Ore wa Meikyuu wo Samayou 2nd Season)
Episodes: 12
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Karl
Summary: An unnamed Japanese otaku is crushed to death by a falling vending machine. He then finds himself reincarnated in a fantasy world dungeon as a sentient vending machine. He can see and hear but is immobile, with his speech being limited to stock Japanese vending machine phrases, such as “Hello there” or “Too bad”. As a vending machine, he discovers he can dispense any item he has bought in his previous life, and can convert such sales to points, thus sustaining his existence. Stuck in the middle of the wilderness, he encounters Lammis, a young female hunter. Lammis has a skill known as the Blessing of Might, which makes her ridiculously strong, but she is still a novice at managing her own strength. The two quickly become friends after he dispenses some food items to the hungry Lammis. Calling him “Boxxo”, she starts carrying him around on her back, which allows Boxxo to move, with his weight allowing her to more easily control her strength. The series chronicles their adventures as they start exploring the world’s dungeons and the characters they meet on the way.
Why is it worthy? Personally, I hate the Isekai (Sent to another world) genre, but when you add in something like a good overpowered protagonist (Hi Anos Voldigoad, the main character of ‘The Misfit of Demon Academy’), or something that really shouldn’t work, then you get my attention enough to give the show a go. Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2 scratches the second itch, with the idea of someone crossing over into another world, a fantasy world, as a vending machine is just crazy enough for me to give it a watch.
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2 is a comedy at heart, with some of the situations that “Boxxo” finds himself in being so absurd that it really shouldn’t work. There are moments where Boxxo just shouldn’t survive, but he does, and at the same time, he creates a whole new culture in the world that he is in, introducing things from modern-day Japan that would never have existed in a fantasy era setting. To see what I’m talking about, give season 1 a go, then jump into this newest season, you might just be surprised as people who get ice cream for the first time.
Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider
(Toujima Tanzaburou wa Kamen Rider ni Naritai)
Episodes: 12
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Karl
Summary: As a child, Tanzaburo Tojima was an ardent fan of the Kamen Rider show and aspired to not just emulate Kamen Rider but to actually become one. Despite realizing the show is fictional and that Kamen Rider and the villain organization Shocker don’t exist, Tojima continues his physical training in seclusion, but ends up as a single, 40-year-old construction worker. However, Tojima learns of a recent crime wave where criminals are acting like Shocker, once more reviving his desire to become Kamen Rider.
Why is it worthy? What could have just been a tribute to one of Japan’s best tokusatsu shows explores deeper aspects of fandom, obsession, and the desire to be the hero (or villain) that we grew up watching. After all, who didn’t want to be a Power Ranger, Ninja Turtle, or Transformer in the 1990s? It’s this desire to become something that is bigger and more exciting than our boring 9-5 job, paying bills, and family life that appeals to the child inside of us who never wanted to grow up. Tojima embodies everything about a fan who finally gets to live out his dream of being the hero when the show he grew up with becomes real life. Also, the soundtrack is fire! And no, I’m not going to comment on Tackle’s… excessive assets.
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill Season 2
(Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi 2)
Episodes: 12
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Karl
Summary: Three Japanese high school students are magically summoned to a parallel fantasy world by the Kingdom of Reijseger, who asks them for help in their war against the demon folk. The students are found to possess several powerful magical abilities and are accepted as “Heroes”. However, the hero summoning ritual also accidentally transported a fourth person, an ordinary salaryman named Tsuyoshi Mukouda (a.k.a. “Mukohda”), who has only one power: “Online Supermarket”. Unwilling to become a Hero and harboring deep suspicion of the kingdom’s true intentions, he convinces the nobles that his ability is useless, allowing him to leave and pursue a simple life in the new world. Experimenting with his Online Supermarket skill, he discovers he can instantly order food and other products from modern-day Japan. During his travels, he meets a legendary beast known as “Fenrir”, who demands that Mukohda feed him. The Fenrir, eventually named Fel, takes a liking to Mukohda’s cooking and forces him to accept a familiar contract. As Mukohda continues his journey, he gains more familiars, encounters other monsters, and befriends gods from the Divine Realm, who grant him and his familiars blessings to obtain his food and otherworldly goods.
Why is it worthy? Yes, another Isekai, but this one has one of my favorite things to do in it: Cooking! Yep, I love to cook. Recreating recipes from TV shows and other media gives me a chance to learn something new and some new techniques to master. Not since Food Wars have I been so involved in an anime that involves cooking. Thanks to the way Mukouda describes what he is cooking, and the anime not being afraid to make sure all the labels for the ingredients look very close to the real thing, Campfire Cooking comes off more like a tutorial for the meals than anything else, something that gives me a lot to cook.
Other than that, Campfire Cooking is still a fun anime with an overpowered member (or members) of the group that brings a lot of different options to the main character. Fel, the Fenrir that contracts Mukouda in the first season, keeps being the comedic gold of the show, with his vanity and pride giving way to acting like a puppy at times. Then there is Sui, a smile that grows more powerful over time with some cute, but scary results. Season 2 adds more characters to the cast, all of whom are so over the top that you can’t help but laugh. A great addition to any Best Anime of 2025 recommendation list.
May I Ask for One Final Thing?
(Saigo ni Hitotsu dake Onegai shitemo Yoroshii deshou ka)
Episodes: 13
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Karl
Summary: Ever since childhood, Scarlet El Vandimion has preferred to deal with wrongdoers by using her fists. However, to preserve her family’s image, she suppresses her instincts and tolerates the abuse inflicted by her childish fiancé, Second Prince Kyle Von Pallistan. Only Kyle’s brother, First Prince Julius, is aware that there is more to Scarlet than meets the eye, but she cares little about his growing interest. In the middle of a ball, Kyle accuses Scarlet of harassing Terenezza Hopkins, a commoner who has taken his heart. Scarlet’s engagement to Kyle is nullified, leaving her outraged that all of her efforts to endure thus far have amounted to nothing. Scarlet dons her studded leather gloves, once again becoming the “Mad Dog Princess.” Joined by Julius and werebeast Nanaka, Scarlet is ready to give filthy nobles a taste of their own medicine—one punch at a time.
Why is it worthy? Throwing this one in here based on the first episode alone. In a world full of social rules and expectations, it’s great to see a woman throw all that aside and beat the ever-loving shit out of the ruling class just because she was wronged by a Prince. The complete opposite of every other high-class woman in anime. Sure, we’ve had the overpower protagonist in anime before, but there is something about this show that not only justifies her reason for getting violent, while keeping enough mystery that you want to see who she beats the shit out of next.
Dan Da Dan Season 2
Episodes: 12
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Richard
Summary: The second season of DanDaDan picks up right where season one left off, with the gang facing off against the Kito Family and the giant snake. Nothing major happens here other than the introduction of The Evil Eye and a little more of Jiji’s backstory. But following this arc is where things really take a turn because the short arcs that make up the rest of the season pack more of a punch than they did during the initial season. We see a lot more of the relationship between Momo and Okarun, the complexity between Okarun and The Evil Eye, the introduction of Kinta, and a lot more raw emotion.
Why is it worthy? Anyone who’s watched season one would obviously feel inclined to watch season two if they liked it, but I feel like season two is a huge improvement over the first. Between the insane Hayashi performance, the emotion afterwards, and the slice of life ending, episode 18 is what I feel is the best episode of the entire show. The remaining episodes perfectly balance the slice of life, action, and weirdness of the show.
Sanda
Episodes: 12
Streaming: Prime Video
Recommended By: Richard
Summary: Sanda is a weird one. Written by the creator of Beastars and animated by the studio that does DanDaDan, it’s the best of both worlds. This show takes place in a world where the concept of Christmas has been outlawed. But the protagonist, Sanda, is basically Santa reincarnated. His classmate Fuyumura figures this out and desperately attempts to get Sanda to reveal his secret identity. She does this because she hopes that Santa can help her find her missing best friend. The first season goes into extensive detail, showing off the kind of powers that Santa has and the backstory behind this wacky world.
Why is it worthy? Sanda is definitely not for everyone; its weirdness factor is even stronger than DanDaDan. It simply might be too much for some people, but for those who do enjoy this kind of content, Sanda is a hidden gem. Fuyumura quickly became my favorite character almost immediately because she’s one of the most unhinged anime characters I’ve seen in a while. The show definitely has its share of weird and cringeworthy moments, but there are a lot of fun moments, cool action scenes, and a solid art style.
My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero’s
(Ansatsusha de Aru Ore no Status ga Yuusha yori mo Akiraka ni Tsuyoi no da ga)
Episodes: 12
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Richard
Summary: Akira Oda is teleported to a fantasy world with his entire class and is told by the king that their help is needed in defeating demons. A hero is chosen, and Akira is stuck with the assassin class, which he deduces is as strong or even stronger than the hero. He quickly begins to doubt the King’s true intentions and thinks he might be the villain, but is framed for murder before he can prove anything. There’s a lot of stuff that’s recycled from the steady flow of Isekai over the past decade, but the show stays interesting.
Why is it worthy? The show 100 percent comes from the same factory that churned out dozens of Isekai recently, and there are some pacing issues and cliches. But it still does have its qualities. The show stays interesting for most of the season, and there are at least a few likeable characters, but the main draw is the art style and animation. It’s barely any better than generic Isekai, but it’s a treat to watch. The show looks and sounds like stuff that you would have watched twenty years ago, and the character designs all have some really great flair. My belief is that this is one of the best Isekai since The Eminence In Shadow, mostly because of the mix of power fantasy and art style.
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes
(Vigilante: Boku no Hero Academia Illegals)
Episodes: 13
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Richard
Summary: Vigilantes is a spin-off of the main My Hero Academia series that takes place a few years before the main series begins. While there are a few references to the main series, like Hero Killer Stains origin, Tensei Ida’s backstory, and random hero cameos, Vigilantes is largely its own original story. Koichi is a college student who always wanted to be a hero, but his quirk is fairly useless. But one day, he’s recruited to become a vigilante, who takes action on their own before pro heroes and police. The story is way more mature than the mainline series.
Why is it worthy? Even though it’s a spin-off, fans of the main series will enjoy Vigilantes because of its ties to the former. I really enjoyed seeing how Stain came into existence, I enjoyed seeing all of Ida’s moments, and I liked the villains, too. In addition, there’s so much hero lore that’s thrown at viewers, including more about how pro heroes became a thing. Fans will love the references and hidden detail, and I’m sure there will be those who like the shift towards the more mature tone and themes.
Wind Breaker Season 2
Episodes: 12
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Josh
Summary: Where the average scores are the lowest, but the fights are the strongest. Furin High School is renowned as a super school of delinquents. Haruka Sakura, a first-year student, came from outside the city to fight to the top. However, Furin High School has become a group that protects the town called the “Chime of the Wind Breaker” – Bofurin. The heroic legend of high school delinquent Sakura begins here!
Why is it worthy? I’ve seen quite a few urban gang-themed anime; however, Wind Breaker pours on the action unlike any other I’ve seen before. The fights are well-choreographed and animated, set to heart-racing music that draws you into the action and the emotions behind each fight. Plus, the fights don’t happen just for the sake of filling time with action sequences. Each fight has a unique story and purpose behind it, all built upon incredible character development. Wind Breaker does a lot aside from just mindless punching, kicking, and anime-style grunting. It shows us how good an urban gang-style story can be, which is why the second season easily makes it into the list. If you haven’t seen the first season, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Go check out Wind Breaker!
Kowloon Generic Romance
Episodes: 13
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Josh
Summary: Welcome to Kowloon Walled City: a dystopian townscape where the people are brimming with nostalgia, and where the past, present, and future converge. Amid the hidden emotions and extraordinary daily lives of the men and women working in its confines, a tale of romance begins to unfold for real estate agent Reiko Kujirai—one that feels as familiar as Kowloon itself…
Why is it worthy? This show’s art style immediately grabbed my attention. It felt like a throwback to the 90s, which many considered the holy grail age of anime. Once I got past the nostalgic visuals and the incredibly animated opening sequence of the first episode, I realized that this show was aiming to tell a story that was meant to keep you guessing the entire way through. Despite the fact that the word romance is in the title, the show goes WAY deeper than that into the realms of sci-fi. Imagine finding out that you could possibly be a copy of someone else, and the city you’re in ceased to exist years ago! When you pair these two plot points together and wrap them around well-written dialogue and character development, you get a recipe for a show that is an easy Anime of the Year contender!
Your Forma
Episodes: 13
Streaming: Prime Video
Recommended By: Josh
Summary: In 1992, a pandemic of viral encephalitis shook the world. The medical technology that saved humanity evolved into “Your Forma”—an invasive information device implanted into the brain. In this world where every sight, sound, and even emotion is recorded, investigating major crimes means diving into the collective data, a job reserved for special detectives called “Electronic Investigator.”
Echika Hieda, a prodigious “Electronic Investigator” assigned at an astonishingly young age, stands isolated by her exceptional talent. Her newly assigned partner is Harold, a blonde, blue-eyed humanoid “Amicus.” Together, this unrivaled duo will expose every hidden secret.
Why is it worthy? Typically, detective stories are hit or miss. They are either too slow and methodical to truly immerse yourself in the plot, or they are super interesting and hook you from the first episode. Your Forma didn’t do that. It started as something interesting, but then it built interest as time went on. It’s one of those “stick with it” shows that gets better over time. One thing that was nice about Your Forma is that it presented itself in an arc format. Three or four episodes would comprise a case, giving you the illusion that this show is just a series of short stories, but then the show links them all together, forming a cohesive story that draws you in. Plus, the main theme of the story centers around androids and artificial intelligence, which is my second-favorite sci-fi genre right behind time travel, so from a personal standpoint, the show held my interest. Will this win Anime of the Year? Probably not; however, it was good enough to make the list as a must-watch show of the year.
Gachiakuta
Episodes: 24
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Josh
Summary: A boy lives in a floating town, where the poor scrape by and the rich live a sumptuous life, simply casting their garbage off the side, into the abyss. When he’s falsely accused of murder, though, his wrongful conviction leads to an unimaginable punishment—exile off the edge, with the rest of the trash. Down on the surface, the cast-off waste of humanity has bred vicious monsters, and to travel the path to vengeance against those who cast him into Hell, a boy will have to become a warrior…
Why is it worthy? We’ve seen the mainstream shounen formula over and over again. Boy faces hardship, gets put into a perilous situation, then suddenly he’s saved when his powers awaken! If there were a cookie-cutter formula, this show’s introduction would follow it to the letter. So, why would something so generic in its storytelling be worth watching? Because every shounen battle series has a hook to it, and Gachiakuta’s hook of drawing your powers from physical objects that you have a strong attachment to, and using said objects to survive in a world where the rich float in the sky, and the poor are forced to survive in a lawless trash heap, made it stand out and command attention. Plus, the characters have a lot of charm, unique personalities, and don’t feel like they are just there to fill a slot. You end up caring about a lot of them, their personal struggles, and their reasons for why they want to help the broken world they are thrust into!
The Summer Hikaru Died
(Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu)
Episodes: 12
Streaming: Netflix
Recommended By: Josh
Summary: Two best friends living in a rural Japanese village: Yoshiki and Hikaru. Growing up together, they were inseparable… until the day Hikaru came back from the mountains and was no longer himself. “Something” has taken over Hikaru’s body, memories, feelings… and everything they know begins to unravel.
Why is it worthy? I am not a fan of horror in general. So, if a horror show can seriously make me consider making it my Anime of the Year, you know that it had to do something special to achieve that. This is more than just a “monster possesses the corpse to walk among the living” story. This is about a boy who lost his best friend, can’t accept it, and therefore keeps the monster-possessed corpse of Hikaru close by him as a way of trying to ease the pain of losing the one person in the world who understood him. It’s a heartbreaking scenario wrapped around the mystery of a small town in Japan, their religious and cultural rituals, and an unorthodox detective who threatens to take Hikaru away from Yoshiki. There are so many layers to this show that you can’t help but become engrossed by the phenomenal storytelling, character development, and unique premise. This show is DEFINITELY a must-watch for 2025. If it can make a non-horror fan like me swoon over it, then imagine how it will make you feel.
Call of the Night Season 2
(Yofukashi no Uta Season 2)
Episodes: 12
Streaming: HiDIVE
Recommended By: Josh
Summary: Wracked by insomnia and wanderlust, Kou Yamori is driven onto the moonlit streets every night in an aimless search for something he can’t seem to name. His nightly ritual is marked by purposeless introspection — until he meets Nazuna, who might just be a vampire! Kou’s new companion could offer him dark gifts and a vampire’s immortality. But there are conditions that must be met before Kou can sink his teeth into vampirism, and he’ll have to discover just how far he’s willing to go to satisfy his desires before he can heed the Call of the Night!
Why is it worthy? Season 1 was my 2022 Anime of the Year; however, it won’t win my personal Anime of the Year this time around because I have a hard rule to only pick shows that are in their first seasons. Otherwise, yes, this would win HANDS DOWN. Just like I’m not a horror fan, I’m not a fan of vampire stories, and yet, Call of the Night has taken one of the cutest romances I’ve seen, added a lot of sass and flair to it, and turned it into a show about self-discovery while using insomnia as a catalyst. Then, they topped themselves in season two by diving deep into Nazuna’s backstory, which affects not just her, but quite a few other characters, too… all of which you get emotionally attached to. This is peak character development, and when you couple that with one of the most heartwarming romance stories of the past five years, you get a recipe for an incredible show. Go watch the first season if you haven’t, then jump in to an incredible second season!
Takopi’s Original Sin
(Takopii no Genzai)
Episodes: 6
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Josh
Summary: A Happy alien, Takopi, lands on Earth with one mission: to spread happiness! When he meets Shizuka, a lonely fourth grader, he vows to bring back her smile using his magical Happy Gadgets. But as he uncovers the pain in her life, Takopi learns that true happiness may require more than gadgets.
Why is it worthy? Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Made in Abyss. Takopii no Genzai. What do all of these shows have in common? They all look like cute and innocent shows that your children would love, until those shows rip their hearts straight out of their chests and eat them in front of you with a smile. This is not a story for the faint of heart because it involves heavy topics such as childhood bullying and suicide. If story beats like that don’t affect you, then I implore you to dig into this short, 6-episode OVA. If you want to cry, this is the show for you. If you want to cheer over revenge, this is the show for you. If you want to laugh, but then cry because you realize Takopi is just too innocent, but tries his heart out to understand Shizuka’s pain, and then go way above and beyond to try and fix her life, only to fail over and over again, then this is the show for you. It’s nothing short of a masterclass, and even with just 6 episodes, you get a sense of a complete story from beginning to end. Simply incredible!
To Your Eternity Season 3
(Fumetsu no Anata e Season 3)
Episodes: 22
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Josh
Summary: In the beginning, an “orb” is cast unto Earth. “It” can do two things: change into the form of the thing that stimulates “it”; and come back to life after death. “It” morphs from orb to rock, then to wolf, and finally to boy, but roams about like a newborn who knows nothing. As a boy, “it” becomes Fushi.
Through encounters with human kindness, Fushi not only gains survival skills but grows as a “person”. But his journey is darkened by the inexplicable and destructive enemy Nokker and cruel partings with the people he loves.
Why is it worthy? Fushi is a sphere that can turn into anything it bonds with/touches. This happens until he takes the form of a boy who passed away from an infection. Since that moment, we have witnessed Fushi’s journey of trying to understand and learn about the world. The third season takes us into the modern arc. Sticks and spears are replaced with skyscrapers and maid cafes. Fushi vowed to create a world of peace by battling against the beings known as the Nokkers, who threatened to take that peace away. I was told that the modern arc was the weakest arc of the four in the series, but after watching it, I can say that, yes, it is on the weaker side versus the first two arcs, but there’s still enough compelling charm to keep you hooked. This is an emotional series that makes you wish you never got attached to any of the characters, and while that emotion is still here in the third season, it’s toned down as if to let you enjoy some of these new characters…. for now.
Gnosia
Episodes: 12
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Josh
Summary: The story of GNOSIA takes place on a ship drifting through space. Gnosia is an enemy that disguises itself as a human and attacks them. It is now on the spaceship, causing everyone onboard to be suspicious of each other. The crew decides to vote on the most suspicious-looking person every day and put them into a cold sleep.
If the humans succeed in putting Gnosia to sleep, they’ll win. On the other hand, if they don’t, everyone on board is in danger. The right decision must be made. No matter what decision is made by the main character, Yuri, she finds herself in a time loop that returns her to the first day of the crisis.
Will the crew on board make the right decision? What is the secret behind the time loop? What secrets hide behind the faces of everyone on board?
GNOSIA begins now – a story of looping, fleeting moments that feels like an eternity but passes by in an instant.
Have a pleasant journey.
Why is it worthy? I’ll admit… I was thoroughly disappointed by the first episode’s sloppiness when it came to its storytelling and character development, but the further you get into the story, the more you realize that was by design. The big hook here is that Yuuri is looping through time, and it has a deeper meaning outside of playing a Danganronpa-style guessing game as to who is infected as a Gnosia on board a spaceship. The twist is quite interesting as it changes Yuuri’s strategy as well as the entire premise of the series. It was a risky bet to take, but one that paid off as it made Gnosia one of the most intriguing anime of 2025.
Let’s Play
(Let’s Play: Quest-darake no My Life)
Episodes: 12
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Recommended By: Josh
Summary: Samara “Sam” Young is a developer in Los Angeles who’s about to achieve her dreams with her first video game, Ruminate. That is, until a popular streamer gives the game a scathing review. Even worse, Sam finds out the troublesome critic is now her new neighbor! Get lost in a comedic, romantic, and all-too-real story about gaming, memes, and social anxiety. Come for the plot, stay for the doggo.
Why is it worthy? It’s a gaming romance story that actually embeds gaming into it! While the gaming aspect isn’t super saturated into the show, it is present enough to resonate with the hearts of gamers and otaku across the globe. It’s not just about the gaming, though. This show and especially its main character, Sam, have incredible layers to them. Sam herself has enough layers to be considered a lasagna. From a medical condition to social anxiety to being an independent game developer to juggling a family-appointed position in her father’s company to struggling to find romance to dealing with the effects of criticism, Sam juggles all of this and more in a show that will be goofy as all heck one second, then super serious, dramatic, and heartbreaking the next. It’s a roller coaster for sure, but one that sucks you in and keeps you interested and entertained. This is definitely a sleeper hit of 2025!
