One of the 7 Shadow Dragons that Goku and Pan come across near the end of Dragon Ball GT, Nova Shenron is the dragon connected to the 4 Star Dragon Ball, and was created by King Piccolo’s wish to restore his youth way back in the middle of Dragonball. Unlike the other Shadow Dragons that Goku and Pan come across, Nova has a sense of honor, wanting to fight Goku fairly in battle. He even teams up with Goku to fight his own twin! Nova’s power is immense, as he relies on fire based techniques as well as his ability to generate heat even hotter than the Sun. Whereas in previous fights Goku himself chose to transform into Super Sayian 4 in order to utterly demolish the Shadow Dragons, Goku is forced to transform into Super Sayian 4 by necessity in order to actually stand a chance of beating Nova, something very few characters in the series can claim. An often overlooked character in power rankings mainly due to having only 1 major fight, but one that should be considered more often.

Considered to be technically the “final” villain of Dragonball Z, Fat Buu was a magical creature created by the wizard Bibidi as an attempt to eradicate life throughout the universe. Only because of the intervention of Grand Kaioshin allowing himself to be absorbed by Buu was Fat Buu created, allowing himself to be sealed away for a very long time until Babadi was able to awaken him again. Even though Buu goes through various transformations throughout the Buu saga, by the end of DBZ it’s firmly established that Fat Buu is a separate identity from Evil Buu, and should be considered as such. With Fat Buu’s immense power as well an almost infinite amount of techniques to draw from, he is an incredibly difficult opponent to defeat. Even though fused characters and his evil counterpart overshadow him as Dragonball Z comes to a close, Fat Buu is still one of the strongest beings on Earth, and can certainly hold his own against the other characters on this list to a fair degree.

The character created by the Fusion Dance done by Trunks and Goten, Gotenks was considered by Goku to be the last hope of defeating Buu before Gohan and the Potara Earrings came along. Gotenks is an incredibly powerful fighter for someone so young. Unfortunately, due to displaying a cockiness that could rival Vegeta’s, Gotenks tends to play around in his multiple fights with Super Buu and focuses more on how to look beating him as opposed to beating him. This results in some of the wackiest techniques we ever see created in Dragonball Z, best exemplified by the Super Ghost Kamikaze Attack. Despite the wackiness, however, Gotenks proves to be a prodigious fighter by reaching Super Saiyan 3, something only Goku has ever done. Had Gotenks focused and been a no nonsense fighter, he would be much higher on this list.

The oldest son of Goku and Chichi, Gohan is shown from the very beginning of Dragonball Z as being the one who could take up the mantle of being the strongest character in the series. Posessing a hidden power that would manifest at different times whenever Gohan lost control, Gohan was able to use it to reach Super Saiyan 2 and save the Earth from Cell. But his strongest feat in the series by far is the fight he has with Super Buu due to the upgrade he receives from Old Kai. The fact that he was able to fight in a non-Super Saiyan state and be dominant over Super Buu is an indicator as to what Gotenks could’ve done had he not been so cocky. Even though Gohan’s power is not enough to take on Super Buu, Gotenks, and Piccolo combined, Gohan has proven in his fights throughout the series that he is not one to ever count out.

The prince of all Saiyans, Vegeta is proud, cocky, and powerful from the first moment we see him. Even though he’s stronger than most of Goku’s allies throughout the series, Vegeta is always one step behind Goku in terms of strength. Even though he reaches the plateaus Goku discovers in terms of power, by the end of DBZ even Vegeta is dwarfed by Goku, never being able to reach Super Sayian 3. It’s only through Bulma’s invention in DBGT that he’s even able to transform into Super Saiyan 4. However, with that transformation marks one of the strongest power levels ever reached, and almost nobody is able to stand up to it save for Goku and a few of the Shadow Dragons. Vegeta may be outmatched in Dragonball Z by multiple characters, but his transformation to SS4 in GT certifies him as one of the best.

The final version of Evil Buu that Goku and Vegeta go up against in the final battle on the Kai planet, Kid Buu is an emotionless creature that is pure unrestrained power. It can be a debate as to which form of Evil Buu was the most strongest, but in terms of immense power combined with raw fighting ability, Kid Buu takes it. The fact that he can destroy multiple planets in a matter of seconds and regenerate himself from the smithereens of his body that remained speaks as to what exactly it takes to defeat someone like him. The only characters that can defeat him are Goku and Vegeta’s fused characters as well as Goku himself, which literally takes everything Goku has his strongest. Kid Buu was certainly able to prove himself worthy of being the strongest DBZ villain and a legit contender for strongest character.

The final Shadow Dragon Goku and his friends go up against, Omega Shenron was created by Mr. Popo’s wish to revive everyone on planet Namek that was killed by Frieza and his men. Omega Shenron’s power is just immense to say the least, and that was before he absorbed the Dark Star Dragonballs themselves to become even more powerful. He’s able to go up against multiple fighters, take on Goku and Vegeta in their Super Saiyan 4 forms, and even go head to head with Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta. It takes Goku creating a Spirit Bomb made up of energy collected from all across the galaxy in order to destroy him once and for all. As short-lived as he may have been, Omega Shenron can’t ever be counted out when discussing the strongest fighters.

The main character of Dragonball Z and Dragonball GT, Goku is a member of the Saiyan race that was raised on Earth, where he assumes the role of protector against the many foes that want either its Dragonballs or its destruction. Goku is hands down the strongest individual character in the series. The number of times he’s able to dig down and find power somewhere in order to continue the fight is a big part as to why fans of the series enjoyed watching DBZ, especially since you didn’t know what technique or ability he was going to resort to next. Using the ultimate Spirit Bomb to destroy both Kid Buu and Omega Shenron speaks not only to the power Goku has, but also to the fact that he was able to accomplish something with said power. In terms of individuals, Goku is by far the best choice.

The fusion of Goku and Vegeta as a result of the Portara Earrings as well as a last ditch effort to stop Super Buu. Vegito is the perfect example of a character who shows so much potential yet we see so little of. Vegito establishes right off the bat how much more powerful he is than Super Buu at a “normal” level; when he transforms into a Super Saiyan, Buu isn’t even a challenge anymore. Even when he gets turned into a jawbreaker by Buu, Vegito’s power is so great that he retains both his power and his mind in said form, continuing to still outclass Buu in their fight. Vegito is “defeated” when he’s absorbed by Buu and Buu’s enzymes split up the fusion, ending the one and only fight Vegito has. Yet that one fight was enough to cement Vegito as the strongest overall character in DBZ in terms of potential. One can only wonder what a fight between him and Gogeta would be like.

The fact that this character is number 1 despite only existing for around 10 minutes speaks volumes as to the type of power he possesses. The fused character of Goku and Vegeta when they perform the Fusion Dance, Gogeta is easily the strongest character in the series. Done by Goku and Vegeta as a last attempt at trying to stop Omega Shenron, Gogeta as a Super Saiyan 4 completely outmatches him in terms of power output. In addition, Omega Shenron’s attacks do absolutely nothing to him, whereas he’s completely helpless to Gogeta’s attacks. Gogeta even effortlessly kicks away Omega’s strongest attack and responds with his signature attack, the Big Bang Kamehameha, which completely obliterates Omega’s form down to that before he absorbed the Dark Star Dragonballs. Unfortunately, his biggest fault is actually toying around with his opponent, resulting in the fusion ending before Gogeta can finish him off once and for all. Yet Gogeta accomplished what few of these characters were able to do: reaching a level so untouchable that no one could match them. In the end, this is what makes Gogeta the strongest.

Here’s our most recent recommendation to date. Currently airing as we speak, you can be a part of the ongoing mischief right now! When a bus filled with 30 strangers intent on starting anew, punches straight for the village of Nanakimura, false pretenses take the cake when things turn out to be the exact opposite of expectations. Rumored to be a wonderland of new beginnings, the uninhabited village of Nanakimura pits these 30 individuals’ commitments towards repairing their troubled pasts on thin ice. The Lost Village will have you guessing at every turn. You’ll see just how fickle human connections can truly be once our protagonist's transition from a mutual outlook towards life to turning a deadly, cold shoulder upon one another. As secrets prevail, and the unexpected dominate at tampering with the fragile limits of the human mind, the similarities that this piece shares with Another come without question. So strap yourselves in and prepare for a bus ride deep into the realms of great storytelling.

Hitting at number two on Honey’s Anime 6 Anime like list is our Horror, Mystery, Romance piece, Dusk Maiden of Amnesia. Set on the campus of Seikyou Private Academy, a 60-year-old haunting takes up center stage as the culprit, a ghost named Yuuko, heads the Paranormal Investigations Club tasked with solving the school’s mysteries. If the irony there isn’t enough to get you watching right away, then perhaps this will pique your interest. Having not even the faintest memory of her past life or death, Yuuko carries on in a constant search for answers seemingly with no success in sight; that is until she comes across Teiichi Niiya. A wet-behind-the-ears freshman, and one-of-one whom can actually see Yuuko. This undeniable pair, alongside Momoe Okonogi and Kirie Kanoe, set out on a rollercoaster ride in an attempt to unfold the truth behind Yuuko’s death. If the ghastly corridors of a school building tickle your horror fancy, then Dusk Maiden of Amnesia is not an anime you would want to miss. Similar to Another, prepare to gear up your detective engine as you follow alongside the hunt to unravel the Seven Mysteries that linger around the old school building. Watching as Teiichi and his team battle against the unnerving forces of the paranormal, obscured behind the mythos of old afterschool stories, you will be blessed with an experience similar to that of Another (With a slight Ecchi presentation for some decoration). Let us also mention that both anime are co-lead by a female character sporting the – biggest question mark ever! Thus spurring our protagonists to unfold their questionable pasts. This show will certainly help to satisfy that hunger plaguing those in search for a great mystery tale.

Word of advice, never perform rituals in a Japanese school building. It could only make your night a living hell. That is, what Corpse Party: Tortured Souls has taught us at least. Here’s our number three recommendation to help keep you up at night. Watch in despair as nine students fight their way through the horrors of what lie beneath their own Kisaragi Academy High School. After a botched attempt at a “well-intentioned” farewell ritual sends them to the depths of the old Heavenly Host Academy—an infamous setting for a series of gut-wrenching bloody murders—our protagonists struggle to hold their composure as their emotional limits are stretched paper thin. With its traditional creepy school setting, Corpse Party: Tortured Souls revitalizes many of the elements that made Another such a great piece. Reclamation being a common motif as we watch these nine individuals externalize their inner conflicts in the face of death, we can hear the echo of that soul-searching aspect which helped drive the story plot of Another in this cringe-inducing piece.

At the arrival of the Kirishiki family in Sotoba, things soon begin to fall very dimly for the residents of this small rural town as it becomes a basin of blood, tears and abandoned humanity in this gruesome addition to our list of anime like Another. Kick started by the death of 15-year-old Megumi Shimizu, this town of Sotoba is plummeted into a spiral of terror, led by a sweeping string of uncanny deaths. Thus spurring Toshio Ozaki, director of the only hospital in Sotoba, to take it upon himself to investigate the clandestine at work. Only to later discover that it is the hand of the Shiki, bloodthirsty vampires, that is to blame for the hell that is now the town of Sotoba. In this escapade of survival, the separation between good and evil has become a line obscured by confusion, self-pity, and personal weakness. As you watch this antagonizing piece of fiction you will feel as though you are looking into the reflection of Another, as the underlying theme of a false humanity takes root throughout this supernatural horror storytelling. Finding the differences between man and beast has never been so difficult, and we get another sense of similarity with Another as we watch each individual abandon ethics for the sake of what they believe is their survival. The grip of fear will creep up on you and sink your heart into your stomach with each passing episode. A fan favorite for horror and vampire fans alike, Shiki is definitely a list topper in must watch anime.

A quiet village can often speak the loudest if you listen close enough, and Hinamizawa is no exception. Set in the summer of 1983, Keiichi Maebara becomes a welcomed addition to this small, out of sight, village. Things seem like just another day in paradise until the annual festival comes punching back around for another swing, and with it, a slew of macabre stories about grisly murders and unexplained disappearances surrounding the town's benefactor deity, Oyashiro. Once the yells of madness from below the depths of this strange town, Keiichi will soon find himself battling to unveil the dark secrets stowed away amongst its tight-lipped residents, as well as fending off his own increasing paranoia. Fighting with everything he’s got to maintain his own sanity. Everything from its mystery facet; or what some would call the “there’s something going on behind the scenes” story aspect, all the way to the eerie atmosphere surrounding many of its characters, the experience you’re in for with When They Cry will truly sit parallel to Another in this captivating, psychological piece. You’ll soon come to know the abuse of the term “friendship”, and how lacking in meaning it truly is as you make your way through this extraordinary series. Told across multiple arcs spanning two sequels, When They Cry – Kai and When They Cry – Rei, a multitude of specials, side-stories, and spin-offs, with the most recent addition When They Cry – Outbreak (released in 2013), there is more than enough twisted viewing fun to keep you occupied for quite a while. This is a must watch for anyone who is a fan of Another and are looking to divulge in yet another mind-bending horror experience. Not to mention, there’s blood, blood, and blood.

At the start of the show one can’t help but question if whether or not this is just another run-of-the-mill, haunted school building story; but divulge yourself a bit further and you’ll see just how non-cliché Ghost Hunt actually is, as it creeps its way into Honey Anime’s list of 6 anime like Another. Ghost Hunt will take you on a ride through the mysterious, the unsettling, and the downright scary with each passing episode. As you follow Mai and her team at the Shibuya Psychic Research Company step their way into the ghastly remnants of haunted buildings, pit themselves head on with possessed dolls, and challenge their true beliefs in the face of what the “rational” would consider out-and-out impossible, you’ll inevitably feel the nostalgia of Another begin to flood through you. A creepy nostalgia at that, but the similarities are clear. Both Another and Ghost Hunt manage to face you with the challenge of shaking the feeling that you’re somehow standing right beside these characters. Riding passenger as they explore the parameters of the supernatural, while struggling to divide myth from reality. Slowly developing into the characters that kept you, and will keep you, watching in the first place. All that, topped with the theme of unrested vengeful souls, and what you get is two uniquely different slices of the same pie. If Another is on your list of top anime, then you won’t want to miss Ghost Hunt. It’s a show that all anime horror fans will fall in love with.