Set in the late 1990’s, a series of suicides occur in Japan which intrigue Mikiya Kokutou. As he’s investigating them, he also gets to know an unsociable girl named Shiki Ryougi, and realizes that they are somehow connected. Shiki comes from a line of demon hunters with special powers but is left in a coma after an accident. When she wakes up, she’s no longer herself and looks for answers by joining and assisting Mikiya in his investigations of the violent and supernatural deaths that keep taking place. This might be the most subdued anime on this list. Shiki doesn’t necessarily die, but she is involved in an incident which changes her life, like Kei in Ajin. She does, however, have the power to kill anyone by using her “Mystic Eyes of Death perception”. Using a dark power, like Kei to defeat her opponents. Like Kei and Kaito, Shiki and Mikiya are reunited after a couple of years to team up against evil and work to find answers and try to stay alive. While not exactly like Ajin, Kara no Kyoukai is dark, full of death, mystery and demonic powers, what more can you ask for?

The Jigoku Tsushin is a website where people can post grudges against people you dislike and the Hell Girl will literally torture them and drag them to hell. The girl is Ai Enma, who was buried alive along with her family as part of a sacrifice 400 years ago. Full of hate and resentment, she vows to hate the villagers forever and then becomes appointed the Hell Girl by the Master of Hell. She will forever be the messenger of people’s hate and resentment. Hell Girl is a story of life after death. Kind of like Ajin, Ai gains her new evil powers after she is left for dead. Also, much like Kei is able to focus his hate and anger to get rid of those who chase or hurt him, Ai is able to do the same, but for others. There are horrible human aspects showcased in Hell Girl as well; violence, torture, insanity and of course, vengeance and the ability to rid the world of those people who according to our (anti) heroes deserve to die.

Over centuries, Chiropterans (vampire-like creatures) have been feeding on humans by disguising themselves as people. At the same time, there is an organization that hunts them, Red Shield. In this world, Saya Otonashi is an anemic amnesic high school girl who because of a life-changing encounter finds herself fighting the Chiropterans, which she was destined to do. Much like Kei in Ajin, Saya doesn’t realize she is at all connected to these demonic creatures that people fear and which Red Shield is there to destroy. Understanding and getting used to her newly discovered power takes time, but she will use it to battle along with her partner Haiji. Though this one is also about vampires, it has evil creatures, blood (duh), and a normal kid who finds out they’re not normal at all and must learn about their true nature.

When Megumi Shimizu is the first to die in a bloody epidemic which then turns those affected into vampires, Dr Toshio Ozaki decides to look into the horrifying disease. However, he realizes that in order to find the truth and save the town of Sotoba, he will have to give up being human. Along with Yuki Natsuno, they face their new found humanity in order to face the Shiki and save the town. In Shiki, like in Ajin, we have a species of altered human who are feared by the rest of society. While under different circumstances, the main characters in both shows become said creatures and must face the reality of it, all while battling those like them but who are on the side of evil. They must face the struggles of facing those who fear them along with a trusty partner. Shiki is also pretty bloody if that’s what you’re looking for.

Kei Kurono and Katou Masaru are high school students who get hit by a train as they’re trying to save a drunk who had fallen onto the tracks. After dying, they both appear in a room with other recently deceased people and a big black sphere called GANTZ. They are now part of a game and are instructed to take a weapon and begin their new mission to eliminate aliens on Earth while fighting for points and their survival. The biggest similarities between Gantz and Ajin are that the fun doesn’t start until the hero(s) die and that there is a team of two childhood friends who must now fight together to survive. Other than that, there are special powers, though they’re not evil, provided by the special powered suits given to the boys by Gantz. Like Ajin and other titles in this list, Gantz is pretty violent and bloody and shows all the ugliest traits of humanity.

Tokyo has become inhabited by ghouls which are supernatural beings that blend in with society but enjoy murdering and eating humans. Ken Kaneki lives in Tokyo and meets Rize Kamishiro, but while on a date, she turns out to be a ghoul and out to dine on Kaneki. A well-timed accident kills Rize and sends Kaneki to the hospital where he receives some of Rize’s organs, making him a half-ghoul. Trapped in this reality and being a rare specimen, Kaneki must face himself and a million enemies. Ajin has been considered to be “the new Tokyo Ghoul” so we couldn’t possibly leave it out of this list. And if you like Ajin, chances are you’ve already seen it. Tokyo Ghoul shows the struggles of a boy who is suddenly faced with becoming the most feared and hated creature in his world. He must control his demonic urges and abilities and faces persecution from both humans and monsters alike, much like Kei in Ajin. Although, while Kei only has one accomplice, (at least at the beginning) Kaneki counts with the help of Touka Kirishima and the rest of the Anteiku staff. It’s a little less dark than Ajin, but Tokyo Ghoul will certainly bring you a similar dose of violence, blood, torture and twisted sadists.