The 12 Best Ongoing Horror Manga in 2025

As a horror fan, I’ve always been drawn to the strange, the unsettling, and the unknown. Over the years, I’ve come to believe that few mediums capture horror as powerfully as manga, particularly horror manga. That’s why I set out to create a list of my favorite ongoing horror manga that deliver fear, tension and suspense week after week.

Horror manga is a thriving genre. It blends visual storytelling with psychological depth and grotesque imagination, and a uniquely eerie atmosphere. Whether it’s ghostly, tragic, cosmic, or just outright weird, horror manga offers a kind of fear that lingers.

There are a lot of horror manga currently being serialized, but as with every other medium, not all of them are worth your time. For this list, I’ve narrowed things down to the most promising and best ongoing horror manga.

Ongoing Horror Manga Intro Picture
@ Mokumoku Ren – The Summer Hikaru Died, Kenichi Kondou – Dark Gathering, Koike Nokuta – Tonari no Jiisan

These are series that are not only still being published, but are actually worth keeping up with. Whether you like your horror slow-burning and emotional or loud, chaotic, and bizarre, there’s something here for you.

You’ll find a wide variety of styles and subgenres: psychological thrillers, supernatural ghost stories, yokai mysteries, cosmic dread, dark fantasy, and a few twisted originals that defy easy categorization. Some are already gaining serious attention. Others are hidden gems. All of them are promising, however, and some are already phenomenal.

If you’re looking to follow new chapters, or just want to know what’s worth reading while it’s still fresh, these are the series I recommend.

Mild spoiler warning: I try to avoid giving away major plot points, but some details are unavoidable.

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So here’s my ranked list of the currently best ongoing horror manga (last updated July 2025).

12. Tonari no Jii-san

Manga by Koike Nokuta - Tonari no Jii-san Picture 1
@ Koike Nokuta – Tonari no Jiisan

If you’re looking for an ongoing horror manga that captures dread without relying on gore or violence, Tonari no Jii-san might be your perfect read. This eerie, slow-burn series thrives on the creeping sensation that something is deeply, fundamentally wrong, and no one else seems to notice.

Written by Koike Nokuta, it follows Yuki, a quiet girl in a rural town who dreams of becoming a painter. After accompanying her sister on a train ride out of town, Yuki witnesses something so strange it shatters her sense of reality. Yet no one else acknowledges it. No one even notices. Is she hallucinating? Losing her mind? Or did she glimpse a hidden truth?

As the story unfolds, Yuki searches for answers and discovers that she’s not the only one who sees the town’s distorted reality. What starts as paranoia slowly warps into a larger mystery, blending body horror with local folklore and dreamlike unease.

Manga by Koike Nokuta - Tonari no Jii-san Picture 2
@ Koike Nokuta – Tonari no Jiisan

Visually, Tonari no Jii-san is outstanding. The artwork relies on fine textures, heavy shadows, and surreal designs that conjure an atmosphere of quiet terror. The opening chapters alone give you one of the strongest starts to any recent horror manga.

Though still early in its run, Tonari no Jii-san is already establishing itself as one of the quietest, most terrifying ongoing horror manga around. If you like stories where reality blends at the edges and horror seeps in slowly, don’t miss this one.

Genres: Horror, Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Tragedy

Status: Ongoing (Seinen)


11. Shikabane Kaigo

Manga by Kazuki Miura, Harumi Miura - Shikabane Kaigo Picture 1
@ Kazuki Miura, Harumi Miura – Shikabane Kaigo

A chilling new entry in the world of ongoing horror manga, Shikabane Kagio delivers classic haunted house terror with a razor-sharp modern edge. Combining slow-burn dread with hyper-detailed visuals, this series is already shaping up to be one of the scariest manga in recent years.

The story follows Akane Kuritani, a young live-in caregiver who accepts a mysterious job deep in the mountains. Her patient is Hiwako Miyazono, an elderly woman confined to bed in a decaying Western-style mansion. When Akane finally meets her, she is horrified: Hiwako looks as if she’s already dead. Her body is emaciated, her skin discolored, and her face obscured by a burlap sack.

The atmosphere here is outstanding. From the moment Akane arrives, everything feels off. The house rules are unnerving. Her coworkers are courteous, yet disturbingly off-kilter. And the mansion itself radiates quiet malevolence. What begins as subtle discomfort spirals into a tense, suffocating nightmare.

Manga by Kazuki Miura, Harumi Miura - Shikabane Kaigo Picture 2
@ Kazuki Miura, Harumi Miura – Shikabane Kaigo

The horror here is psychological and slow-burning, built on oppressive atmosphere and a growing sense of isolation. The mansion feels rotten and real. The interactions are uncanny. And Hiwako’s grotesque design, rendered in grotesquely realistic detail, is pure nightmare fuel.

Only ten chapters are out so far, but Shikabane Kagio has already made a strong impression. For fans of atmospheric, psychological horror, it’s one of the most promising ongoing horror manga to watch out for.

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Psychological

Status: Ongoing (Seinen)


10. Dai Dark

Manga by Q Hayashida - Dai Dark Picture 1
@ Q Hayashida – Dai Dark

Of all the ongoing horror manga on this list, Dai Dark is easily the weirdest.

This cosmic splatter-comedy by Dorohedoro creator Q Hayashida throws conventional storytelling out of the airlock. Zaha Sanko is a man whose bones can grant any wish, turning him into a universal bounty. Rather than playing things straight, though, Hayashida leans fully into absurdity: space is a trash heap, murder is casual, and bone-harvesting is practically a hobby.

Sanko travels the galaxy with his misfit crew of friends, Avakian, Shimada Death, and Damemaru, leaving behind a train of carnage while delivering deadpan jokes. The violence is constant: people melt, explode, and get torn apart in almost every chapter, but the tone is so gleeful and unserious it becomes hilarious instead of horrifying.

Manga by Q Hayashida - Dai Dark Picture 2
@ Q Hayashida – Dai Dark

That tonal dissonance is exactly what makes Dai Dark stand apart from other ongoing horror manga. It’s filled with grotesque imagery and cosmic monstrosities, but filtered through a lense of chaotic comedy.

Visually, it’s peak Hayashida. Every panel drips with grime, details, and surreal horror. The plot is loose and episodic, but that hardly matters. Each chapter piles on strange concepts and freakish designs with such manic energy that the chaos becomes the point.

If you’re looking for something that combines space horror, absurdist comedy, and relentless weirdness, Dai Dark is unlike anything else on this list and easily one of the best ongoing manga currently running.

Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi, Comedy, Action, Adventure

Status: Ongoing (Shonen)


9. Centuria

Manga by Kuramori Tooru - Centuria Picture 1
@ Kuramori Tooru – Centuria

Centuria by Tooru Kuramori is one of the most visually stunning ongoing horror manga of today. It’s blending dark fantasy and Lovecraftian terror into a cinematic experience.

The story opens with a harrowing prologue: a slave ship caught in a violent storm, where 99 slaves are slaughtered before a mysterious sea god intervenes. In exchange for one final sacrifice, the god grants terrifying power to the lone survivor, a teenage boy named Julian, who now carries his curse into the wider world.

Julian eventually finds refuge in a quiet village, but his presence draws the attention of horrific, supernatural forces.

From tentacled sea deities to grotesque, multi-headed beasts, Centuria leans into creature horror with stunning precision. The designs are deeply unsettling and easily rival the best monsters in modern manga.

Manga by Kuramori Tooru - Centuria Picture 2
@ Kuramori Tooru – Centuria

Artistically, Centuria is jaw-dropping. Its richly detailed world evokes comparisons to Berserk and Dorohedoro, balancing sweeping landscapes with nightmarish threats. Every panel feels handcrafted to immerse the reader in its otherworldly atmosphere.

While the manga’s tone begins in brutal, grimdark fashion, the story leans more toward dark shonen than seinen. Characters are often drawn with broad moral strokes, either heroic or villainous, without much nuance. However, Centuria is still in its early stages, and these elements may evolve.

Regardless, it’s already one of the most promising ongoing horror manga out there. With its cosmic overtones and incredible artwork, Centuria is a must-read for any dark fantasy fan.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Action, Supernatural (Shonen)

Status: Ongoing (Shonen)


8. Dark Gathering

Manga by Kenichi Kondou - Dark Gathering Picture 1
@ Kenichi Kondou – Dark Gathering

Dark Gathering is one of the most compelling ongoing horror manga today, combining classic spirit-hunting, graphic horror, and occult shonen battles with surprisingly strong character writing.

The series follows Keitarou Gentouga, a college student who hates ghosts but attracts them. After a friend’s spiritual injury two years ago left him traumatized and isolated, Keitarou begins to rebuilds his life with the help of his childhood friend Eiko. He soon lands a tutoring job for Eiko’s cousin, Yayoi, an eerie, stoic child prodigy with a powerful spiritual constitution and a mission: to find the ghost that stole her mother.

What starts as rehabilitation turns into a full-blown descent into the occult. Keitarou, Yayoi and Eiko visit cursed sites and confront grotesque, monstrous spirits, each with disturbing backstories and unique abilities.

Manga by Kenichi Kondou - Dark Gathering Picture 2
@ Kenichi Kondou – Dark Gathering

Despite being serialized in a shonen magazine, Dark Gathering pulls no punches. The ghost designs are horrific, many chapters feature unsettling moments, and the violence is genuinely graphic.

Each chapter offers satisfying narrative arcs, often running 40 pages, and the pacing balances episodic ghost encounters with long-form storytelling. The overarching plot centers around capturing powerful spirits to lift curses, and never feels like filler.

The art is excellent, providing the series with a strong, unsettling atmosphere, and making sure the creepy moments hit hard.

Dark Gathering isn’t just one of the best ongoing horror manga, it’s also one of the strongest shonen manga currently running. Highly recommended for fans of supernatural terror, occult intrigue, and disturbing-but-stylish battles.

Genres: Horror, Supernatural

Status: Ongoing (Shonen)


7. Mieruko-Chan

Manga by Izumi Tomoki - Mieruko-Chan Picture 1
© Izumi Tomoki – Mieruko-Chan

Mieruko-chan stands out as one of the most creative and emotionally resonant ongoing horror manga. Like Dark Gathering, it centers on ghosts and twisted spirits that torment the living. But while Dark Gathering features characters who fight back and capture spirits, Mieruko-chan flips that dynamic completely.

Miko Yotsuya is a high school girl who can see ghosts. They are often horrible, grotesque abominations that cling to people and leer from the shadows. Yet there’s a twist: she doesn’t confront them, doesn’t run, and doesn’t even acknowledge their presence. Instead, she endures them quietly, pretending she can’t see them, because the moment she reacts, they’ll know.

This simple premise makes Mieruko-chan such an effective slow-burn horror. Every ghost encounter becomes a psychological endurance test, where the smallest flinch might provoke something terrible. It’s about surviving through composure, not confrontation.

Manga by Izumi Tomoki - Mieruko-Chan Picture 2
© Izumi Tomoki – Mieruko-Chan

Yet despite its terrifying subject matter, Mieruko-chan blends in a surprising amount of slice-of-life comedy. There are genuinely funny moments as Miko tries to go about her daily life while surrounded by nightmare fuel.

The art elevates everything. The ghosts are among the most disturbing creatures in modern horror manga. They are dripping, misshapen, and frozen in expressions of silent agony. All the while, the rest of the manga is drawn in a cute, clean style that heightens the contrast.

As the story expands with new characters and lore, the emotional core remains the same: the quiet horror of pretending everything is okay when it definitely isn’t.

If you’re looking for an ongoing horror manga with top-tier creature design, subtle psychological tension, and a unique twist on the ghost genre, Mieruko-chan is a must-read.

Genres: Horror, Comedy, Supernatural, Mystery, Slice of Life

Status: Ongoing (Seinen)


6. The Summer Hikaru Died

Manga by Mokumoku Ren - The Summer Hikaru Died Picture 1
@ Mokumoku Ren – The Summer Hikaru Died

The Summer Hikaru Died by Mokumokuren is one of the most emotionally powerful and philosophically rich ongoing horror manga today. Set in a remote mountain village, it begins with a premise that’s both unsettling and deeply tragic. Yoshiki, a quiet teenager, knows his best friend Hikaru has died. And yet, something wearing Hikaru’s face has returned.

This is no mystery box plot, however. Hikaru’s inhuman nature is revealed immediately. His true form, when glimpsed, is a writhing mass of pulsating, alien forms, suggesting something far beyond human comprehension. The story leans into cosmic horror early, but it’s not about jump scares or monsters. It’s about grief, longing, and the ache of holding onto someone who’s already gone.

Yoshiki stays close to the thing that replaced Hikaru, not out of ignorance, but because he can’t bring himself to let go. That quiet, emotional tension sets this manga apart. It’s a horror story where love and terror blur together, and where mourning becomes companionship, however twisted.

Manga by Mokumoku Ren - The Summer Hikaru Died Picture 2
@ Mokumoku Ren – The Summer Hikaru Died

There are BL (boys’ love) undertones, expressed through aching intimacy and confusion rather than romance. A moment early on, when Yoshiki plunges his hand into Hikaru’s unnatural body, perfectly captures this: it’s horrifying, yes, but also strangely intimate.

Beyond its emotional and psychological depth, The Summer Hikaru Died builds a rich folkloric backdrop. The village’s unease, the silent woods, and the looming presence of a local deity known as Nounuki-sama add layers of mystery that continue to deepen with each chapter.

If you’re searching for an ongoing horror manga that fuses existential dread with emotional resonance and rural folklore, this is one of the most unforgettable series currently being published.

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, BL

Status: Ongoing (Seinen)


5. Nikubami Honegishimi

Manga by Paregoric - Nikubami Honegishimi Picture 1
@ Paregoric – Nikubami Honegishimi

Nikubami Honegishimi by Paregoric is one of the most promising and original ongoing horror manga currently being serialized. Told across two timelines, it merges urban legend, grotesque monster design, and an ever-deepening mystery with a creeping, slow-burn style of horror.

The story opens in 1999, following the eccentric occult magazine editor Inubosaki and her photographer companion Asama. Together, they investigate a series of strange paranormal cases. Thus, each chapter plays out like a standalone horror short. These include haunted furniture, surreal sightings, and twisted, almost dreamlike monsters. Fast forward to 2023, and Inubosaki’s nephew is searching for answers about her mysterious death. He seeks out Asama, now a full-fledged psychic, as the narrative shifts between past and present.

Manga by Paregoric - Nikubami Honegishimi Picture 2
@ Paregoric – Nikubami Honegishimi

While the manga initially unfolds in an episodic format, a larger mystery tied to Inubosaki’s fate slowly comes into focus. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the horror to breathe. Rather than relying on shock value or gore, Nikubami Honegishimi excels at cultivating quiet dread and surreal discomfort.

Visually, the manga is unconventional. The art style is sketchy and exaggerated, especially in Inubosaki’s often comical, catlike expressions. Yet when it comes to the monsters and tone, the artwork shines. The creature design is haunting and original, delivering some of the most nightmarish visuals in recent horror manga.

It’s still in its early stages, but Nikubami Honegishimi has all the makings of a cult classic. If you’re looking for a unique ongoing horror manga that blends urban legends with eerie atmosphere and grotesque visuals, this one is well worth your time.

Genres: Horror, Supernatural, Mystery

Status: Ongoing (Seinen)


4. Dandadan

Manga by Yukinobu Tatsu - Dandadan Picture 1
@ Yukinobu Tatsu – Dandadan

Dandadan might not be a traditional horror story, but make no mistake: this is one of the wildest, most entertaining series running today.

Written by Yukinobu Tatsu, a former assistant to Chainsaw Man’s Tatsuki Fujimoto, Dandadan blends horror, sci-fi, supernatural folklore and battle shonen into one chaotic genre-hopping ride. The result is pure, unfiltered insanity.

The story begins with a dare between Momo Ayase and the nerdy, bullied Ken Takakura. He believes in aliens. She believes only in ghosts. They each investigate a location tied to their respective beliefs, and both are proven right. The supernatural and extraterrestrial collide head-on, setting the stage for a nonstop, high-energy series where anything can happen.

Dandadan’s brilliance lies in its total disregard of sticking to one tone. One moment you’re watching a terrifying, grotesque showdown with Turbo Granny. The next, you’re watching a slice-of-life romcom scene at school. Then it shifts again, plunging into kaiju brawls, or alien invasions.

Manga by Yukinobu Tatsu - Dandadan Picture 2
@ Yukinobu Tatsu – Dandadan

The horror element comes primarily from its yokai and ghost encounters, many of which are rendered with chilling, detailed intensity. These segments genuinely tap into classic horror energy before exploding into shonen-style action.

Tatsu’s storytelling is bold, unrestrained, and constantly escalating. Despite the tonal shifts, Dandadan somehow pulls all together. Every genre beat lands. Every twist raises the stakes.

While it leans more into action and comedy, Dandadan still deserves a spot among the best ongoing horror manga for its sheer unpredictability, high-stakes supernatural battles, and some truly creepy moments horror fans won’t forget.

Genres: Horror, Supernatural, Comedy, Action, Alien

Status: Ongoing (Shonen)


3. Yuuan no Kanata

Manga by Koike Nokuto - Yuuan no Kanata 1
@ Koike Nokuto – Yuuan no Kanata

Among all ongoing horror manga, Yuuan no Kanata stands out as one of the most metaphorical, and it might also be my personal favorite right now.

Serialized in 2023, this haunting new series follows Kanata, a woman who, after experiencing a traumatic event, loses the ability to feel fear. Now emotionally numb, she immerses herself in the supernatural, chasing anything that might finally make her feel again.

The manga’s structure is episodic, introducing a wide range of paranormal encounters. Some chapters focus entirely on other characters, like a ghost-seeing livestreamer, a grieving father, or a cynical journalist. Yet all of them eventually intersect with Kanata. Despite this shifting perspective, the narrative stays cohesive, tied together by Kanata’s presence and the recurring theme of how people respond to the unexplained.

Manga by Koike Nokuto - Yuuan no Kanata 2
@ Koike Nokuto – Yuuan no Kanata

What truly elevates Yuuan no Kanata is the stunning art. The spirits and supernatural creatures are drawn in heavy ink and layered textures that bleed into the panel from another world. These designs contrast sharply with the realistic backgrounds, creating a jarring and effective visual horror that hits hard.

There’s no reliance on gore or jump scares here. Instead, the horror emerges slowly, built on tension, dread, and the psychological unraveling of each character. Kanata herself is enigmatic but compelling. Her lack of fear is not just a quirk, but a wound, and a glimpse into her past suggests deeper emotional scars yet to be explored.

If you’re craving a beautiful, eerie, and quietly devastating experience, Yuuan no Kanata is one of the best ongoing horror manga to pick up right now. It’s thoughtful, visually striking, and absolutely chilling.

Genres: Horror, Supernatural, Mystery

Status: Ongoing (Seinen)


2. A Suffocatingly Lonely Death

Manga by Inoryuu Hajime, Itou Shouta - A Suffocating Lonely Death Picture 1
@ Inoryuu Hajime, Itou Shouta – A Suffocating Lonely Death

While it leans more toward psychological thriller than pure horror, A Suffocating Lonely Death easily earns its place among the best ongoing horror manga right now.

This grim new series is written by Inoryuu Hajime and illustrated by Itou Shouta, the same creative duo behind My Dearest Self With Malice Aforethought. If you’ve read that title, you’ll find a similar mood here: an unsettling, slow-burn mystery laced with violence, trauma, and the shadowy workings of the human mind.

The manga opens with a gruesome case involving child mass murder, launching detective Jin Saeki into a tangled investigation. The prime suspect is Juuzou Haikawa, a cryptic and possibly unhinged figure whose ties to the equally enigmatic Kanon Hazumi raise more questions than answers. From there, the story unfolds with layers of suspicion, buried trauma, and eerie connections that suggest something much darker beneath the surface.

Manga by Inoryuu Hajime, Itou Shouta - A Suffocating Lonely Death Picture 2
@ Inoryuu Hajime, Itou Shouta – A Suffocating Lonely Death

Though the horror here is psychological and grounded, it’s no less disturbing. The first chapter alone delivers unsettling imagery and themes, with a grotesque crime scene and a heavy sense of dread. The art is sharp and visceral, particularly in its depiction of anatomy and violence. Characters aw drawn with vivid individuality, and the expressions often veer into the uncomfortably intense.

Compared to their previous work, A Suffocating Lonely Death feels more restrained, at least so far. The plot twists might still come, but the pacing is more methodical, which makes the mystery feel weightier and more realistic.

If you’re a fan of adult psychological horror or complex, noir-style crime manga, this one is a must-read. With its mature tone, compelling mystery, and top-tier presentation, A Suffocating Lonely Death is one of the most gripping ongoing horror manga out there today.

Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Horror

Status: Ongoing (Seinen)


1. DRCL: Midnight Children

Manga by Sakamoto Shinichi - DRCL Midnight Children Picture 1
@ Sakamoto Shinichi – DRCL Midnight Children

DRCL: Midnight Children isn’t just one of the best ongoing horror manga, it might be the most visually stunning manga currently in publication, period.

Created by Shinichi Sakamoto, this gothic reinterpretation of Dracula transforms Bram Stoker’s classic into a surreal, poetic nightmare of monstrous beauty and suffocating dread. Set in the atmospheric halls of Whitby School, the story follows Mina, the institution’s first female student, and her friendship with Lucy. Both of them are swept into a sinister spiral when Count Dracula arrives.

What begins as a grounded period piece quickly dissolves into a fever dream of cryptic visions, animalistic transformations, and occult horror. Sakamoto doesn’t just retell Dracula, he reimagines it entirely, blurring reality and dream in a way that makes even familiar plot beats feel alien and new.

Manga by Sakamoto Shinichi - DRCL Midnight Children Picture 2
@ Sakamoto Shinichi – DRCL Midnight Children

The art is truly jaw-dropping. Each page is a meticulously crafted composition, often resembling fine art more than conventional manga. Sakamoto’s use of texture, light, and unconventional paneling creates a hypnotic rhythm. We see graveyards shimmer under moonlight, and demonic figures twisting into unholy forms, and entire sequences told through metaphor instead of direct action. It’s abstract at times, but never aimless.

Narratively, the manga leans into symbolism and nonlinear storytelling. Thoughts, dreams, and memories bleed into one another, making the experience deliberately complex but deeply rewarding for those willing to sink into its unique style.

DRCL: Midnight Children isn’t your standard vampire story. It’s a mesmerizing, richly layered descent into madness, sexuality, and bloodlust. If you’re looking for something hauntingly original from the world of ongoing horror manga, this is a masterpiece in the making.

Genres: Horror, Vampire, Fantasy, Drama

Status: Ongoing (Seinen)



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