A Curated List of 10 Manga I Discovered Recently (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it's increasingly difficult to discover every worthwhile new series. Predictably, the most popular series get all the attention, however, countless gems of overlooked works waiting to be discovered.

A particular delight for a dedicated reader is unearthing a mostly obscure series in the sea of new chapters and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're worth checking out prior to a potential boom.

Some of these series lack a large audience, notably because they are without anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to where they're available. Sharing any of these grants you some notable geek cred.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

• Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but bear with me. Comics are often fun, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While the title doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The charm, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who vents his stress by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, 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 from a top company, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences on a digital platform. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're in need of a brief, enjoyable diversion, the series is a great choice.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Author: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it 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 recalls the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, stylized art, and unexpected brutality. I started reading it by chance and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who purges ghosts in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than fueling his retribution. The plot may seem basic, but the portrayal of the cast is subtle and refined, and the artistic dichotomy between the silly appearance of the spirits and the gory combat is an effective bonus. This is a series with real potential to run for a long time — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

• Artist: Yuto Sano
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz

If breathtaking art is your priority, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is breathtaking, meticulous, and unique. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the characters are all quirky and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a working-class district where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the way the human died: a suicide by hanging manifests as a choking force, one who died from self-harm induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that gives weight to these antagonists. It might become a major title, but it's constrained by its infrequent release pace. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

• Creators: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Viz

This bleak fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it depicts epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a cruel mercenary band to become a powerful tactician, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts feels forced at times, but The Bugle Call still delivered bleak developments and shocking story pivots. It's a sophisticated series with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an enjoyable mix of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its tiny paws 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