8 Retro Action Anime That Are Better Than Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling is a modern power fantasy that quickly skyrocketed to global popularity. Millions of fans were drawn in by the fast-paced action and sleek animation style, turning the series into a cultural phenomenon and earning it the title of Crunchyroll’s 2025 Anime of the Year. With its seemingly unstoppable protagonist, Solo Leveling became a pop culture powerhouse.

The series has become an entry point for many new anime fans. However, despite its success, Solo Leveling is also known for prioritizing spectacle over depth in its anime adaptation, offering viewers intense battles yet delivering no real challenge. In contrast, plenty of anime offer both intense action and depth, with many standing as timeless classics that can’t be missed.

Cowboy Bebop

Cowboy Bebop is set in a futuristic world where humanity has colonized the solar system. Centering around Spike Spiegel, a laid-back ex-hitman haunted by his past, and his team of bounty hunters, Jet Black, a former ISSP officer, Faye Valentine, a cunning con artist, Edward Wong, an eccentric hacker, and Ein, an intelligent data dog who escaped a research facility.

As they hunt bounties across the solar system, the team all confronts their own personal struggles and pasts. The thrill of Cowboy Bebop comes from its perfect mix of high-stakes action and character development. Despite being a heavily episodic series, the story’s emotional weight and moral ambiguity add to its depth, creating a rewarding and thrilling experience.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion follows Shinji Ikari, a reluctant teenager who is recruited to defend humanity from mysterious, destructive beings known as Angels. Piloting a massive bio-mechanical Evangelion, Shinji joins other pilots who each carry their own emotional baggage as they carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, leading to unforgettable emotional journeys.

The series is known for its mecha action and psychological depth as it explores heavy themes of identity, isolation, and the impact of war. As Shinji struggles with self-worth, his companions struggle with their own demons, creating a story that is high-stakes, emotional, and tense. Every battle is thrilling yet psychologically intense.

Neon Genesis Evangelion deconstructed the mecha genre with its narrative choices and emotionally complex approach to the story and characters, effectively setting a new standard for what fans can expect from the genre. Its experimental direction and iconic visuals made for a thought-provoking experience that is unforgettable.

Trigun

Trigun follows Vash the Stampede, a notorious gunslinger with the heart of a pacifist, as he wanders the desert planet called No Man’s Land. With a $60 billion bounty on his head, Vash travels alongside the insurance agents Meryl and Milly, who aim to minimize the collateral damage he unintentionally leaves behind.

His moral code and optimism, despite the darkness of his past, make him a standout protagonist who is consistently tested by those he faces. Every showdown in Trigun is a blend of action, humor, and tension, keeping audiences engaged with clever tactics and unpredictable turns. The story explores the consequences of power, along with an exploration of Vash’s past.

With thrilling action and deep emotional stakes, Trigun is an unforgettable experience. Vash the Stampede, with his unwavering pacifism despite the chaos he creates and his relationship with Meryl, Milly, and other characters, adds heart to the story. Along with its humor and introspection, Trigun is both thrilling and meaningful.

Rurouni Kenshin (1996)

​Rurouni Kenshin centers on Himura Kenshin, a wandering swordsman who was once feared as the deadly assassin known as Hitokiri Battosai. Vowing to never kill again, he travels through Japan in the Meiji era. He encounters Kaoru Kamiya, a dojo instructor, and a growing circle of allies who challenge his skills and ideals.

As Kenshin confronts the remnants of his past, he must protect the innocents around him, creating a story that is both action-packed and emotionally charged as he struggles for redemption. With compelling characters, swordfights, and reflective moments, along with themes of honor, redemption, and the consequences of violence, the series effectively creates a must-watch experience.

Rurouni Kenshin received an ongoing 2023 remake that retells the story of the original manga with updated animation practices and an arguably more cohesive narrative. The original 1996 animated series is known for its flair and leaning into a more theatrical tone that adds to the series’ charm.

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Yu Yu Hakusho

Yu Yu Hakusho follows Yusuke Urameshi, a rebellious teenager who unexpectedly dies after saving a child from an oncoming car. Given a second chance at life as a Spirit Detective, Yusuke is tasked with protecting the world from supernatural threats. Along with new allies, he takes on rogue spirits, demons, and tournament challenges.

Throughout the series, Yusuke steadily grows in power and as a character. Each battle is a blend of martial arts and supernatural abilities, offering audiences high-stakes action with a blend of humor and teamwork. With its moments of introspection, Yu Yu Hakusho creates a story that feels as thrilling as it is rewarding.

Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z continues the story of Goku, a Saiyan warrior from Earth who defends his home and friends from increasingly escalating threats. Alongside his allies, Goku faces off against formidable foes from intergalactic tyrants to bioengineered androids and more. Every battle pushes their limits and drives much of the character’s transformations.

Filled with explosive action, legendary transformations, and rivalries, Dragon Ball Z is one of the most influential shōnen anime ever created. The series’ heroes, including Vegeta, Piccolo, and Gohan, are all given space to grow and take center stage in epic, high-stakes battles. With its blend of humor and dramatic tension, the series keeps every fight thrilling.

Dragon Ball Z stands out most for its iconic battles and characters and has inspired countless films, spin-offs, video games, and much more. Its most recent animated series is the 2024 Dragon Ball Daima, which has become one of the most popular titles of the year, proving that Dragon Ball’s legacy remains just as powerful as ever.

Fist of the North Star

Fist of the North Star is set in a post-apocalyptic world and centers on Kenshiro, the stoic and nearly invincible successor of a deadly martial art known as Hokuto Shinken. Traveling alone in the lawless wasteland, he protects the weak and punishes those who take advantage of them while he searches for his kidnapped fiancée, Yuria.

Stolen by his rival, Shin, Kenshiro aims to take revenge against him and defeat anyone who crosses his path, including his former friends. Every battle is intense and brutal, yet balanced with the emotional stakes that are driven by his goal to save Yuria. Kenshiro’s sense of justice keeps audiences engaged throughout his story.

Fans who are drawn in by intense action and larger-than-life battles will find that Fist of the North Star is a thrilling classic. Its influence on anime is undeniable, and with its themes of honor, vengeance, and survival, it has become a landmark title among anime.

Berserk (1997)

Berserk follows Guts, a mercenary born from tragedy, as he battles through a dark, medieval world of war, corruption, and supernatural horrors. Armed with his massive sword and powerful will, he takes on both human and demonic enemies along his journey to seek revenge against Griffith, his former comrade and leader of the Band of the Hawk.

The series explores themes of ambition, trauma, vengeance, perseverance, and survival as Guts struggles against seemingly overwhelming odds. The series doesn’t shy away from its portrayal of violence, making every battle and confrontation brutal and intense. Every victory feels hard-won and earned, making the stakes feel both immediate and real.

Along with the series’ psychological depth, Berserk is often cited as a seinen masterpiece. Known for its worldbuilding, characters, and intricate narrative, Berserk remains a dark and haunting classic that withstands the test of time. The series has received several other anime adaptations, but fans widely agree that none compare to the original 1997 anime.