7 Best Adventure Anime (That Aren’t One Piece)

There's so much about Eiichiro Oda's One Piece that makes it such a fun and worthwhile series to follow. The main cast, led by future Pirate King Monkey D. Luffy, is easy to root for and all have well-developed and fleshed-out motivations. The mystery behind what the One Piece is and what it could be used for has intrigued fans for years as well. But at its core, the biggest draw to One Piece is the great adventure it sets both its characters and fans on.

While One Piece stands as one of the greatest adventure anime ever, it's not alone. We've seen plenty of amazing adventure anime come out over the years with unique premises and interesting hooks. These stand out as some of the best adventure titles that aren't about Luffy and his crew.

Samurai Champloo

A stylish Edo Period adventure from the mind behind Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Shamploo is full of smooth action sequences and slick visuals. It's a unique series that blends in various inspirations on top of classic Samurai inspirations, often working in anachronistic music, fashion, and other elements.

The series follows a young girl named Fuu, who, in her search for a Samurai who smells like sunflowers, is joined by a wild card outlaw named Mugen and a stoic ronin named Jin. The trio has some great chemistry, and even though the series can get wacky at times, it's an interesting Samurai adventure with some great emotional depth.

Hunter x Hunter

With two different adaptations under its belt, it can be hard to decide on which version of Hunter x Hunter to check out. The '90s anime has its strengths, and would be a solid way to experience the series, but we're going with the 2011 adaptation.

The heart of the series is Gon and Killua’s friendship. The two balance each other out and have some really great moments alongside some incredible character development. It might not be a complete adaptation, but the series is still a satisfying watch.

Dragon Ball

If you're looking for great adventure anime, you can't ignore Dragon Ball. Though the series has changed a lot throughout its run, the adventurous spirit at the core of the early series ended up inspiring tons of anime that came after it, including One Piece.

Early Dragon Ball really felt like a grand, magical adventure, with Goku and Bulma searching for the mysterious Dragon Balls while meeting all sorts of interesting characters and making lifelong friends along the way. The series might've shifted more towards high-action spectacle later on, but at its core, Dragon Ball is still one of the great adventure anime.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Brotherhood is a pretty emotional ride. The series follows brothers Ed and Alphonse Elric, who, after having attempted the taboo ritual of Human Transmutation, have parts of themselves taken away, with Ed losing an arm and a leg, and Al losing his entire body. The series follows their journey to atone for this grave sin, coming to terms with the weight of it, and them trying to uncover a way to reclaim what they lost, all while a mysterious threat looms in the background.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a must-watch for any anime fan. Ed and Al's story has a satisfying conclusion, and the world in which the series is set really feels well thought out and developed.

Delicious in Dungeon

Delicious in Dungeon finds a great balance between high-stakes and relaxing adventure. Most will know it as that one series about cooking and eating monsters, but there's more to it than that.

The series follows protagonist Laios, who, alongside his party, set out to rescue his sister Falin from a Red Dragon before it can eat her. Though the group doesn't have much money, they manage to survive by killing and cooking various monsters found in the dungeon. Delicious in Dungeon can be light-hearted at times, and a really fun watch, but it picks up steam and puts itself up there among some of the best adventure anime you'll see.

Berserk

Kentaro Miura's Berserk is probably one of the most beloved fantasy manga of all time. Many consider it to be among the greatest manga series ever, and while adapting something so highly regarded is always going to be tough, the '97 series is a solid effort with some great moments.

The anime adapts the manga's Golden Age Arc, telling the story of how protagonist Guts joined the Band of the Hawk mercenary group, his relationship with the group's leader, Griffith, as well as the other core members, and their eventual downfall. If Dark Fantasy is your thing, you have to give Berserk a chance. It can be pretty grim at times, but the Golden Age Arc is a highlight of the series, and the anime does a solid job of showing Guts' growth throughout it.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

If you're talking great adventure series, one anime that should pop into mind is Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. One of the biggest modern anime, Madhouse's adaptation of Frieren has won over anime fans all over the world.

It's easy to see why. Not only does the series look great, but it has some amazing emotional moments, and characters who you really get to care for and invest in. If we're talking great adventures, Frieren currently stands as the golden standard for all anime going forward.