Deadman Wonderland explores the darker aspects of human nature, featuring intense action scenes and a dystopian setting. If you’re a fan of this show, then you’re likely to enjoy other anime series that share similar themes and motifs. Here are some of the best anime shows to check out if you’re looking for something similar to Deadman Wonderland. But first, a little more information on Deadman Wonderland and the main themes found in the anime (and manga).

Deadman Wonderland is a dark and violent anime set in a twisted world where a massive earthquake has destroyed most of Tokyo, leaving behind a prison amusement park called Deadman Wonderland. The story follows a young boy named Ganta Igarashi who is falsely accused of murdering his entire class and sent to prison. In Deadman Wonderland, inmates must participate in brutal death matches to earn cast points, which they can use to buy necessities or ultimately earn their freedom. Ganta discovers he has supernatural powers that he can use to fight for his survival in the dangerous world of the prison amusement park. Along the way, he meets other “Deadmen” who also possess special abilities, as well as a mysterious girl named Shiro who seems to know Ganta from his past. As Ganta navigates the corrupt and twisted world of Deadman Wonderland, he begins to uncover the truth about the prison and the shadowy group known as the Undertakers who run it.

The main themes of Deadman Wonderland include:

1. Survival
2. Betrayal
3. Corruption
4. Redemption
5. Friendship
6. Violence
7. Superpowers
8. Mystery

If you enjoyed Deadman Wonderland you might enjoy the below five anime:

Btooom!

Btooom! is a survival game anime that revolves around Ryota Sakamoto, a 22-year-old unemployed gamer who finds himself trapped in a real-life version of the online game he’s obsessed with. Transported to a remote island with a bag of bombs and no memory of how he got there, Ryota quickly realises that he’s now a participant in a deadly game where the only way to survive is to kill other players with the bombs provided.

Similarities between Btooom and Deadman Wonderland:

Survival Games: Both of these anime revolve around survival games. In these games the characters must compete against each other in order to survive.

Dark and Violent Themes: Both Btooom! and Deadman Wonderland delve into dark and violent themes, such as betrayal, survival, and the corrupt nature of humanity.

Protagonists with Hidden Abilities: The main characters in both anime possess hidden abilities, which they utilise to their advantage in the survival game. In Btooom!, the protagonist Ryota is an expert in the online game Btooom!, which becomes his key to survival. In Deadman Wonderland, the protagonist Ganta acquires supernatural powers which he employs to fight his way through the twisted world of the prison amusement park.

Mysterious Organizations: Both anime feature mysterious organisations that manipulate the survival games and control the fate of the participants. In Btooom!, the organisation behind the game is revealed to have dark intentions, whilst in Deadman Wonderland, the prison is run by a shadowy group known as the Undertakers.

Overall, Btooom! and Deadman Wonderland share similar themes and premises of survival games, dark and violent themes, and protagonists with hidden abilities, making them comparable in terms of their style and content.

Future Diary

Yuki is a socially awkward high school student who is given a diary that can predict the future. He finds himself in a battle royale-style game, where he must compete against other diary holders, each possessing their own unique diary and supernatural abilities, in a fight to the death. Along the way, Yuki teams up with, Yuno, a fellow diary holder who will do anything to protect him, even if it means resorting to violence. As the game progresses, Yuki and Yuno uncover dark secrets about the true nature of the game and the organisation behind it.

Similarities between Future Diary and Deadman Wonderland:

Dark and Violent Themes: Dark and Violent Themes: Both Future Diary and Deadman Wonderland explore dark and violent themes, including betrayal, survival, and the corrupt nature of humanity

Protagonists with Supernatural Abilities: The main characters, Yuki (Future Diary) and Ganta (Deadman Wonderland) in both anime possess supernatural abilities that they use to fight for their survival. In Future Diary, the protagonist Yuki has a diary that can predict the future, while in Deadman Wonderland, the protagonist Ganta gains supernatural powers that enable him to fight his way through the twisted world of the prison amusement park.

Battle Royale: Both Deadman Wonderland and Future Diary share similarities in their use of a Battle Royale-style game as a central plot point. In Deadman Wonderland, the prisoners must compete against each other in a series of brutal games in order to earn “cast points” which they can exchange for basic necessities like food and clothing. Failure to earn enough points results in death, while success means the chance to earn their freedom. Similarly, Future Diary’s protagonist Yuki is thrust into a battle royale game where he and other players are given diaries that can predict the future. The players must use their diaries to outwit and defeat each other in order to become the god of time and space. The game quickly turns deadly, with the players resorting to murder and manipulation in order to survive and win.

Love Interests: Their romantic connections have a significant role on their motives and behaviours of the main characters. The love interest in Deadman Wonderland is Shiro. She is a mysterious young lady with a hidden side. Yuno Gasai is the love interest in Future Diary. She appears to be a nice, innocent child, but it soon becomes clear that she too has a hidden side.

Mysterious Organizations: Both anime feature mysterious organisations that manipulate the game and control the fate of the participants.

Overall, Future Diary and Deadman Wonderland share similar themes and premises making them comparable in terms of their style and content.

Tokyo Ghoul

College student Ken Kaneki becomes a half-ghoul after a date gone wrong. He must navigate the dangerous world of ghouls while hiding his identity from his human friends and struggling to accept his new identity. The series explores themes of identity, discrimination, and the morality of violence as Kaneki is forced to choose between his human and ghoul sides in a world where they are constantly at odds.

Similarities between Tokyo Ghoul and Deadman Wonderland:

Dark and Violent Themes: Deadman Wonderland and Tokyo Ghoul both examine ominous and brutal themes, like survival, treachery, and the depravity of humanity. In both anime, the main characters have to make their way through a perverse and perilous world where killing and violence are normal. They both also explore the psychological and emotional struggles that their characters face as they adjust to their newly discovered abilities and the unfavourable circumstances in which they find themselves. The superhuman talents held by the protagonists in both anime are frequently associated with aggressiveness and violence, and the results of exercising these skills can be disastrous.

Dark and Violent Themes: Deadman Wonderland and Tokyo Ghoul both examine ominous and brutal themes, like survival, treachery, and the depravity of humanity. In both anime, the main characters have to make their way through a perverse and perilous world where killing and violence are normal. They both also explore the psychological and emotional struggles that their characters face as they adjust to their newly discovered abilities and the unfavourable circumstances in which they find themselves. The superhuman talents held by the protagonists in both anime are frequently associated with aggressiveness and violence, and the results of exercising these skills can be disastrous.

Characters Struggling with Their Identities: In both anime, the main characters struggle with their identities and their place in the world. In Tokyo Ghoul, the protagonist Ken Kaneki is forced to become a half-ghoul and must come to terms with his new identity. In Deadman Wonderland, the protagonist Ganta Igarashi is falsely accused of murder and must fight to clear his name while struggling with his own power.

Mystery Organizations: Both anime include enigmatic organisations that govern the game and the contestants’ fate. While a number of organisations exist in Tokyo Ghoul that work to subdue or exterminate ghouls, the jail in Deadman Wonderland is controlled by a mysterious organisation known as the Undertakers.

Action and Suspense: Both anime feature intense action scenes and suspenseful moments that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Tokyo Ghoul and Deadman Wonderland are alike in terms of style and substance since they both include supernatural abilities, dark and violent themes, individuals who struggle with their identities, mystifying organisations, action, and suspense.

Attack on Titan

Humanity in the world of Attack on Titan dwells in a fortified city as defence against Titans, enormous humanoids that eat humans. After their hometown is destroyed, Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert enlist in the military to combat the Titans.  They must face the harsh realities of the deadly society they live in as they learn more about the Titans and the government.

Similarities between Deadman Wonderland and Attack on Titan:

Dark and Violent Themes: Both anime explore dark and violent themes such as betrayal, survival, and the corrupt nature of humanity.

Characters Fighting for Survival: Characters in Attack on Titan and Deadman Wonderland both struggle to survive while confronting enormous challenges. While the heroes in Attack on Titan must defend their city from enormous humanoid beings known as Titans, the protagonist in Deadman Wonderland, Ganta, must make his way through a perverse and dangerous prison amusement park in order to learn the truth about his predicament and live. In both anime, the protagonists are in continual danger and must use their cunning and fighting prowess to survive. They frequently create alliances with others to improve their chances of surviving.

Mystery and Intrigue: Both Attack on Titan and Deadman Wonderland have elements of mystery and intrigue that keep the viewers engaged. In Attack on Titan, the origins of the Titans and the secrets of the walls surrounding the last bastion of humanity are constantly explored and hinted at, creating an air of mystery and intrigue. Similarly, in Deadman Wonderland, the true nature and purpose of the titular prison/amusement park and the characters behind it are shrouded in secrecy, with various clues and revelations slowly unravelling as the story progresses. Both anime leave the viewers constantly questioning what is really going on and what the true motives of the characters and organisations are.

Unique Abilities: Both Attack on Titan and Deadman Wonderland feature characters with unique and unusual abilities. Several characters in Attack on Titan have the capacity to change into Titans, while others have enhanced physical skills like strength and agility. Certain prisoners in Deadman Wonderland have acquired magical abilities known as “Branches of Sin,” which they may employ to protect and battle amid the depraved setting of the prison theme park. The already dramatic stories of both anime are further complicated and intrigued by these talents.

Emotional Depth: Attack on Titan and Deadman Wonderland both explore the emotional complexity of their characters. The main characters in Attack on Titan go through the pain and suffering the loss of loved ones as well as moral and ethical dilemmas resulting from their decisions in the face of the never-ending war against Titans. The characters in Deadman Wonderland also explore the emotional suffering of the characters, notably the main character Ganta as he navigates the twisted and dishonest prison amusement park and the terrible survival game he is forced to play. Both anime feature complex, multifaceted individuals that struggle to live and deal with the harsh realities of their surroundings. These characters experience a range of emotions and issues.

Overall, Deadman Wonderland and Attack on Titan share several similarities, including dark and violent themes, characters fighting for survival, elements of mystery and intrigue, unique abilities, and emotional depth. Both anime feature complex characters in dire situations, and explore the depths of human nature and the lengths people will go to survive. These similarities have helped to make both Deadman Wonderland and Attack on Titan popular among anime fans who enjoy intense, action-packed storytelling with a strong emotional core.

Danganronpa: The Animation

Danganronpa: The Animation is a psychological thriller anime set in the prestigious Hope’s Peak Academy, where only the most exceptional students are admitted. However, the students soon find themselves trapped within the school by a sadistic bear-like creature named Monokuma, who announces that they must participate in a deadly game to graduate. The game requires the students to murder each other and avoid getting caught by their classmates, with trials held afterwards to determine the identity of the killer. The protagonist, Makoto Naegi, must work with his fellow students to unravel the mysteries behind the school and Monokuma while also trying to survive.

Similarities between Danganronpa: The Animation and Deadman Wonderland

Dark and violent themes: Danganronpa: The Animation depicts a group of high school students who are trapped in a school and made to take part in a perverse game of murder and deception, while Deadman Wonderland takes place in a corrupt prison amusement park where prisoners are forced to compete in gruesome games for the entertainment of the general public.

Characters Struggeling for Survival: Each anime has characters fighting for their lives. As the students in Danganronpa: The Animation must solve riddles and outwit one another to avoid being killed, the main character Ganta in Deadman Wonderland must utilise his wits and abilities to survive the gloomy environment of the prison amusement park and learn the truth about his situation.

Mystery and Intrigue: Both Danganronpa: The Animation and Deadman Wonderland have elements of mystery and intrigue that keep the viewers engaged. In Danganronpa: The Animation, the students are constantly trying to uncover the truth behind their situation and figure out who is behind the twisted game they are forced to play. Similarly, in Deadman Wonderland, the true nature and purpose of the prison amusement park is shrouded in secrecy, with various clues and revelations slowly unravelling as the story progresses.

Unique Abilities: In both Danganronpa: The Animation and Deadman Wonderland the characters have unique abilities. In Danganronpa: The Animation, each student has a special talent that they must use to solve puzzles and avoid being killed. In Deadman Wonderland, certain prisoners have gained abilities known as “Branches of Sin,” which uses their blood. They are used to protect and battle amid the dangerous setting of the prison amusement park.

Emotional Depth: Both explore the psychological impact of being forced into extreme and violent situations, and how it affects the characters’ emotions and mental state.

Both Danganronpa: The Animation and Deadman Wonderland have similarities in their themes and storytelling. They both explore dark and violent themes, featuring characters who are fighting for survival in extreme circumstances. Both anime also incorporate elements of mystery and intrigue, with unique abilities and powers playing a significant role in the stories. Additionally, emotional depth is also present in both anime, with complex characters experiencing a range of emotions and issues. Overall, these similarities make both Danganronpa: The Animation and Deadman Wonderland engaging and thrilling anime to watch for fans of dark and suspenseful stories.

I hope this list has given you some great recommendations and sparked your interest in checking out these anime series. Let me know in the comments which of these shows is your favourite or if we missed any other great anime that are similar to Deadman Wonderland.