Do you want to read a completed manga series where you don’t have to wait for the next chapter’s release? Don’t worry, as I’ve got you covered!
If you are a manga or anime enthusiast, it is very likely that you, too, have suffered the punishment of starting a series that has not been finished yet. Things get worse if you are an avid manga reader like me who wants to always have something to read at hand, just to get disappointed by the circumstances. The manga series you are reading might not be complete or may be on an indefinite hiatus with no future in sight.
Even then, to both my regret and joy, this can be easily avoided if you do some research beforehand since, believe it or not, there are some great completed titles in the world of manga.
And, to free you from the suffering I have sustained over the years, I will share with you a pretty reliable list featuring finished manga titles from plenty of genres for you to pick from. With that said, let’s jump right into the list!
Best Completed Manga Series to Read in 2023
1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge
Demon Slayer is undoubtedly one of the best manga series I have had the opportunity to read. This is one of those cases where the manga is so good that I decided to watch the anime adaptation as well, which is something I rarely do.
The general plot of this title is pretty simple to understand. The manga follows the struggles of Tanjiro Kamado as a demon slayer after an unknown demon massacres his entire family and turns his sister, Nezuko, into a demon.
What is appealing about this manga is not its plot per se but the way it handles fighting, its exciting combat system, and the number of fascinating characters it introduces. I also believe Tanjiro is one of the best main characters I have seen in a while, greatly enhancing the quality of the series.
With 23 manga volumes, the Demon Slayer series is a finished series that you can start binge-reading today!
2. Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku by Yuji Kaku
Betrayed by his clan because of his considerable skills, the ninja Gabimaru is now sentenced to die at the hands of Sagiri of the Asaemon Clan, also known as the Decapitator.
Gabimaru claims to long for death, accepting his fate without complaint. But his body and mind say otherwise, clinging to life because, whether he likes it or not, he has a reason to live. And Sagiri, seeing this as an opportunity, proposes a deal to Gabimaru the Hollow, the strongest ninja under the skies.
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku has a fascinating plot that thickens and becomes more interesting as you read it. Its villains are also intriguing, and its aesthetics and art style are one of the best you can find in the field. If you like shonen and want to read something out of the ordinary, I heavily recommend it!
3. Bleach by Tite Kubo
Famous for being one of the big threes of the shonen genre, it is one of those long series you absolutely love or hate. But hey, if you are into long manga series with many chapters and excellent character development, this one is definitely for you!
Bleach is about Ichigo Kurosaki, a very aggressive teenager who is particularly sensitive to paranormal entities. Because of this, he eventually meets Rushia Kuchiki, a Shinigami (or soul reaper) who serves as a death god that guides souls after death.
Because of a series of events, Ichigo inherits her powers and gets involved in the complex world of soul reapers and hollows, monsters he’s now responsible for hunting.
A total of 74 manga volumes make up the entire story of Bleach, so buckle up because there are a ton of chapters to read. But trust me, once you start reading, you will find it hard to stop. It’s just that good!
4. Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
Now that we are on the topic of the big three, it is just expected to talk about another member of the group – Naruto!
Like Bleach, this manga is also on the long side, but it is separated into two different titles, consisting of a total of 72 volumes. Both parts cover the life of Naruto Uzumaki, a ninja of the Hidden Village in the Leaves.
What’s so great about it is that you can see how he grows from a child to an adult, making it one of the best series in terms of character development. And this character development not only involves the main character but most of the characters of the series, including even the villains!
5. Gintama by Hideaki Sorachi
The story of Gintama is set in a world set in the Edo period. Aliens have invaded this world. Because they are so strong, the government eventually decides to give up, having to adapt to their new masters. And one of the rules that are implemented because of said aliens is no more swords and no more samurai!
But for Gintoki Sataka, a samurai freelancer, this is nothing but a joke, so he decides to keep living his life as faithful to himself as possible while trying to survive in a world where samurais are no longer needed.
Now, do you like comedy? Do you like series that parody other series? Do you like samurais, aliens, and a sassy and charismatic protagonist? If your answer is yes to all these questions, then Gintama is the one manga series you should be reading!
6. Haikyuu!! by Haruichi Furudate
Haikyuu!! enters the category of sports manga, mainly focusing on volleyball. Like many other sports series, it showcases very peculiar and appealing characters with interesting skills and personalities.
As an example, we can talk about the main character, Shoyo Hinata, who dreams of being the best volleyball player there is. The thing is, he’s pretty short for a volleyball player!
This, of course, leads other people to underestimate him. But he has a talent that not many people have, and he will surely take advantage of it to achieve his dream. And he’s got a great team, supporting team members, and a great coach to help him with skills he’s lagging.
There is a reason why Haikyuu manga is considered one of the best series of all time, and if you haven’t read it yet, you are missing out!
7. Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
Death Note is one of those series considered a classic in the otaku world. And, in my personal opinion, it is one of the best examples you can find of the mystery and psychological thriller genres.
The plot starts simple but becomes more complex as it unfolds. It primarily focuses on Light Yagami, a teenager considered a genius by society. This genius finds a Death Note belonging to a Shinigami named Ryuk, and it can kill people whose names are written on its pages.
Using his skills as a genius, and assuming the identity of “Kira,” Light decides to take it upon himself to get rid of the scum of the world and create a “paradise” free of criminals.
That is until a genius detective, known only as “L,” gets on his tail. The two use their brains to outsmart each other at every turn, and it’s up to you to read the manga and see who comes out at the top of this dangerous game!
8. The Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shira & Posaku Demizu
The Promised Neverland has one of the most interesting plots you can find out there. It follows a group of orphans that lead relatively happy lives, all under the care of Isabella, who fulfills the role of a mother.
Emma, the orphan that takes the role of leader and big sister of the group, breaks a definite rule for the sake of one of her little sisters, learning the dark reality they live in in the process.
After that, everything turns into a battle of intelligence, courage, and comradeship to escape the orphanage and be freed from their cruel fates.
9. Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You by Karuho Shiina
Even the toughest of the toughest likes to read something wholesome from time to time, and Kimi ni Todoke is one of those completed manga series you read when you want to experience the wholesomeness of love and youth.
It starts with Sawako Kuronuma, whom people call Sadako because she resembles the ghost from the Ring. Sawako is constantly misunderstood, and people fear her because of her looks. Still, deep down, she’s the sweetest girl and only strives to be close to others and help people to the best of her ability.
As the series goes on, she starts making new friends, becomes closer to her classmates, and eventually develops a crush, and this love of hers slowly blooms into something very, very special.
10. Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama
Ah, Attack on Titan. A series that took over the world, and for a reason. I have to admit it. I think Attack on Titan is a must-read series solely because it has a plot twist so strong, and several plot twists, in fact, I almost felt an emotional whiplash when I witnessed it unfolding.
In a world where people are trapped behind walls, like birds trapped inside a cage, Eren Yeager dreams of being free and seeing the wonders the outside world offers. In the company of Mikasa Ackerman and his best friend, Armin Arlert, the group of children dream of the future.
But without expecting it, they are reminded why they live behind walls, eventually facing the reality they are in. A cruel and merciless reminder of the existence of the titans outside the walls would change their lives forever.
11. Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Fullmetal Alchemist is another classic manga title and one of the shonen series I appreciate the most. I would describe it as an adventure-shonen manga with a very thick plot and a fantastic selection of characters.
As the name implies, this manga revolves heavily around alchemy. It mainly focuses on two alchemist brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who dared to approach the forbidden techniques of the alchemy world, losing something very important as a result.
To solve this dilemma, they venture to find the Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary item rumored to be capable of fulfilling any dream. But, as they get closer to the truth, they understand that nothing in this world comes without a toll.
12. Wotakoi – Love is Hard for Otaku by Fujita
Wotakoi – Love is Hard for Otaku enters the comedy and romance category and is one of the most relatable choices you can pick, especially if you consider yourself an otaku.
Simply put, we have two main couples. One couple focuses on a BL-lover otaku girl and a gamer guy, and the second focuses on the confrontational relationship between a cosplayer girl and a casual otaku.
Although this title can make you laugh without a doubt, the series introduces struggles we otakus deal with and how they can affect our trust and confidence. I really recommend it if you want to read a romance manga with the power to make you feel things, and as this is a completed manga series, you won’t have to wait for new chapters.
13. Gantz by Hiroya Oku
I suggest you be a little careful if you decide to start reading this manga title. Gantz is one of those series that tackle very adult topics, from sex to gore, and it does it rather occasionally, so you might want to have that in mind before you start it.
I can say that Gantz is one of the greatest sci-fi mangas out there. Gantz, just so you know, is the name of a black sphere that has the power to resurrect people that die near it, and both our main character, Kei Kurono, and his friend, Masaru Kato, coincidently die in an accident in the sphere’s range.
They are then involved in a death game where they hunt aliens to accumulate points to buy their freedom using alien-like technology, like gravity weapons and suits that give them super strength. But, if they die again, they won’t have another chance.
14. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic by Shinobu Ohtaka
This one would also enter the adventure category, but it focuses more on world-building, introducing new locations, societies, and characters as you keep reading. It can be described as an original representation of the Arabian Nights through the eyes of the mangaka.
The story of Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic primarily starts with two characters – Alibaba, whose goal is to conquer a dungeon that is rumored to reward people with incredible treasures, and Aladdin, a mysterious child who has lost his memory and only has a flying carpet, a flute, and the company of a giant genie as mementos.
They eventually become friends and travel together to conquer more dungeons and uncover the secrets behind Aladdin’s past.
15. Kaichou wa Maid-Sama! By Hiro Arakawa
As the president of the student council of a school where male students are the majority, Misaki Ayuzawa is the hope of all the female students that long for change. Strict, cold, and with the reputation of a male-hating girl, she does her best as the president.
She has a secret, though – a part-time job as a maid for a café, which is strictly forbidden by the school. And to her regret, Takumi Usui, one of the most popular guys in the school, learns about her little secret! And this is where our story begins.
Kaichou wa Maid-Sama! is an excellent choice for people who are into traditional shoujo manga. The plot is also not too complex, solely focusing on the main couple’s development, which is always a good thing.
16. Golden Kamuy by Satoru Noda
Tales of a gold treasure reach the ears of Saichi Sugimoto from the mouth of a drunkard. According to him, if you combine the tattoos of several inmates who escaped prison, you will have access to a map, a map to a treasure big enough to solve all your problems.
Thinking that the story is nothing but the words of a drunk old man, Saichi ignores him, only to find himself being threatened by the same person who regrets talking about it in his drunkness. And as you might have expected, the tale appears to be true!
Golden Kamuy is a tale of adventure, discovery, mystery, and betrayal, and it’s a good choice for those who like a serious story.
17. Cells at Work! By Akane Shimizu
Cells at Work! is a pretty exciting and funny manga. It involves the different cells and components of the body and how they struggle on a daily basis to keep the body healthy.
The story mainly focuses on two specific characters, however. A clumsy red blood cell and a merciless white cell, and how they do their best to fulfill their responsibilities.
I would describe it as a comedy manga and a parody of the human body, but it has an insightful approach that can teach us many things about our system. And it’s a rather short, completed manga series that you can binge-read easily!
18. Sweat and Soap by Kintetsu Yamada
Sometimes we don’t want the classic approach to romance that most shoujo manga provides, which tends to involve misunderstandings and very slow progress. Sometimes we want a serious take on romance involving two adults, which is exactly what Sweat and Soap is all about.
The plot is a little peculiar, though. Our main character, Asako Yamada, has low self-esteem, mainly due to how much she sweats, which causes her to be self-conscious about her scent. This is the reason why she loves her company, which develops soap and similar products.
But things change when one of the big shots of the company, Kotaro Natori, catches a deep sniff of her body aroma, stating how lovely her smell is. And, of course, feelings start to blossom with each interaction they have.
19. Fire Force by Atsushi Ohkubo
This manga series comes from the hands of the creator of Soul Eater, an excellent comedy manga with an incredible anime adaptation. Fire Force also has an anime adaptation of its own, but the manga continues the story for those who want to get their hands on even more content.
Contrary to Soul Eater, which focuses more on comedy, Fire Force focuses more on a complex story involving religion, organizations, and the mystery behind Infernals, which are fire-like monsters created when a human being combusts.
This manga series tells the story of Shinra Kusakabe as he joins the fire brigade, an organized group of specialists whose sole purpose is to handle Infernals. This is all for the sake of becoming a hero who is dedicated to saving lives and doing good to the world while trying to uncover the secrets behind the tragedy that marked his life.
20. 20th Century Boys by Naoki Urasawa
Explaining the plot of 20th Century Boys is a challenge in and of itself, even more considering the author’s background in creating very complex yet intriguing pieces.
Even then, if you have the patience and you want to indulge yourself in a series that involves a group of friends, world domination, multiple timelines, an insane cast of characters, and a mysterious cult leader who wants to take over the world, I implore you to give this one a try.
You definitely won’t regret reading this completed manga series, as it is a masterpiece and one of the most highly-rated seinen manga titles out there!
21. Horimiya by HERO & Daisuke Hagiwara
Horimiya tells the story of two very different characters who get to meet each other and slowly develop feelings for one another.
The first one is Kyoko Hori, a very popular and cheerful girl known for her strong character. The second one is Izumi Miyamura, an introvert who’s often prejudiced as an otaku and has serious problems making friends.
This series can be really relatable for those people who are introverted, like Izumi. The way the series handles friendships and the relationship between the two characters is one of my favorites as well. Recommended if you are into romance and wholesome titles with a little bit of comedy thrown into the mix!
22. Elfen Lied by Lynn Okamoto
Elfen Lied is one of those cases where its anime showcased only a tiny fraction of the series. In contrast, the manga not only showed everything it had to offer but also had some slight differences that made the story generally better to consume.
The series centers around the Diclonius named Lucy, a member of a race practically identical to humans but with small horns on their heads. They also have psychic abilities in the form of vectors: invisible arms with incredible strength and reach.
Before starting this series, remember that it is considered one of the goriest manga series you can find, so be careful if you decide to give it a chance.
23. Kaguya-sama: Love is War by Aka Akasaka
Kaguya-sama: Love is War tells the tale of two geniuses, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya, who are in love with each other but don’t want to confess their feelings.
The entire academy thinks that the two are a couple, as they seem perfect together, but that’s not exactly the case… at least not officially. Over the course of their time together, Miyuki and Kaguya have developed feelings for each other, but instead of confessing, they devise plans and schemes to make the other confess first, as they think confessing first is a sign of weakness.
And so begins their quest, where they have to hide their true feelings from each other, albeit unsuccessfully, while trying to get a confession out of the other. This is one of the recently concluded manga series, and if you like reading romantic comedies with slice-of-life fun, no title is better than this one!
24. Dr. Stone by Riichiro Inagaki & Boichi
Dr. Stone is a manga perfect for beginners, and when it was being serialized, it was among the most popular titles you could find. Considering its great premise, I believe it deserves to be a top-rated series.
Imagine a world where every human being is suddenly petrified by a mysterious light and turned into stone. More than 3,000 years later, in a world that has been devoured by nature, our protagonist, Senku Ishigami, suddenly awakens.
Being a person of incomparable intelligence and memory, he takes it upon himself to restore humanity to its previous glory. But to do it, he will need comrades, with the most valuable one being his best friend.
25. Dorohedoro by Q Hayashida
Dorohedoro is a pretty unique manga since it tackles genres that are usually not covered, such as post-apocalypse, dark fantasy, and science fantasy, along with many horror elements. It also has a bizarre cast of characters, including its main character, who has a giant lizard head.
The thing it does best is its world-building, providing great bites of lore and introducing mechanics to magic and science. Its premise focuses on Caiman and his search to find the sorcerer who turned his head into that of a lizard.
As his search continues, he relentlessly and effortlessly kills sorcerers thanks to being immune to magic until he eventually catches the attention of a powerful band of sorcerers who decide to hunt him down.
26. Tokyo Ghoul by Sui Ishida
When looking for completed manga series, you need to check out Tokyo Ghoul, as it is one of the most intriguing series you can read. Its premise is great, and the way the art is drawn is beautiful and unique. I would even say that it is one of my favorites on the list.
The premise of this manga involves ghouls, which are physically identical to humans, yet they need to consume human flesh to survive. They are also incredibly strong and can use a special organ inside their bodies to move around and attack others.
And our unlucky main character, without even knowing it, falls in love with one of these ghouls. The encounter completely changes his life as he gets involved in the world of ghouls residing in Tokyo and learns to survive beside them.
27. Fairy Tail by Hiro Mashima
Fairy Tail, from the hands of the author of Rave Master! This one is all about wizards but takes a lot of inspiration from the concept of friendship and comrades since most wizards involve themselves with guilds, which are a group of people who work together to achieve a particular goal.
Natsu Dragneel, the series’ main character, is a member of Fairy Tail, the strongest guild in the kingdom. This specific guild encourages its members to go on adventures, solve mysteries and find their callings.
And for Natsu, who wants to find his adoptive father, a fire dragon named Igneel, making comrades and going on adventures is precisely what he needs.
28. The Quintessential Quintuplets by Negi Haruba
Harem manga is a pretty popular genre, believe it or not. Considering that most manga titles showcase very cute girls with adorable or likable personalities, it’s not surprising they are as popular.
But this specific manga, The Quintessential Quintuplets, takes things even further, showcasing a harem series about 5 identical sisters.
Each sister has a different personality, and our protagonist, Futaro Uesugi, is charged with the task of teaching them the arts of academics since the only thing the sisters have in common is their awful grades. And, of course, it is more of a challenge than he initially thought.
29. Tokyo Revengers by Ken Wakui
What would you do if you got a second chance at life? Would you try to repair your broken relationships or save the person’s life who mattered the most to you?
Tokyo Revengers is the story of Takemichi Hanagaki, an everyday guy with nothing going on in his life. It’s all bad, and things get even worse for him when he gets the news of his ex-girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana, being murdered at the hands of the Tokyo Manji Gang.
He is sad after hearing this news and reminisces about his past, but he thinks nothing more of this until the unthinkable happens. Someone pushes him onto the train tracks in front of an oncoming train, but instead of dying, Takemichi finds himself 12 years in the past, when he was a student and still in a relationship with Hinata.
A few things happen, and Takemichi realizes he can save Hinata’s life by working in the past to change the future. So, he starts working towards infiltrating the Tokyo Manji Gang to make sure that it doesn’t end up as a vicious criminal organization in the future.
30. The Seven Deadly Sins by Nakaba Suzuki
The Seven Deadly Sins is probably one of the best choices for those who are really into fighting series and enjoy beautifully choreographed combat scenes that take things way over the top, along with some ecchi elements thrown into the mix.
As the name entails, the series’ primary focus centers on The Seven Deadly Sins, a group of seven knights who were framed as plotters against the crown.
Elizabeth Liones, one of the princesses of the kingdom, decides to look for the infamous knights to ask for their help in cleaning their names and liberating the kingdom from the influence of demons.
Conclusion
Regardless of the type of genre you enjoy, there’s nothing like finding a manga that is already completed so you can read it whenever you want. The satisfaction of not having to wait for a week or a month for a new chapter, and knowing that, whatever you do, you will always have a chapter at hand, is absolutely fantastic.
Thankfully, this list will certainly give you something to read since I covered as many genres as possible, with different lengths and levels of deepness. If something catches your interest, make sure to check it out, see if the story suits your liking, and go for it!
I can assure you that you will not regret starting any of these completed manga series, as they are some of the most popular titles in the world!
Also See: Best Manga Box Sets in 2023
