From record‑breaking hits to underrated gems, these are the standout shonen series that have defined the genre since 2020.

A time‑travel gang drama that mixes street fights with emotional stakes. Takemichi Hanagaki keeps jumping back to his middle‑school years to change the fate of his friends and the Tokyo Manji Gang. The first season set a strong foundation, and later arcs keep raising the tension with betrayals, new factions, and high‑cost consequences for every change in the timeline.

A classic underdog story about Asta, a boy born without magic in a world where it’s everything. His relentless training and anti‑magic swords let him stand alongside gifted mages in the Black Bulls squad. The post‑2020 arcs go bigger with devil‑related threats, deeper squad dynamics, and some of the most intense battles in the series.

A dark, fast‑paced shonen about cursed spirits and the sorcerers who fight them. Yuji Itadori becomes the host of a powerful curse and joins Tokyo Jujutsu High to protect people while searching for all of Ryomen Sukuna’s fingers. Tight animation, creative powers, and ruthless stakes make it one of the most influential modern shonen titles.

A brutal, genre‑bending take on shonen with Denji, a devil hunter who can transform into Chainsaw Man. The series blends horror, black comedy, and raw emotion while exploring themes of desire, manipulation, and survival. Its action is chaotic and visceral, and its characters feel unpredictable in the best way.

A visually stunning tale of Tanjiro Kamado, who becomes a demon slayer to save his sister Nezuko and avenge his family. The animation and fight choreography set new standards for the genre, especially in major arcs like the Entertainment District and Swordsmith Village. Beneath the spectacle is a simple, emotional core about family, duty, and mercy.

A superhero shonen that follows Izuku Midoriya, a quirkless boy who inherits the greatest hero’s power and enrolls in U.A. High. The post‑2020 storylines push the world into full‑scale conflict, with heroes facing organized villain armies and moral dilemmas about what it means to be a symbol of peace. Character growth, team dynamics, and escalating threats keep it compelling.

A refreshing mix of action, comedy, and found family. Twilight, a top spy, creates a fake family with assassin Yor and telepath Anya to complete a mission, but they all end up genuinely caring for each other. The balance of spy missions, assassin jobs, school life, and wholesome moments makes it a modern crowd‑pleaser with broad appeal.

Even after 2020, One Piece remains the gold standard for shonen storytelling. The Wano Country arc and beyond deliver massive world‑building, long‑paid‑off mysteries, and emotional payoffs for decades of setup. Luffy’s journey toward the title of Pirate King keeps evolving with new powers, new enemies, and deeper truths about the world’s history.