The 6 Best Science Fantasy Anime Released Since 2010, Ranked

Science fantasy is what happens when magic and monsters share a world with real science. Sometimes that means aliens, sometimes mysterious energy, and sometimes a petrified planet rebuilt from scratch. Anime has explored this combination brilliantly since 2010, with the best shows blending both elements so naturally that you stop wondering where one ends and the other begins.

Some are gentle, some will break your heart, and a couple are just plain weird. These are the six best science fantasy anime released since 2010, ranked by how effectively they combine the two genres and how long their stories stay with you.

6 Fire Force Turns a Burning Tokyo Into a Supernatural Mystery

Shinra Kusakabe grew up believing that a fire killed his family in Fire Force, earning him the nickname Devil’s Footprints because of his ability to ignite his feet. He joins Special Fire Force Company 8, where firefighters combat spontaneous human combustion that transforms victims into monsters called Infernals.

However, the Evangelist, the Adolla Bursts, and the Great Cataclysm gradually introduce much stranger mysteries. David Production animated the series, which premiered in 2019 and adapts the manga by Soul Eater creator Atsushi Ohkubo. It takes sixth place because its expanding mythology can become complicated, while the other five blend their science-fantasy elements more seamlessly.

5 Dr. Stone Rebuilds Civilization From Scratch After 3,700 Years

A mysterious flash of light turns humanity to stone in Dr. Stone, and Senku Ishigami awakens approximately 3,700 years later. After painstakingly counting the seconds throughout his petrified existence, he sets out to understand the phenomenon and restore civilization.

However, Tsukasa Shishio has a different vision for humanity, setting the stage for a conflict between their ideals. TMS Entertainment animated the series, which premiered in 2019. It takes fifth place because scientific ingenuity drives nearly everything, leaving less room for the supernatural elements that define the other entries.

4 Dandadan Smashes Ghosts and Aliens Together Into One Wild Ride

Momo Ayase believes in ghosts but dismisses aliens, while her classmate Okarun believes in aliens but doubts the existence of spirits. When they attempt to prove each other wrong, both discover that the supernatural and extraterrestrial are very real. Okarun encounters Turbo Granny, who curses him, while Momo awakens her psychic abilities.

Science SARU animated the first season of Dandadan, which premiered in October 2024. Beneath the outrageous action and comedy lies a surprisingly sweet relationship. It takes fourth place because it’s arguably the most entertaining series here, although the entries above it leave a deeper emotional impression.

3 Land of the Lustrous Makes Living Gemstones Feel Heartbreaking

Land of the Lustrous‘ Phos is among the weakest of the 28 Lustrous, immortal gemstone beings who defend themselves against the Lunarians, mysterious attackers from the Moon. The Lunarians repeatedly descend upon their world, attempting to capture the gems and take them away.

That seemingly simple assignment eventually changes Phos’s life in unexpected ways, particularly after they encounter Cinnabar. Orange brought the manga to life through distinctive 3D animation in 2017, producing a visual experience unlike most anime. Third place suits it because its haunting world and Phos’s transformation are unforgettable, even if its quieter storytelling lacks the immediate intensity of the top two.

2 Puella Magi Madoka Magica Wraps Cosmic Science in a Fairy Tale

Madoka Kaname is an ordinary middle school student in Madoka Magica when a mysterious creature named Kyubey offers her a wish in exchange for becoming a magical girl. The seemingly innocent arrangement soon reveals a much darker reality. Kyubey belongs to an alien species known as the Incubators, which harvests energy from the emotional struggles of magical girls to counteract entropy and delay the universe’s heat death.

Homura Akemi, whose repeated attempts to change the past shape the story, becomes central to its emotional weight. Produced by Shaft and written by Gen Urobuchi, the 12-episode series premiered in 2011. It takes second place because its fusion of magical-girl fantasy and cosmic science is remarkably cohesive, although the top entry delivers an even more immersive world.

1 Made in Abyss Hides a Brutal Mystery Beneath Its Cute Surface

Riko lives in Orth, a town built around an enormous chasm known as the Abyss, where her mother, an accomplished explorer, disappeared. When Riko discovers Reg, a mysterious robot boy with no memories of his past, the two descend into the depths together. Every layer introduces extraordinary creatures, ancient relics, and increasingly dangerous environments.

However, the Curse of the Abyss makes ascending particularly perilous, inflicting increasingly severe consequences on those who climb back up. Kinema Citrus animated the first season of Made in Abyss, which premiered in 2017 and ran for 13 episodes. It claims first place because its extraordinary world feels alive with secrets, and its unsettling mysteries linger long after the credits roll.

What are your thoughts on our picks? We’d love to know them in the comments below.