So, you’re tired of the same “good guy saves the world” storyline? Same.
Sometimes you just want chaos. You want the main character to be the bad guy, the mastermind, the “I’ll burn this world if I have to” type.

That’s exactly what this list is about. These are anime where the main character is the villain, or at least walks the fine line between hero and monster. They’ll make you question your morals and probably your sanity too.

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1. Death Note

If you haven’t seen Death Note, you haven’t truly entered the dark side of anime.
Light Yagami starts out trying to rid the world of criminals using a magical notebook that kills anyone whose name is written inside. Noble idea, right? Except he slowly becomes a god-complex maniac with zero chill.

Watching Light descend into madness while outsmarting everyone around him is pure cinematic art.
He’s not just the villain. He’s the kind of villain who thinks he’s the hero.

2. Code Geass

Lelouch Lamperouge is that charming, intelligent student who decides to lead a revolution. He wants justice, sure, but his way of achieving it involves mass manipulation, lies, and a long list of casualties.

Code Geass makes you root for someone who does absolutely awful things for what he calls a “better world.” By the time you realize how far he’s gone, it’s too late. You’re already on his side.

3. Overlord

Imagine getting stuck in a video game and realizing you’re the most powerful undead boss. Instead of saving people, you rule over them. That’s Ainz Ooal Gown for you.

He’s cool, calm, and terrifying. Overlord flips the usual isekai formula and gives us a main character who’s fully embracing his inner monster. No moral compass, just pure domination.

4. The Saga of Tanya the Evil

Tanya looks like an innocent kid but has the mindset of a war general. She’s smart, strategic, and ruthless. In her past life, she was a cruel businessman. After reincarnation, she’s now a little girl leading armies with no remorse.

She doesn’t fight for justice. She fights because she hates losing. The show’s title isn’t lying, she really is evil.

5. Attack on Titan

Remember when Eren Yeager was the emotional hero screaming about freedom? Yeah, those days are over.
By the final seasons, he’s basically the villain of the entire world. And the wild part is, you still kind of understand him.

Attack on Titan’s brilliance lies in that moral confusion. Eren doesn’t just fight enemies; he becomes one.

6. Monster

This one hits different. Dr. Tenma saves the life of a young boy named Johan. Years later, Johan grows up to become a manipulative serial killer who ruins lives with just words.

Even though Tenma isn’t evil himself, the story revolves around the monster he saved. Johan’s calm, intelligent, and terrifyingly empty. He’s the perfect definition of a villain who steals the spotlight.

7. Parasyte: The Maxim

When a parasitic alien takes over Shinichi’s right hand, things get messy. The duo must survive in a world full of other parasites, and as Shinichi changes, he begins to lose what makes him human.

He’s torn between logic and emotion, morality and survival. Parasyte is one of those shows where you slowly realize the hero is turning into the very thing he fights against.

8. Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World

Subaru Natsuki starts off as your typical fantasy protagonist. Then reality hits. Every time he dies, time resets, but the pain and trauma stay with him.

As the loops pile up, Subaru becomes paranoid, obsessive, and sometimes monstrous. He’s proof that even good people can break when pushed too far.

Watch Re:Zero Here!

9. Vinland Saga

Vinland Saga begins as a revenge story. Thorfinn, the main character, wants to kill the man who murdered his father. That obsession turns him into a weapon of hate.

He’s not saving anyone. He’s destroying himself. It’s not until much later that he starts trying to rebuild, but the path there is pure villain energy.

10. Chainsaw Man

Denji isn’t evil, but he’s not exactly pure either. He just wants a normal life filled with food, comfort, and a bit of love. The problem? His version of “normal” involves ripping demons apart in the most brutal ways possible.

Chainsaw Man is chaos wrapped in blood and humor. Every character lives in shades of gray, which makes it impossible to tell who’s really the villain.

Why We Love Villain Protagonists

Let’s be honest. Perfect heroes are boring. Villain leads feel real because they act on the impulses we all suppress, revenge, power, greed, obsession.

These stories hit harder because:

• They make you question what’s right or wrong.
• They show how power changes people.
• They prove that good and evil aren’t black and white.

You don’t watch these anime to see justice. You watch to see how far someone will fall.

Final Thoughts

Anime where the main character is the villain gives us something different, characters who are human, flawed, and often terrifying.
They remind us that heroes can become monsters and sometimes, monsters are more honest than heroes.

If you’re ready for moral chaos and emotional pain in the best possible way, start with Death Note and keep going down this list. You’ll never look at “main character energy” the same way again.