Katsugeki Touken Ranbu begins in Japan in 1863, when a mysterious group known as the Time Retrograde Army is attempting to rewrite the course of history. In order to stop them, two sword spirits, Izuminokami Kanesada and Horikawa Kunihiro, must partner together. Fortunately, they are not the spirits of just any swords. No, they dwelled in the swords of Hijikata Toshizo, the Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi. As mighty Shinsengumi swords, they are strong and noble. However, they are not invulnerable. Will they be strong enough to defeat the enemy, and handle the the emotional toll of their journey? Only time will tell.

Both Sengoku Basara and Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu feature a pair of men that must form an alliance to defeat an unstoppable force. Both shows include plenty of sword action and fantasy. Sengoku Basara’s fantasy elements include a demonic Nobunaga and a samurai robot. As for Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu, the story involves sword spirit warriors and time travel. Each show struggles with plot and character development. However, the intriguing worlds and beautiful animation still shine. If you’re a fan of time travel and swordfighting, be sure to give Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu a watch.

Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu is the story of Hijikata Toshizo’s swords, while Hakuoki stars the man himself. As vice commander of the Shinsengumi, Hijikata was one of the respected higher ups of the Shogun’s secret police force. His group’s duty was to protect the Shogun supporters living in Kyoto. In popular media, the Shinsengumi have been portrayed in many different ways. Sometimes they are depicted as noble heroes, other times they have been cast off as merciless villains. Hakuoki chooses to characterize them as honorable but conflicted men that also happen to be vampiric creatures. In the anime, they kidnap a young woman named Chizuru who discovers their supernatural secret. After telling them about her missing father, they decide to let her stay with them as an ally instead of a captive. The more she learns, the more she begins to care for their cause and for the group’s leader Toshizo.

Like Sengoku Basara, Hakuoki is a fictionalized account of real events and characters. Both of these anime twist their source material to offer a compelling watch, containing a surplus of alliances, betrayals, and battles. While Sengoku Basara is more action driven, Hakuoki is darker and more romantic. Hakuoki also features more plot and character development than Sengoku Basara. Still, we believe both shows will hold the attention of viewers who like their history accompanied by the supernatural. If you’re in the mood for a tale of war and romance, you should watch Hakuoki. You’re bound to be not only entertained, but also emotionally moved.

Ever wonder what the Sengoku era would’ve been like if the key players were cute anime girls? That’s what you get with Sengoku Otome: Momoiro Paradox. The plot follows Yoshino Hide, a young girl who finds herself thrown back in time to the Warring States period. There, she meets Oda Nobunaga and decides to accompany her on her quest to rule Japan. Nobunaga is hunting for the crimson armor, which will give her the power to rule the land.

Sengoku Basara and Sengoku Otome: Momoiro Paradox are two very different programs centered around the same historical events. Sengoku Otome: Momoiro Paradox stands out from every other entry on this list by revolving around an all female cast. While it does contain some battles, this show is mostly a comedy/slice of life about cute girls being cute. The friendships between the girls are sweet and, occasionally, the show ventures into yuri territory. Though, much of the yuri is for comedic effect. We believe this show will appeal to slice of life fans and history buffs alike. If you’re on the hunt for a more adorable form of Sengoku Basara, then Sengoku Otome: Momoiro Paradox might be for you.

Like Japan’s Sengoku Jidai, China’s Three Kingdoms period was a time of much political strife and violence. Souten Kouro is an anime that thrusts viewers into that turbulent time. Souten Kouro alters the typical narrative by changing the ruler Cao Cao from the villain to the protagonist. The series depicts Cao Cao’s struggle as he attempts to rid China of its old ways and usher in a new and more unified nation.

Sengoku Basara and Souten Kouro are similar, in that they are historical action anime that focus on two crucial periods in East Asian history. Souten Kouro’s Cao Cao even physically resembles Nobunaga. While both of these anime are depictions of war, Souten Kouro is much darker. By adding a more serious and violent tone, Souten Kouro hits the viewer with a greater emotional impact. If you wanted more intensity from Sengoku Basara, then Souten Kouro is the anime you’re looking for.

Drifters is the tale of Toyohisa Shimazu, who finds himself plucked from the beginning of the Edo era and thrown into an alternative world of magicians, elves, and dwarves. It’s the kind of world that many fantasy genre fans would love to live in. However, this new realm is a far cry from a fantasy utopia. Shimazu must join forces with Oda Nobunaga and Yoichi Suketaka Nasu to survive against a brutal group known as the “Ends”.

Sengoku Basara and Drifters both appeal to fans of the historical fantasy genre. However, Drifters is quirkier and more comedic. It also focuses more on battle strategy than Sengoku Basara. Drifters could perhaps be described as a blend of Sengoku Basara, Lord of the Rings, and Dr. Who.

After the destruction of her temple, Isanami bands together with rogue ninja Saizou Kirigakure and other skilled citizens to form a group of ten warriors. Together, these heroes will stop at nothing to protect and defend their land.

Brave 10 and Sengoku Basara are both exaggerated action anime that generate an exciting adrenaline-fueled atmosphere. They feature swordplay, alliance building, battle strategy, and a bit of magic. On paper, these anime might sound like heavy action dramas. However, both of these shows are straightforward shounen series that are so over the top, it’s comedic. The plots are relatively simple to follow, which makes them good anime to unwind to after a long day. If you watched Sengoku Basara, and appreciated its hammy qualities, then Brave 10 may be worth your time.