15 Anime That Were Incredible… Until the Final Fight

Anime can pull you into thrilling worlds with epic stories and jaw-dropping animation. Many series build incredible momentum, keeping you hooked with strong characters and intense arcs, only to stumble at the finish line with a lackluster final fight.

I’ve rounded up 15 anime that were fantastic for most of their run but fell short in their climactic battles. These shows hooked me with their storytelling, only to leave me wanting more when the final showdown arrived.

Akame ga Kill! (2014-2015)

This dark fantasy series follows Tatsumi, a young fighter joining the rebel group Night Raid to take down a corrupt empire. The show’s brutal action and emotional stakes kept me glued to the screen, with each episode delivering high-energy fights and shocking deaths.

The final battle, however, felt rushed and chaotic. The showdown between Tatsumi and the Emperor’s ultimate weapon lacked the emotional depth and polish of earlier fights, leaving me unsatisfied despite the strong buildup.

Tokyo Ghoul (2014-2018)

‘Tokyo Ghoul’ dives into a gritty world where Ken Kaneki, a half-human, half-ghoul, navigates a society torn by monstrous creatures. Its early arcs, packed with intense fights and Kaneki’s inner struggles, made it a standout for its dark tone and sleek animation.

The final fight in the anime’s last season disappointed me. The rushed pacing and lack of clarity in the climactic battle against Furuta diluted the stakes, making the ending feel flat compared to the gripping earlier seasons.

Sword Art Online (2012-2020)

This series follows Kirito, a gamer trapped in a virtual reality world where death in-game means death in real life. The first arc’s high-stakes battles and emotional connections between players had me hooked from the start.

The final fight in the Alicization arc felt underwhelming. Despite the massive buildup, the battle against Administrator was cluttered with rushed resolutions and lacked the intensity of earlier fights, leaving me wanting a stronger close.

Bleach (2004-2012, 2022)

‘Bleach’ follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a teen with Soul Reaper powers battling evil spirits. Its early arcs, like the Soul Society invasion, delivered some of anime’s most iconic fights, with stunning animation and deep character moments.

The final battle in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, while visually impressive, felt rushed. The showdown with Yhwach leaned too heavily on quick power-ups, and the abrupt ending left me feeling the series deserved a more cohesive finale.

Blue Exorcist (2011-2017)

Rin Okumura, a teen who discovers he’s Satan’s son, trains to become an exorcist in ‘Blue Exorcist.’ The early episodes, with their mix of action, humor, and brotherly bonds, made it a joy to watch.

The final fight in the first season against Satan felt underwhelming. The battle lacked the emotional weight of earlier conflicts, and the rushed resolution didn’t match the series’ strong character-driven moments, leaving me disappointed.

Fairy Tail (2009-2019)

‘Fairy Tail’ follows the adventures of Natsu Dragneel and his wizard guild in a magical world. Its vibrant characters and team-based battles, especially in the Tenrou Island arc, kept me invested through countless episodes.

The final fight against Acnologia was a letdown. Despite the epic buildup, the battle relied on rushed teamwork and lacked the visceral impact of earlier arcs, making the conclusion feel less satisfying than I hoped.

Guilty Crown (2011-2012)

This sci-fi series centers on Shu Ouma, a teen who gains a mysterious power to fight a dystopian regime. The sleek visuals and emotional early battles, like Shu’s struggles with his newfound abilities, made it a gripping watch.

The final fight against Gai and the Void Genome felt messy and rushed. The convoluted plot twists and lack of emotional payoff in the climax left me feeling disconnected from the story’s end.

Soul Eater (2008-2009)

‘Soul Eater’ follows students at a school for weapon-wielders and their meisters, battling evil souls. Its quirky art style and dynamic fights, like Maka’s battles with Crona, made it a unique and thrilling series.

The final battle against the Kishin was a disappointment. The anime diverged from the manga, leading to a rushed and overly simplistic resolution that didn’t match the depth of earlier fights, leaving me unsatisfied.

Attack on Titan (2013-2023)

Eren Jaeger fights giant Titans in a world where humanity hides behind walls in ‘Attack on Titan.’ The series’ intense action, political intrigue, and shocking twists made it a modern classic for most of its run.

The final battle, wrapping up Eren’s plan, divided me. While visually stunning, the rushed pacing and controversial choices in the climax felt less impactful than the series’ earlier, tightly woven battles, leaving a bittersweet taste.

Seraph of the End (2015)

In a world overrun by vampires, Yuichiro Hyakuya joins a resistance to fight back in ‘Seraph of the End.’ The early episodes, with their intense battles and emotional stakes, hooked me with their dark tone.

The final fight in the anime’s second season felt underwhelming. The rushed confrontation with the vampire nobles lacked the clarity and intensity of earlier battles, leaving me wanting a stronger resolution.

Claymore (2007)

‘Claymore’ follows Clare, a half-human, half-demon warrior battling monstrous creatures. The series’ dark atmosphere, complex characters, and brutal early fights made it a standout in the action genre.

The final battle against Priscilla diverged from the manga and felt rushed. The lack of emotional depth and abrupt resolution didn’t match the series’ earlier intensity, leaving me disappointed with the ending.

Death Note (2006-2007)

Light Yagami uses a supernatural notebook to kill criminals in ‘Death Note.’ The cat-and-mouse game between Light and L, paired with sharp writing, made the early episodes a psychological masterpiece.

The final confrontation after L’s arc felt lackluster. The battle of wits against Near was rushed and less gripping, making the climax feel like a shadow of the series’ earlier brilliance, leaving me unsatisfied.

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (2016)

In a steampunk world, Ikoma fights zombie-like creatures aboard a fortified train in ‘Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress.’ The stunning animation and intense early battles had me hooked from the first episode.

The final fight against Biba felt rushed and overly convoluted. The emotional stakes didn’t land as strongly as earlier conflicts, and the chaotic resolution left me wanting a more satisfying end.

Gantz (2004)

Kei Kurono is forced into deadly missions after being revived by a mysterious orb in ‘Gantz.’ The series’ gritty violence and psychological depth in early arcs made it a thrilling, if brutal, watch.

The final battle in the anime’s run was a letdown. The rushed pacing and lack of closure in the climactic fight left me feeling the series didn’t live up to its earlier intensity and promise.

Darling in the Franxx (2018)

In a dystopian future, teens pilot mechs to fight monsters in ‘Darling in the Franxx.’ The early episodes, with their emotional character dynamics and flashy battles, made it a compelling sci-fi drama.

The final fight against VIRM felt rushed and overly ambitious. The cosmic scale and abrupt resolution didn’t match the grounded emotional stakes of earlier arcs, leaving me disappointed with the ending.

Which anime’s final fight left you wanting more, or did I miss one that deserves a spot? Drop your thoughts in the comments!