Top Curses Manga Recommendations

Jujutsu Kaisen

Also known as Jujutsu Kaisen.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Supernatural

Although Yuji Itadori looks like your average teenager, his immense physical strength is something to behold! Every sports club wants him to join, but Itadori would rather hang out with the school outcasts in the Occult Research Club. One day, the club manages to get their hands on a sealed cursed object. Little do they know the terror they’ll unleash when they break the seal…



Notes:
- Ranked 1st in Japan's Bookstore Employees Top Manga of 2018.
- Nominated for the 25th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2021.
- Nominated for the 65th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shounen Category in 2019.

Tags: Urban Fantasy , Super Power , Demons , Shounen , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Monster Boy , Youkai , Martial Arts , Magic , Body Horror , Dissociative Identities , Gore , Death Game , Primarily Teen Cast , Cosmic Horror , Battle Royale , Ensemble Cast , Urban , Curses , Body Swapping , Sadism , Surreal Comedy , Philosophy , School , Cult , Anthropomorphism , Assassins , Time Manipulation , Slapstick , Exorcism , Time Skip , Nudity , Femboy , Transgender , Swordplay

Uzumaki

Also known as Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Romance , Supernatural

Kurozu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is cursed. According to Shuichi Saito, the withdrawn boyfriend of teenager Kirie Goshima, their town is haunted not by a person or being but by a pattern: uzumaki, the spiral, the hypnotic secret shape of the world. It manifests itself in small ways: seashells, ferns, whirlpools in water, whirlwinds in air. And in large ways: the spiral marks on people's bodies, the insane obsessions of Shuichi's father, the voice from the cochlea in your inner ear. As the madness spreads, the inhabitants of Kurouzu-cho are pulled ever deeper, as if into a whirlpool from which there is no return...



Notes:
- Includes the extra chapter "Uzumaki Tokubetsu-hen: Ginga", which was included in editions later released.
- Chosen by the American Library Association (ALA) as one of the Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2009. (Vol. 1)

Tags: Tragedy , Body Horror , Cosmic Horror , Seinen , Survival , Gore , Female Protagonist , Episodic , Philosophy , Lost Civilization , Cannibalism , Heterosexual , Suicide , Rural , Bullying , Demons , Unrequited Love , Cult , Urban Fantasy , Curses

Dorohedoro

Also known as Dorohedoro.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Horror , Mystery

In a city so dismal it's known only as "the Hole," a clan of Sorcerers have been plucking people off the streets to use as guinea pigs for atrocious "experiments" in the black arts. In a dark alley, Nikaido found Caiman, a man with a reptile head and a bad case of amnesia. To undo the spell, they're hunting and killing the Sorcerers in the Hole, hoping that eventually they'll kill the right one. But when En, the head Sorcerer, gets word of a lizard-man slaughtering his people, he sends a crew of "cleaners" into the Hole, igniting a war between two worlds.



Note: Includes 23 side stories titled "Extra Evil" and the side story "The Lizard Head and the Magic Whistle."

Tags: Dissociative Identities , Magic , Ensemble Cast , Anti-Hero , Amnesia , Revenge , Seinen , Dystopian , Gore , Body Horror , Surreal Comedy , Primarily Adult Cast , Monster Boy , Demons , Urban Fantasy , Super Power , Time Manipulation , Body Swapping , Gangs , Tragedy , Nudity , Zombie , Cyberpunk , Gender Bending , Curses

Made in Abyss

Also known as Made in Abyss.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Sci-Fi

In an age when the corners of the world have been scoured for their secrets, only one place remains unexplored–a massive cave system known as the Abyss. Those who traverse its endless pits and labyrinth-like tunnels are known as Cave Raiders. A young orphan named Riko dreams of following in her mother’s footsteps as a Cave Raider, and when she meets a strange robot when exploring the Abyss, she’s one step closer to achieving her goal!



Notes:
- Includes the 4-chapter "How Are You? Somewhere" side story.
- Nominated for the 11th Manga Taishou Awards (2018).

Tags: Survival , Tragedy , Primarily Child Cast , Lost Civilization , Travel , Body Horror , Female Protagonist , Chibi , Amnesia , Gore , Philosophy , Male Protagonist , Robots , Food , Twins , Seinen , Curses , Monster Girl , Nudity , Adoption

Totsukuni no Shoujo

Also known as The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mystery

In a world split between the Inside and the Outside, those living in both realms are told never to cross over to the other side, lest they be cursed. A young girl named Shiva lives on the other side, in a vacant village with a demonic guardian known only as “Teacher.” Although the two are forbidden to touch, they seem to share a bond that transcends their disparate appearances. But when Shiva leaves Teacher’s care to seek out her grandmother, the secret behind her mysterious living arrangement comes to light.



Tags: Fairy Tale , Rural , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Amnesia , Demons , Body Horror , Anthropomorphism , Pandemic , Teacher , Philosophy , Family Life , Adoption , Tragedy , Found Family , Cosmic Horror , Gods , Orphan , Foreign , Religion , Travel , Shounen , Lost Civilization , Eco-Horror , Survival , Centaur , Medicine , Politics , Curses

Fruits Basket

Also known as Fruits Basket.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Psychological , Romance , Supernatural

After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, plucky high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out...into a tent! Unfortunately for her, she pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan, and it isn't long before the owners discover her secret. But, as Tohru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in, the Sohmas have a secret of their own--when touched by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac!



Note: Volume 9 includes the bonus chapter "Rain Shelter of Terror".

Tags: Animals , Shoujo , Mythology , Ensemble Cast , Tragedy , School , Philosophy , Shapeshifting , Rehabilitation , Heterosexual , Reincarnation , Female Protagonist , Found Family , Family Life , Primarily Teen Cast , Tsundere , Coming of Age , Age Gap , Henshin , Urban Fantasy , Love Triangle , Crossdressing , Disability , Incest , Orphan , Memory Manipulation , Delinquents , Dissociative Identities , Revenge , Teacher , Unrequited Love , Estranged Family , Youkai , Curses , Transgender

Shinigami Bocchan to Kuro Maid

Also known as The Duke of Death and His Maid.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Supernatural

When the duke was a young boy, a witch made it so that any living thing he touched died. Unable to cope with such a cursed child, his family sent him away to live in an old mansion. Now a young man, his only companions are an elderly butler and his childhood friend, a buxom, blonde maid named Alice. Despite the fact that touching the duke means instant death, Alice is constantly teasing him, getting close and flirting mercilessly. But even though Alice loves to make the duke blush, her affection for him is the real deal. Can the two figure out a way to break the witch’s spell?



Note: The chapter count includes 15 extra chapters.

Tags: Maids , Witch , Time Manipulation , Butler , Heterosexual , Magic , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Female Protagonist , Nudity , Tragedy , Curses

Oneuldo Sarangseureopgae

Also known as A Good Day to be a Dog.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Supernatural

Hana is cursed into a dog from her first kiss, and the only way for her to break from the curse is to get the second kiss from her first kiss.



Note: The chapter count includes four side stories.

Tags: Work , Primarily Adult Cast , School , Bullying , Full Color , Teacher , Heterosexual , Shapeshifting , Female Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Reincarnation , Gods , Animals , Foreign , Love Triangle , Magic , Tragedy , Memory Manipulation , Gender Bending , Revenge , Curses

Siwoldeuga Naege Jipchakanda

Also known as My In-Laws are Obsessed with Me.

Status: Hiatus
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Pereshati Jahardt is a count's daughter who got remarried after her mother’s passing. When her father died, he left her all his fortune. Then, Pereshati's greedy stepmother and stepsister conspire with Pereshati's lover to kill her. However, under mysterious circumstances, Pereshati is brought back to life and travels back in time before her murder. To buy some time before getting her revenge, Pereshati visits the handsome yet notorious grand duke, Therdeo Lapileon, to marry him. During her visit, she uncovers a horrifying secret of his family. How will Pereshati deal with it? Will she be able to take her revenge?



Tags: Historical , Family Life , Heterosexual , Full Color , Female Protagonist , Age Regression , Marriage , Time Manipulation , Curses , Bullying , Royal Affairs , Adoption

Geunyowa Yasu

Also known as The Lady and the Beast.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Fantasy , Romance , Supernatural

Following a life of bloodshed and heartbreak, the great Empress Martina is reborn as Astina, the genius daughter of a humble count. But her peaceful world is shattered when bankruptcy forces her father to marry her off to the dangerous Archduke Atalenta. All of high society knows him as "Terriod the Beast" because of a family curse that turned him into a wild monster. Luckily, even the deadly beast of Atalenta is no match for the former empress's mighty sword. Everyone is shocked when the new archduchess tames her husband all too easily and takes over as the family head. No one's more surprised than Astina, however, when her casual kiss returns Terriod to his human form. Not only does he resemble her past life lover, but he has no memory of her from his wolf days. Despite these awkward circumstances, can the new power couple join hands to rule over the archduchy?



Tags: Reincarnation , Female Protagonist , Witch , Swordplay , Politics , Ojou-sama , Magic , Shapeshifting , Werewolf , Royal Affairs , Full Color , Heterosexual , Curses

Nalgeot: Gongjakgaui Hanyeoro Binguihaetseumnida

Also known as A Tender Heart: The Story of How I Became a Duke's Maid.

Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Romance

Liandro was stricken with a hideous curse at a young age, shunned by his family and rejected by the only people he ever loved. As the supporting character in a novel, he’s doomed to a role of misery and loneliness. That is, until a sympathetic reader is suddenly transported into this fictional world as his lowly maid, determined to change his fate! Can Evelina break Liandro free of his wretched destiny and help him find true love after all?



Note: Chapter count includes 8 extra chapters.

Tags: Female Protagonist , Love Triangle , Reincarnation , Isekai , Maids , Full Color , Yandere , Age Gap , Time Skip , Heterosexual , Age Regression , Male Harem , Historical , Magic , Gender Bending , Twins , Curses

Agyeogi Bepuneun Mideog

Also known as Ginger and the Cursed Prince.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Romance

For hopeless romantic Ginger Torte, getting engaged to the man of her dreams is a fairy tale come true. It isn’t long before she realizes the gut-wrenching truth — her fiancé has been seduced by her rival! The heartbroken Ginger finds solace in a new book that recounts the tale of a young woman and a cursed prince… But to her horror, the protagonist turns out to be none other than her beautiful nemesis, Lerazie! As reality unfolds according to the book, both ladies fall in love with the handsome prince at first sight. Ginger vows to steal both the spotlight and the prince’s heart! But, does this story harbor a sinister secret?



Note: The chapter count includes 10 extra stories.

Tags: Full Color , Magic , Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , Memory Manipulation , Ojou-sama , Foreign , Love Triangle , Villainess , Historical , Butler , Revenge , Unrequited Love , Curses

Witch Hunter

Also known as Witch Hunter.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Ecchi , Fantasy , Romance

In a world where witches have declared war against humanity, the surviving human population has gathered specialists with the power to track and destroy witches.

Tasha Godspell, also known as the “Magic Marksman,” is one of the best hunters there is. Along with his sword-wielding Jack-o’-Lantern partner known as Halloween, Tasha puts his magical training and weaponry to good use, in his constant battles against witches. And yet, he cannot bring himself to fully hate the very witches he is tasked to destroy.



Tags: Witch , Magic , Guns , Curses

Muk-Hyang: Dark Lady

Also known as Mookhyang: Dark Lady.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

The exceptional martial artist and proud hierarch of the Demonic Sect, Muk-Hyang, winds up in a strange new fantasy realm after falling victim to a curse cast by his enemies, the Blood Sect. But when Muk-Hyang's incredible control over qi, or mana, becomes known, it’s only a matter of time before he gets cursed again… and turned into a young lady?! In this world of elves, mages, knights, and dragons, will a mastery of Chinese martial arts be enough for one man (or woman) to fight his way back home? Or will this humbled warrior finally concede defeat?



Tags: Full Color , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Martial Arts , Isekai , War , Gender Bending , Robots , Politics , Dragons , Cultivation , Magic , Swordplay , Historical , Curses

Ousama Game: Kigen

Also known as King's Game: Origin.

Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Mystery , Psychological

"The King's orders are absolute. Fail to obey, and you will be punished." 30 years ago in the remote Yonaki Village, a black envelope is delivered to a single villager. The command inside threatens to draw the entire population into a terrible tragedy! Take a deep breath, steady your heart, and prepare for a shocking, terrifying survival horror adventure! The latest chapter in the wildly popular "King's Game: Origin" saga has begun. It all starts here!

Tags: Seinen , Male Protagonist , Rural , Tragedy , Death Game , Suicide , Heterosexual , Police , Curses , Detective

Eonniga Namja Juingongeul Juwo Watda

Also known as My Sister Picked Up The Male Lead.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Fantasy , Romance

Amy is currently living a pleasant life as a character in a novel she read in her previous life. She already knows how the story goes, so when her sister gifts her a strange boy she found in the Night Woods for her 16th birthday, she panics. He is none other than Lennox Iberich, the male lead who lost his memories. And now that they’ve met, Amy will either have to accept her own death that's been foretold or do what she can to change the ending of her story.



Tags: Amnesia , Heterosexual , Reincarnation , Magic , Full Color , Age Regression , Female Protagonist , Isekai , Time Skip , Historical , Yandere , Curses

Ghost Hunt

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Romance , Supernatural

The decrepit building was condemned long ago, but every time the owners try to tear it down, "accidents" start to happen-people get hurt, sometimes even killed. Mai Taniyama and her classmates have heard the rumors that the creepy old high school is haunted-possibly by ghosts from the Second World War. So one rainy day they gather at the told school to tell ghost stories, hoping to attract one of the suspected spirits.

No ghosts materialize, but Mai and her friends do meet Kazuya Shibuya, the handsome young owner of Shibuya Psychic Research, who's been hired to investigate paranormal activity at the school. Also at the scene are an exorcist, a Buddhist monk, a woman who can speak with the dead, and an outspoken Shinto priestess. Surely one of them will have the talents to solve this mystery!



Tags: Ghost , Shoujo , Detective , Female Protagonist , Ensemble Cast , Demons , Crime , Tragedy , Gods , Shrine Maiden , Body Horror , Gore , Male Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Exorcism , Curses , Orphan

Dareka wo Norawazu ni Irarenai Kono Sekai de

Also known as Can't Stop Cursing You.

Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Psychological , Supernatural

Those who make contracts with devils gain the power to curse others to death. Their mortal enemy: the Curse Detective Kiyoharu Saeyama, who uses traces of the curses left on their victims to uncover the identities of these sick killers. Let this deadly, paranormal game of psychological warfare begin!



Tags: Male Protagonist , Shounen , Anti-Hero , Terrorism , Gore , Detective , Curses

Cheonchijeonneung

Also known as Flawed Almighty.

Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Supernatural

Do good or go to hell. The conditions of his new curse seem simple enough for once-hopeful hoodlum Jeon-Ji Kim. Or so it seems when his perky guardian angel shows up on his doorstep one day and heals his limp. But will simply going through the motions of helping people be enough to appease a petty god with a grudge?



Tags: Angels , Full Color , Male Protagonist , Rehabilitation , Delinquents , Religion , Demons , Bullying , Gods , Anti-Hero , Suicide , Agender , Primarily Adult Cast , VTuber , Dancing , Cult , Curses

Beomeul Gildeulineun Yoryeong

Also known as Uncanny Charm.

Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Supernatural

Yoon-Jae is just a normal college student who lives alone...until his new neighbor, Beom-jin, moves in one floor below him. Then, things get weird. Namely, Yoon-Jae starts seeing ghosts everywhere, and they start stalking him. Turns out, a mysterious bell that belongs to Beom-jin is now tied to Yoon-Jae's wrist, and it summons ghosts wherever he goes. Unable to remove the cursed thing, Beom-jin suggests that Yoon-Jae help out with his work until they find a way to remove it. Oh, what kind of work? Sending ghosts to the afterlife, of course.



Note: Chapter count includes 4 chapters from side story.

Tags: Boys' Love , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Demons , Full Color , Mythology , Ghost , Religion , College , Amnesia , Reincarnation , Afterlife , Animals , Curses