One of the most popular genres of manga out there is the Shonen genre. Shonen’s target demographic is boys around and younger than 15 years old. Typically, the genre depicts a male hero that must go on an adventure to become the best he can be, such as Naruto aiming to become Hokage in the Naruto series.
The Manga on this list are the greatest Shonen series of the decade, according to GoodReads. The number associated with each series comes from their GoodReads score on the best Shonen series list. However, it is restricted to manga released from 2010 to 2019.
10 World Trigger - 371
Kicking off the list is World Trigger, a sci-fi series serialized on February 8, 2013 in Jump SQ. The manga is set in a time where Earth is under constant threat from monsters called Neighbors. Protecting Earth are the elite group of warriors of Border.
Osamu Mikumo is the protagonist of the series and defends Earth the best he can. Osamu meets a humanoid neighbor named Yuuma Kuga and starts to question whether she is the enemy. World Trigger is currently still being published.
9 Silver Spoon – 666
The long-running Silver Spoon is a school-drama series. The manga was serialized on March 30, 2011 in Shonen Sunday. The story follows Yuugo Hachiken, a student with academic prowess. His parents push him to achieve success but create unrealistic expectations for him in the process.
Unable to handle the pressure, Yuugo transfers to Ooezo Agricultural High School to take up farming, despite not knowing anything about it. Only going off past experiences, Yuugo learns to live for himself pursuing his own goals. Silver Spoon is currently still being published.
8 Your Lie in April – 669
Serialized on April 6, 2011 by Shounen Magazine, Your Lie in April is a music-drama series. Kousei Arima learned the piano at a young age, but over practiced due to his mother’s force. Kousei’s mother passed away, and he became tone-deaf, forcing Kousei to step away from the stage.
At school, Kousei meets Kaori Myazono, a violinist who overhears Kousei reminiscing on the piano. She asks Kousei to be her accompanist and works with him so he can return to the stage. Your Lie in April finished publishing on February 6, 2015.
7 Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun – 825
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun is a school rom-com series. Serialized on August 25, 2011 in Gangan Online, the story follows Chiyo Sakura. Chiyo wants to confess her love for Umetarou Nozaki after she was saved by him but finds it harder than she thought.
Nozaki is a manga artist whose writing caters to a female audience but isn’t good with relationships outside of fantasy. When Chiyo finally confesses Nozaki mistakes it as a compliment on his work. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun is currently still being published.
6 One-Punch Man – 1,123
The popular show One-Punch Man is known for being one of the greatest Shonen anime of this decade but comes in near the bottom of the list for its manga. Serialized by Tonari no Young Jump on June 14, 2012, One-Punch Man is a superpower-parody series.
The manga follows Saitama, a man with the strength to take out anyone in one punch. Saitama trained for years to become a hero but overtrained to where he’s lost the joy of battle. Saitama decides to join the Hero Association with Genos, a cyborg. One-Punch Man is currently still being published.
5 Food Wars – 1,225
Serialized on November 26, 2012 in Shonen Jump, Food Wars is an ecchi series about cooking. The manga follows Souma Yukihira who wants to become the greatest cook to overtake his family diner. When his father closes the restaurant, Souma attends Tootsuki Culinary Academy.
If Souma can graduate the academy, he will be recognized as a chef of great caliber. However, Souma faces many challenges at the academy. Food Wars finished publishing on August 29, 2019.
4 Assassination Classroom – 1,295
School life action series, Assassination Classroom, follows class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Junior High School. Koro-sensei is the teacher of class 3-E and has plans to destroy the earth. Koro-sensei is immortal and can’t be killed, but it is up to Nagisa Shiota and the rest of class 3-E to find a way.
Koro-sensei teaches class 3-E about assassination which gives them the courage to try to overtake him. Assassination Classroom was serialized on July 2, 2012, in Shonen Jump. The manga finished publishing on April 25, 2016.
3 My Hero Academia – 1,364
The incredibly popular My Hero Academia is currently having its fourth season of the anime adaptation air during the current fall 2019 season. However, this list focuses on its manga. Serialized on July 7, 2014 in Shonen Jump, My Hero Academia is an action-super power series. The manga is set in a world where humans have quirks.
Quirks are special abilities like a super-power. Izuku Midoriya, known as Deku, attends UA High and wants to become the number one hero. The problem is that he was born without a quirk. This doesn’t hold Deku back as he does everything he can, even if it requires working harder than the rest. My Hero Academia is currently still being published.
2 Noragami – 1,397
Fantasy-supernatural series Noragami serialized on December 23, 2010 in Shonen Magazine. The manga follows Yato, a god who wants to build his own shrine. To do so, he works odd jobs for cheap in hopes to accumulate wealth. Yato’s Shinki (Weapon partner) has resigned leaving Yato searching for a new partner.
In an incident where Yato is almost hit by a car, he is pushed out the way at the last second by Hiyori Iki. Hiyori suffers an injury instead, having her soul separated from her body. Yato and his new partner Yukine work to return Hiyori’s soul. Noragami is currently still being published.
1 Haikyuu!! – 1,603
Serialized on February 20, 2012 in Shonen Jump, Haikyuu!! is a sports-drama series revolving around volleyball. Hinata Shouyou is known as the Little Giant for his short stature and impressive skill. Hinata is on the volleyball team during his last year of junior high. Entering a tournament, Hinata’s school is decimated in their first game.
Now enrolled at Karasuno High School, Hinata looks for revenge against rival Kageyama Tobio and to continue to the top. Haikyuu!! is expected to air its fourth anime season in 2020. The manga is currently still being published.